ROM 0 - 0 FRA:

I did not see the complete match yesterday due to dilemma on where to eat. By the time I came back to watch France vs Romania it was 55th minute. I wondered how much I missed. I thought I could see in the match analysis on the TV. I abandoned any such plans once I watched the rest of the game. The game was never entertaining. It was horrible. France started with two midfielders who are completely defensive minded. I suppose they should have gone with Nasri from the beginning. Benzema was OK. But he wasted a half chance by shooting agonizingly wide. The second half was all france. Romanian fans started whistling from the 83rd minute itself. It was evident that they would be content with a draw. Nasri came in for Benzema, Gomis for Anelka. Nasri is not a striker, we know that. But Gomis is. Instead of waiting to counter attack in the last few minutes when Romania were awarded a free kick very close to the corner flag, Gomis was in the box - Defending. Both the substitutes played very deep.After this draw France's hopes are limited. This was a must win game for them with Netherlands and Italy coming up. The game was all long ball. The land which gave birth to the great Arsene Wenger can't play long ball. How could they? Too bad. It wasn't wingplay either. As I said, I don't know what happened in the first half but Malouda was largley anonymous in the second half. Prasant was totally right. The French never seemed capable of scoring a goal from open play. What about the set pieces ( you might think ) ? I'll tell you what. They forced just 3 corners in the whole match. Just 3. Only Sagnol's crosses seemed close to something like a threat. But, the Romanian defence repelled any kind attack. What a horrible match for the French fans.

NED 3 - 0 ITA: ( You read it right. It's not a mistake )

This is arguably the best game of the tournament so far. High tempo game right from the first minute. Wonderful short passing by both the teams, exciting midfield battle, pressing hard from both sides forcing errors occasionally. After Toni missed a glorious chance in the 10th minute by heading wide, it looked like the dutch are going to sink. But, the flying dutchmen fought their way through the hard waves of italian defenders taking continuous splashes in the form of professional fouls. Was the first goal a clear offside ? I am not sure. When Sneijder culred the free kick from a wide position, buffon punched it clear knocking an italian defender ( not sure who it is ) and a dutch player ( not sure of who this is either ) The Italian lay there on the ground beside the goal and behind the line. Does that mean he's the one playing Ruud onside when he scored ? It was a close call if that defender is not involved in play. But it looked like Ruud was around a yard out when the ball was passed or I should say "shot" at him. Controversy apart, two magnificent counter attacks from the dutch destroyed the italians. Just tore them apart. Italy could not keep up with the pace. Van Bronckhorst clears off the line, someone passes to van der vaart, van der vaart plays a teasing through ball across the field to Bronckhorst who crosses far beyond the post to Kuyt. Kuyt heads it back to Sneijder in the centre who finishes brilliantly. A great birthday gift to Sneijder. "One pass to split them all" - some the credit has to go to van der vaart who had a decent game. His through ball to Ruud in the first half was magical. It should have been scored but buffon saved well with his leg. Toni had another chance in the second half. He controlled the ball quite well but tried to chip the ball over van der sar but ended up chipping the ball over the bar. The second counter attack came late into the second half. Pirlo's freekick was wonderfully saved by Van Der Sar, who just like a captian pushes his players forward for another counter. Bronckhorst, Van der vaart, Sneider, Kuyt involved yet again. This time Bronckhorst deserved his headed goal. The game never lost it's tempo. Great team work by the Dutch. Even the substitutes Van Persie and Afelley went close. They shot wide and hit the bar respectivley from acute angles. It might not be over for the Italians yet who have to paly Romania and France. Which means, the France vs Italy would be the most important clash. Holland, having beaten Italy, paved half the road to the quarter finals. This win is a massive confidence boost. 

Tomorrow's predictions:

ESP 2 - 0 RUS:  With Arshavin suspended , I clearly sense a break in the supply chain. There's not way the Russians are going to score.

GRE 1 - 1 SWE: I am not confident with this. I does't look like it's going to matter much.

Zlatan, Torres, Villa, Gekas: any two would score. 

I got the predictions spot on. 0-1 and 2-0. Podolski scored. The second goal should have been scored by klose but it was mishit and later volleyed in perfectly by Poldi. The credit goes to Schweini who's hard work made the goal in the first place. He was an immediate impact on the right. Lahm had an excellent game inspite of his diminutive stature beside the rock solid centrebacks Metzelder and Mertesacker. The poles threatened a few times. Their crosses were dangerous but there was no one on the end of it. Łobodziński kept on shooting from 30 yards out late in the first half. That wasn't of much use either. Few were on target. Ballack and Frings commanded the midfield. Zee Germans fielded two most unlikely players on the left and the right side of the midfield. Podolski and Fritz respectively who did their job very well. Enough praise for the Germans now. What's up with the fans in the stadium ? There were hoards of Polish supporters making a hell of noise. Never heard a single German chant during the match. Why do people hate Germany so much ? Ooohh! bad.

 

Coming to today's predictions:

 

ROM 0 - 1 FRA ( 1800 CET ) : I am not sure about this one. France has an ageing but experienced defence. The Romanians also had a great qualification campaign. Also, the frecnh are so unpredictable. I hope they win.

 

NED 0 - 1 ITA ( 2045 CET ) : I would have predicted a 0 - 0 if the fragile dutch players weren't injured. What would have been the best attack vs. the best defence now seems unlikely with key attackers robben, persie and babel injured along with the god Cannavaro.

 

Ribery, Benzema, Toni, Pirlo - two of them might score.