OK, I'm feeling suitably smug after the Germans indeed ground out an undeserved win last night without playing especially well. Well played Turkey for never knowing when they're beaten - until the final whistle obviously. With a half decent keeper who knows what may have happened - think David Seaman vs Ronaldinho free kick in 2002.
Anyway there's another game to look at yet, so let's talk about the Russians. I'm at a loss as to why Hiddink hasn't landed the Chelsea job yet, as his Russia team appear to play the football that Abramovich wants to see. Comfortable in possession and technically gifted, with a tough spine, I think the Russians have been a match for any team in the tournament. That is apart from their nervous first display against tomorrow's opponents, Spain. Shouldn't be a shock to anyone that has ever seen them play previously, or the ease with which the Zenit St Petersburg team dismantled Bayern and Rangers en route to the Uefa Cup final.
Pavlyuchenko up front is a threat, and can finish (sometimes), and it'll be a good battle with Marchena and the ever-impressive Puyol. If he gets the service from Arshavin, which should be nailed on, he'll get chances. Particularly now Barca have now made a bid for the little maestro. The two attacking full backs Anyukov and Zhirkov look ready to do a Thuram or Grosso and weigh in with an important goal, and the midfield is steady if unspectacular, mashalled by the skipper Semak. The doubt is at the back where Kolodin should be kept up the other end taking 45yd pot shots. Villa and Torres will run the two lumbering centre backs around and may cause problems. The jury's still out on the keeper Akinfeyeev, who's apparently great on Championship Manager, but appears to feel he has an unfair advantage using his hands, so elects to even things up by punching anything heading his way.
The Spanish have been many peoples tip (including mine) from the start. On the basis that they have some great players and "it's about time they won something". Doesn't work for England fellas. Villa and Torres haven't really fired together since the first game, against tomorrow's opponents Russia, but still remain a massive threat, particularly when they run at the Russian back four, and cut them apart with movement. They need to improve the link up play that's seen them hitting the first defender with every cross since that first game.
Fabregas ran the Italy game when he came on, and must be given a chance to start. If he can fire the midfield, probably at the expense of Iniesta or Xavi, then the Spanish have a chance. At the back much will reply on Puyol and Marchena marshalling Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko. The latter will be easier, and I can see Marchena being left that job, which means poor Carles or Ramos might be left chasing Arshavin across the width of the pitch.
With all that in mind, plus the pressure factor of being favourites, logic suggests the Spanish bubble will burst tomorrow, with a narrow Russia win without the need for pens. These are two of the best footballing sides in the competition so it's a shame that one of them will have to go on to be bored to death by Germany in the final.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Teutonic bulldozer and Turkey for tea
Well it's semi-final time again, and once again we're sitting here watching the business end of a tournament without England in it. At least we weren't here this time to get knocked out. And we still have the moderate comfort of watching some quality (and potential) premiership players.
The latest rumours surround the fleetfooted Andrei Arshavin, or Андрей Асрхавин as his mum knows him. I always wondered why the players names aren't in their own language on the back of shirts - now we know! Anyway, it appears the wiley old professor of Foreign studies at Arsenal has realised that Andrei has conjured himself out of fresh air, and anyone that can do that will be a welcome addition to the "go missing in big games crew" that occupy the Emirates dressing room. At least he has a pedigree of mesmerising Rangers in the UEFA pot final. Hmmmm.
Anyway, to tonight's match up.
Germany against Turkey offers yet another underdog scenario, and as usual the Germans have ground out the passage to the knock out stages. The majestic Michael Ballack looks like the player of old, and the guy who so nearly propelled Chelsea over the finish line this season. The solidity of Frings and the runs of Lahm from full back mean that Germany's midfield should dominate and create chances for Podolski, Klose and whoever replaces Gomes (who apparently can't remember scoring all those golas in the Bundesliga last season). The German weakness is that they have 2 centre halves who look like they'd be more at home administering Suplexes in the WWE than dispossessing a skilful forward. And then there's Jens Lehman. Add your own punchline.
Hands up anyone who can name a Turkish player other than Nihat, who dragged them back from the brink against the Czechs, but is now apparently out of the tournament. Much rests on Semih Senturk, who has 2 already this tournament. Turkey have battled their way through, and I heard a great stat that they've only been in the lead for 2 minutes of the entire tournament. This suggests that they're very fit and never give up, qualities that willbe tested against the Germans who might not be spectacular (Ballack free kicks apart) but will pound away til the opposition cave in. Their injury crosis is so bad that Terim claims only 13 fit outfield players will be in the squad tonight. Remains to be seen, but they are shorn of a couple of centre backs and Klose and Podolski are too much for many fit defenders, never mind the heroic Servet who has pretty much been on one leg since day 1. And Rustu's renaissance will probably last only two games.
It's a shame for that Turkish support which trebles by the formula - (Massive underdog x playing Germany)+ Hansen sticks to Germans - but I can't see anything other than the German bulldozer rumbling on in normal time - and if it did go to penalties we all know what would happen.
The latest rumours surround the fleetfooted Andrei Arshavin, or Андрей Асрхавин as his mum knows him. I always wondered why the players names aren't in their own language on the back of shirts - now we know! Anyway, it appears the wiley old professor of Foreign studies at Arsenal has realised that Andrei has conjured himself out of fresh air, and anyone that can do that will be a welcome addition to the "go missing in big games crew" that occupy the Emirates dressing room. At least he has a pedigree of mesmerising Rangers in the UEFA pot final. Hmmmm.
Anyway, to tonight's match up.
Germany against Turkey offers yet another underdog scenario, and as usual the Germans have ground out the passage to the knock out stages. The majestic Michael Ballack looks like the player of old, and the guy who so nearly propelled Chelsea over the finish line this season. The solidity of Frings and the runs of Lahm from full back mean that Germany's midfield should dominate and create chances for Podolski, Klose and whoever replaces Gomes (who apparently can't remember scoring all those golas in the Bundesliga last season). The German weakness is that they have 2 centre halves who look like they'd be more at home administering Suplexes in the WWE than dispossessing a skilful forward. And then there's Jens Lehman. Add your own punchline.
Hands up anyone who can name a Turkish player other than Nihat, who dragged them back from the brink against the Czechs, but is now apparently out of the tournament. Much rests on Semih Senturk, who has 2 already this tournament. Turkey have battled their way through, and I heard a great stat that they've only been in the lead for 2 minutes of the entire tournament. This suggests that they're very fit and never give up, qualities that willbe tested against the Germans who might not be spectacular (Ballack free kicks apart) but will pound away til the opposition cave in. Their injury crosis is so bad that Terim claims only 13 fit outfield players will be in the squad tonight. Remains to be seen, but they are shorn of a couple of centre backs and Klose and Podolski are too much for many fit defenders, never mind the heroic Servet who has pretty much been on one leg since day 1. And Rustu's renaissance will probably last only two games.
It's a shame for that Turkish support which trebles by the formula - (Massive underdog x playing Germany)+ Hansen sticks to Germans - but I can't see anything other than the German bulldozer rumbling on in normal time - and if it did go to penalties we all know what would happen.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
What's it all about then?
No, before you read any further, this isn't my half hearted attempt at working out why we're here.
I've decided (with pushing from a few mates) to start to air my views on various sports (but mainly Football) to the wider world. Not that they're necessarily any interest to anyone but it may allow the lads to get a word in edgeways.
I thought the best way to start a blog about football was to write something about what the world of football has offered over the last few weeks.
We're nearing the end of the European Championships already (anyone remember the 3 year long cricket world cup?) and I agree with many of my mates who say they've enjoyed it much more than we thought we would. Without the inevitable torment of an early England exit in the knockout stages, this major tournament has actually served up some great entertainment as well as a putting a few of the lesser known players in the global shop window (take a bow Mssrs Arshavin, Zhirakov, Engelaar and Boruc).
The only thing that has slightly spoiled the whole event has been the commentary and punditry (Cue rant number 1). We're all pleased the BBC and ITV continue to broadcast these tournaments even without England, but wouldn't they be better served getting some more incisive (by that I mean not braindead) co-commentators and studio 'experts'.
I've long held the view that being forced to listen to David Pleat for 90 minutes is what the American phrase 'cruel and unusual punishment' was invented for. A normally fairly calm individual watching a match in which he has no partisan views will be roused to a level of TV smashing anger by the stream of inanities that pour out of the man. Example - during Portugal's final group game Helder Postiga made an appearance. Having had him at Spurs you'd have waited for some insight from Pleat, perhaps "he likes the ball played in low to the front post" or some such. What we actually got was..."he's a nice boy". Fantastic. The prosecution rests.
We all know Alan "dressing room joker" Shearer has all the dynamic TV presence of the couch he shares with the sardonic Mr Hansen (who is usually worth hearing at least). It amazes me that despite all the rumours of a supposed return to football (Newcastle/Blackburn/Sheff Wed??????) the guy hasn't returned to the environment he obviously felt (and looked) more at home in. Come on Alan, do us a favour and go help out old Kelvin Koogan before his hair actually goes totally see through.
Finally, as a Manchester resident, I think it's about time we all forgot about Cristiano Ronaldo entirely. My one take on the whole subject is this; if a player wants to go, there is pretty much nothing a club can do to stop him. Ronaldo wants to go, so United should wait til he asks for a transfer. Thus saving themselves millions in loyalty payments, and ensuring the villains of the piece, his agent Mendes and the money men at Real get 10% of f*ck all and a larger bill respectively. Then sell the boy for £70million and buy 3 world class players to defend the European Cup.
I've decided (with pushing from a few mates) to start to air my views on various sports (but mainly Football) to the wider world. Not that they're necessarily any interest to anyone but it may allow the lads to get a word in edgeways.
I thought the best way to start a blog about football was to write something about what the world of football has offered over the last few weeks.
We're nearing the end of the European Championships already (anyone remember the 3 year long cricket world cup?) and I agree with many of my mates who say they've enjoyed it much more than we thought we would. Without the inevitable torment of an early England exit in the knockout stages, this major tournament has actually served up some great entertainment as well as a putting a few of the lesser known players in the global shop window (take a bow Mssrs Arshavin, Zhirakov, Engelaar and Boruc).
The only thing that has slightly spoiled the whole event has been the commentary and punditry (Cue rant number 1). We're all pleased the BBC and ITV continue to broadcast these tournaments even without England, but wouldn't they be better served getting some more incisive (by that I mean not braindead) co-commentators and studio 'experts'.
I've long held the view that being forced to listen to David Pleat for 90 minutes is what the American phrase 'cruel and unusual punishment' was invented for. A normally fairly calm individual watching a match in which he has no partisan views will be roused to a level of TV smashing anger by the stream of inanities that pour out of the man. Example - during Portugal's final group game Helder Postiga made an appearance. Having had him at Spurs you'd have waited for some insight from Pleat, perhaps "he likes the ball played in low to the front post" or some such. What we actually got was..."he's a nice boy". Fantastic. The prosecution rests.
We all know Alan "dressing room joker" Shearer has all the dynamic TV presence of the couch he shares with the sardonic Mr Hansen (who is usually worth hearing at least). It amazes me that despite all the rumours of a supposed return to football (Newcastle/Blackburn/Sheff Wed??????) the guy hasn't returned to the environment he obviously felt (and looked) more at home in. Come on Alan, do us a favour and go help out old Kelvin Koogan before his hair actually goes totally see through.
Finally, as a Manchester resident, I think it's about time we all forgot about Cristiano Ronaldo entirely. My one take on the whole subject is this; if a player wants to go, there is pretty much nothing a club can do to stop him. Ronaldo wants to go, so United should wait til he asks for a transfer. Thus saving themselves millions in loyalty payments, and ensuring the villains of the piece, his agent Mendes and the money men at Real get 10% of f*ck all and a larger bill respectively. Then sell the boy for £70million and buy 3 world class players to defend the European Cup.
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