[Tournament] UEFA Euro 2008

The only problem is when you play your best football at the beginning of the tournament like Spain and Argentina in 2006 and run out of steam later. But what helps is having a good bench and the Dutch certainly have that. I still think a good attacking side such as Portugal or a holding midfield such as Germany's will test them properly. France have been piss poor, and Italy's shape has been shocking at times, they are playing a 4-3-3 but looks more like a 4-3-2-1, with poor finishing.

You want to gradually play yourself into the tournament and keep fresh and confident which I think Portugal are doing simmering nicely they have alot better football in them but are still playing smoothly. My worry is the Dutch will get over confident, when they come up against a side that counter attacks back. I think people discount Croatia a little too much, Slaven Bilic is a very good coach and are my 'dark horses'; I think they will grow in confidence as the tournament goes on; they didn't beat England twice out of sheer luck.

Originally Posted by surasshu

Germany is pathetic. I was astonished to discover that the British commentators considered Germany top pick for the title. Have they not seen Germany play at the World Cup? Did they never see them play a qualifyer or a friendly match? This didn't come as such a huge surprise to me, their defense is a shambles.

They were right to think that as Germany are in the top half of the draw which means the only big team they can meat is Portugal on route to the final. Whereas in the bottom half of the draw you have Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands with competent sides such as Romania and Russia under Hiddink. So you fancied the Germans who have kept continuity in their ranks with Ballack and Fringes 2 excellent holding midfielders and Klose and Podolski to bang them in. The major problem I feel is playing Podolski as a left winger instead of a striker where the useless Gomez is playing and plonk Bastian onto the wing.

Some shocking decisions by some referees and even more shocking how FIFA are trying their best to agree with all of them. Italy have had 2 shockers.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Lord Styphon

How the hell do you card someone sitting on the bench?

Errm its not as uncommon as you think, cards can even be given after the end of a half even after the final whistle to any squad player this includes the bench and the manager and staff can also get red carded in that they can be banned from the dugouts.

I loved the Turkish team of 2002, but they have been really poor since then, I'm glad to see a little bit of the flair in the last third of the match. But Nihat's finish for the third goal, my word that was a beauty to curl it from 25 yards rather than slide it past Cech, takes bottle!! that finish I tell you now.

And the biggest Girl of the tournament award goes to Jan Koller, he's been going down so easily all match with barely a touch, so no wonder he feined being shot when Volkan merely shoved him.

Portugal didn't even look like they wanted to go out and play in their match, a nice consolation for the Swiss but Portugal knew they didn't have to do a thing and played lazily.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by surasshu

Turkey to be this Euro's Greece?

My money's on Croatia; Bilic has them setup nicely. They'll be happy to draw Turkey, who now have no Volkan nor Aurelio but I'm a fan of both teams.

Seeing Nihat's goal again really shows a nerve of steel to bury that one, a beaut.

The attacking has been sizzling but the defending by the centre backs this tournament has been shocking. The only real world class centre back in this tournament I feel is Ricardo Carvalho of Portugal. No Ferdinand (easily the best in the world at the moment), Terry, Canavarro or Vidic to show the sides how its really done. But this bodes well for us goal lovers.

This is developing into a lovely tournament. Need one out of France or Italy to qualify to help make the final stages a little more exciting.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

My Goodness the French were poor, there was no central unifying and leadership force at all in that team, Domenech had the worst team selection of the tournament I've seen. It goes to prove that people like Henry as good as he is just aren't cut out for the big stage.

Originally Posted by Musharraf

(which are pretty much the equivalent of German second league or English Premier League teams).

I don't think a second league German team is on par with an English Premier league team sorry.

Personally I think English premier league teams such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea have better teams than more or less all the countries in this years competition because they can actually defend and rip you apart at the same time. I've never seen such bad defending at an international tournament.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I think international viewers can view videos on the BBC euro 2008 site.

Just for a laugh here is Van der Faart

And the comedy of errors called France

I wish they had Adrian Chiles doing the hosting in conjuntion with Linekar as he's really good with this sort of stuff. His commentry on the swearing granny when Giggs took a corner was priceless.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Musharraf

This is correct, but then again, a team called "Greece" happened to be the most successful team in the qualifiers (I guess they got well over 30 points) and look how they've done in the main tournament. I just think that Croatia's performance against Austria was okay, but not excellent and the performance against Germany was not really good at all, it's just that Germany played absolute shit which, fortunately, they did not against Portugal the other day.

Croatia were my dark horses they were nervous against Austria but a 100%, but have been excellent since. Germany were poor but if Croatia do make it through I'd reackon they will do the double and beat Germany because they are organised, use the flanks and can counter attack. People write them off too much but all the pundits gave either them or Russia the Dark horse title.

Turkey what can I say I've always loved them and the passion is written all over the team, never give up is enshrined in their ethos. Who ever wins; it is a shame to have a loser. I'd love it Turkey won this tournament. In true heart I support them and want them to win.

Rustu used to be a great keeper and penalty saver not sure now that he's older.

Additional Spam:
Some absolute shockers, the goals only 12 yards away.
Rustu dived the right way on both of them too.

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

FELIPE NO

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Musharraf

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

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.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by juanzen

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.

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.

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Bah I had the full time outcome right as a draw but the score wrong at 1-1 Villa and Toni. See I was totally right about Torres he looks a bit lacklusture against strong defensive teams. The Italians have done a team job today with men behind the ball.

Still favor the Italians especially at penalties as Buffon saves around 2/3 of them which is astonishing. However Extra time as we have seen throughout is a lottery. Can Spain dig deep whrn they dont' play well? Must agree its an awful match. If Spain do score for me Fabregas looks like the one to do it.


EDIT: Why have the Spaniards constantly been diving in the box its unlike them.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Its 'squeaky bum time'. Anyone's guess.

1-1 That Grosso penalty was amazing.

2-1 superb save by Cassilias

2-2 poor penalty didn't get it in the corner.

2-2 another poor penalty.

3-2 Spain win.

Way too close.

Spain v Russia will be delicious. The way they are willing to match spain in attack makes it the semi final to watch. I will be the outsider and go for Russia 2-1.

Germany still to win it for me but they won't be beating Italy. (I thought it was between Portugal and them and the quarter final decided it).

How ya doing, buddy?