My Euro2008 Team
With the doors to Euro2008 now closed and Spain rightfully crowned champions, below is my team of the tournament. This is not linked to the UEFA technical committee who opted out and provided a twenty-three man squad rather than eleven whose performances in positions merited special recognition.
Goalkeeper: Casillas [Spain]
There was little consistency shown between the posts by the custodians but amid the average performances, Casillas stood out. Unflappable when dealing with crosses, he protected Spanish single goal leads when required, with a minimum of fuss and maximum efficiency
Right Back: Ramos [Spain]
Solid in defence, supportive in attack, unlucky not to score in the Final which would have been reward for his performances
Centre Back: Pepe [Portugal]
Commanding in the centre, holding together a defence that was unconvincing in their time in the competition. Provided some justification of the fee paid by Real Madrid for his services.
Centre Back: Marchena [Spain]
Sensible, no-nonsense defending. Read the game well and snuffed out a lot of the danger in the final third. Lead by example when Puyol left the field in the Sweden match.
Left Back: Zhirkov [Russia]
The most dynamic left back in the tournament, defended well but absolutely lethal when going forward. Symbolised everything good about Guus Hiddink’s tactics and the squad’s play.
Right Midfield: Modric [Croatia]
Inventive, creative and the fulcrum of the criminally underachieving Croats. Quick of thought and fleet of foot, Tottenham may have paid excessively for him but the Premier League will be enhanced by his presence next season
Centre Midfield: Senna [Spain]
Calm and authoratitive, allowing the creative players around him to shine
Centre Midfield: Xavi [Spain]
Player of the tournament. Quality passing and scored as well.
Left Midfield: Podolski [Germany]
Creative second highest scorer in the tournament behind Villa, provided as well and worked diligently on the flanks.
Attacking Midfield: Sneijder [Holland]
Eye catching range of passing that and able to get forward to score. Covered a considerable amount of ground in support of defence and attack.
Centre Forward: Villa [Spain]
Top scorer and total menace for the defences. Benefitted from having Torres work like a Trojan alongside him but was a class above most of the rest of the forwards in the tournament in front of goal.
Spain Sail To A Bright New Future With Torres Winner
GERMANY 0 - 1 SPAIN
FINAL, EURO2008
Fernando Torres’ 33rd minute goal is the difference that the history books will record in showing Spain emerged victorious in the Ernst Happel Stadion to win Euro2008. The reality was that a one-goal defeat flattered Germany. Ultimately, does that matter as the engravers etch Spain’s name on the Henri Delany Trophy for the second time, forty-four years after the first.
There was no answer from the Germans to Spain’s passing and movement, a performance that epitomised their tournament. Outthinking, outmuscling and outpassing their opponents. The absence of David Villa proved not to be an issue as Spain created chances throughout the game, causing the German defence continual problems with swift passes to feet.
Gerrmany enjoyed much of the pressure in the opening quarter of the game although it was the Spanish who twice came closest to breaking the deadlock, Fernando Torres outjumping the German defence but seeing his header strike the base of the post whilst Jens Lehmann rolled back the years when a shot from Xavi took a wicked deflection that the German ‘keeper did well to palm to safety.
Torres though provided the breakthrough with half-time on the horizon, Xavi sliding a ball between the defence and the Liverpool forward outpaced Lahm to lift the ball over the onrushing Lehmann. There was to be no German comeback nor was there to be one for Lahm as he was replaced by Jansen at the interval.
The second half continued the way the first had ended, Spain on the front foot, probing and creating. The best chances fell to Ramos who missed with a free header, Iniesta forced a good reaction save from Lehmann and Senna almost capped a fine passing move which he started, narrowly failing to connect with Guiza’s header across the face of goal.
Deserved winners, Spain are emerging from the football wilderness and should be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
EURO2008 FINAL PREVIEW - TIME FOR SPAIN TO EMERGE FROM THE SHADOWS
Spain and Germany meet tomorrow night in the Final of a tournament that has been notable for the inconsistency shown by the competing nations as much as the stunning counter-attacking football on display. Perennial underachievers Spain have bucked the trend shown by other fancied nations to have won all of their matches. If they emerge victorious in the Ernst Happel Stadion, they will be the first team since France in 1984 to do so, the last time that Spain reached the final. Germany however know the finals well although this is their first European Championship appearance at this stage since 1996 when they beat the Czech Republic with an Oliver Beirhoff ‘Golden Goal’.
In reaching the Final, both teams paths could not have been more markedly different. The Germans were many people’s pre-tournament favourites but they have stumbled to get this far, failing to be convincing in any performance other than their Quarter-Final victory over Portugal and it is this inconsistency that Spain must be wary of. In defence, no-one has been commanding and the weakness at full-back has exposed a powder-puff central defensive pairing in Mertesacker and Metzelder. As much as their marking has been slack, the centre-backs’ distribution has been equally loose. Surrendering possession to Spain can mean waving goodbye to the ball for considerable lengths of time.
Getting this far has not been far of a three man show for them; Podolski, Ballack and Schweinsteiger have been involved in pretty much all of the German goals to now. It is this resilience that is their greatest strength, the ability to dig themselves out of a hole as their semi-final victory over Turkey proved; 0-1 down reversed to 2-1 lead and a late equaliser topped by an even later. It epitomised their tournament. Outplayed for huge chunks of a game but emerging victorious.
Spain meanwhile have made light work of most of their opposition. They cruised through the Group phase, their second string beating Greece in the final match of that stage summed it up. A convincing win over Italy was denied by Gianluigi Buffon but the Russians were brushed aside in the semi-final. The key worry for them will be the absence of David Villa, the leading scorer in Euro2008. He was replaced by Cesc Fabregas against the Russians as Spain adapted their 4-4-2 to 4-1-4-1 and it is this latter formation which may take the field in the Final.
They go into this match unbeaten in twenty-one matches so confidence will not be a problem. Defensively, they have not been entirely convincing but have yet to concede more than one goal in any game. Does it really matter though when Iker Casillas is behind them, determined to prove those who believe him to best in his position, totally right? The fullbacks have been impressive coming forward, Ramos is garnering praise for his raids on the right but Capdevilla has been supportive of Silva on the left.
It is the midfield passing which has been most impressive about their run to the final. Iniesta and Xavi have passed opponents to death with Fabregas coming on to join in the fun and add more bite to their forward movement, particularly in the knock-out stages. Valencia’s David Silva has been equally at home on either flank, rendering man-marking irrelevant.
The biggest test though is up front. Torres and Villa have worked in tandem all tournament; the latter has now succumbed to a thigh injury and is missing. Torres had plenty of chances in his hour on the pitch against the Russians but has not found scoring as ’simple’ as it was for Liverpool last season. He will need to buck that trend if Spain are to win their first tournament in forty-four years.
ADEBAYOR FARCE CONTINUES SPECULATION ABOUT HIS FUTURE
Emmanuel Adebayor threw his Arsenal future into doubt yesterday in Vienna, a mere sixty minutes after he appeared to have settled it by vowing to honour his Arsenal contract. It was an extraordinary hour that dashed and rekindled the hopes of Rossoneri and Blaugrana everywhere.
Adebayor has been the subject of intense media speculation since the end of the Premier League season with Milan and Barcelona vying for media column inches with equal intensity. Vincenzo Morabito and Stephane Courbis are being reported as his Agent by various sources and both are strongly indicating that a move is on the cards. Until recently that is when Courbis spoke of renegotiating his Arsenal deal. Until recently, it was reported that this would mean increasing his £35k per week deal to double that. This week the new salary was reported as having to be £120k per week otherwise Adebayor would be seeking a move.
Morabito said earlier this week that there was a 70-80% chance of Milan getting their man, a mere seven days previously it was claimed that the Togolese international had put in a written transfer request, told Barcelona of this and ignored the Milanese. In short the whole situation on the player’s side is a farce, something that could have been written by Brian Rix and put on in London’s West End.
Throughout this whole charade, Arsene Wenger has maintained one stance: Adebayor is not for sale. Privately though, he must be furious as the disrespect shown by the player would test the patience of a saint. For the Arsenal manager, it is a crucial test of wills. On the one hand, Adebayor deserves a pay-rise, emerging from the shadows of Thierry Henry to score thirty goals last season. However, if his head has been turned by the offers from elsewhere, then it is perhaps time to let him go for an exorbitant fee - €30m has been touted as an offer from Barcelona.
One issue that has to be resolved though is whether or not there has been ‘tapping up’ by Milan and Barcelona. Neither can speak to Adebayor without Arsenal’s permission. FIFA would no doubt bottle any decision as the clubs have been speaking to his Agent not the player directly but what do FIFA think will happen with such conversations? The Agent is duty-bound to report the content to his client and therefore contact is made with the player. FIFA are spineless however, so they will use this third-party intervention to hide behind, once more weakening their authority in the game.
Milan Are Spoilt For Choice
AC Milan have two major transfer targets this summer according to the omnipresent Adriano Galliani, CEO of the Rossoneri. Having spent most of the close season so far trying to bully, agitate, co-erce and beg Arsenal to sell Emmanuel Adebayor, Galliani has admitted that they will also be turning their attentions to Ronaldinho.
Speaking to La Gazetta dello Sport, Galliani said,
There is a ‘yes’ from coach Carlo Ancelotti to go for the Brazilian. It’s Ronaldinho or Adebayor. Buying one excludes taking the other
There appears more chance of success with Ronaldinho as the competition for Adebayor is hotting up. Spanish daily Sport suggest that Barcelona are going to tempt the North London club with a double bid of €45m for Alexandr Hleb (€15m) and Adebayor (€30m). Repeatedly, the Spanish media are reporting that the stumbling block to any deal with Adebayor is Arsenal’s insistence of finding a replacement for the Togolese striker before selling him.
For Milan this represents a bigger issue. Despite the public claims of Vincenzo Morabito, a sale to them seems less likely as Wenger is still disappointed to have lost Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer. Any asking price for Adebayor is likely to be higher than they will pay for the player. Another obstacle for the club to overcome is the absence of Champions League football next season. No matter what their attraction is in terms of history, there is a considerable rebuilding job to be undertaken at the San Siro and convincing the best players to come will be more than a case of waving suitcases of money in their direction.
PLATINI WANTS CLUB DEBT OUTLAWED
Michel Platini has set himself on course to become football’s Robin Hood, robbing the rich and giving to the poor. Days after his plan to adjust the Champions League revenue share to clubs, he is now seriously tackling the issue of the debt levels that plague the larger clubs across the continent.
Regular financial reviews from Deloitte & Touche and their ilk show that the challengers for the premier trophy in European club football are heavily in debt. The problem for Platini is how to deal with such an issue. The framework for any changes already exists with the UEFA Club Licencing process; the Frenchman wants to take it further and curb the excesses of the former G14.
The European Club Association (ECA) was formed as an umbrella organisation within UEFA’s ranks to compensate for the disbandment of the G14; Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been appointed President, subject to confirmation at the ECA’s meeting in ten days time. An illustrious playing career was followed by a successful spell in the commercial confines of Bayern Munchen, giving the German some kudos within both circles, indicating that the thought processes of the Governing Body and the clubs are in tandem in some respects at least.
Problematically, that harmonious state is set to diverge once the details are scrutinised. Rummeneige believes that the financial stabilitly of the games top clubs is crucial to football’s long-term survival; the clubs have yet to show, en masse, the same sensibilities. Rummenigge and Platini want to curb the excesses shown in expenditure, particularly wages. The financial rewards for players have long been a root cause for the financial turmoil which exists at club level. Proposals that require this spend to be curbed, pegging the salaries to 55% of turnover has been mooted, representing an immediately large obstacle which Platini and Rummeneige will struggle to overcome.
In setting financial restrictions, the duo have to come forward with achievable solutions otherwise they risk alienating the supporters. The simplest option for the clubs to bring revenues and wages into line is to increase matchday ticket prices sharply. For some clubs, the practicalities of doing so are relatively straightforward, limited capacities at the stadia means that waiting lists for tickets become shorter as less affluent supporters drop out. However, there is a downside to this in that those supporters become lost to the game. Broadcasters have reached saturation point in some countries and the matches which have the ratings that advertisers care about are increasingly becoming more polarised toward the top clubs domestically. And what of their offspring? If parents are out of the habit of attending, the example which they set to the next generation is lost and so forth.
Collective Bargaining has long been the preferred method for Broadcast Rights but an era of stringent financial guardianship is likely to see an end to that. The bigger clubs recognise that they would be significantly better rewarded through individual negotiations but the wealth gap which already exists would only become wider under those circumstances. UEFA would need to put in place some financial support for the losers in this situation, something that they have been strongly opposed to doing in the past.
Another crucial area to be addressed is the level of borrowing in evidence at clubs. The English Premier League is regularly held as an example where the excesses of this are most evident. That might be the case now but it was not so long ago that Real Madrid were winning the Champions League, saved from insolvency by the fortuitous sale of land to the city council. The current trend is different, foreign investors funding the purchase of clubs via borrowing which is loaded onto the clubs Balance Sheet or to parent companies, the repayments for which are removed from the club via Management Fees.
An inherently risky strategy, there is nothing wrong with this methodology provided it is managed prudently. However, too many clubs are barely profitable without such charges leading to an accumulation of future financial issues, clubs excessively dependent on future revenues to survive.
Separating the issue of third party borrowing from loans by owners is a thornier issue. Roman Abramovich has funded Chelsea via such loans yet can UEFA treat them as equals to the debts incurred at Manchester United and Liverpool for example, arising from the purchase of the clubs? What of the mortgage that Arsenal have on The Emirates Stadium? Is that of equal standing to any of the three previous examples. Wherever the line is drawn, the losers will bemoan their misfortune. It will take all of Platini and Rummenigge’s political acumen to find a solution that is beneficial to the game as a whole.
CESC STARS AS SPANISH SINK RUSSIANS
RUSSIA 0 - 3 SPAIN
EURO2008 SEMI-FINAL 2
Spain controlled and then crushed Guus Hiddink’s Russian Revolution to progress to the Final of Euro2008. The Russians were rarely allowed to get their flowing football moving as sweetly as in previous matches as the Spanish midfield and defence sought to cut off the supply lines to Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin. The victory came at a cost for David Villa as he was ruled out of Sunday’s meeting with Germany through what Luis Aragones described as a ‘leg muscle injury’.
The Spaniards opened the match more purposefully and Akinfeev was the busier of two goalkeepers, saving well from Torres with his feet in the early stages. Mobility was the key with Torres and Villa dragging the Russian defence out of position regularly, leaving spaces for Silva, Iniesta, Ramos and Capdevilla to exploit on the flanks.
Villa withdrew ten minutes before the interval with Cesc Fabregas coming on to change the complexion of the match. An additional body in midfield to stifle their opponents creativity, interchanging with Xavi, Silca and Iniesta to support Torres in attack.
Five minutes into the second half, the Spaniards made their deserved breakthrough. Iniesta made space on the left side of the area to drill the ball into the centre of the box where Xavi met its path with a crisp volley into the net. From there on, Russia were rarely able to get forward with any purpose as the Spanish snuffed out their breaks in midfield.
It was a matter of time before the second goal arrived and having prompted Torres, Fabregas did the same for Guiza. The Mallorquian forward made no mistake as Fabregas’ delightful flicked path was controlled and lobbed past the on-rushing Akinfeev to double Spain’s advantage. The icing on the cake came when Fabregas crossed from the left for Silva to deservedly apply the finishing touch with full-time and the Final of Euro2008 beckoning.
Barcelona Chastised By Cesc
Players are not normally openly critical of clubs in general terms. Any bitterness is reserved for how badly they have felt treated or about the deterioration of relationships with managers; never though about how they conduct their business.
Never Say Never is the new maxim as Cesc Fabregas took time out from Spain’s Euro2008 campaign to slap his former employers and long-time suitors, CF Barcelona, about how they conduct their business.
Speaking with Catalunya Radio, the Arsenal midfielder said
A club like Barcelona must respect a little more the intimacy of a club that never makes ‘noise’ and that tries to do things well like Arsenal. In the last few weeks it’s come out that Barcelona want at least 7 players from Arsenal and this is not necessary. These things cast doubts on our players and upsets them. Arsenal do things in a different way. Always in secret. This is much more normal.
The relationship between the Spanish clubs and the media is more developed than in England and it is this aspect that causes dissension in the ranks of supporters. Both Real and Barcelona have radio and newspaper outlets that are supportive of their objectives, more than willing to be the font of speculation in order to achieve them. In England, clubs rarely use the media in the same way, the domestication of those outlets never likely to happen either with journalists happy to bite the hands that feed at the first opportunity.
At Arsenal, it is rare for speculation to be officially commented on. In Wenger’s time and before then, the club would never speculate openly regarding potential targets, leaks coming from Agents and Selling clubs. It leads to a mass of unfounded rumour and places stress on those who want action and demand that the club sign everyone that they are linked to.
In openly criticising the Catalan’s, questions about his commitment to Arsenal are answered. It is clear that he is unhappy with the ongoing dramas surrounding Alexandr Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor. Of those two, he has been more supportive of the latter albeit stopping short of telling him to stay. Adebayor is the more likely departure to the Camp Nou with a fee of €30m quoted by Marca yesterday. For Cesc, the team ethic is clearly important which marks him out as a potential Arsenal captain of the future.
GERMANY SCRAPE PAST TURKEY TO REACH FINAL
Germany 3 - 2 Turkey
Euro2008 Semi Final 1
A last-gasp Philipp Lahm strike sent Germany undeservedly through to Euro2008. Having been hailed before the match as the best German side since 1990, they promptly set about proving that they were the worst since 1958 by failing to defend properly and being unable to control or pass the ball with any degree of accuracy in the opening spell of the match.
Despite being patched up, Turkey pushed their opponents to the limit and could have been ahead before the opening quarter of the game had elapsed; Colin Kazim-Richards thundered a shot against Jens Lehmann’s crossbar. Minutes later that miss was irrelevant. Kazim-Richards effort looped over Lehmann’s head and span onto the crossbar with the German ‘keeper helpless and watching, Ugur was first to react and shot straight at the former Arsenal custodian. As Lehmann fumbled, the ball passed through his legs, tantalisingly evading his grasp as he desperately tried to retrieve the situation.
The lead was no more than Turkey deserved as they had outpassed and outclassed their opponents. It was the catalyst for a more open game and within four minutes, Germany were level. Podolski stretched the Turkish defence with a run down the left and centered for Schweinsteiger to add the deftest of touches to equalise.
The match developed into an end-to-end game with the Turks constantly exposing the soft centre of the German defence. Neither Mertesacker or Metzelder was comfortable in possession and their distribution was poor. It remained level until exploding back into life in the final fifteen minutes. Rustu was slow off his line to react to a cross, allowing Klose the chance to head the ball home with eleven minutes remaining. It was time for the Germans to revert to type and kill off the game.
Except no-one had told the Turks this. Amid a flurry of activity on the bench, Sabri made mincemeat of Lahm and reached the byeline where his low cross was met at the near post by Semih, who guided the ball once more through Lehmann’s legs for the equaliser. With extra time looming, Germany mustered their best attacking move of the game as Lahm played a one-two with Hitzelsperger and found himself free in the Turkish area, burying the chance past Rustu for the glory.
SPURS JOIN THE QUEUE TO BUY A VILLA IN THE SUN
Tottenham’s offer of £20m for David Villa seems more tongue-in-cheek than based in any serious reality. The player is being heavily linked with all of Europe’s major clubs and now some minor ones too and the Spanish club admit that offers have been received for the player but they have not given up on him staying.
The player has often been quoted as wanting to move to Real Madrid or Barcelona but has also drawn attention from at least two of the Premier League’s top two. A move to the Catalan giants seems to be the more stretched imagination of journalists with Joan Laporta closing the net on Emmanuel Adebayor although the chances of that succeeding are diminishing by the day. It seems that they have realised that Arsenal will not be negotiating a fee below €30m (£24m), a valuation that the azulgrana had previously baulked at paying.
Villa meanwhile has been subject to more interest that the media is aware of. Juan Sanchez, Les Ches technical secretary, spoke with Spanish daily AS,
A number of teams have come in with offers, more than are being spoken about, but both (coach Unai) Emery and I think that he’s going to stay
Were El Guaje to leave the Mestalla, it would be a big hole for them to fill. Scoring twenty one goals in thirty-five appearances in all competitions is a record comparable to any of Europe’s leading strikers. Considered in the context of Valencia’s dismal season in 2007-08, it becomes all the more remarkable.
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