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Germany v Spain
Euro2008 Final

29/06/2008

The two teams, Germany and Spain, went in to this game on completely different form. Germany had played awfully in their semi final, beating Turkey with an extremely lucky last minute goal. Spain, however, would have been very confident due to winning every single one of their games in this tournament, including an outstanding display in the semi finals against Russia.

Germany started well, putting together good phases of play and making some good chances, but Iker Casillas was on top form to keep the Germans out. It was after about twenty minutes that the game started to change, with the Spanish starting to take control of the game, and the Germans suddenly looked very weak. Spain were getting more and more opportunities, and were extremely unlucky not to score when Torres hit the post.

Russia v Spain

26/06/2008

Spain were favourites going in to this game after already beating Russia by four goals to one in the teams' first game of the competition. After that, Spain have looked very good, playing good football and beating World champions Italy in the quarter final. Russia were also on good form going in to this game, after coming second in their group and beating the Netherlands in the quarter final.

Neither team started particularly brightly, with Spain looking very tired, and only Fernando Torres was playing well for them. Russia didn't have much better luck in the first half, and they didn't make much of an impression with their players looking disappointing compared to previous games.

Spain v Italy

22/06/2008

Spain went in to this game favourites against an Italy side who won the World Cup in 2006. The Spaniards went in to the last quarter final after impressive wins over all of their Group D colleagues, Italy, however, struggled a bit more after a disappointing draw to Romania, and an extremely disappointing loss to the Netherlands.

The first ninety minutes contained next to no action, with the defences playing very well, stopping the attackers from getting within twenty yards of the goal usually. In regular time, the closest the ball was to going in was when Italian keeper Buffon fumbled a long shot and it hit the post, and Italy's best chance fell to Camoranesi, who's close range volley was saved by the out stretched leg of Iker Casillas. The goal less result meant only one thing: extra time for the third time in three days.

Turkey went in to the first semi final looking a beaten team before they had even started the game, with nine players out through injury and suspension, meaning it would be even harder to beat the Germans, who looked on top form against Portugal in their semi final.

Surprisingly, the Turks started the better team, putting Jens Lehmann under constant pressure and the German defence looked extremely tired, and no one on the German team was running off the ball.

Netherlands vs Russia

21/06/2008

The Dutch went in to this game expected to smash Russia out of sight, after they beat both France and Italy by three goals each time to top their group. Russia came second in their group after losing 4 – 0 to Spain and winning their other games.

Much to everyone's surprise, Russia dominated the first half, playing brilliant football, and the Dutch looked fatigued, almost as if they didn't want to be their. Russia should have been at least two goals up at the break, after Kolodin smashed the ball just off target three times. Holland were really struggling with the attacking threat of Russia, and would have been relieved when the half time whistle blew and both teams clean sheets were still intact.

Croatia v Turkey

20/06/2008

Croatia went in to this game favourites after winning all three of their group games, including an impressive and unexpected victory over Germany. Turkey didn't do as well in the group stages, finishing second after three very late goals in their final game got them through to the last eight.

Croatia started the better team, playing good football and creating a couple of opportunities, and they should have been two goals up after an Olic tap in hit the bar, and several other shots and headers missed. Turkey never really created many opportunities in the first half, even though they had two thirds of the possession.

Portugal v Germany

19/06/2008

Portugal went in to this game, the first quarter final, after coming first in their group with six points. Germany also came through with six points, but after their unexpected loss to Croatia they finished second in the group.

Portugal started well straight from the kick off, playing good football and creating some good midfield play, but in the first ten minutes or so, both teams seemed reluctant to go forward and try and score.

Russia v Sweden

18/06/2008

Russia went in to this game knowing that they needed a win to progress, where as Sweden were content with a draw, after both teams lost to Spain and beat Greece. There was extra drive for Russia to win, as their manager Guus Hiddink would get a four hundred thousand pound bonus if they got through to the last eight.

As the game kicked off, Russia soon took control, and Sweden were struggling with their classy football. They deserved a goal for all the chances they created, which including hitting both the post and the cross bar, having chances saved, crosses blocked and missing the target.

Greece v Spain

18/06/2008

Current European Championship holders Greece went in to this game knowing there was nothing they could do to stay in the competition after loses to both Russia and Sweden, and on the opposite side of the spectrum, Spain knew that they were already guaranteed first place after impressive wins against the Russians and the Swedes.

Spain started off the better team, and with many changes made to their side they still looked threatening. Cesc Fabregas was in the middle of the action, creating good opportunities for the Spaniards, but the best shot of the first half came from an audacious effort from the centre circle from Xabi Alonso, with the keeper back pedalling and the ball hitting the inside of the post.

France v Italy

17/06/2008

Both of these World Cup finalists went in to this final group match needing a win after disappointing campaigns. Both France and Italy had lost to the Netherlands by three goals, and drawn with Romania.

In the first half, France got off to an awful start, arguably their best player of the tournament, Ribery, conceded a nasty injury and had to be substituted for Nasri. Not the best of starts, considering this is a must win game.