Chasing for Glory!

Tonight, the final 2 team left in the Euro 2008 will fight for the silverware in Vienna. Both, Germany and Spain is hungry to be crown as the Euro 2008 champions. Spain can end a 44-year wait to be crowned European champions if they reproduce the same form in Sunday’s final against Germany that they showed to beat Russia 3-0 in the semi-final on Thursday. Germany, in contrast, will have to play far better than they did in their 3-2 semi-final win over Turkey in Basel on Wednesday if they are to win the title for the fourth time.

Germany have won three World Cups and three European Championships, having reached at least the semi-finals a staggering 18 times in total.Spain, however, have reached the last four just four times - including this year - with their best finish in a World Cup being fourth place in 1950 and them having won the second ever Euro on home soil in 1964 and being losing finalists 20 years later.So this is just their third final - all of them in Euros - and what will inspire them is the opportunity to emulate the French team that beat them 2-0 in the Euro 84 final and win the tournament having made a clean sweep of their group, an incredibly rare feat. An outstanding tournament has produced two worthy finalists at the Ernst Happel stadium who should cap three glorious weeks of soccer with a fitting finale.

Head to Head
Germany have the edge on Spain in head-to-head meetings in the past, having won eight, drawn five and lost six. Spain have the most recent bragging rights, having beaten Germany 3-1 in 2003 with a brace from Raul and another from Real Madrid team-mate Guti. Meanwhile Germany last won in 2000 by four goals to one, with Michael Ballack the only member of that team still present in today’s squad.

Team Line up

Germany

Probable starting line-up (4-5-1): Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Podolski; Klose.

Spain

Probable starting line-up (4-5-1): Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Fabregas, Silva; Torres.

PLAYER TO WATCH IN THE FINAL

Germany

Michael Ballack:

He is Germany’s captain. Having been on the losing side in all the major finals of his career so far, he will certainly be looking to make amends for that tomorrow night - if he can play. Reports have emerged that he has aggravated a calf injury and is in serious doubt for the final, which would be the second major one he has missed in his career, having also sat out the 2002 World Cup loss to Brazil. However, his range of ability - from penalties and free-kicks to headers and long shots - means he could still pose a threat in almost any capacity.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

His set-piece delivery has been magnificent - setting up two goals against Portugal - and his runs into the box have seen him grab one in each of the knockout games so far as well. Beside, as you guys can see, he also have a gorgeous girlfriend. Ha!

Lukas Podolski:

Not only he is Germany’s top scorer  but he is also the top scorer in this tournament so far.His work-rate, anticipation, direct running and absolute bullet of a shot have made him one of Germany’s most uncontainable players. Almost all of Germany’s attacking play and goals have come from his and Philipp Lahm’s left flank.

Spain

Cesc Fabregas:

Spain’s super-sub of the tournament and most impressive player for that exact reason. Few would expect someone to come off the bench and produce results so consistently over such a short space of time, but the 21-year-old show to the world that he can do it. 

Fernando Torres:

The Liverpool ace has delivered just one goal in four appearances so far. His movement has been good and his running potentially dangerous, the finishing touch has been found wanting, and that is something Spain will not be able to afford tomorrow night. He need to grab the chance and not waste it.

PREDICTIONEither side will not allow themselves to be beaten in normal time, and whoever concedes first will most likely strike back and take the game into extra time. It is a game of passion and the final winner will be Germany.

Germany 2-2 Spain ( 3-2 in Extra time) Cheers…… Or Germany 3-1

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SUMMARY: 15 WIN 8 LOSE

Above is just prediction and for reference only, please do not blame me if I’m wrong as I’m not getting any credit as well for all the previous matches that I had predicted. Please do leave some comments for support.

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The Chicken is Back.

The Turks enter the match as underdogs not only on reputation, but also in terms of squad. That’s not so much because their pool of 23 players lacks class, but rather it’s down to the fact that only around half are available to play. With four suspensions, two confirmed injury absentees and a further three doubtful, just 12 men are guaranteed available - and two of them are goalkeepers!But the Turks have shown that they are capable of overcoming adversity. The questions is, with so many suspension and injuries in the camp, can they do it again tonight against the old german tank?

Head-to-Head

The sides have met on four occasions. Turkey won the first two 1-0, the third was drawn 0-0, and the fourth - the only match played this century - saw Turkey oust Germany 2-1 in Istanbul in a friendly.

Team Line Up

Germany

Possible Starting XI: Lehmann; Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Jansen; Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Frings/Rolfes, Podolski; Klose, Gomez.

Turkey

Possible Starting XI: Rustu Recber; Altintop, Emre Asik, Gokhan Zan, Balta; Kazim-Richards, Aurelio, Tumer Metin, Karadeniz; Erding, Semih Senturk

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Germany - Michael Ballack:

Ballack is Germany’s second-highest scorer in the tournament so far, his two strikes putting him just behing Lukas Podolski.
MY PREDICTION
I did not have faith in Turkey to progress into the semi final and was proved wrong. This time around, I feel that injuries and suspensions will eventually trump character and Germany will come out to be the final winner. Let’s see if I’m right!
Germany 2-0 or 3-1

CHEERS!!! WISH WE LUCK

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No comment for this match. The chicken has to recover from the disaster at the moment.

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The Orange will rule the world tonight?

Following their only success from 20 years ago, the Dutch have always come as far as the last eight, making the semi-finals three times, in 1992, 2000 and 2004. But for Russia, the latter stages of this tournament are somewhat of uncharted territory.   The Russia could be credited with their own version of “Total football”. The Russians in particular might have had their ups and downs since the early ‘90s, but now the youngest side in the tournament, guided by the “magic hand” of Hiddink, are determined to give the favourites as hard a time as they can. Do remember the Russians had never reached these heights before and they may turn on their luck for having to play the Netherlands, who have emerged as the hottest team in Europe this summer.  

FORM GUIDE  

Netherlands

24/5/2008 (Fr.)         Ukraine        3-0 (H)  

29/5/’08 (Fr.)         Denmark      1-1 (H)  

1/6/’08 (Fr.)          Wales          2-0 (H)  

9/6/’08 (EC)          Italy             3-0 (N)  

13/6/’08 (EC)        France         4-1 (N)  

17/6/’08 (EC)        Romania      2-0 (N)  

Russia  

23/5/2008 (Fr.)      Kazakhstan  6-0 (H)  

28/5/’08 (Fr.)         Serbia          2-1 (N)  

4/6/’08 (Fr.)          Lithuania       4-1 (N)  

10/6/’08 (EC)        Spain           1-4 (N)  

14/6/’08 (EC)        Greece         1-0 (N)  

18/6/’08 (EC)        Sweden       2-0 (N)  

Team Line Up

Netherlands

Russia

Possible starting XI (4-5-1):  Igor Akinfeev – Aleksandr Anyukov, Sergei Ignashevich, Denis Kolodin, Yuri Zhirkov – Sergei Semak, Igor Semshov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Arshavin – Roman Pavlyuchenko.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH  

Netherlands – Robin van Persie  

Came on as a sub in the first two matches of the final phase, he scored against France and again versus Romania, this time as a starter. The world is at his feet with only the age of 24.

Arjen Robben

Score against France after fully recover from his injuries and once again the “flying man” is Flying. He may not start as the team first 11 tonight but for sure the coach will let him play when the time is right.

Russia – Andrei Arshavin  

 ” Just do it”

His has the abilities to lead the team to victory and you can see it during the game against Sweden.He not only provide assists but also score a goal for his country. A Zenit man through and through, the Russian Player of the Year of both 2005 and 2006.

MY PREDICTION  

The Dutch are certainly the team that i predicted will be the final winner in this tourament,but they won’t go through that easily tonight especially against a side with a never-say-die attitude which also enjoys its own passing game. Tonight is the battle between the Origin country of “Total Football” and the new Russia “Total Football”. I’m impressed with Hiddink team but i’m more impressed with current Nertherlands team compare to few years ago, they play fanstastic football that leads them to glory. I can’t find any reason to convince myself why the Orange should lose this one? Do you?

Nertherlands 3-0 Russia or Nerthelands 2-0 Russia

CHEERS~~~!

” I believe Nerthelands can fly”,

“I believe they can touch the sky”

“I think about it every night and day”

“Swing my wings and fly away…………………”

“Chicken Buddies, are you guys with me tonight?”

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