Euro 2008 update: What you set out not to do, wins you the game

Football is a funny game. The first half between Russia and Spain was nervous and edgy, both teams not going for the jugular. I think, judging from Aragones’ comments before the match, he wanted to play compact and tight, to prevent the Russians from stamping their game and opening up Spain with quick counter attacks. David Villa then gets injured and Fabregas comes on, and the game opens. You would assume that Russia would use the space to look for openings, as they did against Holland. Instead they backed off after the first Spanish goal, maybe its the lack of experience. You play a game plan that stifles you, only for a slight change of fate to turn the game around. What you set out not to do, actually wins you the game.

Anyway, Spain look like the best team in the tournament and should they win against Germany, then some justice would be done. But never discount the Germans, one match they may seem out of it, only for them to bounce back (they are world beaters when it comes to resilience). I can see Spain losing, but not this time. After their penalty shoot-out victory against Italy, I think this team has the resolve to go on and win this tournament.

Euro2008 update: The Semi-Finals

The semi-finals are upon us. Some quick things to note. First let me start with predictions I have previously made, with some going wrong (usually by a penalty shoot-out or the whisker of a lucky richochet). I predicted Croatia to make it to the semis, and it seemed that would be the case, only for Turkey to equalise with the last kick of the game and win on penalties. With an amazing stroke of luck ‘Teflon’ Germany now play a near depleted Turkey, missing many key players through suspension and injury. No way will Germany lose this one, luck once again gives them a straight path to the final, as similarly happened in the 2002 World Cup (with a good, if not so special team). What can you say, when fortune falls upon you all the time?

One prediction I got right was Holland not winning Euro2008 and even predicting accurately how they would implode. However I thought it would be in the semis and not the quarter-final match against Russia. No one can ever discount the Hiddink factor, as with Germany, fortune seems to conspire with him (well not with Australia in the 2006 World Cup). Then there was my prediction that Spain, considering the relative average age of the squad, would not have the mental resolve to beat Italy (as is the history with these type of fixtures.) Again, Spain managed to win that match on penalties. This tells me that maybe, as widely tipped, this could be their year. Will they implode in the semis against Russia, as is typical with the nearly achievers like Holland and Portugal? Without doubt this match will be very different then their encounter in the group stages, and Hiddink will do his homework. It’s a very difficult one to call, but I think Spain will win this one, for the simple observation that unlike Holland they showed a solid defensive display against Italy and might be able to close down the attacking threat of the Russians (Holland’s defence was carved up by Russian play). Whatever they do, they will have to defend tight and keep their concentration, and maybe man mark Andrei Arshavin? Unlike the Dutch, they will have to prevent the Russians taking the initiative. Well that’s the observation of the Spain coach “We will have to play in a way which stops them playing and prevents them from counter attacking. We need to keep at them and give them less space.” We will see…

That leaves us with a potential final between Spain and Germany. I’ll leave that to a future post…