Feelfootball blog

Now, it's business

Thu Jun 19 11:14AM

There has been something moral at the heart of Euro 2008. It has been almost like a biblical parable. Those teams who have endeavoured, who have strived, who have attacked and entertained, have prospered.

The Dutch, the Russians, the Turks, the Portuguese, the Croats: for them boldness has been rewarded. While those who have been stilted and unadventurous - the French, the Greeks, the Swedes - have had just return for their caution and have been quickly dispatched home. Or in the case of Austria and Switzerland, have stayed put. The poor Greeks did not quite put up the worst defence of the trophy in history (the French didn't even qualify in 1988 having won it four years earlier) but it was pretty close.

Now though, it is the business end of the tournament. Now is delivery time. Now we will discover if those who set out to attack maintain that policy as the prize moves closer into focus. Or will pragmatism, the cunning of the Germans or the Italians, win out?

The intriguing thing about the quarter finals is the manner in which youthful verve is to be matched against hard-won experience. If the first round proved anything it was that the Euros are now a young man's game. Never mind four years older, Traianos Dellas - for many the player of the tournament in 2004 - looked about forty years more senior this time round.

And the French were even more arthritic. They suffered dramatically from a dependence on times past. Their squad was stuffed with players who had once done it, but no longer had the legs to do the trick again. Lilian Thuram, Claude Makelele, Thierry Henry: all once world-class, now ghostly shadows of what they were. And while players like Evra and Benzema clearly represent a future more attractive than that on offer, say in England, there were simply not enough of them to prop up the ageing endeavour.

The Russians, on the other hand - young, vibrant and heedless of reputation - demonstrated the irresistible power of youth. At times, the pace of their counter-attacks suggested they should be lining up in 100 metres at Beijing, not tearing an ancient Swedish defence to pieces on the football field.

Nowhere will the clash between past and future, then and now be more clear cut than in the game between Spain and Italy. The Spaniards are spearheaded by the youthful vigour of David Villa and Fernando Torres. At times their team has looked even better out on the turf than they do on paper. At others they have looked flaky and vulnerable. It will be those times that will have been noted by the Italians, representatives of a nation where experience is valued above all things.

The Azzurri have players who have been there, done that and - in the case of Gattuso and Pirlo - picked up the yellow card in the process. How the absence of that wily pair will damage the Italian effort. Yet there was something about the way they dispatched the French that makes you realise, when it matters, the Italians will always perform. And, don't forget, in Buffon, they have the best goalkeeper in the tournament, the man whose penalty save against Romania is the only reason they are still in it; a moment which provided the clearest evidence you need that you can build a winning side around the man at the back.

Having tipped Spain at the start, however, I can't desert them now. I just wish they were playing anyone other than Italy. Still, for me, the semi-finals will turn out like this: Portugal v Croatia, Spain v Netherlands. But more importantly, what do you reckon?

Comments1 - 23 of 23

I hope this will be the time Spain don't @#$% up
From lolqbabolq on Thu Jun 19 12:19PM
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Yesterday when I watched Russia breaking swedish defence into pieces I realized that they will play Netherlands...I think it is the best chance for them. With Hiddink on the bench, who knows every single player in dutch side, it is gonna be very difficult for Netherlands...I think russians have the abilities to score two goals...RUS NED 2-1
From peto.ceco on Thu Jun 19 12:26PM
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Portugal vs Spain in the finals would be great, but since I'm Portuguese I'd live to have the opportunity to settle the score against Holland. In 2004 we beat them 2-1 and in 2006 we beat them 1-0... that is not enough! We must beat them by 5 or 6 goals this time. Still, after seeing France and Italy play for the World Cup in 2006, wouldn't it be something to have the Euro Championship decided within the Iberian Peninsula? I say Portugal 8 - Spain 0.
From omnitradus_idiom on Thu Jun 19 12:29PM
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If for once Spain can keep up performing in the knockout stages, I'm guessing a Netherlands - Spain semi-final, with the winner beating Portugal in the finals.
From lolqbabolq on Thu Jun 19 12:32PM
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NED SPA or RUS should win it. They showed the most beautifull football, but they must be aware of Italy now
From serbanmarian17 on Thu Jun 19 12:33PM
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Germany-Croatia, Italy-Netherlands. A rematch of the group games will possibly turn into a reversal of fortunes for Deutschland & Italia.
From henrikedwardlarsson on Thu Jun 19 12:36PM
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Spain always come out of the group stage in top form.. and choke at the first hurdle. I don't think this time will be any different. Throw in the fact that they're playing Italy of all teams, and it's like a fairy tale/nightmare waiting to happen.
As much as I'd love to see Spain go through, how many people would be willing to back it up with $s? I sure as hell wouldn't.
From tevez_united on Thu Jun 19 12:37PM
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You can't just @#$% out the more mature players just because of their age! I believe a winning combination is to blend youth and vibrancy with experience and steadiness. The trick is to get these combinations in equal measure and know when a player is just not contributing effectively anymore.
From mikemail21 on Thu Jun 19 12:50PM
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Oh yeah...Italy to win
From mikemail21 on Thu Jun 19 12:52PM
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Holland - they play the best stuff and they are the best team in the tournament. Lets just hope history doesn't repeat itself and they crashout in the semi's. Van Persie, sjneider, robben and huntelaar will fire the goals that secure the trophy
From agentblue_99 on Thu Jun 19 12:58PM
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for me the semifinals look like this... portugal - croatia and italy - russia... the russians are gona pull off the surprise of the tournament and knock out the dutch mark my words its inevitable!!
From showstopper_83 on Thu Jun 19 01:05PM
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Russia put up a spirited performance last night, whatever happened to Sweden , they had done well in their other matches... Painful from the French, whatever is going on there , it needs fixing quickly. Maybe Domenech should stop consulting horoscopes, and find a side to perform to the standard expected from France. There is no cohesion, and without Ribery they have capitulated...My money is still on Holland, but Spain may go close.
From barny1158 on Thu Jun 19 01:10PM
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Dutch are gonna lift the cup no doubts about that...
From haletes on Thu Jun 19 01:12PM
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Depressing reality will soon be back. For all the joy we've all got from Holland, Portugal, Spain and Russia - Germany v Italy final.
Sometimes I hate football, because the bad guys always win.
From alanbrayne on Thu Jun 19 01:21PM
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i got russia in a sweepstake and followed them religiously thru this tournament. terrible v spain, average v greece and sublime last nite v sweden. think they will beat holland 3-2; then beat the spanish (whos defence will prove their downfall); then lose to the rather average germans in the final
From ciaranreid on Thu Jun 19 01:59PM
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I am sticking with the Netherlands to win the cup. The game against Russia will be a close one but I am counting on the Dutch skills they have shown during this tournament. Russia may have an advantage by having Guus Hiddink as their coach but that won't stop the boys in Orange winning cause they have Marco van Basten. This for them must be a big advantage because these players will all want to impress Marco as most of them probably wanted to be him when they were growing up!!! And as it was 20 years ago this year that the Ntherlands won Euro 1988 with Marco as a player it would be great for them to win it this time around with Marco as their coach.
Also the Russian defence leaves much to be desired, in the match against Sweden they panicked every time the Swedish came within striking distance and were all over the place!!!
From nikkivd08 on Thu Jun 19 02:35PM
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I disagree with naming Buffon best goalie so far. Yes, the save was good and he is a good goalie but v/d Sar has been passed less while having more to do than Buffon. Also, this was at make or break time for the Dutch so I'd say v/d Sar best goalie so far in the tournament.
From mallemout on Thu Jun 19 02:37PM
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I can see you fancy the flair teams Jim, but I don't think Portugal will make it past the quarterfinals. The Germans are too good. Their experiences players are not shadows, they're in top form. I'm talking Ballack, Lahm and Metzelder here. Ronaldo's team won't always win. Yes, they play with style, but the Germans will prove too good for them.
The Croats should make it. Turkey haven't really played at this level too often.
I somehow don't fancy Spain, considering the World Cup. France stuttered past their group in the world cup, much like Italy from Group C. Spain breezed their way through the groups, only to be shocked.
The Dutch won't have it too easy. I somehow think that might actually go to extra time.
Oh well, I think I've watched too much FA Cup football, I always fancy the underdogs!
Germany to take it all.
From akilesh_radhakrishnan on Thu Jun 19 06:32PM
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the cattenaccio will never die, but perhaps the ultra-conservative style of the last 4 years will give way to a more attractive and open play that puts technique and strategy before brutality and simplicity.
From sophomarsh on Thu Jun 19 06:41PM
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Well, well, well! Germany goes trough! Didn’t see that coming, but they were better trough out the match. Is it just me or does any body else think that Ricardo and Paolo Ferreira were absolutely dreadful! Just glad that the latest is still at Chelsea!
From tekumze28 on Thu Jun 19 10:04PM
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Italy, Russia, Germany and Croatia will meet in the semis. Mark my word of wisdom and knowledge. If yo disagree with me you will go to hel!!!!!
From jrad878 on Thu Jun 19 10:58PM
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hehe
Jimmy guessed the semi candidates wrong by 3 out of 4, it would be all wrong if Italy go thru. lol.
From gege916 on Sun Jun 22 01:46AM
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Look at his semis prediction.25%.So we can understand that the predictions of Eurosport commentators have the chance as 25% after seeing MYSTIC MATTHEAUS comments and predictions,too ))
From cettas on Mon Jun 23 10:28AM
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