Group C Schedule

By Hasan Saiyid
Euro2008TV.com

Go ahead, write Italy off yet again.  Around the last game of the group stage of every major international tournament, Italy find themselves in a familiar position: do-or-die, with ruthless journalists (foreign and Italian) waiting to sound the Azzurri death knell.  Then, somehow, the Italians wriggle their way through, serving crow for the skeptics.

It seems Italy’s World Cup win of two years ago has done nothing to change the common perception that Italian football is an anachronism in a time that proffers the majestic Dutch and Spanish teams.  After all, which neutral would not be seduced watching the two? Even the normally prudent TSN commentator and former West Ham goalkeeper Craig Forrest could not resist being caught up in the Holland-France post-game euphoria. “That is the way football should be played,” he opined.

Maybe it is. I certainly cannot begrudge those who relish football for different reasons. Yet it is at the business end of tournaments that teams should really be weighed in the balance.  How many times have we been witness to false Spanish dawns? And cast your mind back to Euro2000. Did not the Dutch mesmerize then too, crushing Yugoslavia 6-1 only to then be outfought by, yes, Italy in the semi-finals?  Admittedly, there is something special about this Dutch side as their trouncing of Italy and France has shown, but it is early days yet.  And as Italian teams in the past have shown, peaking at the right time is key to winning international tournaments.

The reaction to Italy’s progress yesterday has been ambivalent. Their fans could not be happier, but the neutrals are cringing at another prospect of Italy going all the way.  Reverting to anachronistic stereotypes themselves, they apparently cannot bear the thought of dour, defensive Italy notching up a cynical win against the Spanish.  If there was evidence for their aversion, you could be more forgiving.  But the truth is Italy in the post-Trapattoni era have been a very attractive side to watch. They have enterprising fullbacks in Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta, and in Andrea Pirlo an elegant playmaker. However, their most crucial player may well be the dynamic Daniele De Rossi. He is certainly one of the most complete midfielders in circulation, and proved it yesterday, as he scored and dictated midfield play in Italy’s 2-0 defeat of France. Further up the park, Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero are quintessential creative players while Luca Toni, though still yet to find his feet in this tournament, is a handful for defences.

Even allowing for Dutch largesse in beating Romania 2-0 in a game that meant absolutely nothing to them, Italy certainly deserve to be facing Spain in the quarterfinals. Predictably, pundits have started reaching for neat little clichés to describe the encounter.  It will be the “free-flowing” Spaniards versus the “hard-nosed” Italians, writes BBC writer Phil McNulty.

I do not buy the style and substance dichotomy. It is too easy.  Football is about finer details and, for my money, about results. I would much rather Italy progress cynically than exit the stage theatrically.

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The final game of group qualifying starts this Sunday with Portugal playing Switzerland and Turkey playing the Czech Republic. On the final match day of group qualifying, all mathes will have the same kick off time so to prevent any teams affecting the natural outcome of the tournament.

Here are the possible outcomes as explained by UEFA for each group. 

GROUP A (Sunday)
Switzerland (0 pts, out) v Portugal (6, winners), Turkey (3) v Czech Republic (3)Portugal have clinched first place and Switzerland will finish fourth ahead of their game in Basel, so the focus will be on the winner-takes-all meeting of the Czech Republic and Turkey in Geneva. After a win and a loss each, the two teams are level in second place on points, goal difference and goals scored, so if they draw over 90 minutes, under UEFA regulations there will be a penalty shoot-out.

GROUP B (Monday)
Poland (1) v Croatia (6, winners), Austria (1) v Germany (3)
Croatia are confirmed group winners so will take on Turkey or the Czech Republic in Vienna on 20 June. However, Germany, Austria and Poland all have chances of earning a Basel tie against Portugal the night before. Germany, two points ahead of their rivals, need only draw with co-hosts Austria in Vienna as then Poland could not catch them on head-to-head record even if they beat Croatia in Klagenfurt. If Austria win they would go through, unless Poland defeat Croatia by a bigger margin to overtake the co-hosts’ currently superior goal difference (1-2 to 1-3).

If Austria and Poland finish level in second position on points, goal difference and goals scored, they will be split on qualifying coefficients (points per game) from the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2008™, and Poland are superior 2.167-1.500 (only Austria’s World Cup results count as they did not have to qualify for this tournament).

Group C (Tuesday)
Netherlands (6, winners) v Romania (2), France (1) v Italy (1)
Again, top spot is decided in favour of the Netherlands, and second-placed Romania will join the Dutch in the quarter-finals by winning their encounter in Berne. If Romania draw or lose then that would allow either France or Italy to go through by winning their match in Zurich – the only way Les Bleus can progress. If Romania lose and the others play out a score draw, Italy would go through in a three-way head-to-head tie on two points as they would have scored more goals in the games involving France and Romania.

If Romania fall by one goal, two goals or by a three-goal margin other than 3-0 and the other match finishes 0-0, Romania would advance as their head-to-head record with Italy would be dead level but they would have a superior overall goal difference (or in the case of the three-goal defeats, goals scored). If Romania lose by four goals or more and the other game ends 0-0, Italy would proceed with a better overall goal difference than Romania. If Romania lose 3-0 and the other match finishes 0-0, Italy and Romania would have to be split on qualifying coefficients, in which case Italy would prevail 2.364-2.250.

Group D (Wednesday)
Greece (0, out) v Spain (6, winners), Russia (3) v Sweden (3)
Spain completed a quartet of group winners with their last-gasp 2-1 defeat of Sweden and Russia’s 1-0 victory against holders Greece, who are now eliminated. Therefore all the focus is now on Sweden’s meeting with Russia in Innsbruck. Sweden are ahead on goal difference, so they require only a draw to set up a second consecutive UEFA European Championship last-eight encounter with the Netherlands in Basel on 21 June; Russia must win to go through. Whatever the result of Spain’s Salzburg encounter with Greece, they will travel to Vienna on 22 June to take on the Group C runners-up.

Written by Tom Cremins.

After two games, the Netherlands have utterly confounded the experts
and turned the “Group of Death” on its head. Against the odds, they
have dispatched both of the World Cup finalists, scored seven goals
and conceded just one. All while playing some of the most compelling
soccer of the tournament.

Friday’s stunning 4-1 victory over France, with goals from Dirk Kuyt,
Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and man of the match for the second
time in a row Wesley Sneijder, wins the group for the Netherlands.
They can look forward to a quarter final tie against the runner up
from Group D, either Russia or Sweden. That’s a game that they will go
into as strong favourites.

Already, comparisons are being drawn with the “Total Football” of the
’70s. The magic formula for the Dutch was to ingeniously combine
creative individuality and tireless teamwork. Players supported each
other and covered each other’s positions, along great fluidity of
play. This was done within the framework of the 4-3-3 formation, which
was ideally suited to that style of play. This has been updated by
coach Marco van Basten, who has preferred the more orthodox 4-4-2 in
the past, and is now making use of the increasingly popular 4-2-3-1
line up. But it is still as thrilling to watch, and is delighting the
huge contingent or tangerine clad fans that follow the Oranje army’s
march through the tournament.

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by Roxane Coche
Euro2008TV.com Writer

“They should be ashamed of themselves, all of them should”. This might seem harsh towards the French team but I have heard this sentence several times last night after the loss against the Netherlands.

Once again, Thierry Henry has not been the long-awaited saviour of their team. Or no, actually he was for about 30 seconds… Because that’s how long it took Arjen Robben to beat Coupet completely after Henry scored in Van der Sar’s far corner.

That’s what made the difference between the Oranjes and the Bleus : realism. The statistics prove it. France shot 25 times with only 7 shots on target and scored once… The Dutch shot 16 times with just 9 on target and … scored 4 goals !

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by Hasan Saiyid - Euro2008TV.com

So here Italy are, then, in a very familiar predicament. After all, it would be very un-Italian to smoothly sail into the next round. Even Italy’s World Cup win of two years ago was turbulent, if not on the pitch then off it. Then it was the match-fixing scandal that rendered Marcello Lippi’s team talks unnecessary; all the Italians had to do was to read any newspaper to get a profound sense of “we are in this together against all that doubt and disparage us”.

Now, as reigning World Champions and with an attendant expectation to sweep all before them, the Italians find themselves in a familiar situation. The Italian press and public have been scathing after their beloved Azzurri folded in staggering fashion against the Dutch. Against Romania, to make all that right, Italy need to win emphatically.

Coach Roberto Donadoni has admitted that he will give Alessandro Del Piero and Giorgio Chiellini space in the starting line-up, meaning at the very least the calamitous Marco Materazzi will sit the encounter out. Donadoni has also hinted that Del Piero may get a more central role, meaning that Italy may switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-3-2-1. Del Piero will also start as captain since his eighty-seven caps mean that he is now the most senior player in the squad.

The key for Italy in this game will be to move the ball around quickly. The Netherlands never let them settle, and Romania, who stifled France, will try to do much the same. If Italy can combine the guile of Del Piero with the brute strength of Luca Toni, then Italy should prevail.

What they are saying

Roberto Donadoni: “Romania are a well organized and close-knit unit, but we will have 90 minutes to score. We must be patient and control our opponents and try to find the energy because we will have lots of running to do.”

Del Piero: “There was the chance that I wouldn’t play and instead I am starting as captain, but I’m not thinking about proving a point,” the Juve star continued.I am keeping a clear mind and I will try and play as I did in the League. I want to be in the right place at the right time to do the right thing.”

Giorgio Chiellini: “I’m happy because that’s what I’m here for – I was hoping to play. This is a great chance for me and I have to take full advantage of it. I can’t wait to get on the pitch.”

After the boring draw against Romania, France is hoping to revive its tournament with the game against the Netherlands tonight.

And today, les Bleus can count on Thierry Henry. The record-scoring hitman is back from his calf injury and many French fans hope his presence on the field will give them an edge over the Oranjes.

Even though Raymond Domenech has not confirmed Henry in the starting 11 (he would only say “Thierry Henry is in the 23 who are all match-fit and could start”), no one imagines the ex-gunner to be on the bench if he is in shape.

Seen as the possible savior of the team today, Thierry Henry has not always been this sought-after by French fans.

Even though he has been around since 1998, he has not been considered as an unquestionable leader of the French squad… by the fans. At least not until Zinedine Zidane’s first retirement.

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