Goal! Weekly Article 20: EURO 2008

EURO KICKS OFF IN STYLE
By Julius Ross

The first week of action in the 2008 European Championships was dominated by dramatic results, individual mastery, painful heartbreak, unfathomable joy and a bagful of sensational goals.

In a week of mixed emotions for the participating nations, delight for one side was often contrasted with the anguish of another, illustrating the fine line between the pain of defeat and elation of success in Europe’s finest cup competition.

Four teams booked their place in the quarter finals after just two matches, while two sides faced the grief of elimination.

Courtesy of impressive performances, Spain, Portugal and Holland joined Croatia in the knockout stages after the teams secured maximum points from their respective outings.

Portugal, Holland and Spain were rewarded for their fine displays of attacking football and clinical finishing, with the sides igniting the tournament and exciting fans with a total of 18 goals.

The Netherlands were by far the most imposing side in the first round of fixtures, after destroying current World Champions Italy 3-0, and humbling France 4-1.

In two displays of clinical, attractive attacking football in the space of four days, the Dutch made their intentions clear and Marco van Basten’s side will surely be favourites heading into the knockout stages.

Portugal and Spain also impressed in their opening matches, but have advanced past somewhat easier opposition than the Netherlands.

Group B qualifier Croatia progressed in slightly less style than the other three sides with mixed performances in their opening two matches.

Although Slaven Bilic’s side were expected to progress to the quarters at the expense of Austria and Poland, few would have predicted that the side would do so by defeating European giants Germany.

After a dour opening performance against lowly Austria had seen them scrape a 1-0 victory in their first match, the Vatreni’s 2-1 win over the three-time champions was the shock of the tournament thus far.

Contrasted with the triumph of the four quarter-finalists was the elimination of co-host Switzerland and reining European Champions Greece.

Switzerland’s fans had encapsulated the atmosphere and sprit of the tournament, but were unable to spur their side onto the last eight.

Failing to collect a single point from their opening two matches, the Swiss will be bitterly disappointed at squandering a 1-0 lead against Turkey in a rain-drenched Basel, where a win was necessary to stay in contention for qualification.

Greece’s dismal attempt to retain their European crown will see Otto Rehhagel’s men return to Athens after their final Group D match, after losses to Russia and Sweden eliminated the titleholders.

Greece’s disappointment will be uncharacteristically shared by pre-tournament favourites France and Italy who now walk a fine line to avoid elimination.

The two face off in a mouth-watering final Group C clash with both sides needing nothing less than a victory to progress.

But if Romania manages to defeat a rampant Dutch side then both France and Italy can expect an early elimination.

Defeating the Dutch is not an impossible feat for Romania; the last time the two sides met the Tricolorii triumphed 1-0 over van Basten’s side during qualification for the tournament.

Holland may also rest players for its final group match in preparation for the quarters, and a weakened Dutch side may allow Romania to advance at the expense of Les Blues and the Azzurri.

Both Italy and France have been extremely disappointing in their opening two matches in the Group of Death, especially after the elevated pre-tournament hype surrounding both the team’s title aspirations.

Germany is another pre-tournament favourite who have struggled to impose themselves on the tournament, and face the unlikely prospect of elimination.

However, the Germans come up against co-host Austria, who, despite an impressive tournament for their lowly position in European football, will be vastly considered underdogs.

Several players have also used the first two fixtures of the group stage to display their talent on Europe’s grandest stage.

Portuguese hero Cristiano Ronaldo illustrated his sensational abilities by scoring a wonderful goal and ceated two more to guarantee a third successive quarter final appearance in the Championships for his nation.

Spain’s David Villa currently tops the goal scoring charts after his four goals, including a sublime hat-trick against Russia, in his side’s opening games has facilitated qualification for Luis Aragones’ team.

Despite his nation’s struggle thus far to secure a qualifying spot, Lukas Podolski has come out firing, scoring all three of his nation’s goals, in sensational fashion.

But the star performers thus far have been the Netherlands, and despite the fact that every member of the Oranje have been playing sensational football, Wesley Sneijder has dominated the Dutch midfield, scoring two goals and running the show for van Basten’s men.

This week will see the conclusion of the Group stages and the beginning of the knock-out rounds, where the drama of Euro 2008 will surely continue.