'Battle of the Step-Overs'!
BACK2BACK
By 40 Years A Blue
July 1 2006
Well today is the day that we have all been waiting for since England beat Ecuador in the knockout round of 16 last weekend. Although it has only been a week it seems a lifetime ago that England last played.
England today, need to achieve two aims. First win and second play well as we all know that they can. It looks like Man Utd's Gary Neville has shrugged of his calf injury and will return to right-back. Hargreaves may replace Carrick in the holding role and will Rooney play the 'lone' striker role once again? Frank Lampard is fit after twisting his ankle during the week and England need a goal or two from him today. Personally I think he will get a 'hat-trick.' LOL! Portugal are without their playmaker Deco and also Costinha who are serving suspensions. Figo should be suspended too after his head-butt but FIFA deemed that the booking he received for the offence was punishment enough. Strange! I still can't work that one out because it appeared that the ref that night, didn't see Figo do it! Oh well!! It looks like there will not be the long awaited 'Battle of the step-overs' between England's Joe Cole and Portugal's Ronaldo as Ronaldo hasn't trained all week following his thigh injury from last weekend and is struggling to make the starting line-up today. As Joe Cole plays his football tongue in cheek, its a battle he would win all day and every day. Friday's two Quarter-Final matches saw the host nation Germany overcome Argentina, 4-2 after a penalty shoot-out. The game was drawn 1-1 after extra-time with Ayala putting 'The Tinas' ahead just after half-time and Klose with his fifth goal of the competition equalising for Germany with ten minutes to go. The hero of the shoot-out was Arsenal's Lehmann who saved Ayala's and Cambiasso's penalties. Germany 100% hitmen were Neuville, Ballack, Podolski and Borowski. Italy beat the Ukraine 3-0 with goals from Zambrotta after six minutes and a Luca Toni double strike in the 59th and 69th minutes. Italy now play Germany in the first semi-final next Tuesday. In the last of the quarter-final matches, Brazil take on France or should it be France take on Brazil tonight with the winners hopefully facing England in the semi-final next Wednesday. COME ON ENGLAND! 40 YEARS A BLUE!