Monday, June 25, 2012

Euro 2012 Recap

It has been a while since the last post and I'm not sure where you've been getting your footy news in the past year, but I am out of that coma (don't ever take Forget-Me-Nows from Gob Bluth) and here to break down the final four in Euro 2012. Spain takes on Portugal in the first semifinal, and Germany faces Italy in the second. Spain has been passing, possessing and penetrating their way to wins, while Portugal has jumped on the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo, only to slide off because of all his excess hair gel, roll around on the ground and demand the referee give someone, anyone, a yellow card on their way to the semis. Their defense has bent but not broken, but I think they'll leave too much open space for the Spanish ball-control wizards to exploit. Germany has been playing some sexy football, while Italy has just been looking sexy. The Germans have been imposing their will on all opponents, whereas Italy has relied on the elegant Andrea Pirlo and a combative, combustible forward line to pick up some key goals. The Italians have displayed a really strong sense of team unity - it looks like they have adopted an 'Us Against the World' mentality in the wake of the most recent match-fixing allegations coming out of their domestic league - and it was great to see their team chemistry and enthusiasm in their huddle right before the penalty kick shootout win over England in the quarterfinals. But I give the nod to Germany's sleek style over the plucky Italians. Let's hear your thoughts, analysis, and predictions. This is, after all, the people's game.