Poland V Greece
Against the widely known belief that the opening games of major football competitions are usually cagey affairs with teams try as much as possible not to lose the first game. This was a different sort of game, both teams deserved to win based on their performances in both halves especially due to their respective set backs of having a man each sent off.
The Poles started the match the brighter of both sides, using their Borussia Dortmund combination to good effect. The Poles played to their strength, which was very evident on the right hand side consisting of Piszczek and Blaszczykowski (who both play for Dortmund by the way); both players combined to great effect through out the first half. The Polish team should have taken their chances as the gaps were so clear to see, it was as if they had been given the key to the Greek left back city. Although, Fernando Santos had gambled with the composition of his back four, he was smart enough to reconstruct his team albeit aided by the injury to Avraam Papadopolous; the personnel used by the Greek in the wide areas in their 4-1-4-1 formation was a problem, it is well known that Samaras is not and will never be a wide man. I think the Red card was a blessing in disguise for the Greeks, because it seemed to turn the Poles off and they just seemed to fold into a shell in the second half with little or no verve and energy like they showed in the first 45 minutes.
The Greeks rejuvenation in the second half especially with those key changes (bringing on Salpingidis and Fortounis) made by Fernando Santos changed the complexion of the game completely. His switch to something like a 4-2-2-1 formation eventually moving Samara to his preferred and ideal position allowed the attacking substitutes to make does late runs into the box especially Salpingidis for the equaliser and the Penalty that was won and lost be the Greeks. Szczensy's overall performance must have been a big let down for the Polish Manager Smuda, who seem to lack the necessary tools to drive his team even more especially when they dropped the tempo and seem to believe the game was won at 1-0 and against 10 men. The Polish approach play slowed down, became a bit sluggish, they lost a lot of possession in key areas, luckily like themselves in the first half were not duly punished by Greece.
Man Of the Match: Fernando Santos (The manager deserves enormous credit for the changes and tactical switch during the game)
Men to Watch: The Dortmund Trio of Lewandoski, Piszczek and Blaszczykowski
Match Score: 7/10 (Pretty good opening Match)
Russia v Czech Republic
I had personally condemned the Russians, its as if they got a special message from Putin to prove me wrong. It was a solid performance of pure counter attacking genius. The major problem for the Czech republic was that they did not possess a proper holding Midfielder, instead they had a double pivot that tended to come forward especially when Tomas Rosicky moved further up the pitch to partner Milan Baros and apply pressure on the Russina defense, now the Russians for me played a 4-1-2-3 formation with Denisov the holding midfielder looking to break up play, seeking to move the ball as quickly as possible because the Russian shape cancelled out the Czech double pivots positioning hence the likes of Arshavin, Shirokov and Dzagoev had acres of space to run into coupled with the fact that the Czech defense sort to press high up the pitch.
Dick Advocaat's substitutions brought a different element to the game with the introduction of Pavlyuchenko which gave them more freedom and a proper target man to play with. In my preview i had thought that the departure of Advocaat after the Euros may affect the team, they have shown that they intend to send him forth in style. The use of primarily Zenit players in the starting line up showed an overall understanding of each other and good team spirit; more so in Dzagoev, Russia have another gem of a forward. Russian put in a solid performance and some how an Italian is getting some of the credit.
Man Of the Match: Alan Dzagoev (Kid has a great future and i understand Milan are interested)
Men to Watch: Theodor Gebre-Selassie, Alan Dzagoev
Match Score: 8/10 (Forget the one sided score line, it was a good game to watch)
Conclusion
I do hope the Euros continue at this pace, the football played on the opening day has been quite pleasant and good on the eye. Later today Netherlands will face the Danes and its my favorites Germany taking on Portugal.
Note
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Adeyemi Adesanya
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Tactics IQ Limited
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