Romania

It’s always nice to feel a little loved, and it was with much joy that we came across this belated post on hypernarrative.com – which has only just appeared due to temporarily being lost in the drafts section on this rather super site. Extolling the virtues of the abundance of statistics in the game (and notably the Castrol Performance Index), see what Wilbert had to say over here – or in this small snippet.

“I can see that players that should be attacking spend most of their time on the wrong part of the field. This information adds context to the video footage, and it is context only interactive media can add. I don’t have to see this data all the time, I can just open it when I’m interested in how the players are doing. I don’t know if this is what interactive television should be, but I really like how this is adding an extra dimension to live footage.”

There’s more discussion on Xavi too, with those at http://r1ooooo.blogspot.com, keen to point out the benefits of the player of the tournament, as voted by the public on the Castrol Performance Index. Suggesting he was “key for La Furia Roja thanks to his superb short passing game and ability to break down opposition attacks”, he goes on with further praise. “His ability to dictate the pace of the game from midfield was extremely influential. The 28-year-old started in five matches and scored once, against Russia in the semi-final. He also created the goal for Fernando Torres in the final.”

Finally, there is plenty of food for thought over on the Sowetan blog, with a very relevant point for managers looking at picking up a bevy of hard-working journeymen on free transfers this summer. “According to the Castrol performance index website, in the group stage alone, the Romanians were the most energetic, covering 341.6 kilometres on average in three games. Powerful running is obviously not the key to winning however, as neither team made it past the group stage.”

True that!

9 points. 9 goals, and 1 conceded against the run of play… This has been a majestic ride for those indomitable Dutch, and whatever happens in the latter stages of the tournament - they can safely say that they have come, saw and conquered the group of death. Gloriously at that! Not a lot to say about this game, apart from the fact that plucky Romania just didn’t really have the firepower to compete here. But the Dutch second string certainly did. Robben, Van Persie et al all in the second string - and making waves for the first.

Just look at these overall stats from the CPI to see how much the Netherlands dominated here… And Sweden/Russia are likely to be shaking in their boots!

Responsible for covering almost 6,200 metres in the first half (that’s over 1,200 metres more than the lumbering Khalid Boulahrouz you might be interested to know), and showing the kind of never-say-die attitude that they love at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, euro2008statics.com favourite Marius Niculae, who’s been regularly in contact with the boys from Cally, is really getting himself about tonight. OK, so the Netherlands have dominated the game thus far, but the tenacious Marius and his teammates have held firm, with dynamite challenges, strong blocks - and they’re not short of a quality Adrian Mutu effort upfront either.

However, it’s Marius we’re focussing on today - and there’s only 45 minutes left for him and his countrymen to score and guarantee passage to the second round. Here’s his quite frankly mighty impressive heat map (courtesy of the CPI) below… Oh, and for anyone not watching the game - if you hear a tumultuous rumbling coming from North of the border, you can pretty much guarantee that Marius has scored.

Proof once again that it isn’t just the eyes of Europe that are glued (well, kind of, unless it’s Greece vs. Russia, which we watched out of politeness) to the current tournament being played out in Austria and Switzerland, we bring you news and opinion this fine morning from around the world.

Du Guodong, the editor of China View, brings us news that Leo Beenhakker has refused to step down as national coach of Poland following his team’s frankly lacklustre performance at Euro 2008. His extended contract saw his job safe until 2010, but that was signed before the tournament, and rumours abound that he might be receiving a Polish equivalent of a P45 before long.

The blog of The World Game, Australian-based sports show, reports that Italian coach Donadoni is expecting the Netherlands to do the Azzurri a favour and defeat Romania tonight, allowing his side to go through. They report that Donadoni has said if he was to put himself in a Dutch player’s boots, he wouldn’t want to be asked to lose against Romania, just to prevent Italy or France going through, going as far as to say he would be ‘humiliated’.

Sulmaan Ahmad, from Goal.com, holds a different view however. He reckons that Donadoni is going to make ‘wholesale changes’ to his side tonight, which could gift the French an easy ride through to the next round. This replay of the World Cup final revolves around the result in the other game, but literally any outcome is still possible, including a penalty shootout. Sulmaan thinks the ‘bragging rights’ for this one are too big to see a dull 0-0 played out, so roll on the goalfest!

Read the small print! 2010! 10, I said!

Adrian Mutu, histrionics at missing the penalty against Italy aside, is beginning to emerge in this tournament as a true threat, and one which the Dutch would do well to watch closely. Probing the inside left channel, as his Castrol Index heat map shows, he could exploit a probably weakened (read rested) Netherlands defence. That Romania have only had five shots in their first two matches is a moot point. Mutu has had four of them, and must surely find his (long) range soon, so look out for him peppering the Dutch keeper from the edge of the box, although in the outstanding form that he has been in so far – if playing – Van der Sar should swallow these right up.

The Dutch are proving that having no fear and going all out for victory even if the opponents are World Champions or World Cup runners up is the best policy to take in the Group Of Death – or any tournament where you only have three games in which to prove yourselves. Scoring seven goals in their first two matches, the Netherlands have got the highest shot conversion rate of all the teams so far, standing currently at 25%. That’s 28 shots in two games, compared to Romania’s 5, and considering the Dutch have played France and Italy, that’s not bad going. An albeit weakened side tonight might well have a concerted effort at destroying Romania, safe in the knowledge that they are already group champions and being caught on the break is of no importance.

Stats powered by Castrolindex.com

An outstanding save from Buffon sees Mutu’s penalty - and Romania’s dream of emulating the Dutch and beating the World Champions - crumble to dust. Italy will be happy to come out of the game with a point, but one from two games isn’t the best return. Not sure if a coach has ever been sacked after two games of a tournament, but Donadoni has to be worried about the dole queue right now.

Stats-wise, the main thing of note was the defence of both teams. Italy looked like the most threatening team in the end (despite Romania’s occasional forays through the middle, because their defence covered more of the pitch. Nowadays, and especially in international football, staying at the back isn’t always the sole job for a back four. Look at the heat maps and tell me which team you think was most attacking if you hadn’t seen the game.

Stats powered by http://www.castrolindex.com

The Romanian attack is defending for all it’s worth. If that makes sense. Look at the work being done by the front line in getting back to help their team mates, compared to the Italian forwards, who are simply staying forward. And that will make the front line of the team in blue much fresher and alert when it comes to creating a scoring chance. Let’s see how this finishes, but I reckon the Italians have more goals in them.

Stats powered by http://www.castrolindex.com