The one thing I must say about the Turks is that they have the best fans in the tournament and not only that the team engage them with true sincerity.

However this games taken alot out of them, still no Volken and no Nihat nor Gungor by the looks of things.

This was absolutely incredible. 118 minutes I saw the worst game of this tournament, but the last two minutes absolutely made up for it.

Germany vs. Turkey is going to be an awesome semifinal. Turkey doesn't play wonderful football, but they know how to fight and they never give up. You have to give them credit for that.

Germany has a good chance to win the semifinal, I think Turkey lost three important players due to yellow cards today.

that ref was crazy, throwing yellow cards all over. Honestly I was hoping croatia to win, but that's how it is. I just hope some of my predictions hit the target soon.

Yeah dude, you're not doing too well right now. Good for you that everyone else is doing pretty bad as well, though.

I was very close to going to Basel and watch the Netherlands play (on big screen, not actually in the stadium). I'm kinda glad I didn't because it'd cost me and I need the money, but it also saddens me a bit. Would've been a kick-ass experience.

Turkey in 3th match right now they win in last mins like today in last 7 sec!!!

Shit, 0-1 for Russia. We are playing terrible.

Don't worry, you got Van The Man! Netherland played pretty bad, though, the equalized came out of nowhere.

Betting Game Sheet (Day 15)

Please fucking kill me. :(

This is incredible. After what they showed in the first round, I really don't know what the fuck the Dutch team was trying to do today. The defense was a disaster, I don't know what the hell Ooijer was thinking.

Portugal, Croatia and Netherlands (the self declared favorites) decided to give their most important players a break. Maybe that was a mistake. Because now, they're all out.

Turkey and Russia in the semi finals, who would have thought.

okay I got it wrong, but man arshavin is good I don't care losing these bets.

Haha you guys are awesome :tpg:

(was that on purpose?)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Netherlands :(

yyeeeeahhhhh !!

i watch the game on television and wow i love it

i will go out on the street now and party in the morning

russia can win the game now !!!

You mean beating lackluster [to say the least] Italian and French teams? I thought Russia would have a good chance today, but wow, even I didn't think they'd be dominating the play the way they did. Hiddink does it again~

One word to describe the Dutch team today and that was LAZY.

They got complacement and because they had played all their good football at the start of the tournament and thought Russia would be a walk over, you have to save some of that sizzling stuff for the knockout stages. I had my suspicions and was totally right about the Dutch, I always suspected Russia to do well because along with Croatia they were the quiet bet people had on the side but I did not expect them so well in this tournament.

Personally I expected Portugal to do better but simple defending let them down and against quality players such as Ballack and Klose you get punished. I expected croatia to advance yesterday but that Turkish magic was there again.

My money on who will win this tournament has to be either the Italians or the Germans simply because they can grind out a victory when they need to, its not pretty but they have a habbit of getting a result even when they play bad football. This is exactly why Arsenal did not win the Premiership this season.

The only spanner in the works is spain but I will stick to an Italy v Germany final.

Don't you think that Spain will kick out Italy today? After what Italy presented us in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised at all :D

Italy like Portugal in 2004 and 2006 for example are one of those teams that always seem to find themselves to the latter stages of a tournament without playing that well. I always suspected that Dutch and Spanish teams would build themselves up and fall flat because they have not had a bad game yet and thats where the true test comes. Championship pedigree comes from winning games you shouldn't win when you play bad football and Italy are one of the masters of grinding out a result.

To be honest there is one word to explain why the Italians have been a bit poor and thats Totti. That midfield simply doesn't work without him.

However I suspect Spain might have heeded the warning from the Dutch result to not be so complacement but I say 1-1 and Italy on penalties. That might be totally wrong but I have one of those inklings.

Usually Italians have stonewall defences, this tournament its been Ok but too shaky without Cannavaro backing up Zambrotta when he goes forward. The thing is Torres is utterly useless against good defences; Vidic and Ferdinand with Terry also handling him superbly proved that this season; so I give the Italians half a chance if the centre backs play well.

Torres is useless against good defenses? You really don't know that player at all, he is the only reason liverpool is able to score, don't get me wrong offensively Spain is a powerhouse, Villa and Torres can come up with a goal from anything, on the other hand Toni from italy is also great at scoring but recently had horrible luck when defining, but currently italy's defense isn't good enough to halt spain's offensive. Any defene is going to have trouble with that. I honstly just don't want any more italy referee drama, I am sick with it. I really hope if both spain(sergio ramos simulated a foul horribly vs sweeden) and italy don't go around faking fouls all over... or if they do the ref is capable of noticing and punish them accordingly.

I think the Netherlands was taken aback a bit by the events surrounding Boulahrouz. (his daughter was born way too early and died this week)

But it's still not an excuse for what happened, they were not even a shadow of what they were earlier in the tournament.

Now that they're out (I'm from the Netherlands) I'm rooting mostly for Italy but also Spain and Russia.

I'm not a fan of Turkey and Germany but I'll admit, if Turkey pulls it off against Germany that would be a major achievement, as they're extremely marred by injuries and suspensions. (which is why I highly expect the final will be Germany vs Italy/Spain/Russia)

Torres was Rio's bitch this season. When Torres comes up against big defenders who can out head and out muscle him he struggles. Sorry I saw probably 65% of Liverpool's games this season (I'm a United fan lol) and every one of the 'big four and top 8 ones' where he actually struggled and was substituted off on several occasions by Rafa. Your right he was the only reason Liverpool finished fourth but his awesome displays were against the lesser defences and lower position sides.

I say that but he was the best centre forward in this years premiership easily and Sir Alex made a mistake in passing up the offer to sign him. He's got power pace and a sublime finish. But in contrast somebody like Tevez scored 19 goals each and every one so bloody important so it balances out I suppose. But he would have been a dream signing.

If the Italians defend right they'll fustrate him. If they don't he will run riot.

As a pure neutral I'll still go Italy simply because somehow they always get the job done, via penalties, red cards, sheer brilliance, diving, etc... things always work out for them.

Lets go Espana!!! That foul against Silva should have been called.

Jesus what a boring match

Betting Game Sheet (Day 16)