Monday, June 23, 2008

The march of the Armadas

I thought Spain deserved to win last night because they played very well. It’s not easy to hold the Italians goal-less for 120 minutes!

I love penalty shoot-outs. Not only because they keep you on the edge of your seat but also because they show the true class of a player.

In a match that does not end up in a penalty shoot-out, the team that is better on that particular day, wins. However, penalty shoot-outs can swing either way! It’s not about the team, it’s about individual players. Faced with a world-class goal keeper, a player has a 50-50 chance of scoring the penalty.

Penalty shoot-outs are also the test of a player’s nerves, mental fortitude & intelligence – qualities that Cesc Fabregas seems to posses in abundance. The Arsenal mid-fielder is the new talent to watch out for on the Spanish team. He took the last penalty shot, which he was under pressure to score in order to eliminate Italy from the competition (or the Italians could have leveled the shoot-out as well). All of 21 years old & faced with a goal-keeper of the caliber of Gigi Buffon, he was resolute & swift, and with a kick sent the ball flying right past Buffon & sent his team into the semi-finals!

I think Gigi Buffon is a rockstar!! Had he not saved Adrian Mutu’s penalty in Italy’s last league match against Romania, Italy would not have made it to the quarter-finals. It was a brilliant save but Casillas was just better than Buffon yesterday.

So…a win well-deserved by Spain. They play Russia in the semis. I haven’t seen any of Russia’s games but I’ve heard they’re good. Especially Asharvin. Should be a match worth watching.

5 comments:

Nirav said...

Hey.. have been visiting here off and on, but never commented so far.

You should have seen the Russians play! They were outstanding. Especially Arshavin. Honestly, I haven't seen another player in this tournament who comes close to his performance and class.

I am now backing Russia to win this (especially since France is out), and trust me, the way they have played, they can very well win it.

Scarlett said...

I think you have commented once before. I'm backing Spain now that both Portugal & Italy are out.

Nirav said...

Well, they'll be eaten up by the Russians ;-)

Psyched said...

I do differ a bit on your opinion on penalty shoot outs...

coz it's more of luck that comes into play as well... if you actually notice... the goalie jumps to the other side of where the ball travels... and when he does jump to the same side as that of the ball it mostly is a save...

Now why do I call it a luck factor... is there are chances that the best of the players... might not get it right... a sudden slip at the end... like the one Terry missed in UEFA finals Chelsea Vs. MAN U... dat doesn't mean Terry ain't good... and even in the recent match of Spain Vs. Italy... Buffon is rated amongst the best... it is next to impossible to judge where the striker is gonna hit the ball... many a times the decision of which side is made by looking at the strikers feet, depending upon how he is running and from which part is he going to take the strike and if u get it right with your instincts u save else it's a goal...

Like the game between Turkey Vs. Croatia
Penalty shoot outs... can actually swing on either which ways...

so...

anyways...

Do watch Ashravin's game, he is an entertainer... and so is Kolodin, and the Russian defense....

smiles

Scarlett said...

Being able to judge which way the striker will hit the ball is not luck, it's ur instincts & ur judging ability - which comes from your experience with the striker & your knowledge about the way he plays. Surely, as you rightly mentioned, even world class goalies like Buffon can get it wrong sometimes, but that doesn't mean they're unlucky. that just means they judged it wrong! Ultimately, penalties are about the striker's nerves & cool-headedness & the goalies judgement - that's my personal opinion.