Bloody Ref!

Once the dust settles on the end of United's Champions League dreams, hopefully people will analyse more than just that one issue.

You know the one I mean - "the referee cost us the match."

First off, despite the comments from Roy Keane, Graham Poll and the like, I believe it was a wrong decision. I tweeted that immediately and have not changed my mind on second, third, fourth viewing.

I do understand their point. His foot was high, if Arbeloa had attempted to head rather than chest the ball it would have appeared worse. But was it actually dangerous? For me, no. Both players’ reactions didn’t help - the Spaniard feigning serious injury and Nani trying desperately to appear hurt too.

I also have to credit the referee for not instinctively producing the red card. He considered it. He thought about it and, no doubt, took advice from his team through the ear piece. But it still doesn’t make his decision right.

What annoys me greatly about modern football supporters, however, is tribalism. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and City fans all seem certain it was a definite red, ignoring the fact that if it had been a player from their team, they would have been furious. United fans, however, fail to recognise that if Arbeloa had caught Nani like that and been sent off, they would have defended the decision.

So where am I going with this? Simply this. The game wasn't over when the card came out. Fifty-six minutes had been played, United were a goal up and, although losing a player will have an effect it shouldn't automatically mean defeat.

United collapsed. For ten minutes they - players and management - lost their focus and discipline. Not discipline in terms of anger (although that certainly happened too and I suspect Rio Ferdinand might receive a letter shortly from Monsieur Platini) but the discipline of doing your job. Doing what you have been asked to do and not losing focus.

How many times, after a sending off, have the experts talked about the difficulty of breaking down ten men? Not this time. In fact if Ronaldo had remembered his manager had picked some teammates for him to pass to, it could have been four or five.

What went wrong?

The problem stemmed from the touchline. And before anyone starts on me about questioning Ferguson, just hold back a few minutes and decide if I have a point. No one can argue with his achievements and ability - certainly not me. I'm also not one of those idiots who will start saying he's lost it and that it's time for him to go. No, far from it. But last night he got it wrong.

How can we ever take Rooney serious as a world class player if, for the biggest match of the season, he is left out for Wellbeck, Nani and Giggs? It was a ridiculous decision.

Irrespective of that my biggest complaint is what happened in the five minutes after Nani trudged off the pitch. Compare the actions of the two managers.

One stumbled down the steps with his arms in the air to berate an official who was powerless to do anything. What did Ferguson think would happen by ranting in his ear?

"Excuse me Mr. Cakir, I have a man here who thinks you got that wrong. Any chance you'll change your mind?"

He tried desperately to rouse the crowd, waving wildly to them to make some more noise. Even then, when he sat back down, he chose to stew on the injustice of the decision rather than what could be done.

Now consider Mourinho. Within two minutes he had Gail Platt on the pitch because he knew the little midfielder would change the game. He did. It helped, of course, that there was no shape to the United midfield and no direction coming from the touchline.

Surely a manager of such experience knew the importance of solving, rather than adding to, the problem. Madrid scored a second and Mourinho made another change before Ferguson finally remembered Wayne Rooney was sitting behind him.

By then it was too late.

RC

Champions Again

Who would have thought it? The team that can maintain possession better than any other, can regain possession faster and higher up the pitch than the rest actually won the tournament. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone but, i fear, too many on our shores will still bury their heads in the sand and ignore the obvious.

Just look at the nonsense spouted by all corners of the English media since England defeated Sweden Convinced yet again that England would win the competition, suddenly Vincente Del Bosque’s side were boring and predictable; no longer the force they once were. When they first said it I laughed at just how ridiculous it made him look but then the rest of the lemmings followed suit without actually engaging their brains first. Each time merely emphasised just how little they actually understand about the game they profess to love.

There is more than one reason why a team should hold on to a football during a match. Of course they do so probing for space, for the opportunity to play the killer pass but what Adrian Chiles and his ilk don’t grasp is the idea of recovery. For us (and by the term ‘us’ I refer to anyone coached to play football in Britain or Ireland) recovery involves someone shouting from the touchline, “Hurry up, get into position, turn and face!” You do so, and get a few quick breaths, before sprinting around after the opposition trying to win the ball back. For Spain, and the many other continental nations, recovery can be done with the ball. It makes perfect sense if you actually take the time to think about it. After a period of pressure your attacking players will be tired and the last thing they need is for their centre backs to be banging the ball long into the channels for them to chase. Instead the back five or six simply keep the ball for five minutes, playing short five yard passes that don’t risk losing possession. Yes, you did read that right I said five minutes. England, during the Euros, struggled to keep the ball for more than twenty seconds meaning that players like Gerrard and Parker were shattered by the hour mark. Two of the Premier League’s finest midfielders were reduced to runners by a system so out-dated its embarrassing and, worse still, was supported by the media until the Italian defeat. 

Lets look at that match in a little more detail to emphasise the point. I lost count of the number of times England were praised for showing ‘heart’ and ‘pride’ as if that is a sign of a great team. Surely those two attributes should be the norm? Spain showed plenty of heart and pride, they fight until the end and are more than prepared to put their bodies on the line. The difference is that they have the technical quality to back it up. Italy (who I thought would struggle to get out of their group) had players on a completely different planet to England like Pirlo and De Rossi. The former singlehandedly destroyed England with his ability to pass and move whilst De Rossi put in as big a shift as any of England’s midfield but, when the time came, had the ability to settle in possession. But England were rigid throughout the game (and the tournament), stubbornly refusing to adapt to counter Pirlo’s threat. The Juventus veteran had so much time on the ball even I could have found the odd pass now and again! Could Roy Hodgson see this? Of course he could! He is a manager with decades of experience but instead of telling a midfielder to step out or, even better, change the system to allow a player to stifle the threat, he insisted on Gerrard and Parker playing basically as two additional centre backs. The Spanish found an even better solution to the Pirlo dilemma - don’t let him have the ball by keeping it yourself! Italy should have annihilated England in that quarter final considering the number of clear chances they created and, when you then consider how comprehensively they were beaten by Spain, it shows the chasm that exists between England and the top table. It’s going to be a long process of change, started at last with the vote taken by the FA in May, but eventually the Home Nations will develop a crop of players comfortable in receiving and passing a football.

Spain, on the other hand, has enjoyed the fruits of that particular labour already. Their golden generation has achieved unparallelled success over the last four years and must be considered one of the greatest teams of all time. To win three major competitions on the spin is remarkable and with the likes of Jordi Alba coming through, and the fact that Xavi, Iniesta and co play in the way that they do, a second World Cup triumph is not out of the question. They don’t panic; they don’t treat an obstacle as an excuse for failure. Losing a player like David Villa simply didn’t affect them and, when you consider the hullabaloo caused by Rooney’s suspension, it shows the difference in mentality. Del Bosque chose to find a solution rather than point out why his team might struggle. He could have played a direct replacement but, instead, opted for something different - the false nine. He was ridiculed for it, in fact Adrian Chiles actually told him it was stupid! Incredibly Del Bosque chose to ignore Chiless of Jordi Alba coming through, and the fact that Xavi, IniestaBosque chose to find a solution rather than point out why his team might struggle. He could have played a direct replacement but, instead, opted for something different - the false nine. He was ridiculed for it, in fact Adrian Chiles actually told him it was stupid! Incredibly Del Bosque chose to ignore Chiles, and other football sages like Robbie Savage and Mark Bright, to persevere and got the success he deserved. My favourite idiot was Steve Parish, the Crystal Palace Chairman, who took to twitter during Spain’s semi final to point out everything that was wrong with the Spanish system. Repeating the, now boring, ‘boring’ mantra he went as far as to suggest a solution to this apparent blight on the football world. Teams, in his esteemed opinion, should be limited to fifteen passes before having to take a shot or the ball would be given to the other team.  Parish would need to be careful; with ideas like that he might soon be appointed Chairman of the FA.

Sunday nights’ final emphasised just how good Spain actually are. Like all great sides they saved their best for when it mattered and comprehensively routed the Italians. Their football, particularly in the first half, was scintillating and their system of play should be admired rather than criticised.

Match Day 2 - Group B

The Group of Death lived up to it's reputation by the end of the second set of matches. The day began with the unfancied Danes, on the back of a victory over the Dutch on Saturday, facing Portugal in Lviv. The Portuguese were under enormous pressure following their narrow defeat to Germany and knew that another defeat today would mean elimination from the competition. 

The pressure, however, seemed to inspire rather than inhibit them and by the half hour mark they had raced into a two goal lead. Pepe struck first, heading home a Joao Moutinho corner, to continue the trend of headed goals from set pieces at Euro 2012. Then, when former Spurs misfit Helder Postiga made it two from Nani’s cross, it looked game over for the Danes. But, just minutes before the break, they got a lifeline when Bendtner headed in at the back post. The second half began slowly with neither side looking eager to commit men forward. Then, with twelve minutes left, Portugal were pegged back by another header from Bendtner who maintained his remarkable scoring record against the Portuguese. A point would have put Denmark on the brink of qualification but, after an astonishing miss by Ronaldo who shot wide when through on goal, substitute Silvestre Varela rescued his captain at the second attempt. After a complete air shot on his weak left side, the Porto man rifled home to secure a much needed three points.

The evening kick off was a highly anticipated clash between old foes Germany and Holland. The Dutch found themselves in a similar position to Portugal after their opening day defeat but the earlier result now meant that defeat, though still clearly unwanted, would not mean elimination just yet. The Oranje started confidently, as they had done at the weekend, but once again failed to find that finishing touch. Van Persie was the main culprit fluffing a glorious chance within the first ten minutes and he was soon made to pay as Gomez, played in by Schweinsteiger, took one touch to control then a second to finish brilliantly. The German striker had come in for plenty of criticism despite his winning goal against Portugal but repaid his managers faith with a brilliant second goal of the night, third of the tournament, beating Stekelenburg from a tight angle. 

The Dutch had no option other than to attack in the second half but, as they did so, the Germans were able to pick holes in their already porous defence. Hummels could, and probably should, have put the match beyond their reach before a wonderful Van Persie strike halved the deficit. But their efforts were in vain as Germany held out for the win that has them on the brink of qualification. Holland, on the other hand, must now hope to become the first team in the history of the Euros to qualify from a group with only three points.  

Match Day 2 - Group A

The second round of results in Group A set up a fascinating conclusion for all four nations. The Czechs responded to their comprehensive defeat by Russia with an explosive start in Wroclaw against Greece. Two goals in the opening six minutes put them in pole position for a vital three points and, despite a Gekas goal in the second half, they held on with relative ease.

Once again Greece looked every bit the weakest side in the competition. Devoid of ideas, slow and cumbersome at the back, the 2004 champions have surely no chance of repeating that feat this year. They were grateful for their consolation to an awful Petr Cech error, who spilled a straight forward through ball into the path of the Greek substitute and providing false hope.

Russia kicked off against co-hosts Poland knowing that a second victory would put them into the knock out stages already. Yet again Advocaat's men started slowly and Poland, spurred on by a fervent crowd in Warsaw, quickly got on top. Lewandowski was dangerous on every attack and Russia relied on the defensive prowess of Ignashevich and Berezutsky to keep the scores level. Then, on thirty-seven minutes and against the run of play, Dzagoev scored his third goal of the tournament. The little playmaker got his head to Arshavin's clipped freekick to put himself on course for the golden boot. The goal lifted Russia and suddenly it was they who looked more likely to score. Polish fans would have been concerned at the start of the second half with their visitors enjoying far more of the play and creating space down the flanks.

Their equaliser came from a counter attack after Arshavin had the chance to put the game out of their reach. His indecision gifted Poland possession and when the ball arrived at the feet of Blaszczykowski he only had one thing on his mind. The captain cut inside two men and fired a wonderful curling shot into the top corner.

Despite spells of pressure from both sides, neither could find a winning goal leaving the group wide open for everyone. Poland and the Czechs will play knowing that the winner will be through regardless of what happens between Russia and Greece. Despite their awful showing so far, Greece can still sneak through by overcoming Advocaat's team in Warsaw.

Ukraine 2 Sweden 1

The final match of the first round of fixtures saw co-hosts Ukraine face Sweden in Kiev. After the group's 'superpowers' had played out a draw earlier in the day, both teams knew a victory would give them a welcome three points in their opening match.

The Ukraine side had a mixture of the old guard and some younger blood in the form of Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka. They started much the better team and looked better in possession then the Swedes, who relied almost entirely on Ibrahimovic for any attacking threat. The first real chance of the half fell to former Chelsea misfit Shevchenko who, reminiscent of his time at Stamford Bridge rather than the San Siro, scuffed his shot wide. Liverpool fans may have been impressed by the Ukrainian number ten who proved adept at linking midfield and attack, before realising it was merely Andrei Voronin minus his ponytail.

Sweden should have been in front just after the half hour when the impressive Ibrahimovic got free of his marker only to head a Seb Larssen's cross against the post when it seemed easier to score.

The enigmatic front man made up for his miss just six minutes into the second period. A ball across the Ukrainian goal wasn't cleared properly and, when Kallstrom turned it goalwards again, there was Ibrahimovic to side foot home. A stunned home crowd demanded a response from their team and they had only to wait three minutes for their demands to be met. Yarmolenko broke free down the right and his cross was met by Shevchenko who headed firmly past Isaksson.

Seven minutes later the game was turned on it's head when Shevchenko scored his second from a corner. As much as his movement was excellent, it has to be said, Sweden's marking was awful. Credit to the Swedes, however, who never gave up and, but for lack of composure by Johan Elmander would have salvaged a point late on. Instead it was the hosts who celebrated a memorable victory and saluted their hero Shevchenko for rolling back the years to put them top of the group.

If they can claim a point against the French in the next match, they will enter the tie with England in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages.

France 1 England 1

With the lowest expectation of any English squad for decades, Roy Hodgson sent out his first competitive eleven to face the French. Two years ago both countries suffered the ignominy of an early flight home from South Africa and, if anything, it looked like the French were in the worst state. Not only had they failed miserably on the pitch, but their squad had followed Patrice Evra's lead in a mutiny after Anelka's expulsion by, then coach, Raymond Domenech.

Now, under the guidance of Laurent Blanc, they look a nation reborn. Unbeaten since a shock defeat by Bosnia in September 2010, Blanc has put a team together that looks capable of getting to the latter stages of the competition. England, on the other hand, have lurched from one problem to the next culminating in the untimely exit of Fabio Capello and the FA's refusal to appoint a successor until just six weeks ago.

As always when two of the more famous sides meet at a tournament, statistics are bandied about to prove this and prove that. We've been told that England haven't beaten the French since 1997 and that, incredibly, France haven't won a match at the Euros without Zidane or Platini. At least Hodgson could be fairly certain neither of those two would be playing in Donetsk.

There was, however, one surprise inclusion but it came in the English side. A Hodgson team rarely uses an attack minded winger; preferring to have a hard working player who can tuck into what Roy calls the 'pockets'. Instead Downing was omitted for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showing an unusual but welcome attacking intent. For the French, Blanc played what could be the best front three in the tournament with Ribery and Nasri supporting Benzema.

It didn't take long for the French to settle into their rhythm; passing the ball comfortably through their midfield. England, as expected, sat deep and invited their opponents onto them and restricted space where they could. With Chamberlain as their most obvious outlet, England tried to break with pace when they could and, after just fifteen minutes they should have been in front. Ashley Young found space to thread a superb pass through a static pass and Milner, played onside by the sleeping Evra, went around Lloris before shooting into the side netting.

Growing more confident, England went in front on 30 minutes. Gerrard was given two attempts to deliver a free kick from the right touchline and his second was inch perfect for the unmarked Lescott to head his first international goal. It was the perfect scoreline for a Hodgson team and one which had secured victory for England in his first two matches. On this occasion, however, it wasn't to be. Nasri, who was slowly exerting more influence over the play, found space on the left nine minutes later and, with the English far too deep, was able to take aim and fire low past club mate Hart.

The second half was a cagey affair with England falling deeper and deeper by the minute. Despite this the French had lost a lot of the zest that they had played with before the break and struggled, therefore, to get behind the English lines. As usual the Three Lions had plenty of heart but, more often then not, a lack of quality where it mattered. Chamberlain, for example, showed he had the touches required to unlock defences but too often he received the ball thirty yards from his own goal.

The heat in Donetsk began to play a part as the game entered the final quarter. English players especially were struggling with the pace of the game - despite playing most of it in their own half - and the fresh legs of Defoe and U21 Captain Henderson were needed. It was clear by now that Hodgson was more than happy with a point and soon the French seemed to accept the inevitable too. With matches against Sweden and Ukraine to come, both teams will be hoping that one point here was enough.

Ireland 1 Croatia 3

It had been a decade since Ireland had last played at a major tournament; ten long years since Robbie Keane's injury time penalty had taken Spain to extra time and penalties before the heartbreak of defeat. Few would have thought Mendieta's match winning penalty would be Ireland's last tournament action until taking the field against Slavan Bilic's Croatia in Poznan.

Trapattoni has created an Irish side that pride themselves on clean sheets, five in qualifying, but within three minutes they were behind. After a rousing anthem by the boys in green, it was the Croats who started the more confidently and, despite slipping, Mandzukic was still able to take advantage of some slack Irish defending to head home.

Credit to the Irish, though, as they didn't panic and gradually worked their way back into contention. Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle led the line superbly, running their markers into areas they didn't want to go and creating gaps for Duff and Andrews to run into. And it was Doyle who earned the free kick from which Ireland drew level. The goal was a nightmare for Corluka who first fouled the Wolves man before allowing Sean St. Ledger the space to head home at the back post from McGeady's excellent delivery.

This was fast turning into a fascinating battle with both sides living up to their reputations of being defensively sound, whilst also going in search of goals. It looked likely that the half would end all square until a second lapse in concentration at the back cost the Irish. Modric's shot was blocked but, in the melee that followed, Stephen Ward inadvertently played the ball to Nikita Jelavic. The Everton frontman is renowned for scoring the vast majority of his goals with only one touch and he did it again here to lift the ball over the advancing Given.

Jelavic's goal proved decisive with his team looking far more assured in the second period. Ireland, on the other hand, had lost all belief and rarely looked like troubling Pletikosa in the Croatian goal, especially after Mandzukic got his second within minutes of the restart. Trapattoni will surely be angry that his side conceded twice at the start of a half and once right at the end; such a lack of concentration is fatal at this level.

From that point Croatia looked a strong outfit, and may just cause the Spanish and Italians a few problems later this week. Strong defensively, the craft of Modric and Rakitic in midfield, and Jelavic partnered by the imposing Mandzukic up front they can be a match for anyone. For the Irish they have to regroup and try to cut out the defensive errors which proved so costly today.