Michael Mifsud - Goals of the Season!

Rugby team Stompers awards

Stompers TGI Friday’s RFC. held there annual dinner on Friday the 20th June at TGI Fridays in Sliema. Over 50 club members attended the event where the following awards where presented.
Best senior player: Chris Morton
Most Improved Senior Player: Luke Debattista
The Boki Award (Senior Clubman of the year): Andrew Camilleri
Best Youth player: Matthew Camilleri
Most improved Youth player: Thomas Pace Moore
Youth Clubman of the year: Thomas Vernon.
The club coach Noah Hardie was also presented with a token of farewell, as this is his last season with the club.

The curtain goes down

Yesterday night Vienna had to forgo the classical Waltz to make way for the Spanish flamenco as the La Selección returned victorious after a 44 year drought. Spain although gifted with several talented players did not start the football tournament as favourites. The pundits were placing their money on teams like world cup champions Italy, Germany, Portugal and France. In fact, when the tournament kicked off, the odds being quoted were 11 to 2. As usual, football critics noted that Spain was a valid team but has more than often underperformed in major competitions. The fact that the cameras were not Luis Aragonés's men may have helped Spain to reach stardom after so many years.

France were the biggest disappointment and this also brought with it an end to a glorious era that saw them lift the World and the European Cup. The blues only managed to grab a point and finished in last place in what was known as the group of death. Italy, as four time world champions played under par and bowed out of the tournament in the second round. Ironically they lost to Spain in a penalty shoot-out. Just after the Euro, the Italian technical trainer, Donadoni, was sacked only to be replaced by their former trainer Marcello Lippi. This decision may be seen as unfair, as the former Milan winger is not to be blamed with the team’s underperformance and lack of luck. Italy lost their captain, Cannavaro just before the tournament started and was replaced with Juventus, central defender, Chellini . Most probably, the substitute Chellini was the best player of the Italian side. Donandoni re-introduced Cassano who also had some magical moments and stayed out of trouble. Unfortunately, the front line did not manage to deliver the goods as Toni, Del Piero and Di Natale failed to score important goals. It was also amazing how Del Piero and Toni did not even take up a penalty kick against Spain, whereby both are the main takers for their respective clubs.

Portugal, like their Iberic counterparts Spain, is always downed with talented players but fail to make their mark in international tournaments. After a storming start they cooled down and were knocked out of the tournament by Germany 3-2. On the other hand, Germany, were as industrious as ever and managed to reach another final. They were never spectacular but always bagged the points when needed. In the final match of the tournament they were outplayed although they had an additional day of rest. The sorry point was Balack who was so close to win every major cup this season but had to settle for the silver medal in the Champions Cup, the Premier league and the Euro 2008.

At the end, the Spaniards brought the curtain down on the Swiss-Austrian Euro. A tournament that was well organised and well marketed. Apart from the football, it will be remembered for the various candid shots from the stands. Producers were eager to market football as a family and beauty event. Children, teenagers and families flocked to the stadiums dressed in every costume imaginable. A football marketing ploy that costs nothing but speaks volumes!!

At the end, Spain played the best football, suffered the least goals and entertained all supporters. They will be taking the cup home where the party is expected to last days and the sangria will flow through the Spanish streets. Most probably, the unity among the various regions in Spain has never been so strong. Let’s hope, for the good of the game that this is the beginning of an era and not just a day to remember.

Interrupted TV signal by Keith Grech Attard

Security was high for the semi-final match between the Turks and the triple-crown world champions, Germany. The 3-2 score line in favour of the Mannschaft is indicative that both teams fought hard to reach the prestigious European final. Mr. Terims’ side may have failed to reach their first international final in history but they were no pushovers and walked away from the pitch with their heads held high.

As a neutral supporter, my only disappointment was that I could not follow the flow of such an entertaining match. The transmission of the game was interrupted so many times that it brought about a brawl from various supporters around the world rather from all those who opted to fly into Vienna to see the match. In a statement UEFA, Europe's football body which organizes the tournament, said: "The television signal in the International Broadcast Centre for the Germany-Turkey game has been interrupted several times in the second half due to technical reasons which are currently being investigated, in particular to evaluate the impact of the violent electrical storm over Vienna at that time."

Electrical storms or not, the various transmission cuts ruined one of the greatest Euro 2008 football nights in many countries around the globe. When such matters happen there are no consolation prizes for the many supporters around the world. They remain dead frozen in front of a dark screen not really believing what actually happened!

This matter did not really make the news headlines in Malta but I am certain if Italy or England were playing the matter would have been the talk of the town for days if not years! Who knows whom we would have blamed? I have my thoughts about this.....maybe I’ll share them with you some other time.

Was it a lucky or brave Italy? by Sandro Micallef

Seems smiles are back on the faces of the Italian players and Coach Donadoni. Smiles are back also on Matarese's and Abete's faces after they managed to reach the quarter finals of the EURO 2008.

They managed to win 2-0 against mighty France..... but they won against a depleted side who played for more than half of the game with 10 men. Would the italians have beaten the French if Frank Ribery was not forced out of action after injury after just 9 minutes? Italy was lucky to have Toni up front a player that scored tens of goals in the Bundesliga but none so far in Austria-Switzerland. The Bayern player was still very good up front winning many fouls and managing to control that long through ball of Pirlo with his stretch leg forcing the French central defender to hack him down in the area..... penalty, red card and early shower for the unfortunate Abidal.

At the end it was a well deserved win by the Azzurri who managed to secure a quarter final berth but they now face Villa, Torres, Casillias and co. By the way tomorrow morning Donadoni will surely send a thank you post card to his AC Milan team mate Marco Van Basten... He will not call him personally as suggested by a RAI reporter yesterday in the pre-match press briefing...!!

Looking forward for the Quarter Finals. Teams are gearing up!

Sandro

Euro 2008 My Prediction - What is yours?

After having produced succesfully the 7th edition of the Melita Digital Malta Football Awards I found again some time to write on this Melita Sports blog. As you might guess I'm following also the current EURO 2008 competition like most of you. And therefore i will express my views on some teams namely, Italy, Croatia, Holland, Portugal, Turkey, Germany and obviously England.

Italy: Very poor showing against Holland in thier first match. Lost concentration after one goal down. Too soft against Romania. Too much long balls towards Luca Toni, although he is a good player Italy must change tactics against France and should play the ball more on the ground.

Croatia: By far best team so far. Very good coach, good pressing, good defence very good goalkeeper and all the time focused on result.

Holland: Great results versus Italy and France. The fact that Van Basten declared that he will not coach the national team any more after this tournament is a positive thing as he and the players want to make the mark before his official divorce with the Orange.

Portugal: Start as favorites to win quarter final vs Turkey but disappointed thier fans in their last group game v the Swiss.

Turkey: Lucky in their second and third game. Very good comeback. Fatih Therim excellent motivator.

Germany: I will bet EUR100 that they will be eliminated very soon. Poor central defenders.

England: A EURO tournament is not the same without the 3 Lions !!! better luck next time.

Tournament winners personal bet CROATIA!!