Romania

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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 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.”

Written by Roxane Coche
Euro2008TV.com Writer

0-0… The first game of France in this European championship turned out to be a boring draw against Romania. 12 shots for France, 9 for Romania… Only one shot on target from France, none from Romania…

And if those poor statistics are not enough to prove how insipid France was, check out the only shot on target by Les Bleus :

It looks like Karim Benzema was afraid to score, like all he wanted was to have one shot on target in his statistics…

Of course, he has an excuse, he’s young and inexperienced in such major tournaments. Remember Franck Ribéry two years ago : until he scored against the Spaniards in 1/8 finals, he barely seized his chance to shoot and when he did it was almost never on target… Maybe all Karim Benzema needs is to score once to play like he did all year long with Lyon… But when will that happen ? And most importantly, how will it happen ?

The positive thing (yes there is one positive thing) is the players and the coach know that both their game and the match was far from being good… So they will be able to do some changes… We will know Friday night at 8h45 pm (2h45 pm ET) what changes were made…

Two years ago, France also started the world cup with a draw against Switzerland (0-0) and still qualified for the 1/8 finals with 5 points.

The difference is: back then, South Korea and Togo completed the group. This year, Les Bleus now have to face Italy and the Netherlands… The world champions and the team who humiliated the world champions 3-0 the same day the French players could not score once against Romania…

But French fans still have hope for several reasons :

1 – Romania also held the Oranjes in Rotterdam in March 2007 before beating them in Romania 1-0 in October. As a result, Romania finished first of the qualifying group.
2 – Romania’s style is to “not take a goal”. They don’t play that much. They defend and counter-attack. Considered as the weakest team in the group, they’re happy to get a draw against France… The Azzurri and the Oranjes do not play that way and French people know them better than they do Romania.
3 –Thierry Henry should be back against the Netherlands. And Patrick Vieira might be too.
4 – Italy’s start is even worse than theirs… Something that lifts the French spirits up a little since we all know the two nations are the best “friennemies” when it comes to soccer.
5 – Since Raymond Domenech has been manager of the team, the team’s level improves as the competition goes on.
6 – Raymond Domenech is expected to make some changes to the team.

But whatever happens against the Netherlands, many French fans have one dream : that the teams plays its qualification against Italy next Tuesday. It might be risky but if France wins, what a good revenge it would be after their tragic loss in the final two years ago !

France could not break down the stubborn Romanian defence and have suffered the first setback of the tournament dropping two points to a solid Romanian side. Many expect this group to be have a tight qualification with and possibly having it decided by goal differential.

France were lacklustre and failed to score in their opening Euro 2008 game against Romania which could leave them with an uphill task to qualify.

Missing influential midfielder Vieira and main striker Henry, they created little against the hard-working but unambitious Romanians.

France coach Raymond Domenech has compared Romania to old foes Italy as he prepares for his side’s Group C opener against the eastern Europeans in Zurich this afternoon. Most pundits are predicting the Romanians will be the whipping boys in a pool that also includes Holland and Italy, the world champions.

France captain Patrick Vieira remains a major doubt and could even been ruled out of the tournament after he picked up a thigh injury in training.

Coach Raymond Domenech will wait until the final moment before deciding whether to replace Vieira with on-standby midfielder Matthieu Flamini.

Thierry Henry (sciatic nerve) and Franck Ribery (ankle) are also doubts.

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Written by Roxane Coche
Euro2008TV.com writer

France starts the competition today at 6 pm in Zurich (12 pm ET).

Although they had transportation problems, les Bleus arrived yesterday afternoon in Zürich. Domenech and Thuram gave a press conference at 7 pm in which they confirmed that the decision about Patrick Vieira’s future in the competition will be taken right before the game sheet is handed in (around 5 pm - 11 am ET).

The second information of the night came a little later, at the team’s practice : once again, France’s record-scoring hitman, with 44 international goals, Thierry Henry did not train with the rest of the squad.

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