EURO 2008

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)

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)

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 Greeks were not able to display the cohesiveness of the team that made Champions in 2004. The Greeks were largely contented to sit back and soak up pressure and waiting for the counter attack opportunity which never came. After conceding a goal from Snerijda which came out of no where, they conceded another one 5 mins later. Will that give them some urgency in this game remains to be seen.

Georgios Karagounis (Greece)

Russia – Players don’t show much skill in the opener. Even the goal keeper, touted to be of the same vein as Peter Cech of Chelsea, disappoints. Players took too long to capitalise on a shot on goal until it was quickly clamped down by the oppostion. Roman Shirokov and Sergei Semak conceded that Spain had got the result they deserved as they reflected on an error-strewn 4-1 loss for Russia in Innsbruck.

Sergei Semak (Russia)

Verdict – Both teams played their 2nd game knowing that a victory is a must they were to have any chance of going through the group stage. Russia can win the if they are a little more street wise. They looked evenly matched. A draw would be a fair result. Score: Greece 1-1 Russia.

Market odds: Greece (-0.9), Russia (-1/4, +0.825)

Spain – Perpetual underachiever in a major competition, could they turn the fortune this time round. This had led coach Luis Aragones to study the stars or the Kabbalah, an ancient tradition of explaining Judaism’s holy texts through mystical means. He believes that yellow is unlucky, despite the fact that it makes up half the Spanish flag. He has banned all his players from wearing yellow. Coming into the tournament, they are undefeated in 16 matches. In the last 18 matches, they have beaten world champions Italy, Argentina, France and England. Majority of their first-choice XI had Champions league experience.

Russia - Qualified at the expense of England. Coach Guus Hiddink have transformed the team into one of the dark horse of the tournament. 22-year-old goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, of CSKA Moscow, is a star in the making and is said to be in the same class as Peter Cech of Czech Rep. The back three also play for CSKA Moscow. Knowing each other well give them significant strength in defense.

Prediction – Expect coach Luis Aragones to turn the fortune for Spain around this time round with a low score line. Score: Spain 1-0 Russia.

Market odds: Spain (-3/4, +0.925), Russia (+1.0)