Euro 2012 Quarter Final Picks

Portugal vs Czech Republic

Thursday, June 21. 1:45 pm (CST)

The Czechs bounced back from an early drubbing at the hands of Russia to beat Greece (2-1) and Poland (1-0). The Czechs haven’t been overly impressive, but the fact they shook off their Russian beating speaks volumes about their resilience. The Czechs are hoping to repeat their 1-0 victory over Portugal from the quarterfinals of Euro 1996; a tournament that saw the Czechs go all the way to the finals. Czech captain Tomas Rosicky missed the last group stage game versus Poland due to an inflamed Achilles tendon but has returned to training with his team. His availability for the quarterfinal is still yet to be known.

After a not-so-impressive performance versus Germany in their opening match, Portugal has improved every game. They won a slugfest with Denmark 3-2 and topped a disappointing Dutch side 2-1. Cristiano Ronaldo’s breakthrough performance against the Netherlands should have Portuguese fans excited that their captain is on his game, and when he is firing on all cylinders he’s one of the world’s most dangerous players. That being said, one performance is not a pattern, and Portugal will need CR7 to show-up once again.

Prediction: You can put the Czech-mark beside Portugal. Portugal wins and moves on to the semi-finals.

Germany vs. Greece

Friday, June 22. 1:45 pm (CST)

Germany navigated through the Group of Death unscathed and posted a perfect 3-0 record. Germany has definitely surpassed Spain as the tournament favorites going into the knockout stages. The Germans boast an incredible amount of talent in the midfield and attack and the fact that they might not have hit full stride yet is scary.

Greece came out of Group A when not many people have them a chance to do so. The Greeks accomplished that feat with their trademark hard work and commitment to defence.  Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis is suspended for the quarterfinals. He is their emotional leader and they will no doubt miss him in the midfield. The Greeks absolutely cannot afford the same slow start they had in their first two group matches against Poland and Czech Republic. Anything less than perfection against the Germans will spell disaster for Greece.

Prediction: Even a perfect Greece won’t be enough to derail the Germans. Germany marches on.

Spain vs. France

Saturday, June 23. 1:45 pm (CST)

Spain finished first in Group C as was predicted but didn’t sail smoothly through it. They did put a clinic on against Ireland, but Ireland seemed keen to lie down and take it. Italy gave the defending European and World Champions a hell of a match and Croatia frustrated the Spaniards. But Spain is still Spain. Champions know how to turn it on when it counts and with the knockout stages upon them, is this when we’ll see the real Spain.

France looked good in the first two matches. They pressed constantly and looked like the more hungry side against both England and Ukraine. France look to have come out the storm their national team has been through in the last two major tournaments. Incredibly, since Zinedine Zidane’s infamous head-butt in the 2006 World Cup Final, France has won only once in 10 tournament games (2-0 over Ukraine). They no doubt have a talented team. But is it enough to dethrone the kings?

Prediction: France will give Spain a fight. But in the end you have to go with the incumbents. Spain moves to face Portugal in an Iberian Battle.

England vs. Italy

Sunday, June 24. 1:45 pm (CST)

This is the match the world will be watching. England came out on top in Group D when many doubted they had what it took to even finish second. While the England’s performance hasn’t been all that attractive, it has worked for them. Wayne Rooney returned to the line-up in the last group game and will be a threat to the Italian defence. Steven Gerrard has been awesome in the English midfield and always seems to rise to another level in big matches.

The Azzurri looked brilliant against Spain in their opening match and have done enough since to warrant going through to the quarterfinals. Strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano both hit the back of the net in their last game and hopefully for Italy both forwards have found their groove. The Italian back line will be without Giorgio Chiellini who has been ruled out with an injury so it will be interesting to see if Daniele De Rossi moves back to defence again after spending the Ireland match in his usual midfield position. Italy plays their best against the big teams in big matches, and England is a big team and this is a big match.

Prediction: English media is already looking forward to the Germany-England semi-finals. For their sake I hope they have a PS3. It may be my heart talking, but I’m taking the Azzurri for the win.

For random thoughts during the games and throughout the tournament you can follow me on Twitter @davec4pone

Holland Goes Home, Ronaldo Shows Up, Greek Warriors & Czech-mate

Two of the Euro’s four groups are now behind us. Both groups produced surprises and upsets and that’s just the way this fan likes it.

Orange Crushed

The Group of Death came to an end and revealed who goes on to play

Changing from Orange to Black didn’t stop the Dutch from resembling pylons.

another day and who goes home to face endless questions and scrutiny. Well it won’t be so bad for Denmark; the Danes and their supporters had from the group stage draw back in December to accept the inevitable. But the welcome home will be much different for the Dutch. Failing to win a game or earn a point in a group that they were favored to come out of in a tournament they were among the favorites to win won’t be seen as anything less than a disaster for The Oranje. Only two years removed from being World Cup finalists, the Dutch came into the tournament with some lofty expectations and failed to meet all of them. The Euro is a tightly contested tournament; favorites go out early, teams fail to meet expectations and upsets happen. However, the spiritless and passionless display put on by the Netherlands is not something these players are going to live down any time soon.

Golden Boy Shines

Cristiano Ronaldo makes his mark at Euro 2012 with a double vs. the Netherlands

The Netherlands will no doubt be facing plenty of questions upon their return home, but one man answered some questions that have been dogging him for most of his career. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s Golden Boy, has never replicated his club form for his national team on the big stage and it looked like Euro 2012 was about to become just another tournament where CR7 failed to make an impact. The first two group games had the Real Madrid star’s detractors smiling and even his most loyal supporters doubting. But in sports you’re only as good as your last performance and Cristiano Ronaldo proved that today when he scored the tying and winning goal in a must win game that helped Portugal survive the Group of Death and book them a place in the quarterfinals.

German Perfection

Germany capped off a perfect first round with a 2-1 win over Denmark.

Lukas Podolski scores the opening goal against Denmark. Podolski became the youngest European born player to reach 100 caps (appearances) for his country.

Hard to believe that the team that has won the event three times has never won all three of its first round games in the group stages until this year. Germany has most definitely solidified their position as tournament co-favorites (with Spain).

How to Lose a Quarter-final Spot in 10 Days – by Team Russia

It is incredible how a team can make such an impression in their first match of the tournament that they force themselves into the conversation as the tournament dark horse. That’s exactly whatRussia did when they smashed the Czech Republic4-1 on the tournament’s opening day. But here we are a week and a half later Russia is going home and the Czechs became the first team in history of the European Championship to win a group with a negative goal differential (-1).

By the Beard of Zeus

Not to be out done by the Czechs, Greece made a splash of their own by

Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis celebrates his winning goal versus Russia. His first half maker sent Russia home and Greece through to the second round.

qualifying as the group runner-up. Greece shocked and knocked the Russians out of the tournament with a 1-0 win in the final match. It’s unfortunate for the Greeks that their captain Giorgos Karagounis received his second yellow of the tournament and will miss their quarterfinal match; a huge loss for the Greeks.

 

 

The first two quarterfinal matchups have now been set. Group A winners Czech Republic will take on Portugal Thursday and Germany will face Greece on Friday.

 

For random thoughts during the games and throughout the tournament you can follow me on Twitter @davec4pone