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!!!
