Sweden could not keep up
with a slick passing and speedy Russian side. Russia was fully committed to
attack right from the opening whistle and they peppered the Swedish goal with shots
throughout the game.
The fact that Russia only
led by one goal at half time was down to a combination of some good goalkeeping
from Isaksson and some finishing that just lacked
an edge. Arshavin was very much the orchestrator for Russia but this was far
from a one man show. Zhirkov, Semak, Zyryanov, Anyukov and Bilyaletdinov all
stood out while the size and strength of Pavlyuchenko bothered the Swedish
defence. It was Pavlyucheko that got the opening goal as he finished off some
good work by Anyukov down the right side.
The second goal was a
thing of absolute beauty and came early in the second half. A Swedish clearance
was picked off inside his own half by Zhirkov. He found Arshavin and continued
his run forward. Arshavin knocked the ball to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov who then threaded a twenty yard pass behind
the Swedish defence and right to Zhirkov who made a diagonal run.
Zhirkov carried the ball
into the Swedish penalty box before squaring to Arshavin who slid the ball past
Isaksson. The move from start to finish probably took no more than ten
seconds, involved four players and four passes and the ball travelled more than
half the length off the field without a Swedish defender getting a sniff. Spectacular
and a candidate for the best goal of the tournament – set the recorder tonight
if you did not catch this goal live!
As Sweden desperately
tried to pull a goal back they left themselves open to Russia on the counter. There
were numerous chances to increase the score but everyone was squandered. Another
triumph for a side showing a willingness to go forward and to attack the
opposition with pace, passing and fantastic movement Now we have Guus Hiddink
going up against his native Netherlands on Saturday – something we can all look
forward to.
Spain 2-1 Greece
Greece scores a goal but
still lose to what could be best described as the Spanish B team. Nice bit of
refereeing on the first Spanish goal. Howard Webb opting to play the advantage
after a foul by Greece in midfield. The call allowed the move to continue and
it finished with a rasping shot from de la Red.
Comment of the Day
"At this stage of the
tournament any opponent was going to be difficult but they aren't the team (Italy)
I would have most liked to have met," Spain coach Luis Aragones.
Prediction Update
Group C proved to be a
real #### for just about everyone. A lot of blanks – many more than Groups A
and B. Only one 100% correct prediction for Group C and it came from Stonefacesurf.
Sounderfan still leads (19 points from a possible 24) although the gap narrowed
yesterday.
Questions
1.
So
far, is this a better tournament than Euro 2004?
2.
Without
checking the statistics do you think Euro 2008 has produced more, about the
same or less goals than Euro 2004?
I think Sweden will grind out a win today. But wouldn't mind seeing Russia go through.
On Italy vs. Spain match I think loosing Pirlo might be too big of a loss for Italy since he is the one who makes them tick. Aqualani(sp) is the one player who I think can play that position.
Bobby who do u think Italy will put to replace Pirlo???
1. Better, I don't remember 2004 being full of such great back and forth free flowing football battles. Then again I only remember the Semis and on with much detail, I don't think I watched the group stage like I did this year.
2. More? Also don't remember so many high scoring or back and forth games in 2004 at the group stage. Or its a trick question and we are tied :P
I'll come back to the Euro 2004 questions later today when we hopefully have more responses.
in terms of Italy I don't think they have any option other than Aquilani. Even then I think they will have to tinker with the formation. From what I have seen Aquilani normally operates further forward than Pirlo. Pirlo's style (generally acting as the playmaker from a deeper position) isn't common.
Q1: I'd say this year is better because of some of the fine performances. It's difficult to say, 4 years is a long time to keep subjective information in the head for comparison. Here's a thought: is it just me and my poor memory, or is the quality of the coaches/managers extremely high this year?
Q2: I'd guess so far there are less goals this year.
Bobby, thanks for explaining the fullback/center back thing.
Shame for Italy that Xabi Alonso will be on the other side, he'd be a better one game replacement for Pirlo as they play virtually the same game (though Pirlo is better at it).
Definitely more exciting football in 2008. The Dutch have been sublime (so have the Portuguese for that matter), at least 2 game outcomes decided in stoppage time, and then the Turkey-Czech game on top of that. I'll let the experts decide what they think is better.
Definitely more goals up to this point in 2004. Apparently we've all forgotten about England torching teams on offense in group play. I recall Sweden or Finland or some Nordic country having a big goalfest o####ame as well (6-0 maybe) against someone.
Bobby..side question..what do you think of UEFA's decision to uphold Jogi Low's touchline ban?
I think it's an absolute joke. To be tossed for "constant bickering"? I think UEFA secretly disagrees with the decision but is upholding the ban merely to avoid undermining their own officiating - which hasn't been very good overall.
That said, I think it may rally the Germans. Like the Italians, the Germans seem to feast on adversity. Plus, the manager has little in-game impact aside from substitions and formation adjustments. All these can be relayed down to his assistant..
Last edited by Mannschaft on June 18th at 10:02 AM.
I want Spain to win now, but I will bet anyone on this blog that Italy come out on top. Spain is 'fragile' at best and 'awful' at worst at the back. I would move Ramos to the middle and tell him he has to stay focused and not venture forward. Hard for him to do but if he is to become GREAT, he has to be able to adapt.
As far as France goes, they deserve what they get. Domenech is terible and everyone but he knows it. Abidal at CB. They only reason he is any good at FB is his speed, his positioning is awful.
As far as Henry goes, you can blame hm if you like, but what service did he get?
I was speaking of playing style only, not dead ball situations. As such, you can't say that Alonso doesn't at least attempt to play in the same way as Pirlo from the same area of the pitch.
I actually think that Spain will win. They have played more counter attacking/long ball than they've ever done (yes, that's akin to saying someone is the tallest midget) and Italy didn't do well against the Netherlands employing that. Either way, I'm looking forward to watching.
Actually the reason the score was bad was because France were horrible and allowed 4 goals. Pretty sure Henry's job wasn't to play striker midfield defense and keeper.
As for Ade he had a goal of the season candidate against Spurs beyond anything I saw Torres do this season. Nice try though baseless though.
This has definitely been a better tournament than 2004 so far, and better than any World Cup since 1998 at least, I'd say. I think the weather might have something to do with it. Surely not having to play in hot, humid, tropical conditions for once is letting the players stay energetic for the whole game.
I bet there have been about the same amount of goals, but there have been so many games where both teams are going for a win instead of a scoreless draw.
Aside: What about 0 points for a 0-0 draw in leagues and tournaments? Would that encourage more offence?
Liverpool's Riise joins Roma
AS Roma have signed Norwegian international defender John Arne Riise from Liverpool for five million euros ($7.74 million), the Serie A club said on Wednesday. Riise has signed a four-year contract.
You are correct about Spain though and it should be a corker. In all honesty I will be quite happy if Spain win as it could be their year (they are long overdue) and besides I never expected Italy to get out of the group stage.
I said the score was so bad because Henry couldn't finish and you took that as me saying he should've played keeper, defender and midfield as well?
I said Adebayor benefits from terrific service at Arsenal, as did Henry, and you say that is baseless? So Arsenal doesn't provide the best service for front men in any competition club or country? Wow.
Of course this is coming from the person who said Portugal doesn't score on counter attack goals, they weren't dangerous from set pieces and Maniche's goal in 2004's semifinal didn't come from a corner. Explains everything...
Btw Jay thats counter attacking football, something Portugal is very good at. Create turnover, use slick passes and your speed to open up defense on break and find the man in the middle scoring the goal.
Last edited by LetsGoBuffalo on June 18th at 12:54 PM.
The tabloids are so predictable I expect Arshavin to be linked with every club in Europe tomorrow as the 'journalists' remember hes good and still exists.
your high comedy LGB and I'm not going to bother arguing with you as you wont concede a point and will just muddle the argument until the original points are lost.
My point on Henry was the score was 4-1 what else could he have done besides already score? score a hatrick?
"His lack of finishing was a reason that the score was so bad." WRONG the score was so bad because France was awful in a team sport. Henry missing sitters doesn't have anything to do with letting 4 in.
As for walking the ball in you can pretend what you meant by it but its pretty obvious by your previous posts you don't rate Ade and are slighting him that he walks his goals in. That is baseless. He enjoys good service but for anyone who watches Arsenal play which you will claim to do but obviously don't would know many of Ades goals are of all variety. Taps ins, penalties, headers and miracle volleys.
I never said Portugal don't score counter attacking goals I said they were not a counter attacking in the classical sense of absorbing pressure and hitting teams on the break. They come out to posses the ball and take the game to their opponents. Obviously with a lead or on a corner when other teams push up they will and can counter. I still don't see how a laser shot from a short corner consists as a set piece goal in the classical sense (dead ball FK or cross/corner header).
It could be an interesting match up between the Russians and Dutch. The football they play is very similar. The Dutch have a few more skilled players but you never know. Is that a game that we see the Dutch fall short like they have som many times in past.
I guess the 3rd goal against the Czechs is a set piece goal also when it was just taken quickly and Ronaldo beat the offside trap.
I already went over with you why Portugal are good at set pieces and its only recent history and fragile at best. I hardly consider a good set piece team one who can only do it at one end of the field. They have Ronaldo on headers and dead balls and maybe Pepe now on headers also. Hardly a set piece powerhouse especially when they cant get Simao to concede to Ronaldos superior FK's.
5 goals this tournament 3 from open play 2 from countering with a lead and 0 from set pieces and 1 let in from a corner. Wait here I'll form your argument for you, Pepe had a header called back Ronaldo hit the post vs Turkey and Portugal have had 0 PK's so far which some how count as set pieces in your math.
I muddle the point? Hmmm...If Henry scores on his two sitters the score is not 4-1 but 4-3, now you tell me what is the worse score.
I never said Henry was the reason France lost, I said he was the reason the score was as bad as it was. I'm pretty sure I'm not the one who muddles anything.
The majority of Portugals goals come on the counter-attack as I stated previously and you said they didn'#### a style of Big Phil as I'm sure we will see with Chelsea.
Actually all I said was the Adebayor benefitted from Arsenal's exceptional service, as did Henry. I think most supporters of Arsenal who aren't deluded will tell you as much. If Arsenal do sell Ade for more than 10m than thats a great piece of business. I'll say it one last time, I think Adebayor is a good player because you have to be to score 24 goals. Now that teams are going to be focusing in on him like they did on Henry I'll be very surprised if he breaks the 12 goal barrier. Henry was amazing with the ball at his feet and could hold up the ball, Adebayor is nowhere near as good.
I was quite surprised to see that many thought Russia was going to finish last in the group. My guess its because the team is fairly unknown as almost all players play in Russian league... but still... I mean the team has the coach with good reputation... team is build with many players who just won UEFA cup.. That should at least give some credability to the players and put the team above Greece who has done nothing of late
Again you prove your knowledge by Parroting what the 'pundits' say about Scolari. He coaches to win and for him with this team thats score a goal then defend that goal and add more if the opportunity arises. It really is no different to what the Dutch are currently doing but just much better as its really clicking and the teams they are playing are folding. Its the same general strategy that all possession teams use. From Spain, Portugal, Holland, Arsenal and Barca they come out looking to play a open game and if they score they obviously pull back forcing the opponent to commit more. That is not counter attacking football. They don't turtle into their own half until they score that go ahead goal and even when they do its not even comparable to something like the Greeks do.
Before the tournament I thought the Russians would finish second in the group. They play very technical. Yes the majority of the players were on the UEFA Cup champs. That was a good looking side. They may give the dutch a game.
How is Quarsema's goal not from a free-kick? Because of the foul the defense stopped moving and it allowed Deco(I think) to play it quickly which allowed Ronaldo to get behind the defense and then pass over for Quarsema to walk in.
If not from a free kick than its counter attacking as they created a turnover and were fouled but got the ball up quickly.
Pepe's goal came from him intercepting a pass playing a one-two with Nuno Gomes...Counter-attack but thats ok you don't have to admit it.
Goodbye Riise U have been a good servant to the club and we will never forget that pearl of a left foot.
Sisoko left us went to Juve and played out of his skin, I wonder if riise will do the same at roma, anyway the Giallorossi will be a good fit for him i just wish we could have gotten Cicinho in exchange.
Doesnt every team Conterattck at some point in a game. or is the argument that Portugal is mainly an attacking team? To me Portugal counter attack when its feasible and makes sense, and furthermore a team can only Counter attack if the opposition is attacking them.so if they are playing against a team like greece who hardly attack Portugal will not be able to counter attack. So what i am basically trying to say is Portugal most likely counter attack when its prudent to do so.
I dont know, maybe i have just made the argument even more confusing
Jay-You obviously didn't watch the game. But lucky for you there are highlights on footytube, go check it out:)
Aldo-Makes sense...All I'm saying is Portugal score majority of their goals like that as they should. With the skill and speed they have they'd be stupid not too!
So Croatia dominates their group to finish 3-0, while Russia easily handles Sweden-- the same Sweden that always plays England very tough-- to also advance to the quarterfinals. Maybe the outcome of England's Euro qualifying campaign was the correct result, McClaren or no McClaren?
To put it another way-- if England had qualified in their last match against Croatia and replaced Russia in group D, would they have necessarily been one of the teams advancing, ahead of either Spain or Sweden?
Maybe the Euros are better for you without England-- it spares you blushing from a hapless exit in the group stage ...
I didn't think Russia would go through but that's because I thought Greece would instead. I think a lot of people thought that. They are the defending champs afterall...
A decision on whether Raymond Domenech remains France coach after their group stage exit at Euro 2008 will be made on July 3, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Wednesday.
D'UH!!! Let me see... hummmm... They did score a goal against holland. oh yes, they pickup a point against Romania. may be we may just need to think this through.
Last edited by Thierry_Henry on June 18th at 3:23 PM.
Answers
1.This tournament is the best yet. The ref's have virtually eliminated the shirt holding which have forced the players to play. It is also great to see the games live. Hats off to both networks and the refs.
2. I would guess more goals but I know there has bin better goals.
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