The Week that Was

A demoralising past ten days or so. Started off well, then downhill, one thing after another.

The oscillation between elation and anguish, truth be told, has made me quite morose over everything. The defeat last night took whatever remaining little wind right out of my sails, and has me contemplating the days to come.

A few people try to make light of yesterday's events. Just a game, they say. Just a game? Dude, this is a team I've supported since I was six. This is MY team, there is no other, there never will be any other. For the fifteenth time, I'm absolutely, positively gutted over the loss. And I know, breaking up has exacerbated this low emotions, pardon the pun. I'm still at a loss at even attempting to let it slip, to let anyone know what has transpired. Well, I've told one or two individuals, more to gauge how I handle the impending questions than anything else. And true to form, I managed to answer while deflecting the real issue at hand, why.

At this juncture, how do I start again? How do I pick myself up and look forward to the next one? Will there be a next one? Do I want a next one? Maybe I don't, maybe it'll conclude with the same ending. A broken relationship which would not even grant me reason to be angered, to hate and to resent. For these are companions much easier to live with than sadness, than self realisation and reflection.

(Sigh) Such is life. I started out overjoyed with the victory over the Portuguese, only to have the bubble burst unexpectedly that same night. Watching my team lose last night further eroded my already decaying morale, and cemented the inevitable.

Somehow, someway, I believe. I will rise again. Till then, I will explore these long lost depths that I want to plunge into, unwillingly.

Euro 2008 (Final)

Final

Spain 1-0 Germany
(Torres 33rd)

Well, I guess that's that. Spain won a deserved second Euro with a dominant 1-0 victory over Germany. Germany failed to step up a gear, and were undone by Torres' strike after a mistake by Lehmann and Lahm. The Spaniards have played consistently well throughout the tournament, and there will be few who begrudge them this triumph. So congratulations to Spain and to Germany, better luck next time.

(Yes, I am gutted)

Euro 2008 Semifinals

Semifinals

Germany 3-2 Portugal
What a nerve-jangling match. Both teams slugged it out right to the end, and Lahm managed to deliver the killer blow. Full credit to the Turks though. They outplayed and outfought Germany, yet ended up losers in probably the only match where they played well. Yet again Germany displayed a bipolar side to their game, this time the negative aspects dominated. Poor in almost all parts of the field, they relied on mental strength and an uncanny ability to conjure up goals when needed to march into the final. Frings showed he's recovered from his injury. But Germany have all to do if they want to lift the cup for the fourth time. The Turks, on the other hand, can return to Istanbul with their fighting reputation enhanced.

Spain 3-0 Russia
A masterclass in the passing game. Spain crushed Russia for the second time in 18 days, and showed that they have regained the sparkling form they briefly lost against the Italians. Fabregas had a great game, as did every other Spanish midfielder. Senna completely marked out Arshavin, and the Russians gradually faded after conceding first. However, they have a bright future ahead of them, and I'm sure Hiddink and his boys will feature in South Africa in two years time. Spain will enter the final as firm favourites, though reports suggest David Villa will most probably miss the final due to an injury sustained in the semifinal.

Daydreaming

For some strange reason, Danke Schoen is playing in my head. Not a voice repeating thank you in German, but the song, made famous by Wayne Newton. Why, I don't know. Catchy tune, admittedly. Very Vegas-esque, to state the obvious.

By all accounts, a pretty tumultuous weekend, at the least. And through all that helter skelter, I learnt that somethings go your way, somethings don't. Whether you like it or not. Guess one just has to take it on the chin, rub the ache away, and come back with a vengeance. Or maybe walk off and start afresh, better and wiser. I reckon life is too precarious to be spent seething in anger, blaming everyone else. I should know, having wasted one or two years on resentment and dormant fury. Of course, age tends to mellow down one's enthuasiasm for anger and such negative emotions. (I associate those types of emotions with the colour red). It's time to embrace the blueness of life, to appreciate the greeness of the surroundings, to stop this seemingly LSD-infused similes.

Thank the heavens for football. Not only is it a way of life for most of us, football also serves as a form of escapism from the catastrophic events in my life, as and when they occur. Maybe catastrophic is too strong a word, I would use tumultuous but I've already used it somewhere in the second paragraph. Thesaurus.com suggests turbulent. Yes, turbulent events in my life. And still Wayne Newton enthralls me with his extensive knowledge of German vocabulary. But yes, football is a welcome distraction. Go Germany!

Contemplating watching Get Smart this evening. A spur of the moment thingy. Though calling it a moment isn't really being honest since I was thinking of watching the movie yesterday. Nothing like slapstick comedy to soothe the nerves that will be frayed tonight. Go Germany! (Did I mention that earlier?).

If I were to assume my mantle of worldliness, I'd be inclined to say that sometimes there is no rationale to decisions taken. We think it through, agonise over it, seek advice and ponder for hours. But more often than not, this serves to fortify our decision, not so much justify it. In other words, we do not seek why; what we want is how. I guess I have discovered bundles of hows but very little whys throughout all these years (31 and counting). What I do need to ask my esteemed self is "do I care about the whys anymore?" Just Do It, Nike says. Impossible is Nothing, preaches Adidas. Can't recall what Puma and Reebok have to say, but I'm pretty sure it'd be something in the ballpark. Hmm, these brands are making me think of gym. Perhaps I should skip the movie and go workout (@ discover previously-unused muscles).

Sigh. Looks like you-know-which-song is not going to fade away. Ah well, what the heck. Here are the lyrics to the song, and strangely enough, I can relate to it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Danke Schoen.

Danke Schon
Second seat, go Dutch treat,
You were sweet.
Danke Schon, darling, Danke Schon.
Save those lies, darling, don't explain.
I recall Central Park in fall,
How you tore your dress,
What a mess! I confess
That's not all.
Danke Schon, darling, Danke Schon.
Thank you for walks down lovers' lane.
I can see hearts carved on a tree,
Letters intertwined
For all time; yours and mine,
That was fine.
Danke Schon, darling, Danke Schon.
Thank you for seeing me again.
Though we go on our sep'rate ways,
Still the mem'ry stays

Euro 08 (Quarterfinals)

Quaterfinals

Portugal 2-3 Germany
What a match. The first game Germany has played with attacking flair, tactical nous and spirited determination. Coach Loew's masterstroke to use the 4-5-1 formation reaped great rewards as Germany scored twice in the space of 5 minutes through Schweinsteiger and Klose. Ballack had one of his best games to date, and scored the third to make it 3-1. Postiga's late strike ensured a nail biting finale, which saw Germany prevail and pay tribute to their banned coach. A well-deserved Man-of-The-Match award for Schweini, while the Portuguese were left to ponder on what might have been.

Turkey 1-1 Croatia (Turkey win 3-1 on penalties)
Both these teams really stretched the definition of late goals. Klasnic's goal in the 119th minute was sensationally cancelled out by Semih's last kick of the ball two minutes later. The Croats were woeful in the penalty shootout, failing to score on three attempts. Turkey head into the semifinals with their reputation as comeback kings fully cemented, albeit without a host of players.

Russia 3-1 Netherlands a.e.t (FT 1-1)
Unbelievable display from the Russians consigned the Dutch to yet another disappointing tournament. The Oranje never got a grasp of the match, and for long periods of time were on the backfoot as the young Russian literally ran the show. Van Nistelrooy's late equaliser failed to galvanise the Dutch in extra time; it was Russia who looked the fresher side despite Van Basten having rested nine players in Netherlands' previous game. He will leave the Oranje to manage Ajax, while Hiddink has yet again enhanced his reputation as a world-beater.

Italy 0-0 Spain (Spain win 4-2 on penalties)
The anti-climax of the quaterfinals. Both teams were more eager not to lose the match, rather than go for glory. Italy sorely missed Pirlo's creativity, while the Spaniards seemed more interested in breaking their 22 June jinx. Casillas no doubt played a huge part in Spain's progression into the last four, saving from De Rossi and Di Natale in the shoot out. Spain go on to meet the rejuvenated Russians, whom they beat 4-1 on Matchday 1, while the Italians are already contemplating the return of Don Marcelo.

TGIF

The weekend is finally here. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Saturday lies on the horizon. What's sobering, though, is the fact that Saturday and Sunday will fly by, and I'll be staring into Monday's gloom within a blink of an eye. Sigh, the trials and tribulation of working life.

It doesn't help that the Euros are so nerve wracking, especially now that the knock out stage is upon us. Germany's victory last night came at a cost - white knuckles and badly-chewed fingernails. And a lack of sleep. Before the match due to anxiety, after the match due to elation. So much for my before and after sleeping regime.

Staring at the computer all day is beginning to give me headaches. Yesterday's episode was bad, though I could also attribute that to not drinking enough water, and a coffee too many. But yeah, have to use my next windfall and get a new pair of glasses, perhaps two. Contacts are convenient, but start burdening the eyeballs sometime after 10 hours.

Hmm, Croatia v Turkey, do I really want to watch the match? Maybe I will, though it'll mean killing time till 2.45AM. And my backbone can only take so much of sitting down a cheap ass (pun intended) stool. Have yet to find a decent cafe showing the matches, though I could easily watch at home in the comforts of the sofa, ice cream and chocolates.

Hmm, now there's a thought.

Poignant Parting

"Football is beautiful, not cruel. Painful defeat and great victories belong to each other. Football cannot exist without them. It's one complex that is very specific to this sport and I am happy about that, because that is the only way people can put emotion into this game."

Karel Bruckner (Czech Republic coach)
www.uefa.com

Euro 08 - Quarter Final Preview

And Then There Were Eight

Here we are, the first knockout round, also known as the quarter finals. This is where things really become tense, and the slightest mistake sends a team back home. All four matches are potentially explosive, and don't be surprised if one or two favourites fall at this stage. And who are the favourites? Based on the group stages, there are three clear front runners: Portugal, Netherlands, and Spain. Croatia assumes the mantle of the darkhorse, while Russia will enter their encounter with the Dutch as clear underdogs.

Which begs the question, what of Germany and Italy? Neither team looked impressive in the round-robin, and both face a competition favourite, respectively. Then again, the Germans and Italians are past masters of the slow-and-steady approach, and only a brave man would bet against them prevailing against their more fancied opponents.

QF 1 Portugal v Germany Basel
The Iberians are favourites, while the Germans will need to raise their performance tenfold to defeat the Portuguese. They will be disadvantaged by Loew's one match touchline ban, and the fact that their opponents would be better rested. Injuries are also sneaking up, with Podolski and Frings both facing late medical tests. This match will test the resilience and character of the German side, and should be enthralling right up to the end of 90 minutes.

QF 2 Croatia v Turkey Vienna
Croatia start as favourites, but the memory of the Turkish-Czech match would surely be playing on their minds. The Turks have shown that they're dangerous when their backs are against the wall, and the Croats will do well to not underestimate them. Turkey will be hampered by the two match suspension of keeper Demirel, but will be happy with Nihat's current form. Expect the Croats to dominate possession, and the Turks to display utter commitment to the cause.

QF 3 Netherlands v Russia Basel
The team on fire, Netherlands are expected steamroll the Russians, on paper. But Hiddink surely is not going to fold that easily, and might spring a surprise. Some suspect the Dutch have peaked to0 soon, having crushed Italy and France, and dismissed Romania with relative ease. The Oranje will once again depend on the Sneider-Robben-van Nistelrooy fulcrum, with van Persie also in the picture. If they have a flaw, it is the defence, which has not exactly been rock solid in the first two matches. Arshavin and co. will have to work overtime to exploit this flaw, and the Russian defence will have to tighten up considerably.

QF 4 Spain v Italy Vienna
The plum tie of the last eight. The European champions of 1964 take on the champions of 1968. Both teams are littered with world class players, though Italy will sorely miss Pirlo and Gattusso. Based on their performance so far, I reckon the Italians should go with De Rossi, Aquilani and Ambrosini in the middle of the park, with Perotta and Cassano supporting Toni. The Spaniards have a clean bill of health, and will once again look to Villa and Torres to spearhead their attack.

Euro 08 (Matchday 3)

Matchday 3

Group A
Portugal 0-2 Switzerland

As expected, Scolari fielded a reserve side against the already-eliminated co-hosts. Two late goals by Yakin condemned the Portuguese to their first defeat in this tournament, though it had no effect on Portugal's position at the top of Group A. The Swiss will take plenty of positives from their tournament, and incoming coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will be pleased to note that they did not end up pointless in the group.

Czech Rep. 2-3 Turkey

What a thriller. The Czechs were three minutes away from sealing a quaterfinal spot, and contrived to lose the match in a space of two minutes. Leading 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining, only the foolish would have bet against the Czechs winning the match, but Turkey turned things around with a combination of spirited play, attacking verve and a frazzled Czech defence. Nihat destroyed the Czechs with his brace, but more demoralisingly was Petr Cech's blunder that gifted the Turks with the equaliser. Like all great goalkeepers, Cech had his reputation somewhat tarnished by one horrible mistake that will shadow all his fine saves in this year's Euros. The Turks march on for a last eight encounter against the impressive Croats, who will need to be at their best to overcome the Ottoman warriors.

Group A final standings
Portugal P-3 Pts 6 GD+2
Turkey P-3 Pts 6 GD 0
Czech Rep. P-3 Pts 3 GD-2
Switzerland P-3 Pts 3 GD 0

Group B
Croatia 1-0 Poland

A Klasnic goal put the final nail in Poland's hopes for a quarterfinal berth. In all honesty, the Poles were never quite in the game to harbour serious hopes of winning the match. The Croats took it easy, yet still managed to claim their third win and end up as group winners, ahead of the more fancied Germans.

Austria 0-1 Germany

Ballack's superb freekick in the 49th minute separated these two neighbours. Throughout the match, Germany looked short on creativity, cohesion and penetration. Once again, Gomez failed to impress, even missing an absolute sitter in the first five minutes. Coach Loew's dismissal to the stands seemed to be the only spark the Germans were creating, while Austria did plenty of running, but lacked real firepower. Upon scoring, the Germans still failed to assert their authority over the Austrian side, and saw out the match without really giving the impression that they had improved significantly from the Croatia defeat.

Group B final standings
Croatia P-3 Pts 9 GD+3
Germany P-3 Pts 6 GD+2
Austria P-3 Pts 1 GD-2
Poland P-3 Pts 1 GD-3

Group C
Italy 2-0 France

The match of the round, undoubtedly, in terms of stakes and perhaps the futures of the two coaches. Ribery was taken off within 10 minutes, and the predictable French attack fizzled out. Abidal's red card couldn't have come at a worse time for Les Bleus, though replays clearly show referee Michel justified for dismissing the fullback. Pirlo's emphatic freekick, coupled with an unfortunate deflection from Henry past Coupet, consigned France to an early holiday, while the resurgent Italians can look forward to an intriguing clash with the Spaniards in the final eight.

Netherlands 2-0 Romania

Well, the Dutch kept to their end of the bargain and did not take their feet off the pedals, even though they had nothing to play for having secured first place. The Romanians needed to better the Ita-Fra result, and they fought right to the end. But it was just not meant to be for the team from the Carpathians, and they can hold their heads high as they exit the tournament. The Oranje clockwork rolls on, and they're now the undisputed favourites for the title.

Group C final standings
Netherlands P-3 Pts 9 GD+8
Italy P-3 Pts 4 GD-1
Romania P-3 Pts 2 GD-2
France P-3 Pts 1 GD-5

Group D
Spain 2-1 Greece

Spain maintained their 100% record as they saw off an already-eliminated Greece in a match where the Greeks played better than they did in the first two games, somewhat ironically. Charisteas gave The Hellenes a first half lead, but the Spanish reserves rallied back to score twice. They can now focus on Italy, while the Greeks exit knowing they had had a poor tournament by all standards.

Russia 2-0 Sweden

Sweden started the match needing only a draw, but the Russians had other ideas as they ran out winners in this decider. The only two players in the Russian squad capable of scoring, Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko, did so and send the Swedes tumbling out. The former, returning to the first XI after serving a two match suspension, looked sharp and Russia just might give Netherlands a run for their money when they square up in Basel.

Group D final standings
Spain P-3 Pts 9 GD+5
Russia P-3 Pts 6 GD0
Sweden P-3 Pts 3 GD-1
Greece P-3 Pts 0 GD-4

The Buck Stops Here

There is a limit to everything. Often quoted, never practised. When it comes to living conditions, everyone's favourite public enemy #1 is (drum roll, please) the Government. When one reads the plethora of causes often pinned on the Government, one cannot help but feel a tinge of sympathy for the Parliament dwellers. Not that they do not enjoy shooting themselves in the foot. This is one Government that is about as PR savvy as a Hilbilly Redneck in a game of lawn bowling.

Which begs the question: why does the Government keep stumbling over the fuel hike issue? And why are people behaving as though the Government is the one stop blame-and-solution centre for all their petrol woes? I have to state before I proceed further that I'm no pro-Government brown nose like all Malaysian journalists (read VK Chin among others). Neither am I a firebrand opposition blogger who hatches conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory. On the risk of sounding pompous, I feel that I'm one of the dwindling number of intelligent Malaysians still in existence. And that is no mean feat, I can tell you. This is not one country which celebrates intelligence or insightful thinking. Neither does it propagate constructive opinion-making and feasible reasoning. But I'm not going to get sidetracked, so back to the gist of the matter at hand.

The price of crude oil has risen. Fact. The price of commercial fuel has, as a result, gone up. Fact. The Government has been mismanaging funds on frivolous spending. Fact. The Government should cut down subsidies in almost all industries. Fact.

In this fuel hike maelstrom, we find the Government, Petronas, Cabinet Ministers and the people. It is an open secret that the Government spends money more foolishly than a woman in a shoe shop. Malaysia is probably the only country with a thriving population of a species of endangered pachyderms, the White Elephants. And the pride of Malaysian architecture is not the Twin Towers, au contraire it is the Ivory Towers. Look up any anti-government blog or website and you'll be able to peruse the list of unnecessary projects funded by them. Petronas, the keepers of the nation's oil (and resulting wealth) has always been one of the most maligned corporations in Malaysia, depending on whom you speak to. Many praise Petronas for creating jobs; the counter criticism is that jobs are reserved for only one certain race. What many people can agree on is the shroud of secrecy cloaking Petronas' income and expenditure, though Petronas today claimed that their annual budget reports have been available for public perusal for the past 18 years.

Funny how publications have a habit of just appearing out of thin air here in Malaysia. I read a email sometime last week, and it gave a detailed account of the income received by Ministers. A cool RM 55,000+ a month, for doing nothing. This included free petrol, paid vacations, allowances for vacations, chauffeur services (free) and entertainment allowances. These are the same scoundrels who are busy urging us to 'change our lifestyles'. And the people? Headless chicken. Lacking knowledge on world issues, and completely ignorant of domestic economics, these little sheep spend almost every free hour slamming the Government for raising petrol prices, not increasing subsidies, increasing food prices, creating heavy rainfall (overheard) and allowing aliens to roam free (the Indonesian kind). Never one to reflect within, a typical Malaysian can spend weeks exhorting his colleagues to join him in demonstrating against the Government, yet at the same time wastes food and consumes a lot of petrol by driving a big car everywhere. The same chap who demands a rebate from the Government for the increase in fuel prices, yet uses the aforementioned rebate to shop in Metrojaya or Parkson.

What everyone has to realise is that we cannot depend on the Government in this time of high costs and low incomes. We have to take the bull by its horns, and not sit and wait for the clowns in the Cabinet to release more funds for public use. Funds are running short because holiday resorts in Europe are getting more and more expensive. Ask any Cabinet Minister and he'll tell you that he had to beg, borrow and steal to build his new Carrington-esque mansion in Bukit Tunku. He will also tearfully inform you that he has had to downgrade his frequent first class flights to business class.

Like us, the Ministers in the Government are also feeling the brunt of the petrol hike, so do bear that in mind and display a tad bit more sympathy towards these snivelling, lying parasites.

Euro 08 (Matchday 2)

Matchday Two

Group A

Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

The Czechs were never quite in the game, to be honest. Portugal dominated possession, passing and goalscoring opportunities. At 1-1, both teams appeared evenly matched, but the Czechs gradually faded as the second half wore on. Once again, the Portuguese midfield controlled the football game, and Simao, Moutinho and Ronaldo outshone the five man Czech midfield. The Czech cause wasn't helped by Baros' lack of sharpness in front of goal. The Portuguese qualified for the quarters with this win, and the Czechs must now face Turkey in a do-or-die winner-takes-all match.

Turkey 2-1 Switzerland

The priceless last gasp winner by Arda ensured the Turks enter matchday 3 with everything to play for, while consigned the Swiss to what is probably the earliest exit made by a host nation. On saying that, the Swiss were unlucky to have been knocked out, having dominated both their first two matches, only to end up empty handed. Small note of irony: Switzerland's scorer, Yakin, is of Turkish descent. The Alpiners would surely now be looking forward to the arrival of Ottmar Hitzfeld to help steer them to South Africa 2010.

Standings:
Portugal P-2 Pts 6
Turkey P-2 Pts 3
Czech. Rep. P-2 Pts 3
Switzerland P-2 Pts 0

Group B

Croatia 2-1 Germany

Without doubt, the first real upset of the tournament. However, if one were to look at Croatia's progress ever since breaking into the international scene back in 1992, this result does not really constitute a shock per se. I think what was actually shocking was Germany's lacklustre play, devoid of anything positive. The Croats played an intelligent game, and strikes from Srna and Olic have now taken them into the quarters with a game to spare. Germany, meanwhile, play Austria knowing a win is highly imperative. Things have not been made easier with Austria still hanging on to a quarterfinal slot, albeit needing other results to go their way.

Austria 1-1 Poland

A highly controversial Vastic penalty right at the death gave the Austrians a lifeline in this tournament, and they go into the decided against Germany knowing a win AND a Polish loss or draw would send them through. Highly unlikely as it is, this draw has given the team a world of encouragement, and left the Poles demoralised. Beenhakker's men went into this match knowing a victory would have set them up nicely for the final match against Croatia, but now they need to defeat Croatia by a high score and hope the Austria-Germany match ends in a draw.

Standings:
Croatia P-2 Pts 6
Germany P-2 Pts 3
Austria P-2 Pts 1
Poland P-2 Pts 1

Group C

Romania 1-1 Italy

Yet another controversial decision involving the Italians. Toni's goal at the death of the first half looked perfectly legitimate; inexplicably it was flagged offside. Replays clears show he was yards onside, which has further fuelled a multitude of conspiracy theories that suggest the powers-that-be are against the Italians. The match itself was entertaining, with the Azurri showing plenty of attacking, while the side from the Carpathians displayed a high degree of technical skills. If Italy do progress to the next round, they will surely be indebted to Buffon who made an excellent penalty save, thwarting Mutu's spot kick.

Netherlands 4-1 France

Yet another Dutch rout. Days after dismantling the world champions, the Dutch went one better and crushed the former world and European champions. France were unable to keep up with the Oranje, though like in the Italy v Netherlands match, Les Bleus had several chances to score. Players like Sneider and Robben were unstoppable, whilst Henry blazed over the crossbar with what surely would have been an equaliser. The Dutch go into Matchday Three holding all the trump cards, the ace being their power to decide who follows them into the last eight.

Standings:
Netherlands P-2 Pts 6
Romania P-2 Pts 2
France P-2 Pts 1
Italy P-2 Pts 1

Group D

Spain 2-1 Sweden

Spain started quickly off the blocks, scored and then lost their direction. The Swedish were clearly intent on defending, relying mainly on set-pieces to create any sort of scoring opportunity. Villa was a shadow of the player who had scored a hattrick, but he came to life right at the end of the match, scoring the winner and ensuring the Spaniards avoid the Dutch in the quarters. The Swedes still hold their destiny in their own hands, with the final match against Russia akin to a winner-takes-all.

Greece 0-1 Russia

The Russians put an end to one of the most maligned teams in European history. The Greeks became highly unpopular after winning the Euro 2004 tournament using unabashedly defensive tactics. Envious rival fans were hoping for the Greeks to fall in this edition, and they promptly did, to a young Russian side missing their most influential player, Arshavin. What would be an even bigger blow to Rehhagel is Greece's failure to score in their first two matches. It was pretty ironic to watch Greece fail to score in the second half of the match despite playing their most attacking football in years, which just goes to show that they're more than capable of playing entertaining football. Russia go into their final match needing to beat the Swedes, and based on their performance, they just might steal the second spot.

Standings:
Spain P-2 Pts 6
Sweden P-2 Pts 3
Russia P-2 Pts 3
Greece P-2 Pts 0

Euro 08 (Matchday 1)

Matchday One

Group A

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

A match the Swiss surprisingly could have drawn, or even won with some luck. The Czechs were strangely subdued, and only managed to break the deadlock late into the second half. Switzerland had their chances, but were dealt a body blow when Frei left the field injured. Behrami and Barnetta created several good opportunities, but the Czechs held on to open their Euro 08 accounts.

Portugal 2-0 Turkey

How Turkey must have been wishing they had started the match with more positivity. Throughout the first half, the Turks seemed more intent on stopping Portugal play rather than winning the match. The much-hyped Ronaldo had a so-so game, spurning two good chances, including a well-taken freekick which missed the target. But once Pepe put the Portuguese ahead in the second half, the Turks launched into attack, though things always pointed out to Portugal scoring on the break, which they did through Meireles.

Standings:
Portugal P-1 Pts 3
Czech Rep. P-1 Pts 3
Switzerland P-1 Pts 3
Turkey P-1 Pts 3

Group B

Austria 0-1 Croatia

I expected a Croatian goal fest, and was understandably disappointed after the match. The Croats hardly impressed in this game, requiring a Modric 4th minute penalty to settle the match, the penalty being highly dubious. The Austrians made a game of it, and can count themselves unlucky for not having secured a point. Croatia will need to raise its performance against Germany, though Bilic has been quick to point out that they won despite not playing at their usual best.

Germany 2-0 Poland

Germany secured their first Euro win since 1996, and it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention has to be made about Poland, who put up a strong fight against a German team that displayed plenty of attacking capabilities, but were at times suspect in defence and ball possession. Podolski's double was a class act, and he's bound to increase his goal tally as the tournament progresses. Klose deserves special praise, as do Frings, Ballack and Schweinsteiger. Next up, Croatia.

Standings:
Germany P-1 Pts 3
Croatia P-1 Pts 3
Austria P-1 Pts 3
Poland P-1 Pts 3

Group C

Romania 0-0 France

A boring, drab affair. France was insipid, while Romania obviously did not want to start their Euro campaign with a defeat. The French seemed to sorely miss Henry, though his temperament and form in this tournament might be dodgy. As expected, all French attacks funneled through Ribery, which made it easy for the Chivu-led Romanian defence to break up. I predicted the Romanians going through to the QFs, and by the looks of it, they seem to think so too.

Netherlands 3-0 Italy

As far as I recall, the last time Italy suffered a defeat as heavy as this was in the 1970 World Cup final. The Dutch were sublime, and their pacy attack ensured they claimed their first victory over the Azzurri. Despite the scoreline, the Italians were far from outplayed, and much of the blame should be shouldered by Donadoni. A suspect squad selection, and a lack of tactical acumen when Italy most needed it played a major role in consigning the southern Europeans to this crushing loss and handing the initiative in the group to the Oranje.

Standings:
Netherlands P-1 Pts 3
France P-1 Pts 1
Romania P-1 Pts 1
Italy P-1 Pts 0

Group D

Spain 4-1 Russia

A Villa hattrick sent the Spanish Armada cruising past the Russians as Spain lived up to their reputation of being always quickest off the blocks. Whether they finish the race in front remains to be seen. But what a display of swift, incisive attacking football. Russia was naive in defence, often sending the ball out of defence right into the Spanish wave. Spain dominated possession, though it must be noted that the Russians hit the post after being 1-0 down. To be honest, I don't see them recovering from this drubbing, while Spain will need to maintain their performance against the Swedes and Greeks to convince doubters that they're coming good this time around.

Greece 0-2 Sweden

Well, the Spartans finally fell, to the Vikings. One thing was made clear last night, total defence works fine only once. The Greeks were impregnable in 2004; they aren't anymore. Ibrahimovic finally scored after what seemed an eternity of a goal drought; more importantly Sweden showed that it could break down a resolute defence with patience and will, and this will serve them well against the Spaniards next. For Greece, the Russia game is a must win, which would set up their final fixture against Spain very nicely indeed.

Standings:
Spain P-1 Pts 3
Sweden P-1 Pts 3
Greece P-1 Pts 0
Russia P-1 Pts 0

Euro 2008

The Euros are finally here.

After months of anticipation and worrying about who's in and who's out of the squad, the final reckoning will kick start tomorrow (7 June) when Switzerland takes on the Czechs. Not exactly the high profile match one would have expected in arguably the toughest international competition around (yes, it would seem the Euro is harder to win than the World Cup).

My prediction on which team in going to win this edition is pretty much crystal clear. But lest I sound like a typical English supporter (blah-blah-blah), I thought I'd do a run through of the four groups and my expected qualifiers. Further than that, I will not warrant a guess, cause we all know who's going to win, right? (Faint sounds of Deutschland Uber Alles in the background).

Group A: Switzerland; Czech Republic; Portugal; Turkey

This is one of the most open groups in the tournament. On paper, Portugal and the Czech Republic appear clear favourites. But I'm not too convinced about that. I think Turkey will have something to say about the qualifying two. And if the Swiss avoid defeat in the first two matches, the Portuguese will not have it easy by any means when they play the co-hosts at St Jakob Park. The Swiss would surely be fired-up by the cowbells if they needed a result against the Iberians.
My prediction: Portugal and Turkey

Group B: Germany; Austria; Croatia; Poland

Quite clear cut, I must say. I expect Poland to offer some semblance of a fight against the Croats, but all things considered, if Germany and Croatia don't proceed to the quarterfinals, it would be a great shock of epic proportions.
My prediction: Germany and Croatia

Group C: Romania; Italy; Netherlands; France

Alright, there you have it, the necessary Group of Death. And I still believe there are four teams capable of qualifying, even though most pundits are quick to write off Romania. Romania has long had a reputation as the most technically gifted side in the Europe, if not the world. And I don't expect them to keel over easily as some might suggest. I have a strong feeling (or is that indigestion?) that either Netherlands or the French will screw up big time. Donadoni has made some unexplainable decisions by dropping Inzaghi and not appealing to Nesta's patriotism. But I do expect their defence to stand firm, even without Cannavaro. Ribery and a host of young African-French players should dazzle on paper, but I reckon the Bayern man is running on empty. An excellent campaign seems to have fatigued him, while I see another nonchalant performance from Henry. And Netherlands might once again succumb to in-fighting, though they seem more unified this time around having discarded Seedorf and Davids.
My prediction: Italy and Romania

Group D: Sweden; Greece; Spain; Russia

I see Spain screwing up, I seriously do. The final game against Greece has 0-0 written all over it, despite the Spaniards' scoring prowess. And the Russian will surely be buoyed by Zenit's unexpected triumph in the UEFA Cup. But Arshavin's suspension for the match against Spain will hurt them surely. I still think Russia's qualification was due more to the inconsistency shown by England, Israel and themselves rather than footballing prowess. The defending champions, if they go down, will not go down without a fight. The dogged defence might still prevail, but scoring will be the Achilles heel. They have the look of finishing undefeated in the group and still exiting. Sweden will play well, though Larsson's inclusion breathes of desperation by the Swedish coach to avoid play funnelling to Ibrahimovic. And he hasn't exactly performed in international football.
My prediction: Spain (yes, i know) and Greece

Well, that's my take on the group stages. Pity the timings are all off, so I doubt I'll be watching most of the games. Then again, Red Bull has been improving its sleep-fighting ingredients, so you just never know. I might even watch Austria against Poland.

Fuel Fuss

Well, at least petrol here is not as expensive as in Thailand. That's what the government would like us to comfort ourselves with. Or as high as Singapore. Or Indonesia. Hmm, what do these three countries have in common with Malaysia, other than being in Southeast Asia and practising an askewed form of democracy in one way or another? Oo, I know. They're all oil-exporting nations. (Buzzer sound) Wrong! Of the four, only Malaysia is a major exporter of crude oil.

So why is it that the government is comparing oil prices in those countries and not with oil exporting countries? Easy. That's the proverbial wool they ever so often pull over our eyes. Yes, fool us into believing we're so much better off than our neighbours and impose a sense of gratitude among the citizens for the government.

Comparitively, the following are some of the major oil producing nations and the numbers in parentheses represent the price of petrol per litre in the respective countries: UAE (RM1.19); Egypt (RM1.03); Kuwait (RM0.67); Saudi Arabia (RM0.38) and Nigeria (RM0.32). Reportedly petrol in Brunei costs RM0.50 per litre. Suddenly the poor-us-we're-victims-of-global-prices lament seems lame.

I think it's a common consensus that the government has just about screwed everyone up with this hike of gargantuan proportions. And it's going to be worse come August if, as many suspect, petrol goes up to RM4 per litre. I'm pretty sure all hell will break loose, if it hasn't already.

What's the hike like, one may ask. Well, under the old rates, I was paying RM70 for approximately 36.5 litres, which fills up my car tank by 99.9%. Now, for the same amount of fuel, I'll be paying RM98. That's a bloody RM28 increment in my petrol-pouring budget. Multiply that by six (the number of times I pur petrol in a month) and I'm paying RM168 more. That's close to RM2000 more per year. Pretty scary figures, if you ask me.

More so as the cut-throats that pervade Malaysian commerce, i.e the mamak shops, the transport companies, the farming industry and such will all seize the opportunity to increase their already high prices. Only Solomon knows how a 78 sen increase in petrol leads to a RM1 increase in chicken rice or milo ais. These blood sucking bastards are already clamouring for permission to increase prices, though the announcement was only made yesterday (4 June).

So that's it, folks. Yet another case of mismanagement of funds hurting my wallet. We end up paying through our noses because our so-called Cabinet of Ministers comprises graduates with backgrounds in Religious Studies, Malay Literature, Home Economics and Agriculture. Yes, that's right. Not Economics, Finance, or even Business Administration. Ask yourself, when was the last time an expert in economics or finance was holding the Finance portfolio? Think hard, think hard.