You might expect Arsene Wenger to be backing Cesc Fabregas’ Spain to win this summer’s tournament, although the Arsenal manager has forecasted that Luis Aragones’ men will lose to Germany in the final.
The Guardian report that the Frenchman has been enjoying Euro 2008, but then again, such is his obsession with football that he’d derive pleasure from two pubs teams lolling round a muddy pitch. He thinks that Germany’s effective style of football might be enough to win the day and reserves special praise for Andrei Arshavin, who he wishes he’d spotted a few years ago.
“I think Germany will edge Spain in the final. They have a belief that comes from their history and that history gives them strength.
“Spain’s biggest handicap is that they haven’t won anything for more than 30 years, play two or three games and then go home. Germany have massive belief and you saw that in the quarter-finals. All the teams were at the same level technically. What made the difference was their mental aspect.”
Wenger said: “Russia have the best movement on and off the ball, and they use space better than any other team.
“What is quite amazing is that Russia is the only country where a player like Arshavin suddenly comes to the world’s attention at the age of 27. That is not possible anyhere else.
“I wish I’d seen him at 21 or 22. I predict he will come to the Premier League, or go to a big club in Italy. The way he plays is something very special.”
It doesn’t appear that Arsenal will be able to compete financially for the signature of Arshavin, especially with Wenger mentioning Italy, where the likes of Inter, Milan and Juventus have a big bucket of cash and plenty to spend on player wages. Is the Gunners gaffer right – will Germany win Euro 2008?