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| Euro 2008- Knockout Rounds (R); Quarters, Semis & Final | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 18 2008, 09:19 AM (1,650 Views) | |
| Martin | Jun 29 2008, 07:30 AM Post #106 |
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I have a friend who always likes to say, "Styles make a fight." And this final does have two teams with contrasting styles which hopefully should make for a good final. shelsoccer has I think set out what has been up to now the most effective way to defend Spain, which is what both Sweden and Italy attempted. But throughout this tournament Germany have been much more effective when they've looked to attack. We've all seen their defensive deficiencies and when forced to defend they have had problems. They are one team attacking and an all together different, and weaker one, when forced to defend. That is why I don't think Germany will look to be as conservative as either Italy or Sweden were against Spain. From Spain's side losing David Villa is a blow, they were able to easily beat Russia without him as Cesc played very well and added more ball movement to the attack. But against Germany I do think Villa's absence will be felt. The incisiveness that Villa's provides Spain's attack will have to be taken up by David Silva, who has up to now been impecable. Everybody knows Germany's aerial strength and their ability to take advantage of free and corner kicks. Puyol and Marchena did wonderfully well against both Italy and Russia, they'll need to do that again tonight. Should be a very intriguing final because of the contrasting styles but Spain are on a great run now and have shown they have the mental strength to go head to head with the masters of that, Germany. It would be fitting, based on how they've played throughout the tournament that Spain takes the title. |
| Club Sportivo Desamparados | |
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| Mr. Pither | Jun 29 2008, 07:47 AM Post #107 |
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I have really enjoyed this tournament and I am another who thinks the differing styles of the two finalists can make for a very entertaining final. I agree with Martin's comment that Germany look much more comfortable attacking than defending. The problem is that with Spain's way of playing they often force the opponent into defending for long periods of time. How Germany copes with that will determine their success tonight. For Spain, as others noted, they must show the ability to handle Germany's threat off of set pieces. I am looking forward to this game but I think Spain's ball movement and ability to keep the ball away from Germany gives them the edge. |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| Simon | Jun 29 2008, 08:44 AM Post #108 |
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I think there's truth in what Galicia says, that Spain have really only played well in their two games against the Russians, and the Russians were very poor both times. The performances against Sweden and Greece were lacklustre (but the Greece one hardly counts as a criticism as it was the second string) and that whole game with Italy was abysmal. But even if Spain haven't been playing that well, they have been winning and that's a pretty important habit to get into! That Sweden game is a case in point, it was a bad game and a disappointing Spanish performance. It had 'draw' written all over it, and with a convincing win already under their belts and only the terrible Greek team to play, a draw would have been a pretty good result for Spain. But no, they created a chance right at the end and Villa coolly tucked it away to secure the win. I think at that point we could all understand that this team had something extra that could carry it through this tournament even without playing well. Something, in fact, that Germany have had for many years including this one! I understand the posts by our Spanish posters saying they are nervous as that's natural, but to this neutral it seems that Spain have very little to worry about. If we look at this objectively, Spain's defence has been questioned on here and we can't conclusively answer that one yet. Spain have only played one genuinely good side so far, Italy, and the Italians forgot to do any attacking! Someone said Sergio Ramos was awful in the group phase. If that's the case that might be a slight area of concern against Podolski, but really Klose's been a huge disappointment and up front on his own I can't see him worrying Puyol and Marchena greatly. If Ballack plays at all, he's likely to be at half-pace. Even if, for argument's sake, the Germans make it through the Spanish rearguard, Casillas is a world class keeper. There is also Marcos Senna, aptly nicknamed 'the hoover', who has been Spain's stand-out player. I don't think Germany pack too much of a punch going forward (at least not against anyone with a better keeper than Rustu or Ricardo) and in reserve they only have the poor-to-ordinary Odonkor, Gomez, Neuville and co. At the back, Germany have been something of a disaster. Villa or no Villa, Spain IMO have too much for Germany. I find the only thing that could make me think Germany can win is that, well, it's Germany isn't it? My last quick point is that even if Spain haven't always been great in this tournament, we should remember that this isn't a Spanish team that's just come from nowhere. They're unbeaten in 20+ games (I'm sure someone could provide the exact figure) and I think it would be appropriate if that consistency was rewarded with a second European title. So add my iViva España! to the chorus!! |
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| galicia | Jun 29 2008, 10:12 AM Post #109 |
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I echo Merengue's sentiments. I am actually a couple of years younger (my arrival seems to have brought luck to the English football fans), but I also have been waiting for an opportunity like this one. I do remember the 1984 final. I had just graduated from high school and my friends and I would study together for the college entrance exams. Then, we would sneak out to watch the games. I remember how disappointed I was (we were) when we lost to France. Today, however, I feel strangely optimistic. I agree with Simon's comments that, on paper, we are better. Yet, we can't underestimate the respective histories of Germany and Spain regarding football. On the other hand, I live in the U.S. and in the last few years we have seen the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox end decades of futility to win World Series (baseball). We are talking about almost 100 years of either franchise coming short. Maybe this is the appropriate time to change the normal habits of operation. But well, we should know the outcome in approxitaly three hours. I hope by now Simon is ready to get 10 pounds richer. Cheers Pedro |
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| shelsoccer | Jun 29 2008, 12:48 PM Post #110 |
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Congratulations to the many Spanish supporters here. Well-deserved; worthy champions of Europe. |
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| Simon | Jun 29 2008, 01:13 PM Post #111 |
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Yep, I agree with that. See, what were you all worried about? Germany sunk to new lows tonight in their defence, Mertesacker and Metzelder were doing a better job at creating Spanish chances than the Spanish midfield ever could! The two of them are bad beyond belief at passing the ball to a white shirt and were constantly caught in the wrong position on even the most routine Spanish attacks. I do have to save special mention for my mate Philip Lahm. I'd doubted his ability to step down on the big occasion, but he reached within himself and managed to produce a performance even worse than anything he'd managed previously! On the goal, he had a clear headstart over Torres but he dozed off, let Torres catch him up and then let Torres get goal-side of him to tuck the ball away, quite extraordinarily bad defending but a nice finish by Torres. The poor bloke was taken off at half-time as an exercise in damage limitation. Good luck to Jurgen Klinsmann, his man-management skills will really be put to the test in reviving the confidence of players like Lahm, Toni, Ribery and Klose after these last few weeks! Germany were so hapless up front, I don't think Casillas had a shot to save all match. Taking the anonymous Klose off and replacing him with the dreadful Gomez was real desperation from Low. It really just became a question of how many goals Spain could score. Unfortunately it stayed at one - Spain did make chances and I thought they played some nice football but again they weren't really on their game. If they had been, they honestly could have scored four or five. In a sense, after the Sweden, Greece and Italy games and having only scored once against this German side, we could almost still talk about Spain coming to a tournament and underachieving - except this time their efforts were still good enough to win the tournament!! That must feel pretty damn good if you're a Spain fan. Yes, they'd have liked to have won it with more of a goalscoring flourish but really, who cares? The right team won, just worry for the rest of us if Spain go to the World Cup and actually play to their potential
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| hobbes | Jun 29 2008, 02:48 PM Post #112 |
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Congrats to the Spanish posters here. Truly deserving champions of Europe. And it’s nice to see a team that played with some flair and adventure duely rewarded for their enterprise. A good tournament on the whole I felt. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| Yogi | Jun 29 2008, 05:47 PM Post #113 |
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I'll include my congratulations to the Spain fans here too. Fully deserved title, they did control this game, I guess the fact they didn't score a 2nd, or more, is what kept the interest in the 2nd half but Spain always looked the better team. Interesting stat at the end in all this talk about Spanish "underachievement" they now join Germany and France as the only countries with more than one European title. I thought Xavi was superb in this game running the midfield for Spain but also give credit to Spain's entire defense which shut down Germany's aeriel threat and in the elimination rounds did not permit a single goal. That is 22 straight games without a loss for Spain. There is no question which team is tops now in Europe. |
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| historyman | Jun 29 2008, 10:37 PM Post #114 |
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I'm pretty sure that most of the planet was rejoicing along with Spanish fans last night. In the place where I was watching the final every single person was supporting Spain, and why not? They have been the undisputed best team of the tournament. It's wonderful to see the title go to the side that has consistently played the best football. Some of the passing and movement from Spain last night was exceptional. And Germany were woeful! I thought that it was a shocking performance from their defence, as has already been highlighted. Yet towards the end of the match I had this sneaking feeling that they were going to creep their way back into the game with a late equaliser. Thankfully, Spain held firm and provided a fitting epitaph to an exceptionally good European Championship. The quality of the football on display was generally high, and weren't there only two red cards throughout the three weeks? Now that was a surprise! Congrats to Spain and all their fans on here. You deserve it!
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| Mr. Pither | Jun 29 2008, 11:31 PM Post #115 |
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It is pleasing when a team which plays attacking football and has the all around skill of a team like Spain wins an international tournament. As historyman writes, many neutrals were in fact supporting them and when a team goes through the entire tournament unbeaten and plays with the style Spain did in Austria/Switzerland you can not begrudge their title. Spain began a little nervously and Germany had the better of the first 10 minutes but after Metzelder almost diverted Iniesta's pass into his own goal, requiring a fine save from Lehmann, Spain found their legs and controlled most of the rest of the match (Germany had another good 10 minute spell early in the 2nd half too.) Nobody got beyond Marcos Senna in midfield and Xavi was magnificent in running the team. But don't forget Iniesta whose midfield promptings always created danger. Defensively Spain handled Germany's aerial threat and with David Villa out, Fernando Torres produced a very fine game. Not only scoring the game winner with pure energy and speed but also being able to consistently beat Mertesacker and Metzelder in the air! Spain may have risked it a bit by not putting Germany away but they took the air out of Germany with that famous passing game which Guus Hiddink warned just drains their opponents. A good conclusion to what has been an enjoyable tournament and congratulations Espana! |
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P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD | |
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| Real Ray | Jun 30 2008, 03:00 AM Post #116 |
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Thinking about this final this morning, I'm struck by what Aragonés said before the Euro: If we can manage the game and have a little luck, we can win. The first part, they pulled with style; solid in the back and controlling the ball. And they had the luck that you always need to in a Euro or a World Cup. Ballack not 100%; Italy without Pirlo or Gattuso-players who in form or in the side, may have helped keep Spain from going all the way. Still, Spain were the best side of the Euro. And what a group of young players! Off the top of my head, only Puyol might not be in the side in South Africa due to age. |
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| dafyd | Jun 30 2008, 04:21 AM Post #117 |
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When this tournament started there were 3 teams I was hoping would do well, Portugal, Holland, and Spain. Of the three, only one played constantly well enough to make it to the final, and in due process won that as well. Spain are champions of Euro 2008, and they played as such, finding ways to win games in which they were not at their best, and demolishing teams when they were. They had all of their players involved in their games, and I can't think of anyone who stands out as a player who had a bad tournament. Torres, while not scoring early on, made creative runs giving room for Villa to do his magic. During the final, with Villa watching from the sidelines due to injury, Torres finally found the back of the net. Xavi and the rest of the midfielders moving the ball about fluidly, threading passes and crosses to their forwards as avenues opened up before them. Casillas and the defense in front of him were solid, Puyol was perhaps the weakest link in their armor. As for the Germans, only Schweinsteiger and Podolski were click through out the tournament. Ballack may have been injured while playing the final, but I really wasn't that impressed with his play in this tournament as a whole. In the end the final was played between a team who had all of it's players performing well, if not spectacularly, against a team that was winning on the play of two players. After the Germans beat a team that out played them despite missing their top players. I firmly believe that had Turkey even just had Demirel available, we might well have seen a far different final. |
| Leper In A Stange Land | |
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| gaviota | Jun 30 2008, 07:20 AM Post #118 |
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What an unforgettable night! And the celebration continues as soon the team will travel today through Madrid celebrating with it's fans! There were times over the years when I thought I would never experience what we saw last night, España winning a national team tournament. But last night was reality, not a dream. I appreciate the words of support from fans here around the world and am glad to see Spain not only won the title but also the hearts of many fans. Spain showed you can go and win a European championship by intending to play attacking football. Real Ray is right, this is a pretty young group of players, I think Marcos Senna is the only one over 30, so whoever does succeed Luis Aragones as coach will have plenty to work with. But that is the future, I still want to celebrate the present! iCampeones, campeones, oeee,oee,oe! iViva España! |
| CHAMP13NS | |
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| enganche | Jun 30 2008, 12:44 PM Post #119 |
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Well done to Spain, a deserved victory and a good day for the sport when an attacking team wins a major event like this. As I just wrote in the thread discussing the top player at Euro 2008, for me Spain didn't have any one or two players stand out, it was a collective effort which brought them the title. Sure players like Senna, Xavi, Puyol, Villa and Casillas were excellent but many of their teammates also stepped up when needed too. I think Spain's current midfield of Senna, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Silva compares favorably to some of the great midfields we've seen in the past from Brazil and France in the 80's. It certainly is the best all around midfield I can recall in years. |
| Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado | |
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| Pepe | Jun 30 2008, 03:42 PM Post #120 |
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I am stil so happy, I feel like a young child on Christmas Eve! What a great feeling seeing your country win a tournament for the first time in your lifetime (like galicia I arrived several years after 1964). If you are Brazilian, Argentinian, German, Italian or French you may get used to that feeling but for the rest of us it is pure joy. To win the title by playing attractive football makes it even better. Spain have always had good passing teams but I don't recall there ever being one who passed as well as this team did. Add in the tenacity that this team showed in all their matches and you have your winning formula. That is now 22 games without a loss for this team, dating back to November 2006, that is an accomplishment and shows this title win was no fluke. |
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