No Greek Tragedy

Not So Much A Greek Tragedy….

Yes, it was Greece, with no wins in major tournaments before this one, that triumphed beating the hosts (twice), the holders and the favourites along the way – all those four games done with just conceding one goal.

I hear them described on Five Live during their semi final as spoilers but to be fair they were effective. I am sure that even the most ardent Greek fan would admit that they weren’t the most skillful side out there but they were the most effective. They were the only side where all the players played to their potential and they had no-one hiding on the pitch in the meantime. Any side that can stop the likes of Henry, Trezeguet, Baros, Nedved, Ronaldo et al scoring goals is always going to be in with a chance of winning it.

As the so-called ‘favourites’ fell along the wayside it was Greece that came through and won the trophy. And in reality it was probably only the Czech Republic that shone consistently through the tournament until they came up against the Greeks. Other sides threatened it now and again but no-one else deserved to win it in reality than the side that eventually did.

Spain, as ever, flattered to deceive as they have done in so many major tournaments before. France was a baffling one – they sailed through qualifying but, as with the last World Cup, they stuttered on the big stage and got what they deserved. England, built up by the media hype, provided the drama that they always do and, as usual, they lost on penalties. For Darius Vasell, read David Batty, Gareth Southgate or Chris Waddle. For Wayne Rooney read Michael Owen, Alan Shearer or Gazza. One star and one fall guy. But too many of theirs didn’t turn up.

Italy, they were poor and got what they deserved and Germany? Well, it’s rebuilding for them. Holland were billed as a class act but there was always stories of infighting and they never looked a team at any stage. Russia and Bulgaria really never were in the tournament and got what they deserved. The Latvians were plucky and to a degree they were very unlucky but they built their game around absorbing pressure and it worked – once when they took the point off Germany.

Croatia and Switzerland could have done better but failed to capitalise in games when they had the upper hand against the alleged stronger nations in their group. For them it could have been so much different.

Portugal looked good at times but in the final they were decidedly average and the Czech Republic I thought were to be the winners but they couldn’t break down that solid greek defence. To be fair it was a system that we used in 2000 to bring us a championship and it worked for them as it worked for us. It isn’t pretty but it works, the question for fans is do you like it? You just cannot argue with the end result.

Finally you have Denmark and Sweden who allegedly contrived the result to send Italy out. Neither to be fair were a good team but they got as far as was probably expected of them – quarter finals. Some moments of brilliance from both of them but to no avail.

It’s now four years until the next one and to be honest, the whole competition was a bit of a let down for me. There was some great football at times but all too often it was from the players that you didn’t expect it from. "The Beautiful Game by the Masters of Europe" was the statement by the BBC before it started, well they should change their titles because now there are new masters. Baros, Rooney, Ronaldo and the Greeks as a unit stood out for me over the last four weeks. These were the real stars of the tournament whilst the Figos, Beckhams and Zidanes did very little between themselves.

Greece’s victory does fill me with some optimism that the smaller guy can succeed if the ethics are right. It proves that if we were to ever reach that bigger stage then we don’t have to be the whipping boys we can spring the surprises and to be honest once you gain the momentum then it is hard to slow it down.

Well done to Greece for what they achieved and for the rest – back to the drawing board and preparation for the World Cup which effectively starts in September for the European crews.

Month in Germany in two years anyone?

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?