The 2012 Euros have been a neutral's delight.  I've watched most of every game, unburdened by the anxiety that accompanies USMNT matches. 

The most fascinating match was probably Italy-Spain, a 1-1 draw involving a tactical battle between a 3-5-2 and a 4-6-0 (!) executed by very skilled and disciplined players (other than Mario Balotelli).  Several matches could fairly claim to be the tournament's most exciting, including today's England-Sweden 3-2 game.  While not a particularly skillful match overall (I don't think either side put together more than four passes the whole game), the Gerrard-Carroll header and the Walcott-Welbeck goal were brilliant.  Welbeck's 135 degree side-heel of Walcott's cross, past the defender riding his back and the near-post Swedish keeper, is the goal of the tournament so far.

Germany and Spain look tops for now, although each have problems.  Germany's defense is weak, and someone will make them pay for it.  The question is: will Germany outscore them anyway? Spain's defense is not particularly good either, but if Torres has truly rediscovered his Liverpool form (or just some of it), it won't matter.  Spain tends to occupy the middle, because they have so many brilliant midfielders and no true strikers or wingers.  The defensive response is to clog the middle of the field, hold Spain to a goal, and hit them on the counter.  Even still, Spain wins most of those games anyway, because they're so good at holding and distributing the ball. If they have a true striker whose runs and movement stretch the field, they'll be nearly impossible to beat.

Players of the tournament so far: Iniesta, Pirlo, Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Nasri, Mandzukic.

I hope Poland advances.  It's always more fun when a home team makes it to the knockout rounds. 

FF