Victory for the united states

Jun 22 2008 Andy Walker

A MARVELLOUS tournament looks sure to end on a fitting high next Sunday when the European champions are crowned in Vienna.

Germany or Turkey? Spain, Italy or Russia? Who knows.

It's been fascinating to see how the players and the managers have handled different circumstances and the French have emerged as the biggest losers.

Even though Scotland beat them twice in qualification we were entitled to expect a lot more from Les Blues.

The World Cup finalists couldn't manage a single win, picked up one point and scored just a single goal.

In contrast it's to Holland's credit that in the toughest section they won every game, scoring nine and conceding only one.

Yet it seems they peaked too early and last night were expertly picked apart by Russia.

The difference on the park between the French and Dutch was just as evident off it though.

Like most people I expect Raymond Domenech to get the bullet after his under-performing side finished last in Group C when they were expected to reach the semi-finals at least.

It quickly emerged there were problems in the French dressing room.

Apparently, team-mates Patrice Evra and Patrick Vieira had to be dragged apart in the tunnel after the 4-1 hammering by Holland.

In the Dutch camp it couldn't have been more different. The team spirit was bright and breezy with all the players buzzing after breathtaking performances and comfortable wins - until disaster struck last night.

At the team hotel wives, partners and children have been present all the time and if France had that relaxed attitude who knows where they'd be.

Domenech was honest enough to admit the spat between Vieira and Evra was just part of the turmoil in the French ranks and his assessment of the problem was fascinating. The doomed France boss said: "The objective of every generation is to kill those who are above them.

"The young might listen to old men but also believe it would be better if they weren't there any more. That is normal for players."

A divide between young and old can be hard to handle.

Former Dutch coach Dick Advocaat was hounded during Euro 2004 for persisting with veterans despite Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart all threatening to emerge.

The former Rangers boss stuck with the old guard and was dumped when they came up short. Four years on those young players have excelled at this tournament and been brilliant to watch.

Elsewhere, the Germans are in the semis and showed what they're made of by overcoming a more talented Portuguese side.

Describing Germany as mechanical and efficient just doesn't do them justice. They were better than Portugal in every department and fully deserved to go through. Few are better in the knockout stages.

But it was a meeting of the German players after the 2-1 defeat by Croatia that seemed to spark them into life.

Michael Ballack showed great leadership by arranging the crunch talks - which went ahead without boss Joachim Low - and it definitely made a difference. A strong voice in the dressing room can be hugely inspiring when teams are underachieving and have the ability to do much more.

When I came back to Celtic for a second spell in 1994 it was a different club to the one I had left years earlier.

Instead of the instant harmony I'd felt among experienced players like Roy Aitken, Tommy Burns, Pat Bonner and Paul McStay in '87, the team of '94 were much younger and hadn't enjoyed a lot of success.

Rangers had been dominant for years and arguably put together the best side in their history.

In pre-season training it quickly became evident Celtic's youngsters all stuck together and were distant and isolated from the experienced men. Tony Mowbray (below left) recognised this immediately so called a team meeting to talk about it.

His way of fostering a closer bond was to show we were fighting for one another at all times and he wanted to introduce a clear message to that effect.

So against a German amateur side in pre-season the Huddle was born.

Mogga and captain Paul McStay suggested the players displayed unity before the game and the idea was to keep it going. My brainwave of togetherness was quickly binned though.

It was right after the USA World Cup where Brazil's unity was defined by holding hands as they took to the field.

My idea of Celtic players doing the same was deemed too girlie and booted out immediately.

The Huddle hasn't just survived over the years, it has become a huge part of the Hoops' pre-match ritual.

The fans love it as it brings them and the team together for a few seconds.

It was borne out of adversity and is now part of the club but one thing will never change. To win things you always need good players.

However, as Euro 2008 has shown if the dressing room is divided you have no chance.