We’ve seen enough basketball during this summer’s Olympic Games to know that the two best basketball teams reside in the United States and Spain. In the wee hours of the night, these two powerhouses will face off in what could provide a free preview of the Gold Medal Game, played August 24.

We know about the NBA players the Spaniards possess: Los Hermanos de Gasol, Jose Calderon, Rudy Fernandez and Juan Carlos Navarro. But it’s the 17-year-old beanpole that has everyone in Beijing talking. That player is Ricky Rubio, a surefire top 5 pick in a future NBA Draft. Rubio doesn’t look like much physically, but his vision and passing abilities have had all NBA scouts picking their jaw up from the ground.

If you haven’t seen the magic yet, enjoy this mix of Rubio’s antics.

With an amazing tournament full of excitement and surprises coming to an end, Sportable previews the UEFA EURO 2008 Final between Germany and Spain.

How they got here:

Germany:

Group stage: W 2-0 v Poland, L 1-2 v Croatia, W 1-0 v Austria (6 points, 2^nd place)

Quarterfinal: W 3-2 v Portugal

Semifinal: W 3-2 v Turkey

Spain:

Group stage: W 4-1 v Russia, W 2-1 v Sweden, W 2-1 v Greece (9 points, 1^st place)

Quarterfinal: D 0-0 v Italy; won penalty shootout 4-2

Semifinal: W 3-0 v Russia

Tactics:

Germany:
Since the quarterfinal against Portugal, Germany has fielded a 4-2-3-1 with Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger at the wings, two defensive midfielders in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes, and captain Michael Ballack as the CAM. It is likely, however, that Torsten Frings will replace either Rolfes or Hitzlsberger for the final. Miroslav Klose has been leading the line as a lone striker. Joachim Lowe also went back to the 2006 World Cup backline after Marcell Jansen’s ineffective performances, moving Turkey killer Philipp Lahm back to LB and bringing back Arne Friedrich. As a result, Germany has been more industrious in midfield and is much more offensive minded with six goals in two matches. The concern is the four goals that they have conceded since the quarters. Only the second Turkish goal can be attributed to Jens Lehmann being crazy Jens. Against a Spanish side that looked great against an offensive-minded Russia, Germany must be watertight at the back.

Spain:
Obviously the big question is whether Spain will have Valencia forward and EURO 2008 top scorer David Villa. With him, they play a 4-4-2 with Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena and Joan Capdivela at the back, Marcos Senna as the holding midfielder, Xavi as the playmaker, Andres Iniesta playing in an adaptive role at right winger, David Silva at left winger, and Villa and Fernando Torres up front. However, it is unlikely that Villa will be fit, as team doctor Jesus Jimenez says that the mercurial striker has a small tear in the back of right thigh that would ordinarily take 7-10 days to heal. If that is the case, then Cesc Fabregas will deputize as he did to maximum effect against Russia. Spain coach Luis Aragones’ preferred formation is 4-5-1, and with Fabregas’ man of the match display, he will not hesitate to deploy him against the Germans. Spain plays a slick passing game that they can either use at a slow build-up pace or a fast attacking style. With Xavi and Fabregas in the lineup, their passing and ball control is even more clinical and will be the key to holding possession. The Spanish defense has been dogged by questions, but it has managed to keep two clean sheets. Of course, a lot of the credit has to go to the captain Iker Casillas. Read the rest of this entry »

With the UEFA EURO 2008 tournament from Austria-Switzerland just days away, the Sportable staff will bring you team previews leading up to the opening match. Group by group, we will discuss team rosters, flaws. and chances of being crowned European Champions.

Group D Matches:
June 10th: vs. Russia (Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck)
June 14th: vs. Sweden (Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck)
June 18th: vs. Greece (Wals Siezenheim Stadium, Salzburg)

Will They Finally Stop Underachieving?
It is one of the biggest puzzles in world soccer: Why in the world have Spain consistently failed in international tournaments? With arguably the deepest domestic league in the world, the consistent disappointment of Spain’s national team is one of soccer’s biggest mysteries. Time and time again, they have shown up to the World Cup and European Championships with loaded rosters…and time and time again, they’ve let everybody down. For EURO 2008, the script remains the same. Can La Furia Roja hoist their first major trophy since winning EURO ‘64?

Read the rest of this entry »