Euro 2008: And Then There Were Four

I may not an expert in soccer-ology but i know a good game, and love the good game when there's one and without any personal attachment to any soccer team whatsoever (discounted my national team, Indonesia, of course) i could enjoy any given good soccer game in a relatively objective manner.

1. Portugal vs Germany

When it comes to Tournament's knock-off stage, my money is always on Germany. They played a text-book standard soccer game. Tight, and very very disciplined. I don't really understand how this works, but apparently there's this gene that might be passed down over generations in Germany, and this gene is what made Germany soccer team known as they are right now. A team that played by the book and really really disciplined as a team. Great match as well.

2. Croatia vs Turkey

Arguably the best match in the QF. Who would have thought that a long pass from Rustu Recber in the 132nd minute could be translated into a goal that leveled the score with Croatia who had made a "surely winning" goal just three minutes before the buzzer, forced the match into winner takes all penalty shoot-out and sent Croatia crashing home? If i was a Croatian, i'd be very very devastated.

3. Netherlands vs Russia

Russia deserves the win. As i've stated earlier, i'm rooting for the Dutch but clearly, there's such thing as better coach. Guus Hiddink is definitely a better coach than Marco Van Basten. His Russian boys were relentless, pursuing the ball for 120 minutes, pressuring in the middle, and tight in the defense. It is easy to see that the Dutch were so frustrated that they begin speculating by shooting from outside the box. Oh, i really hate when a soccer-team did just that. So, yeah, Russia really deserves the win.

4. Spain vs Italy

It's no secret that i disliked (almost any) Italian soccer team. They might be renowned for their catenaccio defend and stuff but i don't know, whenever i saw Italian soccer team play, it's considerably harder to stay awake. I fell asleep during the fist half, and only waking up later during the very last minutes of open play before the penalty shoot-out. At this point, you don't have to ask me how i feel when Cesc Fabregas sent Gigi Buffon to the wrong way.