Monday, 16 June 08, 07:54 PM
Monday, 16 June 08, 05:57 PM
With 6 points and the top spot of Group B guaranteed Croatia will rest some of the main players for tonight's match against Poland. Too bad for Germany.
But blame on the crazy UEFA rule that uses as first tie breaking criterion the direct confrontation and not the goal differential. I was surprised after the Croatians beat Germany when I heard that with that win they had already won the group. I thought, "wait a minute? Can't Germany get to 6 points too?"
Well, they can, but it won't make a difference if they beat Austria by 10 goals and Poland beat Croatia by 12 goals. Croatia will still be first of the group because they beat Germany when the two played each other. Crazy UEFA rules.
Croatia's coach Slaven Bilic then did what any intelligent manager would do: rest his top players. Six footballers will come out of the bench to have a chance to play. They are: Dario Simic, Hrvoje Vejic, Dario Knezevic, Jerko Leko, Ognjen Vukojevic and Ivan Klasnic.
Poland will have to play all they can to win and at the same time follow what happens in the Germany x Austria match. The Polish will need more than ever to cheer for a Austrian victory, but not by a large goal differential.
That's the scenario for tonight's matches!
Probable Lineups:
| POLAND | CROATIA |
|
1- Boruc |
1- Pletikosa |
|
13- Wasilewski |
5- Corluka |
|
14- Zewlakow |
4- R. Kovac |
|
6- Bak |
3- Simunic |
|
4- Golanski |
22- Pranjic |
|
5- Dudka |
10- N. Kovac |
|
18- Lewandowski |
14- Modric |
|
17- Lodozinski |
11- Srna |
|
8- Krzynowek |
19- Kranjcar |
| 7- Smolarek |
21- Petric |
| 20- Roger |
18- Olic |
Monday, 09 June 08, 03:51 PM
The first weekend of the Euro 2008 can be summarize like this: Great Saturday, Boring Sunday.
The opening match between Switzerland and Czech Republic had tears, strategic battles - Switzerland playing offensively and Czech Rep. all the way back in defense - and an undeserved Czech goal scored by a substitute player. It was great.

Then we had Portugal vs. Turkey. A very interesting match. Portugal hit the Turkish post three times, Cristiano Ronaldo made his traditional funny/frustrated faces and defender Pepe scored his first goal with the National shirt after an excellent one-two play. Turkey has a good team but not good enough to beat one of the favourites to win the title and at 93rd minute Raul Meirelles sealed Portugal's triumph.
Then on Sunday Croatia and Austria played one very boring match. The goal scored by Croatia on a penalty kick on the 5th minute set the final score and for the other 85 minutes I had to force myself no to fall sleep.
The so expected clash between Germany and Poland was a little better (or less worse). Podolski respect for Poland (he was born there) and for his Polish family was admirable. He didn't celebrate the two goals that seal Germany's victory and what a beautiful goal was that second one. But besides that none of the teams really impressed me.
But monday has finally arrived (football is the only reason to make me happy on a Monday morning) and right now I'm here at OleOle's HQ sitting next to my friend Frenchi just waiting for the (hopefully) two great matches of the day...
On "Romeo" Ronaldinho and "Juliet" Johanna Almgren - An Olympic Love Story?