Five Things We Learned in Swissaustria: Quarter-Finals

June 23rd, 2008 | by: Daryl |

1. Jogi Low is an excellent picker
After being sent off against Austria, Germany’s coach wasn’t allowed to contact his players during the game against Portugal. So he had two options:

a) Go the Jose Mourinho route: wire up an assistant with a concealed headset and secretly convey instructions from the stands.
b) Pick a team to win the game then sit back in the stands and pick your nose

Jogi went for b) and was spotted rooting around in his nostrils while Germany saw off Portugal 3-2. No video of that I’m afraid, but as the above Soccer AM clip shows, Jogi has plenty of previous experience with nasal naughties.

2. Hiddink for Holland!
Yes, he’s already done it once. And the results weren’t spectacular. But since parting ways with the Oranje job in 1998, Guus Hiddink has performed international miracles with South Korea, Australia and now Russia. His most recent feat was not just beating, but outplaying his home nation with attacking football. We can only imagine the awesomeness of a Netherlands team coached by the current version of Hiddink.

3. Turkey are unbeatable
If you can come back and win any game right at the whistle, you’re officially unbeatable. The only way such a team could lose is if the majority of their players were injured or suspended. Oh.

4. Luca Toni’s timing is even worse than his moustache
Anyone can have a bad couple of weeks at work. But most people save it for Christmas or sometime when no one will notice. Luca Toni chose the most important couple of weeks of the year to do everything wrong.

5. Size matters at Euro 2008
How about this: three of the Euro 2008 semi-finalists are the top three most populated nations in Europe:

1. Russia 142 million
2. Germany 82 million
3. Turkey 70 million

Spain are 8th with 42 million.

Tags: Euro 2008, Euro 2008 News, Europe, Five things, Guus Hiddink, Holland, Jogi Low, Jose Mourinho, Luca Toni, Netherlands, nose, picking, population, quarterfinals, Russia, Soccer AM

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Comments

By diana | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm

‘but as the above Soccer AM clip show, Jogi has plenty of previous with nasal naughties.’
The friendly against England…I actually didn’t know until I came across it on YouTube once. The clip I watched is the same as you posted Daryl.

And speaking of nasal naughties, I can’t believe what I had found. Jogi has done it again. It’s from the training session. This – http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/photo?slug=dcecc111c78c476f8a5a6e4ceec2db4b.soccer_euro_2008_training_germany_pro102&prov=ap

As a Germany supporter myself – *covers her face with shame*

Posted from Singapore

By Ben | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm

daryl, may I ask you a question: How old are you?

Posted from China

By Mantas | June 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm

In 1998 Guus led Holland to its best result since they were 2nd in 1978, and the two tournaments after that one they haven’t been able to get pas the Round Of 16. How the hell is that not a good result??????????

By Yevy | June 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm

The USSF needs to start saving their pennies, so that as soon as WC2010 ends they can drive a dump truck full of cash to Guus’s house and bring him stateside. Seriously, Hiddink would be a fantastic fit for the USMNT. They fit the mold of the teams he has had success with – not much individual talent, but plenty of athleticism and work ethic. I am drooling at the possibility of a US team that can move the ball like Russia has in this tournament.

Posted from United States