Euro 2008 - June 15

Nor are we out of Euro 2008 coverage: The Management.

This blog is being posted close to game time, but this is an advantage for all of you Hotline betters. Team Portugal, who has already qualified, has announced many changes in both players and strategy for their game today against Switzerland. But we'll get to that in a bit.

Yesterday's action brought the Hotline to its now standard 3 out of 4. We missed Russia pulling out a win over Greece, but on the bright side, Greece only has one more game in this tournament. It will be a better day for everyone when this Greece side goes home.

Spain v. Sweden recap:

Just when you thought that the Hotline pick of Spain and the over was looking dead in the water, David Villa poached a late goal in extra time to grab a Spanish victory and our third goal to win the over. Spain’s 2 – 1 win was not truly a steal. As Otter pointed out, Spain should have had their second goal at the end of the first half but the ref swallowed his whistle and didn’t provide a justified penalty kick.

Spain did get the win, but it wasn’t the kind of performance that gives the Hotline confidence that they will be winning this tournament. Spain is good, but their defense is a bit sketchy. Matters weren’t helped when Barcelona captain Carlos Puyol hurt his foot and had to be subbed out before the 30th minute. As Avillo is undoubtedly thinking, not only did that hurt the Spanish defense, but it took the best soccer hair on either team out of the game. Unacceptable.

Russia v. Greece recap

Otter watch: Konstantin Zyryanov. Cool name and now he has a goal in Euro 2008. Russia isn't a very good team. But Greece is a bad team. Hopefully both of these teams will be out of the tournament soon. Greece only scores goals on the counter-attack or on set pieces. So when Russia went up a goal it was always an uphill battle for Greece. This game was not worth any additional commentary.

On to today...

June 15:

Portugal v. Switzerland:

• Under normal circumstances, the Hotline would pick Portugal to beat Switzerland handily, but these are not normal circumstances. Portugal Coach Luis Felipe Scolari is expected to make many changes for his team that has already qualified as the group winner. I would not expect to see Cristiano Ronaldo, or Deco, and other big names. As such, the game is wide open.
• Poor Switzerland. They host this tournament (along with Austria), and they lose their first 2 games. They are already eliminated from the tournament. But if ever there were an already eliminated team with reason to play hard, it's Switzerland.
• Although Portugal will be playing understrength, I don't think the players on the field will be lacking in effort.
• I expect Switzerland to score an early goal, but that Portugal with score a late goal to tie it. Portugal 1, Switzerland 1. Take the tie and the under.

Czech Republic v. Turkey:

• This is the match that means everything today. Unfortunately, it is not being broadcast at Euro 2008 headquarters. It reminds me of the time that I was in Mexico and forced to watch South Korea v. Portugal when simultaneously the U.S. was being pounded by Poland 3-1.
• The Hotline believes that the Czechs have the advantage in this game in creative play, especially now that they have apparently decided to keep Jan Koller on the bench - a solid move. Milan Baros is surprising playing well, and I expect he will have a big game today.
• Turkey pulled out a late goal against Switzerland in their last match, when they really didn't deserve it.
• This will be a close match - but the Czechs will pull it out and qualify in 2nd place out of Group A.
• Czech Republic 2, Turkey 1.

Leif out.