Now that the dust has started to settle on Euro 2012, it’s time for a general round up, and the overall player ratings. Rather than rehashing the figures I am simply going to take the easy way out and use
Euro 2012: Tournament Player Ratings
It doesn’t end here…
Well, Euro 2010 is finally over, and our Spanish friends are now crowing about winning three titles in a row. Now some of us may find them boring, but let us congratulate them on what is a magnificent achievement. The
Germany v Italy: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
I never thought it would come to this – my last ratings report of Euro 2012, and I’m not writing about the final. Instead, another semi-final against that old banana skin Italy, and yet another painful defeat.
Endstation Warschau.
So, no return to the Ukraine after what was planned to be a two-week break in Poland. Poor tactics, mental collapse, another defeat to bogey side Italy, and it’s all over. Just like that. I’ll save the post mortem for
The Italian Job
When the last eight teams slotted into place and Germany then beat Greece to make the semi-finals, we all knew a classic encounter would be coming up next. We would either see England – a team that has provided a
Of Moles and Men
We now know Germany’s next opponents: old friends Italy, who claimed the final semi-final spot after a penalty shootout win against a brave, well-organised but ultimately toothless England side in Kiev.
Germany v Greece: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
So here we are: another fine team performance, and yet another major tournament semi-final. Fifteen competitive victories in a row, and two away from a record-extending fourth European Championship title. The worst thing now will be the waiting.
Ouzo does it.
Following the Nationalmannschaft’s third group phase victory against Denmark, there would be much talk about the eleven would start the quarter-final against Greece. Most of us expected the same team that had taken to the field against both Portugal and
Inside the Mind of the Maharishi Jogi
Three games, three times the same line up – Jérôme Boateng’s one match suspension aside – and everyone expecting more of the same for this evening’s quarter-final against Greece.
Greece is the Word.
At the end of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, Germany beat Uruguay 3-2 to clinch third place. Since then, they have played a further thirteen competitive matches, winning them all. Ten from ten in qualifying for the
Germany v Denmark: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
Three wins from three and maximum points in a European Championship group phase for the first time – easy. Or not, given that this was yet another tough match that could very easily have swung in the opposite direction.
Danish Pastries
After the lovely refreshing glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice on Wednesday, we can now add to that a rather nice Danish pastry – though at times it did taste a little half-baked.