By Richard Machin

Last updated at 15:16, Wednesday, 27 June 2012

SO, any takers for an Italy Portugal final? No...thought not. But I suspect that it won’t be quite as predictable as many of the pundits would have you believe.

Richard Machin

Look at Portugal, for example. There are few more ominous sights in football than Mr Ronaldo in full flight, and after his teeth gritting performance against the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals he now looks like a man on a mission – and what greater mission than to put one over their near neighbours.

He’s only one man, but a combination of his intense flair and the rugged determination of his colleagues could be enough to frustrate and unhinge the Spanish giants.

Ronaldo has hit three goals in his last two games in the tournament and, let’s not forget, he knows how to score against Spanish opposition after netting 46 times for Real Madrid in 38 league games.

And, let’s not forget either, he will be up against former Liverpool full-back Alvaro Arbeloa in the game in Donetsk.

A decent enough player, but someone that Ronaldo will know inside out – and I predict will be able to turn inside out.

If Ronaldo gets up and running then expect the unexpected.

Spain, meanwhile, qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of Italy, scored more and conceded fewer than anyone else and have had more possession than any other team in the tournament.

On such stats success is built (England take note).

Yet they have still, remarkably, been taking some stick in their home country for being sluggish and ‘rubbish’.

Hard to fathom, I know, but the bar has been set so high that simply winning isn’t good enough – there’s a style to adhere to here.

So even the Spanish are under some pressure, and who knows how that could translate on the night?

The other game is even more intriguing. Germany are looking pretty formidable, but then again Italy showed in glimpses against England that perhaps they still have the pedigree to go all the way.

Joachim Loew showed the strength of his squad by dropping his three first choice forwards for the game against Greece – and still giving them an almighty walloping.

Germany certainly look the most complete team in my opinion, but there’s something about Italy...and if Andrea Pirlo can pull the strings with quite the same authority that he managed against England’s waning spirit, he could yet spring a surprise or two on the Germans’ back four, which I still reckon isn’t a strong as England’s – after all, Greece did manage to pinch a couple in the quarter-final.

If I was a betting man, I’d still have my hard-earned on either Germany or Spain when push came to shove, but I also believe there could be some interesting twists and turns before the semi-finals are concluded.

First published at 13:12, Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk