Word: knockout
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...Euro 2008 headed into the knockout phase, the biggest question is whether anyone, least of all Russia, could stop Holland? Marco van Basten's team has swept passed Italy, France and Romania without stopping, which is pretty much the way its midfield plays. Van Basten has a red-hot Wesley Sneijder leading the attack, and the prospect of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie coming off the bench has to frighten any opposing defenders. And Ruud van Nistelrooy at his goal poaching best. That may be too much for its next foe, Russia. The Russians were another...
...Italy's attack. But if this is indeed a newly mature Spanish side, as coach Luis Aragonés says, "The only thing we need now is a positive attitude. We have to forget it is Italy or whoever and think about winning - that's it." In the knockout phase, what other choice is there...
...host Austria, hanging by a thread, will have to overcome Germany to reach the knockout phase. The Austrians might take notes on how the Croats fashioned their decisive win over the favored Germans: by completely clogging the gears of the German passing machine. Germany center midfielder Michael Ballack spent the day spewing misdirected passes all over the pitch, never quite finding Mario Gomez or Miroslav Klose. Croatia's leprechaun middleman Luka Modric, in the meantime, was dancing around the pitch with the ball, often picking out Ivica Olic, who scored the second goal when a deflected shot from the right...
...Even if Italy should somehow advance to the knockout phase - not inconceivable given France's form - its calamitous performance against a raging Dutch team will ever be engraved in the minds of the Azzuri's supporters. Certainly, Holland's first score, a poacher's goal by an apparently offside Ruud van Nistelrooy, was no thing of beauty. With Italy defender Christian Panucci sprawled off the field, van Nistelrooy was deemed to be legal when he redirected Wesley Sneijder's shot, although the interpretation left only the Dutch happy. But that in no way reduced the comprehensive nature of Holland...
...Oddly, the dominating performances by Portugal, Holland, Spain and Germany mean there are plenty of scraps left over for the runner-up spots and a place in the knockout round. And likely, a chance to be knocked out. Italy must find a way past Romania - certainly possible - and then play an out-of-form France for the second spot in Group C. Switzerland needs to beat Turkey to stay alive in Group A and possibly overtake the Czechs, who face Portugal. The Russians, who threatened the Spanish on a number of occasions, face a stubborn Greece and a rejuvenated Sweden...