EURO 2008

France – Thiery Henry looked like he is off his prime, scuttering an easy one-on-one with the goal keeper in the previous game. The rest of the French players also looked slow and not up to the mark.

Thiery Henry looked like he is off his prime, missing a one-on-one.

Italy – Played well against Romania only to have a goal denied by the referee for off-side. Bufon saved  a penalty from Adrian Mutu to give Italy a life line.

Bufon saved a penalty by Adrian Mutu

Verdict: Both side needed a win and depends on Netherlands to beat Romania. The results won’t matter if Romania beat a relaxed Netherlands. Both sides are evenly matched in a game that can go either way.
Score: France 0-0 Italy.

Market odds: France (+0.825), Italy (-1/4, -0.9)

Netherlands - The Dutch delivered with flamboyance and entertained once again in the last outing. Already topped the group with one game to play, the Dutch will be resting players and give the reserves a go.

Celebrating Dirk Kuyt’s opener against Germany

Romania – The Italians had a lot of trouble taming the Romanians. Romania needs a win to go through. A draw may suffice if France and Italy draw in their last game.

Adrian Mutu … moment of ecstasy scoring a goal and later despair for missing a penalty.

Verdict – Netherlands looked likely to give their reserves a run out as any result for them will do. The Romanians are the beneficiary of a relaxed and weak line up of the Netherlands, they may well get the win they want. Netherlands will also prefer Romania to go through rather than France and italy, being touted as the weaker of the three.
Score: Netherlands 1 – 2 Romania

Market odds: Netherlands (-0.975), Romania (-1/4, +0.9)

Austria – The Austrians get a lifeline through a stoppage time penalty. Their never-give-up attitude pays off. The Polish defense were prised open a few times but somehow the deservedly goal eluded them till the last minute.

Ivica Vastic scored the stoppage time penalty.

Germany – Germany rue their defensive errors and erratic play and didn’t pose much of a threat to Croatia in he last game. A draw may be sufficient to see them through to the knock out round provided Poland did not win Croatia by a big margin, which is not likely to happen.

Bastian Schweinsteiger .. Red carded for forcefully bringing down a Croat, one match ban.

Verdict – Both teams will need to fight to the very last minute. The Germans looked erratic and suddenly seems so vulnerable in the last game against Croatia. What  were they thinking? That they will have an easy game with the Austrians? Thinnk again … the Austrians will be sticking to the Germans like leeches and it won’t be easy to beat the spirited Austrians.
Score: Austria 1-1 Germany.

Market odds: Austria (-0.925), Germany (-1, +0.825)

Poland – Poland rue their stoppage time penalty giveaway to Austria. It has to win the game with at least a 2 goal margin and depends on Austria to beat Germany to go through.

Poland Captain Jacek Bak

Croatia – Croatia are beginning to look like Champion material in the game against an erratic Germany. They will likely give the reserves a chance to run out and soak in the atmosphere. They need a point to top the group, else Germany may overtake them.

Slaven Bilic providing the side show during the match.

Verdict – Poland is in a better position then the other two strugglers in the group as it plays against pressureless Croatia. However, they will get no favours from the Croats looking to avoid a quarter final clash with Portugal.
Score: Poland 1-1 Croatia

Market odds: Poland (+0.85), Croatia (-1/4, -0.925)

Turkey – Showed more passion in the previous game against Switzerland. An injury time goal from Arda give them a 2-1 win and a gleamer of hope to go through to the quarter final.

Semih Senturk (No. 9) Equalises

Czech Republic – Although they lose the game with Portugal, they did pose quite a few threats in the earlier part and seems to be able to win Portugal. However, the Ronaldo and Deco had other ideas, overturning the game with their individual flair and trickery. The great Peter Cech was humble by three goals against him.

The great Peter cech humbled.

Verdict – Both teams are equal in points, goals for and goals against on the table. If the score is level after 90 mins, it will go into penalties straight away, no extra time. Whichever team wins the game will go through to the quarter final. The Turks which have struggled so far looks likely to bow out with pride and dignity after this game. The Czechs is simply a class above them. Score: Turkey 0-3 Czech Republic.

Market odds: Turkey (+0.975), Czech (-1/4 +0.9)

Switzerland – Switzerland will play their last game with only pride to salvage as a co-host that did not make it through to the group stage since Belgium in 1988. They were made to rue over the missed chances they had in their second game playing Turkey in a game that could have gone both ways, amid the heavy downpour and water-logged pitch.

Overcoming their huge disappointment, the Swiss prepare for their last game against Portugal.

Portugal – Already qualified will need one point to guarantee top spot. Could be fielding an experimental team and allowing the first team regulars a deserved break.

Deco

Verdict – The pressure is off for Portugal while Switzerland will want to get a good result and savour playing the last game in the tournament. Score: Switzerland 1-1 Portugal. 

Market odds: Switzerland (+9), Portugal (-1/4, -975)

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)

Sweden – Their game plan is passing the ball around man to man and waiting for opportunity to appear.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal for Sweden.

Spain – In the opener, the Spanish looked lethal with their quick counterattack and agile footwork. Looks good to top the group. Currently my favourite to win the tournament.

Hat trick hero for Spain, David Villa.

Prediction – Spain looks more superior all round and is set to demolish its opponents once again. Score: Sweden 1-3 Spain.

Market odds: Sweden (-0.875), Spain (-3/4, +0.85)

Netherlands – The Dutch lived up to their expectation playing the beautiful game in a most beautiful way, by demolishing Italy 3-0. Looks likely to top Group C.

Sneijda scoring the most beautiful goal of the tournament thus far.

France – Still plague with injury problems, the French looked like they have lose their killer punch, looking tired and lacking pace. Thiery Henry and Patrick Viera look set to come off the bench.

Claude Makelele

Prediction – The flamboyance of the Dutch to outclass France. Score: 2-0.

Market odds: Netherlands (0, +0.85), France (-0.925)

Italy – The Azzurris were handled their biggest defeat in 28 years. Losing their team captain and central defender Fabio Cannavaro seems to have a greater impact then first thought. Italy thrive on defense more then attack, with their defense not up to the mark so far, it could be games over.

Italians have a lot of thinking to do.

Romania – Romania proof they are no push-over in the group of death and looked like the better half in their opener against France. They are however unable to break down the water-tight defense of France.

Chivu

Prediction – It remains to be seen if Italy can beef up their defense and whether Romania can conjure up a few trickery to get the ball pass the Bufon. It looks like a very close match, however I am going for Romania, which looks a little more pacy then Italy, to win the game. Score: Italy 1-2 Romania.

Maket odds: Italy (-3/4, -0.975), Romania (+0.9)