Wrapping up the Day 2 that was at the European Championships with our 10-point outlook with no chronological significance, because sometimes numbers frankly just don’t matter believe it or not:
1. One of these two Group B matches, Germany-Poland or Austria-Croatia, will be more languid than the other, which is really saying something. Austria-Croatia definitely gets the nod; hopefully the competition isn’t stiff for most pale match of the tournament.
2. It’s back to work for Michael Ballack in his reassumption of point-guard duties for the Group’s heavily favored Germans, unless head coach Joachim Low has his chief star play truer to his Chelsea identity by allowing fellow midfielders increased offensive involvement. Surely enough, Ballack’s participation level was positively scant at times, as if he was playing at Stamford Bridge. Low was riding Podolski real hard on the left side, but it appeared to be more out of recognition for a mismatch on the Polish side of things. Adjustments for Croatia can be expected.
3. Jens Lehmann’s international goalkeeping legacy that has been amongst the swirl coming out of German preparations looks comfortably safe for now; it’s just Poland. Lehmann got himself into a little trouble early but was able to cruise through a relatively stress-free day for the most part. Those early (mini) blunders will put a scare into the most obsessive German backers already forecasting the rest of the road toward the final.
4. Not that any action in such a high-magnitude endeavor shouldn’t be taken for granted, but please Group C, don’t be late. The countdown has fallen below 24 hours! The tournament remained pretty groggy today trying to wake up. If it’s going to snap to life in this first batch of group matches, tomorrow’s the day.
5. Eduardo’s absence leaves the opportunity in the Croatia scheme for an emerging scoring presence up front in the tournament (Mladen Petric comes to mind), although maybe instead its stud midfield will truly get to shine on the largest of stages. Petric was almost the anti-Eduardo with his inability to finish a few prime scoring chances and strike partner Ivica Olic picked up the decisive penalty but not much else in 82 minutes. Sadly, the vaunted midfield didn’t offer much more in the name of offensive pressure. This was not an assuring outing for Croatia by any stretch.
6. Austria’s ability to not to act like an uncontested No. 16 of 16 teams as the host awarded a caveat appearance is seriously in question. There was the hustle everyone expected but also plenty enough execution to wonder what might transpire when they take on Poland. A win isn’t out of the question if they can pull tricks out of the playbook.
7. Someone on the bench in either game is hoping to make a trend of the goal work done Saturday by Vaclav Sverkos and Raul Meireles in Saturday’s tourney openers. Nope, no bench goals to speak of.
8. It’s take two for the Andy Gray Show. And also take two for Adrian Healy on the episode of ‘Sky Sports Idol.’
9. Give Poland the benefit of the doubt — there are a few things about this team worth being impressed about above the fact that the two EPL keepers on its roster don’t even start. They out-possessioned Germany 52-48 and had some offensive pep once Roger Guerreiro substituited into the scrap, but the team didn’t come close to making any kind of statement.
10. The new ball has quite a test today if it indeed is supposed to bring out the Matt Taylor in anybody and everybody for the next three weeks. The Polish, Austrians and Thomas Hitzlsperger certainly acknowledged the opportunity with a barrage of outside attempts. Hitzlsperger, aka ‘The Hammer,’ may have actually been Matt Taylor in the Premiership before Taylor himself if he wasn’t playing for Aston Villa during that Iron Age stretch before Martin O’Neill arrived.
