While the whole of Europe spoke of the Brilliant ‘Oranje’, the other outstanding performer of Euro 2008, Spain were preparing for a game to settle the winners of Group D. Unchanged from the 4-1 destruction of Russia, Spain were not overconfident, knowing that a bright start doesn’t necessarily mean a bright finish, as their 4-0 opening win against Ukraine in Germany 2006, a tournament that ended early, as seems to be the norm with ‘La Furia Roja’, with a defeat to France. Sweden, on the other hand, rarely have sides of outstanding individual talent, but a team of grafters, who always seem to reach the big stage. This time, however, they have the temperamental Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line alongside with veteran Henrik Larsson, who always seemingly accepts his call for his country after the tedious process of qualifying, to play on the big stage.
An early conceded free-kick by Spain, saw Ibrahimovic receive the ball, but he failed to control and shoot. Torres raised a similar warning as he dribbled down the right side of the box and cut back, but it was blocked. Sweden countered, as one would expect them to, when facing the patient possession football of Spain, as Larsson set Ljungberg free down the left flank, but his shot was weak as it rolled into the arms of Casillas. A finely worked corner, as the ball was played short and cut back to David Silva, who chipped a delicate pass into the run of Torres, who touched the ball in while stretching to take the lead for Spain. The celebration however, left great room for improvement. Elmander could have helped restore the lead but lacked the composure to find Ljungberg at the far post and instead shot into the side netting as he raced into the box.
Larsson made a cleverly timed run from Ibrahimovic’s floated pass but could only direct his shot high over the bar. Yet for all of Spain’s dominance, Sweden hit back as a simple move beat Spain with a cross-field pass to Stoor, who crossed from deep to Ibrahimovic, who controlled well, turned Sergio Ramos with ease and slotted home past the despairing hand of Casillas, who got a touch, which fortunately for Sweden was not enough to deny them a goal, as the ball trickled over the line. Ibrahimovic was controlling the tempo of the attack and dropped deep to play in midfield runners in a typical playmaker role as Spain were rattled. Aragones’ side had more to complain about as Pieter Vink denied them a penalty with Elmander clearly barging David Silva in the penalty area. Furthermore, he blew for half time when Silva had a chance to cross into the box, denying them an advantage.
Swedish hopes took a blow as Markus Rosenberg came on for Ibrahimovic at half time, after the Inter talisman was hampered by a knee injury. The Spanish had Silva through on goal but he elected to pass, as did Villa, with their side reminiscent of Arsenal in the 06/07 season, wasting a great chance to retake the lead. Aragones decided to bring off Barcelona duo Iniesta and Xavi for Arsenal’s Fabregas and Santi Cazorla of Villarreal to bring different ideas to refocus the Spanish attack, with urgency and a higher tempo needed. Villa cut in from the left and fed Silva, who checked back and shot and Isaksson saved but could not gather as Villa won the ball back and cut back for Torres, whose shot was blocked off the line by Daniel Andersson as Spain pressed for another goal.
Senna, then drove forward and forced Isaksson to parry his long range shot as Spain struggled to open up the hard working Swedes. The defender Hansson hit a free-kick from deep back across goal as Larsson agonizingly stretched to make the goal-bound touch in vain. Yet the substitution of Ibrahimovic had hampered Sweden who sat back behind the ball to prevent Spain from playing their way through to goal. Werder Bremen’s Rosenberg was not as effective in holding up the ball or influencing the play. And it was not possession football that shocked Sweden in stoppage time but route one as a hopeful long ball from Capdevila evaded the leap of Torres, but found its way into the path of David Villa, who turned from the defender and fired low in the far corner to practically confirm Spain a place in the quarter finals and make himself the leading scorer (with 4 goals) once more.
The Valencia striker added more pounds onto his already vast transfer value with this goal and showed why he is regarded as a better finisher than compatriot Torres. Despite not really deserving this victory in terms of their performance, a clinical finisher at their disposal could take Spain far in this competition. Ramos, so highly rated in European football after a wonderful season with Real Madrid had a poor game in an attacking and defensive sense. This gritty side might just be what the Spanish need to finally add to their 1964 success in the same competition. What Luis Suarez inspired then, David Villa could do now.
Sweden 1 – 1 Spain FT
Russia were destroyed in their opening game by attempting to play football against the Spanish, but their possession football may prove more successful against the defensive Greeks. Still deprived of their star attacker Andrei Arshavin, they’ll need to use the majority of the possession to open up Otto Rehhagel’s side instead of the counter-attacking style which Zenit St. Petersburg held in such good stead in their UEFA Cup success. Their poor defensive performance has to be improved upon with more pressure needed high up the pitch.
On the other hand the defending champions have to prove they are worthy of the title which they won with organisation and steel in Lisbon four years ago. After a performance with almost no adventure a few days ago, they switched to a 4-3-3, with Ansas, the third centre-back against Sweden being dropped. And Amanatidis almost stole in after Kolodin slipped by the highly rated, 22 year old Igor Akinfeev rushed out to deny him by clearing quickly. Bilyaletdinov countered for the Russians in what what shaping out to be a scrappy match but his shot was high and wide. Greece managed to show some invention as a fine reverse pass released full-back Seitaridis, whose cross was too near to Akinfeev. At the other end Pavyluchenko, cut in and shot but his bending effort was tipped over by veteran Nikopolidis. The same man whose brace dampened English hopes in Russia, appealed for a penalty for handball of Dellas but his claims by countered through his original offside position as the cross came in from the right.
The Russians were looking more threatening but the direct Greece, won a free kick, in which Angelo Charisteas missed the ball completely as a free heading opportunity came his way. The ball hit Semshov on the line and he awkwardly cleared it for a corner. The Greece striker was guilty for wasting another opening as Patsatzoglou. Zhrikov had been instrumental in the majority of Russian moves as he bombed down the left flank continuously and tormented his marker. This was evident as he passed to Torbinsky, who crossed to the back post drawing out Nikopolidis, who was taken out of play by a wonderful flick by Russia captain Semak, for Zyryanov to tap into an empty net. The Champions were on the brink of elimination. Greece were able to reshuffle after the injury of Seitaridis, as playmaker Karagounis was brought on. His first action was to a hit a poor free-kick and then to take a booking to stop Russia countering his original error.
Angelo Charisteas continued his poor finishing by showing a complete lack of composure when one versus one against Akinfeev, he lamely lifts his shot into the air so that the CSKA, one time arsenal target could simply catch it. Where was the power in that shot? Pavlyuchenko then shot hard at the near post to remind the viewer how to hit a ball when required. The same man then was found ploughing a lone furrow down the left flank and cut inside with a brilliant turn of pace past Kyrgiakos but he dragged his shot wide at the near post when a curling effort around Nikopolidis would have fared him better. Zhrikov then crossed to Pavlyuchenko, who backheeled it into the path of Bilyaletdinov, who lashed it wide, as Russia wasted another chance to extend their lead.
Bilyaletdinov had another chance after Nikopolidis’ outstretched hand patted away a dangerous cross but the danger was imminent as the Russian stole the ball and his goal-bound shot was blocked by Dellas’s brilliant block to add some gloss to further shambolic defending. Four years ago, they were the epitome of defensive solidity, now, ages has weakened them significantly, as it as many defences in Austria and Switzerland, the French a clear example. The substitute Saenko made a fine dribble beating two players as he carried the ball out of defence and played a wonderfully weighted through ball to Pavlyuchenko, who shot high and wide, once more lacking composure.
The lively Karagounis, who was willing to shoot as shown earlier in the match, turned away from two players before being chopped down to win a free-kick. Charisteas had the ball in the net but the Greeks were contentiously flagged offside as Russia continued to dominate the closing stages. Fine counter-attacking, and aesthetically brilliant passing patterns were insignificant with a lack of composure in the final third, be it the assisting pass or the shot on goal. Semak broke after Greece threw a number of players up the pitch and fed Pavlyuchenko, who fired over the bar as Russia’s lack of attacking end product was evident once more. Roberto Rosetti blew his whistle and Greece were no more.
A shadow of the victors that shocked the whole of Europe, they went out without having scored a goal. This Russian win means that Spain will go through, while all depends on the final matchday encounter between Sweden and Russia. While the entertainment wasn’t as compelling as yesterday, it was still of a high level but ITV’s coverage was very disappointing. The constant repetition of Sweden-Spain highlights, Andy Townsend’s constant stream of clichés when analysing the match and appointing Sam Allyardyce as a pundit (who by the way looked like a tacky, low level mob boss) further emphasised BBC’s superiority in every department of football coverage on free-to-air television. Oh, and I forgot the adverts every other minute. Things will be low in the autumn when Internationals and the FA Cup arrive on the channel.
Greece 0 – 1 Russia FT
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