It’s about time I drew the curtains on Euro 2008, wouldn’t you say? I can’t believe it’s already been 3 weeks since Spain trumped Germany in that final in Vienna. It’s even more shocking that I haven’t posted a single word since then. Technology problems and the other usual excuses….or maybe I’ve just been too busy celebrating the latest, long awaited Spanish conquest.
There can’t be any arguments that the best side won the Cup, but beyond that, this was a victory for adventurous attacking football and the teams that dared to go for it came out on top. Spain certainly had the most complete squad – as I have emphasized severally in earlier posts – and the quality and persistence of their passing game proved irresistible.
It’s easy to disregard the coach when team’s succeed yet Luis Aragones has to be commended for Spain’s success. If only for his courage, first in sticking to his guns and leaving the iconic Raul at home, and then for consistently taking off star players like Torres – who was substituted in every game – and Xavi, often to such great effect. Courage apart, Aragones’ team refused to be unduly burdened by the fear of losing that so often proves the undoing of many teams in finals like this.
By contrast, defending champions Greece were trapped in a 2004 bubble, sticking to the anti-football tactics that had proved so successful four years ago. Yet, a squad that included many hold-overs from that winning team simply lacked the ambition to challenge for goals. It was pretty depressing watching the Greeks playing keep-ball ad nauseum with lateral passes across a five-man defence line when the scores were still goaless in their opening match against Sweden. It’s one thing to kill off a game when you have the lead, but who ever heard of defending a 0-0 draw in your first group game?
The surprise semi finalists, Russia and Turkey, were two other teams that showed a true commitment to attacking football. The Russians were certainly a different proposition once the impressive Andrei Arshavin returned to the fold and they served up a masterpiece in the quarter final trouncing of Holland. Turkey, on the other hand just never knew when to quit. I doubt we’ll ever see any team score in the final minutes of four consecutive championship games again.
Germany somehow reached another final despite impressing in only two of their six matches – the last group game against Austria and the quarter final defeat of Portugal. This was a shadow of Jurgen Klinsmann’s attacking machine from the World Cup and, although Joachim Low made the most of his squad, he will have to start looking for replacements for the aging Lehman, Frings and Ballack.
Surprisingly, three of the hottest teams in the first round crashed out in the quarter finals. Holland looked very impressive while blowing past Italy, France and Romania in the so-called Group of Death, but then lost their way against Russia and the brilliance of Arshavin. Portugal paid for poor set-piece defending against Germany and not even the skills of Ronaldo – who had a poor tournament – could see them through. Croatia suffered perhaps the cruelest of fates in losing to Turkey on penalties – after Ivan Klasnic had put them ahead in the very last minute of extra time. I suppose that’s what makes knockout games so exciting – one slip up and it’s goodnight.
As for the rest, spare a thought for Italy. They started horribly against Holland, but I think Donadoni made the right changes and the Azzurri were certainly on the attack for most of their next match against Romania. Yet, it took Gigi Buffon’s penalty save to see Italy through to the last eight, where even the Juventus ‘keeper’s heroics couldn’t see them past Spain.
Euro 2008 was another of those finals that didn’t have one outstanding performer. Guess that’s the nature of the game these days. The team was certainly the star of the conquering Spaniards and midfielder Xavi was named Player of the Tournament more for his importance to the Spanish set up than for any individual exploits.
Nevertheless, I’ve attempted to pick my team of the tournament, something I’ve done for every major tournament since 1986. I’ve had to agonize over all but a couple of these choices and I’ve seen several contrasting picks over the past few weeks, but I’ll try to justify each of my picks in what will be an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.
In goal, Edwin Van der Sar (Holland) gets my vote, despite letting in three against Russia. His safe hands played a big part in Holland’s flying start and he virtually single-handedly kept his team alive until extra-time in the Russia game. Spain’s Casillas and Italy’s Buffon also deserve a mention, as does Poland's Artur Boruc.
At right back, I have to go with Turkey’s Hamit Altintop, even if he’s nominally a midfielder. The Bayern man filled this role superbly in several games and particularly proved his mettle against Czech Republic when he set up all three Turkish goals. Russia’s Yuri Anyukov also impressed but the Turkish star gets the nod for his attacking bent.
Left back was one of the easier picks and few would argue that Yuri Zhirkov (Russia) was outstanding throughout the finals, defending superbly and contributing more than his fair share on the attacking end. Honorable mention: Gio Van Bronkhorst (Holland).
Central defence was one of the harder spots to pick, but I’ve gone with Spain’s Carles Puyol, for his all out commitment, and Italy’s unsung Giorgio Chiellini, who played a big part in the Azzurri’s quarter final stalemate against Spain. Honorable mention: Carlos Machado (Spain).
In the defensive midfield spots I have picked the Spanish duo of Marcos Senna, the closest thing to an outstading player at Euro 2008, and UEFA’s official MVP Xavi.
There were several impressive players in attacking midfield too. Germans Bastien Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski had their moments down the flanks, while their captain Michael Ballack put in a couple of classy performances. Deco was also impressive for Portugal, and Cesc Fabregas proved a match winner for Spain, but for sheer consistency I have gone with Croatia’s Luka Modric on the right, Holland’s Wesley Sneijder on the left – his goal scoring puts him just ahead of the impressive David Silva (Spain) – and the duminitive Russian Andrei Arshavin in the middle.
At lone striker, Russia’s Roman Pavlyuchenko was an impressive new face and Fernando Torres put up a superb performance in the final, yet I have to go with tournament top scorer David Villa, who was always a threat to opposing defences.
There you have it: Van der Sar – Altintop, Puyol, Chiellini, Zhirkov – Senna, Xavi – Modric, Arshavin, Sneijder – Villa
And I am sure you completely disagree.
Anyway, that’s that for Euro 2008. Hopefully we can have a competition this exciting at the World Cup in two years.
In the meantime, we have the Olympics kicking off next week and then league football kicks off in a couple of weeks. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait - what with all the exciting transfer activity.
Guess you know what my next post is about.
