Croatia have caused Euro'2008's first upset and I couldn't be happier.
The first - and only - Euro Finals match I watched was in Euro'96 held in England when I saw Croatia v Germany at Old Trafford. Croatia, then in their infancy, were so unlucky losing 2-1 to Germany. I like their colours, I love their fans and they knocked out England in the qualifying group which makes me love them more. Tonight, they got their revenge over Germany with a fully merited 2-1 success and they had more fans present than the Germans who looked vulnerable, good news for Wales when we play them in World Cup qualifiers.
Have you noticed the teams are marching out to White Stripes' 7 Nation Army with the crowds doing some Euro-style humalong to it? I like it.
This was rthe first game I watched in a pub, Lloyds Bar in Greyfriars Road to be precise and the Germans were there in number which made it all the more enjoyable to cheer for Croatia!
Srna opened the scoring on 24, Olic doubled the lead midway through the second half with a bit of a freakish goal but no more than deserved. The hugely impressive Croatians they took the game to the Germans and looked the better side in every area of the park, quicker of thought and feet. Modric, heading for Spurs, looked a class apart. So heavy was their domination that camera seemed to spend most of the match showing Jans Lehman in the German goal and, in particular his new emerged and large bald spot. With his perm, maybe he's been sleeping against a velcro headboard?
The Germans had a fortunate way back into the game with 12 minutes left, Podolski getting his third of the tournament, but there was no late onslaught as the Croats closed the game in style and the Germans finishing with 10 as Schweinsteiger who ran the show at Millennium Stadium in qualifiers and looked fantastic here as a late sub, got a straight red for a silly bit of argy-bargy.
Croatia are qualified for the quarter-finals and there were emotional celebrations, the Germans should be there too but have have work to do and will be reassessed them as potential winners.
No comments:
Post a Comment