Re: UEFA Euro 2012 Official Thread - Discussion, Analysis, Predictions & All News!
Yeah, it dropped but it was predictable. It's hard to keep up with a player who makes so much sprints at such speed for 45 minutes; let alone 90 minutes. And harder when you're not really the best of defenders. They were disciplined at the start but Ronaldo gained the upper hand slowly! So I won't say that Czech defense were careless to loosen the marking on a 60+ goal machine; they just couldn't after some minutes.
Perhaps, that's another reason onto why Messi's marking is more regular. Despite his amazing dribbling skills, Messi makes less run-ins and sprints that Ronaldo since the midfield always keep possession at Barca. Thus, though Messi tires his defenders less; though it's still hell hard to mark Messi. I'm just noting on the physical exhaustion factor; not on whose harder to mark.
I guess I know why Nadal and Ronaldo features on my favorite sportsmen list. They are physical machines that keeps going, keeps exhausting opponents and keeps trying.
I think CR7 has left Gomez far behind. Gomez has only been efficient and he can be thankful to possess Ozil and Schweinsteiger that hold the ball. Ronaldo is holding Portugal on his own and that deserves much credit.
Iniesta is the best player IMO in this Euro but offensively Ronaldo is the best right now and should deserve Top Scorer; especially after his posts hit. Xavi is his usual self but Silva is also key in Spain right now.
If I were to consider the remaining players who are still in this competition and ranked their performance, my Top 10 will be like that:
1. Iniesta
2. Ronaldo
3. Schweinsteiger
4. Pirlo
5. Xavi
6. Gomez
7. Silva
8. Gerrard
9. Ozil
10. De Rossi
He's been stopped before, and playing in Euros your squad must posses these abilities, to stop speed demons like Ronaldo. They just had lack of focus, as I said Ronaldo played winger, which benefits him because when crosses come in, all eyes go towards the centre as shown in Ronaldo goal, but he positioned himself and the defender seemed like he didn't even know Ronaldo was behind him, which led to the goal.
Portugal, lack only in midfield, they indeed have a good defence in all. They even kept Spain at bay in WC10.
Well it all depends. Look at Ribery/Robben, they come from the wing and most times have so much room, but aren't the best due to being old, arrogant, not the best of finishers, don't show conisistency, and selfish. They do pose threat from those spots tho (hence why Bayern did have a decent season). The best example is the two people on your list, Inesita/Silva playing as Spain wingers, the consistency between these two players is great, but they have plenty of room at times, which survey good for them, but they have that habit dropping back to mid and the whole possession play really kind of disrupts the flow for most wingers in Spain/Barcelona (This why we see are L/RB a lot coming from that flank). Messi played as winger in Pep first season winning the treble and Ballon (when Eto'o was there). He had more room to play around were as Eto'o was marked more. The thing about playing centre is, that majority of the time eyes are on you, and defenders lurk that area. Despite Messi not tiring the defenders out as much its a + for other teams, but yet Messi scores goal after goal. The reason why Messi doesn't sprint as much isn't the fact he can't as I said its Barcelona style that prevents it they play short passes and try to keep threat lurking in the mid field also, hence why are wingers are at times in mid field L/RB are in winger position, and defence is weak at that point.
Regardless Ronaldo improves every year as Messi does, so the winger position is always a plus. I do hope Villa gets back in form, or we sign another striker, and Messi goes back to winger to add a little more flow to the game and balance threat, At this time majority of the threat comes from the centre.
post hits = inconsistency. In WC Messi nailed the post many times and most Argentina goals came from Messi play yet people/media made a mockery out of it. It remains tho despite hitting the post, they lack in accuracy. The post doesn't even count as on target.
Your list is pretty straight forward all tho Ronaldo performance VS Germany/Denmark weren't the best, he'd still be in top 5 maybe 3, but I'd put Inesita and Schweinsteiger (1 and 2). Xavi and Pirlo another questionable one, in the Italy game, Xavi was the better one, but Pirlo has been a heavy impact for Italy till now, so I give him this one.
I would suggest Fabregas also. He would have been in top 5, but due to coming off bench I'll rank him lower. He against all odds manage to score the drawing goal VS Italy, and the best team work goal by my favs (Xavi, Iensita, Silva, and Fab). He did have one coming off the bench VS Ireland, and had his hand in the winning goal VS Croatia, were he did an amazing well timed pass to Inesita to set up Navas. Ireland and Croatia he was on bench, so did come on with a lot of energy hence why not top 5. Ozil has yet to have that big of an impact IMO.
My list till now
1. Inesita
2. Schweinsteiger
3. Ronaldo
4. Pirlo
5. Xavi
6. Gomez
7. Gerrad (He Has been amazing for Engalnd, I'd rank him before Gomez if I could, but than I'd only be neglecting Gomez accomplishments for his)
7. Silva
9. Fabregas
10. De Rossi
Both Escorp and Relax are writing big ass walls right now, better get my reading face on :zonder:
