Sweden out. The team which always makes it to the qualifying rounds of every tournament were a shadow of their former selves. Jlungberg, Larsson et al looked a step behind and a yard back from the nimble Russians. Sad to see “Henky” exit without a goal, but at 36, playing in elite international tournaments is beyond him (and a few others too). See you lads, good luck when you get home! (to a merciless Swedish press!)
But as Sweden were bad, Russia were exceptional. Quick, slick, and mercilessly naive, they attack at every chance and play the type of one touch football that has sportscasters drooling (when it’s Brazil).
Lucky Guus has (yet again) turned a very ordinary national team into genuine contenders. And as i mentioned in an earlier post, their key players are now turning up. If they play to their potential, and seize their moment, great things could happen. If they choke, it’s one ‘dreadful flight’ and they’ll be ’Back in the U.S.S.R.’
The Russians meet the Netherlands on Saturday, which surely is the purists’ pick of the quarter final matches, no? Either way, it promises to be a cracker.
P.S. Makes you wonder why this man has never been seriously considered for the English national team job, given his knack of making the proverbial silk purse from sows ears.
