Euro Group Stage Summary.. Plus a Quarter final
I apologise for the lack of updates recently, I have been somewhat hit with writer's block given the lack of television coverage of Euro 2008 in Australia. I'm sure there's plenty to talk about, I just haven't seen it.
Let me give you a brief overview of what I’ve thought so far. What about the Dutch! Not only are they a writers best friend since they have so many names you don’t have to resort to repetition, but they’ve also blown the competition out of the water. 3-0 against the World Cup winners. 4-1 against the World Cup runners-up. Going into it all the hype was about Portugal and Spain and then Holland turn up and make everyone second take.
For Italy the story was a bit different, with a team almost ready to compete in ‘The Masters’ tournament and then loosing Cannavaro before the first ball Is bitterly disappointing. That’s about as much sympathy as you’re gonna get from a fuming Australian still mightly ticked off at the 90th minute penalty saga.
But the French. Words fail me on how they have played so terribly. On paper, they have experience, depth, everything a team needs to progress. They couldn’t win a game. They scored One goal the whole group stage. One. In a team with Henry, Anelka, Benezma, Gomis, Malouda, Ribery. A team that left Trezeguet behind. And conceding six goals in a side with Evra, Makelele, Gallas, Thuram. The major weekness was Coupet, and it showed. Watching the Netherlands game(illegally downloaded. I wanted to watch it pretty bad, if thats a crime I’m guilty as charged) you couldn’t help but think a top class keeper such as the one at the other end would have made a better effort and possibly stopped a couple.
I had kind of hoped to write this before the quarter finals but I was beaten by the Portugal v Germany game in which Germany have surprised, well, me, by beating the no-longer Scolari’s men 3-2. I had hoped this year would be a good one for Portugal, but this does prove that United isn’t a one man team. The class that surrounds Ronaldo make him the prolific goal scorer he is, and if he decides to throw that away for an extra zero, then good riddance to one of the stupidest, most money hungry transfers ever. You won the Champions League. You aren’t going to a better club. If he stays he becomes a United immortal, if he leaves he becomes a benchwarmer with a six Ferrari’s.
But that’s off topic. So yes, the Germans are back, surprisingly, I had written them off after their effort against Croatia, but they have turned it around well.
I think that is what makes internationals interesting. Not just national pride and such, but seeing a group of the worlds best and watching them attempt to gel, attempt things that would usually work at their club but falls apart at internationals and vice versa. It’s an entirely different game when you have about a month lead up with these players. Some combinations pay off, others don’t. France for instance, this time round, did not, and I personally think it’s time to part ways with Domenech before the next World Cup and I hope the FFF agree with me.
Spain on the other hand have played amazing, they are my tip. If Villa and Torres can continue to get service like they did in the Russia game (also pirated, so sue me, actually please don’t) then they will be my hot tip for Champions. Yes that’s right, I’m tipping Spain. They deserve it, been hard done by every time and I think this is the time they step up. It’ll take some beating to get past the Netherlands but I think they are up to it. That’s Final I want, but since it isn’t possible I’d love to see a Croatia Spain final, just for something different, my mind turns rather blank and bored when I think of the German national team, I want excitement.
Let me give you a brief overview of what I’ve thought so far. What about the Dutch! Not only are they a writers best friend since they have so many names you don’t have to resort to repetition, but they’ve also blown the competition out of the water. 3-0 against the World Cup winners. 4-1 against the World Cup runners-up. Going into it all the hype was about Portugal and Spain and then Holland turn up and make everyone second take.
For Italy the story was a bit different, with a team almost ready to compete in ‘The Masters’ tournament and then loosing Cannavaro before the first ball Is bitterly disappointing. That’s about as much sympathy as you’re gonna get from a fuming Australian still mightly ticked off at the 90th minute penalty saga.
But the French. Words fail me on how they have played so terribly. On paper, they have experience, depth, everything a team needs to progress. They couldn’t win a game. They scored One goal the whole group stage. One. In a team with Henry, Anelka, Benezma, Gomis, Malouda, Ribery. A team that left Trezeguet behind. And conceding six goals in a side with Evra, Makelele, Gallas, Thuram. The major weekness was Coupet, and it showed. Watching the Netherlands game(illegally downloaded. I wanted to watch it pretty bad, if thats a crime I’m guilty as charged) you couldn’t help but think a top class keeper such as the one at the other end would have made a better effort and possibly stopped a couple.
I had kind of hoped to write this before the quarter finals but I was beaten by the Portugal v Germany game in which Germany have surprised, well, me, by beating the no-longer Scolari’s men 3-2. I had hoped this year would be a good one for Portugal, but this does prove that United isn’t a one man team. The class that surrounds Ronaldo make him the prolific goal scorer he is, and if he decides to throw that away for an extra zero, then good riddance to one of the stupidest, most money hungry transfers ever. You won the Champions League. You aren’t going to a better club. If he stays he becomes a United immortal, if he leaves he becomes a benchwarmer with a six Ferrari’s.
But that’s off topic. So yes, the Germans are back, surprisingly, I had written them off after their effort against Croatia, but they have turned it around well.
I think that is what makes internationals interesting. Not just national pride and such, but seeing a group of the worlds best and watching them attempt to gel, attempt things that would usually work at their club but falls apart at internationals and vice versa. It’s an entirely different game when you have about a month lead up with these players. Some combinations pay off, others don’t. France for instance, this time round, did not, and I personally think it’s time to part ways with Domenech before the next World Cup and I hope the FFF agree with me.
Spain on the other hand have played amazing, they are my tip. If Villa and Torres can continue to get service like they did in the Russia game (also pirated, so sue me, actually please don’t) then they will be my hot tip for Champions. Yes that’s right, I’m tipping Spain. They deserve it, been hard done by every time and I think this is the time they step up. It’ll take some beating to get past the Netherlands but I think they are up to it. That’s Final I want, but since it isn’t possible I’d love to see a Croatia Spain final, just for something different, my mind turns rather blank and bored when I think of the German national team, I want excitement.
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