Back from my away weekend. I’m happy to report that match day 1 was spent in Baltimore bar with the entire family tree of a Portugese family, all clad in maroon Christiano Ronaldo kits (I personally favor Simao myself, but no complaints there). This family really added to the joy of the second match, cheerign and screaming for every kick, making jokes about Ronaldo and Deco diving all the time, and high fiving every person in Baltimore when Portugal scored their first goal. It helped that their team delivered such a great performance.
One of the big questions of the tournament after two days is whether or not the Czechs and Croats were just flat, if they hit a wall of host-nation resiliency, or if they are just overrated. I went on record in my last post by saying both teams do not impress without their Arsenal-based talismans. I think Czech Republic and Croatia looked pretty much uninterested in making things happen, particularly once they got their leads. And if Switzerland and Austria can press forward and control the ball against your side simply because they are inspired, what is going to happen when they have to face pressure from the big boys?
Another important plot point of the first games in Group A and B is that the only legitimate contenders in those two groups impressed mightily in their first games. Portugal suffocated a Turkish side with at least as much talent on it as Czech Republic and Croatia, and Germany was beautiful and flowing on its attack against Poland. Both sides set out to be dangerous, and when they got a first goal, they showed the hunger to get a second. I think they both have serious question marks at the back. I’m not sure about Portugal’s defense in the air still, and the German center backs are a bit slow and Jens Lehman is the ultimate wild card between the sticks (with apologies to Fabien Barthez). Nevertheless, after match days 1 and 2, German and Portugal look on course for a semifinals rematch and I come out of the first two matches a little less skeptical about their chances to win a final against whoever is champion of Groups C and D. The Portugese stars were really out, and if Moutinho can add to the attack consistently like he did against Turkey, then they are a handful for anyone. The Germans fitness level was again noticeably outstanding, and witht he infinite supply of dangerous mdifielders on their bench, you might just wonder if they will have much more in the gas tank at the end than everyone else will.
Today it is the day every football fan has been waiting for: the Group of Death. The Group of Death is always a misnomer unless your a supporter of one of its members, because for fans of the beautiful game, it is the group that is worth living for, the group worth all of the buildup and suspense that football brings with it. Three of football’s most successful national sides, arguably the world’s two best sides, and the fourth team has a man who carried Fiorentina on his back past AC Milan in Serie A this season in Mutu. Two minutes until Romania-France, I’ll be back later.
Posted by stevenmaloney 
