Euro 2008 - A Promise of Brilliance and Class

Euro 2008 - A Promise of Brilliance and Class

By: George-Daweh Yuoh

So, it's on tomorrow, Saturday June 7, 2008!!! Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece (defending Champs), Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey will all battle it out to earn the enviable bragging rights of being the best team/country in all of Europe.

Of particular note this year is the absence of one of football's biggest country, England, who were edged and dumped out on the last days of qualifying by Croatia and Russia. The grunt and gasps of disbelief could be heard all over the World, and English fans watched in horror as the Three Lions bowed out to the more disciplined Eastern Europeans.

But it's on, really!! Minus the big names from England, like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Micheal Owen, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand et all, EURO 2008 promises to be an unforgetable display of talents, class, artistry and passion from some of the best men who play the World's beautiful game!

Joint hosts, Austria and Switzerland, from the early runnings and signs, look to be the least bet to win the tournament. This is Austria's first time playing in the Euros and they probably would not have made it if it were not for the right to play as co-hosts. They lack the pedigree to compete with the "big boys", and their most recognizeable players are their 24-years old captain, Andreas Ivanshitz of Panathinaikos in Greece, and defender Emmanuel Pogartez of Middlesbrough in England. The Swiss are in a similar category as the Austrians, with only two previous appearances at the Euros. In both instances, they failed to cross the group stages and collected only 1 point in each of those 2 appearances.

The pundits' bets are therefore on the ususal suspects, including Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy and France. Spain looks particularly primed to snatch it this time, and with a healthy Fernando Torres, they have a dependable source of goals to count on. The Liverpool hitman is clinical in front of goal, and his speed and almost perfect control will create problems for a lot of defenders in the tournament. But there's talent all through the team, and from captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, to Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Xavi, the young Cesc Fabregas, and David Villa, Spain has the quality to make a very strong claim for this year's title.

But wait! There's Portugal with two of the brightest talents in world football today, in persons of Christiano Ronaldo and Nani (both of Manchester United). Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the World today, has been given the responsibility of captaining a talented group of players to greater heights, hopefully, surpassing the feats of the team of the "Golden Generation" captained by the great Luis Figo. In reliable defender Ricardo Cavalho, Simao, Deco and the stylish and flamboyant Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal can bost of having the star power and undeniable quality to be the last team standing after the final whistle is blown.

Notwithstanding, and because of their individual experience, star power and all round quality, either Germany, France and World Champions Italy are also sure bets of capturing Europe's biggest football prize. The Germans are boosted by the recent good form of their captain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, who will be ably supported by goal getter Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski, Thomas Hitzperberger and Philip Liam. Former coach Jurgen Klinsman turned the more defensive minded Germans into an attacking force at the last World Cup, and current coach Joachim Low has continued where Klinsman left off.

Italy, noted for thier defensive discipline, will always be hard to beat, particularly with the spectacular Gianluigi Buffon in goal. Captain Fabio Cannavaro is injured and out of the squad, but the AC Milan pair of Andrea Pirlo and Genaro Gartuso and the unstopable goal scoring Luca Toni of Bayern Munich will definitely have a say in who wins the title.

France, Les Blues and runners-up in the 2006 World Cup are no push overs for the title either. Frank Ribery, Thierry Henry, Nicholas Anelka, Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, William Gallas, Patrice Evra are all World-class players who can bring their individual magic and briilliance when the game comes calling. The French are a formidable side, and in their captain Patrick Viera - the former Arsenal skipper, they have a leader who is capable of marshalling his team towards the ultimate prize!

Any team that underestimate the likes of Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and defending Chmapions Greece will be doing so at their own peril. On their way to the EURO 2008, Croatia beat England 3-1 at Wembley, shattering the English hopes. Although their star goal scorer, the Brizilian born Eduardo Da Silva of Arsenal is injured and out of the tournament, Croatia can still sneak it up on any unsuspecting opponent. Thier strength is that they play collective football and work together as a team.

Similarly, and eventhough the Czech Republic will also be missing their talisman, star player and captain, Tomas Rosicky of Arsenal, they must never be written off! In Peter Cech, they have the best goalkeeper in the World, and he will be assisted by the likes of their giant striker Jan Koller and his strike partner Milan Baros.

Current European Champions Greece are definitely one of the dark horses of this year's tournament. In fact, they were not even amongst teams counted to progress out of the group stages in 2004, but they took the torunament by storm, going all the way to the finals and then beating the hosts Portugal to clinch the title. This is not a team of stars, and perhaps their best man is their 69-years old German coach Otto Rehhagel, who has transformed an ordinary side into a technically formidable team. The Greeks attack together and defend as a unit, making them difficult to break down.

So, from the first whistle at 1700 GMT on June 7, 2008 when hostilities kick off between co-host Switzerland vs. Czech Republic, to the last whistle to bring the curtains down, the football world will most definitely be treated to multiple tantalizing displays of fantastic football and sheer brilliance from the likes of Christiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Michael Ballack, Peter Cech, Luca Toni, Ferbnando Torres, Roben Van Persie, Zlatan Ibrahimovich and the rest of Europe's finest ballers! Who dares miss such a treat!! Not me!!!

Copyright, June 6, 2008 - George-Daweh Yuoh, Minnesota, USA. All Rights Reserved.

Holland - Italy 3-0.....damn!!!

Euro 2008 was an exact display of 'skills/talent versus experience'. There were countries that dependent on Longevity while others looked up to brace the fresh smell of the green turf - if you know what I mean.