Euro 2008

[Messi18Man]

Well since the UEFA Champions League thread is the only soccer one i noticed i figured i'd start another one for Euro.


Todays scores were Romania: 0 vs. France:0 pretty uneventful game however Thierry Henry did not play in this game


Netherlands: 3 vs. Italy: 0

Very entertaining game to say the least but a very controversial opening goal for Ruud van Nistelrooy. But 2 counter-attack goals from the Oranje and an incredible performance from Edwin van der sar in net gives the Azzuri its worst ever defeat in the European Championships........Note: the Dutch hadn't beat the Italians since the 1978 FIFA World Cup

 

[Mac]

Yeah I watched the Germany game yesterday...pretty good match

 

[jazzman]

Well since the UEFA Champions League thread is the only soccer one i noticed i figured i'd start another one for Euro.


Todays scores were Romania: 0 vs. France:0 pretty uneventful game however Thierry Henry did not play in this game


Netherlands: 3 vs. Italy: 0

Very entertaining game to say the least but a very controversial opening goal for Ruud van Nistelrooy. But 2 counter-attack goals from the Oranje and an incredible performance from Edwin van der sar in net gives the Azzuri its worst ever defeat in the European Championships........Note: the Dutch hadn't beat the Italians since the 1978 FIFA World Cup

It's awesome seeing another soccer thread. Actually I tried continuing the UEFA soccer thread to include the Euro championships, but it wasn't working out. Thanks for starting this one.

The teams that have impressed me the most so far are Holland, Germany and Portugal. Also, even though the Italians lost today, I think that they are gonna end up qualifying out of this group. They just happened to come up against an inspired Dutch team......can we say that they've brought back "TOTAL FOOTBALL"??? The team played with the style of that 1978 team led by the legendary Johan Cryuff. Under Van Basten, the Dutch certainly play a very attractive style of soccer.

I said this earlier, that I think the tournament favorites for me was gonna be the team that comes out winning the group of death....Group C. It's looking like the Oranje right now!

Currently the bookmakers favor....

Germany 7/2
Portugal 9/2
Holland 5/1
Spain 5/1
followed by France & Italy at 11/1

Still a long way to go.....personally I would like to see a Portugal v Holland final!

 

[Mac]

Croatia has a good chance of winning...I'm rooting for Portugal

 

[jazzman]

Croatia has a good chance of winning...I'm rooting for Portugal

Overall Croatia have the personnel to look great....but they didn't look good against hosts Austria. Croatia had to hang on against possibly the weakest team in the competition. I wouldn't get my hopes high on them just yet.

 

[Mac]

I don't have my hopes up for them...I just think their kits are awesome hahaha. Like I said, I'm rooting for Portugal. I have always been a Ronaldo fan. However he's not my favorite player....Shunsuke Nakamura is my fav from Scotland Celtic FC...check out this footballer, he's got unbelieveable bend

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkeUNsCbJ1g]YouTube - Shunsuke Nakamura goal rangers 16.04.08[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g2jEkt_VGs]YouTube - Nakamura Celtic 1-0 Man UTD[/ame]

 

[tmporter]

Croatia have some very talented players but they looked bad against an Austrian side that was physical due to their lack of talent. Croatia could be a team that has some potential. If Eduardo da Silva was playing they would be even better. I too am on the Portugal bandwagon. I think they have the best shot at winning. My second choice would be the Dutch. What a pasting of a horrible Italian side. The Azzuri looked just dreadful.

 

[generaladm]

How 'bout that 2nd goal by Holland? I don't think I've ever seen an Italian team fall apart on D like that. The Dutch were making a lot of their own chances, cutting off passes and such. Could have easily been 5-0. France needs to get Henry back ASAP. I wasn't clear on Vierra's status. Is he injured, or not even on the roster? If France is to rely on Ribery for scoring, they won't make it out of the group stage. I got a kick out of seeing Juile Foudy squirming everytime Tommy Smith opens his mouth. She's clearly uncomfortable with analysis on this level. I think Tommy's hillarious, and he's not afraid to completely blow off the other commentators. I really enjoy seeing Italy lose because the only Italy fan I know also likes the Wolverines and Steelers. Looks like it's going to be a good tourney.

 

[Buckeye513]

All of this "worst Italy performance ever" shit is ridiculous. The first goal was obviously offside and the other two were conceded on counter-attacks after set-pieces. I don't see what the big deal is, especially seeing as how Holland came very close to choking it away in the last 15 minutes like they usually do. Holland were the better side in the first half and Italy in the second, particularly after Grosso came on. Difference is that Holland were fast and clinical when they had to be and Italy were not. They deservedly won, but, come on now...

Donadoni needs to shake up the team and send a message though. I'll be surprised if De Rossi and Chiellini aren't in the starting XI against Romania, Del Piero or Cassano should probably be in there also.

Somehow France could've beaten Romania, despite more terrible team selection by Domenech. Nasri was one of France's best players during their friendlies and should've been in for Toulalan, who doesn't offer them anything going forward. Gomis is in form and should've been in for Anelka, who probably shouldn't even be in the squad at all. Why Abidal and Sagnol are starting while Clichy and Sagna aren't even in the squad is beyond me. Abidal was awful for Barcelona last season and wasn't any better in France's friendlies. Sagnol's past it and can't even get a game for Bayern anymore. Domenech's old guard saved his ass in 2006, but he should be gone if they don't win it all. Honestly, depending on how motivated Holland and Italy are, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make it out of the group.

Should be some interesting games tomorrow. I'm not really looking forward to watching Greece again, but, ya never know.

 

[jazzman]

All of this "worst Italy performance ever" shit is ridiculous. The first goal was obviously offside and the other two were conceded on counter-attacks after set-pieces. I don't see what the big deal is, especially seeing as how Holland came very close to choking it away in the last 15 minutes like they usually do. Holland were the better side in the first half and Italy in the second, particularly after Grosso came on. Difference is that Holland were fast and clinical when they had to be and Italy were not. They deservedly won, but, come on now...

Donadoni needs to shake up the team and send a message though. I'll be surprised if De Rossi and Chiellini aren't in the starting XI against Romania, Del Piero or Cassano should probably be in there also.

I agree with your analysis. I don't think Italy were dreadful at all....it was more Holland being clinical when they got the chances. Italy squandered a lot. Amongst all the players you mentioned, I would like to see more of Cassano.

I don't agree with the analysis that the first goal was offside....a lot of analysts seemed to miss the fact that a defender went down as was next to the goal post after knocking into Buffon. So technically Ruud was on-side. This was confirmed by the chief of referees......here's the report if anyone's interested.

BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Dutch goal correct says ref chief

 

[tmporter]

Donadoni needs to shake up the team and send a message though. I'll be surprised if De Rossi and Chiellini aren't in the starting XI against Romania, Del Piero or Cassano should probably be in there also.

Somehow France could've beaten Romania, despite more terrible team selection by Domenech. Nasri was one of France's best players during their friendlies and should've been in for Toulalan, who doesn't offer them anything going forward. Gomis is in form and should've been in for Anelka, who probably shouldn't even be in the squad at all. Why Abidal and Sagnol are starting while Clichy and Sagna aren't even in the squad is beyond me. Abidal was awful for Barcelona last season and wasn't any better in France's friendlies. Sagnol's past it and can't even get a game for Bayern anymore. Domenech's old guard saved his ass in 2006, but he should be gone if they don't win it all. Honestly, depending on how motivated Holland and Italy are, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make it out of the group.

Should be some interesting games tomorrow. I'm not really looking forward to watching Greece again, but, ya never know.

I couldn't agree more with your breakdown of the French side. Anelka played in a handful of games for Chelsea, and did nothing. He should have stayed at Bolton and played every game. Clichy for sure needs to be in there as does Nasri. France played with no imagination and no flair. They looked like a bunch of old men who are going through the motions one last time. Benzema looked great, as did Ribery, but they need more youth and desire.

 

[Buckeye513]

I don't agree with the analysis that the first goal was offside....a lot of analysts seemed to miss the fact that a defender went down as was next to the goal post after knocking into Buffon. So technically Ruud was on-side. This was confirmed by the chief of referees......here's the report if anyone's interested.

BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Dutch goal correct says ref chief

I could understand it if he was just standing by the post or was making his way back on to the pitch, but he wasn't.

Even before the ball was played in, he wasn't even close to being on the pitch and he was down injured. He also didn't walk off the pitch, he was knocked off. Panucci, Buffon, and Kuyt were all going for the ball. No matter who he collided with, I don't see how the linesman can determine that he's still involved in the play.

Oh well. Game's over.


Spain just beat Russia 4-1. A hat-trick from Villa and another from Fabregas. Greece/Sweden up next.

 

[jazzman]

Spain just beat Russia 4-1. A hat-trick from Villa and another from Fabregas. Greece/Sweden up next.

Spain lived up to the pre-tournament hype by dismantling Russia! Good stuff!

No surprises in the other game, with Sweden dominating Greece 2-0. Love that goal from Zlatan!

 

[morbitzerker]

How 'bout that 2nd goal by Holland?

The best part about that goal is the guy that saved it off the post, van B-something, made the run down the left side when the Italians had their backs turned to him, then he played a great ball back across the field to the header for the volley by Sneijder.

 

[tmporter]

I could understand it if he was just standing by the post or was making his way back on to the pitch, but he wasn't.

Even before the ball was played in, he wasn't even close to being on the pitch and he was down injured. He also didn't walk off the pitch, he was knocked off. Panucci, Buffon, and Kuyt were all going for the ball. No matter who he collided with, I don't see how the linesman can determine that he's still involved in the play.

Oh well. Game's over.


Spain just beat Russia 4-1. A hat-trick from Villa and another from Fabregas. Greece/Sweden up next.

If you have the understanding that the player left the field on his own without the whistle being blown to allow him to leave the field he is still considered to be a player on the field. This is to prevent defenders from just walking off because they want to to have an offside called against an attacking player. While I understand that he was off the field for some 30 seconds to a minute, the whistle never blew, so he was deemed to be a player behind the ball. Like it or not, I had read about this happening to a club team this past season. I will try to find the story about that incident and post a link as it had a very good breakdown of the rule.