After Italy sent uncle Henry's France packing, yesterday a young Russian team did the same to uncle Henrik's aging Sweden. Henrik Larsson has been a much better footballer for Sweden, than his 'dark' look alike Henry has been, for France. But amazingly, he having retired once, after Sweden's 2006 WC defeat, wants to continue at the age of 36! I guess old footballers don't die. They just loose their balls.
Talking of people who have lost it (apart from crucial matches) Domenech the Demented takes the cake. He reportedly proposed marraige to his long time partner immediately after loosing the match to Italy. Estelle Denis is the 'lucky' lady - young enough to be his daughter but old enough to be the mother of his two kids. I suppose that the effect that President Sarkozy has on his likeminded subjects. It is Domenech's personal matter but the timing of his announcement, taken together with his other comments (Holland-Romania match will be fixed in favor of Romania, France was done in by the referee against Italy), makes one wonder, whether at all he focussed on job at hand at any point in time. Raymond Domenech has to be, easily the worst coach of Euro 2008, in every respect.
Talk of coaches and the Bundestrainer will be barred from the team dugout for the QF and will have to witness the match as a spectator in the stands - win or loose. Low has other more important problems though. Podolski and Frings are nursing injuries. Thats two lame ducks for Germany if they play. Sweinsteiger, Ballack and Lehmann will worry about another yellow card because if they get one they could miss the SF. Thats four lame ducks and dodo (Lehmann) even before the start of the QF. Add to this the 'invisible man' of Euro 2008 - Miroslav Klose. Throw in Mario Gomez who is just behind Luca Toni in missed opportunities. Interestingly Mario Gomez was scored 19 goals to Luca Toni's 25 in the Bundesliga. Apart from the weaknesses Germany has (as mentioned in earlier post) the one thing that strikes me about this German side is that they seem to have too many of 'exports' these days...a la the French!
All in all, it appears that Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft has Druid Getafix's recipe for total disaster. But as Big Phil admits, count them out at your own peril. Not for nothing, are the German's three times champions of the World and Europe.
And about Portugal - Domenech the Demented was thinking Estelle even as France played Italy for a QF spot. Big Phil and Ronaldo are thinking dollars coming from Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively. A loss in the dead rubber of a last match of the group stage is in no way a morale booster or ideal preparation for the QFs. Also Portugal has no less than five players who will worry about missing the semi-final if they get another yellow card.
It is difficult to tell which of the two sides will be stonger in the mind. Germany for the first time since I started watching football appears to be a shade weaker. They have a 9-2 win-loss record in the knockout stages of the tournament but there is danger it will be dented further tonite.
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