if the Czech Republic was the only team not playing for a penalty shoot out. However, once the Turks were forced to go forward with the ball the intensity in the match was turned up 10 fold. The Turks created chance after chance that you were certain they were going to put away and get an equalizer. However through halftime the game remained 1-0 Czech Republic and then 62 minutes in, entirely against the run of play and with the first realistic chance that the Czech team had in the second half, the Czech team goes up 2-0. I was aghast... what inhumane fate had the soccer gods dealt the Turks..... well little did I know. Time ticks on and the Turks get one goal... okay game on! As the match steamrolls forward, bodies are flying, the rain is falling and pulses are racingm I continue to think that the match is somehow going to penalties. The Turkish team HAS TO have another goal in them. Ah
but it's getting late no more time for goals... OH No! Oh no.. it didn't ...it couldn't.. Petr Cech hands the Turks the equalizer. How I wish every player I told to follow their teammates shots on frame saw this goal. Petr Cech is considered by many to be the best keeper in the world but for that one play, for that one split second, he made the routine collection off a cross turn into a carnival celebration for the Turks. To penalties we go... aht aht aht .. not so fast. The tension builds and then.. no they didn't .. THEY did and HE DID! Kahveci gets played through on a horrible decision to attempt an offsides trap by the Czechs and finishes what I consider now to be the best goal of the tourney taking all things into consideration (time, place, pace and location of shot). Wow.. Turkey go through... who would've thought... amazing.. I LOVE THIS GAME and this is why I watch.The Swiss-Portugal game was a nice farewell for the host country and the Swiss pulled off a nice victory to reminisce about on their trip home but the game was never expected to amount to much and lived up to it's expectation. Regarding the other matches today, Croatia appropriately goes through and Germany .. oh Germany.. I had such high hopes and yet you simply haven't lived up to the bill. Nice goal by Ballack but the Germans will need much more than that to have any chance against the Portuguese in the next round. That being said I'm looking for both Croatia and Germany to win their next round matches and advance to the semi-finals. Yes even though the Germans are playing awfully I am standing by my pick to advance on.
Youth Soccer Focus: I think I will simply reiterate the importance of following up shots on goal if you are either defending or attacking. You simply never know when a miscue in front of the goal can occur and an extra defender or attacker around that miscue can greatly effect the outcome of the game. This particularly applies for games played in the rain when dropped shots are more common by goalkeepers, however, don't wait until the game in the rain comes to develop these habits. Develop these habits in everyday training sessions and they will be second nature during the match.
Preview of June 17th matches: I am billing this as match day of the year. It all comes down to the final day to determine the other team through from the grupo de muerte. A friend of mine will actually be in Paris tomorrow for the match and oh how I'd love to switch places for a few hours. The match of the day has to be France vs Italy and I'm predicting the French find a way to advance. I am taping this one for future reference and it has all the right ingredients to become an instant classic. I think Romania will struggle with the Dutch B team and I am predicting a 1-0 Dutch win. Oh how I wish there was some national holiday tomorrow... oh well. Enjoy the matches and let me know your thoughts about the next round.
Yours in the beautiful game
Coach Butler
No comments:
Post a Comment