Euro 2008 Finals Preview
Some of best teams in Europe have battled over the last few weeks in Switzerland and Austria. There was the drama of penalty kicks, the Cinderella story of Turkey, and two giants of soccer, France and Italy, aged in front of everyone. Only one game remains, and it will determine the winner of Euro 2008.
The two teams to battle it out will be Spain and Germany. Spain will be looking to shed its underachiever label, while Germany will look to add yet another major trophy to its collection.
Spain will be missing David Villa, the leading goal scorer in the tournament. While it’s difficult to replace that type of production, the Spanish have an incredibly deep bench to select from. Cesc Fabregas will be the likely option to accompany Fernando Torres up top.
A key matchup will be Spain’s Sergio Ramos going up against Germany’s Philip Lahm. Both players love making runs down towards goal to help out offensively despite being defensive players. Lahm looked shaky defending against Turkey, while Ramos has vastly improved his play.
Another matchup will be between goalkeepers. While they don’t face one another on the field, how they play will make a big impact. Spain has an advantage here because Iker Casillas is having a wonderful tournament; Germany’s Jens Lehmann has been on shaky ground since the beginning and could be the downfall of his team.
Where the game will be won, though, is in the midfield. Germany’s Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger will have a difficult time trying to contend with Spain’s talent laden midfield. If Ballack and Co. have a subpar performance as they have in most of their games, then they’re assured of losing the title.
Height will also factor into this game. The Germans have a big height advantage over the Spaniards. Germany will look to capitalize on this during set pieces. Spain will try to avoid giving them any opportunities anywhere near their final third of the field.
The time for Spain to deliver is now; it’s an opportunity for redemption. A win here can erase all of the disappointment and wasted talent over the last few years. For the Germans, Ballack will look to solidify his place in German soccer history by finally winning a big tournament. Both teams will be looking to prove something when they clash at the Ernst Happel Stadion.
Tags: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Euro 2008, Fernando Torres, France, Germany, Iker Casillas, Italy, Jens Lehmann, Michael Ballack, Philip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Soccer, Turkey
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