There Is Only One Sinnacle

Oranje End Romanian Dream

Despite making no fewer than nine changes to their side, the Dutch maintained their 100% record with an easy win over a Romanian side that simply was not up to it on such a crucial night. The Tricolorii go home, while the Dutch prepare to meet Russia or Sweden…

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The fix was in, it just appeared to be Romania mailing it in. In a must win game against a team with nothing to play for Romania shown a shocking lack of heart. Everything was horrid. Their first touch was smooth as sandpaper. How a team can play so bad with so much on the line is beyond me. The Dutch throughly deserved the win. Passing the ball at will and always in control. In the first half Holland missed 3 or 4 great scoring chances til they second half where it appeared they just said forget this let’s put Romania out of their misery.

Ballack Fires Germany Into Next Round

Austria played well enough but were unable to put the finishing touch on any of their better moves. The host go out, while the Germans progress.

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Been waiting to see a free kick, any free kick fly into the back of the net. Ballack kick was a stunner and the decider in a game in which Austria ended up giving Germany a go of it.

Mario Gomez must be German for Helder Postiga. How he can miss not one but two open nets during the last three games in beyond me.

Klasnic Makes It Perfect Three For Croatia

Ivan Klasnic became the first player to feature and score in a European Championship after a kidney transplant as a make-shift Croatia side edged Poland 1-0 to make it three wins in three and set up a quarter-final with Turkey…

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What can you say, three games, three wins is impressive. In a game that might little to them, Croatia still managed to get the three points from a Polish side that seemed resigned to their faith once the penalty call was given against them vs Austria.

Czechs Check Out Amidst Turkish Delight

A thrilling finale saw a sensational comeback by Turkey stun the Czech Republic and send them crashing out of Euro 2008. Trailing 2-1 with less than five minutes to go the Turks scored twice through Nihat to win the game and book their place in the quarter finals.

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Everything that is beautiful about the game was on display here. It would of been so easy for Turkey to give up but their performance has earned my upmost respect. No matter what happens in the knockout round the Turkish fans know that their team have given it their all.

In events such as these it doesn’t matter if you have the best player, or the most talented players, like Greece proved in 2004 is that the best team wins. With that effort Turkey can prove to be dangerous come the knockout round.

Poor Petr Cech. First the Champions League heart break and now this. As Cech already mentioned this is a year he would like to forget.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – Nihat

Portugal Beaten As Swiss Bow Out With Pride

With the other group games completed and outcomes already settled, there was little to play for except pride in Basel this evening. Hakin Yakin ensured that the Swiss fans were rewarded fro their loyalty; his double gave Switzerland their first win of the championship, ensuring that they did not finish pointless…

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Sure it was a meaningless game but everything I hate seeing about Portugal was on display here. Unless Portugal are facing England if they go down a goal the ref might as well call the game since Portugal don’t fight back.

Watching Helder Postiga front the Portugal attack is like seeing a Ferrari with an 8-track sound system blazing K.C and the sunshine band.

Full credit to the Swiss. They could of easily rolled over but they managed to go out on a winning note to salvage some pride after a hard luck first two games in the competition.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – Hakin Yakin

Greece eliminated from Euro after 1-0 loss to Russia

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) – Greece’s four-year reign as European champion officially ended Saturday after a 1-0 loss to Russia eliminated the team from the tournament.

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It’s so long to Greece as Russia much like in 2004 defeated Greece 1-0. A defeat this Greek team will not be able to recover from. A goal by Zyrianov sees Russia come out worth winners and will now need to get a result over Sweden in order to advance.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – Konstantin Zyryanov

Villa scores in injury time to give Spain 2-1 win

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) – David Villa scored in injury time Saturday to give Spain a 2-1 win over Sweden that moved it to the verge of a place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

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David Villa extra time goal broke the hearts of Swedish team that fought and gave Spain all it could for 90 minutes. A long play played into the box, David Villa racing pass the defender who failed to clear the ball and back of the net it went.

This win gives Spain 6 points in Group B and pretty much leaves them in the clear depending on the result of the Russia-Greece game. Sweden laid out a great game plan but after a miss penalty call at the end Spain getting a last minute second half goal seems a just result.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – David Villa

Netherlands beat France 4-1 to win Group of Death

BERN, Switzerland (AP) – Substitute Arjen Robben set up one goal and scored another Friday to lead the Netherlands to a 4-1 victory over France and a place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

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The Dutch clearly outclassed a French side that looks light years away from the side which made the World Cup finals two years ago. This Netherlands side have been the class of Euro 08 but it will interesting to see if Netherlands can play their best game in their last game unlike the first two. Sinnacle will eat crow that I’ve said Netherlands will flame out this summer. They have make it up to me by “allowing” Romania to beat them in their next game.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – Arjen Robbe

Romania holds Italy to 1-1 draw in Group C

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) – Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty from Adrian Mutu to give Italy a 1-1 draw with Romania on Friday at the European Championship.

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In a game full of twists and turns, Italy and Romania split the points in the game that doesn’t please either team but pleased any neutral watching.

After a 0-0 halftime scored highlited by Luca Toni goal which was incorrectly ruled offside, the second halftime was kick started by Gianluca Zambrotta gifted Adrian Mutu a goal after a misplaced pass back to Gianluigi Buffon. A minute later the defending World Cup Champions equalized on Christian Panucci slotting home a corner kick.

The main story line will be Adrian Mutu missing a penalty as Gianluigi Buffon did all he could to keep the ball out of the net and keep Italy faint hopes in Euro 2008 alive.

Sinnacle Player of the Game - Gianluigi Buffon

Austria gets late penalty to earn 1-1 draw with Poland

VIENNA, Austria (AP) – Ivica Vastic scored an injury-time penalty Thursday to give European Championship co-host Austria a 1-1 draw with Poland.

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Free lifetime supply of beer is waiting for Ivica Vastic whose late minute penalty kick gave Austria a deserved tie against Poland. Despite having the bulk of the chances in the first half, Poland took the lead thanks to Sepp Blatter favourite Polish international Roger Guerreiro. It was not meant to be however for this Polish team as referee Howard Webb awarded Austria a penalty kick in extra time which was calmly taken by Ivica Vastic.

Sinnacle Player of the Game – Artur Boruc