Spanish Supremacy Punches Ticket To Euro 2008 Final

2008-09-10T06:59:27-04:00

2008-06-26T17:34:27-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:33-04:00

2008-06-30T08:49:41-04:00

Zen_of_game

No City 447692

I agree with Icon: "Sure luck has a lot to do with a game, but after 90 minutes Quality always overcomes luck." You got at least that right. Spaniards' Quality overcame Germans' luck. They were lucky not to be completely totalled. 2096469

2008-06-30T01:49:56-04:00

dholl

Hanover 32494

Hey Icon - Sorry to call you out here man, but your boy Lahm got absolutely burned by Fernando Torres. Some "GREAT" defender he is... it almost seemed like he pulled up, expecting Lehmann and his creaky legs to beat Torres to Xavi's through ball. Woeful stuff. And you said it yourself, that he has been time and again victimized by more athletic, bigger forwards. He should really be played as a midfielder, because his only use is in making runs down the wing. Funny how fickle soccer is - one day you're the hero, the next you're the goat. How does it feel to be completely wrong? Your prediction was 3-0 in favor of Germany. Spain ended up winning 1-0, in a game that easily could have ended in a bloodbath. How many shots did Germany put on goal? That's right, one - that went right to a waiting Casillas. Simply put, Germany did enough to get to the finals, but they were not even close to being in Spain's league in this tournament. At the end of the day, fluid passing, great chemistry, excellent goalkeeping (Casillas, at this point, should be recognized as the best in the world, sorry Petr Cech) and fantastic finishing won out over slow, unimaginative tall guys. Well Icon, it's been a pleasure outlining to you everything you have probably realized about Die Mannschaft's utter ineptitude in comparison to Spain. At no point in the tournament did they play better than La Selecci??n, and even less so in the final. Some choke artists, don't you think? ??VIVA ESPA??A! 2095981

2008-06-27T22:09:12-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/413/003/thumb/buckeye.jpg 41 NJ

Icon

Hackettstown 413443

To quote Gary Lineker.."Soccer is a simple game, 22 players chase the ball around the pitch for 90 minutes, then the Germans win"...lol..I love that old line he used. Also, while I know the Magic Dwarf has not played good defense in the two knockout games, he is still a GREAT defending FB, and it should be interesting seeing him go against Ramos. They both play better going forward, but I would have to say Lahm is a smidge better going backwards. Finally this "German luck" mystique is real and not real. Sure luck has alot to do with a game, but after 90 minutes Quality always overcomes luck. Cant wait for Sunday!! 2087403

2008-06-27T19:05:08-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/413/003/thumb/buckeye.jpg 41 NJ

Icon

Hackettstown 413443

Your last post is spot on as they say across the pond appliance. Heres the deal as one anonymous coach from a departed euro squad about Spain. "Spain will be dangerous to who ever they play if they dont respect them going into the game. But if they respect there opponent they get ultra conservative and lose, thus the chokeing references." I see this analogy as being exactly what happened in the Italy game though. Iker Casillas IMO is what has gotten Spain here in the finals. They looked average at best against Sweden (a team similar to Germany but more defensive) and Casillas has that big save against ibrahimovic...the huge save against Italy on the free for all in front of the net around 62min. I mean Spain has had their tourney almost end a couple of times if not for him. I just love how the media makes 1 great game against Russia the divine power of determination of a final. Spain twice looked great against 1 squad...looked like i said earlier ok against sweden...looked blah against Italy...and the greece game if it had any meaning at all....would have had them looking ok....I know Germany has not killed everyone in front of them but they dictated that Portugal game...That goal with Ballack,podolski and schweini was the best goal of tourney so far IMO. 2086643

2008-06-27T18:06:24-04:00

appliance

No City 404919

To my mind Germany is far more dangerous to Spain than Italy. Italy counted on Spain getting nervous in the penalty shootout, and they played the whole game with the shootout in mind; that was the extent of their strategy, which is why I can't respect them. Germany on the other hand will play to win throughout the entire match and will capitalize on mistakes. The question is whether or not Spain will make those mistakes. They have been very organized on defense in knockout stage and if they can keep it solid for one more match, I have to believe that they are going to be able to exploit Lehman and the center backs for a pair of goals. 2086391

2008-06-27T17:48:56-04:00

turdus

No City 442231

I guess Ballack might be at leat 50 years old since he has not been losing at penalties. Come on what Germany has done old days doesnt really matter. It just tells that Germany is allways there, but this doesnt make Germany better than Spain. Just look at the stats: ---Atacking--- Spain Germany Corners 28 22 Assists 10 9 passes 3014 2384 shots 104 58 ball poss 54,6% 49,8% goals 11 10 -------Defending---------- Spain Germany Savers 9 24 goals 3 6 Spain did not have problems even against Italy. Its true that Germany has a better offense than Italy, but anyways if they let the spaniards take care of the ball I bet they will get kill even before than Russia which was the best team in shape, the strongest one and they allmost could not end the game du to the runing Spain made then do. 2086336

2008-06-27T17:32:54-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/413/003/thumb/buckeye.jpg 41 NJ

Icon

Hackettstown 413443

I can tell you in all honesty that Spain is gonna end up playing Germany just like they played Italy.....they were VERY tepid in attacking Italty's 11 in the box. Which I can understand, you dont wanna force it against a team like Italy who is just waiting to counter. But the biggest difference is while Germany can play that same style as Italy, they have an ace up their sleeve and that is very good attacking forwards. Forwards that can find the back of the net unlike luca toni. And even if this game goes to penalties....That makes me even more assured of a victory....because in case you dont know Germany has not lost on Penalties since 1976....but I bet thats luck too huh!?!?!?! 2086190

2008-06-27T17:24:09-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/413/003/thumb/buckeye.jpg 41 NJ

Icon

Hackettstown 413443

Well thats nice, no wonder you support the losing side.ha ha ha 2086131

2008-06-27T17:18:08-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/445/919/thumb/600px-Flag_of_Galicia.svg.png 19 FL

el gallego

Miami 446359

P.S. Icon, I am a very, very proud Michigan alum. Heh-heh.. 2086108

2008-06-27T17:16:50-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/445/919/thumb/600px-Flag_of_Galicia.svg.png 19 FL

el gallego

Miami 446359

xjkgx - Thank you for saving me the effort of responding to our friend, Icon.. you took the words right out of my mouth. For anyone to say we have seen the best Germany in this Euro definitely does not know anything about football (soccer). Seriously, Germany has had a relative cakewalk into the final. The Portugal game (which should have been their litmus test) turned into a farce due to the ABOMINABLE play of Ricardo, the Portuguese goalie.. Turkey, which is a much weaker team than Spain (or Portugal), severely tested Germany and almost beat them, what makes anyone think Spain can't do likewise? Like I say, Germany IS Germany, and they still have that fighting spirit that despite their perceived weaknesses make them a fearsome opponent, but the reality is this Spain IS the better team right now and Spain, if they play their game, and shrug off the ghost of history ( a BIG IF), should win on Sunday. ! AUPA ESPANA ! ! A POR ELLOS ! ! A POR LA HISTORIA ! Here's to an epic match !! 2086106

Three thoughts after Spain’s 3-0 win over Russia set up Sunday’s Euro 2008 final between the Spaniards and Germany: • Man of the Match: Spain’s Cesc Fàbregas. Most national teams would have been stricken with horror when a player of David Villa’s quality left the game with an injury in the 35th minute. Not Spain, which simply replaced him with Arsenal star Fàbregas, whose brilliant assists on the second and third Spanish goals blew this game apart. With so much talent on the bench, Spain’s B-team might have gotten out of the group stage on its own. And while I’ve been critical at times of Luis Aragonés’s player decisions (no Fàbregas as a starter? Yanking Fernando Torres for Dani Güiza?) he seems to be pulling the right strings and getting the best chemistry possible out of his team. Even if Villa isn’t available for Sunday’s final, going with Fàbregas in a 4-5-1 provides no real drop-off. • Who cares if Spain wasn’t trying to do that? A goal is a goal is a goal. Let’s be honest: It sure looked like Andrés Iniesta was shooting instead of passing (and shooting way wide right at that) when Xavi ran in to redirect the ball into the goal on Spain’s first strike. And it sure looked like David Silva (and not Güiza) was the target of Fàbregas’s lovely pass before Güiza scored Goal No. 2. But soccer isn’t billiards, and you should be rewarded when players with attacking mind-sets put themselves in positions to do damage. That’s exactly what Xavi and Güiza did, and it made the difference in the game. • Let’s hear it for Brazilian-born defensive midfielders. A day after Turkey’s Mehmet Aurélio completely shut down Germany’s Michael Ballack, Spain’s Marcos Senna put on a clinic, taking Russian star Andrei Arshavin out of the game (with the considerable help of the Spanish back line, most notably Carles Puyol). Senna has been a perfect fit with this Spanish midfield, providing the stability and bite that his attacking colleagues have needed to work their magic. Senna and Aurélio sure don’t belong to the samba school that Brazilian soccer is known for, but they’re two of the toughest d-mids around. Through-balls: Spain’s Sergio Ramos has had two straight impressive performances after a rough start to the tournament. He got forward several times and had a role in Goal No. 2, but he also did a defensive number on Russia’s dangerous left back Yuri Zhirkov ... If Villa does miss the final after a freak free-kick injury, that would be a shame. The leading scorer of Euro 2008 should have a crack at playing in the final if at all possible ... Separated at Birth: Russian goalie Igor Akinfeev and actor Frankie Muniz ... What is it with sports broadcasters (Adrian Healey, Billy Packer, Jeff Van Gundy) who fall all over themselves to say a game is indisputably “over” before the final whistle/buzzer? Advertisers must cringe, and (more importantly) we’ve seen plenty of evidence in Euro 2008 (and in other sports) this year that a game is never over until it really ends ... With Roberto Donadoni being fired by Italy, do you think France’s Crazy Ray Domenech might be next? ... If Aragonés (69 years old) is being replaced as Spain’s coach by Vicente del Bosque (57 years old), does that mean the next coach after that will be ex-Brazil coach Mário Zagallo (77 years old)? What’s up with all the old codgers, Spain? Who do you like between Spain and Germany? Will Arshavin be a club success in Spain or England—or a flash in the pan? Please post your comments below and come back Friday for the next edition of the Euro 2008 Blog ...  1310 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615