This was the final of Euro 2008, which has been a fantastic tournament. Everyone was hoping for a thrilling game, with Germany the favorites to win the tournament. Spain had won all their previous games prior to this final, beating Italy in the quarter finals and Russia in the semi finals, so came in to this game on top form. Germany, however, had been struggling a bit in the previous game against Turkey, who they beat with a last minute goal in the semi finals.
Germany soon took control of the game, playing intelligent football and putting together a couple of good opportunities, but around half way through the first half, the game became more open, and slowly Spain began to take control. It was not long after this that Torres jumped higher than the German defenders to head the ball on to the post, with Lehmann well and truly beaten.
It was the thirty third minute when the first goal came, with Xavi playing a superb ball through the German defenders, and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres latched on to the ball, pushing through the defenders and chipping the ball over Jens Lehmann and in to the empty German net. After that Spain really took control of the game, playing fast and fluent football, with Germany struggling to gain possession, and when they did, the Spaniards just got the ball straight back, and the teams went in to half time with Spain looking well on top.
In the second half the story was much the same as in the first. Germany started the half well, running rings around the Spaniards for around twenty minutes, and had plenty of opportunities to draw level, but slowly Spain started to take control, and suddenly they looked the more likely team to score, playing the ball around the Germans and after around seventy five minute the Germans seemed to give up, roaming around the pitch with no urgency, and Spain probably should have scored at least two more goals, but the final whistle blew with the Spanish leading by one goal.
The result means that Spain are the European Champions for the first time in forty four years, and they truly deserved the title. On the night they were the better team, with Germany never really looking like much of a threat after twenty minutes had been played, and Spain capitalized on this. A very good game, and congratulations Spain!
Germany were the clear favorites for this game, and the fact that Turkey had nine players out through suspensions and injuries just boosted the Germans’ confidence. Germany got through by coming second in their group and beating Portugal convincingly in the quarter final, with Turkey crowned as comeback kings after winning their last two games in the final minutes of the match.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Turkey dominated the first twenty minutes, with lots of shots and crosses, and the German defense looked shaky, especially goal keeper Jens Lehmann who is usually very impressive.
Turkey got their just rewards when on the twenty second minute Ugur Boral scrambled the ball over the line after a Turkish shot had looped over Lehmann and hit the cross bar. It didn’t take long for the Germans to get back in the game though, a rapid counter attack found it’s way to Podolski who played a brilliant ball in to the box for Schweinsteiger to equalize just four minutes after the Turks’ goal.
The first half continued in the same way, with Turkey dominating, and they should have gone in to the changing rooms at half time leading by at least two or three goals, but German luck had kept them in the game.
In the second half, the game wasn’t quite as exciting, but on the seventy ninth minute, Germany looked like they had won it when a goal keeping error from Rustu allowed Klose to head Germany in to the lead. But, it didn’t really surprise anyone when Turkey scored on the eighty sixth minute to come back in the last five minutes for the third time in three games.
There was nothing the Turks could do to stop Phillip Lahm’s final minute effort though. A brilliant German move and a dinky one two in the box meant that the German left back could smash the ball in to the roof of the net for the Germans.
Overall, a very exciting game, and tournament over achievers Turkey are out, with Germany making it through to the final where they will play either Spain or Russia, depending on tomorrow’s result.
Borussia Dortmund announced today that the deal to sign Jens Lehmann this winter collapsed after the player decided he rather stay with Arsenal. Lehmann’s contract with Arsenal expires in the summer, and Wenger have said earlier that he wont stand in the goalkeeper’s way to return to Germany, but it seems Lehmann believe he can regain his position and the trust of Arsene Wenger.
This is what he had to say today: “Although it would have been a very attractive challenge to play for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga once again, I have decided against taking this step due to personal reasons, I am sorry, particularly to disappoint the people responsible at Borussia Dortmund, who have tried very professionally to convince me to move and gave me sufficient time for consideration.”
Ofcourse the Germany coach Joachim Low and team manager Oliver Bierhoff backed Lehmann’s choice. Even Wenger stated today that he is happy Lehmann is staying and that he will be included in the next match against Birmingham. He said: “Lehmann will be on the bench, the indication I can give is that I am happy if he stays because he is an important player in the squad, like Gilberto also. We have such a young squad that these players have a big weight in the dressing room and a big input in the team. I am happy if they stay.”
Although am happy he is staying, but I find his decision a bit odd, he knows Almunia is number one now and it would take more than a couple of bad performances by Almunia to make Lehmann first choice again, what is he depending on, that Almunia is injured?? On the second hand, his national team manager already informed him only players who play regularly with their clubs will be considered to represent Germany in Euro 2008!
Well, first of all a nice goal from Fabregas with the help of Eboue, Adebayor and Sagna. Arsenal returned to the fired up mode in the start of the second half, they played well, but to be honest Almunia was not so confident but he did save us from some nice shots but still shakey performance.
The second Manchester United goal scored by Ronaldo was a result of a really nice Saha pass to Evra and a really bad defending job by Arsenal’s defence line. In the end gallas saved us in an amazing crazy goal.
I expected a 2-1 victory for Arsenal and they could’ve got that result, am not happy withh all arsene wenger’s substitutes I mean if they work with other teams that doesn’t mean it should always work.
Ok, so we all saw that Arsenal was denied a penalty, thats not my problem my problem is that we started all fired up but eventually we just couldn’t keep the ball with us, and couldn’t handle is well enough to keep building up attacks and scoring a goal. Although we saw Gallas had a nice try and some shot here and there. Ofcourse Manchester played well but the goal is clearly a lucky goal its not because Rooney was clever or in control.
Nobody wants to see the goal again ofcourse but, here is the goal anyway, CLICK HERE.
Arsenal Substitutes:
1 Lehmann
8 Diarra
19 Silva
32 Walcott
9 Da Silva
Manchester United Starting Line-ups:
1 Van der Sar
3 Evra
6 Brown
5 Ferdinand
15 Vidic
7 Ronaldo
8 Anderson
11 Giggs
4 Hargreaves
32 Tevez
10 Rooney
Manchester United Substitutes:
29 Kuszczak
22 O’Shea
17 Nani
16 Carrick
9 Saha
Arsenal will be playing their 11th match in the league, being top of the table with 26 points, while Manchester United will be playing their 12th match second in the table with 26 points. Well, this is the awaited match since the start of the season, everybody says this is the real deal, this is the true test that will show how fragile those teams are, yes its a test for both teams because to be honest they are the only two teams that has a chance in winning the league, those not only my words its fergie’s too. Well although i don’t really care what he usually says but this time he is right, only in this point, it true those teams are the only ones who can actually do it.
Statistically speaking, Premier League’s best attack (Arsenal: 22 goals scored) is playing against the best defence (Man Utd: 4 goals conceded), Arsenal averages 2.20 goals per game while Man Utd avergaes 1.73 goals.
We shouldn’t forget also that last season Arsenal won both games against Manchester United in the league. There are no new injuries reported for both teams, evra is fit and expected to feature in the match.
Arsenal will be playing tonight their 3rd match in Champions League Group H, they have already won their first 2 matches so they have a solid 6 points, they will be facing SK Slavia Prague who are in 3rd place with 3 points.
I don’t believe that this game will be as easy as we expect, especially after seeing how Arsenal played against Bolton this week, yes we won but after we struggled though-out most of the match. Anyway I guess Slavia Prague will be so happy if they escaped with a 0-0 scoreline.
The Player i will be watching is Eduardo, let him show us he is worth playing for arsenal, in my book he still didn’t do it, I guess any Arsenal fan is not really that much happy with his game. But here is a chance to show his ability.
I expect a scoreline of 1-0, yes I don’t expect that we will thrash Slavia Prague they are not really that easy team, they are the top in their league table.
Borussia Dortmund announced today that the deal to sign Jens Lehmann this winter collapsed after the player decided he rather stay with Arsenal. Lehmann’s contract with Arsenal expires in the summer, and Wenger have said earlier that he wont stand in the goalkeeper’s way to return to Germany, but it seems Lehmann believe he can regain his position and the trust of Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal will be playing their 11th match in the league, being top of the table with 26 points, while Manchester United will be playing their 12th match second in the table with 26 points. Well, this is the awaited match since the start of the season, everybody says this is the real deal, this is the true test that will show how fragile those teams are, yes its a test for both teams because to be honest they are the only two teams that has a chance in winning the league, those not only my words its fergie’s too. Well although i don’t really care what he usually says but this time he is right, only in this point, it true those teams are the only ones who can actually do it.
Arsenal will be playing tonight their 3rd match in Champions League Group H, they have already won their first 2 matches so they have a solid 6 points, they will be facing SK Slavia Prague who are in 3rd place with 3 points.