Best of Euro 2008

Yes. Perhaps the best matches of Euro 2008 have already been played. The best football of European brand was on display in France v Holland and Turkey v Czech Republic games.
Holland on the face of it thrashed France 4-1 but anyone who saw the game live will tell you that it was a close contest. France was lacking the finish and Henry showed why he never managed to take Arsenal higher in the Champions league. Henry is half a player a Zizou was and that is the best that can be said of him or France without Zizou all things remaining equal - which clearly is not the case any more in the French defence as well. Well, supporters of any team with Henry or Jens Lehmann, must pray more if their team is to win. Having followed the fortunes of Arsenal during the heydey of both Henry and Lehmann,I have seen many a crucial mishaps by both of them. I dare say that German supporters have reason to be afraid....very afraid. All said and done France was at its fluid best for a long time and the match against Holland will surely go down as one of the best matches in Euro 2008. Djibril Cisse must have watched Henry miss those sitters with disgust. If France fail to go through Domenech will be known as Domenech the Demented. But nothing can be taken away from the clinical efficiency or the surgical precision of the Dutch. Arjen Robben has finally arrived if he can guide Holland beyond the quarter finals. They will do well to not allow a rematch with either France or Italy in the SF. Romania deserves to go through for the way the played against Italy. Brilliant football again by the Itallians but clearly Toni and Del Piero have limitations. Toni cannot dribble and use his feet. Either that or he has been told not to. His headers lack the power and precision of the past. Del Piero lacks pace. De Rossi has to come to the fore if Italy has to make it to the next round......also Romania has to loose. Romania's 'Don' Mutu(swami) will forever curse himself for missing the penalty against Italy if they loose the last match against Holland.
Italy's Buffon was exceptional but the best goalkeeper of the tournament has to be Russia's Igor Akinfeev. Spain's David Villa is the find of the tournament so far and only the indomitable Turks - Arda Turan and Nihat Kahveci - together with Holland's Wesley Sneijder compete with him. Turkey v Czech Republic match lived up to expectations. In arguably the match of the tournament so far Nihat led with a lion's heart in Emre's absence, scored two goals in four minutes, as Turkey snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. What a sad end to striker Jan Koller's and coach Karel Bruckner's illustrious careers! Both these teams promised a lot in the last few years and achieved little. Turkey may yet not go the whole distance but with a win like this who knows? They will be all fired up to do the impossible now. Fatih Terim of Turkey and Slaven Bilic of Crotia will now have a face off in the quarter finals for the title of the Best Coach of Euro 2008.
Germany faces death at the hands of Austria....Italy and France pray the Dutch for mercy...Sweden may come to grief against the Russians...perhaps the best of Euro 2008 is yet to come!

Watch out for Italy v France, Sweden v Russia and Crotia v Turkey (QF).

P.S: Greece is out....how wonderful!? The worst team to have won the European Champions tag has a first round exit!!!