GERMANY vs SPAIN
Two teams have outplayed 14 others for one shot of bragging rights at being called European champions, for the next 4 years at least.
Germany takes on Spain in the final of Euro 08 later tonight and one can only hope the final will end spectacularly.
Unfortunately, Germany has not really been eye candy on television while Spain has been the better entertainers. Thus, a tight game is in store, probably similar to the Italy - Spain game in the q-finals where Italy tried to contain the Spanish pressure. It worked to a certain extent, Italy losing on the penalty shoot-out, but football purists want to see great European champions, not a boring one, well at least I want to see Spain win it anyway.
Germany will rely on the counter-attack and it is not likely that they will send too many men forward unless during the set-pieces. Schweinsteiger is the main attacking threat, not skipper Ballack, so look out for the danger from the right flank. Klose is not the best player as he has not really proven to be an indispensable asset but he has this tendency to score crucial goals. Watch out for him at set-pieces. Other than that, it is hard to see where the goals might come from. Remember this though, Germany knows how to win a football match, like it or not.
Spain, on the other hand, has many match-winners. They are blessed with balance throughout the squad and their potential is set to be fulfilled tonight. It remains to be seen if they have learned anything from the Italy game where they struggled to get into the penalty box but they will definitely be prepared for Germany to play in the same way. Torres has not been setting the tournament alight despite his scorching hot club form but every striker will hit purple patch soon, and this final might be it. The midfield will be the key to this team, providing infinite creativity and immense imagination from the trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas while unheralded Senna may yet be crowned this tournament's best player, staying under the radar with the dirty work in midfield.
Spain to triumph one way or another in normal time. Expect a ugly final.
Germany takes on Spain in the final of Euro 08 later tonight and one can only hope the final will end spectacularly.
Unfortunately, Germany has not really been eye candy on television while Spain has been the better entertainers. Thus, a tight game is in store, probably similar to the Italy - Spain game in the q-finals where Italy tried to contain the Spanish pressure. It worked to a certain extent, Italy losing on the penalty shoot-out, but football purists want to see great European champions, not a boring one, well at least I want to see Spain win it anyway.
Germany will rely on the counter-attack and it is not likely that they will send too many men forward unless during the set-pieces. Schweinsteiger is the main attacking threat, not skipper Ballack, so look out for the danger from the right flank. Klose is not the best player as he has not really proven to be an indispensable asset but he has this tendency to score crucial goals. Watch out for him at set-pieces. Other than that, it is hard to see where the goals might come from. Remember this though, Germany knows how to win a football match, like it or not.
Spain, on the other hand, has many match-winners. They are blessed with balance throughout the squad and their potential is set to be fulfilled tonight. It remains to be seen if they have learned anything from the Italy game where they struggled to get into the penalty box but they will definitely be prepared for Germany to play in the same way. Torres has not been setting the tournament alight despite his scorching hot club form but every striker will hit purple patch soon, and this final might be it. The midfield will be the key to this team, providing infinite creativity and immense imagination from the trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas while unheralded Senna may yet be crowned this tournament's best player, staying under the radar with the dirty work in midfield.
Spain to triumph one way or another in normal time. Expect a ugly final.
akim - the Italian fan