Official Euro 2008 thread

[jonesie]

My team hasn't got two left-backs???? Lahm is a right-back filling in at left-back and has played both positions during the tournament.

Did Lahm play right back?

Either way I doubt he would have been as good as Anyukov. Although having said that, I suppose having no players in my team from a side that could win the thing on Sunday does seem a bit wrong.

Oh well.

[Joe King]

It will be interesting to see who Aragones picks if Villa is fit. He could go with the team that played for the majority of the game last night (Fabregas off Torres) or the team that has started all of the games in the tournament thus far.

With the German defence looking more shaky than a 40 year old woman's arm at bingo, I would keep the same team that has played throughout the tournament. Its well documented that Laurel and Hardy for Germany are prone to mistakes due to the lack of concentration, composure and pace so by playing Fabregas in a free role could mean he would be marked by a defender thus nullifying the threat.

Against Turkey, I thought Ballack had his worst game of the tournament with Aurelio doing a great job on him. I don't expect Spain to deploy a similar tactic as I don't believe they go for a man for man system against the opposition. I think like Arsenal, Spain just try and play their normal game and if something changes during the course of the game, Aragones would have a quiet word with the player on the touchline. The obvious threat for Spain is the wings. Podolski and Schweinsteiger have their moments of sheer brilliance which have changed games. Would Aragones tell his full backs to think twice about overlapping knowing about the pace of both Podolski and Schweinsteiger? From what we have seen from this tournament, I don't think so as Spain do need that width from the full backs as their 'wingers' do tend to tuck in and cause problems in the midfield. What Germany could do to counteract the threat of Iniesta and Silva is to play with two holding players and try and squeeze out any space thus nullifying the threat of the wide men. I don't think Rolfes is any good but would Lowe or Luurrve decide to play Hitzersperger more deeper with Frings?

[Shaggy]

Did Lahm play right back?

Either way I doubt he would have been as good as Anyukov. Although having said that, I suppose having no players in my team from a side that could win the thing on Sunday does seem a bit wrong.

Oh well.

Yeah he started the tournament at right back with Jansen at left-back, before Jansen was dropped for the third game, Lahm moved back across to left-back and Friedrich came in at right-back.

[sambirken]

Lahm has been superb. a couple of ****ty moments against the turks. apart from that though, brilliant.

What about Romas? couldnt believe his performance yesterday. incredible. nobody gave him a mention. not even in your sqauds.

Ramos made Zhirkov want to give up after an hour.

[Shaggy]

Thought Ramos had a very poor tournament until the semi-final and gets nowhere near 'team of the tournament' for me. I read people giving it all this "he's ****" bollocks - based on a few poor games.

He was monstrous yesterday - the same player we see most of the time for Real.

[sambirken]

Didn't think he had anything to do most of the time. didnt notice him doing anything wrong. maybe a couple of bad decisions in the final third, but thats all.

maybe i was too busy staring at torres.

[jonesie]

Yeah he started the tournament at right back with Jansen at left-back, before Jansen was dropped for the third game, Lahm moved back across to left-back and Friedrich came in at right-back.

Ah.

That was against Poland and Croatia wasn't it. Come to think of it I watched both those games down the pub, mustn't have been paying attention.

[Joe King]

Ah.

That was against Poland and Croatia wasn't it. Come to think of it I watched both those games down the pub, mustn't have been paying attention.

Lazy journo

[Neil Young]

I can see what you are saying. I just thought that was always Spain's basic game plan. I just thought that the Russians played into their hands by looking for width from deep themselves and not having players get close to the forward enough to give them some respite.

I actually thought Torres drifting wide was particularly effective for much the same reason that it preyed on the fullbacks mind when they would usually have been attacking. In the Italian game the fact that they were up against a tight packed 6 pretty much negated the neat passing patterns and made any runs by the forwards somewhat redundant but the Russians gave them a lot of room and didn't press hard in midfield either.

Whatever Aragones did or didn't do, it still worked and he out-thought Hiddink.

[Shaggy]

Some very strange things have been happening with these stats at the Euros.

In the group stages, Dirk Kuyt was supposedly 'clocked as the fastest player at 29kph'

Now this:

Slightly better news for Croatia's Ivica Olic, who was clocked as the fastest player at the tournament, hitting a top speed of 31.76 kph.

[Skillz]

The defending this tournament has been woeful too. I wouldn't want to pick a back four of the tournament to be honest. There have been some great keeping perfomances though: Buffon, Casillas, Lobont, van der Saar and Akinfeev all deserve a lot of credit.

The 2 in bold have been awesome.

As for player of the tournament, I think Senna has been outstanding for Spain. Pisses me off because I want to see Xabi but he has won me over, he is a great player based on this comp.

[jonesie]

This is it then, three weeks of brilliant football coming to an end.

Got to go for Spain tonight, if they play like they did against Russia then they could run away with it, but Germany being Germany, you just can't see that happening.

Time for Torres to come to the party, and I just think that partnership with Fabregas could be the thing to win it for them. So I'll say 2-1 to Spain after extra time, with a Torres winner (if he stays on).

[Leyton388]

Viva Espana

[Leyton388]

Torres to make the Germans cry tonight. This is his time. cometh the man!!!!! cometh the liver bird.

[JohnDoe]

Let's go Spain.

Torres to have a stormer please