Wow. What a tournament. One should have to admit Euro' 08 was far better than Euro '04. The best part was that, for a neutral this was a great tournament because most teams played beautiful attacking football and not the defensive type that has been adapted by many teams(Rangers, Chelsea,etc) over the years.
In the end, Spain were deserved winners. This must be some relief for the Spanish fans who were getting used to seeing Spain play brilliant football during the group stages of every major tournament and then going out at the first knock-out round. Even the players were getting used to that I think. Anyway, this time around they made it. You have to admit that they were the best team and it's good to know that the best team won it. Stats don't lie. Spain scored more goals than anyone, they had more shots on target and had the highest passing percentage (81%) than anyone. The good thing for Spain is that this is a very young squad(most players would be retained for the World Cup 2010). So you can expect wonders from them.
Let's take a look at the winners and losers of Euro 2008:
WINNERS:
Spain, Champions : As I said earlier, Spain were deserved winners. Their quick passing one-touch football was too good. Spain have always produced brilliant individuals over the past years but have never made it as a team. To win a major tournament after 44 years would be a welcome boost for the country. But I hope they stop making it a habit of beating Italy (They've done it twice this year).
Fernando Torres : I had said in my preview that I would like to see Fernando Torres score a couple of hat-tricks. Well, he didn't do that but he scored a wonderful goal in the final against Germany, which proved to be the decisive one. It was a pure striker's goal. After a great season with Liverpool he has lived up to his name. Things can only get better for Torres.
Andrei Arshavin : He is the find of the tournament. He missed the first two matches due to suspension but he was brilliant against Sweden and Netherlands. I was disappointed that he wasn't at his best against Spain. But, this guy is a star for the future. Already Barca, Arsenal and a few other big clubs are trying to sign him. The future surely looks bright for Arshavin.
Russia, Semifinalists : The team that knocked out pre quarter-final favorites Netherlands, showed us how the game should be played(not talking about the semi-finals). Russia adapted a fast attacking style of football, something which England should try to do. They had two brilliant full-backs in Yuri Zhirkov and Anyukov. Arshavin was magnificent as a playmaker. And Roman Pavlyuchenko played the lone striker role very well.
Turkey, Semifinalists : It's amazing how a team can keep coming back again and again. That's exactly what Turkey did. Even in the semi final against Germany they almost pushed it to extra-time. It was a shame they didn't have the full squad available for the match against the Germans. But they had received too much yellow cards to deserve that.
David Villa : To score four goals and come back with the Golden Boot did Villa's reputation no harm. It was unfortunate that he wasn't able to play in the final, but Torres more than made up for that.
Luka Modric : Tottenham have found a gem in Luka Modric. The way he passes the ball is similar to Andrea Pirlo : Brilliant. It was very unfortunate that he missed a spot kick in the shoot out against Turkey. Croatia too can be proud of themselves. They played some superb football in the group stages and then did a Spain in the quarter-final. That equaliser by Semih will haunt them forever.
Daniele De Rossi : He earns a place in the Winners list courtesy of his commanding display against France in the 2-0 victory and due to the fact that he is one of my favorite players. He was solid against Spain too but went from hero to zero by not converting in the shoot-out. But, that's what shoot-outs are : a lottery. Italy, as a whole, didn't play as I would have expected them to. But, Who Cares?? They beat France. That was all I needed. Talking about De Rossi, he definitely has a bright future ahead of him.
Pepe : He was brilliant as a CB. It would have been nice for Portugal if a player better than Ricardo Carvalho had been the other CB. The good thing with Pepe was that he was good coming forward too. His goal against Turkey was really awesome.
Yuri Zhirkov : Special mention has to be given to Yuri Zhirkov, who was the best Left-Back of the tournament (don't even think about Phillip Lahm). His run to set up Arshavin's goal against Sweden was first-class. Sometimes you tend to forget that this guy is a Left-Back.
Wesley Sneijder : This chap was Netherlands's player of the tournament. His goals against Italy and France were great (Any goal scored against France is great).
LOSERS:
France : They did exactly what I wanted them to do : Leave the tournament as soon as possible. Their game against Romania was the most boring game of the tournament. Domenech's decision to play Eric Abidal as Center-back in the game against Italy was as stupid as Thiery Henry stretching his leg out to help De Rossi score. They were the worst team in the tournament and Domenech was the worst coach of the tournament.
Adrian Mutu : Well, the poor chap missed that crucial spot kick against Italy. He will have sleepless nights due to that. So he ends up in the Loser's list.
Petr Cech : He is considered by many as one of the best goal-keepers in the world. But his mistake against Turkey will make Fabien Barthez look like Dino Zoff.
Luca Toni : I hate to admit it, but Toni didn't look like the guy who had tormented every defender in the German Bundesliga. He wasted too many chances against France (It would have been great had it been 5-0 or 6-0). But his goal against Romania was outrageously ruled off-side.
Netherlands : After playing amazing football in the group stage matches they did something that Spain normally does : They Choked. Their approach against Italy and France were wonderful. But, against Russia they were never well settled. The good thing for them is that, just like Spain, this is a very young squad and they can look forward to the next WC in a positive manner.
Greece : I had said in my preview that I would be happy if Greece never had a shot on target. Well, they came close in the first two matches. This result proves that Greece's '04 victory was a mere fluke. Now I hope that they don't qualify for the next Euro.
Sweden : This is a team that never excites anyone and they didn't disappoint this time.
Michael Ballack : There is no second best in football. You are either a winner or a loser. And for the 352nd time in his life Ballack has lost in a final.
My Team of the Tournament :
GK : Buffon(Italy)/ Casillas(Spain)
Def : Anyukov(Russia), Pepe(Portugal), Chiellini(Italy), Zhirkov(Russia)
Mid : Senna(Spain), Sneijder(Net.), Modric(Croatia), Arshavin(Russia)
Att : Pavlyuchenko(Russia), Torres(Spain)
- Alberto Pazzini
