Final countdown

So after three weeks of ups and downs and great games every day, the final of Euro 2008 is a few hours away, to be contested by Germany and Spain.

For the Germans, it has been business as usual, getting to the latter stages of a tournament without playing to the best of their capabilities. In fact, had Turkey been preparing to headline the final, the Germans would not have had anything to complain about. They were let off the hook by the gutsy Turks who had the Germans cornered, only for them to conjure up a goal from nowhere. Typical Germany. Michael Ballack even admitted that it was their "German" mentality that got them to the final. Their mentality is probably their key strength, simply not knowing how to lose. The team is almost machine-like, bound to get the job done no matter how.

Meanwhile, Spain have reached their first final since 1984. For a team that has traditionally had some of the world's best players, this modest return is quite incomprehensible. Spain have been tagged as perennial underachievers, always packing up before they get started. This tournament has seen them emphatically lift the weight from their shoulders and proven themselves to be one of the fine teams, if not the finest, in the tournament. Their passing is superb and they monopolise the ball to such an extent that at time the only way for their frustrated opponents to stop their flow is to give away a deliberate foul. They haven't beaten the Germans in a competitive fixture since 1984, but there is a real sense of confidence within the team, one they haven't had in a very long time, and this could very easily be their year.

Both sides have played themselves down as the favourites, and with good reason to. There is already enough pressure on each team and the additional weight the favourites tag brings along does not help either team. Personally, I'm tipping Spain as the favourites, simply because they have been impressive in every game, bar the quarterfinal against Italy. That performance was also due to the Italians spoiling the game. The Germans have barged into the final with their workmanlike performances and good luck along the way. Ricardo and Rustu didn't exactly put in stellar performances against the Germans and must take huge credit for some of Germany's goals. Simply put, if the Germans are not out to spoil the game, I believe Spain will play them off the park. Incidentally, I cannot see any other way for the Germans to win other than to impose their size and physicality on the game. The question is whether they will use that style of play or not. It makes for an intriguing battle and one I cannot wait to watch.

The whole tournament has been a huge boost to football's reputation as the beautiful game and I for one will be getting a DVD review of the tournament as soon as it is available. Xabi Alonso said, "The best is yet to come and we need to finish off what we have done so far." We can only hope the game lives up to his words.

In transfer news, Frank Lampard has reportedly sealed the deal on a lucrative move to Italy, joining his former boss José Mourinho at Inter. Expected it really. The bond between the two would have probably fit in straight into Brokeback Mountain. Ok maybe not that far, but it was pretty close. Ricardo Quaresma has joined Inter as well, possible as a long term replacement for Luis Figo. I think he's overpriced, there are lots of other wingers around for less than €35 million. Cash-strapped Valencia would probably have accepted that offer for David Silva, who in my opinion is a lot better than Quaresma. Yet who am I to doubt the Special One. He must have a plan in mind. I don't feel like talking about other transfer speculation and done transfers at the moment. Too many to cover and I'm not in a writing mood. Head over to goal.com if you really need some news to read.

Are you ready for Mour?

God have mercy on the rest of the football world! Inter have got themselves the Special One. As if having won 3 consecutive Scudettos wasn't enough! You can almost imagine the press conference tomorrow. Mourinho waxing lyrical about himself. In Italian. He may not quite be fluent but you can be almost certain that he has been learning the language in preparation for this move. It's been an open secret for sometime now but the sacking of Roberto Mancini merely confirmed it.

Looking back at his managerial record, the one thing that stands out is his man management ability. Under his guidance, Porto became the best team in Europe, Chelsea won their first league titles in 50 years and players such as Carvalho, J. Cole and Drogba have flourished into genuinely good players (you can't really label J. Cole as world class). The key point of note here is that he transformed teams who have not tasted success and gave them the confidence to achieve it on the biggest stages of the game, in full view of the public eye.

You can only wonder what he will do to a team of proven winners! Fresh from winning their 3rd league title in a row, the appointment of Mourinho will ensure that they start next season as one of the favourites for the Champions League. And he's already been linked with his former players at Chelsea, notably Lampard, Drogba and Essien. Armed with funds, a team of winners and a few additions to the playing squad and the rest of Europe will be quaking in their boots come next season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has often been accused of not performing in the big games. Inter's encounter with Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 this season added fuel to the critics' fire. However, now that Mourinho has taken the hotseat, you can expect Ibrahimovic to set Europe alight next season. It would not be surprising in the slightest, such is the reputation Mourinho has built up for himself. His ability to bring the best out of his players has been the one constant of his managerial career. Add the return of Adriano from his loan spell at Sao Paulo and you have possibly the most potent striking partnership in world football. Should one of them fail to perform, he will have a very able deputy in Hernan Crespo. The Argentine is a proven hitman in the slow-paced environment of Serie A and could easily replace any of the two. A reasonable defence and a creative midfield ensure that on paper, Inter are bound to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch next season.

However, there is always two sides to a story and for all the hype and expectation surrounding Mourinho's arrival, we may yet end up watching an Italian version of Chelsea. Yes, just imagine that. Outrageously talented players such as Ibrahimovic, Stankovic and Adriano wasted to accomodate Mourinho's notoriously careful tactics. Italian football is already defensive enough and Mourinho's containing tactics may only serve up another reason why Italian football is only watched by defenders and blind men. His entire backroom team that worked under him at Porto and Chelsea will also join him in Italy. Further proof that negative tactics may be a staple at the San Siro next season. He'll get results for Inter but it may not be bad advice to follow their progress via newspapers and websites as opposed to wasting 90 perfectly good minutes watching long balls.

Mourinho has also been known for his impatience with players who underperform and constantly live the high life. The Emperor is well known for his party lifestyle (typically Brazilian) and may cross Mourinho on more than one occasion. Whether he will toe the line is yet to be seen, but it would not be the greatest surprise in the world. Adriano could easily be sent packing next season but if he performs to the standard he is capable of, our eyes will be the winners.

You can't help but wonder if Mourinho has made a wise career choice. Inter have just sacked their most successful manager in recent times. Shades of Chelsea. The impression is that 1 trophy will not be enough for Mourinho. Then again it's not enough at most top clubs these days anyways. Whatever happens, all eyes will be on Inter next season. All the best to him. He's just one of those people you love to hate.