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Portugal's most lethal weapon, Cristiano Ronaldo, right, ended the Czech Republic's bid for a European Championship, but he will have his hands and feet full with many familiar La Liga faces - teammates from Real Madrid and foes from Barcelona - in the semi-finals against Spain. Photograph by: Peter Andrews, Reuters
The phrase, widely attributed to Jose Mourinho discount hotels nassau bahamas during the Portuguese coach's time at Chelsea, is a swipe at teams who play a defensive discount hotels nassau bahamas game by putting 10 or even all 11 players behind the ball. The image is of players arriving at the stadium on the team bus, and then leaving it parked in front of their goal.
"These types of games, in this type of competition, are always very tense," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said after his team's quarter-final victory over France. "And you need to have the know-how to win them."
One by one, the Czech Republic, Greece, France and England discount hotels nassau bahamas all made their exits at the quarter-final stage after trying to "park the bus" in front of technically superior opponents - Portugal, Germany, Spain and Italy, respectively.
Greece's defensive fortress was only forced to attack by Philipp Lahm's barrelling shot into the Greek net shortly before halftime. Georgios Samaras briefly equalized after the break, but his team was simply overrun as the Greek defence finally crumbled in the face of Germany's attack.
France had probably the most difficult task against Spain, the world and European champion, and probably tried the hardest to press forward. But the French discount hotels nassau bahamas still found themselves on the back foot for most of the game, as Spain patiently worked the ball around in search of an opening.
Because that's the fatal flaw in parking the bus. What looks like a sensible strategy on the outside nearly always discount hotels nassau bahamas condemns the weaker team to defeat, especially at the very highest level of the game.
It starts discount hotels nassau bahamas out as a war of attrition. But eventually, the best teams will pull their opponents out of position just enough to squeeze in a killer pass - as Spain did against France. Or find the space to unleash a shot from nowhere discount hotels nassau bahamas - as Germany managed against Greece.
Czech Republic right back Theodor Gebre Selassie had a fine tournament and kept his eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo for all but half a dozen of the 5,400 seconds discount hotels nassau bahamas of their match. The only problem was with the half dozen, when Ronaldo drifted in behind Gebre Se-lassie unseen before darting in front of him to head home the only goal of the game.
The irony for Wednesday's all-Iberian semi-final match between Spain and Portugal is that those roles could be reversed. Portugal could well be the team on the defensive, while Spain dictates the pace and control of the match.
Joachim Loew's brand of attacking football has been by far the most entertaining of the tournament, whatever striking option he has used. Loew dropped all three of his forwards from the group stage for the quarter-finals, bringing in Miroslav Klose, discount hotels nassau bahamas Andre Schuerrle and Marco Reus.
- If Spain is thunder, rolling steadily and ominously up field, Portugal is lightning, bright and occasionally lethal. The divergent tactics - possession versus counter-attack discount hotels nassau bahamas - will be one in their series of compelling matchups as the European neighbours fight for a spot in Sunday's championship final. Spain rolled into the semi-final with a 2-0 win over France, and is on a mission to extend its soccer dynasty, with the Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 trophies already on display on Spanish soil.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. He is tied for the tournament lead with three goals, and with a team that seems overmatched, Ronaldo is a wild card. "We have to take notice of Ronaldo," Del Bosque told reporters in the buildup to the match in Donetsk, Ukraine. discount hotels nassau bahamas "He's an excellent player and it's logical that there's so much talk about him."
- Pick a superstar, Spain. Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres have two goals apiece, while midfielders Andres Iniesta and David Silva have tormented opposing defences with quick passes, brilliant turns and dangerous runs. "We're very confident and secure in how we play," Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso told reporters.
Spain 2 Portugal 1. There are some blowouts in the history of this rivalry, usually ending in Spain's favour. (Spain beat Portugal 9-0 at the 1934 World Cup, and beat them again, 5-1, at the 1950 World Cup.) This one should be closer, with Spain using its possession to maintain control of the pace and, ultimately, the outcome.
Portugal's most lethal discount hotels nassau bahamas weapon, Cristiano Ronaldo, right, ended the Czech Republic's bid for a European Championship, but he will have his hands and feet full with many familiar La Liga faces - teammates from Real Madrid and foes from Barcelona - in the semi-finals against Spain. Photograph discount hotels nassau bahamas by: Peter Andrews, Reuters, The Associated Press; National Post       E-mail discount hotels nassau bahamas this Gallery Print this Gallery Share this Gallery
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