To many soccer fans, this name may not ring a bell, that is, until the European Championships which concluded last month. Andrei Arshavin caught the eyes of soccer pundits and bigwigs with his scintillating performance in Euro 2008.

Russia were all but written off after a 4-1 loss to Spain in the qualifying rounds but came back from the dead with Arshavin’s return. The live-wire set the stage alight and raised the profile of Russian soccer with their giant-killing feats. Eliminating Netherlands was the watershed as the world sat up and took notice of this “backward” nation.

It was unfortunate that the semi-final match against Spain saw a relatively muted Arshavin due to the superior Spanish executing their tactics seamlessly and a generally lackluster performance by the Russians.

However, in all fairness, that was no embarrassment. After all, Spain went on to claim the title as they eliminated traditional powerhouse, Germany, in the Euro 2008 Finals.

Actually, even before Euro 2008, Arshavin had won rave reviews. In May, he illuminated the Uefa Cup Final and clinched the first-ever European crown for Zenit St. Petersburg. Zenit can proudly lay claim to the title as they added the scalp of Bayern Munich en-route to the finals.

Arshavin did not get on the score sheet but he was clearly the player who made the difference when he crafted both goals. His pace, vision and creativity proved too hot to handle for Rangers throughout the match. Though Rangers worked their ass off, played as a tightly knit team and with lots of determination, they were undone by Arshavin’s electrifying movement.

Andrei Arshavin, after spending a solid 8 seasons at Zenit, has already amassed an impressive haul of medals and personal awards. The former Russian Player of the Year has won 37 caps for his country since 2002 and scored 13 goals in the process.

I viewed this video on YouTube recently and it is an excellent compilation of his best soccer moments. Unleashing Andrei’s potential as a star playmaker in the EPL will further consolidate its position as one of the most competitiive league in the world.

Granted that the video footage were mostly in the Russian League, and the Premier League is a different ball game with more talents competing for the same places. Thus, Arshavin will not find the Premier League to be a bed of roses. Without strong work ethics and a willingness to adapt, he may be relegated to the bench before he can prove his worth.

Shevchenko, who is far more accomplished in European football, failed to make an impression in the Premier League for Chelsea. In fact, the player today is a pale shadow of himself. Unable to recover his confidence, lethal killer instinct and ball control, I doubt Shevchenko will feature much for Scolari.

Notwithstanding the risks, I believe Arshavin should take up the Premier League challenge if he hungers to be the best in the world. Dick Advocat should let the player go if the price is right. I will discuss more about Arshavin’s possible transfer to Tottenham.

Arshavin, who burst onto the international scene after sitting out a two-match ban impressed all and sundry with his effervescent skills. Whenever he ran with the ball, he was virtually untouchable, much to the chagrin of the highly acclaimed Oranje players.

However, Arshavin was quiet as a mouse against Spain. It could be due to the torrential rain, little support from a disjointed team and a technically superior Spain who got their tactics right.

Despite this defeat, Russia can leave Euro 2008 with their heads held high. Hardly impressive in the qualifying rounds, they scraped through, after rebounding from a lackluster defeat in Israel, to eke a victory in Andorra, and received a helping hand from Croatia at the expense of England.

Fortunately, Guus Hiddink built his reputation as a world-class coach on solid grounds; several nations, including Netherlands, Korea and Australia had benefited from his football philosophy and training. The Russian football federation are rightly impressed to offer him a contract extension regardless of the outcome in Euro 2008.

Hiddink’s insistence on a high-tempo passing game makes for great entertainment and raised expectations that miracles can be created out of a squad lacking in depth and quality. Russian fans can cheer their team for bringing home the bronze medal. Hiddink’s job of elevating Russia from a footballing minnow is far from finished and though his curse of never getting past semi-finals continue, due respect has to be given to a better prepared Russia in World Cup 2010.

Apparently, Spain had done their homework to dismiss the Russian threat. They were determined not to follow the footsteps of the shadow-chasing Netherlands whose impressive, fluid attacking style gave them a 100% record in the “Group of Death” but yet they lost steam at the critical stage.

Luis Aragonés predicted before Euro 2008 that Spain lacked two things to become champions – a good manager and an elusive stroke of luck. Spain already possess the first ingredient as Aragones is tactically astute and adjusts his game plan as the circumstances dictate.

He understands the strength of his squad and when to use the right players. Neither is he afraid of incurring the wrath of his superstars – Torres had a face like thunder when he was substituted and Sergio Ramos was roundly criticized for indiscipline but still the team spirit is intact and players remain motivated, a tribute to his man-management skills.

As for luck, Spain are blessed with plenty of it in Euro 2008. They were battered by Russia before prevailing 4-1 with David Villa scoring a hat-trick. Against a stubborn Sweden, Torres scored from a simple free-kick and Villa plundered in the dying seconds. Aragones fielded second-stringers against Greece but still cantered to a 2-1 comeback win. The quarter-final against Italy was goalless and Casillas saved the day in the penalty shoot-out.

Spain’s new-found killer instinct in scoring late goals and confidence to control games could be the final pieces of the jigsaw to end their 44-year wait for a major trophy. Aragones strengthened their self-belief when he said: “You mustn’t play better than a team and then lose to them. If you can’t win a match, at least don’t lose it. If you’ve got a goalkeeper like Iker Casillas, then you’ve always got a chance.”

Indeed, Spain are awakening tactically. They learned to adopt a calm and patient game of possession while waiting for their opponents to tire out and then capitalize on their mistakes. Their seven goals out of eleven scored in the second half bears testimony to this change in strategy. If the match goes to penalty shoot-outs, they have absolute faith in the safe hands of Casillas. Displaying steely nerves will be instrumental against the cold and efficient German machine.

In the 34th minute, Spain’s hopes were cast in doubt when leading scorer David Villa sustained an injury but it was a blessing in disguise as Cesc Fabregas replaced him. Russia were beginning to wrest the upper hand and finding an answer to the twin terrors of Villa and Torres. However, Fabregas’s arrival threw Hiddink’s plan into disarray.

The midfield genius who had contributed three assists, one goal and a penalty shoot-out winner, provided the extra spark in midfield. Surging ahead (as he had done so often for Arsenal), he forced Russia on the back foot and created wide spaces for his team-mates to run into.

Since Fabregas was involved in almost all of Spain’s attacks, owing to his ability to split defenses with precision, the Russians were forced to put extra men on him and that was the beginning of their downfall. Xavi and Andreas Iniesta were unshackled and interchanged their positions freely. The increased mobility in Spain’s forward play overwhelmed Russia and it was only a matter of time before the castle fell.

In the 50th minute, Iniesta brought the ball into the box and released a cracker. Xavi arrived unmarked to guide the ball past the keeper. Fabregas could have got on the score sheet as he fired a 35-yard blitzer, forcing Akinfeev to tip the ball over for a corner. In the 73rd minute, Fabregas set up Daniel Guiza with an excellent pass and nine minutes later, he showed great vision to find David Silva in the box who then rifled a shot into the left corner.

The critical aspect for Spain’s success is possession. With the ball at your feet, you are less tired while your opponent runs themselves into the ground trying to win the ball back. Of course, hoarding the ball is meaningless if you do not have players who can control the game’s tempo, pass the ball well and get into the right positions. The Spanish had experience and class in all respects.

Goals from Xavi and Daniel Guiza were about immaculate positioning as Fabregas can weaves his magic all day but somebody has to be at the other end to latch on to his passes. Germany had to watch out for Spain’s ability to transform possession into goals.

On the other hand, without seeing much of the ball, the mercurial Arshavin was totally subdued. Arshavin had little freedom of expression as the Spanish breathed down his neck whenever he had possession. He is restricted to making harried passes and with access to the front line of Roman Pavlyuchenko cordoned off, Russia became a sitting duck.

Aragones refused to give Fabregas all the credit because there are other worthy individuals in his team. Guiza who is fielded mostly as a substitute already had two goals to his name and players like Xabi Alonso, Santi Cazorla, Andreas Iniesta are versatile and reliable when called upon to perform.

Other unsung heroes included Carlos Puyol (Barcelona’s captain) who was the destroyer of the Russian playmaker, Arshavin. Marcos Senna was also a stabilizing force in front of the back-four and equally adept in making passes to the front line.

As for Germany, I am concerned about their championship form, the smooth, reliable German car which we are familiar with, had instead jump-started its way into the finals. They won the first group match against Poland (no great shakes) but humiliated by Croatia and resulted in a confidence crisis. A do-or-die derby battle against host Austria was then settled by Ballack’s free kick.

Germany eliminated Portugal 3-2 in the quarter-finals and survived a ferocious Turkey onslaught in the last four. Though both matches end with the same score line, the victory was much more comfortable against Portugal. It was a different story against Turkey, full credit to the inspirational Fatih Terim for making the best out of an impossible situation.

Ravaged by injuries and suspension, Turkey defied all odds to produce an exceptional performance full of grit, desire and quality. In fact, they should have established a strong advantage by half-time. Germany struggled to stay in the game and barely deserved to win but once again, they reached a major final as if it is their destiny.

In the 12th minute, Colin Kazim-Richards held his head in anguish when he rattled the bar with a powerful shot that left German keeper Jens Lehmann well beaten. He was denied by the woodwork again 10 minutes later – but this time, a lurking Ugur managed to squeeze the rebound through the legs of Lehmann.

Stunned by Turkey’s desire to dominate proceedings, Germany responded quickly when Lukas Podolski crossed from the left flank and Bastian Schweinsteiger toe-poked the square pass at close range. Turkey counter-attacked furiously and Lehmann was left flustered again when he misjudged Altintop’s free-kick and had to scramble back to turn the ball over the bar.

Turkey continued to gain ground in midfield and Ugur tested Lehmann’s reflexes again, after a scintillating run. The Turk’s indomitable spirit means they are at their most dangerous when the chips are down. Indeed, we nearly saw another repeat of their incredible comebacks as they equalized soon after Germany restored the lead.

Miroslav Klose headed Germany in front after 79 minutes, but with four minutes left. Semih Senturk levelled for Turkey. Phillip Lahm, who was accountable for Turkey’s two goals, turned hero with his last-minute winner as he stole in on Hitzlsperger’s pass to beat keeper Recber. Turkey could only look on in disbelief as they were given a taste of their own medicine while Germany progressed into the Euro 2008 final.

It is difficult to destroy Germany, not least because of their collective strength. They depend less on individual talents, but more on a healthy team spirit, industry and resilience under pressure. Nobody is deemed as the super star, so the whole team wins and loses together.

Michael Ballack has already been jinxed for four major tournaments and he will surely have something to say about clinching the title this time round. He has class and determination and he revels in the responsibilities and expectations of such occasions. I know he will be there to drive the team forward by setting the right examples. But to thrust a nation’s hopes on one man is unfair.

Fact is, Spanish defense looks more solid than Germany. The two goals which Germany conceded against Turkey resulted from embarrassing lapses. Mertesacker and Metzelder lacked rapport and Philip Lahm did not discharge his defensive duties well. He was more interested in joining the attacks and fortunately, he made amends by scoring the winner during his late foray.

Puyol and Marchena are the stronger pairing and in terms of goalkeeping abilities, I would rate Casillas above Jens Lehmann. Yes, Lemann is the weakest link and I just don’t know when he will commit a gaffe and drop the ball in front of a Spanish player. Germany can only hope that the midfield dominates and the front line gets an early goal to relieve pressure at the back.

Spain have already fulfilled my earlier hopes of seeing them in the finals and I believe this represents their best chance to lay claim on the European Championships. Though Germany have a near perfect scoring record in penalty shoot-outs, they will be eager to settle the match by normal time as Lehmann doesn’t inspire confidence between the posts.

Morale is high in the Spanish camp after clearing the Italian hurdle, whom they had not beaten in a competitive match in 88 years. It is even more amazing that they did it in the pressure cauldron of a shoot-out which has never been their forte. Breaking the mental block, they are more than ready to dispel the German myth too.

For fans who love the beautiful game, they can expect to feast on this spectacle of attacking football as both teams adopt a no-holds barred approach. Spain to win, anyone?

Some tears were shed as Portugal were among the most exciting entertainers. However, the mesmerizing wizardry of Cristiano Ronaldo and subtle touches of Deco count for nothing against the efficient Germans.

I wouldn’t say the writing was on the wall for Portugal’s demise but seeds of doubts were sown when they offered little resistance in the defeat to Switzerland. In fact, chinks were already exposed in their second match against the Czech Republic. Scolari’s men struggled with the opposition’s physical approach and dead-ball prowess, a scenario which was further exploited by Germany.

While I respect Germany’s quality and traditional history in major competitions, it wasn’t so much their devastating forward play which took Portugal apart. After doing their homework on Portugal’s weaknesses, Germany simply implemented their game plan effectively.

I cannot fault Scolari for being ignorant as he was aware of the key threats – aerial superiority of the Germans owing to their height while his team comprises “midgets,” lack of concentration in dead ball situations, hatchet-men Mirolsav Klose and captain Michael Ballack. He was correct on all four counts but unable to address these problems on the pitch.

Portugal never get into their stride in this nervy encounter but they were full of fighting spirit, twice reducing a two-goal deficit, through Nuno Gomes and then, in the dying minutes, Helder Postiga. They could have exacted revenge on Germany for ending their 2006 World Cup adventure but the front line sputtered and Ronaldo proved once again, his limitations in big matches.

It wasn’t a perfect farewell party for Scolari. Portugal finished as semi-finalists in Euro 2000, and when he took over, their world ranking progressed steadily upwards after getting into the Euro 2004 finals, and the semi-final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Lifting the European Championships trophy here seems like the most natural thing to do but Germany had other ideas.

Don’t feel sad for Scolari as he ends his five year reign with an emphasis on youth development vindicated and he is on his way to becoming the richest manager in the world at Chelsea. Neither should Portugal wallow in self-pity. They are reaping rewards from Scolari’s coaching and timely retirements of Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, Luis Figo and Pauleta has allowed a generation of youngsters to blossom.

With just four players aged over 30, Portugal are now bustling with exciting talents like Moutinho, Nani, Veloso and Rui Patricio. By the next World Cup in 2010, battle-hardened seniors such as Deco, Pepe, Simao and Ronaldo will form the core and provide experience and stability.

In the next match, we saw the comeuppance of Croatia’s coach, Slaven Bilic. He is being “haunted for the rest of his life” after Turkey made a dramatic comeback in the dying seconds. Croatia were nearly assured of a European Championship semi-final appearance but had victory snatched from right under their nose.

Both sides possess tactical discipline and kept it tight at the back. It is no surprise to see Bilic gushing with joy when Ivan Klasnic finally broke the duck in the 119th minute. Minutes later, his mood darkened when supersub Semih (national hero against Switzerland), blasted an opportunistic shot into the net, to force a penalty shoot-out.

The shocking turn of event gifted Turkey a vital psychological advantage as Croatia went on to miss three of four spot kicks, ending hopes of a second encounter with Germany in this competition.

It will be folly to think that luck alone helped Turkey progress into their first European Championship semi-final. The Turks have an unshakable belief that they can beat anybody and their fighting spirit is commendable. After Croatia scored, most teams will be either too disheartened or exhausted to pick themselves up from the pitch but Turkey did that and more.

Germany must not underestimate Turkey as this is already the third successive match where they came back from the dead. The Germans can take heart that Turkey are now down to their bare bones.

Keeper Volkan Demirel was suspended along with Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asak. Nihat (Petr Cech’s nemesis) is still a 50-50 case to start. Another positive factor for Germany is an extra rest day while the Turks had their bodies pushed to the limits in extra time and penalties after consecutive comebacks.

Gary Linker once commented that football is a silly game where 22 players chase a ball and at the end of 90 minutes, Germany always win. In this case, I am inclined to believe his “words of wisdom” that the German steamroller will prevail.

After two nights of the under dogs coming out on top many predicted a return to regular services with the Netherlands overcoming Russia in the quarter finals. Once again though Euro 2008 has thrown up another shock and the side who blitzed their way through the ‘group of death’ now find themselves on the way home again.

As for Russia since being exposed by Spain in the first game they have come on leaps and bounds with many predicting that they could well go all the way and win the tournament.

The Dutch have once again failed at a major tournament but last night it wasn’t because of squabbling in amongst themselves for once, this time they were beaten by the better side.

After such a brilliant group stage many had tipped Holland to go all the way and who can blame them after destroying the last two World Cup finalists, Italy and France. Marco Van Basten seemed to have found a formula that worked after a meeting with his squad before the tournament to decide on how they should play.

Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart seemed capable of dominating any midfield whilst Edwin van der Sar was defying his age with some outstanding performances. It looked as though the Dutch had got it all together and 20 years on from their only major success many people believed their time had come again.

Unfortunately Russia and Guus Hiddink had other plans. No one can deny that the Russian’s were in scintillating form last night. If you look past their questionable marking from set pieces Russia were faultless in my eyes. They took the game to the Dutch and made sure they didn’t let the Dutch catch them on the counter attack where they had been at their most dangerous.

They exposed Holland at the back with their exceptional use of wing backs, Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov have been excellent for Hiddink’s side, making the difference between success and failure. Especially Zhrikov, he looks like one to watch out for when the Champion Leagues starts up as Russia look to strengthen their club sides on the domestic front.

However the standout performance of the night has to go to Andrei Arshavin, the little forward has helped turn Russia into a free flowing force since he returned from suspension against Sweden. Before that you could see glimpses of Russia’s ability but he has been the link in the chain that has brought it all together.

He tormented the Dutch defense all evening and capped it off with a wonderful goal, worthy of winning any game. To read more about Arshavin then here is the place to do it.

Right from the off you sensed that Holland weren’t quite at the races and it is funny that all the sides who changed their line-up for the final group game have been knocked out. Holland couldn’t get in behind Russia, who were content to sit back when they didn’t have the ball. There wasn’t the free flowing stuff we had come to expect from Holland in Euro 2008 and instead it was Russia who controlled the game and should have had it won before it even went to extra time.

Roman Pavlyuchenko had a golden opportunity to put Russia ahead in the first half but could only head it over. Pavlyuchenko has been another one who has benefited from the return of Arshavin with those two working well together. It was then Arsahvin’s turn to curse his luck when he tricked his way past Andre Ooijer before curling a shot towards the bottom corner only for Van der Sar to push it away with possibly the save of the tournament.

Russia then unleashed their secret weapon in the form of Dennis Kolodin who long range shooting was so nearly perfect with two efforts from over 35 yards causing concern to the Dutch goalkeeper. Holland looked dangerous from set pieces but the half belonged to Russia.

It just got worse for the Dutch after the break when 11 minutes in Pavlyuchenko gave Russia the lead after converting Sergi Semak’s cross with a clever side footed finish. Russia then began to display some of the counter attacking we had come to expect from Holland as they poured forward and should have put the game out of sight, Anuykov, Zhrikov and Saenko all having chances.

The Dutch didn’t give up and took the game to extra time when Ruud van Nistelrooy headed Sneijder’s freekick home as Russia were made to pay for their poor marking. Russia then got a stroke of luck of their own when Kolodin was handed a reprieve after picking up a second yellow card. The referee produced the red card but then changed his mind after being told by his assistant that the ball had gone out in the build up to the foul.

In extra time though Holland began to tire and Arshavin started to run the show. The Zenit St Petersburg man firstly weaved his magic on the left, producing a brilliant cross for Dmitri Torbinski to put Russia ahead from close range. Arshavin then got himself on the score sheet four minutes from the end when a quick throw-in allowed the 27-year-old to break into the penalty area before slipping the ball through Van der Sar’s legs in his last international game for Holland.

So Russia move on to the semi-finals and a meeting with either Spain or Italy. Whoever you fancy to go through head to Betfair.

Scolari had to apologize for destroying a winning momentum when he rested key players and fielded reserves who either developed cold feet or were not sufficiently prepared for the big stage. Unlike the seniors, they ceded possession easily and failed to implement the game plan effectively.

Czech Republic, in the mother of all upsets so far, went from a victory, to prospects of a play-off, to gifting Turkey a ticket into the quarter-finals. I felt a tinge of regret for Czech Republic’s elimination. Petr Cech, arguably the world’s best goalkeeper, shattered his nation’s hopes when he failed to snuff out two critical moments of opportunism from forward Nihat Kahveci. Cech’s confidence and sharpness were clearly affected by Nihat’s first goal which then resulted in another spectacular goal from his tormentor.

Doubts now arise whether Cech is still the same infallible guy between the posts after two serious head injuries. Certainly, it has been a torrid season for him, besides making uncharacteristic, elementary errors in Euro 08, his club, Chelsea, missed out on major trophies after solid runs into the respective semi-finals.

Cech said: “That game really sums up my season. We came so close but blew it in the end.” He is more or less resigned to such close shaves which illustrates how badly damaged his morale is. It is going to take a long time for him to recover psychologically from this 3-2 defeat. The guilt one has to face, especially when the team remains supportive instead of reproaching him,is not easily overcome.

Football can be such a cruel game at times. Czech Republic have done enough to dominate for more than an hour and notching up two goals in the process, but as I mentioned, the match ain’t over till the whistle is blown when you are up against opponents which never-say-die.

Will it help much if Tomas Rosicky, the team’s captain and heartbeat, has been fit enough to play? I doubt so, the Czechs were already leading and not in need of goals, it was their defense which crumbled towards the end. But I have seen enough potential in this Czech Republic team to remain as a major force in future tournaments. Hopefully, Cech can bounce back from this setback in the coming season with Chelsea appointing a new manager (Scolari).

Coming to Group B, Croatia are elevated from underdog status to hot favorite. Germany’s second spot is up for grabs after a stinging defeat by Croatia. The entire team knew their nation’s proud tradition lies in their hands and they have no more room for error. Fortunately, the Germans came out tops with a 1-0 victory in a highly charged match over derby rival, Austria.

Austria deserve credit for putting up a valiant effort to send Germany into the dumps. History was against them though as they had not accomplished such a feat since defeating West Germany in 1986. Neither team enjoys a superior possession but Austria paid a heavy price for a toothless front line.

Germany were in their usual swashbuckling form and they rued a remarkable Mario Gomez miss as early as the fifth minute. Miroslav Klose delivered a low cross that bypassed goalkeeper Macho, only for Gomez to miscue his shot with the goal at his mercy. Lahm, Podolski, Mertesacker and Klose also wasted chances as Germany blitzed the Austrian defense relentlessly.

The closely contested battle was eventually decided by a thunderous free-kick from captain, Michael Ballack. I am confident of Germany’s chances as the players exhibited a professional attitude and passion under immense pressure. The last time Germany reached the last eight was in 1996 when they went on to lift the trophy. This could be an indication of things to come but for now, a face-off with a more creative opponent, Portugal, presents a severe test on Thursday.

In Group C (what many pundits classified as the Group of Death), it contains the intriguing quarter-final possibilities. I believe few had foresee the Netherlands qualifying with such authoritative performances and Romania could still be in the running while World Cup finalists France and Italy had to slug it out but fate is taken out of their hands.

Netherlands rounded off their campaign with full points in Group C after banking on second-half goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie. Marco Van Basten fielded a largely second-string Oranje team but Romania still found them more than a handful as they were placed on the back foot from the start.

Huntelaar, having passed up one presentable opening in the first half, clinically guided in Afellay’s teasing right-wing cross nine minutes into the second. With three minutes left, Van Persie drove in his second goal in as many games.

To be fair, the reshuffle comprises Arjen Robben, Van Persie and Huntelaar in the first XI, and the Netherlands barely suffered in quality as they retained their shape and forceful thrusts up front. Romania hassled for all the loose balls and the players charged in with their boots to cut the Oranje supply lines at every opportunity.

The timely interventions were all in vain as the Netherlands had too much class to be pegged back in their own half of the pitch. They stamped their authority on this tournament and will now play either Sweden or Russia in the last eight on Saturday. Romania finished in third position and any hopes of progressing further was ended.

In the other Group C match, Italy send France on an early flight home with a 2-0 victory. Thierry Henry tried his best to rally his team after their crushing 4-1 loss to the Netherlands but the disarray which plagued France continued against Italy.

Having started slowly in their first two matches, Les Bleus were keen to seize the initiative and Franck Ribery twice fired efforts wide but his contributions ended with an injury in the tenth minute. Samir Nasri was sent on but France looked out of sorts and Claude Makelele immediately needed to clear a Christian Panucci header off the line.

The game’s turning point was in the 24th minute when Eric Abidal was sent off after fouling Luca Toni, and Andrea Pirlo converted the resulting penalty. Daniele De Rossi’s second-half strike added gloss to a wonderful evening for Italy, dampened only by yellow cards for Pirlo and Gattuso which may weaken the squad in the quarter-final against Spain.

Thierry Henry had a chance to raise French spirits in the 34th minute but after racing on to Toulalan’s slick pass, the FC Barcelona forward directed a cross-shot past the post. Though the result of the Netherlands vs Romania match could render this match irrelevant, at least the Italians showed a keener interest and more enterprise in advancing to the next round. Thus, I have little sympathy for France’s demise.

This result confirmed my belief that Italy were better equipped to deal with this do-or-die situation. Against Romania, Italy dominated proceedings, were more dangerous on the break and created ample chances (even had a legal goal forfeited). The Italians conceded one in a momentary lapse at the back to allow Romania to draw level while France totally wilted under pressure to Holland.

In spite of a team chock-full of talents, France were in tatters without Zinedine Zidane and were unable to grab the game by the scruff of its neck. Thierry Henry, as the captain, was not inspirational on the pitch. If he has featured more prominently for Barcelona or rather, not even left Arsenal, he will have put away the few excellent chances to kill off the Italians. It could have been luck too as Ribery was injured early in the game and Italy survived several close shaves from Benzema.

In Group D, Spain were made to work hard against Sweden. Andreas Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez continued their influential display in the 4-1 win against Russia while David Silva and Fernando Torres created problems down the flanks. It was fitting that Torres was first to break the deadlock.

However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (non-existent till then) restored parity in a rare moment of brilliance. As the match progressed, Sweden imposed their style of play while Spain lost their shape but I was glad to see their aptitude in changing tactics in mid-track and the immense depth of their squad.

Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla replaced Iniesta and Harnandez and brought a different dimension to their attack. It forced Sweden on the defensive and they held on for their dear life, in fact they looked ready to share the spoils until Capdevila sent a long ball forward and David Villa tucked in his fourth goal in injury time.

I believe the Sweden game is reflective of the challenges ahead. A counterattacking game overwhelmed Russia but a disciplined and stubborn Swedish side required a different approach. By disrupting Spain’s rhythm, Sweden forced them to dig deep into their reserves for a result.

David Villa is the man of the moment and if he continues his scintillating form and telepathic partnership with Torres, Spain should definitely qualify for semis. Very often, they came into tournaments as favorites, only to end up as their own worst enemy and faltering at the critical stages.

If Spain can overcome their mental block by keeping their feet on the ground instead of letting optimism and euphoria get to their egos, I will like to see them in the finals for a change.

Anway, six days have flashed by and the first round of matches ended without much surprises. The favorites stamped their class with authoritative performances and are rightfully leading the pack, except for two letdowns.

France were held to a lackluster draw by Romania. It brought back distasteful memories of the 2002 World Cup when they, as the defending champions, were booted out unceremoniously in the group rounds.

Could it be the absence of the effervescent Zidane? In the two years since he announced his retirement, France are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their creative midfield dynamo. There is simply no spark or invention in this team but it is not due to a dearth of talents, mind you. Without even mentioning the old guards, the infusion of two exciting youngsters, Benzema and Ribery, is enough to set the stage alight.

Based on the quality of the squad, France shouldn’t be playing like… England, but I saw traces of the England disease in their lack of confidence on the ball and poor understanding between each players.

As for Italy, I am sure they were shell-shocked to see a much vaunted defense being torn apart by the rampaging Orange Army. Nevertheless, it is a folly to underestimate their ability to recover from this setback. Bear in mind the Italians’ motto: “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going” – the more you write them off, the higher the chances of seeing them in the Finals.

Right now, Germany, Portugal and Holland are looking exceptionally strong. However, beginners’ luck has little bearing on future mathces. A moment of complacency can end the campaign, what matters is the gathering and sustaining of momentum as the stakes get higher.

Under Marco van Basten, the Netherlands exhibited a different variant of total football in their 3-0 demolition of Italy. Whether this modern day version is more potent will be decided in the coming days but the stunning display has already won them some notable fans. Germany captain Michael Ballack is among the admirers. He said: “I was really impressed by the Dutch victory against Italy. They played on a high technical level with fast football.”

He could be playing some mind games and lulling them into a false sense of security. I am keeping my fingers crossed on how far the Dutch can progress. To be sure, each generation of the Holland squad has churned out its fair share of superstars but their major problem remains that of a tendency to self-destruct by splitting into different camps.

At the exact moment when they are on everybody’s lips as favorites, certain players, either due to pride, vanity or ego, will unfailingly clamor to take center-stage while putting the team’s fortune in jeopardy. This time, there is some stability but I am not sure how long it will last, probably until the team starts losing or when some key players are left out of the first XI. Ruud van Nistelrooy is now all chums with his coach but not too long ago, both do not see eye to eye on team issues.

Next up is Spain which laid down their marker with an impressive 4-1 rout of Russia. They gave such a dominant display with their speed and fluent passing game that the crafty Hiddink was helpless in reversing the situation. The formidable partnership of David Villa and Fernando Torres can strike fear into the tightest defenses.

It is crucial that Torres is content to play second fiddle to Villa by turning provider instead of scoring goals as he has done with panache for Liverpool; so long as the team wins, it doesn’t really matter who put the chances away. Torres will be a vital cog of the lightning raids Spain launch on their unsuspecting victims.

Traditional powerhouse, Germany, is also in a swashbuckling mood too. Lukas Poldoski scored a brace in the 2-0 win over Poland. For punters, the German juggernaut is always a reliable source of wealth because of their consistent track record. When in doubt, back them and you will usually be rewarded. In the past, the goals scored can even be predicted with alarming accuracy as they never liked to score more than is needed.

Germany had perfected the art of winning on the odd goals and then closing out the opponent efficiently. However, since Jeurgen Klinnsman took over, a sea change has occurred and they are now playing as if goals are the lifeblood of the team.

The Germans will be clashing with Croatia in their second match. Despite winning 1-0 against Austria and showing in the past that they can hold their own against football’s established powers like Italy, Argentina and England, I am not convinced that Croatia have the quality to threaten Germany.

Croatia won’t be trying too hard either since they have already pocketed three points, so a conservative approach followed by dealing a killer blow on Poland, should serve their purpose nicely. I believe their rear guard is sturdy enough to withstand heavy German bombardment.

Actually, if Croatia are adventurous enough, they have an outside chance of surprising the Germans. I sense a serious weakness deep in the German defense – Jens Lehmann. He had not seen much club action and is naturally a bit rusty. Germany coach Joachim Low is either brave or foolish in handing Lehmann the gloves.

I suspect the latter… I mean, if Arsene Wenger favored Alumnia (not a heavyweight by any account) over Lehmann, then something is seriously wrong with his attitude or ability. Moreover, the new ball is not to Lehmann’s liking, which implies that he is likely to screw-up when the pressure is on and the ball comes flying in from all angles.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic believes his team have as much reason to be confident as their opponents Germany. He said: “We approach this game with just as much self-confidence as Germany. Like them, we also won our first match, the winning start has given us great belief in ourselves and the way we are playing.”

He also rallied his charges to prove their worth by destroying the mighty Germans. “I believe any team that beats Germany can hope to beat anybody,” said the 39-year-old.

Meanwhile, Low admitted his players are feeling more upbeat than ever. He said: “We’ve been able to implement what we’ve practised in matches. We are confident going into the game, but Croatia are a good team with attack-minded players and we will face a tough challenge,” said the 48-year-old.

Germany will want to get a second win under their belt and secure qualification as early as possible. Another firm favorite, Portugal, are in sterling form and could be targeting a 100% win in all their Euro 2008 matches en-route to the title, that is if Cristiano Ronaldo stayed on top of his game.

Clearing the Czech hurdle was another step towards ushering the golden era, after winning their first match against Turkey at a canter. Czech Republic are a perennial dark horse and they are looking to better their semi-finalists record in Euro 2004. They edged out Switzerland in the first match but it was done with a huge dose of luck as the Swiss did not play badly and created ample chances.

Against Portugal, their first serious test of Euro 2008, the Czechs were second best to a team overflowing with individual talents. Portugal really looked more at home than Switzerland as they wrapped up the match with goals from Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma in a 3-1 win. This virtually guaranteed their berth in the quarter-finals.

The entertaining encounter and easy score-line actually belies a tight match, especially in the first half. While Portugal swarmed forward in numbers and displayed lovely touches, the Czechs refused to cede midfield superiority and counter-attacked in tandem. In fact, they recovered lost ground minutes after conceding an early goal to Deco.

Sionko headed a corner into the roof of the net which left Ricardo stranded. The Czechs further created havoc in Portugal’s defense with a corner which Sionko managed to find space to connect but he couldn’t direct his volley goalwards.

Portugal, when on full flight, are a sight to behold. Their midfield was overpowering in its creativity and possession but in this match, their weaknesses in dead-ball situations were exposed and that could prove to their major stumbling block, if left unchecked.

Turkey survived to fight another day. It is not surprising since the Turks had shown a knack of progressing in major tournaments over the last decade. Starting at a high tempo against Switzerland, the Turks were determined to emerge victorious. A heavy downpour complicated matters as the ball slid and bounded wickedly on the slippery pitch.

Switzerland scored first. Derdiyok was played through and he showed fine composure to square for Hakan Yakin who sidefooted home from two yards. Turkey then drew level when Nihat crossed from the left and Semih scored with a thumping header. The ball escaped through Benaglio’s hands which was a costly mistake.

In injury time, Turkey continued to press forward and fate dealt a cruel hand to the host nation. Arda cut inside from the left and his deflected shot from 25 yards effectively knocked the Swiss out.

Overall, it was an incredible outing and Turkey now have everything to play for which spells bad news for Czech Republic. The match ain’t over till the whistle is blown. Taking this lesson into the match against Turkey will serve the Czechs well.

More Euro 2008 updates soon, till tomorrow.

Have we seen the winners of Euro 2008 play? I would say no despite the brilliant performance from Spain last night. The Spanish have matched the start they made in the World Cup two years when they put four past the Ukraine and just as it was then now they have developed a lot of hype with their display last night. Unfortunately they shot their bolt too early and ended up being embarrassed by the French in the quarter finals.

Two years on though and Luis Aragones seems to have got things right this time around, he has changed the formation and last night it worked a treat as they ripped through the Russian’s on a number occasions and perhaps should have had more than the four they ended up scoring.

It’s easy to pick out David Villa as the star player and rightly so because he was absolutely brilliant not only with his hat-trick but the way he worked hard for the team all night, coming off the pitch shattered but I imagine very pleased with his nights work.

I hope he ended up getting the match ball because they showed clips of the referee refusing to give the ball away at the end of the game, it would be a shame for Villa not to have a memento from such a marvelous night for the 26-year-old. Villa’s hat trick didn’t only bring joy to the Spanish faithful, click here to read more.

I think Villa will have grabbed the attention of the footballing world and already the speculation has begun that the striker will be making a move to the Premier League next season with Arsenal and Chelsea registering their interest in Villa but you imagine it would take a great deal of money for Valencia to part company with him.

But Villa wasn’t the only one to grab my attention last night because Spain seem to have finally found the defensive midfielder they have been lacking for years in Marcos Senna. I admit that I haven’t seen the Villareal midfielder play much this season but what I saw of him last night impressed me greatly.

I don’t remember him wasting more than a handful of passes despite being on the ball so often along with his ability to break up the play he could become on of the stars of the tournament if he carries on like that and could finally help Spain to their first major trophy.

Along with Senna and Villa the likes of Fernando Torres, David Silva and Xavi all played their parts in what was a wonderful night for the Spanish. The Russian’s didn’t stand much of a chance although Guus Hiddink’s decision to switch his defense around was, as he described, naive. In fact, Hiddink used that to describe his teams defending as they were cut apart.

The likes of Shirkov and Kolodin looked susceptible all evening, their lack of speed and mobility ended up costing them dearly and it wouldn’t surprise me if Kolodin was dropped for the next game against Russia with Hiddink perhaps bringing in Sergi Iganshevich to try and sort things out at the back.

In fact I was very disappointed with the Russian’s last night, whilst they showed us they can break sides down and they, like the Spanish, could have had more than the one goal they scored if luck had been on their side. The problem was they showed no urgency in their play when they went behind and in the end it cost them.

Some of their play was very predictable, they continue to play long ball into the Spanish defence which Carles Puyol and Carlos Marchenea dealt managed to deal with easily for the majority of the game. Whilst the Russian’s seemed very good technically they seemed to lack ambition and confidence, two aspects they will have to work on if they are to progress from Group D. If you do fancy the Russian’s to qualify then click football betting.

Right from the word go it was clear the Russian’s were in for a look night, although it took Spain until the 20th minute to establish a lead after Russia’s attack broke down. Joan Capedevila released Torres with an excellent pass leaving the Liverpool man to sprint away towards goal before cutting the ball back brilliantly to Villa as he tapped in the first of the night.

The Russian’s nearly answered back straight away though when Dmitri Sychey broke down the right, before sending in a low cross which somehow avoided a collection of red shirts before arriving at the feet of Konstainin Zyryanov. His effort clipped the inside of the post and rebounded back out as Russia were left ruing their luck.

Things got worse for the Russian’s on the stroke of half time when David Villa got his second after a lightening quick counter attack, reminiscent of the Dutch on Monday night, ended with Villa slipping the ball between the legs of Akinfeev for 2-0.

Despite a spirited Russian come back after the start of the second half Hiddink’s men couldn’t find a way through a 15 minutes from the end a marvellous pass from substitute Cesc Fabregas released Villa again who showed some exquisite control and skill before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to beat him at his near post.

Russia finally got just reward four minutes from the end when sloppy marking from a corner allowed Roman Pavlyuchenko to nod home from close range before the Spanish completed an emphatic win in stoppage time thanks to more great play from Villa.

His lobbed pass allowing Xavi to have a strike at goal on the volley on for Akinfeev’s save to be parried out for Fabregas who headed home, albeit from an offside position which the assistant referee failed to notice.

Cristiano Ronaldo suggested earlier that he may be a shadow of his sterling form which saw him notch 42 goals for Manchester United after a grueling season. Nevertheless, his performance was impressive enough to place a yawning gap between the footballing standards of Turkey and Portugal.

Portugal hit the ground running with an entertaining display in the opening 45 minutes but it was disappointing to see one of the most exciting players in the world relatively muted. Ronaldo did not see much action until the half hour when he burst into life with a trademark run and capped it with a shot that went agonizingly wide.

The Portuguese could have easily pocketed three points by the first half, as early as the 16th minute, central defender Pepe powered a header past Volkan from Simao’s cross, but it was disqualified by the linesman. Eight minutes before the interval, Ronaldo who was stepping into third gear by now, was a heartbeat away from securing the advantage for Portugal as the excellent Turkey keeper Volkan turned his swerving free-kick onto the post.

Four minutes after the break, referee Herbert Fandel waved play-on when Gokhan fouled Simao, and Gomes should have killed the match instead of tapping the loose ball onto the woodwork. It was a matter of time before Turkey was pounded into submission but they miraculously survived yet another Ronaldo led attack. The midfield wizard fired an accurate low shot after Hamit Altintop failed to stop his advance, however, Volkan’s reflexes proved up to the task.

If Cristiano Ronaldo cannot find the net, at least we should expect Gomes, as the main striker, to settle the differences. However, the latter was in a wasteful mood; when an inviting cross came in from Ronaldo, he aimed an easy header onto the bar. Just as well that it was his final contribution of the game. Nani, a more energetic midfield option, came on to replace him.

In the 61st minute, Pepe finally set the record straight. Surging from defense in a rare moment of enterprise, he slid the opener past Volkan from 12 yards. Turkey were rudely jolted into action and they came out of their sanctuary by launching frantic waves of attacks on Portugal’s defense.

Unfortunately, the Turks could not sustain their pressure for long. Portugal were intent to score a second goal instead of protecting their slim lead and with gaps opening up behind Turkey’s back line, they maintained their fluent passing game and counter-attacked. In the dying seconds, they were rewarded with a second goal as Ronaldo found Joao Moutinho, who set up substitute Raul Meireles for a side-footed finish.

I have to give Turkey credit for staying in the game till the hour mark, a resolute defense was their saving grace, especially when the midfield was overrun and the front line lacked a cutting edge. Although Turkey upped the stakes by fielding another forward, they had only two credible chances to threaten Portugal.

Goalkeeper Ricardo had to be alert to come off his line and deny Tuncay as he tried to connect with Nihat Kahveci’s cross. Substitute Emre wasted Turkey’s best chance with nine minutes left, heading Nihat’s corner wide when unmarked only eight yards out.

Overall, I will say this match is the appropriate build-up for Portugal’s momentum. Turkey are not world-class opponents but they are famed for an indomitable spirit and Portugal had to exhibit their tactical awareness, patience and creativity to achieve a breakthrough.

At times, there were traces of Brazilian samba football in the way Portugal took the Turks apart. Cristiano Ronaldo has not hit top gear yet but there is no doubt of his instrumental role for the team. Despite looking jaded, he was the oasis of innovation, almost every attack flowed through his legs and he was able to strike from every position.

Scolari implemented his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, fronted by captain and striker, Nuno Gomes. I am not sure if Scolari should persist with Gomes in future matches, his inability to capitalize on easy chances is a concern, especially against tight defenses like Italy. I can only say that Portugal are blessed to have Ronaldo who can double up adequately as a clinical striker, else all the beautiful football will go to waste if they make a habit of depending on defenders and midfielders to score the goals.

Portugal’s defense held up pretty well, with Carvalho, Jose Bosingwa and Pepe among the best defenders in Europe. Ricardo was fielded as the keeper instead of Quim as the latter was sent home with a fractured wrist. As for Quaresma, I feel a tinge of regret to see such a precocious talent wasting away on the bench but with Simao contributing effectively, it is a tough fight to get into the first XI.

The commitment of two key characters in the Portugal team, Scolari and Ronaldo, were cast in doubt after being engulfed by transfer speculations, but so far, both had acted professionally and knew where their priorities lie.

Scolari had reiterated on several occasions that he will only decide on his long term future after the the competition. His link with the vacant managerial spot at Chelsea became more apparent, in view of a half-hearted attempt by Peter Kenyon to secure the services of Mark Hughes. The latter was appointed as Manchester City’s gaffer a few days ago.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, the soap opera started by Real Madrid is even more incredulous. Is it fair that this transfer saga eclipse the proceedings of such a prestigious competition? The debate was not put to rest even after Ronaldo made a definitive statement of his desires to play for Real Madrid. He then refused to entertain other queries as well as a private meeting with a desperate Alex Ferguson.

It will be interesting to watch the intriguing chemistry of Pepe, a Real Madrid centre-back, and Ronaldo in the rest of the matches. The ball is now in Madrid’s court but it is doubtful that Ferguson will let his prized asset slip through his fingers, certainly not after Ronaldo played such a pivotal role in securing the Premier League and Champions League titles. I will discuss more about this situation in another post.

I believe Portugal have a good chance to go all the way to the semi-finals, after that, a strong element of luck will be needed for them to be crowned as European Champions. There is no guarantee Ronaldo can deliver on such a big stage but it is imperative for his future, judges for the FIFA Player of the Year award may have other candidates in mind when they look at Ronaldo’s barren international honors.

I have watched a pleasant and enjoyable match from Portugal and hopefully, such positive football continues to the main theme in this competition. The suffocating, negative football which Greece exhibited en-route to Euro 2004 finals, is not beneficial for the promotion of this sport and more specifically, this competition.

Meanwhile England, the team we love to hate, are not missed in this competition. In fact, the fans are saved from WAGs controversy, drunken violence and heartaches. As well as money too, since punters had shown an inclination to place bets on England based on romanticism rather than clear-headed thinking. In terms of entertainment and viewership, I doubt if their absence made a material impact too.

More Euro 2008 reports coming later, till tomorrow.