the theory :

Euro 2004 has been the tournament for the team that likes to run and players who work for each other. For sides who have hunger and desire and are well organised, too. It's a good old-fashioned honest mix and on the scale of achievement in football, those qualities alone should just about get you to the English first division play-offs. They shouldn't win you a European championship.

but, there's somethign wrong here. What has happened to the great players of Europe? Where are they? Don't try telling me this has been a tournament of scintillating football and stunning individual performances. But Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Francesco Totti and Raul have all failed to show us anything new.

There has been one superstar: Wayne Rooney. but, he got himself injured, that prove too costly for england and everton perhaps.. he's gonna miss one of the blockbuster opening game of the season. The gunners still havent recovered from that stunning goal that made them slip from winning the elague in 2002/2003.

In fact, for the big names of football, it has been an embarrassment. Look at the two teams in the fourth quarter-final. The Danes boasted players from such superpowers as Birmingham City, Everton and Aston Villa, even Laursen has been dubbed as just a pretty blonde boy by Milanista coz he's just done enough silly mistake for the rossoneri. The Czech side had Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros, two decent professionals who struggle to get a game at Liverpool. Pavel nedved, the heart of the Czech team, had a quiet season with juve and has been a talk about retiring. Rui Costa is a regular bench warmer for the rossoneri since the Golden boy arrive.

But the best example is Traianos Dellas, who played in the centre of Greece's defence when it beat France. His career in England was pretty short: first division Sheffield United released him. to tell you the truth, i havent heard of this guy playing in england until the commentator said so.


so, what's wrong with the biggie team?

the French did not look interested against Greece. There were players strolling about. There was no urgency and no desire.

Italy has that age-old obsession with taking the lead and then protecting it and after an excellent first half against Sweden, it sat back and invited the opposition to attack.

Germany's team is the worst in its history. Yes, it reached the World Cup final two years ago, but it was lucky with the run of matches to get there. The Czechs dropped 10 of their first-choice players against Germany and still won. That says it all.

So where does this leave England? This team is probably no better or worse than many of its predecessors over the past two decades. Not the best in Europe but good, just behind the elite. The excitement that was generated around this tournament, however, has been different because, for once, that elite doesn't seem to exist.

Every mid-ranking European team has had a good chance of winning Euro 2004. Once Rooney came off injured against Portugal, England's lack of strength in depth was exposed.

The England team might be no stronger than it ever was, but the opposition has never been so weak.

Of the established stars, Pavel Nedved has had possibly the best tournament. He has two brilliant feet and was unstoppable against the Dutch. But, apart from Rooney, who else has emerged? Cristiano Ronaldo didn't get a kick against England and still looks like he needs another four years to develop. The same goes for Chelsea's new Dutch winger, Arjen Robben.

until then... i still love the biggie team..

The truth is rarely pure and never simple

Oscar Wilde,
The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895, Act I

♥ ♥ ♥ aJLa I'm no angel.. and i manage to remain alive in my own quirky way

"Look at the stars, and not the reflection of the moon."

*having my wickest dream come true *hint* dvz *hint*
*not to kill anyone as a doctor
*a person who can swept me off my feet