By Tom Cremins.

Spain could be on the brink of shedding their ‘perennial underachievers’ tag in tomorrow’s Euro 2008 final in Vienna (Kick-off 8.45 pm, 2.45 pm EST). After breaking their quarter final curse against Italy – they had been eliminated at that stage in tournaments 5 times in a row – they charged past highly fancied Russia by a 3-0 scoreline. The last time they won the continental title was 1964. And amazingly it is so far their only honour in international soccer, despite their strong tradition in the game.

Germany on the other hand are in familiar territory. They will be playing in their 6th European final and are chasing their 4th title. Despite this record,  Germany haven’t been overly convincing during this tournament, but they always seem to do enough to get the job done. They were anything but convincing against injury ravaged Turkey. They only managed to beat them 3-2, despite the fact that coach Fatih Terim’s squad was reduced to 14 fit players.

 It should be a fascinating contest, with Spain’s attacking prowess pitted against Germany’s organization and efficiency. The Spaniards will need to be very wary of Germany’s ability to attack on the break. But after the way they handled the threats posed by Italy and Russia, there is every reason to think that they can also contain the Germans.

The key to this game could be whether Michael Ballack overcomes a calf muscle complaint and plays. He has been Germany’s most inspirational player by far. He was somewhat disappointing against Turkey but is definitely the sort of player who will rise to the occasion when called upon. If he can’t play then either Tim Borowski or Bastian Schweinsteiger could slot into his position, but it would be a huge loss to the team. It may also mar the game as a spectacle, as the Germans may lack confidence and play more defensively in his absence.

In the centre of the Spanish midfield, Cesc Fabregas has been in outstanding form, and put in a devastating performance against Russia. He was ably assisted by Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta. Between them they may have enough to fashion a famous victory against the Germans.

In defence, players such as Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena and Sergio Ramos have made the Spanish defence resemble a brick wall. And if their opponents should somehow get past them, they have the magnificent goalkeeper Iker Casillas to contend with.

The German defence is muscular and will yield little to attackers. Christoph Metzelder and Philipp Lahm have been very solid indeed. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has had a good tournament for the most part, with the exception of the semi-final against Turkey when he was far from convincing. He will have to improve considerably on that display.

The teams will both probably start with just one striker, Miroslav Klose for Germany and Fernando Torres for Spain. They have worked tirelessly during the tournament without hitting the headlines, with Klose netting 2 goals so far, and Torres just 1. Spain’s top scorer in the competition, David Villa, is sidelined through injury.

Both teams clearly clearly have quality players throughout, and coaches Joachim Löw and Luis Aragonés are both known for their thorough preparation and attention to detail. In all likelihood this will be a very tight game with both sides working hard to keep possession and avoid mistakes, so we may not see some of the free-flowing soccer that has so far characterised the tournament up to now. But this has been a tournament full of surprises.

The safe money will be on Germany winning their 4th European title. But this Spanish team could have the guile, creativity and above all self-belief to bring to an end 44 barren years.

Written by Angela Asante

What a pity for Russia! Spain was just too good last night.

Despite the heavy rain, Luis Aragones’ side managed to display a mature and excellent performance. The first half was goalless, which left the Spanish coach anxious about what could happen. Torres struggled to find the net and really wasn’t as his best. As for Villa, he was hit by a foot injury and had to be substituted for Fabregas.

As things went right at the back for Spain with Sergio Ramos who defended outstandingly, they concentrated on breaking the dead lock.

At the 50th minute, Iniesta’s cross found Xavi who fired the ball through the Russian goal keeper’s legs to give his side a deserved lead.

With Silva being creative in midfield and playmaker Fabregas, it seemed like Spain had found the keys to open the doors of the Russian defence.

Substitute D. Guiza doubled the lead with less than 20 minutes to go when he looped the ball into the net after Fabregas had made a clever pass. The Russian keeper thought the goal was offside but he was wrong. Russian fans understood it was certainly all over for them but they kept praying for a miracle. But Spain’s game plan tired their opponents and even Arshavin could not make a revolution.

Russia’s hopes were completely destroyed when Silva, at last, got his first goal of the tournament.

3 – 0 to Spain and they will meet Germany in their first final of a major tournament since 1964.

Angela Asante
Euro2008TV Writer

Written by Angela Asante.

“There will be no miracle” said the coach of Turkey… and there has been NO miracle for his team!

Turkish fans might feel it’s hard to accept that their team has not made it to the final in Vienna.

Going into the game, the Reds were ravaged by injuries and suspension. Their team counted only 13 available players to face in-form Germany.

Most soccer analyst had predicted that Joachim Low’s side would “easily” pass the test and qualify to the ultimate stage.

But Germany was stunned when Turkey opened the scoring in the first half. They played with determination and dominated the game. However, almost out of nowhere, Germany found their way back as Schweinsteiger scored to provide his side a precious equalizer.

75 minutes had run down the clock and it was still 1 – 1. Turkey could have converted two or three shots into goals but keeper Jens Lehman was alert enough to make excellent saves.

Instead, it was the Germans who took the lead at the 79th minute when P. Lahm’s cross found Klose’s head who fired the ball past Rustu.

Turkey was desperate for another comeback.

And indeed, they had it: Sabri tapped the ball across the line from close range for the match to be all square. Germans fans could not believe it that point and suddenly, the red crowd came alive… but not for too long.

At the 90th minute, defender P. Lahm stepped in the penalty area and brilliantly scored the game’s fifth goal. 3 – 2 to Germany and the Turkish just couldn’t find another miraculous touch: an injury time free-kick was virtually their last chance of survival but the ball went well wide.

Certainly, the Germans did not deserve their victory. For Turkey, Lahm’s goal was questionable because the referee let the game continue though one of their players was injured on the ground.

Well, the Turkish have been brave throughout the tournament and their fans can certainly be proud of their heroes’ performance: these gentlemen have proved to the whole world what soccer is indeed about; but this time, luck wasn’t on their side.

Germany will face either Russia or Spain in Sunday’s final.

Angela Asante
Euro2008TV Writer

It could have been a great game. No, scratch that. It SHOULD have been a great game ! The current world champions against their runner-up.

Italy against France.

On the field, some of the greatest players of all time…

But in the end, the game was one of the worst of the tournament.

If Italy deserved the victory they got, based on the games they played, they did not deserve to advance to the quarterfinals all that much.

On the other hand, France lost everything and it is totally coherent if you look at the game they played during their week in Switzerland.

How much fans regret the Italian and French teams from 1998-2000. They faced each other in France for the 1998 World Cup and in the Netherlands during the 2000 European championship. And both games were far better than what we got to watch this time.
(read full article…)

On April Fool’s day, French manager Raymond Domenech made a joke : he announced on the French Federation’s website that his national team would not participate in Euro 2008.

At the time, some people laughed or at least smiled at the idea. Today, many of them wish it had been the truth. Because Domenech’s players did not live up to the hopes of 60 million French fans, who think the team should be ashamed of its performances.

Two years after bringing les Bleus to the world cup final in Germany, Raymond Domenech is threatened… A decision on whether he remains national coach will be made on July 3.
When he was asked about his future after the 2-0 defeat against Italy, he proposed to his girlfriend and mother of his children Estelle Denis (who is a famous journalist / anchorwoman in France). An answer that clearly upset French fans, many of whom are aking for Domenech to be fired.

Because if Raymond Domenech led the team to the final two years ago, he is not – nor has ever been – loved by the French audience like former coach Aimé Jacquet, ho led the team to the world cup trophy ten years ago. But the truth is Aimé Jacquet was very criticized by both media and fans in France prior to the world cup in 1998.

The difference is one of them actually won the world cup…

The other thing that people do not like about Raymond Domenech is the way he answers questions. Most of the time he is ironic…

Of course he is not agressive. When you watch his press conferences, he is actually pretty nice… joking with journalists. But he does not say anything interesting about the game or the team itself

There really is something about communication that Domenech does not like.
And it just so happens that there really is something about Raymond Domenech that French fans don’t like.

Maybe it is the fact that he has never won anything (except for a second division title in the late eighties).

Maybe it is the way he answers – or does not answer – the questions he is asked.

Maybe it is the sardonic smile he has everytime someone asks him something…

Whatever it is, it will all count against him on July 3rd, the day the French federation will give its decision…

By Roxanne Roche

Written by Angela Assante

At last, Spain has won victory over Italy!

They had never beaten the Azzuris since 1920 but on Sunday, they defeated them in style.

June 22nd is said to be cursed for the Spanish who have never won on that date, and breaking this fate required as much strength as wonders.

Unbreakable doors

90 minutes of football meant 90 minutes of beauty and emotion. Spain had the better of the game: their power lied in their possession and their tactical display. Ramos and Puyol were fabulous at the back along side keeper I. Casillas, Silva and Senna were dynamic in midfield while Villa’s pace and tricks helped Spain attack from every angle.

The Spanish could have broken the deadlock but Buffon was sharp and striker Fernando Torres was well contained by the Italian defence.

At the other end of the pitch, Italy’s number 9 Luca Toni suffered another miserable night.

For the third time in a row in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals, extra time was needed to separate the two sides; still, the doors of both goalkeepers’ post were closed.
Spain had a clear appeal on penalty early in the first half of extra time but the German referee denied them; Luis Aragones was furious while Italian fans felt redeemed.

The Spanish team showed signs of fatigue in the late stages of the 30 minutes and substituted D. Guiza who struggled to deal with the ball upfront. Italy tried to capitalize on these weaknesses as they then controlled the game but Casillas was too good to disappoint the Spanish supporters.

As time was running out, Spain’s hunger for snatching a very last minute victory growed bigger.

In the remaining seconds of the 120 minutes, they launched the last attack of the game but Santi’s effort was between a shot on goal and a pass and Villa could not reach the ball.

The heroic leader

The moment of penalty shootout saw the two captains – Buffon and Casillas – clash in a fierce duel.

The Italian keeper had previously saved a penalty in the group stage, which prevented his team from an early exit.

So could he save this other time?

Unfortunately for the World Cup Champions, the answer is no.

Real Madrid veteran I. Casillas spectacularly punched away Italy’s second spot kick, which put the Azzuris under pressure as Spain had converted two out of two at that stage.

Buffon tried his luck and rekindled his team’s chances of carrying the day when he saved Daniel Guiza’s low strike.

Stress reached its climax for both sides and Spain was suddenly in an uncomfortable position.

But Casillas again came to the rescue as he brilliantly put away another penalty kick – meaning that the Spanish were one kick away from reaching their first semifinals of a major tournament in 24 years.

Young player Fabregas had the opportunity to score his first ever penalty in professional football and he scored indeed

Italians are out and perhaps they will explain their loss by the fact that big players like Gattuso and Pirlo were suspended.

As for Spain, they will meet Russia in the semis and it promises to be a game of class as Russia will seek for revenge.

written by Angela Asante

(read full article…)