match 1:
Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim - Austria
GREECE 1 - 2 SPAIN
Greece
Charisteas 42
Spain
de la Red 61
Güiza 88
Entertainment value: 3.5 / 5
match 2:
Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu - Austria
RUSSIA 2 - 0 SWEDEN
Pavlyuchenko 24
Arshavin 50
EV: 4 / 5
Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim - Austria
GREECE 1 - 2 SPAIN
Greece
Charisteas 42
Spain
de la Red 61
Güiza 88
Entertainment value: 3.5 / 5
match 2:
Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu - Austria
RUSSIA 2 - 0 SWEDEN
Pavlyuchenko 24
Arshavin 50
EV: 4 / 5
Greece is officially the worst European champions to defend their title after a 1-2 loss against already qualified team Spain who fielded a depleted side knowing they are through as group winners. Meanwhile Andrei Arshavin returned from a two match ban to inspire Russia to a convincing 2-0 win against Sweden who had needed only a draw to secure 2nd spot but are now out of further participation.
Greece was woeful in a winless campaign that saw them score only one goal. Their famed defence of 4 years ago are now infamous and with nothing much to offer in attack too, they are in serious need of reshaping. Despite scoring first last night, they have never looked likely to progress any further from the word go.
Spain will meet Italy in a potentially explosive q-final affair. It was only in March that Spain defeated Italy 1-0 in a entertaining friendly match. Like Croatia and Holland, they finished 9 for 9. Truth be told, last night's match for the under-strength team was more of a training run out. But the experience for the lesser players will be invaluable nevertheless.
Russia's Andrei Arshavin was the toast of Russia with a marvellous individual performance and giving the team the x-factor edge with his playmaking skills. If they were good before, they are much better now. The coach had said from the start that Russia will attack and boy did they attack. With such swiftness and lightning speed on the attack or counter-attack, there were up to 5 men on many occasions in the Swedish penalty box and the score could have been very much inflated at the end. True it was against an ageing Swedish side, but there is no reason to disbelieve they cannot do it against younger more pacy teams. Look out Holland, you have a serious challenger in the q-finals.
Sweden is the oldest team at this edition and age showed last night. Their defence were compact and tight as usual with Ibrahimovic and Larsson foraging for rare chances in attack but they were caught out much too often by lack of pace. They only needed a draw but the wave was too much rough to overcome. They have had a good campaign to be honest winning once, and battling Spain fiercely but it is time to phase in the younger players.
akim - the Italian fan
Greece was woeful in a winless campaign that saw them score only one goal. Their famed defence of 4 years ago are now infamous and with nothing much to offer in attack too, they are in serious need of reshaping. Despite scoring first last night, they have never looked likely to progress any further from the word go.
Spain will meet Italy in a potentially explosive q-final affair. It was only in March that Spain defeated Italy 1-0 in a entertaining friendly match. Like Croatia and Holland, they finished 9 for 9. Truth be told, last night's match for the under-strength team was more of a training run out. But the experience for the lesser players will be invaluable nevertheless.
Russia's Andrei Arshavin was the toast of Russia with a marvellous individual performance and giving the team the x-factor edge with his playmaking skills. If they were good before, they are much better now. The coach had said from the start that Russia will attack and boy did they attack. With such swiftness and lightning speed on the attack or counter-attack, there were up to 5 men on many occasions in the Swedish penalty box and the score could have been very much inflated at the end. True it was against an ageing Swedish side, but there is no reason to disbelieve they cannot do it against younger more pacy teams. Look out Holland, you have a serious challenger in the q-finals.
Sweden is the oldest team at this edition and age showed last night. Their defence were compact and tight as usual with Ibrahimovic and Larsson foraging for rare chances in attack but they were caught out much too often by lack of pace. They only needed a draw but the wave was too much rough to overcome. They have had a good campaign to be honest winning once, and battling Spain fiercely but it is time to phase in the younger players.
akim - the Italian fan