EURO 2008

Spain broke the drought of 44 years to win a trophy in a major tournament since 1964 in which they won the Euro title.

It was Spain 1, Germany 0 after 93 mins thanks to a 1st half goal from non other than the speedy Fernando Torres of Liverpool, leaving Philpp Lahm to rue his failure to clear the ball decisively. From Semi-final hero to Final villian, Lahm was replaced soon after the goal at half time. Torres, with his great speed, stoutness and flair, had been a constant threat throughout the game.

Fernando Torres, Jens Lehman & Philipp Lahm. 

It was deservedly win for the Luis Aragones and his team as Spain had been the most consistent team in the tournament.

Luis Aragones

Spain midfielder Xavi Hernández has been named the Castrol Player of the Tournament for UEFA EURO 2008.

Xavi Hernández

Germany – Finally put away the come back King of the tournament, Turkey, not without a scare though. Germany needed a stoppage time goal from Philipp Lahm to settle the score. Germany could be missing their inspirational captain Michael Ballack as the midfielder is receiving treatment for a calf injury.

Philipp Lahm’s stoppage time goal puts Germany through.

Spain – Spain basically overwhelmed Russia with a lot of flair, leaving them no room to bring on their threats seen in the last few games. Question is can they overcome their tag as a perpectual under achiever in a major tournament? To me Spain captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been the best goalkeeper in the toutnament so far. 

Verdict – Both are evenly matched. Spain had been more consistent than Germany on the road to the final. It is a physically powerful German team playing against the craft of the Spanish one-touch football.
Score: German 0-2 Spain.

Market odds: German (+0.925), Spain (-1/4, -0.975)

Russia – Probably the best team in the semi-finals right now, Russia had been playing admirably well. They had knocked out Netherlands regarded as a potential Champion of the tournament.

Guus Hiddink elated the win against hot favourite Netherlands.

Spain – One of the top 4 teams from the group stage to survive the quarter-finals albeit a penalty shootout with Italy. Spain had many shots on goal but were mostly firing blanks. They need to avoid long shots on goal cause the Russian goalkeeper will be up to the challenge. More trickery is needed.

Spain on winning the penalty shootout against Italy

Verdict – Very close match. Looks like Aragones superstition, banning the players from wearing yellow,  had paid off. Both teams had outstanding goal keepers. Can they prevail against the lively Russia team? Probably. Will be a low scoring game. Score: Russia 1-0 Spain.

Market odda: Russia(+0.875), Spain(-0.5, -0.925)

Germany – Drew first blood in the game against Portugal winning 3-2, Germany capitalized on its players height advantage pretty well. Knowing Portugal will lose in any aerial challenge, they had 2 free kicks which came off 2 headers and resulted in 2 goals. The free kicks were not directed at the goal mouth but at players standing around the goal mouth. Headers are more difficult to save than direct free kick. Germany found their winning strategy at last.

Bastian Schweinsteiger with his opener.

Turkey – Its like a cat having nine lives, came back from the dead in the last 2 games. Needed a 121min goal to force the game against Croatia to penalties in the quarter-final. Could miss out up to a third of the players in the semi-finals through injuries and suspension including top scorer Nihat Kahveci who is confirmed out due to a thigh injury.

Nihat Kahveci receives a pat on the shoulder from Turkey coach Fatih Terim as he limps out of the quarter-final against Croatia

Verdict – Turkey’s injury woe is Germany’s fortune. Score: Germany 3-1 Turkey.

Market odds: Germany (-11/4, -0.975), Turkey (+0.925)

Spain – Joined the ranks of Netherlands and Croatia to win a game with its reserves showing they too had depth and quality.

Daniel Güiza scores the winning goal, 2-1 to Spain.

Italy – Gets a reprieve with a 2-0 win over France, aided by an early red card to Abidal and having had Franck Ribery being stretchered out which totally tilted the game towards Italy.

Eric Abidal fouls Toni for Italy`s first-half penalty and was red carded.

Verdict – Italy had been inconsistent but seems to have recovered in the last game, that’s Italy. Always illusive. Buffon had done well in front of the goal post too. Spain’s trickery may well be able to knock Italy out of the competition. 3 of the 4 potential Champions of the tournament, Portugal, Netherlands and Croatia had been knocked out in the quater finals, could Spain break the jinx?
Score: Spain 2-1 Italy

Market odds: Spain (-1/4, -0.925), Italy (+0.85)

Netherlands – Despite fielding a largely reserve team, Netherlands demolished a Romania side that did not show much urgency. The Dutch showed that they had the depth and quality to go all the way.

Robin Van Persie delivered.

Russia – The Russians totally dominated the game against the Swedes better then what Portugal did against Sweden. They were quick offensively and strong defensively, living up to their name as a dark horse. They could have score 5 or 6 goals instead of 2. They will give the Dutch a good fight here.

Andrei Arshavin in the thick of every action.

Verdict – Netherlands may be the favourite but Russia sure looked like champion material themselves with the Russia player of the year, Andrei Arshavin, and Roman Pavlyuchenko, providing the threats.
Score: Netherlands 2-1 Russia

Market odds: Netherlands (-3/4, +0.9), Russia (+1.0)

Croatia – Croatia played their last game with reserves and still came out on top confirmed they had depth and quality players in their line up.

Ivan Klasnic eliminated Poland with the solitary goal in the last group game.

Turkey – It was drama all round as the Turks stage an amazing come back from the last group game against the Czechs with 2 goals down and 15 mins to go, they went on to score 3 goals to put the Czechs out of the tournament. Peter Cech and company were devastated. The Turkey goalkeeper, Volkan Demirel, was red carded for pushing an opposing player to the ground in stoppage time will sit out a two match ban. It was the spirit and the perseverence of the Turks that saw them through.

Nihat Kahveci scored two late goals to put the Turks through.

Verdict - The Turks had been lucky with the Czechs in the last outing but will have problem overcoming the more superior Croats. Score: Croatia 2-1 Turkey

Market odds: Croatia (-1/2, +1.0), Turkey (+0.9)

Portugal – Portugal’s reserve team was hammered 2-0 by the Swiss who managed to salvage some pride in their group game. Coach Scolari will be bringing on the first team regulars again, in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco & Pepe, in the knock out stage of the tournament.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, gifted Swiss a last hoorah by fielding a reserved team, shake hands with Kuhn.

Germany – Came through with a high pressured 1-0 win over Austria. Lukas Podolski may not be available for the game because of a calf problem. Will be sweating on the fitness of Torsten Frings due to a broken rib. Joachim Löw is suspended for arguing with the fourth official and will not be permitted on the bench. Under UEFA regulations, he may follow the match from the stands but is not allowed in the dressing room, tunnel or technical area before and during the game, nor is he allowed to get in contact with his team.

Verdict – This is a clash of the giants. Scolari will be recalling all his fire power. Germany’s performance in the 2nd and 3rd game had not looked like they can overcome the Portugese. Germany’s saviour may come down to the goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann.
Score Portugal 2-0 Germany.

Market odds: Portugal (-1/4 -0.925), Germany (+1.0)

Russia – The Russians showed a bit more urgency in the last game against Greece. Guus Hiddink’s Russian team salvaged some pride at the end of a very close match and lived up to his name as one of the most sought after coach in the world. Russian footballer of the year, Andrei Arshavin, is set to return after a two match suspension in the qualifiers. He could be the answer to end Russia’s firing of blanks in front of the goal mouth.

Sergei Semak`s brilliant overhead kick set up the only goal of the game & ended Greece Euro campaign.

Otto Rehhagel and Guus Hiddink shake hands at the end of the match

Sweden – Sweden played well against Spain with more shots on goal but is unlucky to concede a stoppage time goal to Spain losing 2-1. Ibrahimovic got himself on the score sheet again. The once great Henrik Larssen seems to be over the hill.

Ibrahimovic levels  the score for Sweden

Verdict -In the last game against Spain, Sweden looks potent in front of goal and strong in defence. Even Spain had problems displaying their flair. This is a match that can go either way.
Score: Russia 2 -3 Sweden.

Market odds: Russia (+1.0), Sweden (0, +0.925)

Greece – The reigning Champion once again looked vulnerable and disunited in the previous outing. Already eliminated from the group stage, will be playing their last game with only pride to salvage.

Spain – Spain’s play was mostly subdued by the Swedes in the last outing. They were unlucky to have a clear-cut penalty denied by the referee. Left it late to score a goal in stoppage time to put them on top of the table.

The two goal scorers for Spain Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Verdict - Spain needs a point to top the group if they were to avoid Netherlands in the quarter finals. If Spain lose, they will lose top spot only if Sweden beat Russia by at least 3 goals margin or Russia beat Sweden by at least 4 goals. So Spain looks like they will rest players and give the reserves a run-out here. It goes to show if Spain has quality and depth in its reserves. Score: Greece 0-1 Spain.

Market odds: Greece (+0.95), Spain (-1/2, +0.95)