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Bring on the quarterfinals.

After a stirring round of group stage games that rewarded attacking football (thank you Netherlands, Croatia, Portugal and Spain) and threw out old, conventionality (see you France, Greece and Sweden) Euro 2008 moves into the knock-out stages where one bad game is all it takes for you to be sent packing.

With that in mind let us take a peak at the four upcoming matches and gaze into our crystal ball to see who will make it into the semifinals.

Portugal vs. Germany

The Germans needed a Michael Ballack thunderbolt in their final group game against an underwhelming Austrian side. Germany has rarely looked like a pre-tournament favorite it was billed as, coming in behind Croatia in its group.

If not for Lukas Podolski scoring three of Germany’s four goals, the Germans would most likely be heading home right now. Too bad he might miss the quarterfinal with a calf injury. That will leave Miroslav Klose (a shadow of his 2006 World Cup self), Mario Gomez (a shadow of his Bundesliga form, including some laughable misses) and Kevin Kuranyi to try and break through.

Meanwhile Portugal looked solid in winning its group with its only loss coming in its last match with a B-side taking the field. Cristiano Ronaldo will pose problems for whoever tries to mark him and Germany’s center backs have been less than stellar. Portugal’s only real drawback is its goalie, Ricardo and the lack of top-flight striker. However, Ronaldo and the center defense pairing of Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho make up for that. Throw in all the attacking options Portugal has in the midfield and it should be able to put the pressure on Germany if it continues to attack like it did in its first two matches.

Portugal 2, Germany 0

Croatia vs. Turkey

While Turkey needed three goals in the final 14 minutes to beat the Czech Republc and advance to the quarters, Croatia looked impressive in winning its group. Luka Modric has looked like a future star. The Tottenham Hotspur recruit is the key to Croatia’s attack. However, Croatia has gotten balanced play all over the field and showed discipline in its attack and shape. Its play has been a pleasant surprise in the tournament.

I don’t know much about Turkey, but Nihat and Hamit Altintop and Arda Turan are all classy players. Nihat can finish; look at what he did to the Czech’s. However, Turkey’s goalkeeper Volkan Demirel has been suspended two matches after receiving a red card for shoving Jan Koller in the previous match.

Croatia 1, Turkey 0

Netherlands vs. Russia

So far Netherlands has been the team of the tournament. They won their three group games by a 9-1 combines score, including demolishing France and Turkey before the substitutes mopped up Romania. The Dutch have been a joy to watch and Marco van Basten has pulled all the right strings. The 4-2-3-1 formation has worked to perfection allowing the Dutch to counter-attack with deadly precision.

Russia got to the quarters with a superb 2-0 win over Sweden in which influential playmaker Andrei Arshavin returned, and scored. Manager Guus Hiddink will be eager to get a win over his home country.

However, the Dutch are flying high and as long as they keep the pedal pushed down, Wesley Sneijder and company will be too much.

Netherlands 3, Russia 1

Spain vs. Italy

Spain was probably the second most impressive team in the group stages behind the Netherlands. Italy was disappointing, but did what it had to, like usual, to advance. Normally I would pick Italy to advance with a gritty win as Spain’s label of an underachieving side grows some more, but with midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso out because of suspension due to yellow cards I can’t see the Italian midfield matching the likes of Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta, Senna, Xabi Alonso or whoever else Luis Aragones throws out.

Also, David Villa has been in scorching form and looks settled in his partnership with Fernando Torres. Meanwhile Luca Toni has not looked as dangerous as he did this past season with Bayern Munich and a consistent second option in attack has not been found.

Spain 2, Italy 1

Well, what do you think?

After the Euro 2008 Group D game between Spain and Sweden in Innsbruck, reports surfaced that several players and staff members from the Spanish national team verbally attacked the head referee, Pieter Vink.

According to eyewitnesses, the head referee and his assistants were met between the main tunnel and referee dressing room by several Spanish players and staff members during halftime of the game.

Allegedly, the Spaniards were upset with Vink for not calling a penalty kick after Sweden’s center back Olof Mellberg played the ball with his hand in side of the Sweden penalty box during the first half. […]

Read More »

What England players will be doing during Euro 2008 this month:

1. Calling David Beckham to see if they can come crash at his pad in L.A. on holiday.

2.  Watching their WAGS spend their money.

3. Seeing if Sven Goran Eriksson can help them obtain dual citizenship to play for Mexico.

4. Finding footage from the 1966 World Cup to re-live the glory days of English football.

5. Cursing Croatia.

6. Consoling John Terry.

7. Helping Fabio Capello learn English.

8. Preparing to crash out of 2010 World Cup qualifying.

9. Convincing themselves that they are still an international superpower.

10. Watching the tournament from their homes-just like you!

Next Saturday EURO 2008 starts in Austria and Switzerland. Sixteen of best European nations will compete for the enormous privilege being the champion of Europe.
The countries are divided in four groups of four teams. The best of the two teams from each group will advance to elimination matches that will take best of two from this stage to the finale game scheduled for June 29 in Vienna.

All matches will be on ESPN2. (Game times are EST)

GROUP A
Saturday June 7
11 a.m. Switzerland vs. Czech Republic at Basel – St. Jakob-Park
1:45 p.m. Portugal vs. Turkey at Geneva – Stade de Genève
Wednesday June 11
11 a.m. Czech Republic vs. Portugal at Geneva – Stade de Genève
1:45 p.m. Switzerland vs. Turkey at Basel – St. Jakob-Park
Sunday June 15
1:45 p.m. Switzerland vs. Portugal at Basel – St. Jakob-Park
1:45 p.m. Turkey vs. Czech Republic at Geneva – Stade de Genève

GROUP B
Sunday June 8
11 a.m. Austria vs. Croatia at Vienna – Ernst Happel
1:45 p.m. Germany vs. Poland at Klagenfurt – Wörthersee
Thursday June 12
11 a.m. Croatia vs. Germany at Klagenfurt – Wörthersee
1:45 p.m. Austria at Poland at Vienna – Ernst Happel
Monday June 16
11 a.m. Poland vs. Croatia at Klagenfurt – Wörthersee
1:45 p.m. Austria at Germany at Vienna – Ernst Happel

GROUP C
Monday June 9
11 a.m. Romania vs. France at Zurich – Letzigrund
1:45 p.m. Netherlands vs. Italy at Berne – Stade de Suisse
Friday June 13
11 a.m. Italy vs. Romania at Zurich – Letzigrund
1:45 p.m. Netherlands vs. Franceat Berne – Stade de Suisse
Tuesday June 17
1:45 p.m. Netherlands vs. Romania at Berne – Stade de Suisse
1:45 p.m. France vs. Italy at Zurich – Letzigrund

GROUP D
Tuesday June 10
11 a.m. Spain vs. Russia at Innsbruck – Tivoli Neu
1:45 p.m. Greece vs. Sweden at Salzburg – EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
Saturday June 14
11 a.m. Sweden vs. Spain at Innsbruck – Tivoli Neu
1:45 p.m. Greece vs. Russia at Salzburg – EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
Wednesday June 18
1:45 p.m. Greece vs. Spain at Salzburg – EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
1:45 p.m. Russia vs. Sweden at Innsbruck – Tivoli Neu

Main favorites: Italy, Germany, Portugal, and France.
Possible Cinderella Stories: Russia, Greece, and Czech Republic.
Players to watch:
Luca Toni, Andrea Pirlo, and Alessandro Del Piero (ITALY)
Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (GERMANY)
Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma (PORTUGAL)
Ruud van Nisterlrooy and Rafael van der Vaart (HOLLAND)
Frank Ribery and Karim Benzema (FRANCE)
Fernando Torres, David Villa, and Iker Casillas (SPAIN)
Petr Chech and Tomas Galasek (CZECH REPUBLIC)
Giorgos Karagounis and Angelos Charisteas (GREECE)
Andrei Arshavin and Pavel Pogrebnyak (RUSSIA)
Luka Modric and Ivan Klasnic (CROATIA)

Well folks, it will be a good one! So, sit back, relax ,and enjoy! We will make sure that you get all of the results and all of the news here on SoccerProse.com.

Nearly seven hours after being unofficially announced as the new Internazionale manager, Jose Mourinho has still not won any trophies for the storied Milan club. In interviews following the announcement of the appointment, the self-proclaimed “Special One” announced his utter disapproval toward everyone who is not himself as well as reassuring the Nerazzurri fans that trophies should be flying into the San Siro display case “at any moment” because of his mere presence.

Mr. Mourinho was also quoted in broken Italian as saying, “I love Inter — I always have — so if I don’t win everything here at Inter, that doesn’t matter because I will go to another club and make millions of Euro there and win every [trophy].”

After a dismal four-year run under previous manager Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan only managed to win three Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia twice, and the Super Coppa Italia twice. Inter Milan see itself as a sinking ship and in recent weeks Chairman Massimo Moratti has had to be content with his clubs rich winning tradition and current stock of world-class talent. Obviously, Inter are wanting to turn things around as quickly as possible and the appointment of the often snide Mourinho to the helm of the San Siro club can be seen as a clear signal to the footballing world that settling for anything less than professional arrogance in victory is not an option.

Mr. Mourinho will bring his unique style of management to the San Siro when the new season kicks off next fall, but he is expecting to win trophies and championships even before that time because he is “so amazing.” He has had previous success on the European stage with FC Porto of Portugal, winning the coveted Champions League and back-to-back English Premier League titles in his last position with Chelsea.

When pressed to elaborate on how he plans to win trophies without a squad and during the summer, when Serie A league games are not actually being held, Mourinho shrugged and pursed his lips saying, ‘I win. I win championships. That’s what I — who I am. What I am doing. What am I doing now? Right now even I am winning everything. If the referee treats Inter players like other players on the pitch, we will win. If we don’t win, it is someone else’s fault.’

Mr. Mourinho is due to be formally unveiled at a press conference to be held at 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday at the San Siro, on the condition that he doesn’t kill the planet first.

 John Terry choked. It’s that simple.

While others may wax lyrical about Chelsea’s “iron man” who is a true blue blood for the club, the simple fact is that when his side needed him most he ended up on his backside and let Manchester United back in the shootout to claim the spoils.

While penalty kicks are a terrible way to end a football match, especially the biggest club match of the year like the UEFA Champions League final was recently decided, I have no sympathy for John Terry.

Needing only to slot home the ball from 12 yards out, Terry couldn’t even keep himself upright. While the pitch was a soggy mess in the rain, no other player lost their plant foot. Cristiano Ronaldo and Nicolas Anelka, the others who missed, can only blame themselves for telegraphing their poor attempts. Terry meanwhile lost his form, leaned back and could only hope his rain-soaked face covered up the tears in his eyes.

I thought I liked John Terry. He after all is a tenacious defender who seems to put his body on the line and do whatever it takes to pull Chelsea together and help them win. But watching the Champions League final I also realized he is bully to not only other players, but to referees as well. Now there is also an investigation as to whether or not he spit on Carlos Tevez during the extra time when both sides got into a bit of a fracas. I used to think Terry did everything to win up to a point, but now it appears as though he is just another dirty player. Another rich Chelski brat who thinks titles are given to those who have the most money.

So don’t feel sorry for Terry and his penalty flop, he got what he deserved.

John Terry’s true colors showed in the final and blue wasn’t one of them.

Rumor is passing through our ears here that the biggest event on Wednesday night/Thursday morning was not Manchester United winning the UEFA Champions League.

No, this has to do with Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Red Devils.

Rumor has it a deal with Real Madrid has been struck for 125 million Euros ($250 million)!!!!!!!!!

That would easily be the biggest transfer fee ever if this rumor holds up to be true.

If it is, is any player worth that much? If so, who? Also, what would you want Man U to do with all of that cash?

Some would say Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League final is a battle of two evils. Since Manchester United and Chelsea are two of the world’s richest and most powerful clubs, the ability to buy any player and build unsurpassed depth has allowed the sides to make it to Moscow. However, lamenting the fact that it is an all-English final and the world’s disdain for the Blues and Red Devils, I for one am eagerly anticipating the final.

And why not?

It’s Europe’s most prestigious tournament and it is going to be played by two immensely talented sides. Who cares if it is Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s back yard? Who cares if they’ve played each other three times with Man U taking two of the matches (including the Community Shield)? Who cares if they might not play open, free, attacking football the entire match? They are trying to win the Champions League, right?

This will probably end up being a 1-0 or 1-1 match that goes into extra time or even penalties. Both sides are hard nosed and will not succumb to the pressure of the stage.

But to those who are turning their noses up at this match up, I ask you to reconsider. Forget about your disdain for Cristiano Ronaldo’s antics and admire his step-overs and impossible-to-stop swerving free kicks. Look past your hatred for John Terry and see his remarkable recovery from a dislocated elbow suffered in the Premier League season finale.

The game will be a knock-down drag out affair and viewers should know that heading into it. While a 4-3 score line would be wonderful, I would be shocked if anything close to that occurred.

So who will win it?

I’m going with Manchester United, which seems to be on a mission this season. It was the best side in the Premier League all season and it currently has the best player in the world in Ronaldo. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are rocks in the center of defense and Sir Alex Ferguson has his choice of midfielders to combat Frank Lampard and Michael Essien. Ferguson has said he would include Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes if United reached the final and their experience will prove valuable. Owen Hargreaves European experience should also lend itself well. A late substitution of Nani or Anderson with fresh legs could prove the difference. Meanwhile if United can control Didier Drogba there might not be any more offensive support for the Blues.

While it may not be a thriller I see United lifting the trophy in the end with a 1-0 win and completing the double.

Philip most recently made a post about his Premier League predictions which were right on the money! Big props to you Phil for sharing your knowledge and don’t feel too bad about striking out with Spurs, disappointment is a common thread running through the Lillywhite tapestry at the moment.

Bone-picking time. Martin O’Neill and my Villa are gonna work their claret and blue socks off to keep Barry, the greatest and most versatile Villa player of the last decade. MON has said about 732 times (mostly to Rafa Benitez) that he’s not at all interested in letting Gareth go because the only way forward for a club like Villa is to keep the best players and bring in more of the same. Barry’s contribution to Villa is ultimately unquantifiable and immense. His leadership skills are tangible by the way the rest of the team plays around him and it’s my belief that those of us on the outside of the Villa dressing room can only make wild guesses as to how influential he really is off the pitch. The chemistry with him in the team is only manifested for us fans in brief 90 minute glimpses from week to week. 

Martin O’Neill will be the person most furious with himself if he and the board have no new signings to field around Barry at the end of the upcoming transfer window. He is a very intelligent and savvy manager who knows exactly what needs to be done and how to go about it and I have the utmost confidence that he’s the right man for the job. It’s clear that pushing Aston Villa to the next level will come from the signing of European caliber, eyebrow-raising players to surround Barry and strangely, replace him. What a wonderful problem Mr. O’Neill would have if he didn’t have the luxury of starting the Villa lineup card with GB the only choice in the middle. 

There are many positive things flying around Villa Park these days. Like the rest of the Villa faithful, I am starting to expect great things at Villa park: the front office is incredible, clubhouse morale is sky-high, and the skill level of the smallest Premiership squad is rising by the week through good training. The manager has the full backing of everyone in the Villa universe including the only person who actually matters, Randy Lerner, the man attached to the purse-strings. All the conditions are ripe for great things to happen.

One other curious and sometimes frustrating feather O’Neill puts in his own cap is his reluctance to sign somebody just for the sake of signing more players. He is truly a man out to get the right men and will not be persuaded, even by the vociferous Claret and Blue army, into buying someone simply to boost squad numbers. It’s obvious that Barry is one of the men he’s out to get and O’Neill has made it clear that Barry must be a part of the picture if forward progress is going to continue.

The Villa ship is picking up steam in the right direction and losing Barry during the transfer window would be a shot across the fragile bow.

I guess if you make enough predictions you’re bound to get one right at some point in your life. Not that picking Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to finish in the Premier League’s top four during our preseason predictions was going out on a limb, but nailing the order of the top four is somewhat satisfying after the Red Devils claimed their 10th league title on Sunday. While last season it was just Man U and Chelsea at the top, this year the top four were separated by just 11 points. So for a little revisionist history here is where each club finished with my preseason pick in parentheses.

1. Manchester United (1)-Best player, best manager, best depth=best team.

2. Chelsea (2)-Jose or no Jose they still play boring, dull football, and still came within two points.

3. Arsenal (3)-Looked like world beaters at times, colossal choke jobs, injuries and team turmoil in the final third of the season doomed them. Young guns will need to fortify and the transfer kitty will have to be splurged with to make a jump into the top two next season.

4. Liverpool (4)-Fernando Torres was spectacular, Steven Gerrard was his usual consistent self andLiverpool again finished an underwhelming campaign with more questions than answers.

5. Everton (9)-My first big miss, seeing as I had Tottenham Hotspur here. No matter how well they played and how many saves Tim Howard made, it was always a battle for fifth, as they were 11 points behindLiverpool.

6. Aston Villa (6)-Back to my Nostradamus-like ways. Too bad Gareth Barry is on his way to one of the Big Four.

7.Blackburn (8)-Best buy of last summer=Roque Santa Cruz and his 19 league goals.

8. Portsmouth (10)-David James was arguable the second most important player to a club this season, behind Ronaldo.

9.Manchester City (11)-The hot start had City pushing the Big Four, but an owner/manager struggle and dip in form proved costly. Elano was a revelation to the league.

10. West Ham (12)-Did well despite the loss of Carlos Tevez who helped the club almost single-handedly stay in the top flight a year ago.

11. Tottenham (5)-Swing and a miss. Only finished 30 points out of fourth. Maybe the most disappointing and underachieving side in the league, and yes that includes Derby. Please let Berbatov leave and go to a club that can utilize his talents!

12. Newcastle (7)-Oh how I drank me some Sam Allardyce Kool-Aid before the season only to see Kevin Keegan swoop in and still the Magpies are disappointing. At least their fans can still pretend like they’re a big club.

13.Middlesbrough (13)-Back on track, and the club’s name says it all.

14.Wigan (19)-Thought they were relegation-bound, but in fact had the steel to stay in the top flight after barely avoiding relegation a year earlier. The club should be lauded for this finish.

15.Sunderland (16)-Uh oh the transfer season is near and already Roy Keane is throwing money at useless players (as long as they used to play for Man U).

16. Bolton (15)-The fall was expected after Allardyce left and with Nicolas Anelka gone it was a surpriseBolton ever scored a goal.

17. Fulham (17)-If Brian McBride doesn’t return from injury, Team America is plummeting to the depths of the Championship.

18. Reading (14)-Disappointing after their eighth-place finish a season before and the fight they showed to get there. Reading should be back in the Premier League next season.

19. Birmingham (18)-I count this one as being right because relegation is relegation.

20.Derby (20)-One win against 29 losses and a negative-69 goal differential puts Derby in the argument as the worst top flight side ever.