Or “Mark_B17 has a semi on” ???? 

So the juice is firmly flowing in this competition hey? For a start I’m not bitter regarding the Dutch getting knocked out in the semi final, in the end funnily enough I was more in awe of the Russians as any team who can keep on running like Blue-Arsed flies in the 129th minute deserves a medal especially in today’s game. On Wednesday night we saw the Germans take on the Turks, the Turkey coach came out and said if we are in a game down to the bare bones “we will not hesitate to use our third choice keeper as a centre forward” (and they was me thinking Tuncay was suspended). Ze Germans however have somewhat picked up and dipped but now after their performance against the Portuguese (that was fun watching them get stuffed) there credibility has now been regained. On the night Germany got through (we all knew they would, we didn’t like it but this the Germans, the VW Golf of the footballing world, hardly set the pulses racing but predicatable and safe) With performances from Ballack and Podolski and their normally steel tight defence you would have to say that with the current crop of choice at Turkeys mercy you would have to strongly tip the Germans to have got through at a canter, enter Lehamn with some goal keeping from the Isthmian Reserve league, and a Turkish side who thought “Ballacks to it, leys give  it a go”, and on the night, Germany didn’t look like they would pull through and win convincingly. But this is Germany…………

The Turks; The suprise of the tournament ? Lookt at Croatia when they faced the Turks and they as well the viewers got a huge shock in what was a rather different but yet spectacular style victory for the Turks with rusty Rustu providing the goods on the penalty shoot-out. The only downside for them is 3 key players from that game became  unavailable; Boro’s own Tuncay is suspended, captain Nihat is injured and Arda Turan is also suspended and they have been big influences in their campaign. Yes, Turkey were down to the bones, it would be childish not to say “well done Germany”, as it would making remarks about “VW’s” , “boringly predicatable” and “you can stick your sauerkraut  where the sun don’t shine”, so I’m off to retrieve my dummy from where ever it has landed.

The Spain v Russia might just be the game of the tournament, with Spain having put 4 past them alaready, and in a game in  which you look at the way the Russians have played, you wonder how the hell they did it. If you’re in a works sweep and have Russia well your one jammy so and so, if you are as you could have ‘heaviest defeat’ as well as champions so if you work in a big place or little place the money could be rolling in (and you never had faith in Hiddink, shame on you!). On the other hand Russia’s defence is a tad wobbly and something that maybe Villa and Torres may need to exploit.

That is a tough call normally - I will call it - Spain on penalties (oh by the way if that happens I’m a genius). <Ed, lets settle for “gifted”>

Keep fingers crossed for Boro signings also!

Mark_B17 and Chopper