Germany 0 Spain 1 Euro2008 Final
Germany 0 Spain 1 Match Highlights
Spain put on a master class of how to play football when they beat a poor German to to win Euro2008 & claim there first trophy for 44 years. Spain total dominated the match with there pass & move style which Germany had no answer to & couldn’t even get near them it was a victory for football as the beat team defiantly won & made the tournament very excitable to watch & with this type of football played by a young Spanish team it make you think what they could do in the World Cup in 2010.
The game actually started with Germany making the better start & could have bin one nil up as early as the 4th minute as Ramos made a terrible mistake making a side pass but it was pounced on by Klose who ran through but his poor touch took it out. Then Xavi play a over the top ball to Torres which was rules off side but Germany continued there bright start as Ballack powered past Puyol but his cross went out & Kilos went down the left but could only shoot straight at the keeper then Spain completely took over & Germany had no answer. Xavi again was involved when his good pass to Iniesta who crossed into the box & it rebounded off Metzelder & Lehmann had to make a reflex save to keep it out. Xavi was having a great match his free kick went over then he set up Torres with a great cross but he could only head over.
Then Fabregas got into the act with a great cross to Torres who headed onto the foot of the post & with the rebound coming out to Capdevila his shot could only curl wide of the post Almost straight away Iniesta got Fabregas in but he shot at the keeper but with all this pressure Germany was under it finally told. Xavi played a delightful ball inside of the left back Lahm Torres withhis pace used his strength to get past him & dink a lovely shot over the advancing Lehmann & into the net to put Spain ahead it was no more then they deserved. They nearly added a second when Iniesta cross to a unmarked Silve but he hacked his shot well over when he had more time to compose himself After Spain had a corner that was played short but wasted Germany had one chance just before the break when Schweinsteiger put a free kick well over the bar…
Russia 0 Spain 3
Spain cruised into the final of Euro2008 with a fantastic display of pass & move football against a Russian side who didn’t produce any of the form they had when they beat Holland. With everyone watching Arshavin & seeing what he could do to the Spanish side he was oblivious in this match & it was the name of the Arsenal player Fabregas who stole the show. Lets hope this isn’t the best Spain can offer as Germany will play better then there semi final & it should make a fantastic game of football in the final.
Spain started the football match very positive with Torres & Villa showing what a partnership they are Xavi had the first cross of the match with Ramos could only header wide but the intention was there Torres then got into the box but his spin & turn was saved by Russian keeper Akinfeev. Arshavin had his first touch as a build up from the right but Aniukov could only send his cross to the keeper then Villa down the other end had a long range shot which Akinfeev saved. Russia had a chance with a Pavluchenko free kick which went over & when Semak put in Zyryanov his cross was wasted & went over the bar. Spain were dominating the match & when Ramos had a speculative shot from out side the box which went straight at the keeper you felt there could be only one winner.
Spain where now looking for that goal Iniesta got into the box span but sent his shot wide then Villa struck a free kick over he seemed to injure himself while taking the free kick & was promptly subbed & now he is out of the tournament but bringing on Fabregas inst a bad replacement. With Arshavin not playing well or getting into the match it was Pavluchenko who was Russia’s threat on 30 minutes he had a swerving shot that just went wide then he collected a Ball on his chest brought it down & his shot went wide after a good tackle then he meet a cross stooping low to head it wide. But Spain came back just before the break Fabregas found Torres who controlled but shot straight at the keeper then Fabregas found Iniesta who got to the byline but his cross went to the keeper & with some good interplay the got a free kick after a foul & Xavi could only manage to shot at the keeper to make a comfortable save so it was nil nil at the half.
Germany 3 Turkey 2
Germany made it through to the final of Euro2008 when they beat a Turkey side who i think deserved to win the match more then they did. Turkey out played Germany & if they had a world class striker up front would have put Germany out of site in the first half. Joachim Low must be secretly worrying over that display which was poor defensively poor passing poor movement etc if they face Spain or Russia in the final if they play like that again they mite as well pack there bags now as they won’t win this tournament like that.
Turkey started the match with only 14 fit players because of the injuries & suspensions but that didn’t stop them giving it a go. Lahm who was made to look ordinary all night made the first mistake on 7 Min’s when he let Altintop into the box & Lehmann had to come out & save in another good build up then British born Kazim-Richards who a fantastic chance he was set up in the box but his shot rattled the crossbar & the resulting corner was cleared. Germany had there first chance when Schweinsteiger had a free kick but it was straight at Rustu Ballack then stole in but it was a good tackle by Topal & cleared then Turkey took the lead it was a throw in no one picked up Altintop who crossed into the box Kazim-Richards took a shoot that looped into the air came of the cross bar & there was Boral to bundle it over the line with the Germany defence just standing there & Lehmann was all over the place.
It didn’t take Germany long to respond Ballack set Podolski free down the left got to the by line crossed in & there was Schweinsteiger to side foot it into the net to equalise it wasn’t what they deserved & had another chance moments later when Klose was in the box turning one way then another put in a dangerous cross that Zan had to clear. But Turkey weren’t going to fold Altintop took a free kick the Lehmann had to put over the bar then Podolski broke clear & with Klose making up the ground he selfishly fired over the cross bar instead of passing. Boral then had a free kick towards the end of the half which Lehmann again had to save & a Sabri shot sailed over the bar with Lehamnn being the busiest goalkeeper it has half time.
Spain 0 Italy 0 A.E.T Spain Win 4-2 On Penalties
Spain make it through to the Euro2008 semi finals after a bore draw against Italy but went through on the penalty shoot out. Spain played the better football & looked to attack when they could but with Italy from the first whistle looked like they were playing for penalties put 10 men behind the football when ever they could but thankfully for the good of football Spain made it through.
The match started with both teams not really pushing each other to much & were very patient Di Rossi had a free kick which went straight to the keeper Casillas then Spain had a few chances as they were playing the better football Silva had a chance when he cut in from the left but his shot was deflected wide then they could have had a penalty when Villa was brought down in the box but the ref said no penalty but with the tv replays you could see he was caught. Torres then broke into the Italian box but his cross was very wild then they exchanged chances Perrotta headed straight at Casillas & Ambrosini put in a good cross but Toni got nowhere near it when it needed a touch. Villa had a shot all from 45 yards but was well wide then a free kick which was saved by Buffon he was called into action again moments later when he had to save from a Silva shot.
Spain where finding it hard to break Italy down & With Iniesta & Xavi both having shot going over the bar the game started to be a non event. With Italy constantly getting 10 men behind the ball it was hard to get into the football match but we had some action in the next 10 minutes.Cassano put in a good cross which Toni headed but it was defended then Spain had a very good chance Torres turned one way then another put in a shot which was blocked but it came to Silva who cut inside but his shot beat Buffon but curled just wide of the post. Di Rossi then had a free kick which was headed out for a corner & the resulting corner by Cassano was headed clear by Puyol The last chance of the half went to Iniesta when he had a one two with Villa but he dragged his shot wide & that was the end of the half…
Holland 1 Russia 3 A.E.T
Russia went through to the semi finals of Euro2008 by out playing a Holland team who looked like worthy favorites before they played Russia. It was no more than they deserved with they way they passed & moved & had the pace to totally dominate Holland. With Holland they didn’t look the same team from the group stages is it to do with most of the team taking a rest where Russia didn’t who knows but they were very flat & didn’t look like a team who wanted to win Euro 2008.
The match started in good fashion with Van Brockhurst getting down the left & crossed into the box only for Kuyt to head it wide & that was after 3 minutes Zhirkov then has a free kick which was saved by Van Der Sar. The Russians had a got chance on 7 Min’s as Aniukov crossed from the right but saw Pavluchenko heading over when he could have done better he then got to the byline himself moments later but saw his cross blocked & cleared by Engelaar. Van Der Vaart then had a free kick straight at Akinfeev then Sneijder had a shot blocked but Aniukov produced a great cross after 22 Min’s that went straight across the goal mouth but none of his team mates could get a touch. Holland then had a corner which was headed out but it came to Engelaar who had time to shoot but it went wide but if Ooijer got a touch it could have bin a goal.
All this after just 25 minutes but both teams were no trying hard to score Vaart had a free kick then went straight across the goal mouth which saw Van Nisterlrooy just miss getting a touch Arshavin then got into the Dutch box only to see his shot finger tip saved from Van Der Sar. Then Kolodin had 2 fantastic attempts one from 35 yards after a poor clearance from a corner fell to him & he smashed it towards goal which Van De Sar was at full stretch to save then he tried again a minute later from more like 40 yards & that only just flashed wide. Holland had 2 chances just before the break with Van Nistelrooy turning just outside the box But it was saved by Akinfeev & then Van Der Vaart has a shot beaten away by the keeper & that was half time.
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