Football Focus – Part II

The third round of group matches continued last week with Azzurri and Russia securing their places in the last eight after beating Les Blues and the aging Swedes respectively. Defending champions Greece and 2006 world cup finalist Les Blues left after having scored only one goal each in the tournament.

The quarterfinals hence followed and Portugal which many (sans me) thought would progress far in this tournament suffered a blitzkrieg delivered by the usual German efficiency. Cristina showed that he more likely to be remembered at Euro2008 for his histrionics display (oh the serial diver drama queen) and the most boring transfer saga in the world than for his ability to deliver when the pressure was on. Lemme see, he scored, oh only one goal throughout the tournament. And I think Big Phil’s move to Stamford Bridge could’ve at least waited until after the tournament.

As for the Germans, one man particularly stood out besides his Captain Marvel – with his Blond Ambition Tour. Having been served a red card and missed the match against co-host Austria, Schweinsteiger scored one and set up two other goals. Apparently, he received tips from the chancellor herself during the one-match ban and he sure delivered and redeemed himself.

The Turks again showed they were full of grit and stubborn determination and like Arsenal - no actually worse than Arsenal - fashioned yet another dramatic late comeback. We all know the story – Croatia sucked at penalties and were out (I was actually rooting for them). I personally don’t fancy Turkey to win the tournament – they are so rough with many fouls committed and yellow cards earned. Football is a beautiful game and it should be played and won beautifully, not roughly.

The Russians, inspired by the return of Andrei Arshavin, embarked on a football revolution and played such wonderful football – despite having only three days to recuperate from their last match – to kick fancied Oranje out of the tournament but not before Ruud van Nistelrooy forced the match into extra time. I was supporting the Czars not van de Sar and was glad to see the Russians beat Oranje to a pulp, leaving them peeled, crushed and squashed.

And the vans (van Basten, van de Sar, van de Vaart, van Brokenhurst, van Nistelrooy and even van Persie) had vanished from Euro2008 after having been vanquished. But wait, there is still Dutch representation at the tournament in the form of Guus Hiddink but England is definitely out already.

And this morning, it was a boring affair as Azzurri met Spain. Like the two previous quarterfinals matches, it dragged into extra time and had to be settled with penalties. Lady Luck wasn’t on Azzurri’s side and Spain are through; they will meet Russia again and somehow I don’t think they will have it that easy again.

Except for Spain, all three other semi-finalists were runners-up in their groups. And except for the first quarterfinals match, all other three quarterfinals matches dragged into extra time. And there will be no representative from the ‘Group of Death’ in the semifinals.

I can’t wait for the semifinals!