Euro 2008: Days 9-12

Ciarán Leinster serves up his latest dish of football frenzy.

Czech Republic were knocked out of Euro 2008 in a thrilling finalé to Group A. The first half was poor, but for Jan Koller’s header. In the second half, Turkey played far better, though the Czechs still had chances. Jaroslav Plasil scored what looked like the clincher half way through the second half. Turkey pressed, and deservedly scored through Arda Turan. Then, in the last four minutes, Petr Cech dropped an easy catch, letting Nihat Kahveci score. Then Nihat sprang the offside trap to net the winner. There was time for drama in injury time, as Turkey’s goalie Volkan Demirel was sent off for pushing Jan Koller.

In the other meaningless game, Switzerland beat a much-changed Portugal team 2-0 from a Hakan Yakin brace, the second from the penalty spot. It was an even game with a few chances, an emotional farewell for the hosts, and manager of seven years, Kobi Kuhn, to be replaced by Bayern Munich coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Germany finally booked their place in the quarter-finals by beating Austria 1-0 through a screamer from Michael Ballack. Ballack fired in a 25-yard free-kick five minutes after the break. Just before half-time, both managers were sent to the stand for arguing with each other and the fourth official. Austria were up for the match, though, and acquitted themselves well. The difference was just Germany’s ability to score. In fact, Austria only scored one goal in Euro 2008, an Ivica Vastic penalty. Germany’s Mario Gomez missed an open goal from four yards in the first half, but Germany deserved the win. They now play Portugal in the quarters.

Croatia defeated Poland to set up a quarter-final date with Turkey. Both sides had chances, and Ivan Klasnic scored the winner on 52 minutes.

The Group of Death ended with Italy qualifying alongside Holland. World Cup runners-up, France, departed the tournament with only one point and one goal. They lost 2-0 to Italy in what will probably prove to be coach Raymond Domenech’s last game. The goals came via Andrea Pirlo’s penalty after Eric Abidal was sent off for fouling Luca Toni, and from Daniele De Rossi’s deflected free-kick. The Italians played better and deserved the win, though Toni was very wasteful in front of goal.

In the other game, a severely weakened Holland team finished with nine points and nine goals from their three matches. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie grabbed the goals for Marco van Basten’s men, which meant that Romania didn’t qualify for the quarter-finals. Both sides exchanged chances before Huntelaar broke the deadlock, though in the end, as well as Romania played in the first two matches, here, their lack of ambition cost them. Holland now play Russia, and Italy face Spain in the quarter-finals.

Russia qualified for the quarter-finals with a very impressive performance against Henrik Larsson’s Sweden in the Great Man’s last international game. Russia was confident and played quick, attatacking football. The goals came from Roman Pavlyunchenko and the particularly brilliant, Andrei Arshavin. The second goal was sheer brilliance, a wonderful team goal after a break away.

Sweden, and in particular, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were awful. They were slow, and the ball retention was dreadful. Russia were outstanding, and now are surely possible winners.

In the other game, holders Greece finally left the tournament, scoring only one goal, Angelos Charisteas’s header from a free kick. Spain responded with goals by Ruben de la red and Dani Guiza. Both sides were much changed, with nothing at stake, and the pace was slow, in what was little more than a practice match.

By: Ciarán Leinster