There is a theory by which we tend to think that German football is infinitely superior to Spanish football.. tall players, strong, great finishers…There are many who think that every corner or foul taken by a German team is half a goal, especially if you play against Spanish teams, traditionally little given to these issues.
However, if we look at recent history, we see how, paradoxes of life, Spanish football has cemented its superiority over the German from the header and the aerial game. Here, a series of examples, starting with the most recent.
1- Sergio Ramos' two goals. Real Madrid sneaked into the Champions League final thanks to two early headed goals from set pieces. The Sevillian central defender demonstrated his power in the aerial game at the home of one of his great enemies and he also did so with what had traditionally been one of his great weapons.
2- Carles Puyol's head. If a header has been historic for Spanish football, it has been none other than that of Carles Puyol in the semifinals of the last World Cup.. A corner kick from Xavi was perfectly finished off with ferocity by the Barcelona centre-back, who gave the victory and showed that height is not everything from a set piece..
3-Bakero's goal. Further in time, but also transcendental was the finishing of Jose Mari Bakero in Kaiserlautern. With everything lost, Barcelona beat the German team in extremis in the last minute, putting one of the pillars of what would ultimately be Barça's first Champions League.
4-They will soon be fulfilled 30 years, but the memory is still valid. And 20 June 1984, Antonio Maceda headed in with six minutes left a great cross that marked Spain's qualification for the final of the Euro Cup in France. Then, would be lost but the beginning of this great series of headers had begun.