Will Derby County be relegated from the Championship?

It's not looking good for the Rams. Paul Jewell is refusing to take the rap for a year of terrible performances. The 2 - 2 draw away to lowly Charlton would seem ok on paper, but with Jewell calling Derby "woeful" he must start taking the blame. In Clough's day, he would say, "If the team is not playing well, blame the management." That sort of philosophy has gone out of the window - now it's like Ford, all about blaming the workers for the poor vehicles.

QUARTER-FINAL PREDICTIONS EURO 2008

Here are my predictions for the Uefa Euro 2008 quarter-final matches:


GERMANY 2 - 1 PORTUGAL
Yes, Ronaldo's great. Yes, Deco can find the killer pass. But Schweinsteiger has been more influential than either of them, and I think the Germans will just squeak past the Portuguese.

CROATIA 1 - 2 TURKEY
The TV pundits think this is a shoe-in for the Croats, given Turkish goalkeeper Demirel's suspension. but I'm impressed with the Turkish mobility in midfield and am taking a contrarian position.

NETHERLANDS 2 - 0 RUSSIA
Every fan of attacking football should be looking forward to this game, and scores of 10-9 have been predicted. Can Guus Hiddink continue the Russian fairy tale? Methinks not. There is too much experience - and much more mobility - in the Dutch squad to be taken apart as easily as the labouring Swedes. If the Dutch midfield can close down Arshavin, it's goodnight Russia. Remember the Russians also have to get past Holland goalkeeper Van der Sar.

ITALY 1 - 0 SPAIN
Toni to tower over the soft Spanish defence, perhaps in extra time. David Villa and Fernando Torres of course are a double threat to the Italian goal. Could this be a battle between goalkeepers Casillas and Buffon? Spain were the bookmakers' second favourite to win the tournament (after Germany), but I fancy the Italian defence to overcome the Spanish attack.

Germany 3 - 2 Portugal. Euro 2008

This match could go either way, but can't they all? The experience and organisation of Germany winning the big matches will be just enough, er .. I think, to win this the first quarter-final. But don't bet the house on it.
WATCHSOCCER prediction: Germany 2 - 1 Portugal.

The Germans are not afraid to shoot from long range early on, perhaps in an attempt to make the defenders close down quickly and pull the Portuguese defence out of shape. Do Germans think like this? Perhaps they're just trying to score! Portugal's short passing is a little wayward so Deco takes charge and puts Simao through, but he delays the shot and the save's easy.
Schweinsteiger has been Germany's best player in this tournament up to this point, and he's putting left-back Ferreira under pressure. This is unsurprising given that Ferreira is right-footed and out of his usual position.
18' Friedrich's great tackle in the box denies Ronaldo.
20' Best chance of the game so far is wasted as João Moutinho knees the ball instead of hitting it cleanly.
21' GOAL. GERMANY 1 - 0 PORTUGAL. Podolski on the left wing, plays two wall passes to perfection, crosses early and Schweinsteiger, whose diagonal run from the right wing to the left post has lost Ferreira, finishes first time inside the post. Great goal.
26' GOAL. GERMANY 2 - 0 PORTUGAL. Germany's height advantage counts as Schweinsteiger's floating in-swinger free kick finds the shoulder of Klose.
28' Portugal win a corner and every German player is in his own penalty area to defend.
32' Germany's 3-6-1 formation is causing problems for the Portuguese midfielders. German manager Loew seems to have out-thought Portugal (and future Chelsea) boss Scolari.
40' GOAL. GERMANY 2 - 1 PORTUGAL. Portugal and Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo's first touch takes him past the nearest German defender. His shot is well saved by Lehmann though, but the ball falls to Nuno Gomes who keeps cool to fire home.
45' Ballack shoots near post.
45' Ronaldo shoots just wide.
50' Pepe heads over the German bar by ducking away from the ball instead of jumping at it - a great chance wasted.
61' GOAL. GERMANY 3 - 1 PORTUGAL. A second free kick is floated over the Portuguese back line and Ballack fouls Ferreira by pushing him out of the way before heading past Ricardo. UEFA! WHY NOT ALLOW REFEREES TO REVIEW THE VIDEO SCREEN IN THE STADIUM BEFORE MAKING A DECISION? THIS GOAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO STAND. WHY MUST REFEREES BE THE ONLY PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAME WHO MUST BE HANDICAPPED BY NOT VIEWING THE VIDEO EVIDENCE? IT'S CLEARLY RIDICULOUS.
Ronaldo takes a free kick but his shot does not dip as it has all season probably because Uefa in its infinite wisdom has yet again milked the commercial cow by introducing a new ball just before the tournament instead of sticking with a ball the players are used to. It's time to eliminate this "mad cow disease" IMHO.
78' Podolski's rocket-shot, hit with the inside of the left foot, yet bending with reverse swing from right to left, whistles past the Portuguese woodwork. This is probably the most powerful shot of the tournament so far. Future opponents beware!
86' GOAL. GERMANY 3 - 2 PORTUGAL. Substitute Postiga heads the ball past Lehmann off a perfect diagonal inswinging cross by substitute Nani. We are just wondering why they had not been introduced to the game earlier when they, with others, play delightful short, onetouch passes on the edge of teh German box. While the Germans appear to be hanging on, a counterattack sees Podolski shoot straight at Ricardo.

Result: GERMANY 3 - 2 PORTUGAL.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER).

Croatia 1 - 0 Poland. Euro 2008

The Croats look like an all-round stronger team than Poland.
WATCHSOCCER prediction: Croatia 1 - 0 Poland.

Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria.

Goalkeepers Runje and Boruc both had good games, and hough Poland had chances to tie the score late in the match, it was Klasnic's goal in the 53rd minute that gave a Croatian "Second XI" the victory.

Result: CROATIA 1 - 0 POLAND.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Boruc (POL).

Austria 0 - 1 Germany. Euro 2008

WATCHSOCCER prediction: Austria 0 - 2 Germany.

The most notable happening in the first half is the sending to the stands of the coaches of both Oesterreich and Deutschland by the referee for what the TV commentators tell us is "constant bickering". Gomez fails to score from point-blank range and also fails to follow up to head home.
48' GOAL. AUSTRIA 0 - 1 GERMANY. Ballack's 30 metre rocket-shot free kick into the Austrian top left-hand corner.
84' Hoffer shoots wide.
91' Frings shoots wide.
93' Oliver Neuville shoots wide.

Result: Austria 0 - 1 Germany.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Ballack (GER).

France 0 - 2 Italy. Euro 2008

Henry doesn't seem top be firing on all cylinders - and Italy usually come good in crunch matches, so the
WATCHSOCCER prediction is France 0 - 1 Italia.

Letzigrund Stadium, Zuerich.
23' GOAL. FRANCE 0 - 1 ITALY. Abidal fouls Toni twice to make sure he is sent off while giving Italy a penalty. Pirlo steps up and powerfully curls the ball high into the left of Coupet's goal. This game could be over.
ESPN commentator Adrian Healey: "The French remain in the trench .."
25' Toni heads wide.
29' Toni just misses.
30' Toni just misses.
33' Henry just misses.
38' Benzema completely wastes a free kick by firing the ball at the knees(!) of the Italian wall. He looks to be out of his depth at this level.
43' Grosso fires in a free kick and Coupet makes a great save to touch the ball onto his right-hand post.
61' GOAL. FRANCE 0 - 2 ITALY. De Rossi's free kick is deflected by Henry into the French goal.
73' Good shot by Benzema, giving the lie to my previous statement about his being not good enough at this level, saved by Buffon. Che calcio!
92' Toni's shot on the turn is brilliantly saved by Coupet.

Result. FRANCE 0 - 2 ITALY.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Toni (ITA).

Greece 1 - 2 Spain. Euro 2008

Greece have already been eliminated and Spain will win their group whatever the score, so this is a meaningless match.
WATCHSOCCER prediction Greece 0 - 2 Spain.

Result. Greece 1 - 2 Spain.

Russia 2 - 0 Sweden, Euro 2008

Arshavin is back for Russia after suspension; for those who don't know, he's one of the best players in Europe. But Sweden are resilient .. and have Ibrahimovic.
WATCHSOCCER prediction Russia 1 - 1 Sweden.

12' Arshavin should've done better on a header 12 metres out from goal.
14' Neat football by Russia - quick and tidy passing.
16' Arshavin finds himself between the Swedish back four and the two holding midfielders, but shoots wide.
20' Arshavin almost scores on a cross-shot; Zhirkov volleys the resulting corner just wide.
Where are the Swedes? They know they only require a draw to progress in the tournament.
23' GOAL. Russia 1 Sweden 0. Great football! The Swedes didn't touch the ball in a multi-player move, Pavlyuvchenko side-footing the ball into the net past Isaksson's right hand.
26' Larsson heads against the bar, as Sweden fight back. Sweden are going home unless they get hold of the ball. The Swedish midfield is getting swamped by the quick-moving, fast-passing Russians. The Russians have not taken a couple of other chances, though. And once more Pavlyuvchencko hits the joint of the post and bar instead of scoring.
As half-time approaches, Ljungberg shoots straight at Akinfeev.
45' Nilsson breaks to goal, but Akinfeev is there again.

Half-time. RUSSIA 1 - 0 SWEDEN.

50' GOAL. RUSSIA 2 - 0 SWEDEN.
A great counterattack by Russia means three passes and the ball in the Swedish net via the boot of Andrei Arshavin from a reverse pass by Zhirkov.
55' Kallstrom on, Andersson off.
When the Russians are in possession of the ball, the Swedish midfield is standing in a line in front of the back four, thus allowing the ball carrier the luxury of picking his pass. This low-pressure defending just isn't working for the Swedes.
72' Ibrahimovic heads downwards for Akinfeev to save easily.
78' Allback on, Nilsson off.
79' Russia hit the post again from a deflected shot at the end of a penetrative run by Zyryanov.
81' Pavlyuchenko heads straight at Isaksson.
82' Pavlyuchenko should've scored, but his hot is wide of the post.
85' The Swedish attack is laboured and uninventive, the ball simply launched to the edge of the Swedish box.
88' Isaksson makes a good reaction save as Arshavin bears down on goal.

Result. RUSSIA 2 - 0 SWEDEN.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Andrei Arshavin (RUS).

Czech Republic 2 - 3 Turkey. Euro 2008

Geneva. Rain.
Though skillful Turkey is the only team to win a game at Euro 2008 after being a goal down (versus Switzerland), I feel the Czech team will be too powerful for them. The Czechs have to get past Turkish keeper Zolkan Demirel, however.
WATCHSOCCER prediction: Czech Republic 2 - 1 Turkey.

Sionko is looking dangerous on the Czech right wing.
16' Tuncay's shot just wide of Cech's left-hand post.
33' Goal. CZE 1 - 0 TUR. A Koller standing-jump header from a cross by Grygera.

Tuncay's header is straight at Cech. The first eight minutes of the second half has been played entirely in the Czech Republic's half as the Turks have remembered they have ball skills and mobility. Arda is flying on the left wing getting one cross in after another. Sabri is showing great skill on the right, too. The Turkish forwards are too short to take advantage of the crosses, though.
Afteran hour of play, the Turks are still pushing forwards.

60' Counterattack by the Czechs sees Koller one-on-one against Demirel, but the striker shoots wide with his weaker left foot.
61' Goal. CZE 2 - 0 TUR. Plasil scores arriving late on the far post as Turkey have only ten on the field.
63' Kazim Kazim's deflected shot saved by Petr Cech.
67' Tuncay heads striaght at Cech.

End-to-end football now as the Turks push forwards and the Czechs go for the jugular.

70' Polak hits the post. Almost three-nil as Demirel was well beaten.

74' Goal. CZE 2 - 1 TUR. Arda scores right in the corner from the edge of the box after a brilliant cross-box cut back by Altintop.
The Turks are putting relentless pressure on the Czech goal, with Arda terrorising the right back.
81' Servet's header is glanced instead of knocked in with only Cech to beat. A good chance.
87' Cech spills a cross, and Nihat slots the ball home. 2 - 2.
89' 2 - 3. Goooaaaal! Nihat beats the offside and curls the ball into the top corner of the Czech goal. CZE 2 - 3 TUR.
92' Demirel sent off.

Result: Czech Rep 2 - 3 Turkey.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Arda Turan (TUR).

Greece 0 - 1 Russia. Euro 2008

The defensive Greeks against the skillful Russians. We can't imagine the Russians managing to crack the Greek defence easily; but do the Greeks have what it takes to put the ball in the net, given they need a win (as do Russia) to progress in this competition?
WATCHSOCCER prediction: 1 - 1.

13' Pavlyuvchenko's chipped shot tipped over by Greek goalkeeper Nikolidis.
19' Charisteas misses his header right in front of the Russian goal after a forty-three metre free-kick is floated in. Poor defending by the Russian defence against the inswinger.
23' Patsa does well on the right for Greece to give Charisteas a half-chance.
30' The Russians, worryingly for coach of Russia Guus Hiddink, allow the ball carrier to approach through the centre.
32' Goal. Greece 0 - 1 Russia. Cross by Torbinskiy over the head of GK Nikolidis beyond the far post is inexplicably followed by the keeper who is made to pay by Semak, who brilliantly bicycle kicks to the unmarked Zyryanov to tap home. Yes, it was a goalkeeping mistake, but Semak's recovery of the ball is one of the best moments of this competition.

The second half sees the Russians continue to push forward, and therefore finding the best chances to score. Paylyuvchenko is greedy though, and chances go begging.
Charisteas does head on target under pressure. The game is punctuated by many fouls.
78' Greek free kick on the right, outside the Russian box. Stelios on. Good delivery by Basinas. Cleared eventually by the Russians.
82' Zhirkov's free kick just over the Greek bar.
86' Gekas is adjudged offside as Greece get the ball in the Russian net.
ESPN commentator Adrian Healey says, "It's bleak for the Greek."
91' Semak's long run leads to Pavlyuvchenko with only the keeper to beat, but he shoots over.

Greece eliminated.

Russia deserve their victory.

Result: Greece 0 - 1 Russia.

WATCHSOCCER Man of the Match: Sergei Semak (RUS).