Greece 0 Russia 1
Russia kept there hopes alive with this victory over Greece & have a do or die match against Sweden coming up to either stay in the competition or be sent home. Greece on the other hand now are out of the Euro2008 finals and as the defending champions haven’t won a game & didn’t really look like they were going to & didn’t really play with that determination & guile they had in 2004 when they won the tournament.
Everyone hoped when the game started that Greece where going to shoe more fight & ambition than when they did in there other game against Sweden. Russia on the other hand even though they got beaten four one they showed enough they could progress & it was them that started the game better. Nikopolidis was called into action first when he had to turn a Pavlyuchenko chip over the bar then Greece had there first chance when Charisteas was guilty of the most awful miss they had a free kick which Basinas took it floated into the box & all Charisteas had to do was head it into the goal but he completely missed it & it hit Semshov & went out for a corner.
Russia did look the most likely to score & after 34 minutes they did but it took a stupid piece of goal keeping which you wouldn’t see in the premiership. Nikopolidis for some reason went chasing to the edge of his box a Bilyaletdinov cross but Semak got the first & hooked the ball back into the box & with Nikopolidis stranded Zyryanov just tapped it into the empty net. The Russian’s were now on tp & for the rest of the half they dominated Bilyaletdinov had a 25 yard shot fired over. Greece then suffered a body blow when Seitaridis lumped off injured & was replaced by Karagounis & that was the end of the first half.
Sweden 1 Spain 2
Spain made it to the last 8 of the Euro 2008 finals with a late late winner against a dogged Sweden team. It was that combination of Torres & Villa that did the damage & must be the most feared pairing in the championships. Sweden must now draw or beat Russia to have any chance of making the last 8.
Spain started the game in good form just like they did against Russia with neat passing & possession while Sweden were working very hard to contain them. So it took fifteen minutes for Spain to break through Sweden & it took a lovely sweeping move which resulted in a corner Xavi took the corner & feed it to Villa who gave a quick pass to Silva who stuck the ball into the box & there was Torres to put out a foot & poked the ball home from 6 yards & Spain one nil up. Sweden then should be level almost straight away Larsson held up the football on the edge of the Spain penalty area he feed in Elmander who’s shot was a waste.
Spain had all the ball & their movement was brilliant but the Swedes were pumping the football direct & they strarted to get it working & when Ibrahimovic lobbed a pass to Larsson he got into the clear but all he could manage was to send his shot high & wide over the bar. Sweden now took to hitting the ball int the penalty box at all costs & it worked to get them the equaliser right back Stoor fired in a cross & it reached Ibrahimovic who got the ball down evaded the tackles & put it into the net just wide of Casillas even though he did get a bit of hand on it. Spain now were looking a bit shaky but they still should had a penalty just before half time.
Ramos got down the right & put in a great cross that Silva was all set to meet but then came Elmander to basically barge him out of the way & Silva fell to the ground but for some reason the ref chose to ignore the incident & that was half time.
Holland 4 France 1
Holland were at there best when they thrashed France in there second football match of Euro 2008. This win gave Holland automatic qualification into the quarter finals & what team would like to play them in this form. With France they now have to beat Italy were Italy have to beat them so one of the big teams are going to be gone on Tuesday.
The game started in good fashion with both teams starting well but Holland got the break through as early as the 9th minute. It was Van Der Vaart’s corner that went over Henry’s head & there was Kuyt to get to the ball & head in into the net past Coupet. He nearly scored again 10 minutes later when Van Bronckhorst long pass found its way to Kuyt but his shot was well over. France then got into the game when Govou who got free to have a shot which Van Der Sar saved with his legs then Malouda also had a shot which was saved by Van Der Sar. Moments later Govou got himself free again but his shot was saves & then Ribery got into the box & shot straight at Van Der Sar & you wondered if it was France’s night.
Ribery then broke down the right put in a great cross which evades Henry & everyone else in the box & just goes out of play for a goal kick. The with the french pushing for the equalizer there were getting chances but couldn’t finish & then Henry had a chance he collect the football at the edge of the box done a superb turn & put in a shot the just rose over the bar but it was the closed France had come.
Italy 1 Romania 1
It took a save from Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon from a Mutu penalty to give Italy a slim chance to qualify to the quarters finals after this draw with Romania. Italy played through out with a purpose to try & forget about the drubbing by Holland where Romania came to hold the Italians as there next football Match was Holland where they would probably fancy there chances more to get the three points.
Italy started the half know they had to win to stand a good chance later on in the tournament Toni went closes first when he headed wide then Del Piero when he had a header which was deflected wide. But the Romanians weren’t going to lay down & had 3 chances themselves Mutu was put through one on one with Buffon but he sent his shot well wide. Tamas then brought a fine save from Buffon with a 30 yard shot & when Chivu took a free kick that came off Panucci & went on to hit the post Italy were lucky to still be level. Toni then had another chance for Italy but headed it over & had a shot which when straight at Lobont.
After a clash of heads between Rat & Radoi which the latter had to go off & be replaced the Italians then created some chances Toni & Del Piero both had headers that whet over & some great defending by Codrea denied Perrotta. Lobont them made some crucial saves both from Toni header’s & when right on half time Toni rose again to head home for a Zambrotta cross which the linesman flagged for off side. But on the tv replays you could see as the football was crossed in he was on-side & Italy should have gone in one nil up but they were still level.
Austria 1 Poland 1
Austria gave themselves a life line in the Euro 2008 finals by scoring a late penalty to give them a draw they deserved. The polish goalkeeper Boruc was in fantastic form & denied Austria chance after chance & with there first half performance they should have had the game out of Poland’s reach but with missed chances & the goal keeper making fine saves kept the Pols in it.
The football match started with Austria well on top & in reality should have bin three nil up within twenty minutes. Harnik had the first chance when Jop made a mistake in the defence he surged through on goal only for Boruc to make the save & deflect it wide. Harnik again had the next chance when Korkmaz out paced to players down the left & cross the football to Harnik 8 yards out & he could only shoot straight at the keeper. Leitgeb then just ran past the defence & through on goal but he couldn’t beat the keeper either & Boruc deflected the shot away.
But with all the one way traffic it was Poland who took the lead Simolarek got to the edge of the penalty area cross in from the left Saganowski then turned Pogatetz & then he crossed right in front of the goal & there was Roger to poke the ball home & put them one nil up. Watching it live you had no doubts but on the tv replays you could see it was off side so this was even more harsh on Austria. The rest of the half saw Austria huffing & puffing & trying there hearts out but couldn’t get the goal & in truth should be well ahead & the game ended at half time.
-
Sponsors
