The official tagline for Euro 2008 is 'Expect emotions'. To look back how the qualifiers had went, it does fit. Since it all began last year, so much drama along the way.
Scotland's amazing run, only to end at the hands of World Cup winners Italy. Germany setting two records: scoring the most number of goals so far in a qualifier (against San Marino away - 13 goals!) and the first to qualify with three matches remaining (also setting a record in German football as well). Coaches coming under fire from domestic media. And how about the journey of England's qualification route so far? Coach Steve McClaren coming under fire one too many times especially on matches which mattered. But, before four more spots are confirmed, it's previewing selected matches for the one last time.
No excuses. If I have to summarise the preview of the England-Croatia match into two words, that will be it. The day after the Israel-Russia match, one of the reactions from the English press is 'Miracle in the Holy Land'. And Steve McClaren was actually in the England team hotel bathroom when the injury-time goal happened. This was what he said! He heard his two sons screaming and he knew what happened. So...time to get back to business after all that has happened.
Word has it that David Beckham and Paul Robinson are being dropped to the bench for the final qualifier against Croatia - Beckham and Robinson axed for England game - reports. But then I thought I had read that McClaren will only announce who will be his starting XI on the day itself? How did the papers get the idea? Going away from that, England is no stranger to Croatia coach Slaven Bilic. The man himself (who is a former defender), used to be the mainstay in West Ham when England's Joe Cole was just breaking through the Hammers squad. But well, this article's headline says it - England's Cole expecting no favours from Hammers old boy Bilic. And the stand-in England captain Steven Gerrard believes that an 'aerial bombardment' will do the trick - Gerrard - Aerial assault can rock Croatia. Now...why does that sounds familar? Ahead of the Russians coming to the Wembley back then, there was something like that in a preview of the match.
A 3-0 loss to the Czechs on home ground brought Germany back to reality. And it came just after they had qualified for Euro 2008 after the goalless draw in Ireland. And since then, they had not taken any chances. When Cyprus squad came to Hanover over the weekend, it was a 4-0 win to Germany and the man who was in the centre of attention was striker Lukas Poldolski. Or wait...he actually played a midfield role on that night. It was the national coach's idea. I only knew it the day after. There had been squad withdrawals due to injuries, or in Arne Fredrich's case, given his club Hertha Berlin is travelling to Karlsruhe on Friday, coach Joachim Loew had relieved him of his duties.
And so while Germany striker Miroslav Klose had talked about a goal-fest (I paraphrase it) against the Welsh (he did scored against Wales the last time they met), I had brought up how the coaches are saying ahead of the match. Maybe this was being mentioned in my yesterday's entry (not the previous one, I mean), but Wales coach John Toshack had this to say - I don't fear for the players in Germany, not at all. But there will be a bit of fear for me watching it! We ended up against the Irish with six kids on the pitch, and had David Edwards coming on to make his debut. Frankly it will be not much different in Germany, but they can all learn from such an occasion. And his counterpart, well, the final words ahead of the match in Frankfurt - We want to, and have got to round things off with a win over Wales, and then we will see what happens. To be honest, though, I don't think the Czech Republic will win in Cyprus. Hmm. Okay then. Given Cyprus's unpredictability at times. But then now the situation in Group D is just a case of who takes that top spot - Germany or Czech Republic (Euro Qualifying Group D: Top Spot Still Up For Grabs).
Given it will affect the seedings when the group draws for the tournament next year in Austria and Switzerland begin in early December. In the Reuters article which I got it from Yahoo! yesterday (Netherlands and Germany can gain from losing), Loew has this to say in view of the seedings - "We just want to beat Wales. I don't worry about any of the other issues." To admit, I am secretly dreading of a Group of Death happening somewhere.
Ah. How can one solve a problem call Raymond Domenech? He is the 'love-him-or-hate-him' kind of person. The Les Bleus's national coach, always seemed to have a love-hate relationship with the Azzuri. Run-ins with club coaches. And to think I had almost forgotten about this incident (Raymond Domenech Turns Down Whiskey For The Good of the Team). So ahead of Scotland's clash with Italy, Domenech had reportedly turned down an offer of a bottle of Scotch whiskey from a Scottish journalist. He said the last time he accepted it, his side lost to Scotland. Well, Italy did beat Scotland in Glasgow, thus also sending France to Euro 2008 as well. How freaky accurate he was.
This is not the first Domenech does things, based on...non-footballing reasons. What are you expecting me to say? Back then during the World Cup, he said that he based his selection of the squad...on the footballers' star signs (and he doesn't like Scorpios, which means former Arsenal player Robert Pires, was never selected because he was born under that). Eh...it didn't really worked, because Italy won.
But then ahead of the match against Ukraine in Kiev, Domenech wants his side to prove that they deserve to be there in Austria and Switzerland, not because the Italians had 'helped' them.
Can't believe it's almost coming to end now. The qualifiers, I mean. For one last time - Go England!
