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Football
Star SportEuro Special
Of the touchline talismans
Afp, Paris

An AFP file photo shows Turkey's inspirational coach Fatih Terim watching the proceedings of the Euro 2008 semifinal against Germany on June 25 at the St Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, Switzerland. Photo: AFPThe fates and fortunes of the Euro 2008 coaches:FINALISTSGermany - Joachim LoewThe 48-year-old has come through his first major finals with his reputation enhanced, especially after outwitting Chelsea-bound Luiz Felipe Scolari in the quarterfinal against Portugal, despite having to sit in an executive box having been suspended for a match after an altercation with the fourth official in the group match with Austria, though, he showed his nerves by sneaking a quick cigarette or two during the Portuguese clash. Has shown exactly what Jurgen Klinsmann said of him after the 2006 World Cup finals: 'He was much more than an assistant'.Spain - Luis AragonesThe 69-year-old would well deserve the traditional pipe and slippers of retirement, but whether he ends up at Turkish side Fenerbahce or not he will still figure in the world of football. Many would have their doubts about him as a character, 'eccentric' the most often cited assessments of the 'Wise Man of Hortaleza' but one can't argue with what he has achieved with Spain. Has proved he was right not to stand down after exiting in the second round of the 2006 World Cup having got a talented team into the final after decades of underachieving by the Furia Roja. The raised eyebrows when icon Raul was left out of the squad have been more than lowered, though the injury to David Villa may come back to haunt the sage.SEMIFINALISTSTurkey - Fatih TerimThe 'Emperor' more than lived up to his nickname. The players may have done it on the pitch in coming back from the dead on three occasions but it was down to his motivational powers and animated performances on the sidelines that got them to perform like that. The 54-year-old former Galatasaray handler has said he will stand down but the federation will have none of it. Battle of the wills on its way and having witnessed the way his team played, one wouldn't bet against Terim having his way.Russia - Guus HiddinkThe 'Czar' or 'Golden Guus' once again worked his magic with a team of relative unknowns as he had done with South Korea and Australia in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. To many Russia were quite remarkable having been slaughtered 4-1 in their first match against Spain, producing stellar performances in their next three matches including a dismantling of Hiddink's compatriots Holland in the last eight. All that the European Cup winning handler requires now is to actually reach a final and win it. The 61-year-old deserves it more than anyone and Chelsea may come to regret not taking him instead of Scolari.LAST EIGHTPortugal - Luiz Felipe ScolariHe may be the spitting image of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman but there was nothing award-winning of the 59-year-old Brazilian at Euro 2008. Whether the Chelsea deal affected him or the furore over playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo's future also came into play, he was outfought, out thought and out coached by Loew in the match that mattered, the quarterfinal against Germany. Had got Portugal through their group successfully but wins against a still to be fired up Turkey and a fading Czech Republic side hardly speak volumes for their campaign. Disappointing.Croatia - Slaven BilicPerhaps along with Terim the best coach of the tournament, or certainly the revelation if the two wins over England in qualifying hadn't already alerted people to the engaging 39-year-old's talent. Never calm, patrolling the technical area like a caged tiger, he confirmed that nice guys can produce results, and encapsulated his laid-back reputation by nipping off for a cigarette after the 2-1 group win over Germany. Was also there for his players when they experienced the real trauma of being beaten by Turkey in the penalty shootout after having looked like being the winners, scoring in the final minute of extra-time. He masked his despair and went round each and every one of them embracing them. "This is something we'll never forget - it will haunt us for the rest of our lives. We'll probably weep for a few days but such is life - things like this happen," was his typically philosophical approach to the defeat. Has a contract till 2010 and likely to honour it.Holland - Marco van BastenLooked to have the team to emulate his 1988 Euro-winning exploits as a player but fell short in front of a Russia side that was on fire. However, the 43-year-old showed he had learnt from the 2006 World Cup finals by making them a true attacking force, though the defence are still a shaky-looking bunch. Wasn't helped that Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were still carrying injuries or showing the effects of them. Despite that, the 3-0 and 4-1 destructions of world champions Italy and 2006 finalists France will live in the memory for a long time. Leaves now for Ajax but whilst not mentioned in icon Johan Cruyff's usual critique of the campaign, he can at least take something positive out of it: "Once again universal admiration for the 'Oranje' has been restored."Italy - Roberto DonadoniTwo years of trying to convince the Italian public and the press that he was worthy of replacing World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi came crashing to earth as Spain eliminated them in the penalty shootout and deservedly so after a truly dire negative display by the Italians. The 44-year-old was a flair player in his day but shorn of playmaker Andrea Pirlo for the quarterfinal his team showed none of that. Fortunate to escape with a draw with Romania and to come up against a France side with even less idea of how to play at this level, making the last eight was by chance more than by quality. He leaves with reportedly more than 500,000 euros in compensation, Italy leave with their reputation as world beaters in tatters.ALSO RANSAustria - Josef HickersbergerFormer Austrian international who was part of the celebrated side that defeated then defending world champions West Germany 3-2 in the 1978 World Cup. However, he was not dealing with the same calibre of player as coach of the co-hosts. In the circumstances the 60-year-old didn't do a bad job, garnering one point and one goal - scored tellingly by Austria's player of the year, a 38-year-old Croat-born midfielder Ivica Vastic. However, he has had enough of his second spell in charge of the national side. "I am stopping ... I feel empty and tired, I need to take a break and recharge the batteries," he said earlier in the week.Switzerland - Jakob KuhnMuch respected and ended with a farewell victory over a second choice Portugal side to give him a merited end to his reign. The 64-year-old - fondly known as 'Kubi' - had also to deal with the trauma of his wife being in hospital during the tournament after she suffered an epileptic fit and was put into an induced coma. While Ottmar Hitzfeld comes with a superior CV to the job, he will have to go some way to replicate the popularity of Kuhn. He had a mountain to climb but Kuhn more than conquered them with a moderate and restricted bunch of players.France - Raymond Domenech.His marriage proposal after the 2-0 defeat to Italy says it all. However, while poll after poll says he should be gone and amidst regrets that he was not treated in the same manner as Donadoni there are some important personalities sticking to him, the 1998 World Cup-winning side are almost at one in wanting Didier Deschamps whilst the younger generation want the 56-year-old to stay.Czech Republic - Karel BrucknerHow cruel life and the sport can be. The 68-year-old was ushered into his retirement in his eyes certainly a match early as the Turks came from 2-0 down to score three times in the final 15 minutes of their final group match and advance at their expense. Having turned the Czechs into one of the most pleasant footballing sides to watch over the past seven years, it was the cruellest of ends. Now he can tend to his gardening on his farm and play his adored game of chess. "This defeat is going to take me long nights to get over. There will be many of those."Romania - Victor PiturcaStaying on after Romania came within a penalty-kick of sending Italy out and pretty much guaranteeing themselves a place in the last eight. In second spell as coach.Poland - Leo BeenhakkerVeteran Dutchman set to stay on....for the moment. The 65-year-old should just be enjoying his favoured large cigars and not worrying about coaching a willing but mediocre international team. Mystifying is the only term to use for their failing to replicate their qualifying performances when they topped a group including Portugal. More mystifying still is that Beenhakker is yet to win a match at a World Cup or Euro finals. Not quite a Hiddink.Greece - Otto Rehhagel'King Otto's crown slipped from the 69-year-old's head all too easily this time round. "Miracles happen only every 30 years," was the venerable German's opinion. Greece simply weren't able to repeat their exploits of 2004, lead striker Angelos Charisteas was all over the place, and to several of the squad so were Rehhagel's tactics. Outdated and everyone had worked out how to play them. However, he is staying on and don't expect too much of a change either in tactics. 'King Otto' is not one for turning.Sweden - Lars LagerbackAlso staying. Did what he could with a tried, trusted, ageing and pretty modest squad. Didn't help that lead striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not fit, still scoring two goals mind you. Says that there are young players coming through to replace the likes of Fredrik Ljungberg but they will have to be of some stature to make themselves genuine contenders for a title. Lagerback is a top class coach but his conservative approach may be the restricting factor on the Swedes