Portuguese Let-Down and Other Updates

As predicted, the Portuguese defence proved to be their bane as they fall to a German team usually inept in the offensive department. They failed to outscore how much they (would always) concede and have paid the price for it.

The Spain-Italy encounter looks very similar to this. The Italians are as methodological as the Germans in their approach to tournaments, while the Spanish are brilliant going forward and as abysmal as the Portuguese in defending. If this Spanish armada is sunk, it will be a massive blow to the tournament, since the remaining teams lack the flair and excitement both the Portuguese and Spanish can provide.

What about the Dutch you say? Well they are efficient and no doubt a brilliant team, but not as exciting and flambouyant as their more exotic counterparts. Russia should be a breeze, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Spain.

If things were straight-forward, the semi-finals will see Croatia reunited with Germany after disposing of the dirty Turks with the Germans looking to set right their early group game defeat; while Spain will dispatch the underseving Italians which will see them match up against the Netherlands.

I am silently rooting for Spain in this tournament, and I hope their defence will hold up to the Orange Army.