Oranjes for champions, says the turtle.
Yesterday we had a very bad day indeed, in our first match of Euro 2008, played bad in the first but good in the second half against the Croats - and lost. No luck for the hosts of Euro it seems. In the other match of our group Germany controlled the field (and won) against the Poles but wasn't convincing really; not quite what you would expect of a favourite of the tournament.
Of today's games I expected much more, but France against Romania was disappointing; the match (a goalless draw) isn't barely worth mentioning. Not so the evening game where the Dutch played just great and demoralized Italians who just couldn't force their game (which of course is catenaccio) on the Dutch.
The Oranjes played like champions; but they'll have to keep their game at this level which so many times in great tournaments was their main problem. The Italians still looked like they might catenaccio their way through to the semifinal or even the final, and they also can score even though they didn't show proof of that against the Dutch. The Portughuese played for our pleasure mainly but might become problems against stronger opponents, and the Germans just might be the team who will fight their way onwards. Of Croatia, France and Romania I don't expect too much after their first games. Tomorrow Spain and Russia might show some initiative, both of them are outside favourites, but that remains to be seen.
But for now, and for today, I do declare: Oranjes for champions!
