The first of the round of games we bring to you is just for the decision of who will win the group giving the better draw as Germany and Sweden go head-to-head. Schmitdt opened the scoring, 10 minutes in good position allowed him space, when the ball came in he fired it past Isaksson. A tough half finished 1-0, the second half began and Busch doubled Germany’s lead as he fired from outside the box, poor Swedish positioning once again letting the Germans in. But Sweden quickly got back into the game straight from the kick off Sweden attacked, Farnerud found Zlatan inside the box who headed Sweden back. Sweden changed to the familiar 4-2-4 and with 2 minute to go Zlatan was the goal maker this time who put Elmander on sight of goal and hit it home 2-2. But the Swedish comeback was deflated when Schmidts ended the scoring in a scrappy final goal.
Germany 3-2 Sweden
Scotland didn’t have anything now to play for but pride, and came out of the stocks quickly a fantastic goal from Ross Wallace who ran from deep into the box in time to meet a Hutton cross. It was Scotland’s first goal of the tournament and what a goal! But the lead only last half an hour, Andy Webster giving away a penalty, Rotan stepped up to the spot to miss, the rebound came back to him and once again Craig Gordon got to the ball, but he didnt get it far enough away and Oleg Husyev tapped the ball into the net. Just before half time Ukraine put themselves into the lead Husyev corner headed home by Chygrynski to take away the pride Scotland were playing for. Scotland had a better second half but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Scotland 1-2 Ukraine
France who had already qualified took on Switzerland who still had a chance of going through if they won and the other game went their way. But it only took a minute for France to score, Ben Arfa who was getting his first chance of the tournament, picking up the ball in the box and expertly turning Djourou to score with his second touch. Ben Arfa didn’t waste any time getting his second and the architect was Nasri another player getting his first chance of the tournament in for the injured Toulanlan, curling the ball into Ben Arfa who struck it home in a match Switzerland didn’t even turn up to.
France 2-0 Switzerland
Other results in Group A Turkey 1-1 Poland, the hosts qualifying from the group
Group C went into the final games in an exciting mood, any team could qualify and all really had fate in their own hands. First up was Holland and Serbia. Sneijder opened the scoring when Boulahrouz put the ball into the middle finding space for Wesley who struck it into the top corner and by half time Holland thought they had wrapped the game up and qualification, Van Persie crossing the ball in from the byline Huntelaar jumping higher then three Serbian players to end the half 2-0. Holland had 22 chances throughout the game and the majority of the ball, but that made them complacent and leaving holes at the back which Rakic exploited with two goals but the result was enough to see Holland through.
Holland 2-2 Serbia
But all this meant that Italy had to beat the Czech Republic to go through, and Spalletti had to get a result from his home country to progress. Nervous times inside the stadium as neither knew how the teams would go at it. When Jiri Kladrubsky was ordered off the field after injuring Gilardino in a professional foul. But the knock didn’t stop Gilardino spurring him on to score the first goal of the game. From the corner Kalouda didn’t move out quick enough with the rest of the back four and when the ball came back in from deep Alberto was in a dream position for the goal. But Rosicky put the game level again from a wonderful strike from way out. In the second half Italy once again got themselves infront, Gilardino pulling the ball back to Rosina who slotted home and the game looked won, but with 85 minutes to go Kalouda who was to blame for the first goal repaid his team from another wonderful strike, this time the Italians were caught out of the position when the free kick came in and Kalouda curled the ball around the players and into the corner. The game ended a draw which was enough to knock out the Italians.
Czech Republic 2-2 Italy
Leaving only one thing to decide, will England be joining the eight sides in the quarter finals? England met once again the side that had kept us out of the 2008 competition, Croatia. England dominated the game but just couldn’t find the back of the net, I am thinking taking just four strikers is something that might haunt Rafa. The guys up front really weren’t on form today and both replaced by Crouch and Defoe and it was the latter who was to thank for striking England through, a wonderful strike from outside the box to rival the two Republic goals with 10 minutes to go this was enough for the win.
England 1-0 Croatia
Spain had nothing to play for now and could use this game as a run around ready for a push in the next round. The only action in the game was an early flurry of goals in the first 10 minutes. Torosidis lofting a brilliant ball from the back to Konstantinos who found himself behind the Spanish back line, there was plenty of protests for offside and they could have had a point. But Alfaro quickly replied with a goal scoring from an Alonso cross.
Spain 1-1 Greece