Euro 2008: That final game

Germany 0 Spain 1 (predicted: 1-2)
It could have been a far greater margin in the end but there is no doubt that the most deserving side won it.
Germany started brightly and only for Klose and Podolski losing their nerve on seperate occasions in the Spanish box we may have had a very different game on [...]

Euro 2008: The Final day predictions

Semi-finals review
Germany 3 Turkey 2 (predicted: 1-0)
What a strange game that was.  Germany played like absolute no-hopers for 45 minutes and while they improved after the break, they still didn’t look like a team that was ninty minutes away from being European Champions.  Meanwhile an understrength Turkey side dominated the first half, went ahead deservedly [...]

Euro 2008: Day 17 and 18 predictions

Semi Final 1: Germany v Turkey

Apparently Turkey are so short of players they will be bringing in Muzzy Izzet and the bloke who played Roland on Grange Hill.  Well, maybe not, but they are rumoured to be considering an outfield position for their third choice goalkeeper since they only have 13 fit players.
Volkan Demirel failed [...]

Euro 2008: Quarter-finals review

Having seen only one full game (Italy v Spain), highlights of another (Germany v Portugal) and none of the other two, I’m not in a position to accurately disect too much of the action from the last eight.  Add to that the fact that I predicted none of the games correctly and you have probablby [...]

Euro 2008: Day 16 prediction

Day 16 preview
Having seen three unexpected results in a row (none more so than Russia’s victory over the Netherlands), one might be tempted to expect the unexpected again tonight.  Spain have been one of the better footballing teams so far in the tournament.  But as we saw with the Netherlands, scoring 9 goals and getting [...]

Euro 2008: Day 14 and 15 predictions

I’m going to change things about here since I haven’t had time to watch the Germany/Portugal game outside of injury time at the end.  I will review the quarter-finals after the weekend.  So let’s have a look at the next two quarter finals on Friday and Saturday.
Day 14 preview
Croatia are full of confidence going in [...]

Euro 2008: Day 13 predictions

Day 12 review
Sweden 0 Russia 2 (prediction: 1-2)
We’ve seen some fantastic performances in the competition so far, not least from Spain and the Netherlands, but Russia put in a stunning shift against Sweden to run out comfortable winners.  Arshavin and Zhirkov were the star performers, Pavluchenko saving his best performance for tonight too.
It could have [...]

Euro 2008: Day 12 predictions

Day 11 review
France 0 Italy 2 (predicted: 0-2)
Time restricted my analysis of this game but it panned out largely like I expected: Italy were the stronger team, deservedly won and France looked completely unmotivated.  In the wake of the defeat Lilian Thuram (dropped for the game) and Claude Makelele retired (again), Raymond Domenech proposed to [...]

Euro 2008: Day 11 predictions

Day 10 review
Austria 0 Germany 1 (predicted: 0-3)
The scoreline may not have reflected the German dominance but they were worthy winners against a brave effort from limited Austria.  The 10,000 people who signed the petition calling for the nation not to compete and embarrass itself should be the ones left a little red-faced tonight. Despite [...]

Euro 2008: Day 10 predictions

Day 9 review
Switzerland 2 Portugal 0 (prediction: 0-2)
Luis Felipe Scolari made eight changes to his Portugal team who went down to the proud Swiss and their three-tournament goal striker, Hakan Yakin.  Helder Postiga, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Bruno Alvez, Fernando Meira and Raul Meireles were amongst those brought in.
With no Ronaldo, Deco, Petit or Joao Moutinho, [...]