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Spain have been crowned the new European champions, after winning the final tonight at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. The Spaniards were deserving winners of the Euro 2008, as they beat Germany 1-0, thanks to a Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute.
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The European Championships draws to a close tomorrow at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna with Germany taking on Spain for the bragging rights. The tournament has proved to be really exciting what with the exciting Turks and Russians providing lots of drama.
On the whole, it has to be said that Germany and Spain are the most deserving two teams for the final showdown. Though Joachim Low’s team lost to Croatia in the group stages, they played some very good football to knock Portugal and Turkey out, the scoreline being 3-2 in both the matches.
Luis Aragones’ men were the second most exciting team after Netherlands in the group stages. They did play out a drab affair against the Italians in the quarterfinals, but against an in-form Russian side, their class showed as Fabregas and company decimated Guus Hiddink’s side. It has to be conceded that Aragones’ decision not to start Fabregas was baffling. But there should be little doubt that the Arsenal midfielder will start the final.
For the Germans though, influential captain Michael Ballack is a doubt. If he does not play, it would be a major blow, because Ballack is one of those people who can change the course of the game. Germany would be hard-pressed to find someone to replace him.
David Villa, though, has surely been ruled out of the final. That puts the onus on Torres who has been surprisingly underperforming in the Euro 2008. Guiza might partner him in attack.
Spain, the perennial underachievers, know that this is a great opportunity for them to shake off that tag, by repeating the success of 1964. Then, they beat the former Soviet Union 2-1. I am expecting Spain to retake the European crown 44 years later with a similar scoreline over Germany.
Prediction: Spain to win 2-1.
Men to watch: Cesc Fabregas, Bastian Schweinsteiger
Vijay | Euro 2008, News, Previews | 1 Comment »
Video highlights
Spain steamrolled Russia in the second semifinal today to set up a date with Germany on Sunday. Luis Aragones’ boys overcame a quiet start to the game to score three second half goals over Russia whose odds had been upped after the last two performances.
The Spaniards were a worried lot losing in-form striker David Villa to injury only 30 minutes into the game. But their bench strength carried them through, as Villa was replaced by Cesc Fabregas. The Gunner would go on to play a pivotal role in the Spanish resurgence after the break.
The Spanish conquest began five minutes after the restart, through Xavi Hernandez, who was setup by Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta. Russia seemed to have lost the plot even before Daniel Guiza scored Spain’s second in the 73rd minute, off a Fabregas assist. And ten minutes later, Fabregas turned provider again, this time to David Silva as Spain completed the rout over Guus Hiddink’s team.
Andrei Arshavin, who this blog had tipped to win his third successive man of the match award was strangely subdued. Was he already dreaming about his move to Barca? Did all the transfer speculation and the 20+ million valuations throw a spanner in the Russian works?
Tags: Andrei Arshavin, Andres Iniesta, Barca, Cesc Fabregas, Daniel Guiza, David Silva, David Villa, Euro 2008, final, Germany, Gunners, Guus Hiddink, highlights, Luis Aragones, Russia, Russian, semifinal, Spain, Spanish, video, Xavi HernandezVijay | Euro 2008, Match Reports | 1 Comment »
Francesc Fabregas had expressed his anger yesterday at his former club Barcelona yesterday claiming that the Catalans were interested in as many as seven (?) Arsenal players, including Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor. It is interesting to note that in the Ronaldo transfer saga, Sir Alex Ferguson had praised Barca for conducting themselves properly while Read Madrid were claimed to be unethical.
The Gunners star man would be even more enraged when he learns that Barcelona are tabling an offer worth 25 million euros for Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin, who Arsene Wenger was interested in. The player had previously indicated his willingness to move to Catalunya.
Real are reportedly going to offer Manchester United 68 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo. The usual “he has already got a house here” rumors are all over the papers today.
Back to Arsenal. The Gunners want to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. Man United have been tracking the player for a while and were widely tipped to get him, but a few weeks ago, Veloso raved about a move to Italian giants, AC Milan.
With Emmanuel Adebayor’s transfer to AC Milan now looking more a case of when than if, Arsenal are lining up Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart) and (surprise! surprise!) Peter Crouch as possible replacements. Yeah, you don’t believe that the Gunners would sign Crouch, do you? Incidentally, Rovers boss Paul Ince has warned his former boss Sir Alex to keep away from Santa Cruz.
Arsenal are also tracking Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger. The winger has asked for a transfer out of Bayern, but we will have to wait until after the Euro 2008 final to hear more on that story.
And finally, Roy Keane’s Sunderland are yet to make any moves in the transfer market. And the sun rises in the east. Oh, just a couple of routine facts there, sorry!
Tags: AC Milan, Alexander Hleb, Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich, Blackburn, Blackburn Rovers, Catalans, Catalunya, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmanuel Adebayor, Euro 2008, Fabregas, Germany, Gunners, Italian, Liverpool, Man United, Manchester United, Mario Gomez, midfielder, Miguel Veloso, Peter Crouch, Real, Real Madrid, Roque Santa Cruz, Rovers, Roy Keane, Russian, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sporting Lisbon, Stuttgart, Sunderland, TransfersVijay | News, Transfers | 2 Comments »
Video highlights
Germany are through to the final of the Euro 2008 after a thrilling match (preview) against Turkey which they won thanks to a 90th minute goal from defender Philip Lahm, just minutes after Semih Senturk had put Turkey on level terms.
The Battle of Basel was a seesaw, with Turkey drawing first blood through Ugur Boral in the 22nd minute, only for Bastian Schweinsteiger to equalize five minutes later. Miroslav Klose scored in the 79th minute capitalizing on an error by Rustu on a night in which all three German goals came from Bayern Munich players. That should have been enough, but the Turks came back as only they can. Eventually though, Joachim Low’s Germany turned out to be a bridge too far for Fatih Terim’s depleted side.
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Tags: Basel, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich, defender, Euro 2008, Fatih Terim, final, football, German, Germany, Joachim Low, Miroslav Klose, Philip Lahm, Rustu Recber, semifinal, Semih Senturk, soccer, St Jakob Park, Turkey, Turks, VideosVijay | Euro 2008, Match Reports | No Comments »
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