The Business end of the Euro Championships is upon us with the Quarter Final games starting tonight...
Czech Republic V Portugal
----------------------------
The Czech's have steadily improved since an opening humiliation by Russia,who ultimately flattered to deceive in this tournament.Proving the old adage( Which i may have just made up) That it's not how you start that counts but how you finish...
Goalkeeper Cech seems to have found his confidence after two dodgy games and he will have to be on top form tonight.I have been impressed with Selassie as an attacking right back too.Their midfield is the strong point of the team.Jiracek,Plasil,Pilar all have goals in them too. If Rosicky is fit and on his game he could be the difference...
It's a good job the midfield can score cos' striker Milan Baros is have a 'mare upfront.Not only is he yet to score he's yet to get a shot on target in three games.Don't be surprised if he cracks in a thunderbolt tonight...
What of Portugal? Or Ronaldougal as they should be renamed.Let's be honest it's a one man team and if that man is on form, as he was against the Dutch, he's pretty much unstoppable. However having the hopes of an entire nation on the shoulder of one man is a heavy burden to carry.He's only shone spasmodically and wearing my Czech hat i hope he has an off day.
I'm going for a Czech win...Heart ruling head maybe but they're a team whereas Portugal are a one man band...
Germany V Greece
-------------------------
We all know about the political sideshow attached to this game by now so no need to go into that(Finance is not my strong point as my Bank Manager would tell you) On a purely football front Germany should walk this but happily the game does'nt always work out that way.
Germany are a fine team.In midfield they have the wonderfully named Schweinsteiger(look up the translation!) and Ozil pulling the strings helping to set up chance after chance for the best attack in the tournament.Gomez,Klose,Podalski and Muller would probably walk into any other team here...
What the Greeks lack in ability they more than make up for in spirit.But as any Wolves fan will tell you team spirit can only get you so far...If Greece start slowly, as they did in two of their games, Germany could be out of sight by half time.Probably need to score first to have a chance...
Germany win but probably not as easy as many think...
France V Spain
----------------------
France are probably surprised to be playing Spain...They had control of the group and looked set for a Quarter Final match with Italy but came unstuck against a proud Swedish team who really put the cat among pigeons by beating them relatively easily.Laurent Blanc needs to get his team firing on all fronts for this one.I have them down as my dark horses to win the title and will not change now...
Spain are a fine team by any degree.You don't become World & Euro Champions otherwise.But i can detect their star is fading a little bit.Croatia were unlucky not to beat them last time out and if Iniesta can be shackled their performance drops off a fair way...Still having problems upfront too...
Time to put my neck on the block here...France to win.Poss after extra time or even on Penalties...
England V Italy
-------------------
Both coaches are essentially cautious and defence minded so don't expect a free flowing classic.This could even come down to how one man reacts to playing against many of his club teamates.Balotelli is of course the man in question.He comes in direct opposition with his work colleague ex Wolves youth graduate Joleon Lescott.
It's well known Balotelli is a loose cannon and sometimes explodes, and far be it for me to suggest Lescott indulges in the black arts of the game,but hell if he does'nt try to wind him up from the first whistle it would be a derilection of professional duty...
An Italian woman i work with maintains this is one of the worst Italian teams she has ever seen but that's all relative.They're still not a bad outfit.Old stager Pirlo is still pulling the strings in midfield and if John Terry does his usual trick of giving away free kicks around the area England could pay dearly...
Sorry but Italy to win.Probably on Penalties...
No comments:
Post a Comment