Day 16: Xabi deserves success
LFC TV's Matt Critchley is in Poland to bring us daily updates as 16 nations compete for the European Championships crown. Here is his latest blog on yesterday's events.
One of the more amusing comments I read about last night's game was something along the lines of: "two teams doing their best not to shoot". I imagine the players and staff of Spain must look at quips like this with a wry smile.
Okay, it wasn't a classic but La Rioja got the job done once again - ther 8th successive knockout game win and all without conceding a goal. They're in yet another semi-final and after seeing Portugal scrape past an average Czech team here on Thursday, expect Vicente Del Bosque's men to turn them over with relative ease. They are the footballing equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Watching the match in a restaurant here in Warsaw last night, one of my fellow diners moaned that the game, and the way Spain were playing, was boring. I nearly choked on my tagliatelle. I really don't see how a side that keep the ball with such comfort and ease, for such long periods of the game, could ever be described as boring. We should have nothing but pure admiration for them.
A nice moment as well for Xabi Alonso who every Liverpool fan has a special affection for. Claire Rourke interviewed him in Madrid for the station last year and it's clear that the Reds had a lasting effect on Xabi too - he was always happy to do an interview during his time here, always a pleasure to deal with. It's people like that you hope enjoy the level of success that he has over the last few years.
Tonight will not be a classic either by the way - you can be fairly sure of that although both sides attacking talents outweigh their defensive ones. I expect a cagey affair which could go all the way to the dreaded spot kicks. I hope I'm wrong.
A moan to finish on. I've never seen so many people (touts) walking the streets advertising tickets for sale. It's clear some of the local supporters kept hold of their allocation - often 60 per cent, which seems excessive. A mass chant of 'Polska, Polska' in the middle of a match between Czech/Portugal or Germany/Greece just feels wrong. Football should always be about watching and supporting your team. Unfortunately, at times, these quarter finals have felt like exhibition games.
Ok. Rant over. Avoid the rain and enjoy your day.