Well that was fun. Lots of goals, an upset or two, some behind-the-scenes drama… and for what? At the end of three weeks, the new Champions are the same as the old Champions. The footballing universe is balanced and unsullied, and in six weeks, we can go back to watching club football. In the meantime, enjoy my little observations about the highlight of the summer. Don’t you dare mention the Olympics!!!
1) This Spanish side may be the best international side ever. Duh.
Euro. World Cup. Euro. Nineteen players in the side have now won both tournaments. More than half of those players will still be under 30 by the time they reach Rio in two years time (not to mention next year’s Confederations Cup). An average possession rate of at least 65%. A side that has gone 646 minutes without conceding a goal in a knock-out match. This is more than a “Golden Generation”; this is utter and complete dominance.
2) Buffon and Pirlo are studs.
Despite every indication that they would do the opposite, the Italians (the Italians?) took the game to Spain, trying to play offensive and open-pitch football (seriously, the Italians?!?). Prandelli’s tactics allowed the world to see Andrea Pirlo’s incredible play-making abilities. Pirlo is a big reason why Juventus won the Scudetto this season, and AC Milan (his old team) didn’t. Meanwhile, Buffon faced a barrage of attempts, especially in the final’s second half. When the winners were getting their medals, Buffon was stoic in defeat.
Prandelli: “Balotelli has to learn to accept defeat.”
3) Balotelli needs to grow up.
He may have put on a clinic against ze Germans… but Mario is still a super baby. He stormed off the pitch after Italy lost against the Spaniards and was the last person to receive his medal. That’s too bad because he had an exemplary tournament. Colourful players with heaps of talent have always made the game more interesting…. but Balotelli can be a detriment to his team(s). Luckily for both Italy and Manchester City, his behaviour may mellow with time. Witness another former petulant son in…
4) Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s an incredible player… he just needs a team.
Like the Italians, the Portuguese weren’t expected to do much. Critics assumed that Ronaldo would once again be unable to replicate his club form for A Seleccao. But not only did Ronaldo have a great tournament, he showed tremendous un-Ronaldo-like restraint as teams gave him a kicking. Old Ronaldo would have flopped around like a fish. New Ronaldo recorded the most shots in the tournament. Too bad that he also hit the wood work more than any other player… and let’s not even mention the penalty shot that never was.
5) The end of the Van Marwijk era means the end of the Van Bommel era, et al. Praise Cheebus.
The Dutch gaffer opted for pretty much the same side as he used in the World Cup. Oops.
Before the tournament even began, the players exhibited symptoms of Dutch Disease: an in-fighting both in and out of the public spotlight that hobbled everyone. Their performance on the pitch reflected the lack of unity and tactics. One hopes that it wasn’t nepotism that led Van Marwijk to start his over-the-hill son-in-law Mark Van Bommel. The captain sums up all that’s wrong with the Oranje: old, dirty, and petulant. A mid-tournament rebellion in the dressing room, followed by an early exit,would make the Dutch this year’s France, except that…
6) France is this year’s France.
After a disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa, you’d think Les Tricoloures would avoid their petty squabbles and unite under Laurent Blanc. Malheureusement, it was not to be. Reports of a dressing room bust-up after losing to Sweden in their final group-stage match was followed by Samir Nasri’s unseemly outburst towards a reporter. A tidy loss to the eventual champions meant the end of another tournament… and the dismissal of another manager.
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité… Someone tell the French players.
The other sad Mario…
7) Das Jahr der Schrecken for Bayern Munich players.
What a season for the eight men out who play for both the German national team and Bayern Munich. Bayern suffered a double domestic loss to Borussia Dortmund in both the Bundesliga and the DKB-Pokal, followed by a baffling defeat at Chelsea’s hands at home in the Champions League. Top that off with Germany’s semi-final loss to unfancied Italy and they face a tough summer staring into their schnitzel. Mario Gomez even lost out on the Euro Golden Boot because he tied Fernando Torres in goals and assists, but took more minutes to do it! Scheisse!
8) England, thanks for coming out.
Joe Hart and Steven Gerrard played well. Surprisingly, so did John Terry. Andy Carroll scored the same amount of goals as Wayne Rooney, but played 50 less minutes. Theo Walcott had a game to remember. Now let’s never mention this again.
