The Best Form Of Defense is Attack

Spain have made it to the finals and getting ever closer to ending their long drought of trophies. Yesterdays bout with Russia was a show in attacking football, both sides with ever engaging wing backs and willingness to attack was billed to be the highlight of the tournament but what transpired instead was after all the hype of Russia and their wizard Arshavin, Spains willingness to attack Russia forcing them to defend and develop another route made them fallible which allowed Spain to dominate with ease which was expected of the Dutch in the earlier round.

The key to the game was quickness of play, Spains main threat has been their forwards but it lies in the midfield, the best midfield in the world at this point. With Xavi,Iniesta,Silva,Fabregas,Senna and Alonso, Aragones has vast technique and creativity at his disposal and they all played vital parts in their route to the final. Iniesta though criticised for his lack of big game adaptations, assisted for Xavi to open up the scoring, Fabregas laid balls on a plate twice for Guiza and Silva to strike home the decisive goals. Senna and Alonso stopped Arshavin working, though absent in the first game, his influence was neautralised and limited to the occasional space needed to make a play.

Though Spain were the victors, the ultimate victory will hopefully lie with attacking football as a whole. In comparison with World Cup 2006, where Italys fabled Catenaccio bored viewers into submission, this years football season as a whole has shown that fast flowing positive football is the way forward. In a list of the best players of the tournament, the vast majority will be attackers or creators. The final will hopefully go the same way as teams look to adopt General Fords view of the best for of defence is attack and in my view, Spain stress it further than Germany to help me win my bet I placed. ;)

A Day In The Life - Part 1 -

I sit down on the black swivel chair and grimace as my back twinged with crunching aplomb due to another night sleeping on the soft bed which leads me to believe it would not fair well in a fight with other beds. The hazy sunshine of another summer day cascades in through the window casting a light shadow against the floor. For a minute i want to be a cat and lie in that puddle of light and soak up the warmth. Ah to be a cat. I lie back and ponder the day ahead, I have been unwittingly voted unanimously by my boss to head into Chinatown to distribute leaflets promoting the company which I detest as I did the same 'Marketing breakthrough' Exercise a day ago and the only people willing to come near me were those thinking I would make a great representation for their summer holiday albums as proof they went to there and that it was such an amazing cultural experiance. If they were rolling a video with sound, you would have picked up a possible descendent of the great emperor shouting out with great vivacity that with every order of a can of coke you would get a free croissant. I thought that a strange combo too, oh how the Hebrew woman who created the pastry in the time of Jeremiah must be turning doughy in their graves over such a use of their crescent shape offerings. Back to reality with the shrill of a phonecall. Ive been here for 6 months now, learning my trade by doing everything available and liking the experience but the idea of a proper career still lingers in my mind. I can't help but wonder if this was what I thought I would be doing when I was still carefree and in school. Ah to be a cat....or a dog with his head out of a window of a moving car....ah to be something else.

Beneath an Orange Sky

Total voetball is back and with a vengeance. With the Tournament getting to the nitty gritty, the dutch are playing a style of football only surpassed by their raucous support and bright orange shirts. For a group labelled with 'Death' the Oranje have brought football to life with their two breathtaking displays over the finalists of the 2006 World Cup. With the Italians it was sublime counter attacking football at its best and against France it was Dutch courage and steel that brought about a rout for Les Bleus that showed up a telling sign of their age and lack of new blood. Marco Van Basten must have studied at Arsene Wengers school of thought with their dynamic attacking plays and speed. In Sneijder and Van Der Vaart lie the key to success so far, two ex Ajax boys who plied their trade in the streets of Amsterdam before eventually taking their cohesion and abilty to dazzle the French. Their movement and versatility allow play to open all over the pitch as they are as deft with their weaker foot as their strong one allowing play to switch in an instant. Sneijders goal was welcome reward for an industrious and tireless midfielder who was instrumental for Real Madrid. In Robben and Van Persie the Dutch have match winning wingers who can turn a game on its head shown with Robbens instant reply. Arjen Robben when injury free, can push Ronaldo for ability for it was the former who originally terrorised defences for Mourinho before the hatchet men stopped him.

But he is still young and given a good run, can show why he is still regarded as dangerous as the portuguese winger. Dirk Kuyt is a workhorse and also understands linkup play, his industry and doggedness may tire in the later rounds but his down to earth style allow a balance.Finally in Van Basten's arsenal(no pun intended) is Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the Dutch man seemingly turned his back on the regime only to return and show that the Madrid experiance has turned him into an even better player, his deep movement and linkup play is vital to the side and on top of that he has not lost his predatory instincts and eye for goal, Ronaldo learnt from this man so it shows his class. I personally never liked him but recently his play shows a maturity and great understanding of the game.

The defence in front of the ever present Van Der Sar is raw and engaging, Ooijer and Mathijsen though unappreciated in top level football, aid their ability with bravery and courage in defence, Boulahrouz must be frustrating for Chelsea fans as his performances for Holland are World Class and assured, i believe the difference is comfort, Boulahrouz knows the gameplan for Holland and sticks to it with precision whereas at Chelsea he was not comfortable with his positioning. His opposite flank Gio Van Bronkhorst is the player Ashley Cole dreams he could become, quick, assured and consistent,always ready for the counter and just as comfortable in his role.

All this combined with the holding midfielder Engelaar allow the attack to prosper and not have to worry of over complicating their jobs. The team has a unity and cohesion not seen during the days of the Kluivert,Davids, Cocu and the De Boer Brothers. Too many egos hindered one the most technically gifted teams ever but in the present, there is a balance which may prove that this tournament holds no bounds and come the end we may be sitting underneath an Oranje Sky...

The Punt

Euro 2008 is underway after an understated start with victories for all the favourites so far as Czech Republic, Portugal,Germany and Croatia all kicked off their challenge for Greece's title without any hiccups or surprises. It has not gone the way of the club scene with the underdogs causing a massive stir and setting up some shocking results though we are only halfway through the 4 groups and tonights group of death will create some much needed highlights as France will try to prove their title credentials against Romania and the eagerly anticipated World Champions starting off against the dutch masters. The need to start really well cannot be stressed enough already but in a group as tight as this, its paramount. The same goes for the start that Spain will need to help shake off their own doubts with a win against Russia though it wont come easily.

My punts are for La Furia Roja as i feel it is their time to show what they can do and the Dutch masters as they have come into the tournament without as much pressure as the other favourites, but have enough quality and youth to spring a surprise. Gone are the days of Bergkamp and Co, but with Wesley Sneider and Huntelaar, the dutch have compensated overall technical abilty for strength and prescence. I obviously hope that through the groupings my two bets dont meet each other to early in the next rounds but its all for abit of fun.

The Gamble

With Euro 2008 around the corner, I have decided to go Las Vegas and bet on the potential winners of the tournament, it adds spice to a dish where Steve Mclarens appetiser had left all England fans with a bland and sour after taste. This also gives me a chance to blog my brains out as it always matters more when there is money on it. For the past two weeks i have pondered over the 16 teams competing and have my heart set on putting a bet down on Spain as one of my choices at 5/1. The Liverpool contingent makes La Roja my personal favourites as their speed, technical abilty and the fact that since they havent won anything for more than 40 years makes the Spaniards ideal replacements for England in terms of always hotly tipped but always failing. However, i was hoping this would not be the case as Fabregas,Torres and Co finally prove their worth.

I plan to choose another potential winner to make sure i dont put all eggs in one basket, plus, there are so many potential winners to choose from aswell, with Euro 2004's winners Greece shocking everybody with an unexpected victory to which blows all stereotypical views for this tournament, with Zenits victory in the UEFA CUP, Russias outside chance at 22/1 is in my view generous for a team with European experiance and a team full of young Russians ready to show the world that the Bear has re-awoken.

With 4 days to go i still have sometime to decide as i will probably go with my gut instincts and have some fun with it. Plus if it all goes well, an extra bit of lucre never hurt anyone did it?(Unless your a John Grisham fan). Ill blog daily when the tournament starts to go through the motions of a tournament with hopes of making money off Englands failure just like the FA.