World Cup Preview; Groups C & D

Following on from my take on Group A and B, here's a preview of what's in store in terms of Group C and D in Brazil.

Group C:

Colombia: Colombia’s first World Cup since 1998 will see them have to go through a campaign without their talisman Falcao. They are expected to do well at this year’s tournament and that’s even without their star man who scored nine teams in qualifying. In attack they still have Jackson Martinez, Bacca and Adrian Ramos who will guarantee you goals though. Meanwhile, they have a talented midfield with the likes of Guarin, James Rodriguez and Barca bound Cuadrado. Prediction: Will safely get out of the group but will get knocked out in the last 16.

Greece: Group C has the potential to be very interesting and Greece will be one of the teams trying to finish second in the group to Colombia. They are a well organised group of players but they could struggle in the intense Brazilian heat. They are an extremely experienced side as well and bolster the likes of Samaras, Karagounis, Salpingidis and Katsouranis. On paper they don’t look like such a bad side but lack that extreme quality that is needed on the big stage. They will probably be over reliant on Mitroglou’s goals. Prediction: Despite what I’ve said about them, I think they’ll finish bottom of what will be a tight group.

Ivory Coast: The elephants never seemed to have lived up to expectation despite the fantastic array of players they have in their squad. They’re deadly going forward but their defensive capabilities could be questioned, and if they are to perform they need to sharpen things up defensively. Gervinho, Drogba and Yaya Toure are all big players and if they do well Ivory Coast should do well. Prediction: Second in the group but knocked out in the last 16.

Japan: Japan seemed to play fairly well at last year’s Confederations Cup and therefore may fancy their chances in Group C. On their day they are an extremely dangerous side but many of their players have proved to be extremely inconsistent. Honda and Kagawa are great creative outlets meaning Okazaki should score goals throughout. They meanwhile have the hugely experienced Endo in midfield and Southampton’s Maya Yoshida at the back. Prediction: Third just behind Ivory Coast. 

Group D:

Uruguay: The South American side are expected to do quite well, providing they get out of their group of course. In South Africa they finished in fourth place, and arguably, many of their players are now a lot better. Luis Suarez of course will be crucial, as will Cavani. Their defensive, like a few sides at the World Cup, can be questioned but in Godin and Muslera they have some reliability. Prediction: Will get out of the group in either first or second place.

Costa Rica: Costa Rica, as one of football’s minnows probably have, aside from Australia, the toughest group if you consider their football status. They have only qualified for three World Cup’s aside from Brazil and you can’t see how they’ll get any points in this group. Their defence doesn’t look great but in Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz they have quality going forward. Prediction: Bottom of the group with no points.

England: Perhaps the lowest expectation for an English World Cup squad in a very long time means we could actually surprise a few teams. Our preparation hasn’t exactly been amazing but our team is very exciting if you compare it to the one we took to South Africa. Wayne Rooney is yet to show what he’s made of at international level and he’ll be crucial to whether we go far in the competition. What is encouraging though is our defence looking solid, and our pace going forward. The conditions definitely don’t suit us though and we’ll have to be extremely patient and take our chances in this tough group. Prediction: We’ll just about scrape through the group, and could go onto reach the quarter-finals.

Italy: Before preparation began for the World Cup I saw Italy as a serious threat to our position in the group, however, on second thoughts they don’t actually look a great side. Their form isn’t great and their opening fixture against England could fizzle out into a boring 0-0 draw. They have obvious qualities in the form of Pirlo, Balotelli and Chiellini but seem to lack that deadly end product. Prediction: I’m going to be brave here and say they won’t get out of the group like four years ago. It’s certainly all up for grabs in Group D though.

Euro 2012 Review: Spain are crowned Champions

Sunday night saw Spain create history as they beat Italy 4-0 in Kiev to win Euro 2012. Spain were the first side to win back to back European Championships which added to their World Cup success of 2010. It was a victory that confirmed Spain's status as one of the best ever international sides to grace the planet.

The victory was very convincing and the Italians didn't really look like winning it at any time in the match. The scoring was opened just 14 minutes in as Cesc Fabregas, who was once again starting upfront, got to the byline before pulling the ball back onto the head of David Silva who found the net. The second goal came 4 minutes from half time as Xavi played a wonderful ball into Jordi Alba who raced clear on goal and slotted the ball past Buffon in the Italian goal. Italy's cause wasn't helped as just minutes after coming on, Thiago Motta had to be taken off, with no substitutes remaining, the Italians had to finish the game with 10 men. This had a massive affect on how the match was to finish. Fernando Torres came on and went onto grab his third of the competition. He then managed to set up the fourth goal for the Spaniards as he found Juan Mata who tapped the ball into an empty net. It was a goal and an assist that would secure the Spaniard the golden boot. Fellow teammate Andres Iniesta was also awarded UEFA's player of the tournament award.

Spain's incredible four goal margin of victory over the Italians meant that it was the biggest victory in a final of a European Championship. Spain had certainly shown that they weren't lacking spirit or hunger of winning another major tournament as they were crowned Euro 2012 winners.

Spanish captain Iker Casillas holds the trophy aloft

Euro 2012 Review: Spain and Italy through to the final

Euro 2012 is now reaching it's climax after the finalists for the tournament were decided on Thursday and Friday night.

The first semi-final was between Portugal who had beaten Czech Republic in the quarter-finals against neighbours Spain who had beaten France to make it into the semi-finals. It was a very close match in which Spain were playing their worst football of the tournament and were quite wasteful by their high standards. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo had most of the chances, mainly from free-kicks but most of them sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. However no goal scorer could be found in normal time and then in extra time either which meant the game went to penalties. The first two penalties were saved and then the centre backs on either side stepped up to take penalties and succesfully scored. However it was a Portuguese centre back who missed a crucial penalty which left Cesc Fabregas to find the net, via the post with the deciding penalty to send Spain into the final. The final score in the shootout finished Portugal 2-4 Spain.

The second semi-final was between Germany who had beaten Greece emphatically in the quarters against Italy who had knocked England out. Germany were favourites to make it through and maybe go on to win the tournament. However it was not to be as Italy sprung a suprise victory to make it through to the final. A brilliant header and a fine striker from outside the area from Mario Balotelli ensured Italy were ahead at the break. Germany fought back but wasted chances through Lahm and Reus. Germany did eventually get their goal in injury time as Mesut Ozil fired home from the penalty spot but it wasn't enough as the final score finished Germany 1-2 Italy.

So the final of Euro 2012 will be between the last two World Champions in Spain and Italy on Sunday night in the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Mario Balotelli scored twice to send Italy into the final

Euro 2012 Review: England out as Italy and Spain go through

The quarter finals are now complete and we now know which teams will face each other in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

The fourth and final quarter final saw England play Italy. Roy Hodgson had stuck with the same team that had beaten Ukraine in their final group game but were far from their best. Italy dominated as they had a host of chances in which to go through. However it went to extra time but a scorer still couldn't be found. The game went to penalties and of course, England lost. Italy missed their first penalty through Montolivo but Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both then missed penalties later on in the shootout. Diamante stepped up to take the deciding penalty which he comfortably converted to send Italy through to the semi-finals. The final score on penalties finished England 2-4 Italy. England deserved to be knocked out on the night but can hold their heads high as with the weak squad they had taken to Poland and Ukraine there is nothing to be ashamed of.

The quarter-final the day before saw Spain play France. The French had Mexes suspended so Laurent Koscielny came into the side for his first game of the tournament. However, arguably their best player of the tournament, Samir Nasri was strangely left out of the starting XI. The Spanish though, as they did in their first group game, played without a striker as Cesc Fabregas lead the line. Spain were the dominant side and deservedly went through. The first goal was set up from a fine piece of play from Jordi Alba who got to the byline before finding the head of Xabi Alonso who gave them the lead. In the dying moments of the game Alonso grabbed his second goal of the game from the penalty spot to send Spain through as the final score ended Spain 2-0 France.


Diamante scored the desicive penalty as England were knocked out

Euro 2012 Review: Group A, B and C reach conclusions

Group A, Group B and Group C have now all reached conclusions and we now know which teams from those three groups will be going through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

Group A saw 2004 winners Greece spring a surprise to beat and knockout dark horses Russia to second spot as Karagounis scored a late first half goal to send the Greeks through as they beat Russia 1-0 in their final group game. The other team to make it through from the group was Czech Republic. They were thought to be long shots to make it through after losing their first group game 4-1 to Russia but a well taken goal from Jiracek sent them through as they knocked co-hosts Poland out of the competition with a 1-0 win. 
Group B also sprang a surprise as Holland were beaten and knocked out by Portugal, who beat the Dutch 2-1, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. That result meant that the Portuguese went through along with Germany who were victors over a good Denmark side as new Arsenal signing Lukas Podolski along with Lars Bender scored for the Germans to seal a 2-1 win. 

Group C didn't really throw up any shocks as both Spain and Italy, the teams expected to make it through from the group did. The final games finished Italy 2-0 Ireland thanks to goals from Cassano and Balotelli whilst Spain were far less convincing in their final group game but still managed to come away with victory as a single Jesus Navas goal meant the final score finished Croatia 0-1 Spain.

Euro 2012 Review: Day 6 and 7

Day 6 of the competition saw Denmark and Portugal play each other whilst the groups 'heavy weights' Holland came up against Germany.

The first match of the day saw a very tight encounter between Denmark and Portugal. Portugal were the team to dominate early as Pepe and Postiga gave them a 2 goal lead. However just before the break Nicklas Bendtner got the Danes back into the game. It was then with 10 minutes remaining that Denmark managed to grab a deserved equaliser as Bendtner grabbed his second of the game. That wasn't before Ronaldo had missed a glorious opportunity to put Portugal further ahead. However the game wasn't over yet Varela struck with 3 minutes remaining to win the game for the Portuguese. The final score finished Denmark 2-3 Portugal.

The second game of the day was between the two fancied teams to make the next round of the competition as Holland played Germany. It was Germany who came out on top though as the Dutch once again failed to take a host of their chances whilst their defence once again was not at its best. Germany were two goals up before the break as Mario Gomez took both of his chances. Despite Van Persie's sweetly right footed strike from outside the box in the second half, Holland were left on the brink of going out of the competition. The final score finished Holland 1-2 Germany.

Day 7 saw Spain turn it on for the first time in the competition as they beat the Republic of Ireland 4-0 thanks to goals from Torres(x2), Silva and Fabregas which meant Ireland were the first team to leave the competition. However the earlier game in the group was a much tighter affair as Italy drew with Croatia 1-1. Pirlo grabbed the Italians goal through a curling free-kick but 18 minutes from time Madzukic fired the ball home to rescue a point.

Robin Van Persie's goal for Holland wasn't enough as they lost to Germany

Euro 2012 Review: Day Three

Day three of the tournament saw World and European champions Spain play Italy, and the Republic of Ireland play Croatia in Group C.

The first game in group C was between the last two World Cup winners in Spain and Italy, in Gdansk. Spain looked a very strong side despite the missing Carlos Puyol and David Villa who miss the tournament through injury. Spain started with no strikers on the pitch which meant ex-Arsenal man, Cesc Fabregas lead the line. Fabregas was indeed the man to score Spain's goal after David Silva flicked the ball through to the Barcelona man to finish beyond Buffon with his left foot. However that wasn't before second half substitute Antonio Di Natale, who had come on for Mario Balotelli, finished brilliantly from just inside the box to give the Italians the lead. It was a very close match which showed off Spain's ability to pass and keep the ball whilst it also showed that Italy will be a match for anyone in the competition. The final score finished Spain 1-1 Italy. 

The second match of the day was between the Republic of Ireland and Croatia. Both sides fielded a mass group of players that play and have played in the Premier League, as players such as Given, Dunne and Doyle started for Ireland, whilst Modric and Jelavic started for Croatia. Ex-Arsenal man Eduardo Da Silva was on the bench for the Croats. Ireland didn't get off to the best of starts and were behind after just three minutes as Madzukic wrong footed Given to head the ball home. The Irish  were soon level though as McGeady's freekick was headed past Pletikosa by Sean St Ledger from close range. However goals either side of half time from Jelavic and then an own goal from Shay Given ensured that Croatia went top of Group C. The final score ended Republic of Ireland 1-3 Croatia.

St Ledger's goal wasn't enough as Ireland lost their opening group game