Bernard Lacombe started his career as a striker with Olympique Lyon, and masterminded several Champions League campaigns as manager of the club after retiring. The 1984 European Championship winner is now an adviser to club president Jean-Michel Aulas, and is credited with bringing in several key signings in recent seasons.
For almost a decade now Chelsea tips have linked the club with every relatively big name in football, with every rising starlet or disgruntled legend poised to touch down at Stamford Bridge.
Rarely do these big transfer rumours materialise and quite often – in the case of Andriy Shevchenko and Adrian Mutu – these stars turn out to be flops.
Gunners we all have to admit that our football didn't live up to its reputation last season, we
weren't as good to watch as we were when we had Fabregas, Nasri and Jack Wilshere in the team.
I'm not complaining but -In My Opinion- our football wasn't as entertaining as before.
Champions, Champions, Champions. That's how the record will read for Spain going into their next
footballing assignment. They have reached the pantheon of greatness as they now become the first
team ever to retain the Henri Delaunay trophy. A run that started 4 years ago in the same
competition, it is unprecedented and in all likelihood, unlikely to be repeated.
A deep lying midfielder and a goalkeeper coming off the end of a successful Serie A season where
they could not be beaten in any league game. Both and a few more of their team mates are on the
verge of adding the European Championship to their honours list. A mad man (as many would like to
call him) and the cause of consternation amongst fans, dividing opinions between that and that of a
genius.
Messi? Who? I only want to be better than Bendtner. I can do the underpants thing too.
It's been decided. The winner of the last 2 World Cups will contest the final on Sunday. Italy
played the perfect game to see off the challenge of Germany to set up a rematch of their group game
against Spain.
One of the finalist for Euro 2012 has been decided and it's not Portugal. Instead, it is Spain
who continues their remarkable performance in the last 3 major tournaments involving European
teams. If nothing else, it shows just how young there were back in 2008 when they won the first of
the two trophies they currently hold.
One can only hope he just got a text from RvP that they'll play together
Always a good day when we signed someone new. Yesterday, Arsenal confirmed the signing of
Olivier Giroud and he will officially become an Arsenal player on the 1st of July. Quite something
compared to last season, right?
Let me say this up front first. I only started watching the match from the 73rd minute onwards.
Time difference and work in the morning plus a tiring day before, all combined to ensure that my
body doesn't respond to the alarm ringing at 2:30am for the start of the match.
Robin van Persie may have become the public enemy number one in the Netherlands
after the Dutch national team's disappointing group stage exit in the ongoing European
Championship, but his club manager Arsene Wenger still thinks the world of
him.
Spain plays tonight with a challenge thrown to them. They are joint favourites with Germany and
the nationalmannschaft throws down the gauntlet with a dominating display which sent
Greece home. The 2004 winners tried to compete but once the Germans clicked into gear, there was
ever only going to be one outcome.
First semi finalist known after Portugal made it through their quarter final against Czech
Republic. A solitary goal separated the sides at the final whistle and this is one of those times
where we cannot dispute that the better side prevailed. For a match of this significance and
importance, it would be easy to classify this under a percentage type of game but it couldn't be
further from the truth.
Excitement mounts now that Euro 2012 has reached the Quarter Final stages and it is Germany, the
only team left in the Tournament with a 100% winning record who head the betting at odds of 9/4,
narrowly ahead of defending champions, Spain who are a 5/2 chance.
The first of the Quarter Finals takes place in Warsaw on Thursday night and will bring together
surprise Group A winners, the Czech Republic against Group B runners up, Portugal.
Quarter finals. Whatever happens in the group stage flies out the window. From now on, it's just
about the performances and effort put in within a 90 minutes window. Failing that, an extra 30
minutes and so on. You catch my drift. Anyway, back to what I was trying to say, it comes down to
being to lift your game for a singular match without worrying about how other result can affect
you.
According to my high-ranking Czech source Mirka (bird of my mate Matt), coach Michal Bilek is
getting a bit of slating on the forums but he's still managed to do the business and drag them into
the quarters. It didn't look to cosy for them when they where pretty much caned by the classy
Russians who I had down as semi material after I watched the highlights.
Third batch of quarter finalist were decided yesterday as juggernauts Spain and Italy advance
past their group stage. Tense affairs for both games which still could have ended very differently
for at least one team, had Croatia been able to find the equaliser in the dying minutes of their
match against Spain.
England will go into their final Group D game against Co-hosts Ukraine knowing that a draw or
win will see them progress to the knock out stages of Euro 2012 with a Quarter Final tie likely
against holders and world champions, Spain.
Englandcurrently sit in second place behindFranceon goal difference but to avoidSpainin the
last eight, they will need to defeatUkraineemphatically and hope thatFranceslip up in some way in
their final match againstSweden.
The dust finally settled for Group B with Germany and Portugal progressing to the next phase of
European Championship 2012. Favourites, Germany went through by virtue of winning all 3 of their
group matches while their victim in that very first match, Portugal joined them after picking up 2
consecutive wins.
The dust finally settled for Group B with Germany and Portugal progressing to the next phase of
European Championship 2012. Favourites, Germany went through by virtue of winning all 3 of their
group matches while their victim in that very first match, Portugal joined them after picking up 2
consecutive wins.
Chaos in Group A as the turnaround happened with the unfancied sides after the first group match
go through at the expense of the teams that were pretty much the public favourite to advance after
the said group matches. It provided all the drama and continued to make this a rather entertaining
tournament.
One week in, and not much has been said about the football used at this summer's European
Championships. While the Jabulani ball of the 2010 World Cup caused controversy for its
balloon-like unpredictability, Euro 2012's Tango has been subtly performing to perfection in
Ukraine and Poland.
Stunning strikes from Roman Pavlyuchenko, Samir Nasri, and Jakub Blaszczykowski have helped
light up this summer's tournament, and, while the stars that hit them have drawn the headlines,
credit must also be given to the ball.
Had something written up since Sunday but work commitments meant that it was never published.
So, in order not to waste your time (you know how much I treasure your time), here's just a recap
of how things went in the Euros.
England v France
Roy Hodgson went for his tried and trusted 2 banks of four and that worked.
We have now had the opportunity to watch every team play in the Euro 2012, and if I have to say
anything, it is disappointment. this start of Euro 2012 has been marked by a Europe in crisis:
off the pitch we have had match-fixing, racism and politics, and we have already seen the first
hooliganism.
The match between England and France had the atmosphere of a dentist´ waiting room. In a 1-1 match
that had a very slow pace, it was an enormous disappointment to see an English team that did not
want to do anything but defend, while France somehow wanted to win, but was without much
creativity. This was more like a summer friendly match than the start of a great tournament!
De Rossi and Buffon, the wall against the force of Iniesta
Ever since Euro 2012 began, all the matches that have been played so far has used the same
formation, 4-3-3. There's variation in that some has one defensive midfielder while others have 2,
but essentially still with the same formation.
France After les walloping of Estonia last Sunday & coming back of 21 games
unbeaten, you have to fancy France to do well in this tournament. Despite just one decent striker
*, The frogs have been steadily improving, scoring goals for fun & on current form are deffo La
horsey des le blanc as they say over in garlicland.
It is seldom that I support Italy, mostly because I have always been critical of their historical
and cynical catennaccio style. However, contrary to what many think, teams do change styles, and
the Italy of coach Cesare Prandelli is not a team that plays that way. On the other hand, I have
also been critical of Spain, while admiring their technique and possession, I have always felt they
do not
One nils. Something we are used at The Arsenal. That's exactly what happened in yesterday's
matches at Euro2012. More tactically played games compared to the first day but equally as exciting
to watch, if not better. Well, not many can appreciate that side of the game.
I had planned my vacation from Venezuela so that I would arrive in Denmark to watch the first match
of the Danish Dynamite against the mighty Dutch vice-champions of the world. It was with
anticipation, but without expectation. In my view, for the Danes to defeat the Netherlands, with
all its stars, is nearly impossible.
Well, the European Championship version 2012 got underway last night and it was a decent night
of football. In some ways it was like watching Arsenal. There were despair, joy and then despair
again. Wojciech Szczesny, Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky all played to that tune
respectively.
Group C Spain
If my predictions are anything to go by last time around, get involved. I predicted a Spain win and
Senna player of the tournament as well as having Villa e/w as top scorer. Not so sure on La Furia
Rosa this time mind. Spain are the bookies faves and I think a repeat of the final from 2008 could
well be on the cards but despite that win and the other funny looking gold cup, they still have
that pony midfield: Fab, Biscuits, Mata, Silva, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Carzorla and Speedy Jesus Of
Navas, that doesn't bode well.
In my own humble opinion Wayne Rooney's days in an England shirt should be numbered. His
performance against Italy, showed us all of what we don't want to see in our national team, Rooney
showed no desire and utter laziness to what was a head in hands evening for most England
supporters, I believe we should look elswhere for striking talent and leave Wayne to focus on club
football as he never really performs in the major International tournaments.
In the dying minutes of extra time Manchester City took the league title from United and then
Chelsea won the Champions League for the first time in a shocking and adrenaline pumping final.
2012 has seen some groundbreaking results and is already a year of football we won't forget. Now
it's time for the Euros and England and new boss Roy Hodgson will be hoping to fly through the
group stages with France, Sweden and Ukraine as our opponents.
After the heartbreak of last Sunday night, I have finally dragged myself back to the computer to
trudge out a few lines with the tears still streaming down my face, I should be used to it by now
but it still hurts. Fair play to Italy, they deserved it, the 3 Lions didn't, we were 2nd best and
Roy obviously didn't take note of my blueprint to stifle the Azzurri but I'm sure he was a bit busy
(more on this next week).
"A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first"*
The final quarters conflict takes place at The Olympic Stadium on Sunday night and out of the
four match-ups, this one is definitely the hardest to call.
Another blinder in the 3rd tie of the of the quarters awaits on Saturday night and I for one
will be breaking out the San Miguels and jumping aboard The La Furia Rosa bandwagon. They take on
France and from what we are hearing in the media, it could be a walkover.
It's David & Goliath time in another cracker of a quarter and this tie is tastier than a plate
of Sauerkraut & Hummus with the economic climate adding to the drama, the run-down Greeks will
really want to get one over on their richly talented opponents.
A brace from 21 year-old starlet Alan Dzagoev helped Russia to an emphatic 4 – 1 win over the
Czech Republic in their opening Group A match Wroclaw.
In an intriguingly open game, the Russians continued their excellent brand of free-flowing
football that had caught the eye at EURO 2008 when they made the semi-finals, to sweep into a
two-goal lead inside the first half-hour.
