Predict Addict Blog

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Paul Saunders Wins The UEFA Euro 2008 Prediction League

Congratulations go to Paul Saunders who has won the UEFA Euro 2008 Predict Addict's prediction league and is crowned the Predict Addict 'Best Pundit'. Paul scored an impressive 34 points, 2 points ahead of Nick Nabavian, while in 3rd place was Malcolm Craddock on 30 points.

Below is the final top ten leaderboard for the UEFA Euro 2008 Prediction League.

POS NAME POINTS
1 Paul Saunders 34
2 Nick Nabavian 32
3 Malcolm Craddock 30
4 Foosball God 29
4 shaun musgrave 29
4 Brian Stiller 29
4 Mark Simpson-Brown 29
5 Gav Grayson 28
5 Ignacio Garcia 28
5 Johnny Picinic 28

Don't forget that we will be running the FA Premier League 2008/09 prediction league in August!

Holders Greece Knocked Out By Russia

Russia beat Greece knocking them out of the Euro 2008. Konstatin Zyryanov scored the winner for Russia from close range on 34 minutes after Antonis Nikopolidis's mistake.

Holders Greece didn't light up the competition and deserve to be going home early. Russia must now beat Sweden to qualify for the quarter-finals in a must win game for either side.

Result

Greece 0-1 Russia

Spain Sink Sweden

Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals beating Sweden 2-1 after David Villa's last-gasp strike won the game.

Fernando Torres gave Spain the lead after 15 minutes poking home David Silva's cross. Sweden levelled when Zlatan Ibrahimovic met Fredrick Stoor's cross on 34 minutes.

Villa scored the winner in the 92nd minute and slide the ball into the corner of the net.

Spain were lacking the fluid movement they showed against Russia, but I predict they will raise their game for the next round.

Result

Sweden 1-2 Spain

Netherlands Thrash France

Netherlands give France a lesson in playing counter-attacking football and gave them a thrashing. The win meant the Netherlands have finished top of the 'group of death' Group C and have qualified for the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands opened the scoring when Dirk Kuyt headed in on 10 minutes. Robin van Persie turned in Arjen Robben's cross on 60 minutes, before Thierry Henry pulled one back from close range after 71 minutes.

The Dutch weren't finished with scoring and seconds later Robben's finished from an unbelievable angle. Wester Sneijder sealed the win with the fourth goal a 20 yard stunner in injury time.

With this performance the Netherlands have to be favourites to win the Euro 2008 tournament as they've outplayed both teams that reach the final of the last World Cup.

Result

Netherlands 4-1 France

Buffon Saves Italy

World Cup winners Italy were minutes away from being knocked out of the Euro 2008 by Romania. Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty from Adrian Mutu, which kept Italy in the Euro 2008.

Mutu had given Romania the lead lifting the ball over Buffo after a poor back header on 55 minutes. Romania's lead only lasted a minute as Christian Panucci touched in Giorgio Chiellini's header.

Result

Italy 1-1 Romania

Co-hosts Austria Given Lifeline

Austria were given a Euro 2008 lifeline equalising via a penalty in stoppage-time against Poland.

Artur Boruc made a string of saves to keep Poland in the game as the co-hosts should have been 3-0 up after 15 minutes. However, Poland took a surprise lead on the half hour mark with Marek Saganowski cross come shot was poked home by Roger Guerreiro.

Austria chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals were given a glimmer of hope when English referee Howard Web judged that Mariusz Lewandowski had hauled down Sebastian Proedl. Up stepped substitute Ivica Vastic and he slammed the penalty home to become the oldest scorer in European Championship history at the age of 38.

Result

Austria 1-1 Poland

Croatia Surprise Germany

Croatia beat Euro 2008 pre-tournament favourites 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Darijo Srna scored the opening goal for Croatia on 24 minutes when he bead Marcell Jansen to Danijel Pranjic's cross and fired home.

Germany then gifted Croatia a second goal on 63 minutes when Ivan Rakitic's cross deflected off Luka Podolski hitting the post and rebounding into Ivica Olic path who tapped the ball home.

Podolski pulled a goal back with a late strike on 78 minutes, his guy doesn't know how to score a normal goal. However, all hope of scoring the equaliser faded when Bastian Schweinsteiger was sent off in injury time for pushing.

I predict that Croatia would pull a surprise or two and they don't get much bigger than beating Germany. Germany now have to avoid defeat to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Result

Croatia 2-1 Germany

Ronaldo Show Arrives At Euro 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo show finally arrives at Euro 2008 after scoring one of the goals and then setting up another as Portugal beat the Czech Republic 3-1.

Portugal took the lead on eight minutes after Deco prodded the ball past Petr Cech. Portugal's lead didn't last long as the Czech Republic equalised when Libor Sionko headed in from a corner on 17 minutes.

The teams went in level at half-time and it is was hard to separate the teams, but in the second half Ronaldo came to life and finally lit up Euro 2008. Ronaldo restored Portugal's lead on 63 minutes clipping in a low shot from inside the box. Portugal extended the lead further when Ronaldo used his pace to break and squared the ball for Quaresma who slid the ball into the empty net.

Portugal victory meant they qualified for the quarter-finals as Turkey had already beat Switzerland in the match before. I predict Portugal will be at the finals and may even win it, if luck goes their way.

Will Luiz Felipe 'Phil' Scolari be affected after he was named as the new Chelsea boss? I don't think so as the man isn't easily distracted and will want to bow out of the international stage in style.

Result

Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

Co-hosts Switzerland Knocked Out

Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland are the first team knocked out of the competition after they lost 2-1 to an injury time winner from Turkey.

The Swiss had started so well taking an early lead when Hakan Yakin tap in on 32 minutes from close range after the ball had slowed on a heavily drenched pitch. Turkey levelled the score when Semih Senturk headed on 57 minutes.

Swiss hearts were finally broken when Arda Turan cut inside and scored with a shot in injury-time which deflected into the goal.

Defeat for Switzerland meant they could no longer qualify for the quarter-finals, but the win has given Turkey a real chance and the game against the Czech Republic will determine who else qualifies from Group A.

Result

Switzerland 1-2 Turkey