Eur So Predictable

These days, I have a love-hate relationship with international football. While I appreciate that a tournament like Euro 2008 is a great place for some of the world's best to really show what they're made of, I despair at the fact that the onus in these competitions has recently been more about trying to avoid defeat rather than trying to win.

So far, with almost all the first set of fixtures complete, we've had very little to get excited about. In all cases the underdog has succumbed to the favourite due in part to a general lack of adventure. With the exception of tonight's Holland-Italy match, is anyone really surprised about how the results have gone thus far?

International tournament football is famed for it's tendency to throw up something unexpected and while I understand the competition has only just begun, I cant see any major upsets taking place on route to the final in Vienna at the end of the month.

Even without upsets, the Euros look like they are set to follow a similar pattern to the last World Cup which didn't have a single 'classic' or epic encounter that will live long in the memory. The two best matches were Mexico-Argentina and Italy-Germany. The rest were were either a chess match between evenly matched sides separated by the odd goal or a heavily one-sided affair in which the favourite would triumph with little trouble.

In fact, it seems that in terms of great games in these competition, the standard was set during the 90s and peaked around France 98/Euro 2000. Both of which produced some truly memorable matches. Who could forget 98's two classic semis or England/Argentina or Argentina/Holland or Spain/Nigeria in the group stages? How about England self destructing against Portugal and then Romania in 2000? France v Portugal? The French comeback against Italy to ultimately seal the competition? Spain v Yugoslavia???

International football, at tournament level, fails to provide such drama in this day and age. As good a story as it was when Greece overcame the odds in 2004 to win in Portugal, it merely set the tone for a new attitude at this level. It is the reason why Turkey didn't dare try and take on Portugal, why Poland were outplayed by the Germans and why Romania were making substitutions to run down the clock in the 92nd minute despite having a free-kick in a promising position against France earlier.

The supposed underdog would rather approach a game taking minimal risks rather than being bold and adventurous. Ultimately, the better organised sides as opposed to those with a greater talent pool will tend to prevail. Although this time around, it seems as though the most talented have learnt from Greece and are now also the most organised. These sides have begun to abandon their attack-minded principles in favour of a more conservative approach; leaving the so-called lesser sides little chance of making in-roads in the competition.

Negativity is counter-acted by caution and while tactically, it's all very impressive, it fails to provide the kind of entertainment we all want.

Hopefully, my pessimistic outlook is proven wrong as teams begin to go out and play the rest of the tournament with the kind of reckless abandon that will keep us all glued to our seats. A Russia v Poland final that ends 4-3? I wouldn't complain.

Euro 2008 Draw

Yes, I know what you are thinking. I sure do tend to write a lot about International football for someone who so frequently reads it's last rites.

In any instance I feel it necessary that I comment seeing as the draw for next summer's Euro 2008 tournament has just been made. Yes, even without England, the show will most certainly go on. Those of you who remember USA '94 will remember it as one of the most enjoyable tournaments of modern times quite simply because of the lack of overwhelming emotional atatchment to a team which, lets face it, dont have that much chance of winning much.

England's absense may be a blessing in disguise and many fans of the game in this country will enjoy watching the competition from neutral perspective.

So, how did the draw shape up?

Group A sees co-hosts Switzerland drawn with the Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey. The Czechs have been the model of consistency throughout their qualifying campaign and like last time around, could go a long way. With the abolution of the ridiculous Silver Goal rule, they might fancy themeselves once more. Portugal, like England, have for some years bemoaned the fact their 'Golden Generation' failed to live up to all the expectation. Unlike England however, the Portugese are actually going some way to fulfilling their potential. After losing the final at home in 2004 and finishing 4th in the last World Cup Ronaldo, Deco, Queresma et al will be hoping that they can finally reap the rewards their play has often warrented this decade. The Turks have not built on their great World Cup of 2002 and will be out to prove a point. Although very hard to beat, home advantage may still not be enough to get the Swiss through a very difficult group.

In Group B, Austria will also have their work cut out as they will be up against Germany, Poland and Croatia. The co-hosts have famously been on the recieving end of VERY strong criticism following an awful sucession of results and will find it tough going against Ze Germans! Joachim Low has taken over when Jurgen Klinsmann left off. Germany will always be force in World football and the last few years have seen a resurgence. The Podolski-Klose partnership was one of the most lethal in 2006 and if the two of them click once again, it's difficult to see them not topping the group. Saying that, we all know what Slavan Bilic's ever-improving Croatia side are capable of and Poland will certainly be a team to look out for having topped their qualifying group with little difficulty.

The Group everyone is talking about is the so-called group of death featuring the two world cup finalists Italy and France - where the undoubted talk of revenge with arise (Although I personally dont know who is out to avenge what between these two teams anymore) - along with Holland and the side who finished above them in the qualifying group, Romania.

Unfortunatley for Romania, not many people will give them a prayer against the other 3. Gone are the days of the legendary Gheorghe Hagi, Dan Petrescu and Gica Popescu. Aside the likes of Adrian Mutu and Christian Chivu, The side now mostly consists domestic based players who aren't exactly household names throughout the rest of the continent. It's just in the script for them to cause a massive shock isn't it?

The Dutch don't seem to bicker as much as days gone by but I guess there is still plenty of time for that bewtween now and June...

The final Group sees perenial under-achievers Spain whose embarassment of riches (in terms of talent) will not stop them flattering to decieve on the big stage (and lose me money) AGAIN! Sweden are a side that for as long as I can remember, play to their strengths. Without any real world-beaters in their side, they unfortunately always seem to come unstuck in the latter rounds when they face the big guns.

The Russians may struggle in warmer climes playing on actual grass (bitter? moi?) but Gus Hiddink seems to love tournaments, even moreso when his sides have the underdog tag. One to watch. As for Greece, can they do it again? Surely not!



Groups in Full

Group A
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Portugal
Turkey

Group B
Austria
Germany
Poland
Croatia

Group C
Holland
Italy
Romania
France

Group D
Greece
Spain
Sweden
Russia

Euro 2008 qualifying round-up

Yesterday saw the penultimate round of qualifying fixtures for next summer's football extravaganza in Austria and Switzerland. The picture as to who will be competing for the title became a little clearer.

Harold Wilson once remarked that a week is a long time in politics. I will now completely bastardise his famous quote by saying that 24 hours is a long time in football!

On Friday evening, following another typically laclustre England performance in the friendly against Austria, the mood of the nation was understandably downbeat. Hopes of qualification from Group E rested on the very slim chance of a mediocre Isreal outfit with nothing to play for AND missing their best player beating a Russia side high on confidence.

Conversely, North of the border in Group B, the Scots were buzzing. A win at home, where they had been so far unbeaten this campaign, would see them in a tournament for the first time since France 98. All they had to do was beat the current world Champions. Scotland and NOT England in a tournament? What is the world coming to?

Fast forward to Saturday night and the complexion changes completely. A last minute goal in each game sees Scotland eliminated and England back in control of thier own destiny.

Arise, SIR Omer Golan!

Let's just hope they dont balls it up on Wednesday night now.

Much was said about the decision to award the Italy free-kick in the last minute but truth be told, had the officials not got major offside decisions wrong earlier in the game, Scotland might have been fighting up until those dying momments when Panucci's header floated in.

Italy, the current World Champions go through ahead of Scotland to end what has been a traumatic week of football for the Azzuri. Say what you want about corruption scandels, percieved gamesmanship and the like. Many 90s kids grew up with a weekly dose of Gazzetta on Saturday mornings and for that reason Italian football will retain a soft spot in most of our hearts. It would have devalued the competition sightly had the World Cup holders not been there.

Elsewhere, despite another heroic victory in Group F and another wondergoal from David Healy - this time over 1992 winners Denmark, Northern Ireland need to first beat Spain who booked their place last night and then rely on the unlikely scenrio of Latvia beating Sweden this week if they are to have any chance of qualifying.

In Group A, 2004 finalists Portugal will join Poland provided they avoid defeat against Finland. A win for Turkey against Boznia-Herzegovina will put them through with current champions Greece in Group C and fend off Norway who they beat 2-1 last night.

The Czech Republic and Germany, and Romania and Holland have all qualified from Groups D and G respectively. Holland doing so last night after an unconvincing dislay against Luxembourg.

So, the wives and girlfriends of England fans and players alike will be cursing the name Omer Golan. For some time, next year was shaping up to be football-lite. Holidays were not going be planned around fixtures and Ford Escort's would not be whizzing round with St George's flags flailing in the wind. All that has changed and now, once again, 2008 could see a mid-summers festival of beer, BBQs and the inevetable penalty shoot-out exit.* I for one cannot wait.



Confirmed qualifiers for Euro 2008:
Austria (Co-hosts)
Switzerland (Co-hosts)
Poland
Italy
France
Greece
Czech Republic
Germany
Croatia
Spain
Romania
Holland

Still to Qualify
Group A: Portugal OR Finland
Group C: Turkey OR Norway
Group E: ENGLAND OR Russia
Group F: Sweden OR Northern Ireland

*Provided the job is done on Wednesday.