England let down by star men..again

Ireland crash out of Euro 2012

Taxi for Ireland

Is there a worst team in Euro 2012 then Ireland? I had heard much of this team before the tournament begun. People spoke of their work rate and described them as an organised defensive unit. This team never appeared at Euro 2012. I know that they had a very tough group, containing three teams from inside the top ten of the FIFA ranking. It is also true that they were not thought to have a real chance of qualifying and were expected to lose all three games, which they did. What angered me the most about the Irish was the way they lost.

There seemed to be no method, no plan and quite frankly no idea. The goals they were conceding proved that. They were not from wonderful attacking moves, or Ireland being outplayed. They were from Irish mistakes and poor ones at that. They gifted goals against all three sides. Against Spain 3 of the four spanish goals were gifts that many International sides would have taken. The marking was League 1 poor. I just could not believe how much space and time the Spanish were allowed. David Silva's goal was incredible. He was almost standing totally still about 8 yards out as 3 Irish defenders just let him pick his spot. 

Trap must take some of the rap

Some of the blame will land and rightly so at the door of manager Giovanni Trappatoni (left). A 'great' manager he may be but he got this horribly wrong. They were without doubt the worst team at the tournament in terms of their performances. 

I understand that the pool of talent Trappatoni has be pick from is not that extensive and the players he picked were the ones that were expected and the obvious choices. They are playing with a Championship player at centre-back to prove that point. I had no qualms with the squad but the lack of a plan and method was poor. As a viewer you could never see what the Irish were attempting to do. They offered nothing. One thing I think that some did give was effort, however it just appears as run-everywhere and kick anything that moves idea. This was optimised by Keith Andrews. He gave it his all as you would expect however they were lacking any real class. People will argue that it was the quality of opposition that made it look like this however that is a very easy cop-out.

The fitness levels were appalling. With Spain, everyone talks of their ability to retain the ball and their technical ability however for me their success is about what they do off the ball. The fitness levels of their team is terrific. Now when you look at the Ireland team and watch them play it was obviously that some of them were simply not fit. That is unacceptable. People may feel that is harsh, however how can you honestly look at the physique of Richard Dunne and tell me that that is the body of a sportsman and professional footballer representing his country at a major tournament in peek condition. He is overweight. Aston Villa fans and Paul Lambert must look at that in horror thinking that is our centre-half. Make no mistake, I feel Villa will be signing a centre half in this upcoming transfer window.

Shay Given was a wonderful player however now he is looking past it. He is making so many mistakes, and simple mistakes at that. I was a huge fan of Given, as during his time at Newcastle he contributed at least 10 points a season with his heroics. However I do not know if it is the number of injury to his back and elbow but it just seems something has changed. I honestly feel his place as the Aston Villa number one is in doubt. Damien Duff is another player who should not be in the International set-up. His performances were awful and he is nowhere near International level. He looked totally disinterested.

For me the likes of Given, Dunne and Duff should retire from the International scene with immediate effect. They have been great servants to Ireland over the years but it is time. Obviously these are no the only Irish players who were poor however they are the most high profile. Steven Ward at left-back had a shocker as did Aiden McGeady. He was another one of whom so much was expected but little was shown.  

Not much to cheer.

I was disappointed that James McClean did not get more time as after the season he has had he deserved it. It is the likes of McClean who are the future for Ireland. Robbie Keane is too old now for this level. He will stay on I expect and will be useful during qualifying however his ability to play at the major tournaments is over.

I feel sorry for all the Irish fans who travelled to support their team. They were singing from minute 1 to 90 without having any real encouragement to sing and shout about. 

Comments Welcome.

Nadal seals Magnificent Seven

Nadal Dominence at Roland Garros continues

The undoubted 'King of Clay'. Rafael Nadal produced another masterful performance to win an incredible 7th French Open title at Roland Garros yesterday. The Spanish World Number 2 defeated Novak Djokovic in a rain-affected final in 4 sets with a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win. World Number One Djokovic was simply outgunned and outplayed by the powerful groundstrokes as well as being worn down by the sheer fitness and mental strength of Nadal. 

The victory gave Nadal his 11th Grand Slam and meant that he now surpassed the great Bjorn Borg record of six French open titles and asks the question is Nadal the greatest Clay court player of all time? Djokovic was aiming to become only the fourth man in history to hold all four of the Grand Slam at the same time. 

Djokovic shows his frustration

Serbian Djokovic (left) fought bravely however constantly found himself on the defensive unable to really attack Nadal. The weather affected the final just as it had done throughout the tournament.  The wet conditions on Sunday night seemed to frustrate Nadal who amazingly lost 8 consecutive games before play was suspended and ended for the day. After convincingly losing the first two sets Djokovic had suddenly won the third and was a break up in the fourth at 2-1. However when play resumed on Monday the dry but testing conditions put Djokovic serve immediately under pressure. When his  forehand flicked the tape and went out to make it 2-2 the body language of both players was a complete contrast to what had been seen the previous night. Nadal looked re-energised whereas Djokovic knew the chance he had missed and let his frustration show as he smashed his head with his racket strings. The momentum was back with Nadal who from that moment never looked in danger serving to love twice as he dominated his serve. Compare this to Djokovic who looked very vulnerable and despite the immense mental strength he has shown against the likes of Federer, Tsonga and Nadal in the past saving match-points he looked a beaten man. The match ended on a bit of a anti-climax as Djokovic double-faulted to end a run of three straight Grand Slam titles and gave Nadal his seventh French Open win in the last eight years. 

At the beginning of the year I outlined my predictions and hopes for the coming year in the world of tennis. Djokovic had just won a thrilling Australian Open final and predictions of a Djokovic domination were constant. In my prediction I thought that Nadal would again win the French Open due to his ultimate domination of the clay surface. This prediction was correct, and on this years showing at only 26 should Nadal stay injury free I can see him winning at least the next four French Opens titles. Never in my lifetime have I witnessed such a domination. The closest is the great Federer at both Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. Roland Garros remains the only Grand Slam tournament in which Djokovic has not beat Nadal. 

For Djokovic his attentions will now turn to retaining his Wimbledon title. This is very realistic ambition. For me he has to be the favourite and if he were to meet Nadal in the final my money would be on Djokovic. I do expect Djokovic to have a good Wimbledon, however I would like to see him meet the great, King of Grass, Roger Federer. Unfortunately Federer has not had a good Wimbledon in the last two years. They have never met on grass and for me this would be a great contest. Also  it saddens me to see people seeing Federer as a semi-finalist and not a winner anymore. For any great on the way down it is his best surface which will always be last to leave him. As a result this would be a great test. If Djokovic were to beat Federer it would for me signal the end. However from a personal view point I do believe that Federer can beat him. As I said at the beginning of the year, it is my hope that Roger Federer can win Wimbledon and equal Pete Sampras' record. My heart says Federer however my head would say Djokovic. 

Nadal will also be targeting a return to winning ways at Wimbledon and with British hope Andy Murray playing in Jubilee year it does promise to be a fascinating Wimbledon, all to hope for now is that the rain stays away. 

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