(05/18) Issue # 1 "First Batch"
(06/05) Issue # 2 "Batch Number Two"
(06/13) Issue # 3 "Trouble's a Brewin'"
(06/20) Issue # 4 "The Fourth Froth"
(06/27) Issue # 5 "Tournament All-Stars"

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Issue # 5 "Tournament All-Stars"
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I got the idea for this short segment after watching Alexi Lalas and Michael Ballack select their tournament Top 11.  I have to disagree with many of Lalas’ picks, and a couple of Ballack’s.  I decided to wait until the quarter finals were over to give top players a chance to shine.  Here’s my take:

Goalie:  Joe Hart had an historically atypical tournament for English goalkeepers…he didn’t F&@# up!!!  He went into the quarters leading all goalies with saves, and he didn’t commit any mental blunders resulting in goals for England’s opponents.  You can’t blame him for England’s loss in PK’s to Italy… goals are half chance, provided the kickers are on target.  Hart’s good decisions conjure laughter in my mind over the goal given up by his predecessor Seamans in the 2002 World Cup…when Ronaldinho scored from mid-field off a FREE KICK!  What an embarrassing way to get knocked out of the world’s biggest stage…a goalie cherry picked for being caught too far from his own goal!  It looks like Joe Hart will have a good decade of starts ahead of him for the English squad.

Top 3 Defenders: Scott Parker, Sergio Ramos and Fabio Coentrao

Has anyone taken more punishment in this tournament than Scott Parker?!?  He seemed to be at the right place at the right time, sacrificing his body (and face!) to stop crosses and shots…what a warrior for England.  That’s not to say Joleon Lescott, Ashley Cole and John Terry haven’t done a tremendous job in the back four for England, who has had quite possibly the best set of defenders in the tournament.  If England had the wizardry of Spain’s midfielders, they could be the team to beat! 

Germany and Spain feature some of the finest defenders in the tournament, so it’s hard for me to leave out a German from my list of All-Stars…but it must be done.  Sergio Ramos continues to excel for Spain.  He is an attacking defender on set pieces, and wins headers defensively to keep clean sheets for Spain.  He has yet to provide a goal or assist….but you know it’s just a matter of time.  Let’s see if he’ll be the decisive factor against the Italians in the semis.

For my third and final defender, I struggled to single out another player that rose above the rest of their teammates among the favored sides of Spain and Germany.  Instead, the decision was for Fabio Coentrao of Portugal.  While he too is surrounded by great defenders (namely Pepe & Alves), Coentrao stood out by being very active on the wing in support of Portugal’s offense.  He burst for numerous runs down the edge to feed crosses to the likes of Ronaldo, earning him an assist in the process.  Portugal’s defense has proved difficult to penetrate so far, and it’s great to see attack-minded defenders ply their craft. 

Top 4 Midfielders:  Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery, Xavi, and Mezut Ozil.

I wonder if my German readers approve of what follows…is this batch of Foster’s Football Brew figuratively adherent to the German Beer Purity Law?  Ozil is tied for the lead in assists with 3 in this tourney. He is the primary orchestrator of what looks to be the strongest side in the tournament, and certainly the only team to win all three of their games in the group stage.  And let’s not forget Germany was in the Group of Death!  Ozil is still improving, given his relatively young age.  Three other great midfielders in Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Khedira, so he’s able to both create and convert scoring opportunities.  A certain TV pundit put Bastian Schweinsteiger down as the best midfielder on Germany, but “Mikey” is biased.  Ozil completes a higher percentage of passes, especially trickier and creative passes to his teammates.  I’ve seen way too many bad giveaways by his overrated teammate.  So, I’m sticking up for Ozil and declaring him an all-star! 

Next on this list is Xavi (Hernandez).  He seems to go by one name, but his last name is sometimes mentioned because he plays together with Xabi Alonso on the Spanish side.  Through the end of the quarterfinals, Xavi has completed more passes than any other player in the Euro 2012.  Surprisingly, he has now goals or assists.  But Xavi alongside fellow midfielders Iniesta and Silva (among other big names) is the heart of the Spanish champions.  Xavi’s skills in possession and passing enable Spain to achieve their frustrating strategy of dominating opponents not so much by running up the score, but playing good old fashioned keep-away.  For those of you not-in-the-know, Xavi is often credited as the catalyst for Barcelona’s success…and one big reason The Chosen One Lionel Messi has the highest goal tally in top-flight European club football.  On a side note, I give bonus points to Xavi for winning the “Avengers Look Alike” contest…doesn’t he resemble the man behind the iron mask?? 

France’s Ribery has been a great possession midfielder.  He has generated numerous scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. In the end, Ribery didn’t score any goals and got only one assist, but he started many possessions that led France deep into their opponents’ field, with some of those leading to goals after an additional pass.  Players with his level of talent don’t come along often.  He is clearly the heir to Zizou’s throne that was vacated upon the infamous head-butt in the 2006 World Cup against Italy which ended in a humiliating defeat in PK’s.  I think Ribery’s career will peak at World Cup 2014 in Brazil.  If France’s young players continue to develop and improve, Ribery will have the supporting cast he needs up front and by his side in the midfield to orchestrate a legitimate run for the Championship. 

Andrea Pirlo was the player of the game for every match Italy has won thus far.  He scored the first goal in the tournament from a free kick (and I believe the only one thus far), and has had 2 assists.  But stats don’t tell the whole story – he has been a brilliant passer and ball handler, fending off defenders to keep possession for Italy when so many other midfielders would’ve lost the ball.  Without Pirlo, Croatia surely would’ve advanced in Italy’s stead to the elimination stage!

Top 3 Strikers:  This was the easiest category.  Their names all rhyme with MARIO.   They are Mario Mandzukic, Mario Gomez, and…Cristiano Ronaldo!

The top striker at Euro 2012 has been Ronaldo.  He started the tournament shaky (and I fermented about it!), but Cristiano “The Machine” Ronaldo stepped up in the last couple games with great finishing.  He’s created excellent scoring opportunities and is starting to hit on all cylinders with his teammates.  His remarkable, aggressive play in the box has made defenders look like lazy amateurs.  Ronaldo’s quickness and creativity make him and Portugal dangerous, or at the very least entertaining to watch.  Let’s see if he can lift Portugal past Spain…might he be destined to play against the other all-star striker in this tournament to prove he’s the best?

Even though they’re out of the tournament, Croatia’s “Super Mario” Mandzukic had some outstanding goals in group-play, so he’s high on my list.  He made the most of his attempts, having a high percentage of shots on (and in the) target.  Croatia fell just short of advancing.  They made life difficult for Italy and Spain, despite losing to the latter.  In fact, the Spanish media was putting the Spanish side down for their “poor” performance against Croatia for not dominating them like they have many other teams in qualifying and previous tournaments.  Perhaps now credit should be given to Croatia?  It starts with a salute to Super Mario Mandzukic!

Giving Ronaldo a run for his money as top scorer in the Euro 2012 is the German wunder striker Mario Gomez.  The big forward has racked up three goals, equaling the tallies of Ronaldo and his other rival all-star on this list.  I can’t give Mario Gomez the top spot because he does not possess the creative passing, speed or maneuvers that Ronaldo has.  But perhaps his size and strength allow him to convert more chances set up by his respective teammates in the box.  Will Gomez lift Germany past Italy?  Will a dream finals match give him the chance to prove he and Deutschland are the superior side to Ronaldo’s Portugal?  Gomez will first have to beat the remaining team with another big striker named Mario!

Honorable Mention:  Italy’s Mario Balotelli should’ve finished a few golden opportunities, much like Ronaldo, but likewise Mario scored to redeem himself.  His lack of experience and maturity will pass…and he should become a force of nature in the years to come, making Italy unusually strong, talented and dangerous up top.