Thank you to all the posters and readers who take the trouble to read the blog each day. A special thanks to some of the new posters who have come to the blog during the Euros. I hope you can stick around.

Quarter Final
Spain vs. Italy
Preview – Of all the quarter finals this one is the most beautifully and finely balanced. For each Italian ying, you can find a Spanish yang. Recent history in major tournaments suggests a win for Italy, but current form points towards Spain.

If Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world then Iker Casillas can’t be far behind. I.D. Luca Toni as the definitive target man and scorer and Spanish fans can counter with the speed and strength of David Villa and Fernando Torres.

Cynics might even point out that the both sets of centre backs are on par – each pairing looks good when the ball is at the other end of the park. Spain is likely to be without Carles Puyol and a central defensive pairing of Valencia’s Raul Albiol and Carlos Marchena can only increase the level of confidence……if you are Italian.

There again, you also get the feeling that Christian Panucci and Giorgio Chiellini constitute a make shift solution to a defence that has lacked the composure normally provided by Fabio Cannavaro.

The full backs are another saw-off. At their best Zambrotta and Grosso (Italy) and Ramos and Capdevilla (Spain) can get forward and effectively support the attack from wide positions.

So where will this one be won and lost? Not surprisingly it will be probably come down to who can most effectively control the midfield. There is a difference in how both sides normally line up. Italy favour a 4-3-2-1, Spain 4-1-3-2. For Spain the first-choice defensive midfielder is Marcos Senna and he will prowl the area in front of the back four looking to control (probably) Cassano and Perrotta.

However, the most intriguing contest will be between Italy and Spain’s defensive and attacking midfield trios. Barring surprises Spain will start Xavi and David Silva with Iniesta (who hasn’t had a particularly good tournament so far) or Fabregas.

All three players are comfortable on the ball and are first rate passers – their problem is if it comes down to heavy lifting can they match Ambrossini and De Rossi? Ambrossini would appear to be the logical replacement for the suspended Gennaro Gattuso while Daniele De Rossi, who has enjoyed a great tournament since being left on the bench for the first game against Netherlands, will join him in the engine room.

The suspension of Andrea Pirlo means that Italy needs to find another playmaker to centre Ambrossini and De Rossi and only option is Roma’s Alberto Aquilani. The responsibility will be a test for Aquilani who at 24 next month is the youngest member of Italy’s squad.

His international experience for country and club is limited and we have become use to him being revered to as a future star. If Italy is to move on to the semi finals it may well be that being a star of the future just won't hack it anymore and the future must start today.

Referee: Herbert Fandel, assistants: Carsten Kadach, Volker Wezel (all Germany), fourth official: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)


Spain 0-0 Italy (Spain win 4-2 on penalty kicks)
It was a terse, tense and and a largely forgettable one-hundred and twenty minutes with the penalty kick decider providing the only moment of sustained excitement.

While the absence of Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo did not hurt Italy defensively, they certainly missed the playmaking of Pirlo. What he would normally accomplish in one pass was taking two of three today. And when the pass finally arrived at its intended target, Spain had anticipated the danger.

Spain enjoyed the vast majority of possession but with De Rossi and Ambrosini sitting deep their midfield found it difficult to spring Villa and Torres as Italy plugged the passing lanes. And so chances for both sides were extremely limited. Even the substitutions made by both coaches failed to break the predictable pattern.

And so it came down to penalties. De Rossi’s miss gave Spain the upper hand but Buffon’s save from Guiza opened the door for a turnaround. However, Casillas got the better of Di Natale and it was left for Fabregas to sink the fifth and winning penalty for Spain.

Best for Italy on the day were Chiellini and De Rossi while for Spain Silva and Senna worked tirelessly.  Spain goes on to play Russia in the semifinal, and for Italy it is Goodnight Vienna.


Comment of the Day
“I’ve been reading what foreign journalists say about Holland. There is one recurring story: the Dutch always destroy themselves through infighting, but this time they haven’t yet. This shoddy half-truth misses the point about Dutch football. Holland are good precisely because our players quarrel about football.” – Simon Kuper.



Prediction Update
Russia’s win yesterday was more bad news for many of you who posted predictions. Netherlands was a popular pick to make it to at least the semi final stage while those picking Russia to progress that far was limited to two or three. The updated standings will be posted tomorrow at the conclusion of the quarter finals.

Zuco2 - Seriously Bobby, you're pretty good at predictions.

Bobby – Well if you mean I was seriously out to lunch on the relegated teams then you are right! My La Liga predictions were not much better.

Thierry Henry - 1. Whose career do you think has sunken lower? Beckham playing an exhibition game somewhere in Alberta against the Vancouver Whitecaps, or Ronaldo trying to pick up a tran-prostitute in Rio de Janeiro?

2. I've heard there is an exhibition match between CANADA v. BRAZIL on May 31st. But to my amazement, the game is set to be played in Seattle! Did I hear it correctly? What do you make of it? Shouldn't the game be played somewhere in Canada?

3. Your predictions for Euro 2008 would be appreciated.

Bobby – 1. I never really considered picking up transvestites to be a career but if you say so. And give Ronaldo some credit he did avoid some late tackles.

2. Or Brazil. It is a US based promotion.

3. I have a Euro preview planned – now all I have to do is actually write it.

Heterotopian - Can we have your proper Premiership XI, allowing for multiple selections per club?

Bobby – (4-2-3-1); James (Portsmouth); Sango (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Vidic (Man Utd), Evra (Man Utd); Mascherano (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa); Young (Aston Villa), Fabregas (Arsenal), Ronaldo (Man Utd); Torres (Liverpool).


Albertagooner - Given Diarra's performance in the FA Cup, I'm wondering whether Wenger may have inserted a clause giving first refusal rights on repurchasing him. I'd put him in the same bracket with Flamini. Any thoughts on this?

Bobby – I am sure that if there had been such a clause something would have leaked out by now. I can’t think of one player that Wenger has signed again after letting go so I would be surprised if he starts now. Not his style, particularly after Diarra wanting to leave. What I find interesting is Diarra wanted away from Chelsea, wanted away from Arsenal and now we hear stories that he is interested in moving to a bigger club than Portsmouth.


Wiscoleeds - Leeds best 3 players since 1960's
1. Billy Bremner
2. Jackie Charlton
3. Johnny Giles (although Gordon Strachan comes close)

Bobby – No place for Eddie Gray?

Redfan4ever - The season is done and dusted and a long summer awaits with two months of transfer wheeling and dealing to watch over while we find some sun somewhere. What's your off the cuff, gut feeling for the Premiership next season? I will qualify the question somewhat by adding the following:
Which of this seasons survivors will struggle next term and do you think any of the three teams coming up will survive against those that have struggled this year? Do you think the top will change much?

Obviously we will have slightly altered opinions in August when we know who has been bought and sold, but most of us must be wondering already how next season will go so I thought I would ask you here.

Bobby – I thought at the beginning of the season that there were a lot of poor teams in the Premiership and I don’t see that really changing next season. Look for six or seven teams to permanently hover around the relegation zone.

At the top I am hopeful that it might actually become a little tighter especially if Moyes and O’Neill are given money to spend and if they spend it wisely. Same goes for Ramos except I think it may take a season for him to sort Spurs out and to start looking to challenge the top 6.

Liverpoolfc73 - Are you for real? You couldn’t find a place for Torres in your team of the season?
Santa Cruz? and Berbatov? Fernando Torres is hands down a better player with one foot tied behind his back !!

Bobby – I’m for real and you get a red card for a badly timed two footed assumption. If you read the piece you would have seen that it was a maximum of one player per team and so if you have an issue it is Mascherano over Torres and has nothing to do with Santa Cruz and Berbatov.

Gorn - Aight, been gone 2 weeks (not that anyone noticed!), gone fer another 2 Sat., so not trolling, just throwing quarters around belatedly. (c: Here goes:

Bobby: "I defy gravity by jumping and losing height"
You watching a lot of Brian Budd lately? That's his favourite quip regarding Crouch (c:
Thanks for the great wrap-ups. Can you tell us why you'll no be covering Euro08? Other business commitments? Love to tune in to you during the media circus for some straight dope.

Bobby - Who is Brian Budd?
During Euro 2008 it will be the usual Monday and Friday shows and maybe a bit of extra blogging if time allows.

Redfan4ever - Do you fish? The miracle mile north of Lockport is full of large pickeral right now. Folks is a catching them off the shore on pickeral rigs. See you got some sun so maybe you found the fish?

Bobby – I’ve fished twice in my life and I have to say that it was twice too many. Just not my thing. Enjoyed a great run on Sunday around lunchtime and got a Scottish tan.

Henry14 - Here is a site which shows were every club would be in the table had they not be a bad call by the ref.

http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/z
oo/0708037.htm

Q 1 What do you make of the table?
Q2 Is Luca Toni the best striker in the world at the moment?
Q3 Who is the not so popular name that you expect to have a good Euro tournament?
Q4 Your prediction for final 4 in the tournament?

Bobby – 1. The worst call would be taking to time to read it. The premise is ridiculous – what constitutes a bad call and how can it be isolated and not impact the rest of the game?

2. Define best.

3 and 4. I haven’t put a great deal of thought to it yet.

Foxcube - Will Blatter's quota proposal have any chance on May 29? I read from the Guardian? That Rafa is "wary" of it and determined to recruit more English players like Barry Bentley with money from selling Pennant and Crouch. Not very sensible to me.

In the transfer market, which players' move interests you the most? Where would it be their ideal destination respectively?

Bobby – Blatter is looking to get some backing for his proposal but a FIFA vote in favour will only show he has support and nothing much else. FIFA could vote in favour every day for the next century but it depends on EU law and there is no indication that it is about to be changed.

Sorry but there is a large element of logic lacking if someone from the Guardian is trying to make such a point. Shifting two English born players and replacing them with two other English players would leave him in exactly the same position vis a vis English players would it not?

If such a “law” was put into practice I have no doubt that there would be a period whereby players and clubs would be grandfathered and allowed to adjust gradually. Implementing a rule immediately would throw the transfer market into utter chaos.

Transfer market – all we have is rumours and few will come to pass. I think you might see most of the transfer action post Euro 2008. Three things have to fall into place for a transfer to happen – a team willing to pay money; a team willing to accept the offer; a player wanting to move. I’m sorry but ideal destinations don’t come into it – that is why we have Fantasy Football and video games. For players an ideal destination is likely to be where they will be paid more.