SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – We are now into the last four at Euro 2012, with the four semifinalists undoubtedly the best in the tournament so far and Germany as my top pick to take home the trophy.
Germany, 2008 champions Spain, Portugal and Italy kick off the semifinals on Wednesday, June 27 with the Spanish up against the Portuguese in a repeat of their last 16 encounter in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
On Thursday, June 28, the Germans will take on the Azzurri in another classic encounter in which we will see if Mario Balotelli can (literally) keep his mouth shut and stick to scoring goals for Italy.
So far Germany has played the best football, a passing game similar to but way more effective than that of Spain, which has performed well but not quite as well as fans expected.
Portugal has abandoned its own traditions and is playing fast on the break to benefit Cristiano Ronaldo, and Italy’s new style feels somewhat in between catenaccio and the overwhelming possession of the ball they surprised everyone with when they won the World Cup in 2006.
Spain vs. Portugal
The first semifinal will be all Iberian passion, with Spain looking to be the first national squad in history to win three consecutive major titles, and Portugal keen on going all the way to restore the pride they lost when they were upset as hosts in the final by Greece in 2004.
It will be a clash of styles, similar to when FC Barcelona and Real Madrid play against each other in the famous El Clasico in La Liga.
Despite Germany’s outstanding performances, Spain is still considered by many to be the top contender, and Vicente del Bosque’s men definitely still have the talent in Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Barcelona’s midfield magicians Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, author of the winning goal in Johannesburg that gave Spain its first ever World Cup two years ago.
Iniesta seems to be on fire but he has not been able to score so far, unlike the Portuguese star Ronaldo, with three goals and an overwhelming presence on and off the pitch.
Ronaldo is dead-set on proving his critics wrong and leading Portugal to the title, though some question his motives: does he want to win for his country, or himself?
The Real Madrid striker has been engaged for the past three years in a constant battle for football supremacy with Barcelona’s Leo Messi for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, and this year he could get it back if Portugal wins the Euro.
Ronaldo aside, it will be up to the Spanish to translate their control of the midfield into chances, as if the fail to do so the Portuguese will surely be considerably more dangerous on the break.
Spain also needs to master how to play without a natural striker if Del Bosque insists on Cesc Fabregas as a so-called “fake #9” and refuses to pull Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente off the bench.
Rappler pick: Spain
Germany vs. Italy
After six years of playing its best football since the 80s and early 90s, Germany wants to capture its old glory with a team that in the eyes of many reflects the New Germany of the 21st century.
Italy is also more attack-prone than it almost always has, under the direction of Cesare Prandelli on the bench and veteran Andrea Pirlo commanding the midfield.
Still the Italians will not flinch at an opportunity to score early and then defend the result, a style that has made them famous all over the world and this year enabled Chelsea to win the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Özil will be leading the German blitzkrieg, and if he plays as well as he did against Greece in the quarterfinals, Germany will prevail.
He and center-forward Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich will be up against an always strong Azzurri defense and Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon, terrific so far.
Curiously, the Italians’ best bet is the sometimes shaky German defense, as long gone are the days of practically invincible full-backs such as Jurgen Kohler.
Italy will also have to do its best to counter the pace of the German passing game led by Özil, who manages the traffic set up by Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger and decides when it is time to open the game to Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski on the wings.
But if Pirlo is in charge, the Azzurri have a chance, and Mario Balotelli could this time prove to be the world-class striker we all know he is… when he is focused.
Rappler pick: Germany – Rappler.com
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