Will the Russians Play Rush 'N Attack?

2008-09-10T06:59:42-04:00

2008-06-18T10:58:18-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:34-04:00

2008-06-20T02:00:39-04:00

ExMax

Big northern country 442690

I am not sure regarding the Euro crown in despite of the fact that I am Russian. But we live in real world... But, on the other hand, soccer is the game to play, and all of us remember the Greek miracle - 2004.... 2022642

2008-06-20T00:35:23-04:00

niisfktn

Sacramento 443220

Russia won 2:0. Neathers next to lose. It's a Russian's year in everything. Hockey crown alreadt won and football Euro crown is next. 2022315

2008-06-19T07:19:14-04:00

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Millen

Church Hill 440041

Heineken?! 2012910

2008-06-18T14:44:21-04:00

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roelandbeers@xs4all.nl

Alkmaar 441911

HMMMM... is it my tv-set, or do the Russians play in orange shirts? is it the hand of Hiddink, or do they think it's the colour that does the trick? 2008703

2008-06-18T14:36:29-04:00

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nelsonorange71

No City 116259

nothing to say. just waiting for the next round. 2008624

2008-06-18T13:26:39-04:00

billykyjoe

Saskatoon 113689

I agree with the 2-1 win for Sweden, but i don't think it'll matter in the end, as the Netherlands looks like they will whip their way through. I think Villa should win the Golden Boot. I think he'll add another goal or 2 to push it more or less out of reach. I'd love to see Steve Nash join his brother Martin for a few games with the Vancouver Whitecaps. 2007741

2008-06-18T13:05:40-04:00

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leroy the dog

Baltimore 442463

Great blog Grant; I love reading column. BTW---Andrew Shue was on Melrose Place, not 90210. 2007504

2008-06-18T13:05:35-04:00

barkking

Sacramento 441898

I like the 2-1 Sweden result you forecast. I also think it does not matter. The Dutch are too good. Villa would win the Golden Puppy but won't be around past Italy. 2007469

2008-06-18T13:01:49-04:00

SMH9190

Lenox 442482

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but Andew Shue was on Melrose Place...anyone who gets to romp with Heather Locklear is OK in my book 2007446

2008-06-18T13:00:32-04:00

stoatythestoat

Delton 308200

About the other question...I think Van Nistelrooy narrowly edges Villa for the golden boot by one goal, which he will score in the final. 2007411

Let’s be honest: we’ve been spoiled by this tournament. But after seven straight days of madness the last two have been pretty ho-hum, so let’s hope Russia and Sweden can get things going again. It’s pretty simple: if the Russians win, they’re in. If the Swedes win or tie, they’ll go on to meet the Netherlands in Saturday’s quarterfinal instead. Sweden vs. Russia. (2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Call me crazy, but I think this should be a rip-roaring affair. Why? The Russians know they need to win, and Guus Hiddink isn’t one of those coaches who’ll play for 0-0 and only try to score in the final minutes. The big unknown in this game is Zenit St. Petersburg star Andrei Arshavin, Russia’s best attacking player, who’s finally available after serving a two-game suspension. Will Arshavin be in form if Hiddink decides to play him? Russia will get its chances here, not least because Sweden’s central defense has been unimpressive. (What exactly did Juventus see in new signing Olof Mellberg anyway?) But there’s a big difference between creating chances and converting them, and in a tight game I’ll go with the better finishers. Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson > Russia’s Roman Pavlyuchenko. Sweden 2, Russia 1.Spain vs. Greece. (2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN). The only folks tuning into this meaningless game will be clueless American sports-bar owners who simply don’t know any better. Kind of funny that David Villa says he’d like to play anyway so that he can keep his edge. (Translation: I’d like to keep my edge in the Golden Boot standings and raise my transfer value even higher.) Spain 2, Greece 0.Through-balls: Odd thing: When the Dutch went out in Euro 2000, coach Frank Rijkaard resigned about 10 seconds after the game. When France went out in Euro 2008 (in the first round, no less) Crazy Ray Domenech took the occasion to propose to his girlfriend on national TV. We’ve actually come around on Crazy Ray. He’s a terrible coach, but he provides so much unintentional comedy that I’d love for him to stick around through the World Cup ... Blog pal Joel Samuels has come up with something called the Anthem-Singing Theory, which states that players who sing their national anthems (no matter how poorly) will be rewarded by the Soccer Gods on the field. His latest evidence: France’s Eric Abidal, who was stone-cold silent during La Marseillaise on Tuesday and drew a game-changing red card in the first half. Lilian Thuram would have belted that sucker out ... Now that soccer-loving point guard Steve Nash is <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/06182008/gossip/pagesix/charity_kicks_115962.htm" target="_blank">organizing charity fútbol games in New York City</a>, I’d like to see him on the field for the hapless New York Red Bulls. If former <strike>90210 </strike>Melrose Place star Andrew Shue could play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, then Steve Nash can hack it for RBNY ... Most soccer junkies view the Euro as the World Cup minus Brazil and Argentina, and sure enough, Blog pal Andreas Lorenz points out that in the last 10 World Cups only two teams outside Europe other than Argentina and Brazil have reached the semifinals (South Korea 2002 and Uruguay 1970). So you might as well take a break from the Euro tonight for the South American World Cup qualifying superclásico between Brazil and Argentina. I happen to love both countries, which I’ll commemorate by drinking a caipirinha in the first half and a glass of Achával-Ferrer Malbec in the second. (Maybe then I'll tell you about the first time I had a caipirinha, when a former SI swimsuit cover model drank me under the table. Long story.) Who do you like in the Sweden-Russia game? Will either one of them give the Netherlands any resistance in the quarters? And who do you think will end up winning the Golden Boot? Please post your comments below, and check back after the game for the latest edition of the Euro Blog ... 1324 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615