Double or Nothing

Well I really couldn’t have been more wrong about the quarterfinals, so I’ll avoid any caveats about betting on my predictions. On a quick side-note, how much do you think UEFA officials are pushing for a Spain-Germany finals? Enough that they might go Tim Donaghy on us?… I’m just saying.

Germany v. Turkey

While the stereotype of the Germans is similar to that of the Italians, that they are content to sit back and let the game come to them, they are in fact a significantly more exciting team to watch. The Germans, play with more pace, endeavor and flare than the Italians, all the while maintaining their disciplined system that minimizes oppositions’ opportunities. Dare I say it, but with players such as Mikel Ballack, Lukas Podolski, Schweini and Mario Gomez, they are actually quite entertaining to watch.

With their three dramatic come from behind victories, the Turks are clearly the story of the tournament to date. Is it possible that they can pull out another unlikely victory? Certainly, but without Volkan Demirel and Belozoqlu Emre, and a mounting injury crisis, I think that this is the end of the line for the Turks.

On a side note, Spolitical has an interesting take on the effects that Turkey’s run in the tournament could have on its attempts for future integration in to Europe. While I do believe that subtle political changes can be brought about by success on the soccer field, I don’t think that it is going to cause the racist and ignorant elements of Europe to change their opinions on admitting a Muslim country in to their club

Spain v. Russia

Let it be known that while I predicted that the Italians would win the quarterfinals match against Spain I didn’t want them to. I acknowledge that almost every country is responsible for diving and gamesmanship today, even some of the English do it, but there is something particularly reprehensible and irritating about the way the Italians do it.

While the Russians have been formidable so far, in particular in their well-deserved victory over the Dutch, they do not match up well against the Spanish. Spain has been given trouble so far by teams with physical presences in the box. Roman Pavluchenko has the ability to be the key man in this game; however, Spain has the pace to counter Andrei Arshavin the key figure in brining down the Dutch. In their first game, the Spanish beat the Russians 4-1 on the strength of three David Villa goals. The Russians have improved since that point, but expect Villa, Fernando Torres and David Silva to have impressive perfomances in a Spanish victory.

But I was 1-3 in the quarterfinals so what do I know.

And just so noone forgets, Christiano Ronaldo is a ponce:

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