Much of a Muchness

Congratulations to Spain in there victory in Sunday European Championship Final against Germany. It wasn't the best week for me in terms of predictions and it finished off with a right hash up on Sunday. I had backed Germany from the beginning to win the tournament and I was no less confident going into Sunday's final. I had predicted Spain going out in each other there knock-out games which they went on to win and still backed against them in the final, the reason, I simply don't think there a very good side. I think this tournament has shown how poor the level of Football is in Europe currently, that a pretty poor side like Spain can go all the way. Now i hear you cry weren't Greece the same. No they weren't they beat decent sides to progress, France, Czech Republic and Portugal, who were all playing well and at some sort of peak, the sides who have entered this year are at the end of there Golden generation. Spain beat an ageing Italian side without there two best players on the lottery of penalties and Russia, who despite there brilliant performance are no world beating nation. They never took on a side who were brilliant played best they could and Spain outclassed them. For me it was a tournament of 16 indifferent teams, but my God it made for one hell of a tournament!!!

I'm going to try and put together a team of the tournament and then go through my favourite and not to favourite moments of the tournament and pick out the players who shouldn't have even bothered.

Team of the Tournament:

Goalkeeper- Authur Boruc: An odd choice i know but only because i seemed stuck with who else to go for, however Boruc was solid for an otherwise ordinary Polish side. His string of saves against Austrian was his proudest monment and how he kept out the Germans in there opening game was commendable, it was a shame how the rest of his team didn't show the same bravery that there keeper did.


Right Back- Sergio Ramos: I have a huge dislike for full backs who clearly don't know how much to attack and defend and get caught out doing to much of one. Ramos has got the mix just right. Good in the air, quick, strong, young, athletic great features for a full back to have. He has the physicality to later on in his career to become a centre back but while he still has a few yards of pace he plays at right back at has helped lead Spain to there first title since 1964.

Centre Back- Giorgio Chillini: Was due to be partnering Fabio Cannavaro at these championships and you hardly noticed he wasn't there. This man defended with the astute awareness usually left for the Italy captain and helped out the floundering back four. His performance in particular against Spain was one of the best of the tournament. A great centre back who if and when Cannavaro returns will form an excellent partnership together.

Centre Back- Pepe: Even though he only played part of the tournament his presence was felt has he held together an dodgy looking Portuguese defence. Te 23 million rated defender scored his team's opening goal of the tournament and looked right at home in the centre back position, if only his team mates could say the same as they were played so far out of position they were in the stands. A great individual performance let down by his team.

Left Back- Yuri Zhirkov: Possibly my player of the tournament simply because of his consistent performances and his brilliant both ends of the pitch. His pace was frightening and his willingness to get forward was relentless. His calmness at the back helped a at times leaky Russian defence. His pace helped create many Russian attacks and he certainly played his part in the humiliation of Holland in the quarter-finals, certainly his finest moment of the three weeks.

Right Wing- Bastian Swiensteger: Lets aviod the debatable sending off and concentrate on his excellent performances. if this man didn't turn up in the group stage he certainly did the knock-out stages where he scored his teams opening goals in both matches and helped his side all the way to the final, always drifting in the from the right to join in with play, was one of the driving forces in his team.

Centre Midfield- Csec Fabregas: The Arsenal man only started two game in the tournament, but I'm pretty sure he would have liked the final one he did start in. The injury to David Villa was a blessing as Fabregas inspired his side to a 3-0 win in the semi-final and garenteed himself a starting place in the final. That performance alone gets him into this team along with his winning penalty against Italy and his impact from the bench in the group stage. A brilliant player sure to get better come the World Cup in South Africa.

Centre Midfield-Marcos Senna: Only Zhirkov comes close to this man for me, and if ever a man could drive there team to a final it would be this man. Playing as the holding player in a sometimes five man midfield he looked well at home. The Villareal man really shone through in this tournament beyond the likes of Torres and Villa.

Left Midfield-Wesley Sneijder: If he had had longer in the tournament to make his impact him sure he would have been picking up his own individual award for player of the tournament. This man lived and breathed Holland in the group stage, two goals from him against Italy and France both marvellous in there own individual way. he spearheaded that magnificent Dutch attack which had shades of '88.

Striker-Roman Pavlyuchenko: Very difficult choice upfront but I've gone for the player who played five games and not three. He was always a threat upfront making the single man upfront look like three. Although he missed a few chances the one's he took were brilliant and he hugely deserved more than the three goals he did get. England were lucky only to concede two goals against this man, a real star for the future, let the bidding war commence.

Striker- Ruud Van Nistelrooy: The best striker in the world Fabio Capello called him, and he's totally right. This man's hold up play was always good, but now he's bringing more players into the game and becoming a more complete footballer, and is it me or has he got a yard more pace? Still scoring poachers goals as always like he showed against Italy and Russia.

I no there will be arguments there so do feel free to add your own team of the tournament of add your own substitutions. Not putting player of the tournament Xavi in you might say. I'll be honest who on earth chose him as player of the tournament, were the men at UEFA even watching the tournament? Torres and Villa for me didn't do enough than score goals in to games for me. They looked off the pace for me, although credit to Torres for his winning goal in the final, I thought he took it brilliantly and played very well.

So now to my best and worst moments of the tournament, some sensible, some not so sensible.

Goal of the Tournament: Wesley Sneijder vs. Italy- One of the first goals of the tournament and what a goal. The ball travels the length of the pitch after Italy have the ball cleared off the line, Durk Kuyt heads the ball across from a Van Bronkhorst cross and theres Sneijder to put the ball away beyond the despairing Buffon, a truly brilliant goal.

Game of the Tournament: Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic- One of the most amazing matches I have ever experienced and a turn around I haven't seen in some time. The Czech's go two nil up through Jan Koller and Plasil. Polak then hits the post with fifteen minutes remaining. Turan makes it 2-1 with Turkey still having much to do. But a goal-keeping error by Petr Cech with 89 minutes gone allowed Nihat to turn the ball into an empty net before the striker scored a stunning goal seconds later crashing the ball in off the bar. Even with a minute left there is still time for more action as Turkey's keeper Demirel is sent off for pushing Koller and with all three substitutes made Tuncay has to go in goal for the final seconds. Phew!!

Worst Game of the Tournament: Romania vs. France- In the group of death the opening game bought a match that wanted everyone watching to want to die. France looked 4 fours past there peak, playing players who clearly aren't international quality and are more legible for a pension rather than a transfer. Romania paid the French to much respect and expected more of a barrage than they got, they never wanted to win the game either. I'm surprised I've been able to write this much about it.

Worst Player of the Tournament: Florent Malouda- The normal development of a human being is after learning how to walk you learn how to run. Malouda has obviously not followed this pattern and is still at the walk stage. One of the few players in the tournament to have consistency the whole way through, to be so ineffectual its embarrassing. Why Chelsea even gave him a chance at the Bridge I don't know.

Best call of the tournament: The Austrian director of the TV coverage always picking out the hottest female fan he could find and zooming in until he absolutely had to cut to the football match that was happening at the time. Also Alan Hansen leballing the Romania-France game 'the worst game he had ever seen in his life'

Worst Call of the tournament: BBC Radio Five Live having Steve McLaren as there main summariser for the Championship. One of the worst decisions since England appointed........ oh wait.


Gaff of the Tournament: It's a toss up between Gomez's miss against Austria, or Howard Webb awarding Austria a penalty in there game with Poland.

So there we have it another European Championship is over. One of the best we've seen in years not just because of the quality of football however. For the first time in a long time there seemed to be an overwhelming respect for both players, supporters and referee's. There were just two sending' off in the entire tournament which is very encouraging to see, just one booking for simulation in the tournament and even more encouraging a seemingly bigger respect for the players towards each other. No petty fouls or niggling tussles, just good old football. If this tournament has shown us anything it has made us see that the sport his heading in the right direction and that it's cleaning up its act once and for all.

Clash of the titans? Hardly

Before I preview this Sunday's final between Germany and Spain I just want to sum up the semi final matches and tournament of as whole. Germany showed once again why they are one of the most feared European sides, they never give in and are never beaten, something that Turkey thought of themselves as well. For once they were beaten at there own game. I can sometimes understand last minute goals with the ball being hoofed up towards the penalty area with players looking for the vital knock down. Philip Lahm's late goal however was very different much easily defendable and I have to put it down firstly to Ballack for putting the ball through and then Lahm with a finish that most strikers would have be thrilled with. Turkey won't be happy with how they conceded the goal, but I think the better team went through in the end.

In last nights semi-final Russia were looking to turn around a 4-1 defeat from the teams opening group match against Spain. Unfortunately it was Spain defending prowess that severed them right this time around and a a conformable 3-0 victory was achieved. It was obvious that neither team wanted the chase the game to the extent that they might loose shape in their midfield. This played into the hands of the Spanish who were content to sit back and let Russia give them the ball back when they got into the final third. I opening goal was crucial as it was in any game, but even so i felt Spain had more all over the pitch and deffinetly deserved to win the game. Marcos Senna was particularly influential and having already picked him out last week as one of my players of the tournament his two man of the match performances this week have confirmed him as one of the best holding midfield players in the world right now.

Now to the final and these two European Heavyweights battle it out in this year European Championship final. In 2002 Spain's Real Madrid had to much class for Bayern Leberkusen as they won the European Cup at Hampden Park. However I'm not sure this Spain side have the same cutting edge that that amazing Madrid side had.

It was obvious last night that they played better with five in midfield and one up top. For me Villa is still a big miss and here's why. For me Fernando Torres has been well...... carried along by this Spanish team. He doesn't look fully fit, he has never completed a game in the championships for me he is well off the pace. We've all seen a fully fit Torres and it was not what we saw last night or even in the rest of the tournament. Villa if I'm being honest hasn't been much better his four goals yes have been quality on there own but the rest of the time he has been just as bad as Torres. I also feel Spain are far to one diminutional in midfield, Xavi Iniesta and Fabregas are for me much of the same player. Fabregas is the only one who runs and in the final he will be Spain's match winner, for me they don't have any others.

Germany are a little different to Spain in that I don't think they have reached there peak, and that can only be a good thing for the finalists. Never have you watched Germany thinking this is what we are used to seeing. I mean to 3-2 knock out games, that's way to high scoring for a team like Germany. We're used to tight in defence and clinical in front of goal. Klose looked a little off the pace in the groups stage but two goals in each other knock-out games means he goes into the final on form, not many of the strikers on show can say that. Swiensteiger can say the same though, since his sending off against Croatia he has looked a different player and has driven forward this German side. I haven't even mentioned maybe there most important player of all, there talisman Michael Ballack. he has again been brilliant in this tournament. Two goals as well for him so important to be on form going into a final he will be very happy with his work done so far and he'll look to continue that.

I've been able to mention three German match winners there without even uttering the words of there top scored Lucas Podolski who seems to be able to create and score at the same time. And at the end of the day I think the team with the most match winners will come through. If Fabregas doesn't perform then Spain have no-one to turn to, Germany have four big match winners, one of them is sure to step up to the plate.

I backed Germany from the beginning and I'm not going to stop here. I think there stronger all over the park and will be to strong for a Spain side, who peaked far to early.

Squeaky bum time

Could this years European Championship semi finals be more entriging. Both pit a well fancied team against a pre tournament under dog. We have the always reliable Germans who have only turned up in one game this year, against Portugal in the quarter final. Never beaten Turkey are there opponents, who have equaled there best performance in tournament since the 2002 world cup where they lost to Brazil in the semi final. In the other semi-final we have stuttering Spain against for me the best team in the tournament, Russia.

The Spanish have struggled to re-capture the form that saw them beat Russia in there opening group game. Russia have failed to repeat the form they showed in that game as well and have gradually improved as the tournament has progressed. There dismantlement of Holland in the quarters was the most impressive performance of the tournament. And going into there game against Spain for me they are clear favorites. Spain haven't been the same team sine they beat Russia 4-1 in there group game. The beat Sweden and Greece 2-1 with very late goals and very unimpressive performances. The other night they overcame Italy in a shocking game with a comprehensive penalty win. For me I can't see past Russia, they won't make the same mistakes as they did in the first game Villa and Torres have been pretty poor since the first game and I don't think they will have enough to overcome a fast paced Russian side

In the other semi I can see a just as comprehensive win for the Germans. They clearly have more in the tank after beating Portugal and with Turkey having such difficult injury and suspension problems I just don't think there will be enough minutes in the game to save Turkey this time.

So I'm predicting a Germany-Russia final, which I'm sure I will be previewing on Saturday, however which part of this championship has been predictable?

Changing of the guard?..... Not just yet

Wimbledon is up and underway and I couldn't let the two weeks pass without passing judgement on this years tournament, build as being the most open in recent years. Australian and French Open winners Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be out to de-throne five time champion Roger Federer, and never will the duo have a better chance. Federer's loss to Nadal at Roland Garos was one that the Swiss had not experienced since he shot to fame in 2003. He has lost of Nadal on clay before at the french open final yes, but not in the manner that he was dispatched. i think this defeat was down to two things. Firstly Nadal's amazing development in Tennis has led to his strongest suit, clay making him unbeatable. Secondly the french open has phycolgically become a difficult tournament to win for Federer and he knows full well that if he ever won it, he would be crowned the greatest player to play the game.

So to this year's championship and there looks like three groups who are surging towards this years title. The Federer/Nadal/Djokovic group is leading he way. Group two consists of Roddick/Nalbandian/Hewitt, and the third group is headed by Brit Andy Murray and David Ferrer of Spain. This year it has struck me that so little attention has been on Murray, probably due to the emergence of the 'big three' and that Murray has never done himself justice in major Tournaments. Maybe the public have finally realized that as much as well build them up they just never deliver. Ironically this lack of build up for the Brit could be the door for him to finally perform, getting into the second week show be enough for Murray, any further would be a huge surprise.

If your looking for a winner look no further than the defending champion. The one year that he isn't expect to dominate as usual and win in such stylish fashion is the year I believe he will confirm himself as the greatest player on grass ever and the greatest Wimbledon champion ever. The rest will have to wait, even if it is only a year.

Grande Finale

With the US Open finishing today the final of Queens club and the end of the first week at Euro 2008 I want to reflect on what has been the beginning of an unbelievable summer of sport.

I'll start with Cricket and start of the one-day series between New Zealand and England. New Zealand ranked third in the world in ODI's are certainly the favourites and the beating that England have received on there own turf by some sides gives them extra optimism. The win in the 20/20 international will mean nothing going into the 5-match series and i fully expect New Zealand to win by 2 or 3 matches. England are side in transition at this level and have never grasped this part of the game. Sorting out there openers will be of main concern to Peter Moores, the inclusion again of Luke Wright puzzles me. He struggled in the 20/20 world cup, and in other ODI's I think the step up for him is to high. For me Strauss and Bell are the pair for me. It will also be a case of whether the 3-way bowling attack of Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson can bring there test from into the 50 over game, something that they have yet to do and something I think will take time to develop. A comfortable New Zealand win for me over the 5 match series with England still looking for improvement.

Next to Rugby and a tour that from the outset looked like a disaster waiting to happen has started in impressive manner for a youthful England side. New Zealand who are in transition themselves scored four tries on there way to a 37-20 victory, but England's performance to restrict the All Blacks to only four tries and to score two themselves i think can be held in high accolade. This performance has set up the series nicely and even though I do expect New Zealand to win the next match I reckon England can nick the three game to finish 2-1 in the series. However one criticism I do have of this tour is how close it was to the and of the regular season. May 31st was the Premiership Grand Final and barely two weeks later England are in new Zealand playing there first match. there should be at least some rest bite for these players who now seem to be playing 12 month seasons, how are they expected to play with any quality when there tired from playing for there club. The same accusation has been played at footballers as well, but even they would have has more of a rest than the Rugby players have. If England are expected to play well then they need the RFU to protect them and give them every chance of doing well.

Queen's has always been built as a warm up for Wimbledon and a chance for players to get used to grass before the big major. However I think now Queens is becoming its own tournament not just one for warming up for Wimbledon. This year shows that more than ever. The top four seeds for the competition all lie in the top eight in the world and all make up the semi-final line up. Rafael Nadal was just to good for reigning champion Andy Roddick, who will have to wait another year to win a record breaking fifth Queen's title. Novak Djokovic is the other finalist after blitzing past David Nalbanian. The two met in the semi-final of the French open, but it will be interesting to see the two winners of the first two opens off there favourite surface against each other with a title in sight. I think Nadal's form is ridiculous at the moment and he should make short work of Djokovic, maybe in three sets this time but still with the dominance he has shown all year.

We see it all the time in team sports players rushing back from injury to play in major tournaments or matches and never being able to re-capture there form or make a proper impact. Not often however do we see this happen in individual sport. Players are usually very sensible in deciding they aren't fit enough to compete. Tiger Woods have strolled around the US Open this week with an obvious limb and is clearly in some pain and not 100% fit for this tournament. But like every great professional he has got on with it and as he always does played himself into contention so much so that he leads with the final round remaining. Everyone knows that Woods always win's major's that he leads going into the final round. Wouldn't it be ironic that if his misjudgement of playing in this tournament actually denied him of an unlikely title. I think he will hang on but England's Lee Westwood won't make it easy for him.

Last but not least we have come to the half way stage in the European Championship of 2008 and after what was a slow start the tournament has really come to light. Holland have been the most impressive of the nations after overwhelming both Italy and France and strolling into the last eight. Portugal and Spain have also made there way through with a little less grace but still they look dangerous. Surprise packages have come from Croatia, who look set to top group A ahead of Germany and Russia who are preparing for a showdown with Sweden to who will qualify with Spain in group D. My players of the tournament so far are spread across all of the nations that have impressed me. Wesley Snidjer of Holland, Galasek or Czech Republic, Aurthur Boruc of Poland, Zhirkov of Russia and Senna of Spain. Others have done especially well but these are the men that have stuck out for me. Next week is likely to be very exciting and with a start studied last eight it could be a thrilling last two weeks of this championships, who said it wouldn't be good without England if anything it's even better.

Up for grabs

With England not involved in this years championships I have the fortunate position of not having to focus on them and open myself to other nations and the chances of sucess in this years competition. For once I believe it could be one my so many nations and that there isn't a clear favourite. Without England in the competition, ironically it could the most exciting European Championships in the long time.

Italy the world champions will be looking to be the second country to win the World Cup and then the Euro's successfully. However with a new manager in place it seems unlikely that they will produce a similar result. They went to Germany with an ageing team and very similar players return this time around. Teams will have different and younger teams than this Italian side and this will be there downfall, expect them to get out of there group containing both Holland and France, but possibly facing Spain in the quarter -finals will be where they find themselves unstuck.

So if there is to be no repeat of 2006 who will be there come the end? The loosing finalists France looked terrible to be kind against England in there Friendly earlier this year and although they won the game you can't see this team taking the title even if they do scrape themselves into the semi-finals. This competition is one that you can stumble into the semi-finals without really playing a difficult match.

Spain have a magnificent squad on paper, but when have we never said that? I think again they will flatter to deceive and another close call will see them fall short. I'm not going to be another naive football supporter and back them to win, I've been conned to many times.

Cristiano Ronaldo will b keen to remind everyone that he is the best player in the world. The current Manchester United player dominated in 2004 and this year similar will be expected of him. More so it will be presumed that he will lead his side to triumph. However as United showed in their season you need more than one player to take you to glory. In this Portuguese side I don't see a Rooney or a Tevez to go alongside Ronaldo, therefore I see a tired Ronaldo tirelessly striving to get his side into the final and falling at the last hurdle.

The reason why England have failed in major competition is because of the strenous season the premiership puts on you. So within reason the best team with the least depleted players from the Premiership will be best equipped to tackle this years championship. That's why I tip Germany to take the title they last won twelve years ago at Euro '96.

Only Michael Ballack has played any first team Premier league football, and he only played for half a season due to injury. And fo that remaining part he was the driving force that took Chelsea so close to overhauling United as champions and European Cup winners. So therefore he is relatively rested and as Germany's best player goes into the tournament in form. Add to that one of the most potent strike duo in International football of Klose and Lucas Podolski. Klose is the most ruthless centre forward in the world right now and was top scorer in the last world cup. With so many close calls in recent years this is the year to bring back the German pride that we saw back in '96. And remember, they never lose on penalties.

I can't see past the Germans, and I can't see an upset like we saw Greece do in 2004. It might be exciting, but it will be Germany.

How times are changing

This season has seen the tennis scene change somewhat with Roger Federer's dominance in the sport being halted by Novak Djokovic and the ever improving Rafael Nadal. Djokovic took the opening title of the season, beating Jo Wilfred-Tsonga in the final. The Serbian is beginning to have the dominance on the hard courts that Nadal and Federer enjoy on clay and grass. An although Djokovic finds himself in the semi final at the French open expect him to come hard at the US Open where again the hard courts will be there to be exploited.

Federer although he has by his standards been very off colour has come good at the French with his general play improving with every match, wouldn't it b ironic if the year he wasn't expected to be able to compete with Nadal he actually overturns the Spaniard. However big his improvement i can't see past Nadal to cruise to another win and I'm sure his dominance will mirror Federer's on grass.

It will be at Wimbledon where Federer is really pushed. A place he has of course won before and a place unlike here at Rolan Garos he is expected to win. All the pressure will be on, and as Nadal showed last year, he is getting closer. The added distractions of Gonzalez, Murrey and Ferrer won't help his cause and even the forgotten man Andy Roddick lurks looking for an upset.

If things are only changing a little in the men's game, it's all to play for in the women's and with the retirement of Justin Henin opening up the draw very invitingly. Number 1 seed Maria Sharapova couldn't take advantage as she crashed out at the 3rd round stage. it looks as though, with the addition of Amilie Mauresmo's exit that the young pretenders are the hire to Henin's crown.

Ana Ivanovic and jelena Janovic look the most imposing and both meet in the semi-final on thursday. I think both will compete with Sharapova for the Wimbledon title as well, however I believe Ivanovic will be too strong both this week and in July.

A usually predictable women's game has been blown open by this shock announcement by Henin and this can only have good things for the game. This might open the door for more young pretenders to come through and show the world what they are made of. it's been same old for some years now, we need some new blood to come through and the sooner the better for what could b described the most vibrant women's sport in the world today.

Managerial Merry go-round

Usually the summer months after the season has finished is the time for players to be turning down new contract and creating speculation that they are to move onto big and greater things. However this summer it has been the turn of the managers and how they are moving clubs ever so quickly. A true representation of the current football climate that managerial changes are now as regular as player transfers.

The Premier League has seen a radical overhaul, less than a month after the normal season has finished Arvam Grant and Sven Goran Eriksson two of the big first season success stories being moved along to allow for greater success. You tell me if you can get an average middle table side higher than 8th, with a new manager who has being doing that for years, not sure we'll see much change there. And sacking a manager who did what no Chelsea manager has done and get them to a Champions league Final only to be denied by a petulant and selfish Nicolas Anelka. Anelka didn't only look like he wanted to be there but the way he reacted to the penalty miss was shocking and a true showing of someone who has succeeded so much to early in his career.

Oddly enough for Chelsea this summer there search for a new manager has not bared any fruit as yet. Usually they are able to draft people in with there amazing wealth. Maybe for once Abrowich's poison chalice has warned everyone off and that there will be no takers for this unpredictable post. I'm sure however the winning manager from this year's Euro 2008 championships, a manager with nothing to prove in international football will take the post, my tip is Luis Philip Scolari.

Success seems to be a common reason for being sacked in management currently, with Nigel Pearson being axed at Southampton. After keeping the club afloat when it seemed certain they were going the same way as Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Bradford City. But to underline the utter contempt that the club is being run they have appointed a manager who hasn't finished his deal at his current club and who hasn't even agreed to sign as yet. A purely stupid move by a club who are really hitting there lowest point at this point in time. Not to keep nit picking but this man is hardly going to out shine Pearson and i predict a very similar season to last season, unfortunately this man is no magician like Pearson.

In League 2 it is nice to see Peter Taylor back in football league management, however like so many managers it looks like the money has got to him. he had a super team at Stevenage, a team who could surprise many in the Blue Square Premier next season. It was a shame to see Paul Lambert leave at the end of the season, he has done a fantastic job there, making a Carling Cup Semi-final in 2006 and then the play-off semi this season, however when you know its time to go then you just go, no questions asked. And seeing that he hasn't found a new club to soon after leaving shows it was a heart felt good-bye and he hadn't received a better offer.

With plenty of the summer still to go the player transfer saga is sure to start bubbling, the most interesting of the lot will be to see how many Chelsea players move on to Jose Mourinho's new club Inter Milan, one of which I hope is Frank Lampard, I've never been his biggest fan but I think to be truely appreciated as a great player he needs to stretch his wings to abroad and I think Mourinho is the man to help him.