To be honest Tim that happens very rarely indeed! But even though Germany were very poor, all it needed was one decent delivery from Schweinsteiger and someone on the end of it and the match could’ve been different. Aragones took off Fabregas and Torres -two bizarre decisions – but I havent seen a German team play as badly since Euro 2000. Good grief they were terrible. But even worse I noticed Merkel giving guff to the referee at the end when he was up getting his medal. Now I know the ref was poor, but its ridiculous to see a head of state criticisng officials up at the winners podium. Dreadful sore-loserism from the German leader who i think let the country and the players down. Seemingly she’d been texting players all through the tournament for ‘inspiration’. As you can see it wasnt much help. Now if Claudia Schiffer was texting them I’m sure it’d give up them a giddy-up, but Angela Merkel?

” I still think Russia did everyone a huge favour by knocking the Netherlands out, though.”

There is no doubting this. I think what has made this tournament great -surely the best since USA ‘94 (which poor old Wales should’ve qualified for) – has been the subplots of both Russia and Turkey who didnt even make the final. All this sideshows, which were as thrilling as Spain winning, made the tournament (which started atrociousl!) into an epic.

”Drinks are on Andy, by the way.”

An Englishman buying pints? You’ve been in Sakhalin too long and something’s happened your head!:-)

Looks as though you called this one right, Ger. Germany were woeful, and Spain thoroughly deserved the cup. So much for my 2-0 prediction. I still think Russia did everyone a huge favour by knocking the Netherlands out, though.

Drinks are on Andy, by the way.

Me too – I’ve £30 riding on them in the works pool, so victory for Spain will make up for Russia’s humbling by Spain and – worse – England’s humbling by Russia…

I haven’t been back to Wales in years, all the family live in the London area now. The 5 hour drive on crap country roads and a 2-lane M4 doesn’t make the journey nuch fun.

I’ll be supporting Germany on Sunday. I know that if Spain lose, a lot of Real Madrid fans will be upset, and that is a situation I would relish.

You’re as well off. It wasnt pretty Kolya, thats for sure.

” agree with Ger, regardless of the result games against Italy are usually a torture to watch.”

They were short so many players -Gattuso and Cannovarro especialy -that they had to revert to the old style. And they’ve no forwards. Luca Toni? Atrocious.

”I hope Spain does not choke.”
Me too. Its time they won. I’ve known plenty of Spaniards and I have to say they seem to be very nice people and this would be great for them. I’ve never been there, but ‘Death in the Afternoon’ paints an amazing and compelling picture of the country that has stuck with me.

I agree with Ger, regardless of the result games against Italy are usually a torture to watch.

I hope Spain does not choke.

http://en.rian.ru/video/20080627/112425471.html

There’s no confusion at all – it was David SILVA, not Villa, who was picked mysteriously ahead of Fabregas -Silva is in midfield, Villa is a forward. It just so happened that Villa went off injured and Fabregas went on and turned the game for Spain. Spain switched to a five-man midfield which allowed them take over with Fabregas pulling the strings. Silva is rubbish and Villa not far behind, hat-trick or not. Aragones the Cohones surely has no choice but to start Fabregas now, but you wouldnt know with him.

”I thought Russia looked mis-coached in the semi, compared with their all their surprises they pulled out to bring down the Dutch.”

I thought they looked exhausted and wonder was there too much work done before the match. Everything was laboured. And in fairness the Russian bench is poor anyway, there isnt much he can change, especially with Torbinksii suspended. The Russians didnt seem to be set up right though, I have to agree.

”Spain were woeful against Italy,”
I think they were made woeful by Italy, which is pretty much Standard Operating Procedure for the Italians. I do agree that they didnt make much chances. But they made plenty last night and took the Russians to the cleaners in the second half. I dont think it was down to three chances only.

”..although Germany looked a little lost for a while against Turkey, my money is on the Germans to beat Spain by about 2-0.”

Germany ARE rubbish and have beaten nobody decent to get to the final bar Turkey. Both centre-backs are donkeys, Lehmann is possibly the worst goalkeeper in German history and Freidrich cant tackle, an amazing trait for full-back. Then again neither can Lamm but at least he can score! However knowing the Germans, and the Spanish capacity to go up in smoke, I suspect the Germans will beat them. I can see Podolski and Sweinsteiger giving Ramos and Marchena a hard time, and these guys are leaky enough as it is. I hope to God we’re both wrong. No offence to Germans or Germany, but it’d be nice to see a new winner of the competition.

”I watched the game in St. Petersburg, and alcohol was very much on sale here. ”
I love Petes in the summer. How was Wales? Did you get down the local?

”Thanks for the article, Ger. Although I hoped not, I knew that Spain would probably be the winner”

Thanks Kolya!:-) I thought Russia would beat them to be honest, or at least get past them. But as James and yourself have said Russia have a had a great adventure, especially beating the Dutch. I think the main thing now really is for Hiddink to build on that and have a good crack at getting to SA 2010 and then to a quarter final.

I did enjoy being driven about Vassilevskii Island in a blacked out Porsche Cayenne S after the game though, owned and operated by a friend of mine who three years ago was an unemployed former barman who I met in Abu Dhabi and was borrowing money from me. I have no idea what he does now, and am afraid to ask.

I thought Russia looked mis-coached in the semi, compared with their all their surprises they pulled out to bring down the Dutch. That is still something to celebrate.