It’s Spain’s turn – justice is done!

So it all turned out fine in the end! In a generally entertaining and well-played tournament, although I would stay well short of calling it one of the best ever as some commentators have done, Spain were the best team and they deservedly won it all.

The Germans, who I had previously described as no better than the fifth best team, played even more poorly than in their earlier matches, and could easily have lost by three or more goals in the Final. They were awful and their defensive shortcomings were even more apparent than previously. Spain were by far the better team and yet I couldn’t help but feel, even as late as the final ten minutes ,with Spain wasting chance after chance, that Germany would equalize and eventually go on to win on penalties – a disastrous result, with Lehmann, Ballack, etc celebrating victory despite their many sub-par efforts…

It was a good competition, England’s absence not affecting everyone like it affected me and other narrow-minded individuals. The ‘cheating and diving’ was less than in recent tournaments, the refereeing was decent, the standard of play high, the excitement levels even higher at times. Some of the “big name” teams were below their ususal standards (Germany, Italy, France) whilst other teams showed that they are on the rise (Russia, Croatia, Turkey). I expect things to continue in this way for the next World Cup with the “big” teams now having to start on a rebuilding programme to some degree. England are somewhat in the middle and yet I have no doubt that with Capello in charge we will qualify and reach the semi-finals at least!

Claret & Light Blue and looking forward to the Intertoto games and the first day of the 2008-09 season…but first we will have to deal with the “silly season” of rumours and gossip about who is going where in the transfer market. “Believe about 10% of what you read” is my advice during this odd time of the year…

It’s Spain v Germany as Russia’s run comes to an end…

So, following a nondescript first half which saw Spain and Russia cancel each other out, a vastly improved second half performance by the Spanish, accompanied by three finely made and well-taken goals, results in a Spain v Germany match-up in the Final on Sunday in Vienna.

It will be a close game I’m sure and extra-time and penalties will be a distinct possibility. If that happens then the Germans may well prevail but hopefully it will not come to that and the Spanish will collect their first trophy for many, many years. They are the best team in the competition whilst the Germans may not even be in the top five but, as we’ve seen all too often, Germany seems to just win and a boring 1-0 victory would suit them just fine…

Spain 2 Germany 0…

Germans fail to stuff Turkey but sneak through anyway…

Germany edged out Turkey in an entertaining semi-final to reach the Euro 2008 Final where they will face the winners of the other semi-final that sees Spain facing the much improved (since losing 1-4 to the Spanish in their opening Group game) Russians…

In many ways the Germans were fortunate to win. Turkey had by far the better of the first half and although Germany were much improved in the second period, over the ninety minutes the Turks were the more adventurous team and had posed far greater threats. The German defence was poor; in goal Lehmann had a bad game and was at fault to some extent for both Turkish goals. In midfield Ballack and Hitslesperger disappeared for long periods and up front Klose and Podolski were largely ineffective. They were gifted a second goal when the Turkish keeper made the all-too common blunder in this tournament of coming out for a cross and failing to even get contact on the ball (never mind not catching it) thus allowing the striker to send the ball tamely towards goal where there was nobody to prevent it from crossing the line. The Turks fought back and equalized for a second time but a sweet move ending in Hitslesperger’s excellent through pass and Lahm’s splendid shot ensured Germany’s passage into the Final…

It finishes 3-2 but make no mistake about it, this is a very average German side. They struggled to beat a severley undermanned, albeit extremely determined Turkish team. I believe the winner of the Spain/Russia match can certainly capture the trophy at the expense of Ballack’s Boys…

For anyone who cares about my predictions….Spain 2 Russia 1…

Italy out; Semi-finals set…

Yesterday’s quarter final between Italy and Spain did not really live up to expectations although ultimately the better team won and for that we should be grateful. Italy have been poor in this tournament but as I mentioned yesterday, as long as they were still in it, with their pedigree they would have a chance to win it. Now my “worst nightmare” of a Germany/Italy Final will not be happening…

I cannot see Turkey’s good fortune continuing on Wednesday and Germany will surely progress to the Final where the last thing I want to see is German captain Ballack raising the trophy – something he may have difficulty with as he appears to be so fragile based on the fact that every time he comes into contact with an opposition player he rolls around in apparent agony, unless, that is, he can illegally push them off with his arms of course…

In the other semi final, I expect a close game although Spain’s overall quality should prevail, with their perceived strong point – the strikers, facing Russia’s apparent weakness – central defence…Perhaps yesterday’s penalty win for Spain suggests that this may be their year but if it is to be the Russians against Germany in the Final then may the best team win as long as it’s not Germany…

All going according to plan (?????)

So what do I know about football?…Not a lot based on my selections in the Euro quarter finals so far. I have been wrong on all three matches up to now, although I will claim mitigating circumstances…

In each of them I would say the result was a surprise, as many others along with me would have predicted the group winners, the teams in form, were favoured to win. The only one where this was a little askew would be the Germans defeating Portugal. Although the Portuguese were on form and the Germans playing poorly, it was still “the Germans” and their win was not a real upset…Having said that I still believe that two of the German goals should have been disallowed and therefore they would have lost!

However, in the other two games there were upsets. The Croats should have beaten Turkey in a poor match but the Turks held on and then, even when all looked lost after Croatia scored in the 119the minute, they hit back to equalize in the second minute of added-time (and there should have been less) and went on to defeat the shell-shocked Croats on penalties…Turkey rode their luck, and incredible spirit, to the semi finals where it will end, I’m sure, against the German team who do not need to be a “team of destiny”, just to be the normal German team in a top competition…

Then yesterday, the Netherlands cam up against an inspired Russian team that was extremely well disciplined, very creative, and never stopped running. Both teams had chances to win it during the ninety minutes of normal time, with the Dutch just failing to convert on several almost perfectly placed free-kicks, until finally Van Nistelroy did just that, whilst Van De Saar in the Dutch goal pulled off a few excellent saves to deny Russia. The Dutch fans will be very disappointed. Their team has been the best so far but their opponents yesterday may well claim that title from now on. Overall the Russians deserved their victory and will cause their semi- final opponents difficulties whoever it is…

Which brings me to today’s match. I have already taken Spain to win, and surely one of the favourites in the quarters eventually will! However, this is the “always underachieving” Spanish against the “always there or thereabouts” Italians so obviously a victory for the Azzurri is very possible…And then where would we be? Facing the very distinct possibility of a German/Italy final following two semi finals in which the favourites actually win…Andou know how that prospect makes me feel – aaarrrggghhh!!!

Dull game, great finish – if you’re German…

Today’s Euro 2008 Championship quarter final victory for the Turks on penalties sets up a semi final meeting for them with the Germans. They will be without four key players at least and I cannot see them getting to the final. Once again fortune appears to be smiling on the Germans in a major tounament – I can’t remember when it hasn’t, not since England’s third goal in the ‘66 World Cup Final anyway!

There are some who think Turkey are a team of destiny, and that has some validity I suppose, but I tend to think that their destiny was to get to the semi-final and no further. I think Germany will win easily. and progress to their seventh Euro final..

On the other side of the draw, in another example of German good fortune, we have perhaps the four best teams – assuming Italy play like Italy can play. In the Netherlands and Spain we have the two top teams and Russia looked very good indeed in their last match. In tomorrow’s quarter final I cannot see the Russians containing the free-Dutch football and although they may produce some entertaining stuff of their own I have to go with a two goal Dutch victory…

Meanwhile , at the risk of getting too repetitive, can someone please let me know when E.S.P.N. commentator Tommy Smyth says something insightful, informative, or just mildly amusing…Today he was dreadful, with a series of inane comments, vague reminiscences, and several incorrect pieces of analysis when he became too excited. This clown has to go…

Onward to the knock out stage…

I thought the Russians gave one of the best displays of the tournament so far in yesterday’s victory over a clearly over-matched Swedish side. They created chance after chance and will provide a test for the steam-rolling Dutch in the quarter final on Saturday…The Russian midfield is very competent and up front the two strikers never stopped making intelligent runs. Their defence is solid and Hiddink clearly has them believeing in his preferred style of play. However, this Swedish side is past its best and the Netherlands are a far different proposition for the Russians to deal with…

In today’s quarter final I keep reading that Germany will win “because they know how to win these kind of games” This cliche has been in existence for many years – because it’s been true for much of that time. However, this German side is very average by their standards and perhaps this group does not know how to win these kind of games…I think the Portuguese will create numerous chances and will win fairly comfortably…2-0 to Big Phil’s Boys…

Well so much for my knowledge of the game!…The Germans go through doing what many, but not me, predicted and now they will be favoured to get to the Final…Portugal missed two glaring chances and defended atrociously at the set pieces although I thought the second goal was just offside and the third a clear push by Ballack on his Chelsea teammate Fereirra, so both should have been disallowed if the laws were strictly followed….Having said that, if the linesman judges Klose onside in the split second he has to make the decision and the ref cannot see the push by Ballack then there’s nothing to be said…As for the Portuguese, Ronaldo was ineffective, Simao worse, and the keeper wouldn’t get a game for Villa’s reserves based on that performance…So the Germans move on and, with Ballack cheating and diving even more than he does for Chelsea (commentator Andy Gray summed his acts up perfectly at one point during the game when he writhed in agony after the slightest of contact), they also appear to have sorted out their earlier problems with selection and formation, and will now be hard to beat, unfortunately….

Au revoir Les Bleus…

I was unable to watch the two games that closed out Group B yesterday although apparently I didn’t miss much as the Germans edged the Austrians 1-0 in a scrappy match and joined the Croats in the quarter finals.

Today I witnessed the end of the tournament for the French and whilst they were unfortunate to play three quarters of the game with ten men they got what they ultimately deserved – a last place finish in the so-called “Group of Death”…

So now two of the competition’s big names – Italy and Germany – have reached the quarter finals despite being far from convincing and yet, because of who they are, they may still go a long way. I hope not.

Quarter Final line-up so far and initial predictions, for what they’re worth…

Portugal v Germany 2-1

Croatia v Turkey 2-0

Netherlands v Sweden or Russia 2-0 (whoever it is!)

Spain v Italy 1-0

Still hoping for a final between my second favorite team, the Netherlands, and one of my least favorite – the diving, cheating Portuguese…Not that they have done much of this so far in this tournament but let’s wait and see how they deal with the slightest bit of adversity…I almost want the Germans to beat them in the quarter final, but not quite…

Offside – football’s continuing folly…

The Professor of Pop, and long-time ‘proper’ Chelsea fan, comments that the offside rule is broke…It most certainly is and once again some very important decisions have been incorrectly made as a result. It’s crazy. The Van Nistelroy goal against Italy was alloowed because the nItalian defender Pannucci was playing him on-side – from off the pitch lying down injured…Toni’s goal against the Romanians was clearly onside but the ref, who was right there called it back…I could go on…Some years ago, actually I believe  it was following the 2006 World Cup, I wrote the following and it is as true today as it was then…

“The offside rule which was in effect for decades worked fine. It was simple. If you were in the opponents half and closer to the goal than one of or both the goalkeeper and one other defender (or two defenders), or level with either one, at the time the pass to you was made, then you were offside. (There was the vague caveat of “interfering with play” but it was very, very rarely used – if you were offside you were offside). The refs had a ‘black and white’ rule and they enforced it…It was relatively easy to spot, easy to enforce, and easy to justify, with no debate about being “active”, or “in the play or not” or “interfering” As one wise man once said, “if you’re on the field then you had better be interfering”… Then FIFA, in the name of “entertainment”, stepped in and we have had controversy ever since…F*ck “entertainment”. This is sport, a mighty sport at that, and the rules should be kept as easy to enforce and, more importantly, to get correct, as possible…
“Passive offside”? – shove it up yer arse. A defender does not think it “passive” when he has to keep an eye on the attacker’s whereabouts in the corner of his eye. A player who is “passive” very often, and very soon, becomes “active”…
The old rule may well have lent itself to negative defensive tactics (Arsenal , Uruguay, Italy come to mind) but we had far less debate and no frustration/despair at games lost on an incorrect offsides call. (Unless you were a Leeds fan in the ‘70-’71 season when W.B.A.’s Astle scored the most obvious offside goal ever and the league title was subsequently lost – remember that one? An absolute classic “Match of the Day”…But I joyfully digress)…

Yesterday Turkey’s third and decisive goal should have been ruled out for offside. It was close but when the ball was played through the Turkish player was off. This kind of officiating error is part of the game and could have happened even when the rules were different, although having said that the rule in its original form (see above) would be easier to implement than the current one.  However, the “passive offside”  part of the rule is ridiculous and the sooner the likes of ESPN’s Julie Foolish (the one who has broken into ‘Sound of Music’ songs are numerous occasions – it wasn’t funny the first time), etc, realize this the better. The real fans of the game do not watch the game just to see goals, particularly if they are offside!

Something must be done because the rule as currently written is hard to get right every time, particularly when called by a linesman (sorry, referee’s assistant) is doing so from a distant touchline and cannot see whether or not a player is interfering…Until changes are made to the current law more and more major matches will be affected by its inadequacies…

Claret & Light Blue and waiting for the blatantly offside player to blatantly dive over the keeper’s outstretched leg and then convert the subsequent penalty to win the World Cup/Euro Final 1-0 in the 96th minute…Now if this was England beating Brazil in the WC Final of 2010 then perhaps…oh, a conversation for other time…

Turkish delight and other assorted obvious lines

What a second half!…The Turks are through and although they played with never-say-die determination they were somewhat fortunate. They were 0-2 down with fifteen minutes to go when the Czechs hit the post for what would have been the final nail in the Turks coffin. Moments later, with the Czechs seeming to suddenly stop playing, it was 1-2 following a shot that I thought Cech should have done better with at his near post…With three minutes to go Cech made one of the biggest mistakes of his career when he let a harmless cross drop form his hands at the feet of the Turk captain, Niatt, who made no mistake and it was 2-2. Even so late in the game, with the Czechs reeling, a penalty kick shootout was far from certain and sure enough, with just seconds remaining, the excellent Tuncay slipped a pass thought the exhausted Czech defence and, although it looked offside to me, the flag stayed down as Niatt finished superbly for a 3-2 victory. The Czechs are out, Cech’s performance should be severely criticised, as should that of many of his teammates, and the Turks now face Croatia in the quarter-finals. Croatia will be rightly favored but clearly Turkey cannot be counted out…Thank god I’m not a Czech fan…

In the other game, it was “nice’ that the host team Switzerland prevailed over the disinterested Portuguese who had already won the group and now await the runner-up in Group B for their quarter-final opponent – probably Germany but…

As for the commentary team it really is very disappointing that ESPN did not see fit to raid their overflowing coffers to set up a studio in Switzerland/Austria to host the studio show and, more importantly, have their commentators actually at the games. With announcers Alex Rae and Adrian Healy along with color commentators Anyd Gray and Tommy “Onion” Smyth actually sitting comfortably in an L.A. studio and reporting on the games as if they were there, it really is quite insulting – nothing new there then from ESPN’s football/”soccer” coverage…Tommy Smyth cannot see what is going on when he is at the game so what chance does he have of saying something insightful when he is 6000-plus miles away watching a t.v screen?