Euro 2008 final - coming up!

Time flies. After weeks of Euro 2008 football action, now we are down to just 1 more match. The big one, the final, will be on tomorrow morning (Brisbane time). The final will feature the team I predicted will win the tournament before it started (Germany) up against the team I want to see win the tournament (Spain). I predicted that the final would be Germany v Italy. Well, only one half of that prediction came true. The Italians are not in the final because Spain knocked them out in the quarter-finals. So it is the Spaniards up against the Germans.

I am so looking forward to it, hoping for a Spanish victory. Most of my friends want to see Spain win. But even if Spain were to lose, I can at least say they've managed to reach the final. SBS will show the final live, & I will watch it, of course.

SBS had limited rights to the Euro 2008 matches. Setanta Sports are the ones who show all Euro 2008 matches live in full. But I don't have Setanta Sports, so I have to settle with whatever SBS managed to show. SBS showed only a few live games plus hourly evening highlights of every game which I tape & watch in my time. I'm ok with that, I guess - if I watched every game live, I would be a zombie with even less health than what health I currently have (& it's not very much!).....

Anyway, the final is coming up. Hola Espana! Hopefully, it will be a good game. I will blog on my reflections of the final & of the tournament as a whole. Watch this space.

New suburb in Dubai

I'm not sure how real these are. Maybe they are, maybe they're not. But anyway, they look nice...

Ever wondered why?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

What is the speed of darkness?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up every two hours?

Are there specially reserved parking spaces for 'normal' people at the Special Olympics?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Did you ever stop and wonder..... Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?'

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their bum when they ask where the bathroom is?

Why does your Obstetrician, Gynaecologist leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs !

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? Stop singing and read on.......

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

Radio talk: Citizenship in heaven

Once again, on the way to church this morning, I managed to catch the Sunday morning talk by guest speaker Andrew Hambilton on FM 96.5. Summary is below (I had the benefit of hearing the talk a second time on the internet); any mistakes/ambiguities are mine.

The talk is about heavenly citizenship & what is it like to be part of God’s kingdom. Andrew had gone along to his friend’s Australian citizenship ceremony a few months ago. As he reflected on the ceremony, Andrew realised how he takes his own citizenship for granted. For him, he is citizen by birth, but for his friend Dean, it was a matter of a transfer of allegiance/loyalty from his country of birth to his newly adopted country. Andrew talked about how having citizenship mean celebrating the unique values of the nation, actively live those values, demonstrate them & share with others.

Andrew then moved from talking about earthly citizenship to heavenly citizenship. He said just as there are some values which make us uniquely Australian, there are also some values which are heaven’s values, i.e. values which characterize citizens of heaven. He implores his listeners to consider what these heavenly values are & make a commitment to them – that is, a commitment to actively live by those values & demonstrate them to others. Those who become Christian become a citizen of heaven. They become adopted to God’s Kingdom. They transfer their allegiances/loyalties to that Kingdom, & embrace that Kingdom’s values. That should mean Christians should think & act in a different way. Jesus’ words in the gospel of Mark invite people to become citizens of God’s heavenly Kingdom, & enjoy the benefits of that citizenship now (Mark 1:14). The gospel of Mark does talk about what the Kingdom is like – it is different from earthly kingdom. Citizens of heavenly kingdom should think, act, speak & behave in a way that reflects the values of heaven.

Andrew then outlined 3 qualities/characteristics of a citizen of heaven. First characteristic is passion. Heavenly citizens are passionate. Passionate about God, about people, & about life. Jesus said in Mark 12:30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind & with all your strength. Jesus also said love your neighbours as yourself. All your heart, all your mind, all your strength – that is passion. Be passionate about God, & passionate about others, including ourselves. Jesus calls us to be truly passionate about God, because we believers are ruled by ruled by a God who is passionate about us.

Second characteristic is generosity. Heaven’s citizens are generous with their time, talents & treasures/belongings. Mark 12 has the story of a widow who gave a few coins to her church offering. It wasn’t much, but she gave everything she had. Jesus recognized this over others who apparently gave more than the widow, but what they gave was only a fraction of their wealth. We can at times be stingy with what we have. But being a heavenly citizen involves changing our thinking, & recognise that everything we have really belongs to God. He made everything, so He owns everything (see Psalm 24:1). Be generous with what we have.

Third characteristic is being wise investors. Heavenly citizens invest their life into something that lasts & leave a legacy. They value what God has done for them, & try to please God by investing their life. In Mark 15, we read that Jesus gave His life so that we can live & have a great future. The gift of Jesus’ life is a valuable gift & that requires appropriate response from us. Gifts that we value, we cherish & handle it wisely – the way we do this reflects the value we place on the gift & also the giver. So it is with God’s gift – how we use our life shows how much we cherish or value God’s gift. Heavenly citizens value that particular gift, & invest their lives in a way that show their appreciation of the gift.

Andrew said that earthly citizenship test often involves testing how much people know about their new country. Heavenly citizenship test is different – it has a lot more to do with who you know, rather than how much you know. Andrew referred to Revelation 21:27 – only those whose names appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life can be citizens of heaven. It is entirely up to us whether we choose to become a citizen of heaven. Will we choose God’s invitation to heavenly citizenship? If we do, then being a heavenly citizen has great privileges, much much better than the privilege of being citizen of any earthly nation. One such privilege is freedom. Freedom from all the things that enslave us & hold us back (fear, trouble, drugs, pressures of life, etc). We find freedom in Christ. Another privilege is forgiveness. Because of forgiveness, there is no longer a need to be ashamed of all the bad things which happened in the past. Another privilege of heavenly citizens is a future. Where we go in the future (heaven or hell) depends on who we give our allegiance to now. If our allegiance is with God & His Kingdom, then we will have a great & secure future.

Andrew implored listeners to embrace the gift of heavenly citizenship & commit to live out its values, to demonstrate them & share them with others. He encouraged us to be passionate, be generous & invest our lives wisely – so that when others look at us, they will know that we are citizens of heaven.


Reflection:

Hmmmm......let's run through the 3 characteristics.

Generosity - I think I'm ok with that. I do what I can to help people out, in terms of giving of my resources, time, etc.

Passion - yeah well, certain things I'm pretty passionate about. I wish I could honestly say I have passion about my faith. Sad, but it's true, I lack the zest that other Christians have about God, the Bible, etc. I hope God can help me out in that regard.

Wise investor - well, based on the description above, I can't say I qualify as one. I'm not very good at spending my time wisely, on the things that matter in eternity.

Thus, my score is 1 out of 3. Thank goodness God doesn't impose exam scores on His people. And thank God for His Son, that we believers have our citizenship in heaven.

My first time

Received from my colleague today:

******************************

It was my first time ever
And I'll never forget
I'd do it again
Without a single regret.
The sky was dark
The moon was high
We were all alone
Just she and I.
Her hair was soft
Her eyes were blue
I knew just what
She wanted to do.
Her skin so soft
Her legs so fine
I ran my fingers
Down her spine.
I didn't know how
But I tried my best
I started by placing
My hands on her breast.
I remember my fear
My fast beating heart
But slowly she spread
Her legs apart.
And when I did it
I felt no shame
All at once
The white stuff came.
At last it's finished
It's all over now
My first time ever
At milking a cow.

Euro 2008 - knockout stage preview

My forecast for the Euro knockout stages:


Quarter-finals

Quarter-final: Portugal v Croatia

Portugal's squad look stronger & more experienced than Croatia's, so I would expect them to win the tie. It would be dangerous to underestimate the Croatians, especially when they have quality in their ranks. Croatia are much better than they were at the 2006 World Cup - had the current side played at that World Cup, Croatia would have got past the group stage. Their midfield, in particular, is creative, with such players as Modric & Kranjcar. However, the Portuguese have creative players, too: Deco, Quaresma, Simao, Nani & you-know-who (Cristiano Ronaldo, of course). By the knockout stages, Croatia will really feel the absence of Eduardo. Portugal might not have a truly outstanding out-and-out striker, but that should not matter in this tie given the way they attack in numbers, especially with their good use of the wings. Portugal's stronger defence will tip the tie in their balance: Croatia midfielders & forwards will give Portugal some difficult moments, but it is harder to see Croatia's defence coping with Portugal's attacking stars.

Winner: Portugal

Quarter-final: Germany v Switzerland

Germany will be too strong for the Swiss. Even with home advantage, I cannot see Switzerland beating the Germans. What I can see, however, is Switzerland making this a close & hard-fought match. The Swiss suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Germany in a friendly a few months ago. I expect the match to be a lot closer this time. Switzerland's defence will have to be on their guard against Germany's dangerous forwards Podolski, Gomez & Klose. However valiantly they play, I think Germany will still eventually penetrate the Swiss defence. Also significant is the fact that the Swiss attack look considerably less dangerous compared to the Germans. While some see Germany's defence as far from rock solid, the question remains as to whether the Swiss forwards are good enough to take advantage. I have my doubts, & would expect Germany to advance to the semi-finals.

Winner: Germany

Quarter-final: France v Russia

Russia arguably have their best squad for many years, & the level of Russian football is on the rise. However, when one compares the squads of Russia & France, the French have better players. More importantly, France have much greater tournament experience than the Russians, given France's overall success in tournaments over the last 10 years. The experience factor looks to be the most glaring difference between the squads, & it will probably decide the tie in France's favour. The French appear to have too many options & match winners for the Russians to cope with. While Russia's attacking players can pose the French some problems, they do not possess the tightest defence in Europe, & I cannot see them keeping the likes of Ribery, Benzema, Henry & Anelka at bay. The French defence may be ageing, but they will more than make up for the lack of pace with their experience & excellent positioning sense. Russia will lose this match, but not be disgraced.

Winner: France

Quarter-final: Spain v Italy

Sadly, I see Spain suffering stage fright in the quarter-final & make another premature tournament exit. Both sides met in a friendly match a few months ago, & the Spaniards won 1-0. But that was a friendly. When it comes to a tournament knockout stage, put your money on the Italians. With Donadoni as coach, Italy might be adventurous & not conform to the old defensive catennacio stereotype. But in this all-Mediterranean tie, one would expect Spain to be the more adventurous, the more entertaining & the more attack-minded side. Because that is how Spain always play. I suspect, however, that the Italians have more experience than the Spaniards, & they will have the know-how & ability to cope with Spain's attacks. They will look to hit Spain on the counter-attack, & I can see them pinch a goal here or there to frustrate the Spaniards. Spain may not be inferior when it comes to talent & quality of players, but when it comes to mental strength, the Italians clearly have the edge. And, that, I think, will decide the tie.

Winner: Italy


Semi-finals

And look at the semi-final cast: Portugal, Germany, France & Italy. It's the same 4 teams that qualified for the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup. Interesting....
Only difference is that this time, we cannot have a France v Italy final, because these teams are on the same side of the draw, & according to my predictions, will play each other in the semi-finals. The other semi-final will be a replay of the third place play-off at the last World Cup. Both Euro semi-final ties will be very close, & I can definitely see at least 1 match going to extra-time, & perhaps penalty shoot-out.

Semi-final: Portugal v Germany

Some might say Cristiano Ronaldo will decide this tie & take Portugal to their second consecutive Euro final. True, this stage is perfect for Ronaldo to really cement his place among the greatest footballers on the planet today. And no one will be really surprised if he does just that. But one thing must be considered: fatigue. By now, Ronaldo might be suffering from fatigue & tiredness after a long-season with his club. No one doubts his fitness level, but footballers are not robots which can go on & on & on. Then again, Portugal is not just about Ronaldo, & they have other players who can decide matches too. But I think in the semis, Portugal will meet their match. Germany can certainly match the Portuguese in defence & midfield. Though Ronaldo is better than any German player, that doesn't mean the Germans will not find a way to minimise his threat & keep him quiet. It has been done before at club level (Milan in 2007 Champions League semi-final ties). There is no reason why the Germans can't come up with a system or game plan to restrict Ronaldo. Where the tie might be decided is in attack, where the Germans have better strikers than Portugal. There might not be many goals in this match, but I can see the Germans scoring more than they concede. Just one more than the opponent will be enough.

Winner: Germany (possibly after extra-time)

Semi-final: France v Italy

By now, France & Italy should be sick of the sight of each other. They traded blows at various international tournaments, most notably the Euro 2000 final (which France won on golden-goal), & 2006 World Cup final (which Italy won on penalties). Then, both sides met again during the qualifying series for Euro 2008. If that's not enough, the draw for the Euro 2008 tournament itself brought both teams together again in Group C. And now, they meet again in the semi-finals!! Almost every match contested by both sides are close affairs. No reason then to expect anything different - in fact, I will be surprised if this semi produces a winner after 90 minutes. This match has extra-time written over it. Both teams are very, very evenly matched - both so strong in every department. Both sides won't like losing to each other, as they don't seem to have much love for each other. So, how to pick a winner? You can almost decide on tossing a coin. It will probably go down to who has the greater desire on the day. France will want revenge for the last World Cup final (Zidane's head butt & all). But if anything, it might be Italy who will have the greater desire for their own revenge. They were so so close to winning Euro 2000 yet ended up losing - up by a goal in the Euro 2000 final & had chances to put the final beyond France, only for the French to equalise in the last minute of regular time, & grabbed the golden goal in extra-time to take the trophy. That heart-breaking loss will still stick in Italian memories, & so arguably they will be the ones who come into this tie with greater motivation. So with both sides so equally balanced, I think Italy will edge it on the back of the desire to make up for Euro 2000.

Winner: Italy (probably after extra-time)


Final

Final: Germany v Italy

And so the final sees a clash between Europe's 2 most successful sides, Germany & Italy. This is a rematch of the 2006 World Cup semi-final, won by Italy after they scored 2 goals in the last 2 minutes of extra-time, just as that match looked set for penalty shoot-out. So this time, it is Germany who has the desire for revenge. Now, not every team that looks to avenge past results succeed in getting the revenge. And I'm sure the Germans will not let the revenge factor get to their heads. The coach will simply get them to focus on football. Furthermore, Germany's players have been pumped up at the prospect of winning the Euro since their World Cup semi-final exit. Historically, when Germany sniff the chance of victory, they rarely let it slip.

Italy's incentive is to add the Euro to their World Cup title. Individually, the Italians have more flair & are probably better than the Germans, but not by such a margin that the Germans cannot make up on. And in any case, having better players doesn't always guarantee victory, as proved by Greece's Euro 2004 triumph. Football is a team game, & since the 2006 World Cup, it is Germany who arguably look more impressive & stronger as a team. Another factor in Germany's favour is the coach - Joachim Low is more experienced & considered tactically more astute than his Italian counterpart. The Italians can point to having a good record against the Germans - remarkably, Italy have never lost to Germany in major international tournaments. On the other hand, the Germans can say that "records" are meant to be broken, that statistics are meant to be changed, & therefore might argue that it's about time they put one over Italy.

Another possible relevant factor is Luca Toni. The Italian striker plays for German champions Bayern Munich, & had a marvellous goal-blazing season with them. He should be first-choice for Italy, & will play unless suspended or injured. With a number of Bayern players in the German squad, the Germans will have insider knowledge of Toni's strengths & weaknesses. So they will know how to counter his strengths & exploit his weaknesses. Both sides have strong squads, with each side have enough weaponry to hurt the other. Look closer, & one might note that Germany might have quicker flank players (the full-backs & wide midfielders) than the Italians, & their pace might stretch the Cannavaro-less Italian defence.

The final will be very close. With so many factors to consider, I tip the Germans to narrowly win it.

Winner: Germany

Euro 2008 - Group D preview

Group D: Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden

If Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as Europe’s best player, then Spain have arguably Europe’s most talented squad. And if football is played on paper, then I think Spain will win the tournament. In the group, Spain will encounter familiar foes. They had Russia & Greece in the same group at Euro 2004 (where ominously, Spain flopped). They had Sweden in the same Euro 2008 qualifying group, losing 2-0 in Stockholm but comprehensively outclassing the Scandinavians 3-0 in Madrid.

Spain are surely football’s biggest underachievers. The club sides are very successful, but at national team level, their only trophy is Euro 1964. For whatever reason, their achievements at international tournaments never reflect their true level of talent & potential. After starting the Euro qualifiers poorly, they got their act together & qualified in style. Spain seem to be a popular choice to win the tournament, with many football fans (myself included) admiring their passing, possession game with lots of intricate build-up. Playing such an expansive, attacking game require players with high level of technical sophistication, & Spain have them in abundance. So much so that big name forward Raul has been excluded from the squad. At least Spain don’t have to worry about trying to accommodate his particular strengths into the side. Spain’s main attacker will be Fernando Torres, arguably Europe’s best centre forward. Either David Villa or Dani Guiza should play alongside him. Midfield is probably Spain’s best department, where they can call on Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Ruben de la Red & Santi Cazorla. These players ooze creativity, & this is possibly Europe’s best midfield. Defensively, Puyol may lack pace, but Sergio Ramos (who can play centre back or right back) doesn’t. Casillas is one of the world’s best goalkeepers. Backup keeper Reina is also highly regarded. However, their mad, controversial coach, Luis Aragones, might be a liability, especially if he makes questionable decisions at crucial times.

Russia qualified for the tournament at England’s expense. With legendary Dutch coach Guus Hiddink at the helm, expect the Russians to be a well-drilled, disciplined outfit with flashes of flair. In truth, Russia underachieves – since the breakup of the USSR, they have not done as well as expected in international tournaments. Could it be that the collapse of communism has caused the footballers to be more lax? We can only speculate. But I believe this can be the best Russian team for a long time. Not just because of Hiddink. But also because Russian football is experiencing a boom. The clubs are bankrolled by wealthy investrors/owners, attracting an influx of foreign players & coaches into the league, & their influence has improved the level of Russian footballers. One of Russia’ best footballers is attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin, so instrumental in helping Zenit St Petersburg win the UEFA Cup. He will be suspended for the first 2 matches after a red card in Russia’s last qualifier. His return in the third group match could tip the scales in Russia’s favour. Other key players include midfielders Bystrov & Zyranov, forward Pavlyuchenko & young keeper Akinfeev. I am not sure about Russia’s defence, but I believe Hiddink’s motivational & tactical acumen will help Russia advance to the next round.

Greece winning Euro 2004 was simply sensational & completely unexpected. To this day, I still find it hard to believe that they won it! Much credit for that triumph should go to the German coach Otto Rehhagel; the trophy must have done wonders to his reputation. He is still in charge of the Greeks, & this should benefit them in terms of continuity & stability. Many of the victorious side in 2004 are still around, so it may appear to be a case of “same old, same old”. The winning goalscorer in the Euro 2004 final, Haristeas, is still there, as is Limberopoulos. But Greece now have other forwards to choose from: Gekas, Sapligidis, Samaras & Amanatidis. So perhaps Greece are a bit stronger than they were in 2004. Basinas & Karagounis, the warriors of Euro 2004, will continue patrolling the midfield, as is Giannakopoulos. The tough, uncompromising defence should feature the likes of Dellas, Seitaridis, Goumas & Antzas. With the triumph in 2004, comes expectation of success. Greece can qualify to the next stage, but I don’t think they will. OK, the same thing was said before Euro 2004. But crucially this time, Greece will not have the element of surprise. Their group opponents now know what to expect, & will be eager to send the European champions packing.

Sweden are the only Nordic country to qualify for the tournament. Coach Lagerback is still around, so the old stereotypes of Nordic sides (indeed, Northern European sides) still hold true for the Swedes: disciplined, organized, hard-running & tenacious. Indeed, Lagerback has often been criticized for being unnecessarily too defensive. Critics may have a point, as Sweden do possess forwards of real quality. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is extremely talented, perhaps the best forward in the Nordic countries. But he is temperamental & has not scored for Sweden in a dozen internationals. The legendary Henrik Larsson, remarkably, will be there. He came out of international retirement at age 36. This will be his sixth international tournament, & he has scored in every tournament he participated in. Who would bet against him continuing that run? Other forward options include former “goldenboy” Johan Elmander, Markus Rosenberg, & Marcus Allback. Midfield should feature Kallstrom, Linderoth, Ljungberg, & Sebastian Larsson. The tough Olof Mellberg should lead the defensive line, & Andreas Isaksson should be first-choice goalkeeper. Sweden will be very difficult to break down, & a quarter-final place is not beyond them. However, even if Sweden reach that stage, it will be hard to see them progress any further as the squad does not seem to have as much depth as a number of other teams in the tournament.

Prediction:
1 – Spain
2 – Russia
3 – Sweden
4 - Greece

Euro 2008 - Group C preview

Group C: France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania

Every major international tournament has a group of death. For Euro 2008, this is it. Just look at the group cast – 3 heavyweights who are among the tournament favourites, plus Romania. All 4 teams are having a reunion, as France & Italy were in the same Euro qualifying group; likewise the Netherlands & Romania. And of course, France v Italy will be a World Cup final rematch. Each team in this group has a case for finishing in the top 2.

World champions Italy are usually thereabouts in international tournaments. If they win Euro 2008, they will be only the third nation in history to hold the World Cup & the European championship simultaneously. Their squad is well balanced, with top quality in every position, & will be one of the most experienced squads to the tournament. Italian footballers show a very high level of professionalism, & are better than anyone else at dealing with adverse situations. They started the Euro qualifiers slowly, but put in a good string of results to qualify. However, the Azzurri’s Euro hopes have taken a huge blow, with the captain & key defender Fabio Cannavaro recently ruled out of the tournament due to an injury sustained from a training accident. Cannavaro is simply irreplaceable, & losing such a key defender (perhaps the world’s best) at such a crucial moment is sure to disrupt their preparations & perhaps provide a little encouragement to their rivals. With Cannavaro absent, the Italians will place much hope on the form & fitness of the other key players: goalkeeper Buffon, midfielders Pirlo, Camoranesi & Gattuso, and forward Luca Toni, who had such a blistering form with Bayern Munich. Italy will combine toughness with traditional Mediterranean flair. They will be very, very difficult to beat.

France are the only other European team besides Germany to have won the European Championship more than once. Like Italy, they are fancied to go a long way. France will bring a younger generation of players. They include highly-rated forward Karim Benzema, midfielders Abou Diaby & Lassana Diarra, & diminutive playmaker Samir Nasri (dubbed “the new Zidane”). With these talents, France don’t have to rely that much on the “old master” Thierry Henry. Personally, I hope Nasri will get some playing time, but he will probably start on the bench. Franck Ribery will be the first choice playmaker, & will be even more important for France since Zidane is now gone. Question mark hang on the French defence, especially central defence. So far, France’s new talent brigade are concentrated in midfield & attack. But not in central defence – where are the emerging young French central defenders to take over from the ageing Thuram & Gallas? Only Mexes (26 years old) can be considered young). Then, there is the eccentric coach Domenech. He initially omitted in-form midfielder Flamini, only to place him on standby when Vieira picked up an injury. Flamini will only come in if Vieira is ruled out. Another surprise by Domenech is selecting forward Gomis, on the basis of his 2-goal debut for France in a recent friendly. But overall, France look strong.

The Netherlands, like the French, will bring a squad younger than the Italians. They are reknowned for the “total football” philosophy popularized by the 1974 Dutch team. Consequently, they are always expected to produce entertaining, attacking football. Whether the current Dutch side can live up to “total football” is debatable. Many doubt they will, as the Netherlands are considered more results-oriented under coach Marco Van Basten. Van Basten reportedly wants to change the Dutch tendency of entertaining but underachieving. He is keen to win the tournament, to add to the Euro 1988 title he helped the Dutch win as a player 20 years ago (only trophy won by Holland so far). While the current Dutch side might not be as cavalier as past Holland sides, no one will expect them to be play cautiously, either. That’s simply not the Dutch way of playing, not when they have attacking talent like Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Van Persie & Van Nistelrooy. However, their defensive capacity can be questioned – they no longer have a defender like Koeman & Stam, nor a holding midfielder like Davids. I think that is where the Dutch challenge will fall down. Interestingly, there is not much of the squabbles which have famously plagued the Dutch at past international tournaments.

Romania impressed in the Euro qualifiers, finishing ahead of the Dutch. So the tough draw must have left them feeling hard done by. This is the first tournament for the Eastern Europeans since Euro 2000; they missed the last 2 World Cups & Euro 2004. The Romanians of course no longer have the legendary midfielder Gheorghe Hagi, & the likes of Ilie Dumitrescu & Florin Raducioiu, all stars of the 1990s. Romania are reportedly a tougher outfit these days. But they still have talented players. Most notable is forward Adrian Mutu, who can also play as attacking midfielder. Mutu is Romania’s best footballer, & has matured rapidly from his old “bad boy” days, such that he is now Romania’s vice-captain. When on song, he can help Romania cause some damage, especially when his probable strike partner will be pacy Ciprian Marica. Other forward options are Marius Niculae & Daniel Niculae (not related). Christian Chivu, centre back at club level, will probably operate as defensive midfielder, giving the other midfielders freedom to attack. They have a strong defensive line, too, with Goian & Tamas playing in the middle. Technically good & well balanced they are, but missing out on international tournament experience for 8 years might put Romania at a disadvantage compared to their rivals.

Prediction:
1 – France
2 – Italy
3 – Netherlands
4 - Romania

Euro 2008 - Group B preview

Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland

Germany are surely overwhelming favourites to top this group. They won 3 European Championships, more than any other European team. They have a good chance of winning a fourth European crown. Germany’s youngish side have come along very well since finishing third as hosts of the 2006 World Cup. They generally impressed in the Euro qualifiers, & qualified for Euro 2008 with a few games to spare. German great Franz Beckenbauer has labeled them “best team in Europe”. The claim might have some patriotic bias, but it does have some truth. The current German squad may not have a superstar player in the “genius” category like Cristiano Ronaldo. But that does not matter to Germany, for 2 reasons. Firstly, Germany still have quality players. Secondly, team ethic, co-ordination between positions & organization will be the order of the day. Nevertheless, the current side play a more expansive, attacking game than past German sides. The high tempo, cavalier football employed by Jurgen Klinsmann at the World Cup will be retained by Joachim Low at the Euros, although perhaps with a little more patience. Germany has good goalkeepers to choose from. Key players in outfield positions include defenders Lahm & Mertesacker, midfielders Ballack, Frings, Schweinsteiger, & forwards in Podolski, Klose & Mario Gomez.

Co-hosts Austria are the outsiders, & considered the weakest team in the tournament. Would Austria have reached Euro 2008 if they had to play the qualifiers? Probably not. Because they qualify automatically as co-hosts, Austria had to make do with friendlies over the last 2 years. Results overall have not been very impressive. Some Austrian fans are concerned at the prospect of their team being humiliated at the Euro. However, there were moments in 2 recent home friendly matches (both lost) where Austria showed they might not be as bad as some claim. Against Germany, they competed well, before conceding 3 second-half goals. Against the Dutch, the Austrians raced to a 3 goal first-half lead, before astonishingly conceding 4 goals in the second-half to lose 4-3. Apparently, concentration & tactical discipline are problems which the Austrian coach must address before the tournament starts. Austria will depend heavily on playmaker Andreas Ivanschitz, who will have to shine if Austria are to make any impact. Other main players for Austria are defender Emmanuel Pogatetz & striker Roland Linz, their main hope for goals. Austrian fans will also keenly observe the performances of a couple of their youngsters – defender Sebastian Prodl, & forward Erwin Hoffer.

Croatia are favoured to join Germany in the knockout stages. And with good reason. Since their dismal showing at the 2006 World Cup, new coach Slaven Bilic rejuvenated the squad & they are now much improved from the out-of-sorts 2006 outfit. Youngsters like the talented midfielders Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Ivan Rakitic & Brazilian-born Eduardo da Silva are now regulars. They performed impressively for much of the Euro qualifiers, beating England twice to help eliminate the English. They consistently displayed the style, confidence & assurance not seen at the 2006 World Cup (i.e. such form surely would have taken the Croatians though to that World Cup’s knockout stages). Bilic allows the Croatian players greater freedom & flexibility than that afforded by the previous coach. Unfortunately for Croatia, they will be without Eduardo da Silva, who is out with a long-term injury. Eduardo scored 10 goals in 12 Euro qualifiers, & he will be missed. In Eduardo’s absence, Mladen Petric will probably lead the Croatian forward line. Croatia are still likely to finish second, but without Eduardo, it will be a close tussle with Austria & Poland. One bonus: the squad should enjoy plenty of support from the Croatian immigrants in Austria & Switzerland.

Poland deserve respect for topping their Euro qualifying group ahead of Portugal. However, recent friendly results & performances (losing to the US, drawing with Macedonia) were uninspiring. And they have a recent habit of playing well in tournament qualifiers, only to crash at the tournament itself (witness last 2 World Cups). The truth is that the current side is simply not as good as the Poland sides that finished third in the 1974 & 1982 World Cups. Goalkeeping is perhaps Poland’s strongest department – their Dutch coach, Leo Beenhakker can choose from Artur Boruc, Lukasz Fabianski & Tomasz Kuszczak (all UK-based). For inspiration, they will also look to midfielder Jacek Krzynowek, Brazilian-born Guerreiro & especially Ebi Smolarek. Smolarek, an attacking midfielder, is probably Poland’s most talented player. If he shines, then the Poles might just reach the knockout stages. Still, possibly the bigger problem lies in the mind. Do the players have the belief that they can reach the next stage? The players might have a mental block from the early departures from the last 2 World Cups. Can they overcome that block? Poland will co-host Euro 2012 with Ukraine, so they will have plenty of incentive to do well at Euro 2008.

Germany’s group opponents have "history" with them. Austria & Poland are neighbours with Germany, & their fans will love nothing more than seeing their teams defeat the Germans (though it may have been a long time since that last happened). Croatia remembers the hard-fought encounters with Germany during the quarter finals of Euro 1996 (which Germany won) & 1998 World Cup (which Croatia won). All 3 will raise their game against Germany – but it will probably not be enough to prevent the Germans from winning the group.

Prediction:
1 – Germany
2 – Croatia
3 – Austria
4 - Poland

Euro 2008 - Group A preview

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey

Some fancy Portugal as tournament winners. With good reason: they were finalists as hosts of Euro 2004, & semi-finalists of the 2006 World Cup. So they do have pedigree & big match temperament. They were led at those tournaments by Brazilian coach Luiz Scolari, the man who won the 2002 World Cup with his native Brazil. He is still in charge, but is expected to depart after the tournament. Though Portugal dare not take any of their 3 group opponents lightly, they should be quietly confident of qualifying from this group. And I think they will – in first place. The Portuguese will enter Euro 2008 with no shortage of belief & confidence. They have arguably Europe’s finest footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. He had such a fine season with Manchester Utd, helping them win the Premier League & UEFA Champions League. But Portugal have other stars, too – Deco, Simao, Quaresma, Nani, and Postiga. With talents like these, Portugal will not depend on just Ronaldo. Defensively, Portugal are no slouches, with players like Ferreira, Carvalho, Meira & Pepe at their disposal. Portugal look stronger than their group opponents & should top the group. But whether they can win the tournament is debatable, especially with that chronic ever-present problem of a lack of a true goal-poacher.

I think Switzerland, as co-host, will make home advantage count & finish second, narrowly ahead of Czech Republic & Turkey. The Swiss will be well-organised & difficult to break down. They are not expected to be one of the most entertaining sides in the tournament. They will score few goals, but also concede few. Switzerland’s performance at the 2006 World Cup was decent, finishing the group stage ahead of eventual finalists France, before losing to Ukraine in the round of 16 in a penalty shoot-out. Remarkably, the Swiss did not concede a single goal during the World Cup. Switzerland’s youth football development is starting to bear fruit, & some of the players to have come through the youth ranks will be key men during Euro 2008, such as midfielders Tranquillo Barnetta & Valon Behrami, & young forwards Johann Vonlanhten & Eren Derdiyok. For all that, Switzerland’s main hope for goals will lie in experienced goalscorer Alexander Frei. Key defender Patrick Muller has just returned from injury & has been selected in the squad. If he fully recovers in time for the tournament kick-off, then he should play alongside one of the Arsenal duo of Philippe Senderos & Johan Djorou. The Swiss may reach the quarter-finals, but no further.

The Czech Republic disappointed at the 2006 World Cup, failing to reach the knockout stages. So they come into Euro 2008 with something to prove. Some consider the Czechs as dark horses for the tournament. They do play a patient, measured, classical “pass & move” football – at its best, entertaining to watch. However, they will miss the midfield creativity of the injured Rosicky, even though the other available midfielders (Plasil, Jarolim & Matejovsky) are quite talented. If Rosicky is available, I can see them qualifying to the next stage. Their key players will be Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech (one of the world’s best keepers), & a strong defence (only conceded 5 goals in 12 qualifying matches). Up front, they will probably start with Baros & the giant Koller. Look out also for Martin Fenin, the talented young forward whose helped the Czech youth team reach the 2007 World Youth Cup final. Fenin will be ready to step in should first-choice forwards Baros or Koller underperform. Given the chance, Fenin could explode & his goals might be crucial to Czech hopes. Overall, the Czechs will find it difficult to match their impressive semi-final effort at Euro 2004. They have earned the respect of the other sides in the tournament, & their group opponents will be wary of them.

Like the Czechs, Turkey will also have something to prove. They were semi-finalists at 2002 World Cup (finishing third), impressing observers with their passing, technical football. But Turkey narrowly, & perhaps surprisingly, missed Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup. Their match with Switzerland will have added spice, since it was the Swiss who denied Turkey a place at the 2006 World Cup in a bad tempered affair. But if Turkey focus on revenge & not football, they will find it difficult to display their true capabilities & will be in trouble. Revenge talk aside, Turkey were erratic during the Euro qualifiers. They defeated European champions Greece 4-1 in Athens, yet could only draw against Malta and Moldova, & lose to Bosnia. Turkey have considerable talent in midfield & attack, with players such as Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan, Hamit Altintop and English-born Kazim Kazim. A shame that young midfielder Nuri Sahin was not selected – out due to injury, perhaps? Anyway, defense is Turkey’s problem position. Turkey will score goals, but also liable to concede – hard to see them keep their opponents at bay. So regrettably, I feel Turkey will finish bottom of this group. But not before providing flashes of skill and entertaining football, as they are so capable of providing.

Prediction:
1 – Portugal
2 – Switzerland
3 – Czech Republic
4 - Turkey

Euro 2008 is upon us!

We are getting so close to Euro 2008! It's on this month & will run for about 3 weeks. In fact, Euro kicks off in a few days! I'm excited! It promises to be a good tournament, with quite a few sides capable of challenging for the trophy. What a feast of European football awaits us. It will, hopefully, be a tournament full of exciting football & some great goals.

Once again, the group stage is as follows:

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey

Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland

Group C: Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France

Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia

The top 2 teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals. The format is such that the winner of one group play the runner-up of another group. Here it is:

Quarter-final 1: A1 v B2
Quarter-final 2: B1 v A2
Quarter-final 3: C1 v D2
Quarter-final 4: D1 v C2

Semi-final: QF1 winner v QF2 winner
Semi-final: QF3 winner v QF4 winner

Final: the winners of the semi-finals, of course.

OK, here is how I think the tournament will pan out. The top 2 in each group will be:

Group A: Portugal, Switzerland

Group B: Germany, Croatia

Group C: France, Italy

Group D: Spain, Russia

And the line-up for the knockout stages:

Quarter-final 1: Portugal v Croatia (Portugal win)
Quarter-final 2: Germany v Switzerland (Germany win)
Quarter-final 3: France v Russia (France win)
Quarter-final 4: Spain v Italy (Italy win)

Semi-final: Portugal v Germany (Germany win)
Semi-final: France v Italy (Italy win)

Final: Germany v Italy (Germany win)

Euro 2008 winner: Germany

Germany are the team I think will win. However, the team I want to win is Spain. But unfortunately, I suspect they will be undone by the usual stage fright. Come on Espana, prove me wrong.

I will preview each group in the next few posts.