Euro Today!

16 nations started the competition but have now been watered down to the last four- Portugal vs Spain; Germany vs Italy. These semi-finalists were predictable, as they were pretournament favourite, and have lived up to judgement.

The last time we examined this competition on this blog was when the nation were about to their second matches in the group stage. Since then we saw Czech and Greece advancing to the Quarter final at the expense of Russia and Poland in Group A. In Group B, German and Portugal progressed as opposed to Denmark and pointless Holland. Spain and Italy expected advanced into the next round at the expense of Ireland and Croatia in group C. And finally in group D, England tops the table as they progressed with France, ditching Sweden and Ukraine out of the competition.

The quarter-finals produced another fine round of entertaining European football. Portugal with the help of their inspiring captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, had a lone goal over the inferior Czech side, and they booked their ticket into the semis.

Roo...to semis

June 22, Germany treated the world to their fast interesting brand of football, as they dispatched the Greek side 4-2. Although the Germans made changes to their attacking line up, they still progressed effortlessly, making a mark as strong title contenders.

The following day did not fall short of expectations either. A France-Spain encounter will always be a tight interesting contest any day. And so it proved to be, as the 2-0 score line in favour of Spain, belied what actually transpired. France gave a good fight to the end, but the Spanish side were winners as they took their chances clinically. Xabi Alonso marked his 100^th cap with the brace that sent the Spaniards to the semi-final and booked a meeting with neighbours Portugal.

FailedAshleys

The dogged English side under the tutelage of Roy Hodgson continued to display their defensive prowess as their meeting with Italy ended 0-0 after normal time and extra-time...stretching the match into penalty shootouts. As history continues to show, the English were again unlucky in the shootout, as Italy deservedly won with 4-2 score. Inability of the two Ashleys (Cole and Young) punished the English side. Although, the Italian were deserved winners as they dominated the game, especially through the help of their old warhorse- Andre Pirlo- who produced a Champagne performance to send the ‘Three Lions’ back home with a lot of homework to do.

Pirlo...still strong!

The above results leave the semis looking like this: Portugal vs Spain; and Germany vs Italy, with the first clash kicking off today. The final will take place on Sunday, July 1, 2012.

So far so good, everything is still on course, and my bet is still on Spain or Germany! Though, Portugal are beginning to develop belief in a team built round Ronaldo; this may stand to be their undoing.

Spain’s still my first choice!

Let’s have your say.