Euro Wrap, and more Musings
By: Gianfranco | June 29th, 2008Congratulations to Spain, since the first days I played and watched this game I realized the importance of losing and losing to the best, and in this case the Azzurri can say they lost to the Champs. The difference between Spain and the rest of the competition in this tournament was epitomized in this final, which was possession and aggression. This team was as comfortable with the ball in the middle of the pitch as they were on the attack, and in the back. All wins, no goals in the knockout stages, means this team really deserved this trophy.
Now to hand out some awards…
Player of the Tournament: Xavi
This guy dictated the pace in a very impressive midfield, and did exactly what a great midfield leader is supposed to do. Great stuff from Xavi all around. Now you can see why he is compared to Pirlo.
Team of the Tournament: Turkey
If you watched any of their games, you should know why. The cardiac kids made a game of every single time they were on the pitch, and with players injured, and suspended they still gave every last ounce for the cause.
Most Underrated Player: Senna
The Spanish defensive mid was a beast, and he made the difference today and against Italy. He did the dirty work and took pressure off Xavi, and the suspect Spanish defense. He looked like Rino in 06, no fatigue, no quit, and only intensity. I will take that kind of effort any day of the week.
Most Overrated Player: Arshavin
A great game against the Dutch, but when his team needed him against Spain he went MIA. CRon can easily be considered here but as well, because the Ze Germans gave him fits, but a guy like Arshavin was being anointed the second coming, after 1.5 good games.
Coach of the Tournament: Hiddink
It is hard to not pick Aragones, whose subs were spot on. Or Terim who really made something out of nothing, but it was Guus for me. The man smoked his country of birth, and got this team firing on all cylinders into the knockouts stages.
Most Disappointing Player of the Tournament: Toni
Not going to say anything more here.
Most Surprising Player: Podolski
Kid barely played all season long and came out swinging in this tournament. Have to admire him for really playing with passion for his country, when it seemed that many other players seemed to lack that desire this tournament. He deserves first team football, and I hope he finds it.
Just a few more thoughts that I want to share from this tourney…
-Have to feel bad for Ballack in just 60 days I have seen a class guy like Ballack on the wrong end of the podium twice.
-Cesc Fabergas is a special player, and the rest of the youth on this Spanish team have a very bright and interesting future ahead of them.
-Lot of potential didn’t come out in this tournament, Gomez for example, but a lot of other guys were able to shine through, like David Villa.
OK, onto some Milan Musings…
-Adebayor continues to be fickle, and I am beginning to wonder how much is coming from him and how much is coming from agents, press, and speculation. This team needs a striker, and the fact that Galliani is not seeking alternative options, and is willing to stand fast yet again, is to much for me to handle right now.
-I am also growing increasingly frustrated about the lack of desire for defensive help; I just hope that the youth system has some gems waiting in the wings. There is talk that Antonini will play left back, instead of left midfield. Which means Abate may factor in more than I had anticipated which I am very OK with. I guess it is time to wait and see on this front…
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Comments
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im so happy for Spain. ive watched almost every major tournament since 1990 in Spain, i always wanted them to win, the time im not there they win it lol. i guess im officially their curse
although i missed half of WC06 watched some games over there.i agree with you on everything, although best player is a very tough one, i say Xavi, Toress, Casillas, all of them did a great job. most disappointing, you can add Gomez and Benzema to the list.
as for the Milan defense, i think we just need one central decent full back and maybe one either right or left. we have Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze; one more + Darmian and Bonera. on the sides: Zambro, Oddo, Janko, Favalli, (Bonera & Kaladze); Antonini can play as a left back, i wouldnt be surprised if Carletto plays him as central.
ive been having headaches about our strikers since Sheva left, if not before. just make it go away Galliani!!
Posted from
Canada
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Casillas was a beast this whole tournament…he’s easily my favorite goalie, besides buffon
Posted from
United States -
Saint Iker, is very underrated with Cech’s perforamnce in this tournament I would say Iker is number two in the world.
Posted from
United States -
gian, xavi is in no way inferior to pirlo. they are both my favourites and i cant pick one over the other if i had to chose a team.
Posted from
United States -
Hi Gian,
Good posts recently btw, have been away from here and a lot to catch up on!
I’d don’t kno if we have been asked to help hand out any awards Gian but anyway:
Player of the Tournament: Fabregas, I can see why u went for Xavi but for me Inesta just pipped him to that the 2nd spot prize especially when you factor in tonights performance. But Cesc was 120% all the way through this tournament and somehow manages to give his team an extra dimension whenever he was playing (which isn’t easy to do when you look at the class in the squad!)
Team of the Tournament: A hard one between Spain/Holland for me, only because it looked like both teams are now beginning to fulfill the promise they have shown for so long when you look at their respective squads. Even for an Azzurri, you had to admit Holland looked good as they rampaged their way out of the group stage and at no point was it a chore to watch Spain play their quick, classy and precise football. (I would have been soo pissed had Germany won it tonight!). But Turkey where def up there too!
Most Underrated Player: Kahveci/Turan Again two possible options, both from Turkey. Kahvecior was the guy who single handedly dragged Turkey past the Czechs with a lot of help from his teammate Turan. Both these guys where giving it there all most others would have called it a lost cause and helped reverse defeat (or turn a draw) into victory on more than one occasion. If you have watched Milan play the past season, these two guys have what alot of our squad appeared to be missing! True heart & desire!
Most Overrated Player: Totally get why Gian opted for Ashavin but for me Toni wins it for the most obvious of reasons!
Coach of the Tournament: I cant believe im saying this but………..Fatih Terim! (It doesn’t mean you can come back to coach!) but he did just as well as Hiddink but with lesser resources and somehow keeps his team motivated until the final whistle! Totally enjoyed the Turkey Croatia match, Amazing!
Most Disappointing Player of the Tournament: Tempted to stick the entirety of the Azzurri here (probably overly harsh to do so as one or two guys did do okay ala Chiellini, Camron and Buffon. ) but take your pick from any of the boys in Blue! I only say this in the sense that regardless of what team u support, Matrix did crap, Rino didn’t really convince me that he ever showed up, DDR didn’t add what you thought he would have to the squad and so on……..
Most Surprising Player: Pavlyuchenko, only coz I wasn’t really aware of this guy but he was great to watch and wont be long till we see this guy playing in the CL with one of Europe’s finest I imagine!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Hey gian , no award for the “GOD” de rossi, big mistake man
Posted from
United States -
Avia, thanks for chiming in your thoughts, I really aprreciate seeing your choices, it was hard for me to not pick Cesc, but if you look at the time he spent on the pitch, it was so low!
Plus who says we cant give awards!
No Sushan, we are not annointing SGods” here, that is not our place!
Posted from
United States -
Avia be delicate with your DDR comments, you have been absent, and may fail to know that it really upsets are maroon and yellow amici!
Posted from
United States -
Cheers Gian,
Cescs lack of playing time was one of the factors that i picked him! So if worked out in terms of performance/time on pitch he played twice as well as anyone in Euro 2008!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
btw, Gian how do we sign up for this chance to write up our very own post?
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Avia, pick a topic, and then shoot me the post via email and I will put it up.
Posted from
United States -
I take it u already have my email addy from the posts already made?, regardless, let me know what email addy u want to me to mail the post to. Cheers.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
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Still to decide!
Will let u kno once i have something under way.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Gianfranco, I wish I could feel the same as you. I HATE losing to the eventual winners. I always feel that my team could be in their place. Usually I’m the only who feels that way; most people are OK with losing to the eventual winner. But, even though I’m glad Spain not Germany won and I’m happy for Spanish fans, I can’t help but thinking Italy could’ve taken Spain if it weren’t for terrible tactics/philosophy. Oh well. Great tournament anyhow.
PS. Has anybody noticed that EVERYONE has stolen Italy’s
“Seven Nation Army” chant?! The chant of the guitar riff in that White Stripes song was popularized by Roma fans, then it spread to the National team fans. Now it looks like all of Europe has caught on. The Spanish players were chanting it and the fans of almost every nation were chanting it at some time during most of the games. I guess it’s flattering.Posted from
United States -
And Roma picked it up from some other club. That kinda shit travels. It’s a cool chant though, neat to see an entire stadium singing it.
Posted from
United States -
Viva La Furia Roja! Completely wonderful to see Spain experience the glory that they deserve, much love to them. Euphoria today. I’ll probably be back with more coherent thoughts once it has settled in.
Posted from
United States -
Adebayor is too heavy for Milan financially, he asks for 120K euros a week!
He’s not that mature and polished yet, he should start slowly, starting from 50K to 60K euros. Even that is heavy on Milan.I’d love it better if our youth can rise than spending so much money on greedy players. May be a better defender plus (economically) good experienced striker is what we actually need. The coach just need to maximize the potential we have.
Posted from
United States -
Player of the Tournament: Fabregas (considering his playing time) .. Xavi, Inniesta in a very close 2nd..
Team of the Tournament: Spain played the nicest football.. Turkey were a joy to watch, but lets admit it.. Lucky much?
Most Underrated Player: Senna.. agreed.. said it perfectly; a beast.. should have got that goal last night..
Most Overrated Player: Arshavin was only expected to do wonders against Spain.. It’s hard to say.. But I’m gonna go with C. Ronaldo.. as the world’s best player now, I expected him to do more against Germany..
Coach of the Tournament: Hiddink.. agreed.. Fatih Terim did amazing, but Hiddink vs. Holland was wow..
Most Disappointing Player of the Tournament: Ribery was expected to take over Zidane’s role.. we all saw how that worked out.. Toni was disappointing, but I won’t blame him b/c he was just thrown out there in front and expected to do wonders.. So it boils down to either Benzema or Gomez..
Most Surprising Player: the Semih guy on the Turkish team..Posted from
Kuwait -
and Xavi is officially the player of the tournament..
Posted from
Kuwait -
OK so Seedorf says we don’t need an attacking midfielder.. What does it matter to him? If we get a striker, then it’s gonna be Kaka as a trequarista behind two of strikers we have and Seedorf is gonna play as a midfielder.. If we get Dinho, then its Dinho, Kaka behind a striker and Seedorf will still play as a midfielder.. Generally speaking that is..
His wish is to play along-side Kaka and that will only happen if we don’t sign anyone..
Posted from
Kuwait -
Moka it does matter. Seedorf is a really intelligent guy and he knows how to continue to prolong his career. That means playing a centralized midfield role and in his case behind the attack. No one on the wrong side wants to huff and puff up the wings if they can avoid it, and Seedorf understands that, plus he has always been naturally central. I like him, and he has been loyal and successful, and I do believe he should be treated with the same regard.
Posted from
United States
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