Guus Hiddink may be the miracle man of international football, but he won’t want to shout too loudly about his record in semi-finals. Typically, he guides his sides to the last four and then, just as everyone starts getting overexcited, promptly loses. This time, it’s Spain who are going to bring the big old Dutchman to tears. Here’s why…
Nine reasons why Spain will beat Russia…
1. Spain are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Russia, winning four and drawing three.
2. Not since a 2-1 win in Moscow in 1971, have Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) enjoyed victory against Spain.
3. The sides met in the group stages of this summer’s tournament, with Spain emerging as convincing 4-1 victors.
4. On the three previous occasions that teams have met twice in the same tournament (Portugal/Greece Euro 2004, Brazil/Turkey World Cup 2002 and Germany/Czech Republic Euro 1996) the side that won the first contest have always gone on to win the second as well.
5. Spain’s goalless draw with Italy extended their unbeaten run to twenty matches. Aragones’ men
Jens Lehmann has told the press he would ‘give his life’ to reach the final of Euro 2008: “I don’t want to go out in the semis again,” said the grumpy shot stopper. So if Die Deutschen make it through tonight and a certain Stuttgart keeper gets struck by lightning, we’ll know a deal with the devil went down.
Favourites Germany are just a few hours away from taking on Turkey in the first Euro 2008 semi, so it’s as good a time as any to ask you all who you think will win the tinny little Henri Delaunay trophy. Votes and comments below, please folks.
Get the best possible betting information on Euro 2008 from chickendinner
Having successfully avoided a quarter-final clash with Germany, the most successful side in Euro history, the Turks now face in-form Croatia. Unfortunately, this looks to be the end of the road for the Eurasians, as the Croats, powered by Slaven Bilic’s powerful rocket sauce, will make the semis. Oh well, at least they got to make Petr Cech look like a clown before bowing out. Why Croatia will win
* Croatia have never lost to Turkey.
* Turkey have faced Croatia once before at the European Championships, in 1996, and Croatia triumphed 1-0.
* Croatia have won all three games so far at the European Championships.
* Turkey have never led a match with Croatia, on the two times they drew they have come from behind.
* Turkey may have excelled against Switzerland and Czech Republic but they have won just four of their last eight.
* Croatia have lost just one of their 17 competitive games since losing to Brazil at the World Cup - a 2-0 loss in Macedonia after they’d already secured Euro 2008 qualification.
But it might go to penalties…
* Two of the three previous Croatia/Turkey clashes have
German aerial strikes too much for Big Phil’s side
If you listened to chickendinner’s astute advice, you would have come away from last night’s quarter-final match a little richer. As the betting genii predicted, Ballack’s men were far too strong for Portugal, and as I predicted, Ronaldo waited less than a few minutes after the final whistle to start harping on about Real Madrid.
Raymond Domenech subscribes to chickendinner’s theory
France boss Raymond Domenech has started to crack under the pressure of being pretty rubbish, and has admitted he fears Holland will conspire to cost Italy and France a place in the next round.
Holland have been cleared to play a weakened team against Romania and if they lose, Romania progressahead of Italy and France as runners-up, with the Dutch still topping the group, which could prove convenient for Marco Van Basten’s side when the semi-finals arrive.
Domenech, rambling like a madman consumed by paranoia, said:
“Our game against Italy will not be decisive. It’s the other match that matters. My opinion is Holland will make wholesale changes for the game on Tuesday night and it is already written that Romania will qualify with them from the group.”
Of course what he neglects to mention is the only reason Romania control their fate is that France were awful against them and had they actually beaten Romania, then their destiny would be in their own hands…
chickendinner make an excellent call on Holland’s run so far
Apart from that whole thing about Paul McCartney dying in the sixties and being replaced by a doppelganger, The Spoiler isn’t one to believe conspiracy theories. However, we couldn’t help but take notice of the chickendinner bet blog, which correctly called the second Group C games, last Thursday night:
Picture this perfectly plausible scenario for a second. Tomorrow, buoyed by victory over Italy in the opening game, Holland defeat a France side struggling to find their feet.
In the other Group C game, Italy are low on confidence after their shock loss and Romania are able to take a point by “playing to their strengths” as they did against France.
That would create a situation where Holland would have the group sewn up with six points, Romania would be second with two points and Italy and France would be struggling with one point.
At first glance, it’s hard to imagine Romania beating Holland, which would mean a straight shootout for the final place between Italy and France, with the winner qualifying.
But what if Holland, already having the group won, gave Romania
The Spoiler assesses the favoured candidates in the race for power at Ewood Park
The Chelsea vacancy has seen the biggest names in football linked with a move to the Premier League, while the Blackburn job has seen some less glamorous hats thrown into the ring. According to their chairman, there have been over 40 applications, although most of them were probably cocky twenty-somethings who fancy themselves on Championship Manager.
After the appointments of Graeme Souness and Mark Hughes proved big successes, the Blackburn board have gained a reputation for making savvy appointments. Surely they’re not going to risk all that on Alan Shearer?
The Blackburn Managerial Candidates
Sam Allardyce - 7/4
The Blackburn board like to emphasise the buzzword ’stability’, and this is something that Allardyce has proven he can deliver at Bolton, where he exceeded this with European qualification and a League Cup Final appearance. His reputation for drab, hoof-it-up football is the main deterrent to appointing him. Verdict: Appears a perfect match
Alan Shearer - 15/8
Was the star player of the greatest season in Blackburn’s history when they won the Premier League in 1995, and has made it clear he would be interested in becoming a manager. His dream job is clearly Newcastle though and Blackburn may not appreciate being used as a stepping stone once more. Shearer has apparently expressed doubts that Blackburn is the right starting point for him. Verdict: Would be risky business
Paul Ince -9/2
He engineered a great escape with Macclesfield in his first season as a manager before moving to Franchise FC and winning them the title and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The only problem is that these achievements occurred with an (immoral, soulless) League Two side - his success may not translate if he mixed it up with the big boys.
