Euro 2012 - The Finalists

What a game that morning! Congrats to Chelsea! How many teams can beat Barcelona over two legs? Yet Bayern playing on home soil has to be favourites especially with Chelsea 6th in EPL  and missing 4 players including their captain. When Muller scored in he 83rd, many would have thought it was over. Didier Drogba powered home an unstoppable header which Neuer got a hand to in the 88th but could not stop to bring it into extra-time. Then Drogba played villain when he carelessly tripped Ribery but Cech saved the penalty.


When Philip Lahm scored the first penalty in sudden death and Juan Mata's got saved, again we thought it was over. To win in this situation on penalty kicks against the Germans? No way! Cech saved from Olic then Cole scored perhaps the most well taken penalty to level before Bastian Schwesteinger hit a post and Drogba hit the final nail! He was amazing when he first turned out for Marseille and continued till now. This has implication for England. Ashley Cole was outstanding as he made some timely tackles and superb interventions. Gary Cahill was okay and Frank Lampard playing as captain was neat. What a game! Cruel for Bayern Munich though.
 The irony was Roberto di Matteo was not the first choice of Roman Abramovich. The coveted trophy with big ears has been won! Chelsea came back from the dead 3-4 times. It was written in the stars. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMg5cQd5f50.

It was like that Ali rope-a-dope with Foreman. Only sorry for Tottenham for missing out Europe as Chelsea won. Will Abramovich retain di Matteo? If he doesn't, would Liverpool be interested? Life's victory does not always go to the bigger or stronger men. As the battle went on maybe after 15 corners and 30 shots, Bayern players may have started to believe it wasn't their time while Chelsea grew in confidence. A classic lesson. Johan Cruyff slammed Chelsea for the way they played. That is why Abramovich wanted Pep Gourdiola.


Euro 2012

The 16 Finalists for Euro 2012 hosted jointly by Poland and the Ukraine are contesting in four groups A-D with the winner of Group A playing Group B runner-up, Group C winner playing Group D runner-up,  Group B winner to play Group A runner-up and finally Group D winner playing Group C runner-up leading to the semi-finals and Final.

Groupings

Group A - Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech.

Group B - Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal.

Group C - Spain, Italy, Ireland, Croatia.

Group D - Ukraine, Sweden, France, England.

The Odds:

Spain - 5/2

Germany - 3/1

Netherlands - 6/1

England - 10/1

France - 12/1

Italy - 12/1

Portugal - 16/1

Russia - 28/1

Croatia - 33/1

Ukraine - 50/1

Denmark - 66/1

Czech - 66/1

Poland - 66/1

Ireland - 66/1

Sweden - 80/1

Greece - 80/1

With the recently ended EPL season still fresh in our minds and Roy Hodgson naming a squad close to what I had suspected as advised in my previous article, let me tell you the hits and misses of the squad.

England

Goalkeepers (3) - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.


Joe Hart is destined to be a star. He's England's best for some time. Confident, courageous, capable. Even Sir Alex said so. Robert Green brings back bad memories due to Fabio Capello for not listening to me to pick Hart back then. John Ruddy deserve a shot for his sterling display for Norwich. Safe here, no issue.

Defenders (7) - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Phil Jones.

Leighton Baines has a good season for Everton and even Man Utd wants him to replace Evra . He actually outscored Ashely Cole in the real live Fantasy League but Cole has been England's best defender for such a long time. No issue on left back. The best right back in England is PFA Young Player of the Year Tottenham's Kyle Walker. He's strong, quick, make and score goals including including free-kicks but alas his toe is hurting and won't be going. What a waste. Glen Johnson was playing during Benitez's time at Liverpool. It seemed lacking in confidence. Gary Cahill has been good but didn't play often enough for AVB at Chelsea. Joleon Lescott is a good bet in a title winning season for Man City but he made that silly mistake which allowed QPR to score. Phil Jones is one for the future so it makes sense to bring him , besides, the boy is versatile as centre back, right back or even defensive midfield. John Terry? He has a shadow hanging over him.  He was out of pace when Liverpool trounced Chelsea 4-1. Micah Richards had a great time early in the season but fizzled out and was not selected. My shock was the dropping of Rio Ferdinand. Maybe he can't play two back to back games due to his bad back but he played more regularly for Man Utd this season and there is no other defender who is so comfortable on the ball and distribute it better from defence. Defence for England is so so unless they play like Chelsea (vs Bayern) or Man City (vs Man Utd).

Midfielders (8) - Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

Gerrard and Lampard are not at their best and Gerrard has been hampered by injury but when they were at their best for Liverpool and Chelsea they didn't do well for England. This will be their last chance. Gareth Barry had a good season for Man City. Can he hold midfield like he has done for City? Scott Parker is probably the best  - he wins the ball and release it. Milner didn't play many games so he is fresh. Walcott is boom or bust - he can be the best or mediocre.  Ashley Young had a great season with Man Utd. If he can reproduce the same form at Utd England can do better. Paul Scholes, the best passer was not recalled and Michael Carrick was left out. A notable absentee is young Jack Wilshere from Arsenal. He would have made a difference. The key is the very young Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. He is not known to the competition and boy is he fast!

Strikers (4) - Andy Carroll, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Jermaine Defoe.

Jermaine Defoe is raring to go as he didn't play in every game for Tottenham. He can be deadly and clinical. Welbeck showed he has good movement and has done well for Man Utd. Rooney is the top scoring Englishman in 2012 season with 27 goals but he will miss the first two games through suspension. Andy Carroll offers something different. If he imposes himself he can be a threat due to his aerial ability during set pieces. He started to show what he could do towards the season's end and he is fresh. The others like Adam Johnson (Man City), Sturridge (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton) and Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) are pending. The squad seem lacking. 


What Roy Hodgson and Engalnd can do is to take a leaf from Chelsea. Their domestic form was poor but they conquered Europe including overcoming Barcelona over two-legs and then Bayern Munich in Germany. Not only that, they overcame the Germans who were at home on penalties! It is almost like beating Spain and Germany and conquering in penalties. Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard were a part of that team that made history recently. 

Denmark made history when they didn't even qualify but due to a ban on the former Yugoslavia, they were recalled when the players were already going on holidays. They went on to win the Championship. Greece was another example when they won the Championship. Unfancied and most of their top players played overseas including the EPL. A few were in the first team of league clubs but many others either plied their trade in the lower divisions or were merely substitutes in the Premier League. They were well rested and without the pressure of expectations when the rest were tired.

Captain

John Terry will not be captain and it may be a good thing. To me, a captain should be one like former Man Utd captain Bryan Robson. He tackled and won balls, assisted and scored goals. He was courageous, all-actioned and a fighter when the chips were down. There is none better than Steven Gerrard. Hodgson has made the perfect choice. Frank Lampard and Scott Parker can be the deputies. There have been many examples over the years for Liverpool and top of the list was that famous 3-3 comeback against Milan when they won the Champions League. Not only should Gerrard be captain, the England team should be built around him.

How will England fare and who will qualify from the first round or go on to win the 2012 championship and who are the players to watch in this tournament? Watch this space.