Euro 2008 free-kick and penalty takers
“Set Pieces: for and against – ignore them at your peril”, so said former England manager Graham Taylor in a quote immortalised in the 1994 documentary – Do I Not Like that.
The same could be said for a gambler looking to bet on Euro 2008 – which teams do what and who does it for them are key snippets of information. Firstly – who takes penalties ? Secondly – who takes direct free-kicks from scoring positions around the edge of the box.
To the best of my knowledge and research, the answers are below, but if you know different – share the knowledge and maybe we’ll all share some wealth with those first goalscorer bets!
Austria:Pens – Linz, FKs – Ivanschitz
Croatia: Pens – Srna, FKs – Srna
Germany: Pens – Ballack, FKs – Ballack
Poland: Pens – Zurawski, FKs – Smolarek
Czech Republic: Pens – Koller, FKs – Jankulovski
Portugal: Pens – Simao, FKs – Ronaldo
Switzerland: Pens – Frei FKs – Barnetta
Turkey: Pens – Nihat, FKs – Nihat
Italy: Pens – Pirlo,FKs – Pirlo
France: Pens – Ribery, FKs – Henry
Netherlands:Pens – van Nistelrooy, FKs – Sneijder
Romania: Pens – Mutu,FKs – Mutu
Greece: Pens: – Basinas, FKs – Karagounis
Russia: Pens: – Pavluchenko, FKs: Arshavin
Spain: Pens: – Villa, FKs – Xavi
Sweden: Pens: – Ibrahimovic, FKs – Larsson
Written by Simon Barlow, a professional sports writer who blogs about Euro 2008 betting at Betfair.
Poland
Zurawski missed penalty in last game, and generally he is not good at taking penalties in national team, but I have no idea who can replace him. Free kick takers? Really it’s not important, because Poland doesn’t have good set-piece taker. Probably Krzynowek, Zurawski or Roger especially when cross is needed. For direct free kick I think Lewandowski. He can shoot with power, but accuracy is the problem.
Can Torres take penalties for Spain?
And i think Benzema can take free kicks at times too, i mean when Henry has taken one earlier, make Benzema can try the nxt FK. who knows? look at Hargo for United.
Deco or Moutinho can take the FK once in a while, like they use to switch corner takers(after Figo retired)
Simon:
Re: Italy.
It might surprise us to learn that Marco Materazzi might be 2nd or 3rd to take spot kicks for the Azzurri. Although he caused a major row when he decided to take (and it was saved) one against Siena last month, he set the Serie A record for defenders in 2000-2001 with 12 goals for Perugia. Most of them from the spot.
Alex Del Piero may be the other choice for Mr. Donadoni in this area as well.
I’m not sure that Adi Mutu will take free kicks. Penalties, no doubt, and with a lack of other capable players on the tip of my tongue, it very well could be him.
Watch out for Mutu in this competition, he may end up top scorer.
Mutu- going to have a great tournament