I have enjoyed watching Euro 2008.  Turkey have become the cardiac team of this tourney.  Three come from behind victories have given drama to this tourney, but injuries and suspensions will probably catch up to them.  I really enjoyed watching the Italians strategy backfire on them today.  I am a hater of this style of play and enjoy when it comes back to haunt you.  I call the style: time-wasting/stale-mating*.  *Please see below for examples of this tactic.

This is how it works.  Team A realizes that they cannot keep up with Team B's pace or style of play, team A decides to time-waste/stale-mate  team B into extra time.  Now this is not to say that Team A does not attack, they only counter-attack.  Team A cannot generate any offense on their own and need Team B to make the mistakes for them.  Team B get frustrated and continue to press for a goal knowing that team A is looking to go into extra time to take their chances on PK's or to get a quick break for a goal.  Two scenarios can therefore happen while this is going on. 

1.  If  the game heads to extra time: Team A scores a quick goal in extra time, then Team B will press for an equalizer all the while Team A plays bunker defense but still exploiting their advantage.  Sometimes Team A will get another goal to put it out of reach. 

2.  If Team B is able to score in regular time, but somehow Team A is able to score in regular time then we are back to our original scenario and more than likely head to PK's. 

*****See World Cup 2006: Italy's games against Germany and France for prime examples.  


*diving uncontrollably, feigning injury(especially in the late stages of the match), excessive time taken for throw-in's and goal kicks, more than 6 men behind the half-way line on their own side of the pitch at all times, etc... You get the idea. 

I personally enjoyed seeing the Italians watch their strategy backfire and their dreams of winning Euro Cup 2008 dashed before their eyes.  When the commentators go as far as admonish and single out a player for using the tactic on live TV, that is a problem.  I loved every minute of it.