We’re four days into the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. There have already been some disappointing games and some brilliant ones, some lovely goals and heroic saves. Every one of the sixteen qualifying teams have now played once, allowing us to step back and have our first meaningful look at some of the winners and losers so far.
Best Story of the Round: Andriy Shevchenko
At 35 years, 256 days old, Shevchenko is the oldest player to ever score two goals in a single match in a European Championship. Add to that the fact that he did it in front of his home crowd, in a game many picked them to lose, one that he wasn’t even guaranteed to start due to his knee problems, and there’s not much competition for this one. What a day for Sheva.
Best-Placed Team to Advance: Germany
They struggled to get their goal, but as soon as Mario Gomez put them 1-0 up over Portugal, Germany were in a fantastic position. Not only have they dispatched Ronaldo and company without conceding a goal, but they end the first round three points above their biggest competitor and most hated rival, the Netherlands.
Worst: Ireland: A loss in the books, and Italy and Spain in their future. There’s no tougher road ahead for any Euro team.
Best Offensive Side: Russia
In the second match of the tournament, Russia made the first statement. With unstoppable wing play from Dzagoev and Arshavin, they were a threat for 90 minutes and are the only team to score four in their opening match. At Euro 2008, Arshavin and Zhirkov were the stars, and they look to have lost none of their shine since then. They should beware the lessons of the Germans and Dutch at the past few tournaments, though – the hottest team in the group stages rarely stays on to win the title.
Worst: Netherlands: 20 shots off target for the Dutch. Four years ago, they lit up the group stage. If they can’t hone their accuracy, they’ll be going home early this time around.
Best Defensive Side: Germany
They shut down the wing pair of Ronaldo and Nani, and then exercised complete control of their own penalty area. Dortmund center back Mats Hummels was a late replacement for German defensive rock Per Mertesacker, and he stepped in with maybe the best performance of any player on the day.
Worst: Ireland: The Czechs gave up more goals, but against a much stronger Russian side. Sadly, I get the impression that Croatia isn’t nearly as good offensively as Ireland made them look.
Team of the Round:
Keeper: Stephan Andersen (Denmark)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Germany), Simon Poulsen (Denmark), Mats Hummels (Germany),
Yuri Zhirkov (Russia)
Midfielders / Wingers: Alan Dzagoev (Russia), , Andres Iniesta (Spain), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Andrei Arshavin (Russia)
Forwards / Wingers: Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine), Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)
Stephan Andersen was thrust into the starting goalkeeper position for Denmark after a back injury to Thomas Sorensen, and he performed admirably. Granted, he got some help from a fecklessly inaccurate forward line for the Dutch, but he still dealt with the few good chances well and started a number of good moves with his ball distribution. In defense, he got great help from Simon Poulsen. On the opposing side of the same game, Wesley Sneijder had a brilliant game that will be sadly forgotten because his many excellent crosses and passes were wasted by his forwards. There was probably no one in the central midfield in these opening four games that did so much and was so poorly rewarded. The German defensive duo of Hummels and Boateng took care of the dangerous Portuguese, while Russia’s wingers and left back Zhirkov made quick work of the Czechs. Dzagoev, Shevchenko and Mandžukić earn their spots by way of two goals scored each. Iniesta was by far the best player for Spain, keeping them dangerous for long periods when the rest of the offense seemed content to pass the ball harmlessly around.
There’s no break in sight for Euro 2012, and the second round of group stage matches kicks off Tuesday. Now things get serious, as winning teams can book their place in the knockouts and losing teams can seal their fates. Stay tuned.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
