Group D

Russia 2-0 Sweden

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?

Spain 2-1 Sweden

During the qualifying stage these two teams shared the spoils with a win each and it seemed that we were heading for a stalemate as the seconds ticked down. The difference, in the end, came down to a long clearance downfield from Capdevilla (?), tiring Swedish legs and the spirit of David Villa that inspired him to chase the ball down, compose himself and to side foot the winner past Isaksson.

Based on share of the play it was a deserved winner but Sweden provided much stiffer opposition than a Russian side that almost presented goals to Spain last Tuesday. Thoughts that another avalanche of Spanish goals might be in the offing received some encouragement when Torres showed his goal poacher instincts after only fifteen minutes. The Liverpool striker stretched for a ball played diagonally towards the six-yard box at midriff height. His studs made contact and Spain led.

As it often does, going a goal behind provides the impetuous to go forward and so it was for Sweden. The Spanish defence started to creak and the loss of Puyol only added to the problem. Ibrahimovic worked hard to create his shooting chance but the Spanish defenders and goalkeeper Iker Casillas were guilty of some very slack play.

The Swedish goalscorer did not come out for second half and with his absence Sweden was relegated to increasingly infrequent counter attacks. With no one to hold the ball up and to occupy the Spanish defenders almost every clearance was pinning its way back towards the Swedes penalty area in super quick time.

But just as it looked as if Sweden would leave with a point Villa’s fourth goal of the tournament gave Spain three points.   

Greece 0-1 Russia

The result was more important than the performances in this one. Greece loses and can go home early. Russia may also be catching an early flight but at least they will go into the final game against Sweden with a chance to progress. Sweden only needs a draw but Russia will look to the return of Andrei Arshavin after suspension as a major boost ahead of Wednesday’s decider.

Comment of the Day

“The Dutch have dared to identify and promote new talents, while the French, like the Italians, are paying a price for clinging to players of a certain vintage. Yes, Lilian Thuram and Thierry Henry have been to the top of the world, but neither has been a regular starter with their club, Barcelona, and Henry's sinews are not the reliable carriers of his refined skills that we grew to admire.

By contrast, although the Netherlands' coach, Marco van Basten, has recalled Ruud van Nistelrooy to lead his attack, he has trusted in the engine power, the youth, and the ability of Sneijder and the creative touches of Rafael van der Vaart. The coach also, with a nudge from providence, has Dirk Kuyt on his right wing.” – Rob Hughes writing for the International Tribune.

Tip for the Day

Instantly distrust any article or commentator that describes the current Dutch team as playing Total Football ala Cruyff, Ajax and Netherlands in the seventies. They either did not see the Dutch play at their peak or they have a very poor grasp of the concept.

At this tournament Marco van Basten has the Dutch playing a system that makes the most of the talent and abilities that he has available – basically what all coaches are expected to do. So far the back four has held up well and the two deeper sitting midfield players (mostly Engelaar and De Jong) have covered space and offered effective defensive cover.

They defensive six have provided a platform from which the likes of Sneijder and van der Vaart can display their attacking talents. Up front operating as a lone striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy has shown that old horses can learn new tricks. The ability to break at speed has made the Dutch counter attacks spectacular and lethal but they owe little to the concept of total football.

So far van Basten has his team playing a very effective but relatively rigid 4-2-3-1 system that is markedly different from the free flowing changing-position-almost-at-will philosophy we saw from teams inspired by Rinus Michels. Michels required his players to be masters of technique and to be tactically aware. Everyone should be able to play anywhere was the basic idea but it needed almost perfect players to achieve it.

The 1974 Dutch team was pretty close. Suurbier, Ruud Krol, Rijsbergen and Haan were all accomplished players that could fit into almost any role asked of them. The midfield did not have relatively static defensive midfielders but had Jansen, Neeskens and the beautiful left foot of Wim Van Hanegem. Then we had Cruyff, Johnny Rep and Rob Rensenbrink in attack.

Even goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed – considered by many to be the weak link – made up for many of his short comings by playing at times as sweeper as the Dutch back four pushed forward. What is more is that there were superb players on the bench that could fit the Michels system without a step being missed.

The Dutch have been a revelation so far in this tournament but it is not because of any adherence to the philosophy of Total Football.