Word: tournaments
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Fourth Set: At one point Federer is distracted by the crash of bleachers being disassembled on other courts in the distance, seemingly attuned to the sound of the tournament winding down. Nadal, the newcomer, seems not to notice...
...Despite being twice-trounced by Spain, Russia had been the tournament's other bright light, and it too played the high-tempo attacking game of the Spanish. A ghost of its CCCP past, this team announced that once again Russia was ready to play on the world soccer stage. Guus Hiddink's men, led by its striking partnership of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin, had the wannabe oligarchs in attendance contentedly puffing on their Havanas. The only pity was that the Russians had to play Spain twice...
...Euro 2008 was made unforgettable, though, by the fun bunch of the tournament - Turkey. Not much had been expected from this side, most of whose members play in Turkey's domestic league. But once turned loose on the pitch, the Turks' brand of firehouse football was enthralling. When the alarm bells rang, the Turks answered the way firemen do, with a well-thought plan executed urgently, midfielder Tuncay Sanli leading the charge and Nihat Kahveci providing the rescuing goals. Perhaps too urgent, as the Turks had four players suspended for their semi-final with Germany. But that is a lesson...
...then, to France and Italy. France without Zinedine Zindane is still like a bottle of champagne without the cork - there was no fizz in this lineup, and a damaged Thierry Henry didn't help. And, like France, Italy was far too old in the legs for a month-long tournament, and clearly out of ideas. The defending champion Greece stepped off the podium without a peep; perhaps they thought showing up was good enough...
...Europe's best. But they had a good time anyway, even the thousands who invaded Switzerland without a ticket. Following on the tradition established at the World Cup in Germany, the packed Fan Zones in the host cities - Zurich boasted of a million Fan Zone visits - showed that the tournament had now outgrown mere stadiums. And although there were some incidents, the massed fans focused on the football, and the absolutely zany weather, such as the freak and violent storm in Vienna that literally scattered supporters to the winds. Expect Emotion, the slogan said, and on that EURO 2008 delivered...