The Buffet-Lite is back in style. Yesterday’s matches resulted in victories for The Netherlands and Italy (both Hotline predictions). The two team parlay was good value for your Hotline dollar. It might be the luck of the Snoopy that brought such a good day. Unfortunately, I’m out of more photos of Snoopy drinking beer. I had to resort to my database of "Swedish girls kissing". My apologies.
Today is the final day of matches in Group D, and closes out the round robin play of Euro 2008. It has been a great tournament so far – with more entertaining play than the 2006 World Cup and light-years better than the dreadful Euro 2004 where Greece played Iba ball all the way to the championship.
The favorites to win the tournament now are the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Croatia – in that order. The major disappointments are Germany (who qualified 2nd in their group after Croatia) and France (who have been eliminated), as well as Italy (who qualified for the next round, but haven’t looked like their dominant selves.
On to today’s games…
June 18:
Spain v. Greece
· This is another tough game to read because neither team has much to play for. Greece has already been eliminated from the competition after losing their first two matches. Spain has already qualified for the next round in first place after beating both Spain and Russia. The Greek coach, in a nod to little league coaches everywhere, has decided to play the scrubs and give them a taste of Euro action. Spain is also going to take the opportunity to empty the bench and play many new faces.
· Everyone knows that Greece likes to play defensive soccer and grab an occasional goal through a set piece, but what will their strategy be when they field all new players? Will they open it up? I doubt it. It would be hard for a team to completely change their strategy at this late stage. And Greece surely would not want to be disgraced by losing horribly to Spain. I expect Greece to stick with their defense first approach.
· So basically, the question is whose scrubs are better? I’ll take Spain and the under. The Spanish squad simply has more depth. I’ll take Cesc Fabregas over Teodoro Theoopolous any day.
Sweden v. Russia
The battle for second place. Sweden is ahead in goal difference, so a tie between Sweden and Russia will end up with Sweden qualifying.
Russia is boosted by the return after suspension of a man considered by many to be their best playermaker and goalscorer – Andrei Arshavin. Arshavin has not yet played in Euro 2008. Guus Hiddink, the Russian coach, on one hand says that Arshavin’s return will be great for the squad, but then also says that Arshavin’s fitness is a concern so he might not play. Sounds like silly gamesmanship to me. Arshavin will play. Russia could certainly use the lift up front. Roman Pavyluchenko, aka Ivan Drago, has not had much help.
Sweden has an injury problem to be concerned with…Zlatan Ibrahimovich is planning on playing despite his injured thigh that took him out of the last game (but not after he had scored against Spain). Ibrahimovich is the key for Sweden. He has scored in both of their first two matches and appears to be on his game…it’s just a matter of whether he can move. You know that Fredy Ljundberg and Henrik Larsson can’t be expected to score goals since they have a combined age of 90.
I think this game will reach a 1-1 tie early in the second half and then Sweden will play for a tie. Hotline prediction: Sweden 1, Russia 1. Take the tie and the under.
Today is the final day of matches in Group D, and closes out the round robin play of Euro 2008. It has been a great tournament so far – with more entertaining play than the 2006 World Cup and light-years better than the dreadful Euro 2004 where Greece played Iba ball all the way to the championship.
The favorites to win the tournament now are the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Croatia – in that order. The major disappointments are Germany (who qualified 2nd in their group after Croatia) and France (who have been eliminated), as well as Italy (who qualified for the next round, but haven’t looked like their dominant selves.
On to today’s games…
June 18:
Spain v. Greece
· This is another tough game to read because neither team has much to play for. Greece has already been eliminated from the competition after losing their first two matches. Spain has already qualified for the next round in first place after beating both Spain and Russia. The Greek coach, in a nod to little league coaches everywhere, has decided to play the scrubs and give them a taste of Euro action. Spain is also going to take the opportunity to empty the bench and play many new faces.
· Everyone knows that Greece likes to play defensive soccer and grab an occasional goal through a set piece, but what will their strategy be when they field all new players? Will they open it up? I doubt it. It would be hard for a team to completely change their strategy at this late stage. And Greece surely would not want to be disgraced by losing horribly to Spain. I expect Greece to stick with their defense first approach.
· So basically, the question is whose scrubs are better? I’ll take Spain and the under. The Spanish squad simply has more depth. I’ll take Cesc Fabregas over Teodoro Theoopolous any day.
Sweden v. Russia
The battle for second place. Sweden is ahead in goal difference, so a tie between Sweden and Russia will end up with Sweden qualifying.
Russia is boosted by the return after suspension of a man considered by many to be their best playermaker and goalscorer – Andrei Arshavin. Arshavin has not yet played in Euro 2008. Guus Hiddink, the Russian coach, on one hand says that Arshavin’s return will be great for the squad, but then also says that Arshavin’s fitness is a concern so he might not play. Sounds like silly gamesmanship to me. Arshavin will play. Russia could certainly use the lift up front. Roman Pavyluchenko, aka Ivan Drago, has not had much help.
Sweden has an injury problem to be concerned with…Zlatan Ibrahimovich is planning on playing despite his injured thigh that took him out of the last game (but not after he had scored against Spain). Ibrahimovich is the key for Sweden. He has scored in both of their first two matches and appears to be on his game…it’s just a matter of whether he can move. You know that Fredy Ljundberg and Henrik Larsson can’t be expected to score goals since they have a combined age of 90.
I think this game will reach a 1-1 tie early in the second half and then Sweden will play for a tie. Hotline prediction: Sweden 1, Russia 1. Take the tie and the under.
3 comments:
Thanks once again for going that extra mile (or kilometer) to preview two games that likely will be the most boring of the entire tourney.
And don't ever, ever, ever apologize for posting pictures of two Swedish girls kissing! Ever!
They did end up being generally boring games, although Russia showed some previously unseen creativity. I think they will give the Netherlands a run in the next round if they can keep playing like today.
Portugal v. Germany tomorrow. Preview to be posted later today.
Bad day for Otter. First the Lakers don't play D and ruin my under and then Sweden bends over and grins for the russian bear. I've already got Portugal and the over. Looking for 3-1 Portugal as Germany has to push forward after an early Portugese goal and gets punished for it.
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