Euro 2008: Man of the matches, June 18
ANDREI ARSHAVIN, RUSSIA. Why would you include someone in your squad who was suspended for the first two games? Well if you're Guus Hiddink and the player in question can perform like that, then it's a no-brainer. Arshavin showed Euro 2008 what Russia has been missing with a wonderfully imaginative and all-action display in a 2-0 win over Sweden.
WHAT WE LEARNED WEDNESDAY
1. That Russia – yes, the team that was demolished 4-1 by Spain in its opening game – cannot be written off. Hiddink's men, spurred on by Arshavin's brilliance, have hit form at just the right time.
2. That negative football has no place in this tournament. Sweden was made to pay for its lack of flair and while Greece, the most boring team of the lot, was the only side to finish without a single point.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THURSDAY
1. To see whether Cristiano Ronaldo can unlock a German defense that will dedicate itself to shutting him down. That battle could decide the first quarterfinal.
2. To see the pitch at St. Jakob's Park in Basel hold up. The turf has been re-laid at short notice and there are real fears it could churn up. It would be an awful shame if the mouth-watering quarterfinal was affected by such factors.
