Well, that's twice in succession that I've sat down to try and enjoy the first game of the day (a midnight kick-off for us here in China) in the Euro 2008 football championship..... and zonked out before half-time.
I'm still mighty weary, it would seem. Will I ever recover my vim and vigour??
59 comments:
We, of course, have the alternative problem. The footy is slap in the middle of the work day.
And it seems Johnny Dutchman vs Johnny Italian was certainly the game of the tournament so far.
Yes, I gather Johann gave Gianni a good spanking.
I was hoping to catch a re-run on TV when I got home from work this evening, but - of course - CCTV is showing badminton instead!
Now Johnny Spaniard has done the business on Johnny Cossack.
I may have to rely on you for constant updates throughout the tournament, Cowboy.
The Spaniards notoriously underperform in international competition - and apart from Casillas and Xavi and a couple of decent strikers, they don't seem to have many outstanding players this time.
The Portuguese don't look like the force they were a few years ago. Deco and Ronaldo are outstanding, but who else have they got?
I had been told the Czechs were fancied before the tournament, but they looked dire in the opening game - outplayed by the Swiss for most of it and very lucky to take the victory.
Turkey also looked a bit uninspired. And Greece were obviously one-hit wonders last time.
I imagine Croatia are likely to be the most dangerous of the smaller nations, but it's hard to look beyond Germany and Holland. And maybe France?? (Without Henry? Has he retired from the national team??)
Johnny Frog supposedly looked woeful in huffing and puffing to a scoreless draw against Johnny Romanian.
Johnny Spaniard will of course choke worse that a 7 year old hooker at some stage in the procedings.
And Johnny Ustase made a right pig's ear of the first match against Johnny Yodeller, and only scraped a 1-0 draw. They did not look scary at all.
Johnny Dutchman seems to be our best hope of preventing Johnny Squarehead from winning the whole thing.
Bad mistake. I cannot remember who the Croats beat. That's right, it was Johnny Austria. And they still didn't look impressive.
I don't know what's up with France (or anyone else, not being able to keep up with any of the team news out here). Henry and Trezeguet are clearly (still) two of the best strikers in the world, but they started the game instead with world-class ponce and unsurprising penalty-choker, Anelka. Does not compute.
However, they have a very good defence, and they've got used to winning things over the last decade. Also, they're the kind of side that, I think, will get steadily better as the tournament goes on.
The Dutch, I suspect, will do their usual thing of looking way the best side in the tournament, but then suffering a prima-donna-ish implosion when things get serious.
Probably too early to write the Eyeties off as well, much as I'd like to.
I think Germany will win. France have the best chance of upsetting them (and should make the final, if the draw allows). Holland and Italy may go close. Sweden are probably the best outside bet.
Portugal and Spain I expect to founder in the quarter-finals.
Such a pity McClown ballsed-up our qualifying - it's looking as though we might have had a decent chance in this company....
"but - of course - CCTV is showing badminton instead"
Badminton, of course. ha ha
You've lost your "vim"? I have never heard that before. Puts be in mind of 1950’s VIM power that my grandmother used to clean the house with. It had a nice but slightly nose burning smell.
At the risk of interrupting a serious football conversation here , who are "Johnny Squarehead"?
The Boche.
So named in countless Warlord comics from my youth.
Gosh, were they still going in your youth, Cowboy? I thought they'd kind of petered out in the '70s. Maybe it was just that I stopped reading them!
I remember The Boche and The Filthy Hun and Kraut and Fritz as favourite terms of derogation - but not Johnny Squarehead.
By the way, Cowboy (and FG and anyone else out there..... Bookseller, are you lurking??), what do you think of my predictions?
It wasn't Johnny Squarehead, just squarehead, as in "Eat lead, squareheads..."
Germans always died with an Ach, British with an Argh, and Japanese with an Aieeeee!
And Froog, my childhood WAS the seventies. I turn 40 next year.
As for your projections - I think the Dutch and the Germans are the teams to beat. England would have crashed. Remember, we could not beat the Croats or Russia, and those teams look pants.
And I am correct in saying the Germans are the team to beat. So much so that the Croats are doing exactly that to them.
Ah, I finally managed to stay awake for a whole game (only just, though).
Can I reinstate - or reconfirm - Johnny Croat as my dark horse tip? They looked good value for the win today: great discipline in defending, they played some lovely, crisp triangles, and had great crossing from both sides. Maybe not much in the way of strikers, though.
Despite their lacklustre performance today, I suspect the Germans are still almost certain finalists and probable winners.
At least today's result means that there is no way Austria and Germany can pull a 1982 on us in the final game.
Oh, so many bright spots in this. If Bollocks continues to act this petulantly (did he somehow not get booked in this game??), he's going to get sent off or suspended before long. The Krauts' aura of invincibility, their self-confidence has taken a big knock. They've got problems up front: Klose looks out of form, the big lad Gomez seems a bit of a spare part, and Podolski is wasted out on the flank.
What I'd really like to see now is them lose a penalty shoot-out. Oh, please, please...
If the home nations aren't involved, I always support Johnny Dutchman (oh no, he's got me at it). Quarter-final Saturday of Euro 96, I was heading up to Runcorn for the North vs South quiz challenge, and the Netherlands were facing France at Anfield that day, so the train was 99% Dutch. I was wearing my England shirt, and whenever they saw me they started singing "4-1 to the Engerland". Class acts. And Sneijder's goal against the Eyeties was a cracker, I thought.
Happy about the Croats beating Germany today, of course, but haven't seen Spain or Portugal yet. France looked dead and I am eagerly anticipating their game tomorrow.
best comment of the tournament so far was someone on the BBC web site expressing the hope that the Czechs have a song about Ujfalusi to the tune of Chas n Dave's "Snooker Loopy."
Will continue to drop by when I can until somebody whose name sounds like he's developing throat cancer lifts the trophy.
Being in the middle of packing to move flat, I have only managed to see anything of the Holland-Italy game so far. There won't be any tournament left at this rate.
The cloggies were good value for their win, I thought, though 3-0 rather flattered them. With a little luck for the Italians it could have been a closer result and more reflective of the match.
Are Germany B out? Their 1-1 draw with Austria can't have done them any favours, though with Germany A losing to Johnny Croat...
Up the Orangemen!
3-1 lead over Johnny Frog!
And, most importantly, I would like to propose a momentary titter for the fact this is being played in the Wankdorf Stadium. Almost as amusing as it must be to hear a Swiss person describe himself as a fan of Young Boys of Bern.
Oh dear, the tone descends even further....
I think there may have been one occasion when I didn't even bother to try to stay up for the footie, but, basically, the Man-Eating Sofa now has a 5-1 record over me.
I got back last night just in time for the 2.30am kick-off, got out a beer and a packet of chips and..... promptly fell fast asleep for 3 hours. Every bleedin' time!
I caught the daytime re-runs today. I have to say, I didn't think the Dutch looked anything that special - apart from the two spectacular late goals. The French were very poor, but the Dutch were hardly dominating them; and if that handball penalty appeal had been given, it might have been a very different result.
I've always had a soft spot for the Dutch, ever since the great 'Total Football' revolution at Ajax in the early '70s. They do, however, have a very unfortunate history of always producing a team that looks fantastic on paper, and often on the pitch as well, but fails to win anything. They're the only nation that has a worse record than us in penalty shootouts, for heaven's sake!
Sorry, these boys don't look like they're going to win it to me. It would be nice if they could prove me wrong. Van Der Saar's in top form, which is a big help, but I don't think that will be enough to swing it.
Very good-natured of those Dutch fans in '96 to take their drubbing so well. I suppose they were kidding themselves that it didn't really matter, that they hadn't been trying properly because it was the last group game and they were pretty much certain to go through, that they were still going to win the competition.
Call me crazy, but I think I'm still backing Croatia.
Thanks for clearing that up BC, but like Froog...
'I remember The Boche and The Filthy Hun and Kraut and Fritz as favorite terms of derogation - but not Johnny Squarehead.'
Re what I think of your predictions.
I like to see you sticking to your guns Froog - Johnny Croat it is. I watch with interest.
+ sorry for silliness but can't help noticing 'Ajax' mentioned. Is it just me or are there more refs to 20thC cleaning products here than normal?
5-2 - I just about managed to survive the Spain v Sweden match the other night. Although a bit of a cheat, in that I watched the 1st half in the Pool Bar, missed the first 10 minutes or so of the second half while walking back home, and dozed slightly towards the end (though waking up in time for the final goal).
Spain are looking good (though a bit lucky to nick this one with the injury time winner). Fabregas! I'd forgotten about Fabregas. If he plays anywhere near as well as he has for The Arse the last couple of seasons, Spain might just go all the way.
For the record: I am elevating Spain above France in my estimation of teams' chances. I still think Germany - however shaky they looked in that last one - are likely winners. Spain likely to give them the closest run. France and Holland likely quarter-finalists. Portugal will struggle to get beyond the quarters (if Deco gets injured, they'll go out immediately). Croatia and Sweden are my top tips to cause some kind of an upset and muscle their way into the final 4, or the final 2. My heart is with the Croats, though I suspect they are not quite good enough.
I meant, France and Holland likely semi-finalists, of course.
Germany are the likely winners and Portugal will struggle to get past the quarters?
Well, given that Portugal play Germany in the quarters, that isn't a particularly stunning revelation, Froog.
It must be nice to have ready access to the draw, Cowboy, you sarcastic bugger! And to the results - results which, presumably, affect the way the draw breaks down. So, even in a non-China situation of perfect knowledge about the organisation of the draw (and I am in a position of no knowledge - really: I don't even know how many fucking groups there are, or if there's a round of 16..... I had been basing my assumption that the French would yet progress on the [possibly erroneous?] belief that most of the third place teams would also qualify), there is no way I could have known Germany would face Portugal when I made my prediction (at the outset of the tournament).
Will Germany A beat Brazil B, on current form? Hard to say! Should be a good game, though. I think I'll back the Krauts. Do they have a really brutish right-back who can take on the leg-breaking duties?
4 groups, 2 advance from each. Johnny Frog now out. Portugal play Germany.
I will admit I took it for granted you had at least some way of seeing the fixture list/results. Do they block all sports web sites?
Let's see for the QFs:
Portugal vs Germany - our oldest ally to knock our recent adversary out for us. Huzzah Felipao!
Croatia vs Turkey - Johnny Ustase to get revenge for Turkish "Operation Bollock the Balkans" during the 16th to 19th centuries.
Netherlands vs Russia/Sweden - My boys the cloggies to beat the Baltic blighters.
Spain vs Italy - hmm, interesting one. Spain traditionally blow up in the QFs, so I'm going to go with that.
SFs:
Portugal vs Croatia - I think Portugal just has too much talent and Croatia no genuine goalscorer like Suker left.
Netherlands vs Italy - repeat of the first match between them. Italy are just too old and Marco Van Bastid is inspirational.
F:
Portugal vs Netherlands - too close to call. May depend on suspensions and the lesser of two evils: Portuguese selfishness vs Dutch disorder. I'll go with my gut and call it for my boys in the wooden shoes.
Head above parapet. Prepare to fire.
Thanks for your bravery, Swordsman.
I suspect that Germany (crap though they have been so far) will take out the Portugese, but then fall (again) to the Croatians.
I fancy Sweden to upset the (basically playing poorly, but scoring lots of spectacular individual goals) Dutch, but not the Spanish (who surely, despite the weight of their choking history [not much worse than the Eyeties, surely?] cannot possibly lose to this terribly mediocre Italian side).
Croatia! Croatia!!!
Yes, of course, the Germans will probably still somehow contrive to win it. But in my mind, this is how it plays out.
Germany beat Portugal on penalties. Ronaldo misses again. Even though Portugal as a nation may be our oldest ally, they have Ronaldo on their team, and so are worthy of contempt only.
Spain will beat Italy handily. Italy just have looked pants, even in beating France, who just were a terrible team. Spain on the other hand are doing wonderfully well, and will keep going for at least one more game.
The Dutch will stomp on Sweden (not Russia, who are just woeful).
The Turks will squeak by Croatia, probably on penalties.
Semis...
Germany will beat Turkey, and the Dutch will beat the Spaniards.
Final - Dutch will roll all over the Germans. Joy will ensue the world over.
Go those Dutch! oops, I mean go Croatia!
It is a fine tradition supporting the under dog. And one reaps the extra excitement when they win now and then.
Surprised to see Johnny Cossack beat Johnny Turnip. But the rest of my predictions stand.
Well, I hadn't seen anything of Johnny Cossack (god, you've got me at it) until now, either in the qualifiers or this tournament.
They actually looked pretty tasty against the Swedes last night... although the Swedes were awful. Ljungberg and Larsson sadly past their prime, and their defence was notable mainly by its, er, absence. I can just picture dear old Alan Hansen shaking his head pityingly as he dissects their legion inadequacies at the back.
Confessions of error:
1) I was too optimistic about the French. I just didn't believe they could continue to be that bad. Dommenech - or whatever his name is - must be the feeblest coach in the international game. And I was thinking they would scrape through in third place, having failed to realise that there was no round of 16 in this competition.
2) I was too optimistic about the Swedes. I thought they looked quite good in the one game of theirs that I've seen - but it was against poor opposition, and I was perhaps a little too swayed by that screamer of a goal from Ibrahimovic (who on Chinese TV appears to be know as YiBo). I was also probably influenced by the Swedes' long record of doing surprisingly respectably - and sometimes indeed more than respectably - in these competitions. But this year, they are in fact PANTS.
3) I was at first perhaps unduly dismissive of the Spanish. Partly because I had forgotten just how many excellent players they have at their disposal (especially Fabregas), partly because of their long record of being flops in these competitions. It is high time for that record to change. This could be the year.
I think tonight's Germany v Portugal game is the most interesting of the semis, and I'm tempted to set my alarm clock to get up and watch it live, but.... there should be a daytime re-run at some point, and I don't have any work to do tomorrow.
Germany have been disappointing so far. Italy have been shit. However, they have too many good players to disregard. Germany tend to have more discipline and consistency and big game temperament.
Turkey didn't look to have anything in the game I saw of theirs, and I imagine Croatia should get past them fairly easily.
Russia clearly have their moments, but it looks like a young and flaky team and probably doesn't have enough class to trouble in-form Holland.
On form so far, Spain should crap all over Italy, but.... the Eyeties are notoriously hard to beat, and Buffon is a pretty awesome keeper. I'm rooting for the Spanish boys, but it might not be all that straightforward for them.
Portugal, as far as I'm concerned, are a one-man team (and that man is Deco, not Ronaldo). I don't see them having the fortitude to get past Germany - unless they get the confidence-booster of an early goal. (I like the Cowboy's idea of Ronaldo fucking it up in the shootout.)
I would like to think that Croatia can take either Germany or Portugal, but that might be hoping for a bit too much. I might fancy them slightly more against Germany, since they've already done them once. A lot could depend on how convincingly they come through their quarter-final.
Spain, I think, if they don't succumb to altitude sickness, comfortably have the beating of the Dutch. Historically, I've always liked the boys in orange, but they really haven't impressed me that much in this tournament so far - they just keep scoring outrageous individual goals. Of course, it's a dangerous side that can do that; but I don't think they've been controlling games enough, making lots of clear openings for the front player, looking solid in defence (although Van Der Saar is very sharp).
What odds can I get on a Spain v Croatia final?? I really think it could happen.
After the first quarter final, the selections are as follows:
TBC 1
Froog 1
Swordsman 0 (and looking bad for having picked Portugal to go to the final)
As the great prophet Big Ron would say, it's early doors yet.
Germany not quite as solid at the back as I would have expected; but I give them a lot of credit for going after the game from the outset rather than just trying to stifle the Portuguese (I had thought they might man-mark Deco and/or Ronaldo, but no). They were all over Portugal in the first 30 minutes, but then took their foot off the gas just a little after the second goal. I was surprised how well the Portuguese kept battling, actually - good of them to keep the game interesting until the last.
Confession time - I actually quite like the Germans. Heck, I was rooting for them in the last World Cup (after my initial picks, the Czechs went out disappointingly early; such a shame - in those first three games I felt Nedved, not Zidane, had been the outstanding player of the tournament). Maybe it's the influence of my ancestry (all the maternal line). The Cowboy is obviously a bit down on our Teutonic friends, no doubt partly as a result of all those Warlord comics he read as a kid. I admit their football teams tend to be workmanlike rather than inspiring; and it was bloody galling when they beat us twice in semi-final shootouts (and after we'd outplayed them on both occasions, too - there is NO GOD!); and I absolutely hated them for knicking the '74 World Cup from that sublime Dutch side (probably the greatest European team ever? Well, yes, the '88 Dutch side would be strong contenders too...); and it was kind of annoying, too, that they failed to beat the Argies in '86.... and then managed to do so in '90 only by diving for a pen; and they can be insufferably smug; and Ballack is arguably a greater play-actor than Ronaldo these days; and..... Yes, yes, I see all that, Cowboy. But there's a reason why they have such an awesome record in international competitions: they do actually play sodding good football most of the time; and with far greater long-term consistency than any other nation has ever been able to achieve.
I wonder if there's any way I can place some bets over here.
The Italians don't deserve to progress any further, and I really don't think the Dutch are good enough when the pressure's on.
So, only three serious contenders, I think. My heart tends toward Croatia, but my head suggests Spain are the stronger prospect. My betting instincts (and my grandmother's ghost) prompt me towards Germany.
So, farewell then to Johnny Croat. And to all the Jane Croats, with their magnificent cheekbones. What a heartbreaker for them!
So much for my dreams of supporting an unfancied underdog all the way to the final, and perhaps even to a fairytale victory. I hope I didn't jinx them. (I fret that - by some obscure supernatural mechanism - I inadvertently helped the Italians to victory in '06, by backing first the Czechs, then the Germans, and finally the French.)
It is such a pity. I really think they moved the ball around better than any other team in this tournament so far. And a side with no stars often plays better as a unit, shows a stronger team spirit (as with the Greeks last time; and arguably also with the Danes in '92, although they had a couple of big names in Laudrup and Schmeichel). I do believe they could have beaten anyone in the tournament. If only they could have knocked over Johnny Turk....
Ah well, we all had reservations about their firepower up front. They had enough possession to have beaten the Turks easily in regular time. And that was the most shockingly bad penalty shootout performance I've ever seen.
I'll miss them, though. I'll miss Bilic's sideline entertainment as well. (He seemed incensed at the officials about that last-kick goal. I didn't spot anything amiss with it. Did he have any cause for grievance??)
At least now I'm "free" to throw my support wholeheartedly behind Spain.
Curse the Cowboy and his uncanny foresight!
The Swordsman, we note, is still on a duck. I wonder if he's getting worried now about the Russians' chances of upsetting his beloved Dutch, which might leave him with a 100% losing record in his predictions?
The Bookseller remains conspicuous by his absence. Since he has been addicted to betting on football for the last 15 years or so, and is rarely without an opinion on such matters, I find this strange.
Oh, Bookseller, Bookseller, come out, come out, wherever you are.
Hahahahaha! Swordsman, you suck as a football pundit.
I do hope you maintain your losing record today: I so want Spain to do a number on the Italians.
Do we need to start considering the Russkies as serious contenders? I've said all along that I thought the Dutch looked pretty ordinary, but the young Russian lads fairly tore them apart last night - Christ, they made enough chances to have won by 3 or 4 in regular time. Quite a useful little outfit.
The Dutch were probably grateful they got done in extra time and didn't have to face the embarrassment of another huge choke in a penalty shootout.
Hahahahahaha.
I am sooooo fucking relieved! I was beginning to think the bloody Italians might BORE their way to the trophy. I know they're always notoriously "cautious" in their approach, but really - keeping 11 men behind the ball from the first minute? Did they really think they could nick it with a single goal from a set piece or a quick break? Or were they relying on Buffon to get them through a shootout?? Defending a 0-0 "lead", as you might say. I thought it a sign of desperation, a sorry admission that they knew they were going to get completely outplayed by Johnny Matador.
Damn, though, they're a big bunch of lads, aren't they? And the Spaniards are mostly rather petite. I don't think I've ever seen such a conspicuous height differential between two sides in an international match.
So much for Spain "blowing up" in the knockout stage! I was impressed by the confidence and determination they showed in sticking to their task - even if they did lack a bit of incisiveness up front.
They should go all the way now - although the Russian boys, on a high from two great performances, might give them another tough test.
Swordsman, you suck. I'm so glad you suck. Please remember to rubbish England's chances for the next World Cup at every opportunity.
By the way, you might have missed it, but at the beginning of the tournament in this post
over on Froogville I indulged in some recollections of '96, and put up a YouTube roundup of the 10 Best Goals in the history of the competition. Gazza, bless him, was in there at No. 2.
The Russia v Holland thriller I had to watch in two instalments.
I caught the first half in a neighbourhood bar, decided to jog home during the half-time interval (thinking that I shouldn't miss more than a few minutes of the second half), and...... well, that darned Man-Eating Sofa got me again. I was asleep within seconds. I was very, very drunk at the time.
At least I slept soundly right through till dawn, and so remained in blissful ignorance of the result. I was therefore able to watch the rest of the game 8 hours later on a re-run!
I have heard it said that the Germans are rare in that they work as a team. A valuable habit in team sports. Is it just me or do we think Germans take instruction well genarally?
Spain find the team work part a bit testing, no?
Well, no, FG, that might have been true a little in the past, but the current Spanish squad really does seem to have a lot of discipline and hard work about it. And coming through such a tough game, and a tough penalty shootout, should have done a lot to boost their team spirit.
The German team has good cohesion in that it is mostly a quite young side who've been together consistently for a few years now. However, I'm not sure how well the conspicuously older players - the primadonna-ish Ballack and the not-quite-first-class Lehmann - integrate into the side.
Spain v Germany should be a great final.
Turkey are a nothing side: defensively quite sound and therefore hard to beat,but they don't look like they could go out and actually win a tough game. Russia are on a roll at the moment, but, much as I'd love to see an underdog cause another upst, I don't think they really have the class or experience to trouble Johnny Paella or Johnny Bratwurst.
Spain to beat Germany in the final - but it might well go to extra time. And - oh my god! - if it goes to penalties as well, Casillas might finally end the Germans' perfect record in shootouts.
Cowboy, wouldn't that be even sweeter than seeing nancy-boy Ronaldo sent to the hospital??
The Cowboy has - rather bizarrely! - said that he still defends "his picks" over "my picks".
Hmmm. Let's review.
He thought Germany would only get past Portugal on a shootout - rather than trouncing them in regular time.
He didn't think the Russians would even qualify for the knockout stage, certainly didn't fancy them to have a chance of upsetting the Dutch.
He said Spain would beat Italy "handily", rather than squeaking through on the shootout. (I rather think that I had taken up the cause of Spain first - though not, admittedly, from the very outset of the competition - but predicted that they would find Italy a handful.)
So, the only one of his Q-F predictions that came good was Turkey to beat Croatia on pens. Remarkable. Well done. Although he didn't offer any rationale for that. And it was, surely, one of the unluckiest defeats suffered by any country in any competition. Croatia had 70% of the game and 90% of the scoring chances, but couldn't break down the dour Turkish defence; and then conceded an equaliser out of nothing from the very last kick of the game?? You weren't predicting that, Cowboy. And there ain't no justice.
Anyway, the Cowboy is stuffed on his prediction for the ultimate winners, while I still have a good chance of having correctly called both finalists and the winners.
Holland, he delusionally persists in saying, were "the best team in the tournament". Bollocks! Well, I only saw brief highlights of their win over Italy, which might well have been their best performance. They were making very heavy weather of it against a dismal French side until they got those two late goals. They looked even more lacklustre against the Romanians, and were quite lucky to win it. They were completely trounced by the unfancied Russians. They treated us to some fabulous goals, but they weren't mustering many - any?? - controlled periods of possession, and their defence was pants. Germany or Spain (or Portugal or Croatia) would have absolutely spanked them.
Turkey will make Germany work a bit for the win, but it's hard to imagine them actually scoring. 2-0 to the Hun, I suggest.
Russia are buzzing after the last two games, and I fancy them to cause the Spaniards a bit of discomfort - especially if they manage to score first. Ordinarily, I'd fancy Spain to get at least 3 in a match like this, but I fear they may have lost their confidence in front of goal a bit after 120 minutes of being smothered by the 11-man defence of the Italians. Perhaps just 2-1 to them in this semi. Better that they save themselves for the final.
I'd like to think they will take the Germans by the same margin, but that may be a lot tougher: the Krauts might take them into extra time with a 1-1 or a 2-2, and then it'll be impossible to call.
I shall prognosticate further after the mid-week games.
0/4, although at least I left open the possibility of the Russians being in the QFs...
My job application for a post on the BBC team is in. I expect given this record to be sitting next to Chris Waddle and Graham Taylor at the next World Cup.
Now to jinx two more teams.
The Turks are the fairytale team of this tournament, but given that all their flair players are suspended or crocked, I can't see how they'll beat the Jerries.
I really, really liked the Russians, who I hadn't seen play before. Arshavin is really tasty and the big lad Pavlyuchenko has to be a threat anywhere. Their midfield completely dominated the Dutch, stifling their creativity. Given that the Italians and the ageing French couldn't do that, I rate them highly.
The Spanish didn't seem nearly as good against the Eyeties as they're made out to be. They almost choked the penalty kicks, but were out-choked by Italy.
My final prediction: Germany - Russia.
Likely final: Turkey-Spain.
Winners: Football fans.
The Turks have any flair players?? I thought they'd all taken other nationalities! Perhaps you are making a very subtle joke here, Swordsman.
I've been very impressed by the Spaniards' temperament in this so far - particularly in that very tough game against the Italians (of course they struggled a bit against a side fighting to avoid a lynching back home, a side who played with 10 or 11 men behind the ball for the entire fucking game, a side who were on average about 8" taller than them). Only one of their players choked (was it 'Geezer'? Never trust a player who retreats to the edge of the 18-yard box, or further, to take his pen; a 4-yard run-up is plenty. Fabregas had me a bit worried on that; but of course he is touched with the divine, and mortal rules do not apply to him.) - which, of course, is one more than you want, but not a disaster, certainly not a Croatia-level capitulation. I always thought they were looking perkier about it than the Italians. And Casillas pulled off two good saves. I really like the idea of him ending the Jerries' perfect record on shootouts.
I think Russia look a very decent side, and are on a rising trend in form. I don't think they'd disgrace the final at all, and might even be able to pull an embarrassing surprise on the Germans. But the Spanish, really, have way more class (and probably a much better defence - although their full-backs look a bit vulnerable); and having done the Russkies once, they should be able to do so again.
Turkey without the likes of Hakan Sukur seem utterly toothless. (Has he retired now? Or is he one of the "crocked or suspended" lot? I have no team news at all.) The only bet on that one is how long they manage to stop Germany scoring. I think they might manage to take them well into the second half. But they haven't got a hope in hell of stealing the game.
The flakiness of The Swordsman's judgements on football matters can no doubt be attributed to the fact that he has supported Sunderland all his life.
Sorry, but it had to be said.
Arda Turan has definitely been one of the players of the tournament. Tuncay, despite being a smog monster, has his days as well. Nihat looks overrated to me, but they say he's very good in the Spanish league, so there's three flair players for Turkey.
By the way, who do you support, Froog? I can't for the life of me recall.
I find these partisan affiliations rather crude and childish, I'm afraid, Swordsman.
My hometown team were Hereford Utd, but I haven't followed them since I was a wee lad (when I was, of course, spoiled rotten by the experience: probably the most meteoric rise ever through the lower divisions, and two major giant-killing feats in the FA Cup within 3 or 4 years - and I got to see great players like Tommy Hughes, Terry Paine, and a teenaged Kevin Sheedy).
I have a slight soft spot for Aston Villa, because my old man - a Midlander by birth - used to like them.
But in general I enjoy the freedom to support whoever plays the most attractive football (or to root viciously against whoever is the most arrogant, annoying, dishonest, or overrated - hence, in recent years, I tend to favour Arsenal over the rest of the Big Four).
Ah, an unaffiliated floater.
Anyway, I hope you'll agree that Turkey were the better side on the night, if not reflected by the result, and that a side with Volkan, Turan, Tuncay and Nihat would almost certainly have won.
Still, the Germans find ways to win when outplayed. That bodes well for them in the final against Russia...
Well, in the sporadic 10 or 15 minutes that CCTV allowed me to see, I thought the Turks looked surprisingly lively - but hardly "outplaying" the Germans.
I'm about to try and watch the full game as live on a re-run.
I'm glad you're doing your bit to help my Spanish boys by betting against them. Long may the Swordsman jinx continue!
Swordsman, I know how you hate to see red-and-white lose to black-and-white, but I think you're letting sentiment confound logic and reality in your assessment of that semi.
That was WAY the best the Turks have played so far. It is daft to suppose that they would have been even better with a different set of players, with players (some of whom, anyway - I've no idea who Volkan is.... I wonder if that isn't just one of your spoddy jokes; are you going to try to persuade me they had a player called Romulan on the bench too?) who had featured in earlier matches where they looked like they couldn't blow the skin off a rice pudding.
You're not even being consistent there. You had said earlier that you thought Nihat looked overrated, having failed to make any impression at all in his earlier matches. I thought Semih and Kazim did an outstanding job, and wouldn't have swopped them for anyone.
Tuncay is a solid player, but hardly a dreamboat. And, as I said above, it is difficult to divine in what way the Turks "missed" him, since they managed to play far better without him. I think perhaps you're failing to distinguish between the sort of player you'd like to have at Sunderland and the sort of player you need to have in a world-beating national side. They would have rolled over the Germans if Tuncay had been playing?! Give over.
In what sense did they "outplay" the Germans? Did they overwhelm them, intimidate them, dishearten them, stop them playing, make them look a poor side? NO. They had one or two purple patches early on where they had quite a few chances - something that might very well have rattled the Germans, but apparently didn't. In the middle of the 2nd half they appeared to be in control for quite a long spell - but failed to create any scoring chances.
Although Ballack had a quiet game, and the Germans struggled to create many clear openings against a well-organized defence, they moved the ball around fluently and confidently; they never appeared put out by the challenge their opposition was mounting; they always looked like they felt they could win.
Germany probably had around half of the overall possession, and very nearly as many scoring chances. They played some very sweet football. They never appeared to be in any great trouble. How is that "outplayed"?
No side clearly outplayed the other here. It was a very tight, hard-fought game (with a lot of full-blooded, often slightly rash tackles flying in in midfield). Germany, I felt, were quite impressive, good value for the win, probably the better side overall. They did, after all, score more goals. Whereas Turkey.... got a rather eccentric, somewhat lucky opener (for which I fault Lehmann slightly), and a good late equaliser - which, alas, proved to be no more than a consolation goal.
If Podolski hadn't squandered that chance at the end of the 1st half or Lahm had been given the penalty early in the 2nd, I suspect the Turkish challenge would have crumbled. The Turks gave them a hell of a good scrap, but the Germans were deserved winners.
They'll come undone against the Spanish, though.
It will satisfy my fantasies of overturning the German invincible-on-penalties record if Casillas saves one from Ballack in regular time (particularly late in the game, when it's their last chance to get back in contention...).
Well, a decent game last night, but hardly the epic we'd hoped for.
Was it a lack of ambition or a lack of confidence from the Russian lads? Had their burned themselves out in that quarter-final? Was their self-belief undone by their earlier defeat against the Spanish?
Or was it just that the Spanish are a much, much, much better team than the Dutch??
It seemed to me like the Russkies were giving them too much respect, defending very deep and relying on the quick counter-attack - rather than putting together the long passages of controlled possession in midfield that they'd enjoyed against the Dutch.
I'd fancy them against the Turks, though, if there were a third-place play-off.
Spain are now looking very good to take the title. 2-1 is my prediction. (Although I'd love to see 3-2 or 4-2...... and that Ballack penalty miss inside the last 10 minutes.....)
As a final provocation to my (now-dormant?) antagonists, The Cowboy and The Swordsman, and perhaps to The Bookseller, and to anyone else lurking out there, I offer this - a rank order of all the teams in the competition:
Spain
Germany
Portugal
Russia
Croatia
Turkey
Holland
Romania
Italy
Switzerland
Greece
Czech Republic
Sweden
France
Austria
Poland
Comments? Complaints? Abuse?
I'm so pleased my Spanish lads came through.
I thought Aragones' decision to play with a lone striker was unnecessarily cautious, but I suppose you might say he was vindicated by the result. The opening had me worried though: it was all Germany for the first 15 minutes. What happened after that? A complete turnaround. I didn't notice any tactical switch, but Germany just didn't seem to be able to get in the game. Even in the last 10 minutes or so, they didn't seem to be able to raise the tempo, to muster any real sense of urgency; it seemed as though they'd accepted they'd got beaten well before the final whistle. Very strange. That's probably one of the most dominant 1-0 wins I've ever seen.
What odds can you get on Spain for the next World Cup now?? I fancy a celebratory punt.
I really like that Senna (and not just because he got away with dropping the nut on Ballack - although that was perversely enjoyable). I'd never seen him before. Who does he play for? I think he might be the great secret of Spain's success in this tournament: a dogged, industrious midfielder who covers a lot of ground and does the simple things well, gets stuck in, wins the ball and keeps the ball. Every great side needs someone like that. That's what Germany, and most of the other teams in this tournament, have been missing. I suppose that's meant to be Frings's role, but he didn't look nearly as impressive here as he did in the World Cup.
Wenger needs to buy Senna.
Apologies for the silence - the computer is currently in hospital (literally - Mrs Bookseller's taken it in to Nigel the NHS techie to see if he can cure it). Our Windows has crashed leaving a grey Screen of Death, rendering the entire machine useless, so I'm now writing from an internet caff, just like the old days.
Mind you, I did spend most of last month watching Euro 2008, with little time for much else. My book finished 10% down on the tournament, mainly due to Ladbroke's frankly odd definition of 'each way'.
After a glance at how the groups played out en route to the final, I naturally put my cash on Germany (like everyone else). And assumed the Italians would shirt-pull their way to the final as well.
Being forced to support the Huns was no pleasant experience (or popular one down the pub, of course....), so I was pleased for good old Spain in the end. That only leaves one team of penalty-bottling under-achievers since the Sixties then...
The fine performance of Croatia & Russia I suppose could have been predicted, but when did the ability to beat England indicate anything more than average competence?
Had England taken Russia's place in Group D, you can imagine the hideous slaughter Villa, Fabregas & co would have unleashed upon them in their first game. You can also imagine the traditional mind-numbing 0-0 against Sweden in the second. And scraping a 1-0 against an already out Greece in the third. Then the lamentations of finishing third on goal difference... Probably just as well you didn't qualify, really. It certainly made the pubs far more pleasant places to watch it all in - all that space, friendly fans, no queues at the bar (except when the Dutch were playing, but the poor bastards deserve to drown their sorrows...).
Anyway, must go, my £1 running out.
Great to hear from you at last, Bookseller. I had been starting to get a little worried about you. I hope your computer issues are soon resolved.
England without McLaren (though I haven't seen any of Capello's games yet, I would imagine he will be - can only be - a significant improvement.... if perhaps prone to over-defensiveness?) might have done OK here. There are some long-standing problems we need to address - finding a balance in midfield, finding a good new right-back, finding a consistent goalkeeper, finding a regular strike partner for Rooney - but we have a lot of great players.
I agree that they would have been outclassed by Spain (though perhaps not quite so badly as the Russians first time out), but no-one else in this tournament was really much good. The Portuguese and the Dutch looked good going forward, but didn't have any steel in midfield or defence. The Italians, French, and Czechs were just unbelievably dire. The Croatians moved the ball about nicely, but struggled to score (missing Eduardo?). The Turks got steadily better through the tournament, but struggled to score. The Russians proved unexpectedly good at scoring, but less so at defending.
Any half-way decent side had a chance of winning this tournament. But I suppose on recent form, we can't say that England are even half-way decent.
I am relieved they didn't qualify, to be honest. Even when we have a half-way decent team, they invariably disappoint in the big competitions. And most of the fans are so obnoxious that I really don't want to associate myself with them in any way.
It is wonderfully liberating to just be able to sit back and just enjoy the football, without any of this nationalistic nonsense obtruding.
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