Schadenfreude Germany

Cesare Prandelli's Italy side will meet favourites Spain in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Sunday. 

A 2-1 victory over mighty Germany in Warsaw on Thursday night surprised everybody thanks to a smart and confident 90 minutes of football. Italy and Mario Balotelli will meet the world and European champions in the final, and, here, we examine the issues that emerged on a triumphant night for the Azzurri. 

 

Super Mario

Italy surprised one of the red hot favourites for the competition as Antonio Cassano turned away from some slack German defending to set up Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli to head home his third goal for his country from close-range after 20 minutes. It was the first time the Germans had been behind in a competitive match since the final of Euro 2008. And the youngest player on the park soon added a second with a scorching right-foot firecracker to seal the win, despite Germany's late goal. 

Hummels humbled

Up until Thursday's encounter, Borussia Dortmund youngster Mats Hummels had been deservedly lauded as one of the players of the tournament, but the centre-back struggled going up against the attacking threat of Balotelli and Cassano. A glaring error from the 23-year-old led to the opening goal as he was turned by Cassano, allowing him to set up his strike partner with a deadly cross. 

Unbeaten in eight

Italy have never lost to Germany in eight meetings at major tournaments, with the Azzurri boasting four wins and four draws (including three games played at the Euros: a 1-1 in 1988; a 0-0 in 1996 and Thursday night's 2-1 victory). They are also unbeaten in their last five games - including friendlies - against Germany, winning three times and drawing twice. Although they have won four World Cups, their only European Championship success came in 1968, on home soil. 

Quiet night for Podolski

Any Arsenal fans watching the action unfold are likely to have been less than impressed with the contribution, or lack thereof, from new Gunners signing Lukas Podolski. The former Cologne man, stationed out on the left wing in the first half, had an ineffective first 45 minutes. Podolski struggled to find a way past make-shift right-back Federico Balzaretti, who had swapped flanks from his usual position on the left, and was substituted at the break. 

Renaissance man

The 33-year-old Italian World Cup-winner Andrea Pirlo has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the twilight of his footballing life. The graceful midfielder joined Juventus last summer from AC Milan and became a mainstay in the heart of their championship-winning campaign. During this European Championship, he has simply got better and better every game and after running the quarter-final against England, he put younger men, such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, to shame with another masterful display. 

Shaken up

One thing Germany had not had much experience of in the tournament before Thursday night was going behind early on. Low's men had been the ones to break the deadlock in all four of their previous encounters and appeared shaken after Balotelli bagged his first-half brace. The usually imposing attack had struggled to get a grip on proceedings from the off and Italy's lead seemed to knock their confidence, highlighting the inexperience of Low's young side.

Catenaccio defending

Following the two first-half goals, Cesare Prandelli did what all Italian sides are taught to do from a young age and that was to defend catenaccio style. The Italians knew the three-time European Champions had to come out and attack so Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi sat deeper in front of the backline and pushed the Germans into wide positions. 

Italian Old Lady

The Italian defence became four-fifths Juventus after the return of Giorgio Chiellini. He returned from injury at left-back and Palermo full-back Federico Balzaretti moved over to right-back in place of Ignazio Abate, who exited the quarter-final with a muscle problem in his left leg. Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Claudio Marchisio and Pirlo made up the list of players currently plying their trade for the Serie A champions in the starting XI. 

No Kroos control

After Pirlo proved the main menace against England in Italy's quarter-final, it is no big surprise Germany boss Low introduced a player to his line-up with the task of containing the midfield maestro. Unfortunately for the Germans, it was an ineffective plan. Tony Kroos struggled throughout the first half, trying to contain the experienced Italian, who still managed to orchestrate play in his usual dominating style; notably when his exquisite pass put the wheels in motion for the Azzurri's opening goal.

 

 Best Goals of Euro 2012 Part 1

 

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It will be all del Bosque on the night

Spain remain on course to defend their title after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over the Portuguese.

In a dour 90 minutes, neither side managed a meaningful effort on goal, and it took over 100 before either goalkeeper was called into serious action - Portugal's Rui Patricio twice denying Spain during extra time.

But the game seemed destined for penalties and it was to be Bruno Alves who would miss the crucial spot-kick, leaving Cesc Fabregas with the chance to clinch Spain's place in the final. Despite hitting the inside of the post, the ball nestled in the back of the net to send Vicente Del Bosque's men to Kiev for a meeting with Italy on Sunday.

 

Penalty puzzle

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's captain and their most naturally-gifted player. He takes responsibility for their free-kicks and had there been a penalty during normal time, surely he would have stepped up. But during the shoot-out, he was nowhere to be seen during Portugal's first four kicks. If he was being saved for the fifth, then his talents were wasted as the game was over before he had the chance to take on Iker Casillas from 12 yards. Almost as baffling were the scenes when Bruno Alves strode forward to take the third penalty, only to be sent back by Nani as he reached the edge of the box. The Manchester United man scored. Alves, predictably, did not when he returned to take the fourth penalty. 

Off-song Spain

Spain have progressed to the final of Euro 2012, arguably without hitting their best form. Winning a match without playing to your potential is often seen as a sign of greatness, but is winning a tournament without playing well more of an indictment on the opposition? Surely Vicente Del Bosque's side will have to raise their game to overcome Italy, who remain the only team to score against them during the competition. 

Hot-shot Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to have over 30 attempts on goal at a European Championship on Wednesday night. The Real Madrid man took his individual tally to 35 against Spain, which means that he alone has taken more shots than four of the teams who entered the tournament. Ireland, Denmark, Greece and Croatia all had fewer shots on goal than Ronaldo, and the entire England squad could only muster 36. But the runner-up for the Ballon D'or will probably live to regret not having one last effort on Iker Casillas' goal - from just 12 yards. 

Portuguese pressing

Portugal became the first side to shake Spain's assurance in possession. During the tournament, Spain have been allowed to dominate games, endlessly passing the ball without mounting any sort of attack. By pressing the defending champions high up the pitch, Paulo Bento's men managed to upset their neighbours' rhythm, forcing them to uncharacteristically concede possession. Tiredness prevented Portugal from continuing the tactic for 120 minutes, but it was only their decreasing fitness that allowed Spain to assert their authority

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Dead-ball drivel

Despite some of the best free-kick specialists showcasing their skills at Euro 2012, only Andrea Pirlo has managed to find the net directly from a dead ball. Vicente Del Bosque said before this match that his side would have to avoid conceding fouls around the penalty area, with Ronaldo's renowned expertise from anywhere within range posing a serious threat. But the world's second best player has not found his range at this tournament and supporters behind the goal were more at risk than Casillas in Donetsk. 

Clean sheet class

Spain have now kept a clean sheet in their last nine knock-out games at major championships, with Casillas playing over 15 hours of knock-out football without picking the ball out of his net. The record stretches back to 2006 when Zinedine Zidane netted a last-minute goal for France in the last-16 match at the World Cup in Germany. 

Semi-final stalwarts

Spain maintained their 100 per cent record in semi-finals after beating Portugal on penalties in Donetsk. The Spaniards have come out on top in each of the five times they have qualified for the last four of a major championship. The run started with a win over Hungary in the European Nations Cup in 1964 and was followed 20 years later by victory over Denmark in the same competition. Their third success came against Russia in Euro 2008, before a penalty success against Denmark at the World Cup two years ago. 

Ronaldo's Spanish block

Cristiano Ronaldo's goalless record against Spain continued in Donetsk, after he failed to test Casillas. The Real Madrid forward has now faced his country of residence four times but has yet to find the net. The closest he came was in November 2010 when he embarked on a mazy run and lobbed the keeper, only for Nani to head the ball in from an offside position when the ball would have nestled in the back of the net regardless. What may resonate with the precocious CR7 is the fact that adversary Lionel Messi has netted twice in three appearances against the Spanish. 

Yellow peril

Referee Cuneyt Cakir looked to have the measure of the contest before half-time, but became very card happy after the interval, with no fewer than nine players ending up in his notebook by the time the final whistle was blown. Fortunately, UEFA's rules for international tournaments mean that all yellow cards from previous matches are wiped out after the quarter-finals, meaning only a red card leads to a suspension for the showpiece. It might be an idea to introduce a similar rule in the Champions League after a host of Chelsea and Bayern Munich players missed out this year due to semi-final bookings.

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The Italian Job

England bowed out of a major tournament on penalties once again after losing to Italy in Kiev following a 0-0 draw after extra-time. There were plenty of talking points from the quarter-final and I pick out a few.

Same again

Roy Hodgson stuck with the same XI which started the 1-0 win over Ukraine and he was rewarded with a promising opening 15 minutes. However, a lack of fresh legs became more apparent as the first half wore on as England struggled to attack with any great pace, and looked jaded chasing the Italians. The difference in fitness levels grew wider as the game wore on and England were out on their feet by the time penalties came around.

Balotelli's intelligence

The Italy striker is known for his impudent finishes, skill and speed but against England he showed he had developed some game intelligence. Balotelli realised early on in this contest that his Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott could match him for pace and power. So he sought to exploit John Terry's lack of pace by taking up positions between him and Glen Johnson in the old inside left position. It was a complete display of all-round centre-forward play and one that intimated Balotelli is evolving into a more complete striker.

England needed Carrick

Roy Hodgson got most things right at Euro 2012 with England this summer. He developed a sense of unity within the squad, made his substitutions seemingly at the right moments and got the required results. Yet, one thing he failed to do was find a place for Michael Carrick in his squad. He may not be a creative and dynamic midfield maestro and I’m not his biggest fan but at the moment he is England’s best passer of the ball. The inability of England to retain possession could have surely been helped by Carrick. England needed a conductor in midfield. Carrick may not have the dynamism of Gerrard, or the aggression of Parker but as a midfield pivot, he surpasses both.

Top Top Player

Pirlo demonstrated to England midfielders how to dictate a game and in the words of Johnny Giles demonstrated the moral courage to play and pass the ball. England did not get close to him which may have been as a result of fatigue.  Pirlo is not the quickest in the world but what he brings is match intelligence and an unwavering ability to find his man with a pass.

Penalty curse strikes again

Missed penalties from Ashley Young and Ashley Cole resulted in England tumbling out of the tournament. Perhaps England's players should ask Andrea Pirlo for tips after he coolly chipped his penalty over Joe Hart. Now that's how you take a penalty.

Buffon's still got it

I’m not talking about his beautiful wife Elena. (Google Her) Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as the finest goalkeeper of his generation and many see England counterpart Joe Hart as the Italian's heir apparent. The 34-year-old, though, will not be passing on his mantle just yet after his superb reaction stop to deny Glen Johnson after five minutes proved his reflexes are as strong as ever, and he got down well to save Ashley Cole's penalty in the shoot-out.

How to solve a problem like Wayne

No-one would argue that Wayne Rooney has talent and has demonstrated it on a consistent basis for Man Utd over the years. But he has failed to deliver once again in a major tournament for England. He looked sluggish, over-weight and a missing persons report could have been filed as no one saw him for 120 minutes. He created very little in the final third of the pitch. He was supposed to be England’s main attacking threat but he failed miserably.

Set-piece threat

Aside from Johnson's early shot, England struggled to create chances from open play, with the crossing from wide by James Milner and Young poor. Set-pieces had proven profitable in the group phase for England and they again represented the likeliest source of a goal, with Gerrard's delicious delivery on 77 minutes deserving better from Rooney.

Fifth officials

The worth of having officials stationed near each goal was again brought into question when John Terry clearly had his shirt held twice in the second half. The second incident must have been right in the eye line of the fifth official, so once again begging the question - what are they there for?

Who is the best team left in Euro 2012?

Portugal    Germany    Spain    Italy   View Results StatPac online survey

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Viva Espana

Spain cruised into the last four of Euro 2012 with a 2-0 win over France after a dominant display of football. Portugal are next up for Del Bosque's team in the semi-final next, and, here, I look at some of the points Paulo Bento may want to keep in mind.

No strikers for Spain - again!

Just as they did in their opening group game against Italy, Spain opted to play without a recognised striker. Although their 4-3-3 formation showed Cesc Fabregas as the most forward player, the Spanish decided to play with a midfield six consisting of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso; David Silva, Fabregas and Andres Iniesta with Fernando Torres coming into the game late-on.

100 not out for Alonso

Xabi Alonso was making his 100th appearance for Spain and the No.14 opened the scoring with his 14th international goal before putting the game to bed with a stoppage-time penalty. Alonso, who normally stations himself in front of the back four, distributing the ball, scored with a well-controlled header from Jordi Alba's inviting cross from the left, but where was the marking? He then calmly slotted home from the spot after Anthony Reveillere sent Pedro crashing.

Passing game

Spain looked like reigning world and European champions, prodding and probing, looking for an opportunity in between the lines and as soon as France lost their concentration, bang! They hit them where it hurts most. The movement and rotation was a joy to watch at times and they all took it in turns to play the front man, proving that this unique system can work. According to Gary Neville on Twitter Spain remind him of a woodpecker pecking at a tree until its fall. I believe Gary you are getting your woodpeckers and beavers mixed up which I hope doesn't happen in the bedroom. 

One for the record books

Spain had never beaten France in six competitive matches, until now! They were always confident of victory and it was never in doubt as they coasted into the last four with a dominant display, playing the game at a testimonial-type pace at times.

French frustration

Laurent Blanc's side were sloppy at times and were left frustrated by the sheer lack of possession for most of the game, which was something they were simply not used to. Players were losing the ball easily and whether it was a lack of concentration or loss of confidence, this was not the same side which had gone 23 games undefeated before losing to Sweden.

What Spanish Inquisition?

France made it too easy for Spain as soon as they conceded the first goal. Their high line was working well from the start of the game, but their midfielders failed to show a lack of desire and fight as soon as they went behind. Les Bleus looked intimidated and fearful to go out and play against the best passing team in the world. Surely Portugal won't do the same, will they?

Spanish Criticism

Many commentators have been critical of Spain’s playing style and I feel this is unwarranted. They toyed with France as a little boy would with an insect. It may seem boring at times but you have to be appreciative of the technical skill to play this game and squeeze opposition teams to death with their passing. Each player is comfortable with the ball and the wait for the exact moment to hurt you. France were chasing shadows for nearly all of the game. This Spanish team may be viewed boring due to their superior technical ability much like Pete Sampras was hated for his six in a row winning streak at Wimbledon. Basically the opposition is not good enough. Personally I enjoy watching Spain and I’m waiting for them to explode at this tournament.

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Oh The Drachma Germany Progress

Germany moved ominously into Euro 2012's semi-finals with a 4-2 victory over Greece on Friday night,  continuing with a 100 per cent winning run. I  look at some of the main talking points.

Believe the hype

Extra hype will always accompany an international fixture when there is some degree of tension between the countries away from the football field, and that was certainly the case in this quarter-final due to the on-going Eurozone crisis. Many Greeks blame Germany, the continent's biggest economy, for the severity of the austerity measures they are now enduring, and will never have been more determined to beat them and wipe the smile off the face of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Sitting next to UEFA president Michel Platini at the PGE Arena but surprisingly not with the colours of the German flag painted on her face, Merkel could be seen jumping for joy when her team scored.

Germans not done yet

Germany were the only team to win their three group games and also had a perfect record in qualifying, so they will not feel their work in Poland and Ukraine is done just yet. Italy will stand in their path in the semi-finals and whichever team progresses faces a daunting task, with Germany looking very well balanced and particularly dominant in midfield, where the likes of Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil set a frightening tempo. Disrupting their rhythm will be key if Italy wish to advance all the way to the final. But do not be too scared. Everyone is quaking in their boots at the prospect of taking on Low's team. However, the 2008 finalists are susceptible. They have only kept four clean sheets in their last 19 matches at European Championship finals.

 On the defensive

As a nation, Greece understandably cling to the defensive formula which helped them to victory at Euro 2004. But football has moved on in the past eight years. Fernando Santos' Greece scraped through Group A with their negative approach but never truly stood a chance against Germany. In the opening 23 minutes, Greece had completed two passes in the attacking third of the field in comparison to Germany's 56. It is time for a new approach.

Low produced the shrewd tactical move of dropping/resting three-goal Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski for the victory over Greece. International finals goal machine Miroslav Klose, Andre Schurrle and Marco Reus came in as replacements. The result ensured the trio will be fresh for the semi-finals and means no member of the Germany squad will be complacent about their place in the team.

Spain complained about the state of the playing surface after being held to a draw by Italy in Gdansk, arguing that the grass was too long and dry for their short passing game. There was nothing dry about the PGE Arena pitch on Friday. But it was still problematic as heavy rain contributed to slippery conditions under foot and both teams struggled at times, although in Greece's case that may have been down to a lack of ability. It will not be an issue again in the tournament, though, with no more games scheduled to take place at the stadium.

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Match Review Portugal v Czech Republic

Cristiano Ronaldo's 79th minute header was enough to separate the sides in Warsaw as Portugal became the first team to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

It was a dominant performance from the Real Madrid forward as he had earlier hit the woodwork twice as Portugal pressed to no avail. But Ronaldo was not to be denied and eventually converted a Joao Moutinho cross to break Czech hearts late on.

It was a disappointing performance from the Czechs and they can have few complaints with their quarter-final exit. Portugal were the better side from start to finish and any threat from Michal Bilek's side was sporadic at best. I examine the issues that emerged on a triumphant night for the Portuguese.

Ronaldo dominant

Such is the profile of the Portugal forward that he doesn't so much take part in a game as take over. Even in the early stages in which the Czechs did a good job of marshalling him, he was a brooding threat. As the game wore on he became the central figure in the contest.

Some players wait a whole game for a solitary chance but for Ronaldo the next opportunity never feels more than a few minutes away. Twice he hit the woodwork before sending the Czechs home with a fantastic header.

Perhaps the lesson here was that trying to stop him by man-to-man marking is not preferable - better to focus on providing some sort of threat at the other end because in the end he will get you.

Wasteful Portugal

Although it would be harsh to characterise Ronaldo as wasteful, that was the overriding emotion when watching this Portugal side. They have had more than 70 efforts on goal in just four games at this tournament and that reflects not only on their impressive performances but also their poor decision-making in front of goal.

Whether it is Nani, Helder Postiga, Hugo Almeida or Raul Meireles, it is not unusual to see Portugal shoot when they should pass and pass when they should shoot. It hasn't proven costly yet but you suspect tougher challenges lie ahead.

Fast start not key

Portugal have become the first team into the semi-finals at Euro 2012 and they've done so despite losing their first game 1-0 to Germany.

Indeed, the Germans are the only one of the quarter-finalists to have won their group opener.

In contrast, Russia, Ukraine, Denmark and Croatia all went home in the group stages despite winning their opening game. The key to tournament success is to peak at the right time and perhaps Portugal are going to do just that.

Over-achievers?

But should we be too critical of the Portuguese? This is the fifth European Championships in a row in which they have progressed to the knockout stages. That's quite a feat for a country that had qualified for the Euros just once prior to 1996.

Talk of a golden generation, the fame of Ronaldo and a sterile 2010 World Cup has led to a prevailing mood that this is an under-achieving nation. But for a population the size of Portugal, in truth, they continue to punch above their weight.

Czech game plan

The Czechs defended well as a unit and passed and moved the ball in attacking positions before the break. They looked to go wide as much as possible and stretch their opponents. But in the main, Bilek set his side out to stop the opposition playing and at one point in the first-half Ronaldo was surrounded by five players. Ultimately it was not enough.

Out of ideas

The problem for the Czechs was that their only thought was to defend and contain the talented Portuguese and once Ronaldo scored, there was only ever going to one winner.

Some of the better players in this side are the younger ones and Bilek must now look ahead to a World Cup qualifying campaign. However, they will do well to even reach Brazil 2014 as they have the likes of Italy and Denmark in their group.

Passionate support

The National Stadium in Warsaw was awash with thousands of Czech supporters leaping up and down, who made the short journey over the border, although this was the furthest they have had to travel north in the tournament. Red, blue and white face paint was everywhere. The Portuguese fans, although outnumbered, certainly made themselves heard. The good news was that the stadium was completely full as locals came out to watch the continuation of the festival of football, despite their team's exit.

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My Team of the Group Stages

The Euro 2012 group stage ended on Tuesday, and with 24 of 31 games finished. I guess it's a good time to offer my team of the tournament so far. I'm going with a 3-4-3 formation. 

GK: Iker Casillas, Spain 

"Saint Iker" has been special against Italy and Croatia, never more so than when he stoned Ivan Rakitic's point-blank header in the second half to prevent a goal that would have put Spain on the outside looking in in Group C.

RB: Theodor Gebre Selassie, Czech Republic

I like fullbacks who can get forward but still defend, and Gebre Selassie has been a revelation in this tournament, outshining bigger names and providing the assist on the decisive goal in the Czechs' win over Greece. You'll see him move from the Czech league to a higher-profile destination soon.

CB: Mats Hummels, Germany

Despite being in the Group of Death, the Germans were the only team to take nine points from the group stage, and a big reason was the defensive work of Hummels (and partner Holger Badstuber, for that matter). Hummels takes care of business in the central defense, but he's also dangerous on set pieces in the box.

LB: Fábio Coentrão, Portugal

Philipp Lahm has been very good for Germany, but Coentrão has been his equal, and the Portuguese man had the best single game by a left back in the 3-2 win over Denmark (dominating winger Dennis Rommedahl).

RM: Jakub Blaszczykowski, Poland

The co-host Poles are out, but it wasn't the fault of their captain, who was especially dangerous in Poland's first two games, and scored perhaps the tournament's best goal in a 1-1 tie with Russia.

CM: Luka Modric, Croatia

Croatia ended up being in the real 'Group of Death', going out as Spain and Italy advanced in Group C. But the Croats were better than a few teams that did advance, including the Czechs and Greece (and maybe Portugal, too). Modric was the best player on the field in the Spain game, and he made an impact in the other group games as well.

CM: Daniele De Rossi, Italy

I'm putting De Rossi in the central midfield, even though he has played expertly in the three-man back line Italy has used. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has asked a lot of De Rossi in this tournament, and so far he has delivered, barely beating out Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger for this spot.

LM: Andrés Iniesta, Spain

Iniesta has played as much centrally as on the left, but he has been Spain's best field player, involving himself in almost all of the defending champ's goals so far. Iniesta's understanding of movement and passing is a joy to watch, even more so in person.

F: Alan Dzagoev, Russia

It may seem crazy to include three players whose teams have been eliminated, but Dzagoev earned this spot with a tournament co-leading three goals in a breakout performance for the 22-year-old. Another player who seems likely to make a move (from CSKA Moscow), Dzagoev has speed, guile and a killer finish.

F: Mario Gómez, Germany

After failing to score at Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010, Gómez aced out Miroslav Klose for the starting role here and has been terrific so far, both in the quality and quantity (three) of his goals.

F: David Silva, Spain

I know Silva is more of a midfielder, but he has played as a false nine in this tournament, and his Euro-co-leading three assists are enough to squeak him in ahead of Croatia's Mario Mandzukic and France's Karim Benzema.

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Shay Given had more off days at Euro 2012 than a Greek Work Force

Italy overcame Ireland 2-0 but were relieved to secure their place in the quarter finals of Euro 2012, after suffering an agonising wait as their fate was sealed in Gdansk. Ireland at least managed to salvage some pride, turning in their best performance of a disappointing tournament that has seen them return home pointless.
The Irish caused their superior opponents problems at times, but a goal in each half from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli means that Sean St Ledger's strike against Croatia is all they have to show for their efforts. Italy will have to improve, as they head into the quarter-finals to face England.

Mario Missing
Cesare Prandelli made the decision to replace Mario Balotelli with Antonio Di Natale for this game, after the Manchester City striker failed to find the net in the opening two games. Di Natale had come off the bench to score against Spain in the opening game and many thought he deserved a chance to start in place of Balotelli. The 21-year-old maverick had registered four shots off target - making him one of the top ten most wasteful players at the tournament. But he was obviously riled by the decision of his coach. Having been brought on for the final 15 minutes, he notched the nerve-settling secondnd goal for the Azzurri, and was only prevented from using his celebration to unleash a verbal volley at his manager by his team-mates.

Dead-ball danger
The Italians' two goals continued their run of set-piece successes, after both Antonio Cassano's header and Mario Balotelli's audacious flick came from corners in Poznan. Six of the Azzurri's last seven goals at European Championships have now been scored from dead-ball situations. The run stretches back to their 2008 campaign in Austria and Switzerland when they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Spain. Only Di Natale's curling effort against Spain in their opening game of this competition has come from open play.

Frenzy fear
Any team facing the Italians in the latter stages of the competition could do a lot worse than look at how Ireland approached this game. Giovanni Trapattoni's men started the game at a frenetic pace, and the Azzuri struggled as Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle ran rings round their defence. Italy seemed unable to cope with speedy counter-attacks, and Ireland were unlucky not to make them pay as they created some promising situations. Chiellini and Barzagli looked almost bewildered at times - maybe those with more quality in their end product will be able to exploit this possible weakness as the tournament gets to its business end.

Yellow Fever
Italy finish the group stage with nine yellow cards. Chiellini, Balanetti, Motta, Montolivo, Maggio, Balotelli, Buffon, De Rossi and Banucci have all found themselves on the wrong side of the referee in their opening three games. Only Greece can match the Azzurri's indiscipline, having also accumulated nine cautions in the opening phase. Before this game Balotelli had committed the sixth most fouls of any player in the tournament. Luckily for the Italians, the yellow cards are wiped out for the knockout stages, so all players start with a clean slate. But the Azzurri will have to clean up their act if they progress further, as two bookings in the knockout phase will lead to a suspension for the final.

Agonising wait
Group C went down to the wire with the Italians aware that a late Croatian equaliser in Gdansk would send them home. As the final whistle blew in Poznan the Azzurri were emotionless whilst they waited for news from 240 miles away. Anxiety was all too prevalent on the faces of Cesare Prandelli's men and their travelling fans as Croatia threw everybody - including their goalkeeper - into attack. If Slaven Bilic's men had netted, Italy would have been eliminated on goals scored due to their inferior result against Ireland. But Croatia couldn't find the goal they needed, and, as news filtered through to the Italian bench, it sparked rapturous scenes from the 2006 World Cup winners.

End of the road
Damien Duff led Ireland out in their final Euro 2012 fixture on his 100th and possibly final appearance. The 33-year-old was handed the armband by usual skipper Robbie Keane to mark the achievement of becoming just the fifth man to complete a century for the country. Duff, who made his senior debut alongside Keane against the Czech Republic in March 1998, has seen both the highs and the lows during the ensuing 14 years. And this could be the end of the road, not just for Duff, but also for the likes of Shay Given, Richard Dunne and John O'Shea.

Case for the defence
Shay Given had more off days at Euro 2012 than a Greek work force. Mistakes at the back have been a recurring theme in Ireland's Euro 2012 campaign. They arrived at the finals having not lost in 14 games and letting in just three goals in that time. But they are heading for home after conceding nine times in just three matches, with most of the goals being self-inflicted. They conceded another two goals from set-pieces, something they pride themselves on being able to defend.

Running on empty?
Was it Giovanni Trapattoni's training regimes and tactics, or simply fatigue after a long domestic season and then facing a different class of opposition? Either way, Ireland looked out on their feet at Euro 2012. The side had been criticised for the absence of their traditional passionate, do-or-die displays during the first two games, but showed more of their true colours against Italy which will at least give the Irish fans something to remember from their trip to Poland.

Fan power
The Irish fans will probably last longer in the memory than their team at Euro 2012. And the 'boys in green' put on their third fantastic display in the stands on the 18th anniversary of their famous win over Italy at USA 1994. The Irish fans spent much of the game performing the famous Poznan dance - which was maybe a popular option as it involved turning their back on the action! Chants of "Ole Ole Ole, Ireland," "come on you boys in green" and the passionate Fields of Athenry filled the Municipal Stadium. It's a shame their side couldn't give them a final goal to remember.


Ireland manager and former head coach of Italy, Giovanni Trapattoni was given a standing ovation when he came into the pre-match press conference on Monday. But serious questions must be asked about his tactics and player selection. He will need to change personal and refresh the team for the World Cup campaign. I can't see him changing too much unless a few players retire and out of necessity he may give younger players their chance. But as Trap defiantly defended his record at a press conference, he reiterated its a result business and I personally would give him the opportunity to try in the World Cup campaign. Although I fear another embarrassing defeat against The Germans.

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Group C Predictions

Spain V Croatia

The last time we had a situation like this, where Italy could be eliminated by a mutually beneficial draw between two other teams in their group, we saw the shortest ever odds from bookmakers for a 2-2 draw. And, duly, Denmark and Sweden produced exactly that result in 2004.

As Cesare Prandelli stated in the build-up to this game, however, there is one major reason why those odds aren’t as short this time: the world champions are playing.

Unlike Sweden and Denmark, Spain are – as ever – likely to completely dominate possession and control the match. There is a fear factor here for Croatia too. Although they tend to play the counter-attacking game that you simply must against the Spanish, that is principally because their defence is slow. Should a revitalised Fernando Torres start, and get a chance to run at that backline, then there are opportunities for goals here.

At the other end, though, Spain’s own loose defence will have to be wary of the aerial threat of Mario Mandzukic. Due to the lack of cohesion between Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos, the Spanish have coughed up a fair amount of opportunities in the air for opposition teams and it’s only a matter of time until one team – particularly a team with a player who has scored three headed goals in this tournament so far – takes one.

Spain, though, should have more one. They are a team, after all, who generally change the terms of every match. Indeed, matches are usually played on their terms.

Prediction: Spain 2-1 Croatia

Latest odds http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/euro-2012

Italy V Ireland

On the face of it, you would expect Italy to at least do their job and get the win they need against Ireland. Cesare Prandelli’s team, after all, have drawn against both of the other two teams in this group. Ireland have been badly beaten twice. That would appear to indicate a massive chasm between the two sides.

But there are a few reasons why this won’t be so straightforward. For one, Trapattoni has not lost to Italy in three games as Ireland manager and has beaten Prandelli’s team in their only meeting, last June. Secondly, there is the different feel of the game.

If, as suggested by Trapattoni, that it was the tension and pressure of the situation that caused Ireland to commit the kind of errors that completely distorted their previously excellent defensive record, all of that anxiety is suddenly lifted. With the team out of the tournament and now resolved to play for their pride, it might have an odd galvanising effect on their application.

By contrast, the pressure is now all on an Italian side who not only must win but must keep an eye on events elsewhere. That push and pull may well promote sufficient gaps in their framework.

Prediction: Italy 1-1 Ireland

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Oranje Boom

I look back at the key points of debate from Portugal's 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Sunday's Euro 2012 Group B clash in Kharkiv.

Holland crashed out of Euro 2012 without a point to their name after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Portugal. They have only scored one more goal than the boys in green and the green army has one game left to play. That's amazing considering the attacking talent they have at their disposal. Paulo Bento's side produced a superb attacking display, and only some wasteful finishing prevented them recording a handsome victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo produced two expert finishes as Portugal came from behind to beat a Netherlands side who had taken an early lead through Rafael van der Vaart's delightful long-range curler. But what will be the lasting legacies of the encounter? I  take a look at the main talking points.

End of an era?

With the failure to qualify for the knockout phases in a major tournament for the first time since 1980, many are predicting severe upheaval in the Dutch camp as they look ahead to the World Cup in 2014. Players such as Arjen Robben, Mark van Bommel, Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder will all be past their peak by the time the tournament in Brazil comes around and the Dutch FA may now choose to bring in the next generation so they have a settled side in two years' time.

Wasteful Dutch

The Netherlands finish their Group B campaign as the side with the most shots on goal, but with just two goals to show for their efforts. The Dutch have had 59 attempts at breaching their opposition's defences but couldn't produce the required quality often enough to make their domination pay. In fact, Holland can boast three of the top seven players with the most shots off target at the tournament. Robben alone registered nine wayward efforts in 263 minutes of football.

Missing spirit

A poor team morale is a recurring theme in Holland's recent past. On Sunday night, the Oranje started well, but once the game started to go against them, heads dropped and the lack of team spirit in the camp began to show as they lacked the character and belief to pull together and overcome the adversity. Missing leadership and seemingly any trust in each other's ability to turn things around, they produced an increasingly stagnant second half display and a failed to do justice to the undoubted talent on the pitch. The constant back-biting, complaints, tantrums and arguments can't be conducive to a successful campaign. A theory that has been advanced is that all the Dutch squad come from different clubs so it's difficult to harness an unified spirit and coupled with  egos is a recipe for disaster. 

Van der Vaart vindicated?

Rafael van der Vaart publically criticised his own omission from the Holland starting line-up for the opening games, after Bert van Marwijk opted for Mark van Bommel in the centre of midfield. But the Tottenham midfielder was unleashed on Sunday night as the Netherlands aimed to secure the two-goal win that could have seen them through to the quarter finals. The 'player-power' selection appeared to be vindicated after 11 minutes as the playmaker curled a delightful shot into the Portugal net. But as the game went on, Portugal exploited the open spaces in the Dutch midfield. We'll never know if Holland would've benefitted from a more solid midfield.

Bogey side

Holland have now won just one of their last 11 meetings with Portugal. The Oranje have not come out on top in an encounter between the sides since October 1991 when they beat the Portuguese 1-0 in the qualifiers for Euro 92. The previous two meetings between the sides both resulted in the Dutch being eliminated from a major tournament - Euro 2004 and the World Cup in 2006, so Sunday night made it three in a row, as Holland were once again sent crashing out of a competition by their Mediterranean rivals.

Under new management?

With Holland set to enter a period of transition as several of their older players make way for a new generation, the Dutch authorities may decide to make a change at the top. Van Marwijk has been heavily criticised for his dour approach to the game which is not in keeping with the Netherlands tradition of 'total football'. His decision to include son-in-law van Bommel in midfield for the first two group games alongside fellow defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong reportedly caused disruption in the camp - and was widely blamed in Holland for the back-to-back defeats that ultimately cost them a place in the quarter-finals.

Ron finds his form... at last!

Ronaldo has now scored in each of the last five major tournaments thanks to his two goals against the Dutch. Bento turned his ire on critics of his misfiring captain after he squandered two one-on-one chances against Denmark.

But the playmaker hasn't plundered 146 goals in 144 games for Real Madrid over the past three seasons for no reason. And the 27-year-old finally hit the heights and turned his profligacy into goals right on cue.

Bento faith

Portugal coach Paulo Bento named an unchanged team for the fifth consecutive competitive match. Despite losing to Germany in their opening clash, the former Sporting Lisbon boss kept faith with the same 4-3-3 line-up in the 3-2 win against Denmark, and he kept faith with the same XI against the Dutch. Bento wants a balance to his side and is keen for his players to be settled and playing football like a club team, defend diligently, keep calm and hit the opposition on the counter. Classic Portugal!

Fan power fails

The Dutch fans bedecked in their famous 'oranje' came in their legions to support their men-in-black. The Portuguese were mightily outnumbered in the 38,000-strong crowd, but could boast the legendary Eusebio watching on from the stands. The Netherlands may have come hoping for a miracle that would have sent them into Kharkiv to paint the town orange in celebration, but it will be a Portugal party on a mild and muggy night in eastern Ukraine, after their 2-1 win. They will no doubt be outnumbered again in the semi-finals as thousands of Czech fans again make the short trip into Poland on Thursday.

Catch them if you can

The three amigos Nani, Joao Moutinho and Ronaldo caused the Dutch backline a headache throughout with each of them constantly drifting off the line. They made runs inbetween midfielders and defenders. They were patient and were a constant nuisance to centre-backs Ron Vlaar and Joris Mathijsen. Holland just couldn't pick them up. This trio are sure to have quarter-final opponents Czech Republic quaking in their boots.

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Murder on the Gdansk Floor

Another slow start cost  Ireland dear against Spain, who never looked back after opening the scoring four minutes in and swept to a 4-0 victory that eliminates Giovanni Trapattoni's men from Euro 2012 with a game to spare. Fernando Torres announced his arrival in the competition with a goal in each half, sandwiched between a coolly-taken David Silva goal and topped off with a Cesc Fabregas strike. Here I look at the key talking points from yet another miserable Euro night for Ireland.

Striker solution

In Spain's opening game against Italy, Vicente del Bosque's 4-6-0 formation failed to impress after his side could only manage a draw, coming back from a goal down. Chance after chance went begging, with the Spaniards lacking the all-important finish. Del Bosque rejigged his line-up to meet the Irish, introducing Fernando Torres up front at the expense of Cesc Fabregas, who scored Spain's only goal against Italy. The Chelsea striker wasted little time in proving to the coach why he shouldn't be left on the bench, smashing a right-footed shot past the helpless Shay Given after four minutes to provide the end product that was absent against the Azzurri. He then strengthened his case to retain his starting spot when he added another with 20 minutes to go, suggesting we won't be seeing Del Bosque's striker-less experiment imprinted on any more of his starting line-ups.

Slow starters

Giovanni Trapattoni sets his Ireland side out to be solid and tough to beat, recognising that defence is their greatest strength. By keeping it tight at the back, Ireland can then begin to build on that platform with sporadic forays into the opposition half. However, in both halves of both their group matches at Euro 2012 they conceded a goal within five minutes, meaning they had to abandon their favoured formation and mentality with the match still in its infancy. It was a tough enough challenge against Croatia and Spain anyway without giving them a goal start. Ireland's slow openings have cost them dear in Poland and the Ukraine.

Panic stations

The precise-passing Spaniards dominated possession and Ireland didn't help themselves by repeatedly giving the ball away cheaply whenever they got a rare look-in. Several Irish players were guilty of panicking when finding themselves in possession and hoofing it blindly up field - inevitably straight back to a Spanish player. Robbie Keane fed on scraps all game, invariably struggling with high balls punted in his vague direction. The result was the ball taking on a boomerang quality and always finding its way back into the Irish half, playing right into their opponents' hands.

Torres hits back

With first-choice striker David Villa out of the tournament, Spain boss Del Bosque hardly gave a glowing endorsement of his other forwards by fielding six midfielders in their Group C opener against Italy last weekend. Torres, who has endured a difficult season with Chelsea, was one of those overlooked in Gdansk. Even when he did come on he proceeded to miss three gilt-edged chances to grab the winner, again demonstrating his alarming dip in confidence. However, restored to the starting XI on Thursday he wasted no time in giving us a glimpse of his old self, taking a smart first-touch to dash away from two Ireland defenders before firing the ball beyond Shay Given into the roof of the net after just four minutes. He then pushed the dagger further into Irish hearts by stroking home his second and Spain's third with 20 minutes left. Will this signal a return to the Torres of old? Or is it merely the latest in a series of false dawns for the 28-year-old?

Given's star on the wane?

Shay Given has been a tremendous goalkeeper for club and country for well over a decade now, but he had a particularly poor night against Spain. He failed to react to Fernando Torres' rising drive for the opener which, although hit with power, was straight at the 36-year-old. He was even more culpable for the second goal, pushing Andre Iniesta's shot meekly out towards David Silva, who tricked three defenders before finding the bottom corner. Given came into this tournament suffering from a series of niggling injuries and although he declared himself fully fit, you do wonder whether age is finally catching up with the experienced stopper.

Fans united

In a tournament that has been dominated by fan misbehaviour, culminating in those disturbing scenes from Warsaw on Tuesday, it was a refreshing sight to see both the Ireland and Spain fans sitting amongst each other with no hint of malice or trouble. Together they produced a rousing atmosphere for both sets of players, even once the result had been put beyond doubt, and provided the sorts of sights and sounds we want to see in the rest of the tournament.

Pass masters

Spain's incredible ability to retain the ball is well known, but their capacity to out-pass the opposition scaled new heights in Gdansk. Midfielders Xavi and Xabi Alonso completed 106 passes (excluding crosses) in the first half, two more than the entire Ireland team put together. By the final whistle the Spanish side had completed an incredible 859 passes, more than in any European Championship match, ever.

Silva service

The impudent skills of David Silva are well known to Premier League fans following his mesmerising displays for Manchester City over the past two years. But the 26-year-old showed what he can do on the international stage with a superbly-taken second, leaving three Ireland defenders flapping in vain to get a block in, before coolly tucking the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Composure personified from the former Valencia man, who also set up two goals for his team-mates.

Iniesta magic

The Spanish midfield maestro is fast establishing himself as a contender for player of the tournament. After a man-of-the-match winning display against the Italians, he was no less effective on Thursday night, proving a constant threat at the heart of his side. The stats spoke for themselves, with the Barcelona man travelling an astonishing 9.2km and completing 83 passes with a pass accuracy of 87 per cent during his 79 minutes on the pitch. Iniesta is quite simply wonderful to watch, boasting skill, accuracy and an unwavering work-rate, while moments like his deft backheel flick to David Silva in the first half blend seamlessly into Spain's aesthetic style.

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