1. Sexy football from Spain. They didn’t do anything special in the first-half, but once they got their goal they were stylish, elegant and brilliant to watch. Just what we had hoped to see more of after they had thrashed Russia in their opening match.
2. Andrei Arshavin (Andrei Asharvin if you’re David Pleat) was Anonymous Arshavin. I knew it had all gone to his head (literally) as soon as I saw that C-Ron quiff in his hair during the anthems.
3. It was a step too far for Russia. They should be a force to be reckoned with by 2010 though. And they improved from their 4-1 defeat to Spain in the first match!
4. Jon Champion and David Pleat are morons. They spent seven minutes commentating on a player who wasn’t even on the pitch. When Dmitriy Sychev replaced Ivan Saenko in the second half, Champion wrongly claimed that Vladimir Bystrov had come on (flying in the face of the caption on the screen and the letters spelling ‘SYCHEV’ on the back of his shirt. Cue Pleat with a detailed analysis of what Bystrov might add to the match and how important his pace could be. Seven minutes and several touches later, and Champion spots that it is actually Sychev.
5. Spain will win the competition (Disclaimer: if they produce that second half brand of pass-and-move football). I cannot see Germany’s defence keeping up with the pace and movement of the Spanish attack.