44 year wait finally over for Spain as they claim the Euro 2008 trophy
June 30, 2008
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In 1964 Spain won their first European title. In 2008 a 44 year wait for Spanish fans is finally over. In 1984 the Spanish team reached the final of the European Cup but since then they have failed to live up to expectations, that is until now.
A fantastic Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute where he outpaced Philipp Lahm before chipping delightfully over goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to score the only goal of the match. A pass from Xavi Hernández had released Torres on his way to scoring.
Several minutes earlier the post had denied Torres after he had shook off Per Mertesacker to create some space for a header only to see it bounce back off the upright.
The fact that Spain had not been this far in a major tournament since 1984 was seen as more of an inspriration rather than a burden as they entered the final against Germany.
At the start of the match the German team had been boosted with the news that their captain Michael Ballack would take part in the match after earlier talk of him being forced out with a calf injury.
Germany started the match looking better than Spain, however as time passed the Spaniards gradually took control of the match.
In the end Spain has finally delivered on the talent that comes out of the country. Now it remains to be seen if they can go on with things and claim the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Final round of Asian qualifying for FIFA world cup 2010
June 29, 2008
The 10 teams that qualified for the final stage of Asian zone qualifying now know their opponents in what will decide the four teams to qualify for the 2010 FIFA word cup in South Africa. A fifth team could also qualify if they defeat the Oceania playoff team.
The teams were drawn into two groups of 5 teams. Australia and Korea Republic were seeded in the different groups and could not be drawn together. The groups are below.
Group 1: Australia, Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar
Group 2: Korea Republic, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Korea DPR, United Arab Emirates
Match schedule (TBC):
(The ten teams, divided into two groups of five, will play home-and-away. Home teams given first:)
Matchday 1: 6 September 2008 - 3 v 2, 5 v 4 (1 bye)
MD 2: 10 September 2008 - 4 v 1; 5 v 3 (2 bye)
MD 3: 15 October 2008 - 1 v 5; 2 v 4 (3 bye)
MD 4: 19 November 2008 - 5 v 2; 3 v 1 (4 bye)
MD 5: 11 February 2009 - 4 v 3; 2 v 1 (5 bye)
MD 6: 28 March 2009 - 2 v 3, 4 v 5 (1 bye)
MD 7: 1 April 2009 - 1 v 4; 3 v 5 (2 bye)
MD 8: 6 June 2009 - 5 v 1; 4 v 2 (3 bye)
MD 9: 10 June 2009 - 2 v 5; 1 v 3 (4 bye)
MD 10: 17 June 2009 - 3 v 4; 1 v 2 (5 bye)
Australia and Japan will continue their World Cup rivalry after facing each other in the group stage in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. On that occasion Australia got the points.
Australia and Qatar opponents in the previous group stage are paired up once again. Australia will be hoping to have repeat of the impressive wins against Qatar.
The two Korean teams are together again for this stage of qualifying after coming through from the same group.
There will be no easy matches in the race for a spot at the 2010 World Cup.
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Thunder and lightning nor Russia can stop Spain
June 27, 2008
Spain proved too good for Russia in the second semifinal at the Euro 2008 football tournament. Lightning was seen during the match as well as steady rain. This did not slow down Spain
Spain was in control for most of the match and scored goals through Xavi Hernández in the 50th minute, Daniel Güiza after 73 minutes and David Silva in the 82nd minute to wrap up the match 3-0.
Russian coach Guus Hiddink said it was Spain’s one touch style of play that wore down his Russian team. Russia could stay with Spain for an hour but it was too much to go the distance.
The final will now take place to two of the favourites at the beginning of the tournament as Spain faces Germany. For Spain it is the first major final that they will play since they lost the 1984 final to France. Spain won the European crown way back in 1964.
The first goal for Spain was setup on the left side by Andres Iniesta who evaded two defenders before firing a cross that was deflected in by Hernández.
Goal two came after a clever little chip pass put Güiza into the clear. He in turn chipped his shot into the back of the net.
The final goal was setup by man of the match Iniesta who delivered a nice pass to Cesc Fabregas who advanced the ball down the left side of the field before a centering cross to Silva who controlled the ball with one touch and then threaded the shot just past the goalkeeper and inside the left post.
The only bad thing to come out of the match for Spain is the news that David Villa was injured and will miss the final.
Germany knock the stuffing out of Turkey at Euro 2008
June 26, 2008
Turkey found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline in yet another exciting Euro 2008 match. I cannot remember a tournament that has had so many last minute goals to decide a match.
In the Euro 2008 semifinal between Germany and Turkey it looked as though the match was heading into extra time before a late goal to Germany’s Philipp Lahm settled the affair in the 90th minute. This time there was no amazing comeback from Turkey.
The fact that Turkey had levelled the match with an 86th-minute strike from Semih ?entürk was dramatic enough.
You would have been a supreme optimist to think the Turkish side would be able to summon one last dramatic equaliser. You can only do this so many times. Just like the run of Dinara Safina in the French Open where twice she came back from seemingly lost positions it is tough to do it four times running.
In this match it was Turkey who were first to score. It was through U?ur Boral’s in the 22nd-minute of the match. The lead was short lived as Germany hit back within minutes. This time it was Bastian Schweinsteiger who scored just four minutes later.
With 11 minutes left in the match extra time was looking likely before Miroslav Klose got on the end of a long cross and headed Germany into the lead. Turkish goalkeeper Rü?tü Reçber tried to reach the cross however Klose beat him to it.
Surely Turkey could not come back yet again, but comeback they did. It was Sabri who setup Semih with his cross being turned in for the goal that levelled the match.
Turkey would now feel the heartbreak of having the match snatched away from them in the dying moments as a one-two between Hitzlsperger and Lahm that saw the latter knock in the winner.
It was the end for a brave Turkish team that had thrilled so many football fans. They had pulled off the impossible against Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia with last-gasp goals however they could not do it this time around.
Germany deservedly advances to the final of Euro 2008 where they await the winner of the Spain-Russia match.
Will Spain and Russia be able to live up to the excitement of the first semifinal? If they can football fans are in for a treat.
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Spain gets past Italy in penalty shootout
June 23, 2008
Italy had claimed the 2006 World Cup in a penalty shootout. Today they had the tables turned on them as Spain finally won a quarterfinal shootout to advance. Spain had lost three shootouts at this stage in past major tournaments.
After both teams failed to score in normal and extra time it was Iker Cassillas who was the hero for Spain. Gianluigi Buffon had saved a Daniel Guiza shot however Cassillas stopped Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale’s shots. Cesc Fabregas was then able to close out the shootout to send Spain through 4-2.
Spain will now face Russia in the semifinal.
China scores first win…but too late
June 22, 2008
China has traveled to Australia in their final game of the FIFA World Cup qualifying and gone away with the points.
Australia fielded a vastly different team from the earlier qualifying matches as Pim Verbeek game his young players a chance to shine at the top level. Australian and China had determined their fate last weekend with China being eliminated and Australia qualifying for the next stage in Asian qualifying.
Today a crowd of just over 70 000 filled the ANZ Stadium in Sydney hoping to see their players complete this stage with a win. China were playing for pride.
In the end it was just one goal that got the job done for the visiting team. In the 12th minute Sun Xiang scored with a long range shot. Perhaps you could say the Australian defence was a touch lazy as Sun had time to get the ball in perfect position to launch his shot. He really should have been closed down earlier.
The match had good end to end action and Australia went close on a few occasions however could not find the back of the net. China should have doubled their lead in the second half as they missed a penalty shot.
Hopefully Pim Verbeek has seen enough of the different players that he used in this match to be able to get some value from the loss to China. Harry Kewell was the only regular player that took his place in the starting lineup.
There were plenty of new names for a game of this level, such as Ruben Zadkovich, James Holland and Matthew Spiranovic.
For China this was a win that came too late. In their last match they took the early lead but could not hold on as they did today.
Australia now has the next stage of qualifying to look forward to. The draw for the next stage takes place at AFC House in Kuala Lumper next Friday evening. Australia and Korea Republic have already been drawn in different groups as they are the top two teams in Asia.
Pim Verbeek having coached Korea to a semifinal spot at the 2007 Asian Cup is glad his Australian team will not face them in the next stage.
Russia squash the Oranje men
June 22, 2008
So many times in sport you will see a team run hot in the early stages of a tournament only to crash out when it matters.
It has happened to the Netherlands. They were running hot. They crushed Italy and France in the group stage. In the quarterfinal against the Guus Hiddink coached Russia the Netherlands team went in well rested and ready to play.
Russia had youth on their side and after the teams had ended normal time 1-1 the match was decided in extra time.
Just how much difference it makes having Guus Hiddink as the coach can never be accurately measured however looking at his results over the years you would have to say he does make a difference. Just look at the South Korean team in the 2002 World Cup.
Russia took the lead in the match after Pavlyuchenko scored in the 56th minute. As the match would down and the Russian’s appeared likely to advance it was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s headed goal in the 86th minute that squared things up.
In extra time it was Russia who looked most likely to claim the match. They did so by scoring in the 22nd and 26th minutes of extra time. First it was man of the match Arshavin who crossed for Torbinski to sneak in at the far post to tap home. Arshavin followed this up with a goal of his own from the rightside.
3-1 and Russia was through to the semifinal. They now await the winner of the Italy-Spain match tonight.
Now the true test for Hiddink and his side is to make it to a final. In the past a Hiddink coached team has not advanced to a final.
Penalty heartbreak for Croatia sees Turkey advance
June 21, 2008
It is always tough to lose a match following a penalty shoot-out. The players that fail to convert a penalty kick can be haunted for years to come.
In the quarterfinal match between Croatia and Turkey it was decided by a penalty shoot-out. After both teams were scoreless at the end of normal time it looked as though the entire match would not produce a goal.
Late in extra time the excitement began. First Croatia hit the front with a goal to Klasnic 29 minutes into extra time. The Croatians probably thought they had the game wrapped up. As we now know anything can happen if their is still time on the clock. Just ask the Czech Republic.
Turkey sensationally scored a goal just as the referee would have been ready to blow fulltime. This time it was Semih who scored as his deflected shot beat Pletikosa. 1-1 after extra time took the match to a penalty shoot-out.
I think tossing a coin is a fairer way to decide the match, however this is a little less dramatic when compared to the shoot-out. Just think back to the last big match occasion where a match was decided by penalties. That time around it was Manchester United who defeated Chelsea to claim the Champions League trophy. Just ask John Terry and Nicholas Anelka what they think of penalty shoot-outs.
In the Croatia-Turkey shootout is was Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric who both fired wide to give Turkey the upper hand. When Mladen Petric had his shot saved by Rustu Recber it was all over for Croatia. Turkey had pulled off another amazing fightback to move into the semifinals of Euro 2008 where they will face Germany.
For the Croatian coach Slaven Bilic he said Turkey’s dramatic comeback will “haunt me for the rest of my life”.
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Scolari fears confirmed as Germany advances at Euro 2008
June 20, 2008
In a pre-match press conference before the Germany-Portugal match Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari spoke of his fears about the height advantage the Germans hold over Portugal.
He is an insightful coach as it was the German height advantage that helped them through to the semi-final of Euro 2008 after a 3-2 victory over the 2004 finalists.
Schweinsteiger opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. A headed goal by Klose soon followed in the 26th minute. Portugal hit back through Nuno Gomes on 40 minutes. Ballack also headed home to give Germany the edge in the 61st minute.
Portugal got a late goal in the 87th minute. There was no late rush for Portugal as they were eliminated by the tall German side.
Before the match many had written off the German team. They showed that they are still a force in European football.
Guus does it again with Russia at Euro 2008
June 19, 2008
Guus Hiddink is a master coach. In past coaching assignments he has taken Holland and South Korea to the World Cup semis. He coached Australia to the second round in the 2006 World Cup where the Socceroos were unlucky to lose to Italy.
Now at Euro 2008 Hiddink has again worked his magic to see his current team, Russia advance to the quarterfinals. The Russians will next meet the team from Hiddink’s country, Holland.
Sweden and Russia went into the final match in the group stage knowing a draw for Sweden would take them through. Russia needed to win.
Russia scored a goal in each half to setup a 2-0 win. The first goal came after a good exchange of passes down the right side. At the end of the movement it was Roman Pavlyuchenko who shot past the Swedish keeper to score.
At the other end of the field a glancing header that Larsson helped on its way to the goal struck the bar. Just a couple of inches lower and it may have been Sweden who got the draw that they required.
In the second half several more shots came off the post. In the end it was Russia who again found the back of the net. This time it was from a Swedish long ball out of defence that the Russians quickly moved down field with a series of crisp passes. At the end of the movement Andrei Arshavin directed the ball past keeper Isaksson.
Arshavin was Huddink’s trump card. He had missed the earlier matches as he served out a suspension. The injection of him into the match sparked Russia and in the end it was a comfortable victory.
Russia advanced to the Euro 2008 finals at the expense of England. They will now face the Netherlands in what shapes up as a classic encounter. We will see the Dutch master coach guide his adopted team against his country of birth. Anything can happen.
