Less Bleu, more Roja

Euro 2012 coverage

QTR Final 3

France 0 – 2 Spain

Spain will play Portugal in the first semi-final early Thursday morning. Les(s) Bleus, who played in white – the colour of their surrender – will head home after losing their second consecutive match. They looked every bit the unsettled team the press would have us think they are, a team who have lost what heart they gathered on their way to this tournament.

Despite hopes and expectations, this was a walkover. The ninetieth minute penalty was cream for La Furia Roja and Xavi Alonso, who bagged the double. The Champions had the game sewn up inside 20 minutes. They played without a striker – until they realized how poor the French were. Even so, relying on the attacking midfielders to their score their goals is not an issue. The Spanish looked magnificent and we are all set for the Final the pundits want to see, a rerun of the best game of the 2010 World Cup, Germany versus Spain.

Tonight an ‘honest’ England (Boo!) will play the wily Italians. I think, because the ball is round, the English will progress. That said, as France (2006) and others have learned before now, these boys may be old but they have guile and winning ways.

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