Durzblog

Sunday 2:45 ABC
Germany v Spain


Spain (my predicted winner, I am a genius in case you have forgotten) advanced to the final in convincing fashion, certainly more convincing than the Germans and their win over Turkey. We have learned in this tournament, though, that the last game has little to do with the match ahead -- but both clubs would appear to be in great form and if nothing else have proven to be the best clubs at getting through when they do not have their best.

Spain may have to do with the tournaments leading scorer in David Villa (one of the bigger a-holes of the tourney as well), however it would appear that Arsenal's Fabregas can step up and continue to thrive with an exceptionally talented Spanish side.

If La Selección do have a slow night though, the Germans do have the fire power (Schweinsteiger and Podolski) and the class (Klose and Ballack) to take home the riches. Spain will have the added (and constant) pressure of competing on the grand stage for a soccer obsessed nation with only one major trophy, the 1964 Euro. On the other hand, the three time World Cup champion Germans, are looking to add to one of the most impressive trophy cases in the world as they go for their fourth European Crown.

Will the pressure to get over the hump be the downfall of the Spaniards as it seems to be for Holland and Portugal?

We shall see, it will be a dandy.

Come on Deutschland!

Turkey and Russia will enter the semis as the heavy underdogs, nobody expected either to be in this position two weeks ago, However this tournament has shown that both teams are quite capable of playing at very high levels.

Wednesday's match will have the Turks facing a very talented German squad who should control possession, but who also have the most pressure to advance. Turkey will be hurt by injuries and suspension...BBC - Preview

Thursdays game should be the more exciting of the pair. Spain is coming off of a massive victory (over the world champion Italians) and the Russians are coming off of perhaps the most impressive effort of the tourney by anyone -- in their 3-1 extra time triumph over the Netherlands...BBC Preview

Predictions:
Germany 2-0, Russia advance in penalties

Germany booked their place in the Euro semi-finals by taking advantage of some rather sloppy marking by the Portuguese today. Bastian Schweinsteiger struck first (from Podolski) and a set piece of his created the second off of the head of Miroslav Klose. Nuno Gomes would make it interesting again before the break for the pork chops as they climbed back to 2-1, but another Schweinsteiger free-kick would end up closing the deal in the second half. This time German captain, Michael Ballack, put his head on another great strike from Basti and the Deutsch weren't going to look back. A Portugal substitute, Helder Postiga, pulled one back in the final minutes, but it was not going to be enough as Germany booked a match-up with either Croatia or Turkey next week.

BBC COVERAGE

Update: Azzurri get through and Holland stay perfect, 2-0 for both
Group C is done

_________________________
2:45est

Romania v Holland

Italy v Germany

Done Deal:

• Netherlands have won Group C and will play the Group D runners-up in the quarter-finals.

Scenarios:

• Romania will move on if they beat the Netherlands.
• If Romania fail to take three points, the winner of France v Italy will go through.
• If France and Italy tie, a point against the Holland would be enough to send Romania through.
  
• France must win to have any chance of qualifying.
• If France and Italy draw 0-0, Romania can lose by one goal, two goals or by a three-goal margin other than 3-0 but still qualify.
• If France and Italy share a score draw (1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc), Italy will go through if Romania lose by any score. In this scenario, Italy, Romania and France will be level on two points each but Italy would have scored more goals in games between the 3 teams.

The Euro officially started on Saturday, but it began for real yesterday.

Holland took a grip on the "Group of Death" by beating Italy 3-0 in a much talked about affair.

Ruud van Nistelrooy put the Dutch ahead with controversy 26 minutes in when he scored from close range - but appeared clearly offside. Reports today actually confirm that the officials made the correct call, the down defender on the side of the net actually kept Ruud onside.

Wesley Sneijder swept in a beauty from Dirk Kuyt's header five minutes later to shockingly go up 2-0. Italy tried to inch back in the game but Edwin van der Sar would deny Fabio Grosso and later Andrea Pirlo with a couple of stunning stops.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst ended all suspense with a header in the 80th minute to hand the Italians their worst ever Euro defeat.

Holland are in great position to qualify after this one and Italy are likely still confident after France's piss poor showing against Romania.

What I'll be watching

Euro
The UEFA European Football Championship, the most competitive and toughest national competition in the world, begins on Saturday. The action kicks off with co-host Switzerland taking on the Czech republic in Basel and will continue until the final 2 clubs square off for the Euro 2008 crown in Vienna on June the 29th. Poland and Austria are making their debuts in the Euro and the unlikely champions of 2004, Greece, will start the defense of their title on Tuesday against Sweden. Italy and Germany are widely considered the favorites and the biggest absence would have to be England (a true testament to how hard it is to qualify for the big tournaments in UEFA).

Two first round group games should prove to be very good ones with Italy facing Holland on Monday and Spain meeting Russia on Tuesday. Group play will finish with a bang as a World Cup final rematch will take place in Zurich on June 17th. Click here for the list of groups, group C is clearly the "group of death."

All of these intense battles can be watched on one of the ever growing members of the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic and ABC)

Despite a tradition of underachieving and a poor effort vs the US this week, my pick to win is Spain and I will take Romania as my surprise pick to get out of the groups


Court Central'
Sunday looks to be set for what is likely the biggest tennis match of the year. There will be other slams played but no match will have the impact of the French final. Will this be the year that Feds is officially crowned as the best player to ever live or is this the year we all give up on his quest for a career grand slam? Nadal is presently destroying, world number three, Novak Djokovic in his semifinal match and he looks ripe to pull of a four-peat at Roland Garros. Feds will take on 59th-ranked Frenchman Gael Monfils in the other semi. Will Sunday be his day? How is this for stats, Roger has made a slam semi for the 16th time in a row and Rafa is 26-0 lifetime at the French.

NBA Final
Boston did what they needed to do in game 1 and took control of the series. Can they take a firm grip in game 2 or will the Lakers get what they come to Boston for, a split? The big three appear to be back for the Celts and Los Angeles will need more than a shaky Kobe to take home the title. The series can change in a hurry, but last night Boston was the best team on the floor without a doubt. Gasol and Odom must become factors. Still like LA, maybe not in 5 though.

yes I am still sucking at the ole blog, sorry for that (and deal):

here is what I am watching and thinking of late.

French
Please let this be the year for Roger -- on this surface it would be a big surprise if it happens for the best tennis player of all time. Will he feel that pain of Pete Sampras forever? For world no. 2 Rafael Nadal it has been a nearly flawless clay-court season leading up to Roland Garros. If Nadal slips up Fed and Novak Djokovic will be chomping at the bit. Paris will say good bye to one of their favorites this week as Guga Kuerten, the three time champion, will bid fairwell. On the women's side keep your eye out for American Ashley Harkleroad...


Nats
Big couple of weeks for the Red, White and Blue as they prepare for South Africa 2010 qualifying. The schedule for the USMNT over the next few weeks offers the toughest series of friendlies in US history. The Yanks get things going this afternoon as they square off with a powerful English squad at Wembley, a tilt against Spain in Santander will follow on June 4, with a home game against Argentina on June 8, all this leading up to the World Cup qualifying series against Barbados one week later. Despite what someone like Ives Galarcep (Lando and Beasley playing for England! outrageous) has to stay, the US are in over their heads talent wise with clubs like England and Spain and will need to remain organized and poised to compete. Onyewu and Cherundolo will be the keys for the Americans over the next few weeks.

Association
The NBA games are getting better and more watchable, but I am just making a stand here. I don't know what I will do if its the Lakers and Celts, thats a no win situation. I am passionate about my Celtic hatred (not for the current crop of guys, but my feeling for the likes of Heinsohn and McKale will never die) and Kobe Bryant is just a total jerk. Even though I am hoping Detroit makes the final, the better watch would be Boston/LA.

Diamond
So the leaders in the East are Florida and Tampa, payrolls combined for both teams is less than Santana and A-Rod combined. I'm just saying. My heartburn boys, the Phils are hitting their way into both the NL East and WC battles. They love to just hang around the .5 to 2 games out mark, yes they do. Good to see Omar get a grip and say Willie is safe, even if its just for a week or so. Hopefully the distractions will cease so that poor Carlos Beltran can go back to earning his 17 mil per year salary. Poor guy. Joba looks to be getting the nod very soon for the desperate for pitching pinstripes -- let the second guessing begin.

Burnt ends
Good to see the Big Easy decide to play at the Memorial this weekend; with Tiger already out, Vijay now hurt and Adam Scott simply not playing, it is good to see 7 of the world's top 10 pay Jack the respect of playing in his tournament...In case you all have somehow missed it, the Stanley Cup playoffs are coming to an end, Detroit looks about ready to put and end to the Penguins Cup run (or dive) -- sadly its getting about as much fanfare as the WNBA...Can my v-ball team (Alpha Kenny Buddy) maintain its perch atop the Long Beach Volleyball circuit and remain the talk of the town? -- we'll find out tomorrow night...Lastly there is little going on in Huskyville, but Ater's LOI is in...Borges at the NH Reg has a few more items as well, its a good spot if you are really jonesing for some news out of Storrs...

Late

I just feel bad, If there were a couple of guys that i was pulling for yesterday Terry was at the top of the list. People don't seem to care for the Yankeesque building of the Blues squad and there are quite a few happy souls out there I am sure, and I get that. But thats not me...

Last night's Champions League final in Moscow handed out the cruelest fate in sports I have seen this year. The brunt of that will fall on the shoulder's of the Chelsea captain for missing a potential cup clinching PK and allowing Manchester United another chance, and they were ever so happy to oblige. Credit Manchester U for the win and for taking the double this season, but I don't care to applaud the Red Devils too heavily on this day. I just can't do it, its not only because of a deep hatred for super ass clown Cristiano Ronaldo, I honestly feel really bad for the likes of Lampard and Terry.

Chelsea outplayed United and Terry was there as always to keep his team in the game when they needed him. JT is Chelsea football (he came to the club as a 15 year old) and last night he was a slip from having all of his dreams fulfilled. He missed -- but I for one hope that he will be back very soon.

He has earned it.

Ever wonder who is going to play Man U striker Carlos Tevez in his autobiographical film?? I submit to you Adam Sandler (I am not saying that "Waterboy" is anywhere near as ugly as Tevez -- but still...he can do it!)

So I stand corrected in a big way baby....

As I was watching Rangers lose 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final (good game and any time you can hear Christopher Sullivan enunciate soccer terms its all good) I saw that Fox Soccer Channel is making a big thing of the Serie A finale this weekend. I am stunned and quite pleased...

• Parma v Inter Milan 9am LIVE
• Catania v Roma 11AM Tape

Oh and what a week it was!

Germany:
The highlights of the week began in Wolfsburg as Bayern were crowned "Deutscher Meister" for the 21st time. The club from Munich were definitely deserving of the title as they led the standings from the start. The signings of Toni and Ribery proved successful as the club captured the domestic double. Luca will likely bid Ciao to the club and head back to Italy, where he belongs...Also this week Bremen secured second place and automatic Champions League qualification. Gladbach and Cologne celebrated promotion back up to the Bundesliga, while Rostock and Duisburg were relegated back to Bundesliga2. One more promotion spot and another relegation spot will be decided this weekend.


England:
The excitement was huge as D-Day has come and gone in the UK. Manchester United took the Premiership title yesterday (their 10th) by defeating Wigan on the road courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo PK and Ryan Giggs ended the suspense on a nice feed from Wayne Rooney with 10 minutes to play. Chelsea gave up a late game tying tally at Stamford Bridge to Bolton, but were already aware of Manchester securing the full points -- making the the Blues result meaningless. Didier Drogba and John Terry picked up knocks and at the moment are questionable for the Champions League final in Moscow a week from Wednesday..At the other end of the table, just as much seemed to be up for grabs. Reading jumped out early and did all that they could by beating already relegated Derby 4-0, but Marcus Hahnemann and his club will be headed back to the Championship. Fulham in a stunning turn of events won four of their last five contests after being left for dead and made the club $70 million yesterday on Danny Murphy's 78th minute header to beat Portsmouth 1-0. Ahead on goal differential Fulham finished tied with Reading in points but will stay-up. Good news for the five Americans (McBride, Keller, Bocanegra, Dempsey, Johnson) on the Cottagers club. In addition to Reading, Birmingham and Derby will be heading back to the Championship.

Italy
(Here ya go Vin, Happy Birthday:)

Inter Milan have their fans about ready to vomit. After a shocking draw home to Siena this weekend they are staring at one of the biggest collapses in modern Italian soccer if they fail to get three points on the road to bottom three Parma. Inter were 11 points clear in mid-February, but with one round of games left they lead Roma by just one. The stage was set for Milan to take the scudetto, but the chance was blown as Marco Materazzi forced himself to the spot -- literally fighting with Argentine Julio Cruz to take the kick -- and the missing it. Next weekend Roma and Inter both face clubs fighting relegation (Catania, Parma respectively) in what should be a doozer of a finale. None of it will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel of course. My guess is that I will see Cagliari for the 30th time this season...

Notes -- In addition to the huge weekend in Italy and some more business in Germany, there will be some interesting action in the next few weeks in France as well as Scotland. In France, third from bottom PSG, look to stay up and keep Paris from becoming the only current major European capital without a top flight club. In Scotland, Rangers trail Celtic by four points with two games in hand -- the competition has been a bit cloudy due to rescheduling caused by Rangers UEFA Cup run. They will likely need to run the table.

Enjoy all the games

I won't come at you with loads of different excuses as to why I haven't posted..I just have not and to be truthful I have very little to offer right now. Kind of sad, I will simply post some random recent thoughts I have had.

Maybe this will get the juices flowing again?

MLB:
My brain works in two areas, NL East and AL East. For the teams in the Central and out West, we'll see you in the fall. In the AL the Red Sox are once again (much to the chagrin of the new younger angry Boss) the team to beat in the American League. The Yanks young pitching is struggling a bit and the tabloids are becoming restless. None the less, this will be a nice two way battle come July. I really think so. As for the National side, the Phils are winning some games and would appear to be -- dare I say it -- pitching reasonably well and the boys can really hit. The Mets continue to struggle with their staff, and aside from Duke losing early in the NCAA's, nothing could be finer. The Braves and Fish will be tough teams to play, but like the AL this will be a two horse race. Down the stretch lets look for Bill Wagner to go down like Eight Belles. Well not put down, but you know what I mean. Despite what Koby Clemens has to say, his old man is a huge piece of shite.
NBA:
Playoffs have begun, still not into it at all. The Celts and Cavs will be a good series and the Spurs seem to be on a collision course with the Lakers, I think? Congrats to Kobe on his MVP, (sarcasm on) could not have happened to a nicer guy (sarcasm off) In New York, Mark Jackson will likely be the successor -- but apparently because D'Anotni is going to take a pass and not because this is "the" job in the NBA any longer. Thanks Jim. Oh and by the way, what happened to Ray Allen? he looks hella old out there, what happened to the candy man? Samuel Adams I bet, maybe the chowder. Detroit v San Antonio in the finals is my call. If you want the opinion of someone who watches no NBA games.
NHL:
The Rangers were finished off by the Pens this weekend. Now what happens with Jagr? hopefully old Shanny is a goner. For the first time in my life (at least since Ronny Hextall skated around his net giving people the bird) I get to pull for the Flyers in a series. Something about Sid Crosby; his diving and his fake mustache have rubbed old Dur the wrong way. Wings v Stars will be a nice match-up to watch as well. Nothing really beats playoff hockey OT. Flyers v Detroit in the final, and I actually watch hockey.


PGA:
Some decent tourney's the last couple of weeks. At the Byron Nelson, Adam Scott battled a new built TPC course and stood tall to capture his first win of the year (highlight of that week was asking Kristin to DVR the 3rd round and she says " the Ed's Byron Nelson Classic, sure Babe, OR the E.D.S....good stuff) and last week Anthony Kim gave a nice little bit of Hello World with a dominating performance at the Wachovia in Charlotte. This week the Tour heads to the TPC Sawgrass, where the year's deepest field will compete at the Players. No Tiger til the US Open, come on J.J.
Uconn Sports:
The Calhoun Reload is nearly complete and preseason top 25 football polls have the Huskies positioned around number 20. With a top ranked program in football (top 20), men's and women's soccer (both top 10) and men's and women's basketball (both top 5)..next year should be a great one up in Storrs. That and the NCAA released some graduation rates yesterday that cover the last 4 years and the men's basketball team is about 7 in the 16 team Big East, couple that with the bevy of kids who leave early for the NBA and the Huskies are doing a fine job.
Soccer:
Why the F does the owner (former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatr) of Man City think that he is going to fire Sven after the club's best ever finish in the Prem? awful stuff there. Some interesting relegation battles are on throughout Europe, can Fulham and their 5 Americans stay up? Well they have one tilt left and they will likely need 3 points on the road against Portsmouth. Reading (even on points, trailing in goal difference) gets a lay-up versus Derby and if both slip there will be a chance for Birmingham if the can take out Blackburn. Deuce Dempsey has signed a two year extension and will remain a Cottager regardless of Fulham going up or down. Man U is just three points aways from fending off a resurgent Chelsea and grabbing the EPL honors. In the SPL, Rangers seem to be coughing up the crown to Celtic and are complaining about scheduling the whole way through.

thats all for now, I'm back -- well kind of...

Huge Weekend in Sports and lots to recap.

Gutted
Stoppage time winner lifts Italy to a 2-1 win in Glasgow. The defeat ended Scotland's hopes of qualification for the Euro 2008 finals and sent Italy and France through to Austria and Switzerland. The winner was scored on a nice Pirlo free kick that was mysteriously rewarded to the Azzurri as the game seemed headed for a draw. "The set-piece that led to their second goal was an unbelievable decision," said Scott boss Alex McLeish. "The Italians know they were a lucky team to leave Hampden Park with a victory." The result was certainly a bitter disappointment for Scotland but over the last 14 months they have shown they can compete with the very best teams in the world.

Old Friends -- Battle of Cals...goes to Calapari
UConn lost to No. 3 Memphis 81-70 Friday in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic championship game at Madison Square Garden. Chris Douglas-Roberts had a career-high 33 points and freshman Derrick Rose chipped in 24 making the difference down the stretch as the talented Tigers pulled away. Although the end of the game left plenty to be desired (especially from the forward position) the Huskies showed some promise in hanging with Memphis and battling back from some large early deficits against a team the will likely play deep into March. Anthony Jordan Price has arrived.


Orange Crushed
Five years after completing the move to big time college football -- Uconn (9-2, 5-1) is exactly one win away from a Big East championship! The running duo of Donald Brown and Andre Dixon combined for 151 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and Tyler Lorenzen threw for 213 yards as the Huskies controlled this one from the start. UConn will play at West Virginia next Saturday -- a win amazingly would secure the Huskies an automatic bid to a Bowl Championship Series game (seriously).

These are the Huskies who were 4-8 a year ago and picked in the preseason to finish next-to-last in the league. HC Randy Edsall (is he off the "hot seat" yet?) opening up more and more after every victory is clearly very pleased and even emotional,
"I've been around long enough and been on teams as a player and as a coach where there's — I don't know if you call it magical or you call it chemistry — you call it camaraderie. People are just going to do things that you never expect them to do and this group from January on has done the things that we needed to do." #20 Uconn will be a heavy underdog against the #3 Mountaineers, but they have a shot and nobody would have predicted that.

In Short
Lloyd Carr's last Michigan/Ohio State game will be one he would like to forget, 14-3 Bucks. Lloyd led the Wolverines to 121 wins, five Big Ten titles and a national championship in his 12 years and did it with class..The Celtics will not go undefeated this year -- the Magic served the C's their first loss of the season yesterday 104-102..Jesus the Pats are good, perfect season looks pretty reasonable after there 56-10 victory at Ralph Wilson..Giants do enough to win in Detroit and get to 7-3 thanks to a great defensive effort led by Michael Strahan..while the Jets put one in the W column with an OT home win against the Steelers..The Rangers have won five straight games and nine of their last to quietly move to the top of the Atlantic Division..Harvard drilled Yale to win the Ivy. New England Revolution lose their 4th MLS Cup final -- Houston are the Champions back-to-back..Jorge, Mo and Alex all appear to be staying in the Bronx..Uconn wins the 2007 BE Men's Soccer title and awaits their NCAA assignment..Steve Cherundolo first half tally leads the USMNT over South Africa in Johannesburg 1-0.