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| Thursday 19 June, 2008 |
| Blog: Super 8 |
| The Euro 2008 quarter-final line-up is complete, and Steve Wilson wonders if this the most open tournament we have ever seen? |
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Has there ever been a more competitive international tournament than Euro 2008 is proving to be? I certainly cannot remember one in my lifetime and as we enter the knock-out stages a good case could be made for any of the eight remaining contenders to win the title.
I would have said Turkey and Russia were the only two who could realistically be ruled out, but having seen Guus Hiddink's side put on a show of fine passing and counter-offensive play against Sweden I would have to reconsider that analysis. In Andrei Arshavin they have a candidate to be nominated for European Player of the Year in my opinion.
Meanwhile, any side who can come back from 2-0 down against the Czech Republic to win 3-2, in just 15 minutes, has to be treated seriously. The fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude will serve Turkey well and wouldn't they just love to take the crown off of their neighbours and bitter rivals Greece.
The three teams who have performed best so far, taking 100 percent records into the next phase, are Holland, Spain and Croatia. However, two of those nations are perennial under-achievers and the other are the dictionary definition of 'dark horse'. Can they really shake off those tags and go all the way this time?
Then there are the two old masters. Italy and Germany have the pedigree. They have both been here before, admittedly Germany a little more recently, but the Azzurri have that other major international prize in their cabinet. Neither side has played to their full potential so far, but only a fool would write either of them off.
And finally there is Portugal, the favoured side of most neutrals and the possessor of, most likely, the next Ballon d'Or winner - Cristiano Ronaldo. After the heartache of losing the Final to Greece on home soil four years ago they have unfinished business. And what a way it would be for Luiz Felipe Scolari to bow out.
It has been a delight to watch this edition unfold and picking a winner is near impossible - it would be no shock if any of the remaining nations lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy next Sunday. However, I made my choice many, many months ago and I am going to stick with it - 20 years on from his wonder goal, Marco Van Basten will be celebrating again in Vienna as Holland claim the big prize.
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All depends who can handle the pressure. Germany v Portugal, Germany are very similar to Italy but have not reached the heights of the late eighties and early nineties whilst Portugal have the class to beat anybody. If Germany can keep Ronaldo and Deco quiet then this could go down to penalties and guess who will win... GERMANY.
Croatia are the dark horses, they have a team who clearly respect their manager and are hard to beat and realistically Turkey don’t have team ethic or structure to beat Croatia. Croatia to win comfortably.
Holland are the form team but I agree with every pundit who are concerned about Holland falling a goal behind, Russia are very capable and look equally as good as Holland on the attack. Holland in extra time for me.
And Italy v Spain, whilst Spain are looking good and Torres and Villa are the leading players in Euro 2008 the Azzurri are masters of just doing enough to get through. This is the hardest game to call and the Holland thrashing probably did the Azzurri more good than harm. Speed and talent (Spain) against experience, team ethic and a will to win ITALY to win 2-1 with about 10 incidents, penalty saves and bookings/sending offs.
Davide Longo
Along with Euro 2000, this has been the best international tournament I have seen in 20 years of watching football. The defending has been quite poor but who cares except Alan Hansen?
It also seems that the 16 nation Euro Championship is better entertainment than the World Cup. Euro 96, Euro 2000 and now Euro 2008 have been brilliant. The group stages have so much more quality than at the 32 nation World Cup - only Greece, Austria and Poland have looked second rate this time around. Compare that to the last World Cup where nearly all the African and Asian teams did nothing.
The knockout rounds have been very good at the Euros as well - only Euro 2004 was spoiled by the Greeks pragmatic and sleep-inducing approach. The World Cup's, on the other hand, have been far less exciting in recent years. I only got excited about Germany 2006 because I follow the Italian game. As for Japan and Korea 2002, the World Cup was over after the England-Brazil quarter-final.
Overall, this championship has restored my faith in international football. There is so much more passion from the fans, the players and the bench than you see at club level. I hope the exciting style of this tournament continues into the knockout rounds and then onto the World Cup in South Africa 2010.
Chris Ziffo |
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