Back to our regular schedule! I was on vacation last week so I missed some games but was able to see Italy -Germany. I was surprised by the outcome. I am still not sold on the "ugly" sometimes, but efficient Italian style. Germans were surprised by both Balloteli's goals and was too quick and too much to overcome.
The final looked like a very good matchup, but as the game advanced and the scored favored the Spanish you could see the Italians had nothing vs Spain. Spain never let Italy have the ball and therefore controlled the pace of the game. Too bad Italy ended up with 10 players due to the injury, which made the game completely one sided and were even lucky at the end the score was only 4-0. I think Spain had some compassion.
Second goal from Spain was a work of art. The play started with Casillas the Goalie!!! and after many touches, where the Italians were just spectators, it was finished by non other than a defensive player. Truly amazing craft.
What can u say about Spain that has not already been said. First eve to win 3 major championships on a row Euro08, WC10, Euro12. I tend to agree, it is probably the best team ever, at least from the teams I had the chance to see, as I didn't get to see Brazil in the late 60's early 70's or Holland in the late 70's. I don't think even Germany, despite being so consistent and dominant overall, had ever had a run like the Spanish. And Brazil surprisingly has never been as dominant locally on the South American Cup (Copa America) sitting at 3rd place after Uruguay and Argentina.
Speaking of Torres...comes in and scores and wins the golden boot! Good for him. What a way to show he still got it (People tend to forget he scored the winning goal in the last Euro). He had a rough World Cup, I believe he went scoreless, and then tough time with Chelsea last year. It is tough with that line up in Spain, not sure how they manage to play sometimes without a true striker. As you saw during the EURO anybody can score, they are not depending on one or two guys like Portugal. Will be interesting to see what happens to Torres once Villa comes back.
Little known fact...Torres is one of the few players to have won the European Championship (Champions League) and the European Cup on the same year.
and on to my picks...didn't do too good this time I had 4 out of 8 for the Qtrs and I had Germany as the Champs, but I did nail the Italy/England going to PKs!!!
There u go now we wait until Brazil 2014... I'll keep me entertained with the Qualifiers
moving on....
