Word: hollande
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...Italy wasn't the only quarter final contestant to try to destroy its opponent's tactical advantage, merely the only unsuccessful one. Russia, Germany and, again in spectacular fashion, Turkey, provided delicious upsets of Holland (1-3 after extra time), Portugal (2-3) and Croatia (1-1 after extra time, 3-1 on penalties) to disrupt a tournament that had already been set alight by Turkey's last gasp heroics against Switzerland and the Czech Republic...
...Euro 2008 headed into the knockout phase, the biggest question is whether anyone, least of all Russia, could stop Holland? Marco van Basten's team has swept passed Italy, France and Romania without stopping, which is pretty much the way its midfield plays. Van Basten has a red-hot Wesley Sneijder leading the attack, and the prospect of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie coming off the bench has to frighten any opposing defenders. And Ruud van Nistelrooy at his goal poaching best. That may be too much for its next foe, Russia. The Russians were another...
...play from the opening round suggests the semis could be Holland against Spain, Portugal against Turkey. It's tough to bet against a team riding its momentum like Turkey is at the moment. And counting Germany out is always a bad idea. But Holland against Spain - you can imagine a 5-3 final score - could be the game of the tournament, assuming the Spaniards can manage a way through a depleted Italy. And why not? Spain has two superb finishers in Torres and Villa and an equally lethal midfield. The Italians, who turned their first round into a three-part...
...interval ready for payback. Les Bleus pushed, shoved, sprinted, and fought to stay alive, but the Dutch would have none of it. Substitute Robin van Persie wound up on the winning end of a series of fast-break passes, the last from fellow sub Arjen Robben, to put Holland in command in the 59th minute. The third goal came in the 72nd minute - just a minute after Thierry Henry had pulled a goal back for France. From there it was classic: France struggling to get into scoring range, then paying dearly with a furious Dutch counter-offensive that could have...
...Oddly, the dominating performances by Portugal, Holland, Spain and Germany mean there are plenty of scraps left over for the runner-up spots and a place in the knockout round. And likely, a chance to be knocked out. Italy must find a way past Romania - certainly possible - and then play an out-of-form France for the second spot in Group C. Switzerland needs to beat Turkey to stay alive in Group A and possibly overtake the Czechs, who face Portugal. The Russians, who threatened the Spanish on a number of occasions, face a stubborn Greece and a rejuvenated Sweden...