The fallen four

4 are left, 4 were shown the door. Typical of what you would expect from a quarter-final but the results were far from what you would expected.


Portugal vs The Bastian
Portugal were the first victims of the elimination rounds falling to the hands of the Bastian. Never have I ever seen someone that looks like ghost ripe past another team like a ghost. All the pre-cup hype surrounding Ronaldo was proven to be more hype than reality with Ronaldo yet again under performing on the big stage. However his cause wasn't helped by the fact that his team's defense looked more like a spoon with holes in it, lets everything through and useless.

Although Portugal's defense is often never the talking point, but one could have expected them to do better considering they do have the first choice centre halves of Chelsea and Real Madrid and a keeper that sent England packing on two occasions. Huge defensive errors cost them and the quick-fire goals of the Bastian and Klose really sealed the match for the Germans. However on saying that, it was more of a game on damage-limitation from both sides. The German defense that used to be so strong has looked nothing but this time around but they managed to win after parking a bus in front of goal for the last 20 minutes. While Low was too nervous to watch, the Germans tensed it out on the field by having the 10 men behind the ball. It really was the Berlin wall. However like the Berlin wall, a gap soon appeared Nani well delivered but slightly tame cross was tucked away with a few minutes to spare closing the goal difference to just one. Low by then had enough and need to 'have a fag' to calm himself down. It was really interesting to see Low act like that, as it is most un-German like and it might signify that there is some hidden troubles amongst the team. Because usually the last one to feel afraid or nervous is the coach and Low was hardly a model.

Croatia vs "Never say die" Turkey
Some teams are made to be king of comebacks but to go down in the 119th minute and then to score in the 122nd minute is something special. Officially the latest goal ever scored in a Euro match it was one that the Croatians never saw coming. When Klasnic scored they thought they had won the match and rightly so but like against the Czechs the Turkey pulled off an amazing comeback. When a game is into those final stages of the game, tactics no longer matter because players will be too tired to care and its always the team with the desire to win and the composure that wins the game. When Turkey got that goal, there was no chase that Croatia would have won the penalty kick, just imagine what was going on in their heads. One moment ago they were winning with just a minute to go and after playing for 119 minutes, it is nothing but relief and pure confidence, but as that feeling starts to warm up the Turks did the unthinkable. The bigger they are the harder they fall. Every single bit of positive mentality would have been sucked right out of the Croatians and the tide has swung to Turkey's way. Modric who was so calm and cool in the previous matches summed it all up with a terrible penalty. However the winner on the day is Germany, Turkey battled hard but casualty numbers are high, Tuncay Sanli and Arda Turan, the two pivotal men are suspended along with a couple of others, 6 are injured and the coach has one heck of a job to do now to face Germany.

Dutch vs the Dutch Curse
Form can go as fast as it can come if you don't cherish it, something that all managers know and fear about. Form is a double edged blade, something that will kill off opponents when you have it or something that can fully destroy you if you depend solely on it. The Dutch were out of colour during their qualifiers and it was a real shock when they demolished the French and Italians with so much ease (ask Ruud). It had seemed that they had suddenly found their form. On the other hand Russia started their Euro campaign by getting themselves slaughtered by Spain but since the arrival of Arshavin their fortune has totally turned around. With his trusty partner in attack, Roman Pavlyuchenko they stole the show and juiced the Oranje. The first half was all about Netherlands vs Arshavin. Besides Arshavin and Roman, the Russian team looked fully out of place, man to man, the Russian team were outskilled by a ratio of 5:1 in every position. Russia created a number of chances, nearly all from Arshavin, but were guilty to wanting to walk the ball into the net, the Dutch on the other hand shot if they got within 30 yards. The contrasting style was very interesting and the team that looked to scored first was going to take it. However the Dutch coming from 3 convincing wins began to look sloppy and agutated with passes in the final third not sticking. Same went for Russia, Russia's skill were still a chocker and with not much progress Arshavin decided that he would have to do all the work himself, opting to dribble the last third rather than to waste time trying to string passes. His efforts paid off, Roman got a goal and the Dutch looked further and further off colour. What was surprising to see was when the Dutch conceded the goal all the Dutch fans went quiet. Its not uncommon but they remained that way. The fans on a another day would be trying to cheer on their team but maybe they sensed the inevitable. Ruud really only delayed the outcome and the string of lucky last ditch clearances or dependence on van der Sar to do a spectacular save gave way when Arshavin kept on storming the Dutch and was rewarded with an assist and goal.

Spain vs Italy
It was an interesting match, probably because the Spanish team has so many players with flair and knack to try things. Their opponents other hand remained as they were in the previous three matches, summarised too truly by the BBC columnist Robbo Robson

a tight-fisted, mean-spirited, uninspiring, desperate and downright miserable way to approach a game of football.

Italy is at the point where, like France, needs to get their priorities straight, a team that is a shadow of the 06, without any imagination or desire it was surprising that it took penalties to kill them off. For most of the match it was really Buffon's skill that kept the Spanish at bay albeit the little scare. Some people thought they would have imploded by the negative way they approach the game nowdays. Donadoni like McClaren fielded players that carry a name and not substance. Never would Toni or Zambrotta start a match for a supposed World Champion team in the form they are now especially with players like Di Natale on the bench if Donadoni stopped listening the the shadow of Lippi. However credit must be given to the Spanish for their desire to reach a Semi-final since God-knows-when, their victory is more like against the evils of football, its a shame Buffon, such a talented star, has to play with a bunch of uninspiring 'losers'.