Well my final prediction was half right. I said that Germany would be in the final. You can see it here.

Luis Aragones and company ruled with class and very top caliber play from the group to the final game. I would have to say that this has been very fun and enjoyable.

Now we will all wait until the Olympic Games start to watch some more soccer!  This will be very fun as the youth squads of the world go head-to-head and not the senior clubs. For the men, the age restriction is set at 23 however three over age players are allowed to compete.  For the women there is no age restriction.

More insight will come for the Beijing Games.

Tomorrow the Big Game! 

 Italy versus France will be one of the biggest games for this group stage.  Romania will try and halt the Holland stampede that took down both France and Italy.  If Romania wins, they will pass as the runners-up with Holland shocking the entire European Cup faithful.

Czech: I projected that the Czechs would move on and not Turkey.  However, things have gone for the worst for them as well as Goalkeeper Petr Cech.  The Turks will move on to play Croatia which is interesting, to say the least. 

Portugal: Ronaldo and company are moving on to face Austria or Germany.  This is very interesting to say the least because the potential Runner-Up to Group B will face them.  Turkey will only have to face Croatia-this is still a good match however more even than a Portugal v. Croatia face off.

 Tomorrow’s Matches:

Poland v. Croatia

Austria v. Germany

Potential Upsets: With an Austria win tomorrow, Germany could be sent packing and my Group B predictions would also get a shake.  If Austria pulls off a win, they would move on to face Portugal which will be yet another test of their true talent.

Group B is now a little funny , my prediction is still semi-correct.  I predicted that Germany would be the champion and Croatia would be the runner-up.  However, Croatia is set to be the champion and I’m just guessing that Germany will take the runner-up spot.

Death Group Rumblings: Group C just got shook more than shake and bake, Italy tied Romania and Holland beat France.  Holland is really showing a strong start.  Here is how the point scale has shaped up: Holland(6), Romania(2), France(1), and Italy(1).  The next set of games will be Holland vs. Romania and Italy vs. France.

Analysis: This is where things get shaky.  Holland has already been crowned as champions but everything after that is up for grabs…literally.  Surprise, surprise Romania is beating both Italy and France in points.  If Romania beats Holland, they will be the runners-up no matter what happens between Italy and France.  Italy or France needs a win to ensure that one will move on.

Prediction: While both Italy and France lost to Romania, both suffer from slow starts.  This is something that Holland has not suffered from as they beat up on Italy and France.  Romania will lose to a very strong and confident Holland side.  Holland just has to many pieces and they are all working properly.  Italy and France is a different can of worms in itself.  Both have played their way out of being champions or even runners-up.  Now only one will get to move on.  This maybe biased but I just have a feeling Italy will win this game.  They have been scored on less by one goal and should be at the top.  I also have more faith in Buffon than Gregory Coupet, not to say that I don’t love both of them.

Tomorrow Spain and Sweden will duke it out to see who will be the Group D champs.

Netherlands vs. Italy(3-0)

This is a complete shocker to me.  Not that I don’t respect the Netherlands’ side, as they have a lot of talent, I just thought that Italy would win.  This changes things and may even make my predictions look stupid.  However, we are only one game in, nothing to worry.  Maybe losing their team captain has made things uneasy.

Romania vs. France(0-0) 

I really didn’t see this coming.  Romania did not win however, this should be taken as a loss for France and their supporters.  This should not have happened.  When everyone says that this group is the “group of death” they did not mean that Romania would be a killer.  As a matter of fact, they were written off–completely.

 My predictions for the death group:

• Italy versus France will be a nice game to watch as both teams will be putting everything they have into it.  They need to to make a rebound however only one will.
• Romania will be playing the Netherlands on their next game…they will lose.  Then they will move on to an already mad Italian team…they will lose.
• Netherlands: My prediction was wrong and they will pass.  They will win against Romania which will put them with 6 points.  Now that this has occurred, I’m thinking that they will take Group C Champion honors.

Coming Up:

1. Greece versus Sweden
   
2. Spain versus Russia

Quick Hits

• Man U has reported Real and does not like them pursuing Ronaldo.
• Man City has offered Ronaldinho 200,000 pounds a week…roughly $400,000.  That’s a lot of 0’s.

Game 1: Czech Republic v. Switzerland

Sub Sverkos scored the lone goal of the match for the Czech side to win the game. It seemed like a pretty solid match. We all got to see the game get a little physical with the Swiss side in the books with 3 yellows.

Game 2: Portugal v. Turkey

Pepe and Raul Meireles both had goals in a Portugal shutout over Turkey. The Portugal side was superb in its win and Turkey seemed to also like the Refs book. The Turks like the Swiss also had 3 yellows.

Next Up:

Austria versus Croatia, and Germany versus Poland is next up on the Euro 2008 agenda. A little Group B action coming your way.

 Side Notes:

• Arjen Robben will miss the opening game for the Netherlands.
• Barcelona has signed right back Daniel Alves from Sevilla, an official announcement is due Monday.
• Ronaldinho the current Man City target is also garnering interest from Chelsea and AC Milan…this will get interesting.

This is the Euro 2008 knockout stage view.

In my prediction, I am saying that it will go like this.

Portugal vs.  Croatia

Germany vs. Czech Republic

Italy vs. Russia

Spain vs. France  

Semi:

Portugal vs. Germany

Italy vs. France

Final: Germany vs. Italy

Euro 2008 does!

I am excited to see this. Its like watching a pre- World Cup to see who is the best in Europe. Although I can’t see some of my favorite Latin American teams: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and many others. It still is fun to see a true show of power and skill.

Who I am going to love watching?:

England: The power of England is unexplainable and they are very talented. I think something of note is the first international tourney for new coach Fabio Capello. Another interesting thing to watch is the relationship between him and David Beckham if the former selects the latter to the Euro Roster. JUST KIDDING!

Italy: The defending World Cup Champions will be tested to see if they still have their 06 form and play. However, not much has changed since then. The roster will be pretty much the same as 2006 with some exceptions. Angelo Perruzzi, Buffon’s back-up retired after the World Cup, leaving the 2nd string position open. Aside from that, we shall see who is selected to the roster.

Spain: I like Spain, from the club powers to the international side. Maybe its the caliber of their defensive anchor, Carlos Puyol, or superb keeper in Iker Casillas. All I know is that, I also enjoy watching them.

While this riff in the Netherlands‘ camp will sure to subside for a number of reasons, this is still very interesting. Seedorf is one of the many play-makers of the squad and his loss will be noted. His decision may have come from his removal from the 2006 World Cup roster. For now, the AC Milan player will wait it out until van Basten leaves for his post at Ajax.

Another key player of note that is refusing to play for a van Basten side is Mark van Bommel. He currently plays for Bayern Munich. Van Bommel’s disgust with his current international boss may have also come from the 2006 World Cup. Van Basten was apparently dissatisfied with his play during the qualification rounds and van Bommel was not selected throughout the rest of the quals. However, despite this, he was selected for the 2006 roster.

All in all, van Basten is losing out in 2 very talented players simply because they can not work together.

Currently there are many favorites and possibly bosses for Barca.  However, I think two are the front-runners.

Josep “Pep” Guardiola is certainly capable and well liked at the Camp Nou.  He is currently coaching in the Barcelona system already at the level B and the Senior level.  I think since he is well liked and has played for Barcelona, the transition process will be easy with his hiring.  However, he does have a rather thin managerial resume which may take away from his chances.  All in all, being a fan favorite and former Barcelona family member, he should garner a lot of support.

Felipe Scolari is a well-traveled and very good manager.  He has a lot of experience having managed his first team in 1982 to now where he is coaching the Portugal National Team.  He will be leaving Portugal after the Euro 2008 as he states that “a coach is limited to 5 or 6 years.”  I would have to imagine that Barcelona is considering him as he has coached Portugal since ‘03 and coached Brazil to a World Cup victory in ‘02.  Very impressive, indeed.

I  think Barcelona and their supporters all have a lot to look forward to as the team is determined to succeed.