By CHRIS KAMARA
Published: Today at 00:23
IT WAS fitting the curtain came down on a cracking tournament with an unbelievable performance from the greatest international team of all time.
Spain were awesome in their 4-0 destruction of Italy in the Euro 2012 final.
I had tipped the match to go to penalties after the Azzurri’s impressive semi-final win over Germany.
But after the first 10 minutes, you could tell Cesare Prandelli’s men were going to allow Spain to play instead of stemming the flow of possession, and the result was never in doubt.
It was a mistake on Prandelli’s part – he got it badly wrong. That should not take away the tactical shrewdness he and his side have brought to the tournament, though.
However, the Spaniards were worthy winners.
The achievement of winning three major titles in a row after sealing Euro glory in 2008 and World Cup success in 2010 makes them untouchable now.
KAMMY’S TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT: SPAIN
WHATEVER they need to do to win, they do it.
Some people complained their tiki-taka passing style was dull earlier in the tournament but I was certainly not one of them. And it definitely was not the case in the final.
Their goalkeeper keeps the ball out of the net no matter what, their central defenders are so talented they could play in midfield and they are irresistible in the middle of the park.
You cannot compare teams from different generations so it is useless asking if this side would have beaten the Brazilian team of the 1970s.
But what you can do is look at their record which is unquestionable.
And they can keep going. It will take an almighty effort for someone to knock them off their perch. They are the team to be shot at, that is for sure.
KAMMY’S MANAGER OF THE TOURNAMENT: VICENTE DEL BOSQUE
DEL BOSQUE’S managerial record is second to none but he gets my vote for another reason.
When I was out in Ukraine, many of the Spanish fans told me they were desperate to see a striker play.
But Del Bosque stuck to his guns and shunned the use of a striker, deploying Cesc Fabregas as a ‘false nine’.
And it worked a treat. Fabregas had a superb match in the final and credit must go to Del Bosque for his brave decisions.
KAMMY’S PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: ANDREA PIRLO
THE Italian maestro carried a country on his back until the semi-finals when the rest of his team-mates joined in.
He couldn’t reach the same heights in the final because he was playing against too good a team and wasn’t able to influence the game in the same manner.
But, for me, he was the player of the tournament by a country mile.
KAMMY’S SURPRISE TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT: PORTUGAL
I TIPPED Portugal as my dark horses and they did not let me down.
Unfortunately they just came up against a better team in the semi-finals when they lost on penalties to Spain.
I said any team that could beat the Spanish would win it and nobody has!
But the Portuguese covered themselves in a lot of glory and Cristiano Ronaldo, up until he faced Gerard Pique, showed the world what a great player he is.
KAMMY’S SURPRISE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: JOE HART
HART may not be at the level of Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon yet.
But he certainly let the world know what he’s all about with some fine displays.
Casillas and Buffon had better watch out!
KAMMY’S FLOP TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT: HOLLAND
THE infighting still continues and the egos are still at large.
Holland can’t get a team together and there is too much kicking off. I think it all stems from the manager.
When you have Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie, you play them both. It cost him his job.
KAMMY’S FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE TOURNAMENT
THERE have only been two nil-nils in the whole tournament which speaks volumes.
I did not have any fears travelling to the Ukraine over racism and I never saw anything like that — they were simply great hosts.
I didn’t go to Poland but I know from people that went to Krakow that it was a really friendly and special place.
It was a bit sad there were a few empty seats in the final, considering the magnitude of the match, but overall it was a fantastic competition and great to have been a part of.
Interview: TOM BARCLAY
Video : Fans party as Spain reign supreme
Ads by Google
British Expat In Vietnam?
£100k+ In UK Pensions? Download A Free Guide To QROPS & Expert Advice
Your.QROPSchoices.com/FreeGuide
£100k+ In UK Pensions? Download A Free Guide To QROPS & Expert Advice
Your.QROPSchoices.com/FreeGuide
Campervan Rental Germany
Hunt Down The Best German Motorhome Rental Deals. 30+ Depots In Germany
MotorhomeRentalSaleFinder.de
Hunt Down The Best German Motorhome Rental Deals. 30+ Depots In Germany
MotorhomeRentalSaleFinder.de
No comments:
Post a Comment