Euro 2012: The Clash of the Titans

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Europe's heavyweights separated themselves from the so so when the semi final cast was completed. Earlier, Portugal nipped the Czech Republic, 1-0, Germany outclassed Greece, 4-2, defending Euro and World Cup champion and No. 1 in the world Spain eliminated France, 2-0 and finally, today, Italy sent the English team heartbroken with a 4-2 penalty shootout win. England's penalty loss was their greatest fear for it seemed like a curse to past English teams. Since 1990, they lost 6 out of 7 penalty shootouts, and this time, it happened  again, following a goal less regular and extension time. In all four quarterfinal matches, the winning teams clearly dominated their opponents, notwithstanding the scores. Of the four teams, only Portugal did not win a World Cup title. I was glad I have watched all the replay of these games and look forward to its conclusion.

It will be Spain vs. neighbor Portugal, and Germany vs. Italy. I go for Portugal, the underdog and the powerful Germany in the finals. Spain is heavily favored against Portugal but who knows, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's superstar might show his true wares and give his country  a glorious victory. Spain is powerful, with its players culled mainly from Real Madrid and Barcelona, all veterans of the Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010. But I get bored with their style of play, long set up plays, disciplined and patient though. Portugal plays a running game and I like football that way. Germany on the other hand is strong both in offense and defense and have a deep bench. Against an ultra defensive but boring Italian team, I'm sure they'll be able to make breakthroughs and score.

That's the reason why I like South American football, the way Brazil, Argentina et. al. play. Free flowing, smooth attacking style. That's how you can appreciate the beauty of football.

After all is said, I think Germany will be the Euro 2012 champions. I like to see their leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel jump for joy again, like she did in the game against Greece. It would be a good break and relief for her while leading the European Union out of bankruptcy and disintegration.

Euro 2012 Football Championship

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It's been over a week now that Europe is all agog over this tournament, second only to the World Cup in terms of importance and prestige. Never mind the crisis, serious enough to make their nations, Greece especially, bankrupt. They forget all their worries and problems once their countries play.That's how passionate Europeans are about football. National pride, passion, at times plain arrogance and hooliganism. Football to them is everything.

Such major sporting event yet it pains me that local media doesn't even bother to prominently report it. No news in major broadsheets and if ever, just a very tiny space likened to reporting the result of a barangay basketball tournament. And I thought that we are suppose to promote football now. If we are to promote this sport nationwide, media should play a very major role in promoting it, through its reporting, broadcasting, etc. Look at how they play up NBA. Basketball is already very popular in the country, and everybody is reporting it, giving it headline news in the sports pages and giving news at the scores. One major TV network even scrap their morning programs to beam live the on-going NBA finals when it is already actually covered in other channels. Good thing, Solar Sports ( which I think started sport coverages before other networks followed) is showing replays of the Euro Cup in the evenings. For the stories, Business World ( and perhaps the other business newspaper too) cover it regularly, including the other European and South American Cup championships.

Because of the TV coverage, we saw how NBA players play; and we follow their moves, their set-ups, etc which enhance our skills and basketball sense or IQ. Imagine if the same coverage is shown to us when Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Drogba, Lampard, Gomez, Roben, Shevchenko, Van Persie, et al show their wares.

The Euro 2012 is now in the quarterfinal stage.. Azkals fans, catch them and see the real  football.

The Azkals Has Arrived!

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If we are to gauge the performance of our men's football national team (represented by the popular Azkals) the last two years since that eye opening Suzuki Cup performance, then, indeed, we can now say that finally, Philippine football has arrived. Their performance in the on going friendly games against long time regional tormentors, Malaysia and Indonesia has cemented that observation. Gone are the days when those two ASEAN neighbors, long dominant in the regional games, would outclassed our national teams by such forgettable scores as 7-2, 8-3, margins considered in football as massacre. Now, they can not intimidate us anymore. Now, they can not under estimate us anymore. Now, they are showing us respect.

Last week's friendly game in Malaysia against the host nation was played to an exciting and fighting draw. The team was not even complete with the inavailability of the Younghusband brothers and Neil Etheridge sitting out a one game suspension. In their last friendly a few months ago, played at Rizal Memorial, Malaysia was just lucky to even the game scoring in the closing minutes of the game, following a lapse in defense. Up 1-0 then with time ticking out, it could have been a sweet victory for our revered Azkals. Last night's game against Indonesia played in our own turf was also another heart rending game. Played in rain, it was marred by a bench clearing altercation following a Malaysian foul and which resulted to two red cards issued for the Philippines and one for the visiting Indons. But it proved beneficial on our side as the penalty kick which resulted on that early foul prior to the altercation resulted in a beautiful goal, courtesy of our No.1 scorer, Phil Younghusband. A penalty kick, a header pass to Phil in a crowded area in front of the goal, which he simply volleyed to a stunned Indon goalie.  It was a goal tying kick, 2-2, on the 80th minute which droved the highly partisan crowd in frenzy and uproar. Angel Locsin, wherever she maybe at that time, could have surely jumped from her seat. Now, the Azkals are flying to Bacolod for their 3rd friendly match against Guam, minus the hometown favorite, Ilonggo star and team captain Chieffy Caligdong who was one of those given the red card. How I wish the prolific Stephan Schrock will be there but he did not play last  night because he flew back to Germany on an emergency.


Philippine football has still a long, long way to go to even just be a contender in Asia, much more in the world. A generation or more perhaps. The question lingering in our minds will be: after Azkals, what? They will aged, most will go back to their country where they grew up, mostly in Europe. But now, even for just the popularity and attention revived, and the grass root development  that we now see, Sportydad is happy. Happy in the thought that I have something to cheer about in the sport I first loved, the sport I first played even before I entered school.

Go Azkals!

Make or break. Do or die. Go or stay home. Experience vs. upstart. Mission impossible. Will it rain for the Azkals? These are some of the descriptions of sportswirters and buffs for today's game of our own dear Azkals team vs. Kuwait. What else could I say but GO AZKALS.

All roads will lead to the fabled Rizal Memorial tonight. One of the biggest events in recent memory. One that unite our people. One that excites the nation. One that make us proud. Only Manny Pacquaio has surpassed this phenomenon. Win or lose, the Azkals has already made history. It's a joyful day, rain or no rain.

What's up for tonight. A very tall order. We have to overcome that 0-3 deficit. Almost a miracle. That's what Phil Star Sports say in bold letters: BELIEVE IN MIRACLE! Okay. Miracles do happen. How's that to happen?

My two cents worth. From defensive mood in the first game, we should play aggressive offense. We have to score. And ideally, we have to score early. That would inspire us and perhaps rattle the Kuwaitis. Fil-German Stephen Schrock  is expected to orchestrate the flowing offense and will also be at the forefront of defense with Aly Borromeo also back into action.. The offense should step up. We almost scored  in the first half then; perhaps their defense is not rock solid. Expect then that they will change strategy. Protecting their almost insurmountable 3-0 lead,I anticipate they'll move backward in defense, also in respect to the abilities of our attackers. But watch out for their offense too. They have strong attackers. And they can shift fast from defense to offense and vice versa. They are well conditioned .I don't think our weather will bother them as they are exposed to international events. Our Azkals should play as if this is their last. They have to run the full 90 minutes. Time is sticking. Obviously, while more on offfense, they should not throw caution in the wind on defense. The 12th man should come in all the time. The hometown crowd. Let's go rah rah rah.

I look forward to a good game. Such high caliber football does not happen here every day. A 2-1 Azkal win is doable. 1-0 is realistic. But 3-0 or 4-0? Come on! Kuwait is champion of Gulf Cup of Nation and West Asian Cup titles last year; both high level Asian tourneys. Football is Kuwait's national passion, perhaps more then Filipinos adore basketball.

I'm taking my family to the game. To support our Azkals. For our country. For the love of football.