EURO 2008: Matchday 2

Matchday 2 in a group stage is usually measuring how a team can advance to the knockout stage without ever worry about the result from the third matchday. In this phase there are 4 teams, one in each group that have already booked their place in the knockout phase, Portugal from A, Croatia from B, Holland as C's representative, dan Spain out of D. They all won their respective second game, convincingly -- well, i must admit that the last team didn't do it as convincingly as the others -- and leave the rest unassured. Two teams can you write off the Euro now, the tragic co-host Switzerland, and the pathetic defending champ Greece.

Portugal really is not dissapointing as a team who almost won the previous Euro in their land, and battled France hard before knocked from the semifinal in the World Cup last occasion. They had a little difficulty handling Turkey's tough defense but managed to escape in a 2-0 win, followed by a hard-fought game against Czech, 3-1. Poor Switzerland, they can't escape from this group after a loss in a hard rainy day against the Turks, 1-2, while Czech and Turkey will try to extend their participation in this tournament. Had the game ended in a tie, it will be an extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.

--UPDATED: Turkey had successfully beaten Czech in a tight game, 3-2.


Highly favored from B, German unexpectedly got outplayed by Croatia, whose first game is not so entertaining but effective. The Croatian taught the Polish, had they been more patient, they could win against the more experienced, three-time-european-champion team. Late goal from the penalty spot kept the other co-host team, Austria, 's dream alive. Dominating in every way, they were shocked by a goal in the first half, and their effort was highly regarded by lady luck, a thing that Switzerland wished they had. German now will play they third game facing the more supported Austrian team to win the remaining spot. The winning team will play Portugal in the next stage.


The so-called "Group Of Death" really is lethal. The most productive team in the competition, so far with 7 goals, is in this group. Two of the BIG-3 in this group now are on the bottom two, and must face each other in the brink of elimination. The worst part is, even if France or Italy -- the two met somehow on the final in a bigger competition scale 2 years ago -- wins the game, they must also pray that Holland will play seriously and fails Romania. Expect the unexpected!


Spain topped their group after a lucky blow against an effective team, Sweden. Now they can relieve, at least until semifinal, when they meet Holland, if the destiny leads them. Russia will fight for the honor to meet Holland in the next stage. Had it been a draw, then Sweden will go through. A dissapointing campaign for the defending champ Greece, it's the end of their fairy tale in European Championship.


EXPECT EMOTIONS!!!