match 1:
Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu - Austria
SWEDEN 1 - 2 SPAIN
Sweden
Ibrahimovic 34
Spain
Torres 15
Villa 90+2
Entertainment value: 4.5 / 5
match 2:
Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim - Austria
GREECE 0 - 1 RUSSIA
Zyryanov 33
EV: 4 / 5
Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu - Austria
SWEDEN 1 - 2 SPAIN
Sweden
Ibrahimovic 34
Spain
Torres 15
Villa 90+2
Entertainment value: 4.5 / 5
match 2:
Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim - Austria
GREECE 0 - 1 RUSSIA
Zyryanov 33
EV: 4 / 5
Sweden fought bravely but still lost to Spain who clinched their place for the 2nd round. They will be feeling a little hard done by after Villa scored his 4th goal of the tourney to cruelly grabbed victory at the death. Russia meanwhile knocked current Euro champions Greece after a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Going for the jugular after suffering respective defeats previously, both teams attacked each other and the results were not spectacular but Russia made their one big chance count.
Sweden is looking at a transitional phase with this tournament. Their main concern must be the talent they have had at their disposal. Their defence were exposed a little too often somewhat by the pacy Spaniard attacks but the best teams in the world must show they can defend well no matter the situation. Fortunately all is not lost yet as they have a certain degree of technical and skills adeptness in the side. The coach must also be willing to give the younger players the chance to shine as Ibrahimovic, Larsson, Mellberg and Ljunberg, bedrock of the team they are, do not have much left to offer shortly.
While Spain were the better team last night, they failed to break down a stubborn Swedish defence who, despite their frailties, managed to clamp down whatever the Spanish side try to conjure up. The better teams are the one that dig in deep and credit to them, they battled till the final whistle. An unchanged selection at the start of the match is also a great piece of tactic on the coach's part as the players that played will have been very happy from the Russia game. Familiarity among the first XI augurs well for a team that is in-form. A concern must be Puyol's injury who was subsituted halfway through the first half but the depth in strength is there to cover his loss.
Greece, I am sure many critics will be happy, are knocked out. True, they changed their defensive mindset, as I had thought they would do in my previous post, but it is probably a case of too little too late. Now they should just take this defeat with a pinch of salt, rebuilt and with some wonders, Greece can recover.
Russia will be happy with their performance after last night's win. It only served to remind them that they are a good footballing side. Against more illustrious opponents, however, they must convert more of their chances as they come. As Spain had exhibited recently against them, such opponents will cause a major challenge. Their playmaker Andrei Arshavin will be back after suspension and the attack will be a little more dangerous combined with Pavlyuchenko the striker who has done well so far for Russia.
akim - the Italian fan
Sweden is looking at a transitional phase with this tournament. Their main concern must be the talent they have had at their disposal. Their defence were exposed a little too often somewhat by the pacy Spaniard attacks but the best teams in the world must show they can defend well no matter the situation. Fortunately all is not lost yet as they have a certain degree of technical and skills adeptness in the side. The coach must also be willing to give the younger players the chance to shine as Ibrahimovic, Larsson, Mellberg and Ljunberg, bedrock of the team they are, do not have much left to offer shortly.
While Spain were the better team last night, they failed to break down a stubborn Swedish defence who, despite their frailties, managed to clamp down whatever the Spanish side try to conjure up. The better teams are the one that dig in deep and credit to them, they battled till the final whistle. An unchanged selection at the start of the match is also a great piece of tactic on the coach's part as the players that played will have been very happy from the Russia game. Familiarity among the first XI augurs well for a team that is in-form. A concern must be Puyol's injury who was subsituted halfway through the first half but the depth in strength is there to cover his loss.
Greece, I am sure many critics will be happy, are knocked out. True, they changed their defensive mindset, as I had thought they would do in my previous post, but it is probably a case of too little too late. Now they should just take this defeat with a pinch of salt, rebuilt and with some wonders, Greece can recover.
Russia will be happy with their performance after last night's win. It only served to remind them that they are a good footballing side. Against more illustrious opponents, however, they must convert more of their chances as they come. As Spain had exhibited recently against them, such opponents will cause a major challenge. Their playmaker Andrei Arshavin will be back after suspension and the attack will be a little more dangerous combined with Pavlyuchenko the striker who has done well so far for Russia.
akim - the Italian fan