For Love of the Game

Has anyone been watching the Euro Cup? Everyday I look forward to getting up at 11:30 am and watching soccer for about 5 hours. It helps that I've won some money along the way but its great to see 2 matches a day.

Well that comes to an end Saturday. Starting Sunday, all group games will begin at the same time (2:45 pm eastern). Portugal/Switzerland and Turkey/Czech Republic will both be played at the same time. For television purposes this is a shame. Fans will have to pick which match they would rather watch. They have two great choices. The Turkey/Czech match-up will have great importance as the winner moves on to the knockout stage. But fans will also want to see what what Portugal has in their bag of tricks. It will be sheer entertainment to see Ronaldo and Deco weave through the Swiss defense.

So why would UEFA decide to air the two matchups against each other? Simple. Its not about TV ratings. Its about the competition of the sport.

In order to make sure that every team in each group is competitive throughout the group stage, the third and final group matches are played at the same time.

Lets take Group A for example. If the Turkey/Czech match is played first and they tie, later on Portugal can just rest their star players. The fans that paid good money to watch players like Ronaldo and Deco would see substitutes like Almeida and Meireles (nothing against those players). By playing the games at the same time, Portugal are forced to play their stars at least for the first half because anything could happen in the Czech/Turkey game. Its almost a guarantee that Portgual will win the group barring a major defensive collapse, but if the Swiss win 3-2 and the Czechs win 1-0, then Portugal finishes in 2nd place on goals allowed.

Theres so many mind-boggling tie-breakers that teams can't afford to rest their players. Even though it is worse for the television audience, its better for the fans that paid good money. And more importantly, its best for the sport of soccer.

Predictions

For the rest of the 2nd leg of matches:

Germany vs Croatia - It should be a blitzkrieg on the Croatian net. Im gonna say 3-0 because the Croatian defense is horrible and their offense is lacking without Eduardo. Goals scored by Podolski, Klose and Ballack.

Poland vs Austria - This one is tight. I would have said Poland a couple of days ago, but an Austrian brewery has promised a lifetime supply of beer to the first Austrian goal-scorer. I'm gonna say a 1-1 tie. And Harnik picks up the last sober goal he'll ever score for Austria.

Italy vs Romania - I love Adrian Mutu. Thats the reason I believed that the Romanians could hang with the battered up French squad. I really don't like Italy, but I can't see them losing twice in a row. 2-1 in a nail-biter with Mutu scoring for Romania and Luca Toni scoring twice for Italy.

France vs Netherlands - Franck Ribery is the new French sensation. But I don't know if he can beat Holland by himself. The French are injured and dont know if captain Patrick Viera or Thierry Henry will play. The Netherlands have had their choking moments in the past but after watching them score 3 against a defensive minded team like Italy, I think they can go to an improbable 2-0 with a 2-0 win in the group of death. RUUUUUUUUD and van der Vaart the goal scorers.

Spain vs Sweden - Spain is talented. They're arguably the fastest team in the tournament and maybe even the best defensive. Old man Sweden will have their hands full with these young guys (a squad that has left off Spanish soccer hero Raul). 2-0 Spain with goals from Torres and Xabi Alonso.

Russia vs Greece - Greece is overrated. I really never believed that they'd get out of this group and their defensive strategy of putting 5 men back didn't work against Sweden. Russia is missing a couple of offensive threats due to injury/suspension. I'll give Greece a chance to win this game and give Gekas the goal 1-0.

Feel free to disagree and give me your picks.

DD



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