This year's tournament has seen the rise of Croatia, Turkey and Romania and has seen the demise of the Czech Republic, France and the World Champions Italy.
There is no surprise to me personally, that all those sides are set to fall before the quarters. They are all well past their sell-by date and have aging bones at every position.
The most surprising of those flops has been France. They had the youth in reserve, but chose experience over pace. Nasri, Benzema and Gomis are all capable of starting, yet Domenech chose Henry, Anelka and Malouda over them.
They are set to pay big time.
Italy have simply shown their true colours. When faced with something difficult they give up. A 3-0 thumping by Holland showed Cannavaro is severely needed and a 1-1 draw with Romania displayed their lack of cutting edge.
Reports in Italy suggest Donadoni is set to be axed on the back of two poor years since their triumph in Berlin. The tactician behind that famous victory, Marcelo Lippi, is tipped for a return.
However, Italy, unlike France, don't have the youth to inject and will be vulnerable in their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. They would need a series of surgeries on their 30+'s to stand a chance in future tournaments.
Many of you will sit there thinking, "Hang on, both of them can still qualify from Group C and win Euro 2008."
It's mathematically possible, yet realistically, there is no chance.
The runner up would face Spain, and if the Spaniards bottled it, it would leave a rematch with Holland who beat both teams by a combined score of 7-1.
The old guard had better move over as Croatia and company are taking their places at the top table.
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3 months ago
You simply cannot predict the future results the way you have done. Of course, it would be difficult for the team that qualifies second in that group, but, it is very possible that if one of these teams qualifies, they could go all the way - the feeling of getting out of jail is a motivator, and Holland, for all their super football, haven't conceded first in any of their games, hence facilitating their counter-attacks..
They will concede first in one of their future games, and when that happens, I'm sure that they will find it tough..
Of course, I'm also making assumptions like you, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens!
from 3 months ago
The headline was changed, i was refering to their preformances in the second round of fixtures and its guarentted one of the finalists will exit before the quarters.
Your points about Holland though are correct, Spain showed they have the bottle to beat Spain but do Holland???
Marc
from 3 months ago
Marc - I was referring to your statement "The runner up would face Spain, and if the Hispanics bottled it, it would leave a rematch with Holland who beat both teams by a combined score of 7-1." which basically says that whichever team finishes second is doomed to lose to either Holland or Spain.
Spain are a good team but France beat them in the world cup 1-0 in the 2nd round, didn't they? It's all about the big-match temperament, and although I would love for Spain to have it, we can only find out by watching their performances in the next round.. it could well be their year.
from 3 months ago
Ye but on form you would have to be mad to think Italy/France could overhall Spain or Holland, although as you pointed out, anything can happen on the day.
On current form I cant see anything but a Germany/Portugal v Spain/Holland final and that doesnt involve Italy or France.
3 months ago
Article is pretty ignorant IMO. the Azzurri and Les Bleus have never faired well in Round Robin, they have always been supreme knockout teams.. and should either of them advance... Spain should be worried, because they are the historical knock out choke champions.
And to say the Azzurri have no youth??? The only position they may have difficulty is keeper, but some how Italy always manages to scrounge up players that no one has heard about, and shuttle them to the top (e.g. Fabio Grosso, 2006)
The italians are stacked for years to come, do some research (or you tube searches) on the following players:
Next Gen
-DeRossi
-Aquilani
-DiNatale
-Quagliarella
-Cassano
Future
-Givonco
-Aquafresca
-Montolivio
-Gamberini
from 3 months ago
One of the sides, Italy or France are going out, possibly both, FACT.
If it is Italy, there will have to be a cull of the past the prime players, of your list,
DeRossi - Class but Goes Missing Occasionaly, not often though
Aquilani - Good Player with thunderous shot but hasnt made impact for Italy and might not get chance
DiNatale - Couldnt Find anything onn him but iv heard he's a promising player
Quagliarella - More or less, a defoe style player but not world class
Cassano - Has a massive temper with a good strike but is not a team player
Givonco - Tipped for greatness like many others who go missing
Didnt bother looking up the rest but enlighten me if i missed anything.
It will be a struggle to qualify for the World Cup on this showing
3 months ago
Italy have never really had world class players from young ages, they have always developed, for example, when Pirlo was sold from Inter to Milan, would anyone have tipped him for greatness?
Aquilani.. come on, hes only had four or five caps... Point is, Italy will always have the class of players that it takes to qualify for a tournament, in the last 20 years theye have been there at every tournament, and they havent really had any standout players that they depended on outright (totti and del piero never really did anything for the azzurri in this time)... you probably had them knocked out of the WC after they tied with the US...
give credit where credit is due, the azzurri have always been a team with a winning mentality, and they have never had to rely on one or two players to get them there.. that dates back to thier first world cup, right to the most recent.
from 3 months ago
Fair enough but the development comes down to the clubs not the countrys so with Italy's clubs not really in any fit state to challenge for European honours unlike before the match fixing scandal, can they develop the same way as before?
They will most likely have the class to qualify but do they have the class to win future tournaments?
No I counted them out when they lost to Ireland in 94 as I'm Irish!
Credit to the Italiens for that winning mentality and consistent achievemnets but i still think Euro 08 was a tournament too far for the generation.
3 months ago
The Azzuri are not lacking youth, but certainly the French outclass them. Benzema and Nasri are world-class already. This is not true for the Italians, but those players will eventually be threatening I must concede. Cassano is the most threatening player, but that's when hes not mad. France has creativity in their youth, while Italy have youth who can fill in for older players without necessarily distinguishing themselves. Marc, I'm not sure Gomis is ready to play for the French. I would not even play him above Anelka. I will pray for a Romanian loss, which I think both France and Italy can agree with. Allez les Bleus pour la memoire de Zidane!!!
from 3 months ago
The reason the French are suffering is Domenech, they have struggled while he has been in charge, both qualifying and at major tournaments, (without Zidane, they would have lost to Spain or Brazil)
The talent is there but there is no manager to bring it on and chop the dead wood.
3 months ago
I Eat my words.....
3 months ago
Takes a big man to admit it Marc!
And Im not here to gloat, just here to make sure teams that deserve respect, get it.
The Azzurri are hated by many, and I never understand why, they have been a contender at almost every major tournament in the last 30-40 years.. and I would never count them out, no matter how bleak thier future looks... as I stated before, Italy have never really had world class players from young ages, they have always developed.
Looking forward to the game against Spain, it will be a battle and interesting to see who will advance... as is always the smart thing to do in the world of football, I will hold on making a prediction and hope for the best team to advance.. as deserved.
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