Group A
Poland must be wondering how they let that one get away. A young team that took the foot off the gas as they were a) at home b)1 nil up and c) playing ten men. Well done Greece - great fight back but where was that in the first half - looked like they were all stoned wondering around the pitch like that and giving the ball away.
Russians looked very good and though the Czechs created chances they were never really in it.
Group B
Wow the Netherlands imploding and losing 1 nil to Denmark. The Danes just sat narrow and let the Dutch have the ball and hit them with direct passes when they won the ball. Van der Wiel got caught going forward and the Danes exploited the space he left well. News now that there's in fighting in the Dutch camp with Nigel De Jong unhappy at being subbed v Denmark complaining his midfield partner Mark Van Bommel gets preferential treatment from the coach, who also happens to be his father-in-law hmmmm you think?
Germans were pushed harder than I and they thought they would be by the Portuguese, great goal by Gomez to win it but Ronaldo and co looking like they might actually produce something at an International tournament.
Group C
The Italians played the Spanish very well and probably edged the chances. Del Bosque started six midfielders and no strikers - unbelievable. As my mate Rob said "when I heard Spain were playing a false striker I just thought they meant Torres". The Spanish clearly miss Villa and given they only took three recognised strikers too the tournament and then left them all on the bench I think it means Del Bosque still isn't sure how to cover his loss. As you'd expect plenty of fannying about by Spain when in and around the area - if they were more direct they'd have caused more problems for Italy.
Giovanni Trapattoni's lack of a Plan B bit him and his team in the arse against Croatia. You'd have thought a win in the first game and sneak a draw against Italy would have been the plan coming in but they'll be lucky to get a point now. Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington must have been shaking their heads watching that. Croatia mean while looked the business their clash with the Italians should be a beauty and you'd be hard pressed to pick who'll advance at the moment.
Group D
England v France was boring - England were solid and predictable and created little while the French were happy with a point and barely got out of first gear. Creativity in the middle was sorely missing and you wonder how the legs of Parker and Gerrard (both in their 30's) will deal 3 games in 8 days. For mine a change of formation is needed to get the most out of the squad and get as many of England's best players on the pitch as possible. The same back four with Parker and Milner or Jones sitting in front will free Gerrard up to play the Sneijder/Ozil role, Young on the left and Walcott on the right with Welbeck up top gives the side a lot more width and pace going forward.
Sweden were disappointing, they looked at times a lot better than the Ukrainians but the difference was the home side worked harder and wanted it more and it showed - credit to Blokhin for getting the most out of a mixture of ageing stars and up and comers.
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