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Euro 2008- Knockout Rounds (R); Quarters, Semis & Final
Topic Started: Jun 18 2008, 09:19 AM (1,648 Views)
Merengue
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With the quarterfinals beginning tomorrow it is time to start our discussion of the knockout rounds of the tournament. These are the games set for the quarterfinals,

Portugal vs Germany
Croatia vs Turkey
Holland vs Russia
Spain vs Italy

It's been a lot of fun so far in Euro 2008 but now is when the tournament really begins. This should get interetsing and look at the big time battles we have ahead of us in the next few days, Portugal vs Germany and Spain vs Italy. I'm not taking anything away from the other matchups but thsoe two games look like very enticing matchups.

I see where Germany's coach Joachim Low will not be allowed to sit on the sidelines for their quarterfinal as a result of his sending off versus Austria while Turkey's goalie Volkan Demirel will miss two games for his push of Jan Koller. So Volkan not only will miss the quarterfinal but also a semifinal game if Turkey advances that far! I think that's a poor decision as everybody knows Koller flopped when Volkan pushed him. Plus why does Volkan get two games and Bastian Scweinsteiger only one for pushing a Croatian in the face while Volkan pushed somebody in the chest, a less serious blow. A double standard if you ask me.

EDITED to reflect the result of the Russia-Sweden match.
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raconteur
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I heard on the broadcast today that Volkan got his two game suspension because he didn't leave the field of play. My God he was sent off in injury time! No question in my mind if that was a German or Italian player who did that he'd have only received a one game suspension at most.

Russia's display today against Sweden was a master class in counter attacking football. Arshavin's return gives the team a cerebral player around which they can build their attacks. Holland will still be the favorite against them but don't count out this Russian team who are getting better and better as the tournament progresses.
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Merengue
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These four quarterfinal games have three rematches of some significant games in the past. Portugal vs Germany is a rematch of the 2006 World Cup third place match won by the Germans, Holland vs Russia is a rematch of Russia's predecessor Soviet Union's 1988 Final against Holland won by the Dutch with a goal by some guy now sitting on Holland's bench! While Spain vs Italy is a rematch of that infamous 1994 World Cup quarterfinal where Mauro Tassotti broke Luis Enrique's nose yet was not called for a penalty as Italy eventually beat Spain 2-1. Now none of those past games should have any effect on these matches but we fans certainly remember them.

Germany may be sandbagging about Podolski's and Fring's injuries, Russia did that today in saying Arshavin may not start due to his lack of game fitness and he then proceeded to be the man of the match against Sweden, but if Germany are going to be without Podolski and Frings those will be major losses for them especially as Podolski has scored 75% of their goals in the tournament. Luis Felipe Scolari is a great big game coach and with Brazil in 2002 and Portugal in 2004 and 2006 at the very least he's led his teams to the semifinals. But this will be a huge test for them against Germany, at the least his starters will be rested for the game as most last played last Wednesday in Portugal's win over the Czech Republic. If Pepe and Carvalho can defend well against Germany's aerial threat, Portugal's speed and passing should be successful against a somewhat static German defense.
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El Profe
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It is easy to dismiss a team's history or it's mystique but that does mean something in a knockout compeition like this. It isn't anything tangible you can point to but teams like Germany and Italy have that and that is why I think they'll both get past Portugal and Spain, two fine teams who've played well so far at Euro 2008 but who I think will play with some fear against their more traditional opponents. Turkey showed a nice fighting spirit in this tournament but now is when the pressure really builds and I think Croatia will better be able to handle that. While Holland-Russia is a matchup of two teams with a beautiful counter atatcking game, the greater big match experience of Holland will I think pay off as they should advance to the semiifnals.
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Mr. Pither
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I am going to disagree with El Profe, as I think it is the here and now that matter snot what happened between these teams 20 or even 2 years ago. Portugal are playing well, passing the ball effectively and Cristiano Ronaldo is playing unselfishly. Additionally they are scoring goals so the traditional Portuguese weakness is not there now. Germany have had trouble scoring other than from Podolski and if he does miss the game, Germany's attack will be limited with neither Klose nor Gomez playing well now.

Turkey have a lot of injuries and suspensions to deal with. Their great comeback was stirring but I don't see them having the strength in depth to get by an improving Croatian team. Croatia's teamwork and solid all around play will be too much for Turkey's determination to overcome.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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libero
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Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports has a pretty good list of the Pros and Cons for each of the eight teams remaining,

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ro-q...o&type=lgns

It isn't really different from many of the factors which we have all disucssed here but they are grouped together for easier reading.

This has been a pretty good tournament through the group stages, now is when we'll learn if it will become a very good one with these elimination games. There are plenty of good looking matchups ahead and most of the teams remaining all play a pretty attractive style. No Greece, Austria or Poland like teams left now!
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Martin
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Some sad news surrounding Holland's Khalid Boulharouz, his wife had some complications with her pregnancy and lost their baby. Boulharouz of course has left the team's training camp to be with his wife. A tragic loss for Boulharouz and his family. You doubt if he'll play on Saturday so now Van Basten will need to find a new right back. Mario Melchiot is available but he's never really been convincing in my opinion, John Heitinga is a centerback but he's alos playe don the right before and may be the best option available if Boulharouz is not available.

I wouldn't be surprised if the injuries to Podolski and Frings suddenly 'disappear' and they'll both start today. Germany will need them both but they also will need Klose and Gomez to start contributing offensively. We all know Portugal's recent record of making at least the semifinals in every tournament but World Cup 2002 in this decade but to repeat that fete they'll need not only Cristiano Ronaldo but also Simao to have big games while their defense will have to shut down Germany's physical approach. This is where Pepe will be vital. Should be a fun game to watch and a great way to start the knockout rounds of the competition.
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Pepe
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That is sad news about Boulharouz and his wife.

Germany had a lot of difficulties with Croatia's passing and Portugal move and pass even better than the Croats do which I think will become a major problem for the Germans to control. This seems like a year of destiny for Cristiano Ronaldo and I think he will help lead Portugal to a win tonight.
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Winslow
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Pepe,Jun 19 2008
06:59 AM
Germany had a lot of difficulties with Croatia's passing and Portugal move and pass even better than the Croats do which I think will become a major problem for the Germans to control.

Good point. It's the best advantage Portugal has over Germany, and if the Germans don't fix the ongoing misadventures of Metzelder and Mertesacker, they're in trouble today. Speaking of trouble, this match will be played on brand-new turf, and everyone's fingers should be crossed.

Croatia should be able to beat Turkey, especially if the Croats score first--they've been very good at shutting other teams down once they have the lead. (Bilic's quote: "Our advantage is that we are not naive and that we are a better team than Turkey." Charming.) Volkan's appeal won't be heard until later this week (what, does UEFA's disciplinary committee have anything else to do?), so we're likely to see old man Rustu in net for Turkey. That's a minus.

Russia is about eight times better with Arshavin in the lineup, but Holland is still the pick of the tournament right now. Boularouz says he's ready to play Saturday in spite of his horrible family tragedy.

Spain claims to have everyone healthy (Puyol and Cazorla are training again), while Italy just lost Barzagli with a knee injury. That could force Materazzi back into the starting lineup, though an AP story says Panucci may start in central defense instead. That, plus the suspensions of Pirlo and Gattuso, plus the subpar form of Toni, plus the undeniable fact that Italy got all the lucky bounces against France, makes me think that the Azzurri will go out on Saturday.
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libero
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The concerns some here had expressed over Portugal's defense and goalkeeping were well placed as they came back to haunt them in today's 3-2 Germany win. An even match was broken open by a quick give and go between Podolski and Ballack which sent Podolski clear to cross to Schweinsteiger to beat his man to the ball and all he had to do was push the ball into the net. A brilliantly worked goal.

Then Portugal's defense fell apart and left Klose free to head in a free kick to make it 2-0. Nuno Gomes scored off a blocked shot by Ronaldo to cut it close at the half but in the 2nd period when Portugal were pushing forward, Ballack beat goalie Ricardo to a ball and headed it in. Of course he was free because he pushed off against a Portuguese defender but everyone but the refere and linesman saw that so the goal stood. A late header by Helder Postiga made it exciting at the end but Germany held on for the win.

Ultimately that missed foul by Ballack proved decisive in a pretty even game but Portugal's defense is what really let them down in this one. Germany's defense had some trouble with Portugal's speed and passing but once Germany went in front they were able to mass players behind the ball and clog up the passing lanes.
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Martin
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A good call by those earlier questioning Portugal's defense. It is what let them down today. But give credit to Germany who really moved from defense to attack in a hurry, as libero remarked, that opening goal by Schweinsteiger was wonderful, the type of play we've been seeing from Holland and yesterday from Russia. Ballack playing farther up the field also put pressure on Portugal's distribution from the back and once Germany got in front, we all saw how they'd have two lines of four players each blocking Portugal's penetration. The fact Portugal did score twice may also signify a German defensive weakness but when they move forward Germany are a hard team to contain.
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Yogi
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Good win for Germany. They lifted their game when they needed it and with Podolski on one wing and Schweinsteiger on the other they kept plenty of pressure on Portugal. As others discussed the first German goal was a real work of art and great effort by Schweinsteiger. Then he turns around and on two free kicks finds Klose and Ballack for their headers. Some talked about Germany's defense showing some vulnerabilities but I thought they did a good job on Ronaldo and Simao. Portugal had some good moments but Germany made the key plays which determined this game.

I'm looking forward to see what Croatia & Turkey have in store for us tomorrow. Like Winslow I think Croatia should be favored but Turkey have shown they can never be counted out even when down 2 goals!
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historyman
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libero,Jun 19 2008
02:11 PM
The concerns some here had expressed over Portugal's defense and goalkeeping were well placed as they came back to haunt them in today's 3-2 Germany win.

Definitely the talking point of the match. There was much discussion about Portugal's 'schoolboy' defending after the game had finished, but I think that most junior players would be insulted by that! :P

Germany's third goal, scored by Ballack, was a particularly embarrassing experience for the Portuguese goalkeeper and defence. The backs were too far forward and the keeper was too far back.

Still, credit to Portugal for chasing the game until the bitter end. As is often the case, the Germans march on whilst looking defensively shaky themselves.
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Winslow
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I think Germany has stumbled upon its ideal starting 11, much as Holland did in its first group match. Thursday's lineup played very well, and it made an enormous difference to have Podolski up front instead of Gomez, who's been terrible. On the other side, Paulo Ferrera was especially feeble in the Portuguese defense, and I thought C. Ronaldo had little to offer apart from Portugal's first goal. One game story I read pointed out he should have been marking Klose on the second German goal.

Did I say 'ideal'? Well, maybe not--Mertesacker was lousy again, and Frings was out due to injury. But this was definitely Germany's best performance of the tournament so far.
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Merengue
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My thoughts are similar to Winslow's, Germany has found a lineup which does seem to work, at least offensively. Taking the ineffective Gomez off and adding Schweinsteiger and Hitzelsperger in midfield and pushing Ballack farther forward made the attack function more smoothly. But the point about Germany's defense looking shaky is still true and if Croatia gets by Turkey tonight I think they'll have the strength and guile to once again cause Germany a lot of problems in the semifinal. Metzelder and Mertesacker can be beaten by mobile forwards.

As for Portugal not only Paolo Ferreira but Ricardo Carvalho had a nightmare of a game. Pepe was trying to keep that backline together himself but he couldn't cover more than one player at a time. Winslow, I was watching coverage on some channel, can't recall which, that showed how Carvalho ran away from Ballack on his eventual game winning goal, leaving the much shorter Paolo Ferreira to try and cover him. Carvalho also was running around cluelessly on the first German goal too. And don't get me started on Ricardo in goal! There was a reason Betis benched him down the stretch of the Spanish league season and we saw that last night.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, again Winslow is right I think because other than a few isolated plays he was mostly anonymous. Not what you expect, or need, from the team star. Please Real Madrid do not sign him, our team is fine as is and we don't need a return to the galactico era!
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