MCdread
Couldn't she get drowned?
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2001
- Messages
- 5,348
The absence of a thread on the subject indicates that this wasn't a widely followed event here on CFC, but for the past 2 weeks, this was a nice event to open the apetite for the WC, and it was definitely much more entertaining than expected.
The final was yesterday between Holland and Ukraine and ended 3-0 for Oranje, a flattering result that punishes harshly a fightinh Ukraine. Holland started badly, loosing to Ukraine precisely and then scrapping a draw with Denmark to position themselves at the last place of their group before the final first round game against the superpower of this age category, Italy. They never looked capable of winning that game, but in the end, Italy's genes took the better of them, and they decided not to play anymore and defend the result (Italy was 1st after 2 games). Daniël De Ridder eventually scored a goal to put them through. It was in the 2nd phase that the dutch fully justified their prize, by unexpectadly starting to play well, beating the superfavourites, France, in the semis, and then Ukraine 3-0 in the final. For both the dutch and the ukrainians this probably looked like a remake of Euro'88, when Holland lost the first game against a very ukrainian Soviet Union (Lobanovsky, Blokhin, Mikhailichenko, Belanov, etc.), finding a way to the semis while Ukraine/USSR finishes first in the group, then beating the favourites and comfortably beat the easterners in the final remake, although they can also thank goalie Vermeer and the posts.
A few players to watch very closely in the future:
From Holland: Vermeer (crazy GK, looked shaky at the beggining, but finished the tournament in style), Emanuelson (LB), Aissati (AM), Castelen (wing.) and especially De Zeeuw (CM) and Huntelaar (Str.). De Zeeuw is a midfielder that is everywhere, attacking, defending, very calm and always knows what's the best option to pass the ball. His positioning is perfect. Huntelaar is a big forward with excellent skills. He can create and finish, with both feet and head. It's a shame he isn't in the WC.
From Ukraine: Chygrynskiy (stylish CD) and especially Milevskiy (AM), both of them will also feature in the WC. Milevskiy is a tall playmaker, with astonishing technique. With his size and individual ability he terrifies any defence because he can protect the ball well, dribble all the way into the box or assist another player. Yesterday, he created lots of opportunities that his teammates couldn't finish. Desearved better than 2nd place.
From France: Mavuba and Toulalan (CM pair), the first is the "Petit Tigana" and already capped for the A team, the second is a very strong box to box midfielder and you will be able to see him next year in Lyon's midfield. he has everything to be Lyon's boss in the future, especially when the Juninho era ends. Jimmy Briand (Forw.) was another that shined.
From Serbia&Montenegro: Serbia were lucky to get to the semis, as they only won a game, and had the miraculous help of a 94th minute goal from Portugal against Germany to qualify. Their strength however was the defence, but above all goal keeper Stojkovic, a great goal keeping talent from Red Star Belgrade. He will also be in the WC, and if not for the time being, Serbia's number 1 position will surely be his in the future.
From the remaining teams that didn't qualify to the semis:
Germany: Rensig (GK, Kahn's heir at Bayern), Volz (RB) and Polansky (AM). Volz in particular was a revelation as right back, he seems good material for Germany's NT in the near future.
Portugal: Moutinho and Raúl Meireles, both CM. Portugal had a terrible championships, especially as it was the home team, and the enthusiastic press and fans were thinking we'd win this with ease (soooo typical
), and these two were the only ones that seemed to want to play. Sadly, none of them will be in the WC, but you can watch Costinha's and Maniche's old legs painfully dragging over the pitch instead. 
Italy: Chiellini (LB) is a very physical and tireless defender from Juventus (maybe you've already seen him playing there). I guess he'll soon become a full italian international. Curci (Roma's GK) and Bianchi, a tall Vieiri-Toni-Iaquinta-like striker, are also interesting players. Bianchi in particular didn't deserve being solely abandoned at front in the Netherlands game, which Italy could have certainly won, but decided to go for the 0-0 draw (also soooo typical).
Denmark: they were the exciting, attacking-mad and entertaining team of the tournament, but in the end they sadly ended up bottom of the group with just a couple of points... A few players made themselves noticeable, but the best of all was by far number 10 Kahlenberg, a star in the french league that already belongs to the A team (a pitty they're not in Germany), and in many ways the best player of the tournament. If you don't want to mark any of the names above, at least mark this one: Thomas Kahlenberg.
So, that was it, congratulations to Holland
and now bring the main dish, the WC!!!
The final was yesterday between Holland and Ukraine and ended 3-0 for Oranje, a flattering result that punishes harshly a fightinh Ukraine. Holland started badly, loosing to Ukraine precisely and then scrapping a draw with Denmark to position themselves at the last place of their group before the final first round game against the superpower of this age category, Italy. They never looked capable of winning that game, but in the end, Italy's genes took the better of them, and they decided not to play anymore and defend the result (Italy was 1st after 2 games). Daniël De Ridder eventually scored a goal to put them through. It was in the 2nd phase that the dutch fully justified their prize, by unexpectadly starting to play well, beating the superfavourites, France, in the semis, and then Ukraine 3-0 in the final. For both the dutch and the ukrainians this probably looked like a remake of Euro'88, when Holland lost the first game against a very ukrainian Soviet Union (Lobanovsky, Blokhin, Mikhailichenko, Belanov, etc.), finding a way to the semis while Ukraine/USSR finishes first in the group, then beating the favourites and comfortably beat the easterners in the final remake, although they can also thank goalie Vermeer and the posts.
A few players to watch very closely in the future:
From Holland: Vermeer (crazy GK, looked shaky at the beggining, but finished the tournament in style), Emanuelson (LB), Aissati (AM), Castelen (wing.) and especially De Zeeuw (CM) and Huntelaar (Str.). De Zeeuw is a midfielder that is everywhere, attacking, defending, very calm and always knows what's the best option to pass the ball. His positioning is perfect. Huntelaar is a big forward with excellent skills. He can create and finish, with both feet and head. It's a shame he isn't in the WC.
From Ukraine: Chygrynskiy (stylish CD) and especially Milevskiy (AM), both of them will also feature in the WC. Milevskiy is a tall playmaker, with astonishing technique. With his size and individual ability he terrifies any defence because he can protect the ball well, dribble all the way into the box or assist another player. Yesterday, he created lots of opportunities that his teammates couldn't finish. Desearved better than 2nd place.
From France: Mavuba and Toulalan (CM pair), the first is the "Petit Tigana" and already capped for the A team, the second is a very strong box to box midfielder and you will be able to see him next year in Lyon's midfield. he has everything to be Lyon's boss in the future, especially when the Juninho era ends. Jimmy Briand (Forw.) was another that shined.
From Serbia&Montenegro: Serbia were lucky to get to the semis, as they only won a game, and had the miraculous help of a 94th minute goal from Portugal against Germany to qualify. Their strength however was the defence, but above all goal keeper Stojkovic, a great goal keeping talent from Red Star Belgrade. He will also be in the WC, and if not for the time being, Serbia's number 1 position will surely be his in the future.
From the remaining teams that didn't qualify to the semis:
Germany: Rensig (GK, Kahn's heir at Bayern), Volz (RB) and Polansky (AM). Volz in particular was a revelation as right back, he seems good material for Germany's NT in the near future.
Portugal: Moutinho and Raúl Meireles, both CM. Portugal had a terrible championships, especially as it was the home team, and the enthusiastic press and fans were thinking we'd win this with ease (soooo typical
), and these two were the only ones that seemed to want to play. Sadly, none of them will be in the WC, but you can watch Costinha's and Maniche's old legs painfully dragging over the pitch instead. Italy: Chiellini (LB) is a very physical and tireless defender from Juventus (maybe you've already seen him playing there). I guess he'll soon become a full italian international. Curci (Roma's GK) and Bianchi, a tall Vieiri-Toni-Iaquinta-like striker, are also interesting players. Bianchi in particular didn't deserve being solely abandoned at front in the Netherlands game, which Italy could have certainly won, but decided to go for the 0-0 draw (also soooo typical
).Denmark: they were the exciting, attacking-mad and entertaining team of the tournament, but in the end they sadly ended up bottom of the group with just a couple of points... A few players made themselves noticeable, but the best of all was by far number 10 Kahlenberg, a star in the french league that already belongs to the A team (a pitty they're not in Germany), and in many ways the best player of the tournament. If you don't want to mark any of the names above, at least mark this one: Thomas Kahlenberg.
So, that was it, congratulations to Holland
and now bring the main dish, the WC!!!
), and the qualification will no longer follow that of the A teams. And it will also switch to odd years, so that it doesn't get in the way of the WC or EC, and teams can play full strength or at least there won't be conflicts between the U21 and the A team regarding the selection of certain players (a major issue in the portuguese campaign for example, and that now comes as a handy excuse for the débacle).
)
