Another new football - Nike will succeed where Adidas failed.

The fabled new Europass ball was perhaps much ado about nothing.77 goals were scored in the tournament.This was exactly the same as the number of goals scored in Euro 2004 The all time record of 85 goals was scored in the euro 2000 championships.So Adidas' tall claims that the ball was the most incredible piece of technical wizardry since Harry Potter's broom were exactly that - tall claims. Lehmann's fears that the ball would float like a butterfly and sting like a bee proved pretty unfounded.In fact the ball didn't seem to move around much.Only 2 goals came off free kicks and in both cases the wicked swerve predicted by Adidas and anticipated by Lehmann did not occur.Ballack scored one - and his free kick powered its way into the goal through a gap in the wall.There was a swerve in the second one from the France Italy game. But that swerve came from a deflection off poor Thierry Henry's farewell boot.
However for the next PL season Nike are going to succeed where Adidas failed.They too have invented a new football - This one is designed to take it to the next level - constructed with engineered hexagons and pentagons, with a 360-degree sweet-spot. It's advanced technology ensures that all the pieces of the ball are stitched evenly together to make an as-close-to-perfect sphere as possible.It is a ball that is going to push the boundaries for consistency, accuracy and visibility.On top all that it also has red stripe on it to help players make split second judgements The Star Trek fans will say " It's a ball that is going to boldly go where no ball has gone before"...............!
Lehmann is maintaining a dignified silence on this one - so far.!

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Calcio Debate: Yes To Nesta, No To Totti

Reports in the Italian press suggest that Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti will be persuaded out of international retirement in time for the 2010 World Cup campaign. Carlo Garganese asks whether this would be a good idea…



The inquest into Italy’s underwhelming Euro 2008 campaign goes on, but one thing is for certain, and that is the Azzurri were short of genuine, world class players in Austria and Switzerland. Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti undoubtedly fall into this category, and Italy could surely have only benefited from their presence (disregarding the latter’s current injury) had they both not retired from international football last year.

With it increasingly likely that Marcello Lippi will return to the fold to succeed Roberto Donadoni, there have been reports in the media that he will immediately bring back Nesta and Totti. Would this be a good idea though?

If there is one lesson that the Azzurri must surely learn from Euro 2008, it is that they require more dynamism, pace, and young blood in their team. Experience and tactical know-how is vital of course, but the mix and balance has to be right. Taking to the field for the first game against Holland with nine players over the age of 30 (and another aged 29) was a recipe for disaster.

By the time the 2010 World Cup comes along in South Africa, most of the current Italy squad will be pushing towards and past their mid-30s. Christian Panucci (who will be 37), Marco Materazzi (36), Massimo Ambrosini (33), Alex Del Piero (35), Simone Perrotta (33) must not be still around, while there should also be question marks next to the names of Rino Gattuso, Luca Toni, and even Fabio Cannavaro, who will be nearly 37.

The new coach, let’s just assume it is Lippi, needs to start building towards 2010. The Azzurri have a relatively easy qualifying group, and it is imperative that he begins to blood some youngsters immediately so that come South Africa they are comfortable and experienced, unlike Alberto Aquilani, who despite being a great prospect, was thrown in at the deep end against Spain having only won a handful of caps. With this in mind, would it be wise to recall Nesta, who will be 34 in 2010, and Totti, who will be 33 years and nine months?

In the case of Nesta, Lippi must do everything possible to entice him back. The Milan man has been one of the great stoppers of the past decade, and I have no doubts that he will still be a class act come 2010. More importantly, Italy are currently going through possibly the worst period in their history in terms of up-and-coming centre backs. Giorgio Chiellini was a revelation in the Euros, and certainly looks like he can be the real deal. Napoli’s Fabiano Santacroce (nicknamed by some as the ‘new Nesta’) is a stunningly raw talent and has shown all the signs of a future great defender.

However, apart from these two players, there is little else around. Two more seasons may take their toll on Cannavaro, while it seems doubtful that Andrea Barzagli or Alessandro Gamberini will be good enough. In simple terms, Nesta would certainly strengthen the Italy backline.

As for Totti, my view is completely different. Apart from starring for the Azzurri way back at Euro 2000, and providing a few assists at the 2006 World Cup, the Roma symbol never came close to replicating his outstanding club form for his country. If he could not do it for Italy during his prime, there is little chance of him suddenly turning it on at the age of nearly 34.

Recalling Totti would undoubtedly prove that Italy have not learned their lessons from the Euros. Unlike in defence, Italy have some fantastic, fresh, and vibrant support strikers coming through, such as Sebastian Giovinco, Giuseppe Rossi, and even the 17-year-old Mario Balotelli, who is already mature beyond his years.

I am all in favour of the Italian system of protecting talented youngsters from getting physically and mentally burnt out before their mid-20s, as has happened to some explosive players in other countries. However, sometimes the Azzurri extend this formula too far, and players who are past their best, as Totti will be in 2010, block the younger players coming through.

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XAVI TOP EURO 2008 STAR

Spain midfielder Xavi has been named the best player at Euro 2008.

The 28-year-old Barcelona player, the heartbeat of Spain's midfield during the tournament, was voted the Castrol player of the tournament by a nine-strong panel of UEFA's technical experts.

There was no place for Cristiano Ronaldo in the 23-man squad of the tournament however.

The squad did include Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar, Michael Ballack and Jose Bosingwa from Chelsea, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, and Spurs-bound midfielder Luka Modric.

UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh explained Ronaldo's absence was due to the fact Portugal did not progress further in the tournament.

Roxburgh said: This is entirely about the tournament and not about reputations or how well you started.

"Of course he was mentioned - and if Portugal had gone further, there's no argument he has been in this group because he's a fantastic player.

"He was in our Champions League all-star squad for the season, and the beginning of the tournament he threatened he was going to be in this one.

"But then it came abruptly to an end. When it comes to a squad of the tournament, those that go to semis and final dominate things like this."

Nine of the 23 players in the squad of the tournament were Spanish, but Roxburgh said Xavi stood out.

He added: "We think he epitomised the Spanish style of play - he was extremely influential.

"We are not all that surprised, because for more than a decade now the top youth teams in Europe have been Spanish and we have been watching Xavi and others in this squad from a very young age.

"Torres scored the winner in a youth final, and Fabregas was the star of the under-17s. In this tournament, Fabregas' influence in the periods when he did play was extremely significant."

Roxburgh added that Torres has proved himself one of the top players in Europe.

"Clearly he's a match-winner - he's a fantastic front player - very fast, powerful, brave and he's a finisher. His movement is excellent as well," said Roxburgh.

"To say anyone is the best player in the world is a difficult one, but he is one of the big talents we have in European football."

He also singled out Germany captain Ballack for praise.

"Ballack was a major influence on Germany all the way to the final and he scored the best set-play goal of the competition with his free-kick against Austria," said Roxburgh.

SQUAD OF THE TOURNAMENT

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands).

Defenders: Bosingwa (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Carlos Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Carles Puyol (Spain), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfielders: Hamit Altıntop (Turkey), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Marcos Senna (Spain), Xavi Hernández (Spain), Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain).

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Germany 0 - 1 Spain (Champion)

European Championships I mean. Spain clinched a well deserved 2nd title which was 44 years in the making with this goal from Torres.

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Viva Espana: El Jogo Bonito is alive

I have tears of joy. Watching Spain get over their mental block against their more heralded European rivals, doing it their way, playing beautiful, attacking soccer and finally winning what was rightfully theirs. There is a God occasionally and he chose the right time to be munificent.




There was Ballack his face streaked with congealed blood and the nonplussed Metzelder and Mertesacker, their faces frozen in disbelief and dismay, as they contemplated another championship without a title. Ballack is now the eternal stepchild, having lost out on the World Cup, Premiership, Champions League, and now the Euro.

It was Germany that came out in the first 20 minutes looking sharper and crisper as the Spanish backpedaled to keep the ball away from Podolski and Klose. But the defense gained in confidence as they won some hard fought 50-50 tackles. And slowly Spanish superiority in the midfield exerted itself. It was El Nino who created the best chance as he went up against Metzleder and guided a header which fortuitously hit the goal post after beating Lehmann and bounced out of harm's way. Germany was suddenly the team with their backs against the wall.

As it was with Turkey, Philip Lahm again donned the mantle of scapegoat as he went toe to toe with Torres, and got blistered. Torres turned the corner and then toed the ball past Jens Lehmann who over committed himself, telegraphing the little faith he had in his defenders. It was the 32nd minute and the Spanish were ascendant. There was Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, and Ramos stringing together fantastic passes and relying on flicks, sleight of foot, and peripheral vision to tease and torment the Germans.



Spain should have gone about three goals up as Sergio Ramos's header was parried out by Lehmann, Senna flashing a nanosecond late following a beautiful one- two with Iniesta heading down a cross from Silva across goal, and Ramos whistling a shot just past the far post.

Viva Espana and congratulations to them. We will see them again. And its onwards full speed for Aragones boys to the World Cup.

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Finals jinx still haunting Ballack

Michael Ballack suffered yet another final's heartbreak as Germany lost the EURO 2008 final match to Spain on Sunday.



The Germany captain had a long and bitter history with decisive matches, started back in 2002, when he was still playing for Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen needed only a draw in the last game of the Bundesliga but Ballack, who was making his last appearance before moving to Bayern Munich, converted the ball into his own net and denied his side a precious title.

The instrumental midfielder suffered another setback later in the same season as Leverkusen lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid thanks to a miraculous goal from Zinedine Zidane.

In the same year, Ballack could have ended the jinx as Germany reached the World Cup final but he missed the game because of suspension.

Finals' ghosts revisited Ballack on three occasions in 2008.

His club, Chelsea, lost the Premiership title to Manchester United in the last matchday before failing to win the Champions League title later after defeat on penalties to the same side.

And Germany's defeat to Spain the EURO 2008 finals came only to wrap up Ballack's misery.

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The graveyard of defenders

Marcos Senna is being celebrated as a find, a player finally giving teeth to the much maligned Spanish defence, a noteworthy ally in its potent attack. But he is in a minority because this Euro shone a spotlight on the number of flatfooted defenses which became red meat for swift counter attacks. Teams could not hold onto leads. Goals were given up by defenders without thought. And attacks were sustained by the inability of the defenders to clear the ball effectively. In basketball terms, the advantage lay with the team making all the offensive rebounds.

Many examples abound, Gianluca Zambrotta's interception of a Razvan Rat long ball which he mishit into Adrian Mutu's direction that the Romanian striker gobbled up gratefully. Or Sergio Ramos whose problems staying upright led to Zlatan Ibrahamovic scoring a goal. In between we were treated to Florent Malouda defending in vain against Dirk Kuyt's goal. Or Philip Lahm's atrocious defending against Sabri that led to Semih equalizing for Turkey. The Czech defence kept Nihat onside enabling him to score the game winner. These defensive lapses became de riguer and costly to the team's chances.

Managers discovered that experience was an over rated attribute and that age and attrition had sapped players of the quick reflexes resulting in porous defenses breached repeatedly by a fast counterattacking style. Many teams too were forced to employ a makeshift defense because of injuries to their first line.

The French relied on Lilian Thuram and Willy Sagnol, players brought back from retirement, which saw the Dutch shredding them in one of France's worst defeats. In turn, the Dutch led by Andre Ooijer and Wilfred Bouma at the back, slowed down by injuries and age, were no match for Arshavin and company. Italy in Cannavaro's absence patched its defense pairing the 36 year old Christian Panucci with the much younger Andre Barzagli or Giorgio Chiellini at the center, to ultimately no avail. The Czech Republic's defensive line boasted 242 caps, a lifetime of experience which counted for nought as the Turkey embarassed them in the match of Euro 2008. The Turks repeated their performance against Croatia, another team with a veteran defense, with Dario Simic one shy of a century of caps for his country and Robert Kovac and Josip Simunic accounting for another 143.

Spain will try and exploit a German side that has had trouble keeping the ball away from the back of the net with Croatia, Portugal, and Turkey giving plenty of heartburn. Age and injuries can slow down a defense but these are not the excuses for a German team that has a group of young defendees who should have no problems with speed or reflexes. But their team has been found wanting. Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder as the sentinels in the center have looked slow and tentative. At right back Jogi Low has tinkered with Lahm, Fritz, and Friedrich but they have proved inadequate. Lahm has used his attacking prowess down the left flank effectively but his defense has been questionable. Even with Torsten Frings giving additional cover, the Germans look shaky. Given that Jens Lehmann has been having some problems with motor co-ordination, this does not bode well for a team having to stop the likes of Villa, Torres, or Guiza.

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