Slipperduke's Slippery Euro08 Coverage

[Slipperduke]

I thought I'd wander out over here for the next few weeks, as it's all going to get a bit busy. Here's the first of many.....


He may be the best player in the world, but Cristiano Ronaldo certainly isn't the smartest. His refusal to pledge his loyalty to Manchester United has led to intense media speculation that now threatens to overshadow Portugal's preparations for tonight's clash with Turkey. The circulation of quotes from an interview in a Brazilian newspaper, where he allegedly admits to a desire to play for Real Madrid, has only made matters worse. Manchester United fans are gradually adjusting to this newly-found nefarious streak, but Portugal supporters will be wondering why he couldn't just keep his mouth shut until after the tournament. There's no doubt about it; Phil Scolari's talisman has had his head turned by money.

Portugal might be the favourites to top Group A, but they won't win it on auto-pilot. They need Ronaldo focused and dedicated, not leaking snippets of information to the press. His team have been preparing for today for a long time and this confusion is the last thing they need. By all accounts, Ronaldo was underwhelming in Portugal's final friendly match and he won't be able to get away with a substandard performance tonight.

Turkey are not at Euro08 simply to make up the numbers and their veteran coach, Fatih Terim, must be delighted to see his opponents' key player submerging under a rising tide of self-interest. The Turks might be tactically inconsistent, but they're more than capable of providing an early shock in this tournament. Sanli Tuncay and Emre can provide all the service that the nippy Nihat Kahveci could ask for and centre-back Gokhan Zan is capable of stopping Nuno Gomes in his tracks.

Portugal are certain to keep faith in their established 4-2-3-1 formation, which allows Gomes to be supported by a fearsome array of attacking midfielders. Interestingly, they're expected to field Paolo Ferreira out at left-back, while his right-back replacement at Stamford Bridge, Jose Bosingwa, replaces him for his nation as well. One of the tournament's most attractive teams, they like to flood forward across the halfway line, dragging their opponents out of position with their movement and then pouncing to exploit the gaps. Expect to see their midfielders on the scoresheet more than Gomes, and expect a lot of long shots. Young Sporting Lisbon midfielder, Joao Moutinho crashed home a gorgeous 30 yarder last week and it may have earned him a place in the starting line-up.

Turkey are likely to leave Nihat on his up front while they clog the midfield behind him. Mehmet Aurelio, the naturalised Brazilian, is an effective anchor to the team, very much in the Claude Makelele mould. If he crosses the half-way line, I'll be amazed. It's his job to stop Deco from playing, though any Barcelona fan would tell you that the best way to stop Deco from playing is by putting him on the pitch. Once regarded as of the best midfielders on the continent, he's had a dreadful year at Camp Nou and is expected to be on the move.

Euro08, like all international tournaments, is a shop window for clubs across the continent and Deco won't be the only one trying to impress the watching scouts. However, it's usually considered polite to prioritise, and be professional. Someone needs to tell Ronaldo that he'll have plenty of time to engineer his transfer in July. For now he and his team-mates will need to concentrate on the football, and on their very dangerous Turkish opponents.

 

[TrueBlue]

When is your book out I am looking for my TBTV acknowledgement!!!

 

[Bluesmanager]

Slipper, any thoughts on this?

As for Ronaldo, a few years ago I'd've paid Real to ship him off, but now I quite like him (except when he cries - stupid sad act crybaby). Dives a lot less now, and seems to actually be using his tricks as part of his play, not just because he can do them.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Slipper, any thoughts on this?

As for Ronaldo, a few years ago I'd've paid Real to ship him off, but now I quite like him (except when he cries - stupid sad act crybaby). Dives a lot less now, and seems to actually be using his tricks as part of his play, not just because he can do them.

I had a feeling the first part of this was going to come in sooner or later as I believe they had at least been considering challenging it for some time now. The sad thing is, we seem to have a habit of accepting these challenges to our law when confronted with European inconsistency when many other big players fight tooth and nail to maintain their laws.

Sadly, it's all about profit maximisation which is all the more disappointing from an organising body of a sport rather than a shareholder driven company. Football clubs as companies, I've grown to live with. Profit maximising sporting bodies surely goes against the intention with which they were set up. I suppose it's much like the seeding for the Champions League which has the sole intention of maximising revenue by increasing the pull of the latter stage teams.

Great for business but quite bad for the integrity and fairness of the sport.

 

[Slipperduke]

With a reasonably straight-forward group ahead of them and the unwelcome burden of 'favourites' tag, it's vital that the German players don't lose their heads this week, but one Polish tabloid wouldn't agree. Popular paper 'Super Express' ran a front page picture of the national coach Leo Beenhakker brandishing the decapitated noggins of Joachim Loew and Michael Ballack and it's turned a routine qualifier into a tense, angry grudge match.

It should be said that Beenhakker has moved quickly to denounce the graphic photo-montages. "We apologise to the German people," he announced at a press conference. "We want to distance ourselves totally from these weird, sick and dirty people."

It's certainly added a bit of a spice to tonight's game because, even if they're being awfully nice about the whole episode right now, the Germans have a long history of settling scores like this on the pitch. At Euro96, on the day of England's semi-final clash with them, the Daily Mirror ran a front page with a montage of Stuart Pearce and Paul Gascoigne in World War One helmets shouting the immortal line, "Achtung! Surrender - For you, Fritz, ze European Championships are over!" Germany went on to lift the trophy.

The smart money says that they'll do the same this summer, especially when you look at their attack. Miroslav Klose, top scorer in the 2006 World Cup, will certainly start, especially as Loew has already been cooing to anyone who will listen about his recent form. The identity of his strike- partner is anybody's guess. It could be the powerhouse that is Kevin Kurnayi. It might the up-and-coming star of German football, Mario Gomez. It could even be the potent Lukas Podolski, who has struggled for form at Bayern Munich but boasts an international goalscoring record that beggars belief. Certainly, Germany are spoiled for choice. Behind the frontmen, the centre of midfield will feature the best partnership in world football, Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack, a pair of players so in tune with each other that they could actually be symbiotically linked. All-in-all, they're looking rather ominous.

Their only concern is the strength of their backline. Christoph Metzelder blundered in a recent friendly against Serbia and Jens Lehmann went to pieces against Belarus, angrily blaming the new ball for having the temerity to move in mid-air. The Germans traditionally avoid drawing attention to defensive deficiencies by forcing the game upon their opponents, but if they can't do that, there may be a chance for Poland to seize the initiative.

The Poles are no world-beaters, but they have a solid base at the back, particularly with Artur Boruc, arguably one of the best goalkeepers around, keeping the opposition at bay. It's worth keeping an eye out for their long throw-ins. They scored after just two minutes against Albania by hurling the ball into the box towards former Celtic hero Maciej 'Magic' Zurawski who spun around and rifled it into the net. Alongside him, the hero of the qualifying campaign Ebi Smolarek has the kind of quality and close control that can cause real problems.

Veteran coach Beenhakker is so popular in Poland that he was recently awarded the Cross of Merit, Poland's highest civilian award, by the President. He didn't pick up the award for his grace and dignity in defeat. Beenhakker wins football matches, usually against the odds. Germany will want revenge for the tabloid scribblings and, more than that, they'll want a good start to their campaign. However, they would do well not to write this Polish side off just yet.

 

[Slipperduke]

Euro08 is just one day old, but you can already pencil Portugal into the quarter-finals after an impressive victory over a Turkish side who snapped and snarled, but rarely came close to threatening an upset. After the monotony of the abysmal Czech Republic's freakish victory over a distinctly mediocre Swiss side, this tournament really needed a big game to get the pulses racing and, thankfully, it got one. Both teams fought hard for possession, played the ball around at ground level and gave the raucous crowd plenty to shout about.

With all eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo, the crucial goal actually came from a most unlikely source; centre-back Pepe. The Real Madrid defender surged through the middle, played an audacious one-two with Nuno Gomes and then clipped the ball home. Portugal have been written off as serious contenders in some quarters because of their lack of a world class striker, but if your defenders can do this, who needs one? In fairness to the much maligned Gomes, he was responsible for two of Portugal's three woodwork-rattling efforts and, on another day, he might have added his own name to the scoresheet. Fortunately for him, his near-misses didn't affect the result which was confirmed by Raul Meireles' injury time strike.

Ronaldo, inevitably, was behind the other near-miss, forcing a superb save from Demirel Volkan, who stretched out a finger-tip to his first half freekick and turned the ball onto his far post. The Manchester United, well, for the moment, winger was booed and whistled throughout by the fanatical Turkish support, but that kind of treatment rarely affects him. He and his team-mate Simao attacked relentlessly from the flanks, swapping sides to confuse the over-worked full-backs Hamit Altintop and Hakan Balta. After such an incredible season at Old Trafford he has set high expectations and it has to be said that this wasn't one of his finest outings. He dipped in and out of the game, understandably with his frequent positional changes, and was bullied out of some challenges by the physical attentions of the Turkish defenders. An excellent solo run on the half-hour should have delivered a truly memorable goal, but the final shot was dragged wide. Nevertheless, he can be satisfied with a reasonable performance.

Despite sporadic bursts of excellence, Turkey found it difficult to impose themselves upon the game. Former Sheffield United misfit Colin Kazim-Richards looked sprightly and Sanli Tuncay had his moments, but neither could supply striker Nihat Kahveci with the chances he required. Unfortunately, the Turks were notable more for their mastery of the dark arts, than their ability to open up their opponents. It takes a really nasty side to make Portugal look like the set-upon guardians of fair play, but Fatih Terim's team kicked, pushed and pulled their way through the game, beginning with a cynical early clattering of Ronaldo and carrying on in a similar vein from there. Two appalling dives in the penalty area went unrewarded by German referee Herbert Fandel, who was smart enough to see through the majority of their skulduggery. However, unless their inept rivals in Group A manage a transformation of remarkable standards, Turkey still showed here that they are accomplished enough to shake off this defeat and qualify in second place.

Portugal, on the other hand, must now count themselves as genuine contenders for the trophy. They move the ball beautifully, surging into space and tearing defences apart. Pepe, when he isn't scoring goals, forms one half of a phenomenal defensive partnership with Ricardo Carvalho and, should they be drawn into a penalty shoot-out, they have the feline brilliance of Ricardo to protect them. This emphatic and fully deserved victory will have sent a message out to all of Europe. Portugal are back, and this time they could go all the way.

 

[Slipperduke]

He may have just endured what Queen Elizabeth II would refer to as an, ‘annus horribilis’ at the Camp Nou, but Deco’s magnificent performance against Turkey is evidence enough that the Portuguese midfielder still has plenty to offer at the top level of European football. Barcelona have told the former Porto playmaker that he is free to leave the club and, if he keeps playing as well as this, there will no shortage of suitors in the summer.

Deployed in an advanced central midfield role behind Nuno Gomes, Deco was instrumental in everything that Portugal did. His range of passing was extraordinary. As comfortable executing an incisive through-ball as he is delivering a lofted 50 yard pass, he was absolutely exceptional, out-performing his younger compatriots. Deco had spoken before the tournament began about the benefits of mixing veterans like himself and Ricardo Carvalho with youngsters like Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

“It's good for the national team to have new talented youngsters,'' he told a press conference. "It's the present and the future together.”

Deco will be 31 by the time next season starts and it’s clear that his future lies away from Catalonia, but this was a performance to roll back the years. With Xabi Alonso set to leave Anfield for Juventus, it’s possible that Rafa Benitez may try to lure him to Merseyside. Chelsea have also been heavily linked, but with no new manager installed there, the most tempting offer may come from one of their old ones. Deco won his first Champions League medal under Jose Mourinho in 2004 and was expected to join his former boss at Stamford Bridge before he surprised everyone and signed for Barcelona. With Mourinho now installed at the San Siro with Inter Milan, this time the temptation to renew old friendships may prove too strong.

 

[Slipperduke]

Poisoned chalices are rarely as toxic as the Italian job, so spare a thought for their national coach Roberto Donadoni. Not only does he have to deal with the pressure of attempting to satisfy some of the most passionate, partisan fans in the world, but he also has the unenviable task of replacing Marcello Lippi. No-one could blame Lippi for leaving in 2006 with a World Cup winners medal tucked into his back pocket, but he left a pair of enormous shoes behind him and Donadoni, despite his modest success at Livorno, wasn't everybody's first choice to fill them.

Italy suffered in the wake of Lippi's departure and, when they drew their first qualifier with Lithuania and then lost at home to France, it seemed that Donadoni's reign might be notable only for its brevity. Fortunately for him, they haven't lost a game since that night in Paris. A hard-fought victory over Scotland confirmed their qualification at the top of the table and their solid defensive foundations give them an excellent chance of winning this competition.

The Azurri are not without their problems though. They lost Fabio Cannavaro to injury before the tournament had even started and Christian Panucci is still a doubt for tonight's game. However, in Andrea Pirlo they have one of the most graceful distributors of the ball in European football and lone striker Luca Toni has just enjoyed a phenomenal season of success at Bayern Munich. The supporters who shook their heads at Donadoni's appointment now have every reason to be cheerful.

Holland, sadly, do not go into Euro08 with that kind of optimism. The Dutch FA employed a similarly inexperienced big-name coach in Marco van Basten, but that decision is yet to be vindicated. The hero of Euro88 is not a popular man with supporters and he has been unable to unify the team in the lead-up to the tournament. Mark Van Bommel refused to even be considered for international duty and, after a public fall-out and subsequent reconciliation, Clarence Seedoorf left it until the eve of the tournament to change his mind again and pull out once and for all. Such is life with Holland, a team whose ability to self-implode should never be under-estimated. Older fans will remember how they were so divided at Euro96 that their players ate in two distinctly seperate groups; a table for the white players, another for the black.

Even the Dutch formation is the result of internal wranglings. Van Basten's preferred 4-3-3 went down badly with the senior players and, after heated discussion, it was changed to 4-2-3-1, a deployment that sees this traditionally flamboyant side fielding six defensive players. Of the remaining four outfielders, Holland will miss two of their most creative. Arjen Robben suffered a groin injury in a training session and Robin van Persie, as any Arsenal fan will tell you, seems to have been injured all season.

Two proud nations then, led by two young managers enjoying their first international tournament. Italy have already sailed through the storms that broke as soon as they left the harbour, while Holland are already floundering. Anyone expecting a battle of Dutch silk against Italian steel may be disappointed as this game will be won and lost in the middle of a congested midfield and, when it comes to tight, important matches on the world stage, it's difficult not to make Italy the most likely victors.

 

[Slipperduke]

Croatia may have started Euro08 with a win, but even their most ardent supporter would have to admit that a significant improvement is required if they are to avoid an early exit. After an impressive start, Slaven Bilic's side were absolutely battered by a host nation who were supposed to be third-rate at best and there can be no excuses at all. Austria, empowered by their fans and masterminded by the tactical acumen of Josef Hickersberger, were well worth a point, but they just couldn't make their dominance count.

It should never have been so tight. The Croatians flew out of the traps at the first whistle, chasing and harrying for every ball and Austria didn't seem to know what had hit them. Hickersberger had boldly elected to play three centre-backs, but he could have played ten and it wouldn't have stopped Bilic's marauding forces in those opening stages. After three minutes, Luka Modric whirled around on the edge of the box, released Ivica Olic and watched in delight as Salzburg's Rene Aufhauser knocked him flying for a penalty. Without even the faintest sign of nerves, the 23 year old Modric stepped up and stroked the ball home. Chance after chance followed and the Austrian fans, particularly those who petitioned for their own country's pre-emptive disqualification, must have feared the worst.

But they were saved from humiliation by referee Pieter Vink whose decision to allow Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz to remain on the field may yet be one of the strangest of the tournament. Pogatetz had already been booked for dissent when he twice dragged Olic back on the edge of the box before slapping the Croatian striker over the back of the head for good measure. Olic crashed to the ground, flipping about like a fish on land, and Pogatetz looked for all the world like a schoolboy found by a broken window with a cricket-bat in his hand. One can only assume that Vink's decision to leave his cards in his pocket was influenced by the still twitching Olic, who by now was looking so grievously wounded that you expected a priest to run on and administer the last rites. Let's hope that Croatia have learned an important lesson here about play-acting.

The preservation of Pogatetz electrified the home crowd, who were probably packing up their bags and heading for the nearest bar. They burst into life and their team quickly followed. The wing-backs realised that they were allowed to cross the half-way line. The midfielders discovered that they could tackle. All they needed were some strikers. At half-time, you felt that Austria might, just might, have grabbed an equaliser. By full-time, you were wondering how on earth they hadn't. Hickersberger cracked the game wide open by throwing 38 year old Ivica Vastic on to give some creativity, before adding the equally impressive Umit Korkmaz minutes later, but still they couldn't score.

If this had been a race then Croatia would have crossed the finishing line at a crawl, wheezing and spluttering before fainting on the podium. In the last 20 minutes they could barely get out of their own half and we can only imagine quite how angry Bilic must have been in the dressing room afterwards. The Croats were supposed to be a good outside bet, while Austria were meant to be so far outside that you wouldn't be able to see them from your window. When Roman Kienast angled an injury time header wide of the post, it just didn't seem fair that Croatia would be leaving with all three points.
Perhaps, though, given all the traumas and fears of the home support, Austria will be content to leave with something else. Hickersberger's men battled and fought against a superior side, they played expansive football, they made opportunities, they gave their fans hope. They didn't get any points, but they took something which is perhaps more important in the long run. They won back their pride.

 

[Slipperduke]

Even now, four years on from that incredible night in Lisbon, it seems impossible to comprehend that Greece are the reigning European champions. In the wake of their glorious triumph, Otto Rehhagel's regimented, relentless band of heroes never got the big transfer deals that you might have expected, something that only served to further the perception that this was an ordinary team raised to extraordinary levels. The question now is whether or not they can repeat the miracle of 2004. The inspirational Rehhagel remains at the helm, and he's kept faith in many of those players, so you can expect Sweden to show them the respect they deserve when they take to the field for tonight's Group D clash.

The omens certainly look good. Greece are one of the only nations to approach their opening game with no serious injury issues. Midfielder Giorgios Karagounis has reportedly recovered from his knee problem, so Rehhagel will deploy his troops in a familar blanket defence with Theofanis Gekas labouring away up front. Supporting him will be Angelos Haristeas, scorer of the winning goal in 2004. Traianos Dellas will look to reprise his role in the centre of the Greek defence. The big AEK Athens centre-back is likely to line up against Sweden's key player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Inter Milan striker is expected to start tonight's game despite an inflammed knee that has forced him to withdraw from training sessions this week. Long-suffering Swedish fans will wonder which Ibrahimovic will trot out of the dressing room in Salzburg because this is a player who continues to confound and confuse. On his day, I am told that he is one of the world's finest strikers, but I've never actually seen it. Like everyone else, I've seen the internet footgage of 'that goal', and I've watched clips of his flicks and tricks, but there's a world of difference between showboating when you're leading 4-1 and doing the business when it counts. Ibrahimovic was laughably bad in Inter's second leg clash against Liverpool and has a habit of giving up when things begin to go against him. One of the most entertaining sideshows of watching international tournaments in the UK is seeing Martin O'Neill, Aston Villa manager and BBC pundit, tearing his hair out at, what he describes as, "the most over-rated player in the world."

Far more consistent a talent is his strike partner, Henrik Larsson who surely makes his final bow for Sweden this summer having come out of retirement for the third time. Larsson continues to impress for his hometown club Helsingborgs and manager Lars Lagerback has been unable to resist the temptation of hauling him back into active service. Few would be grudge this ultimate professional one more chance at glory and, given his first-class movement and positioning, he should be worth at least one goal in the next three games.

Sweden are often derided as a dull, functional side, but they won their first game of Eyuro 2004 by five goals to nil against Bulgaria, There's little chance of a repeat performance here, but this should be a fascinating clash regardless. Neither team can call upon the cream of European talent, but both outfits are strong, organised and clever and, as the world found out in 2004, a little organisation can go a long way these days.

 

[sufcintheprem]

I feel like I shoudl reply just so the headline topic for International football isn't "W*nker" but...

...Did anyone else think that Emre looked such an improved player in a Turkey shirt compared with when he's wearing a barcode? It could have been the outstanding performance of Aurelio but it's incredibly frustrating when foreign players play above themselves for international teams in comparison to club form.

 

[Hazey]

Normally the opposite these days.

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

Half time in the Holland Italy game and am very impressed with the Dutch. How the lino missed the offside for the first goal is beyond me, but the 2nd was absolute class. Italy just don't look at the races at all, and Sneijder is running the show out there.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Half time in the Holland Italy game and am very impressed with the Dutch. How the lino missed the offside for the first goal is beyond me, but the 2nd was absolute class. Italy just don't look at the races at all, and Sneijder is running the show out there.

First real bit of quality football so far in this dull competition. Glad I've got my Dutch shirt on at the mo!! :clap:

 

[Slipperduke]

Let's be honest for a moment. Before this barnstormer of a game, Euro08 hadn't exactly set the world alight. Germany and Portugal were impressive enough in their opening matches, but the dour goalless draw between France and Romania typified the mood across the tournament. Defensive, cautious and careful have been the watchwords thus far. Not any more. If there were any neutrals out there who still had yet to find a team to support, their search ended here with this superb performance from Marco van Basten's Dutch side. This was beautiful, inspiring, uplifting football of the highest order.

Johan Cruyff, the ultimate Dutch master, had complained recently that this generation didn't have the same capacity for brilliance as the team that he had excelled in during the 1970s, but he may have to swallow a rather large slice of humble pie now. Cruyff was set to link up with Van Basten at Ajax next season, but he dramatically changed his mind, complaining that the young boss wanted to make too many quick changes. For Ajax fans, facing up to a second season without Champions League football, the changes can't come quickly enough and if they get anything half as exciting as this when Van Basten arrives, they'll be delighted.

Holland hadn't beaten Italy in 30 years prior to this game, but it was well worth the wait. The individual skill on display was jaw-droppingly impressive. Two defensive midfielders might be considered an anti-Dutch tactic, but it gave Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart all the freedom they needed to express themselves. With dear old Dirk Kuyt trotting in from the right like a faithful old carthorse they had strength in the air and in Ruud van Nistelrooy they had the ultimate poacher. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst deserves special mention for the lung-busting surge that led to the critical second goal. One second he was clearing the ball off his own line, the next he was charging up the flank, swinging in a ball for Kuyt to nod down to Sneijder. This was counter-attacking at its best.

The Italians, it has to be said, didn't actually play that badly at all. They were the victims of an absurd miscarriage of justice in the first half when van Nistelrooy poked home the opener from a very blatantly offside position and their night went downhill from there. Andrea Pirlo could have brought them back into the game with well-struck free-kick, but Edwin Van der Sar hurled himself across the goal-line and made a world-class one-handed save that belied his venerable age. In response to that scare, Holland simply ran down the other end and planted home a third goal, crushing the Italian resistance once and for all. In the dug-out, Roberto Donadoni threw up his arms in despair. What can you do when the Gods of football turn against you like that?

His side badly missed the calming influence of Fabio Cannavaro, whose experience and positional awareness would surely have prevented this catastrophe. His injury has robbed the Italians, not just of a defender, but of a leader. The Azzuri now have it all to do in the most unforgiving group in the tournament. They play Romania at the end of the week, a side who may as well have bricked up their own goal before their game against France, and nothing less than a victory will do. Realistically, they should be alright, but then again, realistically the world champions don't tend to lose games by three goals.

Despite the delirious celebrations in the stands on the final whistle, Holland haven't won anything yet. Argentina showed us all in 2006 that, no matter how well you open the tournament, it's what happens at the finish that really counts. Nevertheless, this was one hell of a way to start.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Best game of the tournament by a mile so far. Always have liked the Dutch (Rijkaard excepted) and in their group this was a fantastic result.

 

[Slipperduke]

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Austria were the host nation that were supposed to be doomed to hopeless failure, but as the second round of Euro08 group games get underway, it's the Swiss who are wondering what they can do to avoid a humiliating five-day elimination from their own competition. Their inexplicable opening day defeat to the Czech Republic was bad enough, but to lose their inspirational captain Alexander Frei to injury was nothing short of a disaster. Where do they go from here?

Veteran coach Kobi Kuhn will almost certainly change his tactics to facilitate the creativity of Hakan Yakin. The experienced Young Boys midfielder replaced Frei at the weekend and was able to create chances and spread the play around in front of the cumbersome Czech back-line. His inclusion may spell the end for Marco Streller, the lanky Basle striker who contributed very little throughout the 90 minutes. A much better bet would be Eren Derdiyok, the young talent who scored against England at Wembley. It would work out well for everyone. Derdiyok turns 20 on the morning after the match, so it saves Kuhn the hassle of trying to think of a good birthday present.

Whoever Kuhn decides to play, he'll have to warn them about the employment hazards they face. If you could take the injury-feigning of Didier Drogba, the diving of Cristiano Ronaldo, the sly, off-the-ball assaults of Dennis Wise and the crunching tackles of Neil Ruddock, if you could somehow distil all of that dark-hearted nastiness into a test-tube and bottle it, you would have the Turk's pre-match drink. As a neutral, they're fascinating to watch. They dive, they kick, the elbow, they argue. They have absolutely no shame at all and it's really quite entertaining. They're the pantomime villains of Euro08.

Unfortunately, it obscures the fact that they are a very good, very technically adept team indeed and a win could set manager Fatih Terim up nicely for a place in the quarter-finals. Nihat Kahveci struggled to find space against Pepe and Ricardo Carvahlo, but you'd have to expect him to do better against Philippe Senderos. Colin Kazim-Richards and Sanli Tuncay worked their hearts out to open the full-backs at the weekend, both showing far more ability and flair than we saw them demonstrate in the EPL. The same goes for Belozoglu Emre, an average midfielder for Newcastle, a bubbling pot of through-balls for his country.

The only concern over the Turks is their stamina. Just when Portugal were preparing to batten down the hatches for a late onslaught, their opponents faded badly and they certainly can't blame the heat. Only Kazim-Richards was able to keep running, but it wasn't enough. It could be that they had toiled so hard without reward that they hit a brick wall, but it's still concerning. They'll be hoping that their fanatical support, which has travelled to this tournament in great numbers, will be able to drag them over the line because, like Switzerland, nothing less than a win will do.

It's difficult to see the likeable Swiss getting very much out of this game. They play some attractive football, they have the personnel who able make opportunities, but they don't seem to have the cutting edge or the ruthlessness to finish teams off. They’re just too nice. Turkey, as you may have seen, have no problems being nasty, but then pantomime villains rarely do.

 

[BTS]

Van Nistelrooy was NOT offside, watch it again, Panucci slides off the pitch after colliding with Buffon, Panucci was stil ACTIVE. Meaning he was playing Van Nistelrooy onside.

 

[Slipperduke]

I have to hold my hands up on this one, Brad. I was wrong.

Mind you, so was ITV, the entire British press and the Guardian Podcast who are still describing it as a refereeing traversty.

 

[BTS]

Thats ok Slipper, im a qualified ref so i spotted it straight away, was still a difficult decision to call though.