EURO 2008 Knockout Stage

EURO semi-finals

It is simply incredible how each four years EURO brings unexpected results, promoting outsiders to favourites. In Portugal on EURO 2004 Greece were the squad no one expected to score a single goal, let alone advance from the group stage, and even the most optimistic fans didn’t even dream of winning of the tournament. The miracle has happened, and the Greek showed that nothing is impossible and brought hope to all future EURO participants that they can get the title.

The championship in Austria and Switzerland could end similarly. Only two weeks ago, even after the opening matches, few people gave chance to Turkey and Russia that they can achieve anything. Two weeks later, Turkey and Russia are playing in the semi-final and there aren’t many bookies ready to completely rule out the duels against Germany and Spain.

Turkey – stoppage time experts

In this championship Turkey showed what motivation and combative spirit can do. After the starting defeat by Portugal, the Turks have managed to turn over the score against co-hosts, Switzerland, only to make up for the two-goal lead in the knock-out match against Czech Republic. It seems as though it weren’t enough that they solved two matches in the final seconds, against Croatia they even proved that football can get even more interesting. After a goal was conceded in the extra-time last minute, they managed to get back in the game scoring in the final second, and penalties helped them to the semi-final duel against Germany. No one gives them much chance to surprise Germany but if Germany don\'t earn a two-goal lead before the stoppage time, Turkey could once again show that football is a game played for whole 90 minutes.

Best in crisis situation

Germany weren’t impressive in this tournament. We can even say that they played very weak in group competition but when it needed the most they showed quality and surprised favoured Portuguese led by the football star of the planet Cristiano Ronaldo. To be honest, they were favoured by the fact that Portuguese were thinking more of their upcoming million contracts than of the actual game where they were supposed to show their quality. After one good game, everyone expects Germans to explode in the decisive games and once again prove that they should never be underestimated. The problem against Turkey can be the fact that the stands will be colored red as well as that half of Germany will cheer against them.

Arshavin – new star of world football

Second semi-finals will actually be the replay of the group D opening duel. On the start of the championship Spain simply ran over Russia, this announcing the quest for the title. But Russia from that duel and Russia from the quarterfinals are not the same squad. Arshavin is back in the team after a very stupid suspension earned against Andorra and with him on board Russia become the squad able to demolish mighty Netherlands. Russia showed real strength against Sweden, only to, right after that in the quarterfinal match against the Dutch, prove that it was no coincidence. We also shouldn’t forget Zenit’s success in UEFA Cup and their demonstration of force over powerful Bayern. All of these facts point to that with huge motivation for only being in the semi-finals will be a hard nut to crack for the Iberian side.

Will Spain disappoint again?

Spain squad have probably shown most quality in this tournament but it wouldn\'t be the first time we see them disappoint in the most important moment For decades now, the squad of the country that has Barcelona and real Madrid, have failed to move further than the quarterfinals in big competitions. Precisely this is the reason why no one would be surprised by the new loss in the decisive moment. Still, Spain arrived to this championship with least hopes for victory ever, and the best squad ever. Torres and Villa in the attack are a force that Spanish squad missed all these years. They have an excellent keeper, quite good defense, and a pretty creative midfield so it is simply incredible why Spanish public didn’t have more fate in Aragones’ squad. Perhaps, precisely Aragones was the reason for this lack of fate, which is quite the opposite to his statements that were very optimistic. The match against Russia will be more difficult than the finals for Spain, especially after the easy win in the group. They are the favourites, but not so big as their public seems to think.