I don't think we could expect much different from Germany. Germany is one of those teams that usually don't raise their level very much when they raise it, but don't lower it immensely either when they're having a bad day. There's a few questions that need answering, such as Torsten Fring's health, as well as Lukas Podolski's. Especially Fring's situation is quite delicate for the Germans, because not only does his team desperately require him to raise his level in these Championships, but tonight more that ever. The test facing the German midfield that Deco and Petit will provide is probably be the sternest they will have faced this tournament so far. Frings, or whomever ends up playing alongside Ballack will have to be on his game as once and for all the German captain needs a more than reliable partner to expatiate around the pitch and take over the game as he is more than capable of doing. Germany can not afford once again to have its midfield core disappear and dissipate as they've been doing lately. They were very lucky the other night not to see their mistakes come back to hurt them as they played a weaker opponent. But tonight's opponent is not likely to forgive as Austria does. Deco and Co. will definitely take advantage of any German miscalculation and put them out of this tournament if they have the chance, they won't hesitate. One battle I'm particularly looking forward to is Cristiano Ronaldo and Phillip Lahm. If Lahm plays left back again as he did against the hosts they will most likely have a very interesting go at it. Naturally the Germans will have to be extremely coordinated defensively as they will need Lahm to mark Ronaldo during the bulk of the match, but once Portugal starts to test the small defender with long frontal and diagonal passes over his head, they'll need a plan B, as he normally struggles with those, especially if they're accurate. And I definitely do not think Germany wants Metzelder or Mertesacker roaming too far out of the central defence trying to mitigate the danger of that tactic which Portugal is very likely to try . So they will have to come up with a way of containing Ronaldo not only when/if Lahm is surpassed by a long ball, but also when the Bayern Munchen defender pushes forward as he is prone to do. Although were I he tonight, I'd think about that once or twice, as it is suicidal to leave Ronaldo all by his lonesome out on the wing. Wouldn't be a bad idea actually to start Lahm as a midfielder and let him do all the attacking he wants without having to worry about Ronaldo, and maybe leave the Portuguese player to Arne Friedrich or put Marcell Jansen in again to do that task. It'll be a fascinating dynamic on that side of the pitch tonight, without forgetting that Friedrich will also have his hands full with Simao. Still I insist that the key of the whole thing tonight is the midfield contest between Deco, Petit and Ballack alongside, theoretically Frings. I'm inclined to believe that whoever dominates that section of the pitch will find themselves semifinalists, but unforeseen contingencies in football are usually the last word. Like the aforementioned injuries to key German players, those who would replace them, the performance of the goalkeepers, as well as the referee and his assistants. And one detail which I'm not sure how relevant it will be but has been talked about ad nauseam in the German press, and that's Low's conundrum of not being able to be present near the sideline tonight. A quirky decision by UEFA, but could we expect any less from them? So, those are a few things to keep an eye on, which I'm sure that along with others will arise and are bound to have a profound impact on this beautiful match.

So I brought myself to turn on the television and watch this Moscow final. I had the odd feeling that it would be an absolute waste of a good three hours, but still I convinced myself. In the end, what a piece of excrement. The pitch did not help, I'll admit that. But for the whole portion of the game-that I watched-the players were nervous bordering on scared. It was easily noticeable. Their managers' clumsy tactical choices did not help them either. I mean, if you know John Terry is in pain, you try him, you challenge him directly with diagonal and unexpected sprints by your attackers, like Klinsmann did to an injured Ruggeri at the 90' world cup final in Rome. But no, it seems that thought never entered Ferguson's overrated futbol mind. At least it did not seem so from watching Rooney's and Tevez's actions. Sometimes you wonder where the line stands between a manger's incompetence and the player's own tactical ignorance. It's difficult to criticize Cristiano Ronaldo-and believe me, I love to do so-in this instance because, number one:anyone can miss a penalty, anyone. And number two:he scored a lovely goal. But his utter inability to recognize Essien's struggle to hold his position while failing to gather any rhythm plowing forward and falling back frustrated me continually. Ronaldo should've capitalized on Essien's tactical confusedness more than a few times, he didn't. Messi does, Kaka does. He doesn't. But he did score a deciding goal. The real loser in this whole thing is Avam Grant. I did not think before today a manager could make so many mistakes in such an important day. First he should've detected Essien's ordeal, second, Chelsea's midfield was as disorganized as I've ever seen a team at such a crucial event. If you look at it on paper, Chelsea's midfielders should outclass United's anytime. I actually thought before the kickoff that Ballack would be man of the match (was I lost). And this lack of coordination led to Carvalho and Terry scurrying to the flanks early in the match when Makelele, Ballack or Lampard should've covered Essien's and Ashley Cole's behinds. But there was real disorganization out there in Chelsea's ranks, and that allowed United to impose it's rhythm early on. Third, Malouda was man of the match until, of course, he took him out. Fourth, I'd been expecting Shevchenko to come in since the first half half for Joe Cole and maybe escort Drogba up top or slide into the wing for greater dynamism. But of course, Sheva never made his appearance. But Anelka did! And where did Grant place him? At the midfield wing. Where Anelka is quite ineffective. Anelka is a centre forward, period. I was falling asleep by half-time, and almost going blind by the 60th minute from such an appalling display. So I left. I had some errands to run anyway. I went to the bank, returned some videos, and came home. "Nothing remotely interesting is gonna happen anyway" I thought, and, of course it didn't. Then extra time started as I came back and we all sloughed with it. Uninspiring, uneventful, and unending. This final will be remembered by no one directly unaffected through fan affiliation. If this is the best European futbol has to offer, I'll have to rethink my entertainment options. But I instantly reconsider, since a week ago, a real futbol display was offered by a more modest team. A team with a generous disposition to entertain and a harbinger of what futbol could be if you had a little balls. Last Wednesday's final was a real treat compared to this. It is quite dangerous that every time two big English teams meet we have to put up with these nauseating performances. Futbol is not "American Gladiators brought to you by Roman Abramovic and Malcolm Glazer". It is nobler than that by nature. So I'm off to watch Libertadores and catch a glimpse of real futbol. Meanwhile forever hoping that our game is safe from the clutches of relative successfulness, mediocre protagonists and empty satisfaction.

It is not often for one to wish its beloved futbol figures to eventually be completely wrong. Alas, they haven't. As Menotti notes time and time again, this business ridden futbol. Our futbol, finds itself (and I am paraphrasing here) strangled and bereft of the timing that enabled the means by which for a century fluid, imaginative and attacking minded world class elite teams were seen. Except for catenaccio of course. I hadn't thought of all this for a while really, until we saw Liverpool and Chelsea being paired up in the- now being called- "Champions League" semifinals, again. And so we were subjected, again to 180 minutes of predictable and forgettable futbol, plus a more desperate than glowing extra time period which provided three more goals mainly by product of the players' nervous energy than any inspiring action. Dramatic? Absolutely. Beautiful? Uh no. Manchester United did its part to barely eliminate an unhealthy Barcelona side. But still failing to touch any chord aligned with the impressive and sometimes memorable Manchester Utd performances at these stages of competitions. So what are we left with? An all english european final which adds gas to the fire of some of the "analysts" and bloggers who have been for some time now claiming certain english dominion in european futbol. Especially in the last two years when three of the four semifinalists were english. This is nothing new, mind you. Of the "three big" european futbol leagues, the EPL is the last to achieve this all-domestic final. Still, after learning about this superiority I naturally acted with haste to reach my nearest sportsbook and put all my money on England to win Euro2008. Until I found that, uh.... they hadn't qualified. Is it fair not to be enthused about this Moscow final? Is it fair to be a bit worried about the near future of futbol? I've watched futbol all my life, but I seem to be less interested in watching the big match like I was 20, 25 years or even 15 years ago. Especially when teams like today's Arsenal, Barcelona and the like, whose commitment to attacking the opposing net is higher than their commitment to guarding their own, are eliminated by teams with a simpler objective, a more robotic stance and a higher allegiance to their manager's ideas than to their own pure footballing instincts. Of course tactics are part of it, but not that important. Perhaps I'm being hysterically pessimistic about our game's future. I certainly hope so. But what about the 210 minute spectacle that Rangers and Fiorentina gave us? Real horror show, me droogies. Makes me wish I could somehow buy those five hours back. I would rather have spent them watching dogs f......., I mean, grass grow. But i digress. Maybe I'm all wrong about this. We still can certainly enjoy the flavor and pure spirit of a Zenit St. Petersburg team making a fabulous run. Perhaps I'm completely off base and Chelsea along with Man Utd will provide us with a glorious Moscow May evening, like that miraculous night in Istambul three years ago. Maybe these two teams can offer us something more than-enter my other beloved futbol figure-"shit hanging from a stick". Perhaps Avram Grant and Alex Ferguson will have the stones to allow their most skilled and talented players let their imaginations and instincts run free. Or maybe its too much to ask of this English Premier League elite. And maybe, I'll even turn on the telly that night and watch. But don't hold your breath. I'm still waiting for Menotti and Valdano to be wrong. Cheers, Daniel