Euro 2008: Matchday Twelve Round Up

With their place secured in the quarter finals, Aragones decided to rest the first choice players and give a run-out to the fringe players as he tested his squad out, like Marco Van Basten and Slaven Bilic in the past few days, with Pepe Reina, Fabregas and 27 goal Mallorca striker Dani Guiza all starting. Reported Arsenal targets Raul Albiol and Ruben de La Red also started. Many of those playing were all supported by the Spanish media and fans to start in the first choice side with a fine performance likely to be used as a justification for why they should start more frequently. Greece were only fighting for pride having been eliminated without much of a fight. Surely they must leave having at least scored a goal?

Fabregas broke down the right hand side and crossed for Ruben De la Red, but the ball was taken away from his path after Sergio Garcia, also running into the box took a touch. The incisive Spanish passing appeared to trouble Greece early on. Fabregas was playing early balls to Guiza to exploit his height, in a faster pace in comparison to perhaps Xavi and David Silva. Xabi Alonso attempted to lob Nikopolidis from his own half, with the veteran having no idea of his angles as he back peddled into the post as the Juventus target’s shot was just wide. The Liverpool man was then played in by Fabregas but his low shot lacked the required bend to creep in.

The two Premiership stars combined once more as Fabregas laid off a free-kick to his compatriot, whose side-footed strike from distance whizzed past the post as Nikopolidis left the ball. After Iniesta’s penalty appeal was rejected, Greece won a free-kick at the other end. Karagounis whipped a ball in and Charisteas was afforded a free-header which he bulleted into the net as Greece finally got their goal, with their first decent chance. It appeared that the Greece of old had returned with the main change the placement of Karagounis in a central role allowing Rehhagel’s team to lead despite having little possession.

Alonso then hit the post with a rasping drive that deserved to be an equaliser, as Spain used further chances up but failed to register a goal for all their possession. The Greeks seemed to be troubling Spain even more so but a moment of brilliance allowed the Spanish to equalize. A fine floated ball from Fabregas reached Guiza, who headed back to De la Red, whose rocket of a shot slammed into the net, despite the firm hand of Nikopolidis, who was taken aback by the speed of the shot. In Spain’s possession play, De la Red was over shadowed by his fellow midfielders, such as Iniesta on the wing, but his graft went unnoticed until this fine goal.

Soon after Fabregas’ ball reached the head of Juanito, who headed wide. Guiza was played in down the channel and steadied himself before shooting across goal, as the ball edged past the post. Soon after Sergio Garcia lifted the ball over Nikopolidis from an acute angle as the Greek captain committed himself by rushing out but the effort trickled wide. The Zaragoza man, looking for a move this summer after his side was relegated, might have put off a few, by ghosting in from the right to hit a shot that was rising at a great angle, an effort fitting for rugby rather than football. But the wideman showed his better side, with a curling ball towards Dani Guiza, who obliged at the opportunity to score his first international goal with a simple header and to win the game for Spain.

Spain enter the quarter finals with a perfect record as once more rotation pays off in Euro 2008 after a long club season, freshness and fatigue are key factors. Some brilliant footballing nations will meet in a mouth-watering round starting with Germany and Portugal tomorrow.


Greece 1 – 2 Spain FT

In the more important game of the night, Russia played Sweden, with the winner of the two qualifying naturally, but Sweden can qualify with a draw due to a better goal difference. A simple target, with none of the complicated permutations from yesterday made this game more accessible. Arshavin, a brilliant playmaker of Zenit St. Petersburg returned in place of Torbinsky as Russia were given a boost. Shame his club team-mate Pavel Pogrebnyak, a clinical striker was ruled out of the tournament altogether with injury. On the opposing side, Ibrahimovic, who finally came into scoring form for his national side in the last two games, was deemed fit enough to play, after his dominating 45 minute appearance against Spain threatened to cause an upset.

Arshavin showed his vision by picking out Pavlyuchenko’s run on the left flank with a raking long-range pass. Soon after the mobile dibbler headed wide and failed to fully connect to a cross from the right. The Russians were dominant in their ball manipulation, creating fine angles to work the pass as they stretched Sweden. Arshavin’s misjudged cross troubled Isaksson, who was forced to tip over for a corner. A clever ball past the crowd of players waiting to head it reached Zhirkov, a brilliant full-back whose volley edged past the post and almost swerved back in threatening to ripple the net thus Isaksson was scrambling across the goal.

The Russian dominance paid off as Sweden’s defence was in disarray, with Anyukov crossing for Pavlyuchenko to sweep home as Hiddink’s influence once more appeared to give success in a wonderful footballing display. Their possession was assured and confident but Henrik Larsson gave a reminder with a flicked header to the far post that hit the upright. Soon after order was restored and the lead nearly doubled as Pavlyuchenko hit the bar after another sweeping move while Zyryanov’s follow up was patted away for a corner by Isaksson.

Akinfeev added to the Russian collective performance with two important saves, one from Ljungberg as the Swedes stepped up their efforts, while the second was at the feet of Ibrahimovic, with both running out for corners. They were not utilised by the Swedes as the half ended with an Arshavin-inspired Russia in front. The brilliant attacker slotted home after a deadly counter-attack on 50 minutes, once more involving the rampaging Zhirkov. Sweden were more prominent in their attacks, using crosses more frequently realising the tendency of Akinfeev to punch rather than catch the ball caused concerns in the Russian defence.

Ibrahimovic headed downwards at the far post after a cross from the left flank, but the bounce caused the power of his effort to be lost as it fell into Akinfeev’s hands. Another Russian attack saw Zyryanov’s shot deflect onto the post as they chased a third. The Russians attempted to keep the move alive as a cross was chipped up for Ivan Saenko, who, with the goal gaping, headed across goal. Then Pavlyuchenko headed into Isaksson’s arms. Another chance passed by as Saenko crossed for Pavlyuchenko but the cut-back was behind the striker who couldn’t connect well enough, despite the fact that he had time to control and shoot after the Saenko had drawn two defenders to him.

Hiddink and his group of technical footballers reached the quarter final for the first time since the Soviet Union disbanded and meet Holland in a tie where the sides with a brilliant brand of counter-attacking football meet. Holland, being the bigger side will be obliged to take the game to Russia, who’ll thrive in their usual set-up. It appears to be a wonderful game in the making as Hiddink plays his homeland.

Russia 2 – 0 Sweden FT

Below is the full quarter-final draw with a kick-offs at 7.45pm.

Thursday - Germany v Portugal (ITV)
Friday - Croatia v Turkey (BBC)
Saturday - Netherlands v Russia (ITV)
Sunday - Spain v Italy (BBC)

One would see a Portugal – Netherlands final as likely but with so many results in this tournament against the trend, we should not be surprised to see a dark horse triumphing in Vienna on June 29th.