Euro 2012: May the best team win. Or not
Agencies Thu Jun 21 2012, 09:18 hrs
Spanish players attend a training session for the Euro 2012 in Gniewino. (Reuters)
Euro 2012 has been nothing if not entertaining, with plenty of goals, thrills and spills and assorted controversies from racism to goals not being given that should have been -- with Greece adding the surprise factor.
With the quarter-final line-up now known, the football fan might feel entitled to ask a nagging question: "Will the best team win?"
If this season in general has been anything to go by the answer is likely to be: "Probably not."
International football can be a crabbier affair than its domestic equivalent -- witness the difference in pace between the frenetic English Premier League, even with its foreign stars, and an England team which can verge on the pedestrian.
Yet a parallel is emerging between the international games as witnessed by the European championships and the Champions League, widely seen as the pinnacle of what the game has to offer at any level.
For many observers, Barcelona rank in terms of pure talent as the outstanding club team in Europe, with Bayern Munich not too far behind. But it was Chelsea who denied both to land last season's Champions League against all the odds.
Barca may have had 80 per cent possession and 42 attempts on goal to 11 for their rivals over two games, yet it was the Londoners who advanced to the final.
There, Bayern cruised home in statistical terms – but lost on penalties.
At Euro 2012, there are several indications the "best" team doesn't always win.
England topped Group D after beating Ukraine, yet the hosts enjoyed 62.5 per cent of second-half possession, as well as a "goal" that wasn't given, despite crossing the line.
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Schedule
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June 28, 00:15 hrs
ESP v/s 
POR -
June 29, 00:15 hrs
GER v/s 
ITA
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifts the trophy after the Euro 2012 soccer championship final between Spain and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP) 
Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik creates a sand image to extend his wishes to Euro Cup 2012 champion Spain at Puri beach on Monday. (PTI)
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and teammates Leonardo Bonucci react after losing the Euro 2012 soccer championship final between Spain and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP)
Fans of Spain celebrate Spain's victory over Italy in their Euro 2012 final soccer match held in Kiev, at a fan park in Malaga, southern Spain. (Reuters)
Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas celebrates with his team mates after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev. (Reuters)
