Euro 2012- Actually Exciting? Sort Of.

Caution...
If you are Dutch please proceed with caution...as some of the following content may bring back horrible memories that you have spent so long trying to forget.

Was it really just 2 weeks ago that the world watched Spain lift that ever wonderful Euro Cup? (again) Yes, it actually was. Maybe it just seems so long ago because it's not like we all haven't seen it before. Casillas lifting that same trophy 4 years earlier, then the World Cup 2 years after that. I'm sure most people (with the exception of Spanish people I'm guessing) are just downright sick of seeing Spain win EVERYTHING over the past few years. I'm also pretty sure that I wasn't the only one who noticed that this time around it was a bit harder for them to advance than it was in previous competitions. Could the ever powerful Spain finally be on the decline? I'm thinking yes. For me, this really was a competition that showed a lot of improvement for teams that struggled during the World Cup. It also was one that showed one of the top teams in the world crash and burn right in front of our eyes. As one of those people who get bored with international competitions pretty much in the group stages and just wishes that the summer would be over so I can start watching real soccer again, the constant upsets and surprises that Euro 2012 offered actually kept me pretty interested right up until the end. So lets rewind all the way back to last month...

If you would have asked anyone who was going to win Euro 2012 a few months ago you would have heard the typical answers...Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and thats probably it. No one would have ever guessed that the Netherlands would crash out in the group stages, that Portugal would make it all the way to the semi finals, or that Italy would make it all the way to the finals. (yayy!!) Now believe me, I was just as surprised at the performance of the Dutch as everyone else was. I also know exactly how the fans feel, I was them 2 years ago at the World Cup. Looking on in disbelief as Italy, the then defending world champions were sent home in the group stages. Its one of those times in life where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing even years later. You don't know what to think...you just hope that maybe you're dreaming and that this isn't really happening...oh but it did. And it happened to the Dutch as well, reaching the final of the World Cup in 2010 everyone expected them to to the same, and perhaps even better this time at the Euros. So what went wrong? Obviously being in the group of death was the first problem. But I, like the entire world just assumed that Germany and the Netherlands would advance from group B pretty easily, especially since Portugal has been suffering internationally the past few years. That first game against Denmark really was the straw that broke the camel's back. The team is full of superstars though, how on earth can a team with RVP, Sneijder, Robben, De Jong, and countless others not advance. I know why!!!! There isn't a pitch in the world big enough to fit the amount of ego on that team. Also, rumors of disagreements between the players as well as the coaches didn't surprise me one bit. That really is the difference between the Netherlands and teams like Germany and Spain. The domestic league also has a lot to do with the performance of the national team too. The dutch league isn't nearly as strong as the Bundesliga or La Liga. The best players for Germany and Spain are the ones who are used to playing with one another for their club teams, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or Real Madrid. The Dutch players are all spread across Europe and only play together for the national team when they need to, which is why I kind of hate international competitions. It happens all the time, watching Messi play for Argentina just kind of makes me sad sometimes, but for Barca? He's pretty much a god. Ughh when does the Champions League start again?? :/

Other upsets in the competition were simply the result of just how exciting and unpredictable the game of soccer really is. The Czech Republic still advancing after a humiliating 4-1 loss in the opening match against Russia. Russia not advancing after that win, which kind of surprised me, but only kind of. The team has some players of note, but many of their better players didn't really deliver throughout the club season, Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko didn't impress anyone, but it just frustrated me because you know they have it in there somewhere. And the Ukraine making it sooooooo close to advancing past the group stages in their home country while at the same time reminding us all that Shevchenko's still got it.


Since I'm usually so optimistic (not) I should probably talk a little about the teams that did well and impressed me, rather than go on about the teams that either sucked, or surprised me that they ended up sucking. Three teams that impressed me, England, Italy, and France.

Now I can't hide the fact that I'm a big John Terry fan, no matter what goes on off the pitch. In fact, I really think that the whole reason England did so badly at the 2010 World Cup was because he was stripped of the captaincy so close to the competition, the team was in disarray and it showed. He is a natural leader and the team suffered without him as their fearless leader. France's world cup was just...I can't even think of a word to describe it. I was actually looking forward to finding out what ridiculous things the team was going to do next, and obviously finding it funny because I'm not French, it's not my team acting like a bunch of idiots. Finally, Italy's world cup was...well I already discussed that I don't need to go into it anymore. Wayne Rooney, who I don't particularly care for, actually delivered once his suspension was up and the team did well without him through most of the group stages. France did well too, with Ribery and Nasri playing the way they should and getting me pretty interested in watching some of their teammates play in Ligue 1 next season. We of course cannot forget Italia. We had to deliver in order to fix our reputation, and we did, in a big way. Sure the final against Spain wasn't perfect, but the lead up to it was...simply amazing, especially the win against Germany. I am actually a huge fan of the German national team, not expecting Italy to make it as far as they did I was pretty nervous when the motherland had to play Germany, a team that I fully respect. But my guys accepted that challenge and won in a beautiful way. At that point, I didn't care if we won the whole thing (well kind of) to me we had beat the best team in the competition and whatever happened in the final would be left up to fate. Apparently as fate had it Spain was to win...again.

Though I claim that international competitions are boring, I do kind of like them, especially when they're as exciting as this one. Mark my words, Spain is on the decline, and no matter what the fifa rankings say I think that Germany is the team to beat (and Italy did woohoo!!). This is of course only Europe I'm talking about, I absolutely love Uruguay too, but this was a Euro discussion. We'll see what the Olympics will have to give us (Luis Suarez will play for Uruguay yaaayy!!) but nothing this summer will compare to Euro 2012. Until next time, may your days be as beautiful as the game we love so much! CIAO!

Calcio Queen