Cup final bosses give backing to all out attack

Jun 29 2008 Andy Walker

ALL eyes tonight will be on star strikers Fernando Torres and Miroslav Klose as Euro 2008 heads towards its thrilling climax.

But the most attack-minded tournament in years could hinge on which set of full-backs, German or Spanish, makes the biggest difference.

I've been hugely impressed by the desire and ability of somany backs to charge forward.

They have done a superb job in supporting their wingers and getting crosses into the box.

And they have helped create the flowing counter-attacking moves that have been a trademark of the action in Switzerland and Austria this month.

Euro 2008 has produced a special crop of player - and I hope Scottish bosses have taken note ahead of the new season.

Spain's Joan Capdevilla and Sergio Ramos and Germany's Philipp Lahm have been among the most exciting, bombing upfield at every opportunity.

And if they play at full stretch tonight they could well have a major say in which nation ends its trophy drought.

Russian full-backs Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov were also a joy to watch while Dutch master Giovanni van Bronckhorst set up arguably the best goal at Euro 2008 against Italy then scored a beauty himself.

The attack-minded full-back has been a subtle weapon cleverly used by top bosses who appreciated having every attacking option available in these finals.

I hope the concept catches on in the SPL when the big kick-off gets under way.

For too long the standard issue Scottish full-back has been a stocky stopper who rarely crossed the halfway line.

An exception was Alan Hutton - but even he has been lost to the SPL after his move from Rangers to Spurs at Christmas.

A key factor in Gers' early success in the Champions League group stage last season was down to his attacking full-back play.

Alan's raids down the right were vital as the Ibrox men took the points from Stuttgart and Lyon.

And it is clear Rangers missed his quality contribution at the end of last season as they failed to land the SPL title and UEFA Cup.

I'd love to see a positive move by the Scotland coaches to encourage their full-backs to be just as effective going forward.

If it's good enough for the Euro 2008 finalists then it is good enough for us.

It would be fitting if Spain's style gets the better of the dull Germans tonight in the big finale at Austria's Ernst Happel Stadium.

But whatever happens the last three weeks have shown international football can compete with the glamour and glitz of the Champions League.

We've had some wonderful matches, full of spectacle and drama - and great goals.

So my message to UEFA's big wigs is: If the format ain't broke, don't fix it.

The decision makers look set to change the structure for Euro 2016 and let 24 teams into the finals - a plan set in motion by the SFA.

I believe it would be a big mistake - four groups of four nations battling it out to be Champions of Europe is a perfect formula.

Last year the former SFA Chief Executive David Taylor, supported by his Irish counterpart John Delaney, put forward this blueprint to boost the number of finalists.

While that would increase Scotland's chances of qualification I feel it would detract from the showpiece occasion.

UEFA could learn from the flawed idea that a bigger Champions League would be more successful.

Years ago there was a proposal put forward that two group stages would be better than one - but all it did was dilute the quality.

This proposal for the European Championships would do the same.

It might generate more money but the fact virtually every match played at Euro 2008 has been meaningful has meant so much to the fans.

Only the Group D clash between Spain and Greece was a bit of a non-event.

Spain had already qualified and the Greeks had no chance of further progress but this situation was the exception.

Apart from the absence of at least one of the host nations, Austria and Switzerland, in the knockout stage Euro 2008 has been a huge success.

We'd all love Scotland to be at such a huge party but apart from ourselves, England and possibly Denmark no big footballing nations have sat this one out.

And when you do miss out it should act as a spur to get there next time.

Former Scotland boss Andy Roxburgh, in his role as technical director to UEFA, has thrown up the notion that this has been the most successful international tournament ever.

It has certainly been a terrific one - and the main reason has been down to the superb feast of attacking football we've seen.

Let's hope it catches on.