What Was Learned In First Week of Euro ’08

The highlight of the first week of Euro 2008 was the Netherlands’ historic defeat of Italy: The stunning upset blew Group C wide open, and set up the possibility that one of the two World Cup finalists, Italy and France, will not advance to the quarterfinals. So far, only Portugal and Croatia have clinched quarterfinal spots, with the other six slots still up for grabs. Looking back over the first six days of action, here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve learned so far and how the rest of the tournament is shaping up.World Cup Finalists WobbleItaly brought a relatively old team to the 2006 World Cup (the average age of its starting lineup in the World Cup final was 29), but it didn’t matter as the team won its fourth title. For their first group match in Euro 2008, its starting lineup included only two players under 30. This time, age did matter, as tired legs appeared to be a factor in its 3-0 annihilation at the hands of the Dutch: It was the largest-ever margin of defeat for Italy in the European Championships.France, the World Cup runners-up, were far from their best while playing to a dull 0-0 draw against Romania. Coming into the tournament, Italy and France were the favored sides to advance from the Group of Death, but now face must-win games Friday against Romania and the Netherlands. The France-Italy match on Tuesday, already highly anticipated, now shapes up as a quarterfinal playoff, with the loser likely crashing out of the tournament. An early exit would be disastrous for either team, and would likely lead to the firing of French manager Raymond Domenech or Italian manager Roberto Donadoni. Look for Italy to bounce back from the loss to the Dutch and join the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.Incomprehensible Offside RulesRuud Van Nistelrooy appeared to be offsides while scoring the Netherlands’ opening goal against Italy. But Italian defender Christian Panucci, who had been lying injured behind the goal, actually counted as an active player on the field according to the rulebook. Van Nistelrooy was onsides, after all.The play embarrassed much of the soccer world, as fans, players, coaches, and pundits first ripped the linesman for his poor decision, but later had to admit they didn’t know all the details of the offsides rule.The controversy should hopefully become the impetus for necessary revisions to the offsides rule. Injured players lying behind the goal should not count as active. Although it has yet to happen in Euro 2008, the offsides rule currently permits attacking players to stand in an offsides position, even screening the goalkeeper, as long as they do not touch the ball. This, too, needs to be addressed.Border War Boiled OverTournament favorites Germany looked strong in their first match Sunday, dispatching Poland 2-0. Poland-born striker, Lukas Podolski, scored both goals, and the assists were provided by Germany’s other Poland-born striker, Miroslav Klose. Podolski showed class by not celebrating either of the goals against the country of his birth.The same could not be said for the Polish tabloid Super Express in its front-page pre-match coverage. Making tabloid headlines in New York look restrained by comparison, Super Express called for Polish manager Leo Beenhakker to “give us their heads,” referring to those of German captain Michael Ballack, and coach Joachim Low. The accompanying photo was doctored to show Beenhakker holding the severed heads of Ballack and Low. The picture set off a furor in Germany, a round of apologies in Poland, and condemnations all around.Croatia upset Germany in its second match 2-1 Thursday. Perhaps the lack of graphic Croatian tabloid covers reduced Germany’s motivation. Note to the Austrian press: No severed heads before Monday’s Austria-Germany match.Colorful CommentatorsIf you’re not watching the broadcasts of the matches on the ESPN channels, you’re missing two of the biggest characters in sports broadcasting — Tommy Smyth, a loony Irishman, and Andy Gray, an excitable Scot. Both men have livened up the broadcasts — even if they haven’t always enlightened their viewers. Smith’s insistence on referring to the Boston Celtics as “Celtic” during a teaser for the NBA finals during the Spain-Russia broadcast was particularly funny, as was Gray’s seesaw proclamations about the certainty or uncertainty of a Dutch win over Italy during the second half of that match.Humbled Host NationsThe tournament co-hosts have not benefited from friendly home support. Switzerland was the first team eliminated, after losing their first two matches. Austria managed a 1-1 draw against Poland on Thursday, but must beat tournament favorites Germany to have any chance of advancing. If Austria fails to advance, it will mark the first time in European Championship history that a host nation has not qualified for the quarterfinals. Expect history to be made.While Austria was the lowest-rated team entering the tournament, Switzerland must be disappointed. Two years ago at the World Cup, the young Swiss team did not concede a goal, raising expectations for Euro 2008.The failure of both Switzerland and Austria to qualify would underline one of the weaknesses of having two hosts: Co-hosts are typically smaller nations, and smaller nations are less likely to advance from the group stage. Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine may face a similar fate. If host nations are crashing out in the group stages on a regular basis, future European championships will lose their atmosphere. Enthusiastic hosts make for better tournaments, as Germany demonstrated in the 2006 World Cup. Europe’s soccer governing body, UEFA, should prioritize single, larger countries as hosts to bolster the odds of a long run by the tournament’s host.samsternjones@gmail.com

What Was Learned In First Week of Euro ’08

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