Offical Euro 2008 Thread.

[bus24]

Zenit team-mate Konstantin Zyrianov will now take up responsibility for driving the Russian attack, a job he appears to be confident of doing after describing Spain as 'a team with no stars'.

"For me Spain is a good team, but I wouldn't say any more than that," he told a press conference prior to the game.

"The big star for Spain is Raul, but he's not in the squad. Of the rest of them, I don't see any big stars among them."

It's a whole ____ing team of stars. That's the problem.

On Torres Zyrianov added: "He's a good forward, but nothing more."

Oh yes. Only one of the best strikers on the planet.

Having said that, the way Spain play doesn't suit him at all, so it won't surprise me if he has a poor (by his standards) competition.

“I think my goal should be shown and taught in football schools."

I dont think he meant it like that, but funny all the same.

 

[Hawthorn United]

Definitely onside there. Was a similar situation involving Liverpool last season, can't remember who it was against but there was a Liverpool defender on the ground out of play and someone scored. People on here were claiming offside.

 

[crisco]

Apart from Greece at the last Euro's of course. And Italy started the last WC pretty well too. And Brazil in the 2004 WC started with a win. But anyway

...and lets not forget France in '98 and Germany in euro '96 and Brazil again in 1994, wow the list is blody endless isnt it

 

[Kompany]

Apart from Greece at the last Euro's of course. And Italy started the last WC pretty well too. And Brazil in the 2004 WC started with a win. But anyway

Yeah but apart from all those and maybe a few others, I was right

...and lets not forget France in '98 and Germany in euro '96 and Brazil again in 1994

Yeah but that was my point... Although France won its matches, they didn't play great. They struggled, needed ET against Paraguay, Zidane got sent off... Similarly I don't remember Germany and Brazil starting 'great' in their tournaments - at least not like people were talking about Argentina or Spain 2 years ago or Holland in most of theirs.

I dont think he meant it like that, but funny all the same.

It's Wesley Sneijder, from Amsterdam... You can bet he meant every word of it

 

[bus24]

It's Wesley Sneijder, from Amsterdam... You can bet he meant every word of it

And Real Madrid right?

Nothing wrong with a crazy Dutchman

 

[crisco]

It's Wesley Sneijder, from Amsterdam... You can bet he meant every word of it

he's actually from Utrecht

 

[Boro]

Yeah but that was my point... Although France won its matches, they didn't play great. They struggled, needed ET against Paraguay, Zidane got sent off... Similarly I don't remember Germany and Brazil starting 'great' in their tournaments - at least not like people were talking about Argentina or Spain 2 years ago or Holland in most of theirs.

Normally a side that starts brilliantly gets knocked out at the first knock out stage don't they. I remember Denmark in 86' looked unstoppable. 6-0 v Uruguay, 3-0 over eventual runners up Germany and 2 or 3 v Scotland. Then Spain smashed them 5-1 I loved that side, Lerby, Olsen, Elkjaer, Laudrup. Beautiful side to watch.

 

[Benno_900]

Great, I stay up to watch probably the worst match of the tournament and miss the best one.

Domenech's team selection was crap. Malouda/Anelka are down on confidence and it showed (apart from one great run and shot from Malouda). And WTF was Anelka doing shooting from impossible angles? As for the midfield partnership, who was the AM there? Makelele was the one linking up the play and Toulalan was virtually invisible.

Benzema was OK, his shooting was disappointing but he shouldn't have been taken off. Ribery was the only one trying to play football and was easily France's best. Gomis looked like a poor man's Adebayor (and I don't really rate Adebayor) and Nasri didn't have time to get into the game but looked bright.

As for Romania ... defended well which was obviously their sole objective of this game. Was surprised that Dica didn't get a start as he is supposedly their star midfielder (probably can't defend).

 

[youngsaint]

Spain beat Sweden 4-0 i think it was in the first game of 06 world cup. first round exit for them.

 

[ams4crows]

looking forward to Spain V Russia tonight it'll be good to see how Gus handles TORRES!! (what a gun!)

 

[bus24]

And WTF was Anelka doing shooting from impossible angles?

Well he can't shoot from right in front..

Ho Ho Ho

Gomis looked like a poor man's Adebayor (and I don't really rate Adebayor) and Nasri didn't have time to get into the game but looked bright.

From what I'd seen from highlights, he looked like Djibril Mk II

 

[ashley12]

Spain beat Sweden 4-0 i think it was in the first game of 06 world cup. first round exit for them.

Spain beat Ukraine 4-0, though I think that Ukraine had a player sent off.

Sweden's first game was a scoreless draw with Trinidad and Tobago. Great game, Trinidad had their number 1 keeper out of the game because of a poke in the eye, Shaka Hislop kept instead and had an absolute blinder, one of the best performances I have ever seen from a keeper. Trinindad had a player sent of early in the second, abnd still nearly won the game at the end when Stern John? hit the post with a rocket from about 25m. I remember the Sweden blokes crying on their missus's shoulders, because they werent going to beat T+T.

Sweden ended up getting done by Germany in the Round of 16 2-0, a Podolski brace, though they had drawn England and beaten Paraguay before that.

FWIW I cant see Spain losing and a draw for Greece vs Sweden...

Spain vs Russia is on SBS tonight as well

 

[Corrosion]

I've predicted a Spain Vs Netherlands final, and I'm sticking by it!

 

[ashley12]

I've predicted a Spain Vs Netherlands final, and I'm sticking by it!

Since the semi-final draw has the winner of quarter final 3 (Winner C vs r/up D) playing the winner of quarter final 4 (Winner D vs r/up C) I predict you will be wrong...

 

[dascman03]

Excellent performance by the Dutch. Some would call it a "win for football", given that the Dutch always seem to play attacking football and not win trophies, whereas Italy play defensively and are a three-time World Cup champion.

In any case, I've written a match report for this match which can be found here: http://dascman.blogspot.com

The game probably represented Holland's best performance for years. They seem to have found a "sum of the parts" formula, with the unheralded Engelaar and Nigel de Jong both performing solid roles without being spectacular.

Any team with van der Vaart and Sneijder pulling the strings could go quite a long way. And was that the same Dirk Kuyt that plays for Liverpool? He was superb last night I thought.

I wouldn't discount the Italians though. They didn't even play that badly today. If anything, their manager lost it for them today by sending out the team he did. Far too defensive IMO. Ambrosini ahead of De Rossi was laughable. If anything, I would've gone 4-4-2 and sent out Del Piero alongside Toni, with Di Natale and Camoranesi dropping back to the midfield.

The jury's out IMO on Toni as well in major tournaments. Another quiet game today.

 

[Corrosion]

Since the semi-final draw has the winner of quarter final 3 (Winner C vs r/up D) playing the winner of quarter final 4 (Winner D vs r/up C) I predict you will be wrong...

Did I say final? I meant Semi-final

 

[yirra_kurl]

Hup Holland!!!

De Nederlanden

I dont post on the football board often!!
but what a match! Those counter-attacks were some of the best!!

Kuyt, Sneijder, VAn Bronckhorst!!
I've been gloating al day amongst a group of people (5) who couldn't give a stuff about football!!
BRING ON FRANCE!!!

And that first goal has been officially confirmed as a correct decision!!

 

[angie4]

yep. it was the right decision. everybody got the rule now and knows it was NO offside. just bad luck that buffon himslef was the one who pushed panucci out of the field and van nistelrooy was cool enough to kick it like beckham. but honestly, the whole italian team just had a big misfortune all game long.

anyway itlay just needs to win the next game, and i reckon they will (bloody bastards that they are)...

 

[whythelongface]

Holland's defence is terrible. Not unknown players either. They're known as average footballers because we've all seen them.

That's why they're playing with such numbers behind the ball. Playing to their strengths.
Fair enough as well.

I find it interesting that this Dutch team is considered as having a weak defence. They conceded the least amount of goals (along with the Czechs and France - 5 in total) in the qualification stages (and two of those were in the last game against Belarus when they had already qualified).

Today their defence was resilient considering the pressure being applied to them in the 2nd half. There were some excellent challenges made by Ooijer and Boulahrouz.

Once they had the lead of course they were going to play the numbers game - they would have been silly not too.

 

[dascman03]

I'm sure Chelsea supporters would've been watching thinking "that can't be our Boulahrouz.

He was outstanding this morning. Considering he hasn't really played club football all season. Hardly put a foot wrong all game.

 

[bus24]

Having not seen the game, I'm not sure, but what people make of the big Dutch number 8 in CM.

Read quite a few places that he was pretty boss.

 

[whythelongface]

Having not seen the game, I'm not sure, but what people make of the big Dutch number 8 in CM.

Read quite a few places that he was pretty boss.

Orlando Engelaar - He was very good. Nothing flash but both him and Nigel De Jong were solid - both in defence and providing the links to set up the attacks.

Haven't seen much of him before but he plys his craft at FC Twente - which surprises me considering that they are only a middle of the road team in the Dutch league.

 

[dascman03]

Having not seen the game, I'm not sure, but what people make of the big Dutch number 8 in CM.

Read quite a few places that he was pretty boss.

Engelaar?

On my blog I gave him a 7. I'd never seen (or even heard of) him before, but was pretty impressed. The thing about this Dutch side is the whole "sum of the parts" mentality, with unheralded players like Engelaar playing within themselves but playing their roles well. I thought he acquitted himself really well, and looks to be a pretty important part of this team, shielding for the back four along with Nigel de Jong.

Plays at the same club as Luke Wilkshire...I know who's better

 

[Bradesmaen]

Orlando Engelaar - He was very good. Nothing flash but both him and Nigel De Jong were solid - both in defence and providing the links to set up the attacks.

Haven't seen much of him before but he plys his craft at FC Twente - which surprises me considering that they are only a middle of the road team in the Dutch league.

Middle of the road team? They just beat Ajax out of a Champions League spot

 

[Boro]

Orlando Engelaar - He was very good. Nothing flash but both him and Nigel De Jong were solid - both in defence and providing the links to set up the attacks.

Haven't seen much of him before but he plys his craft at FC Twente - which surprises me considering that they are only a middle of the road team in the Dutch league.

They've made the CL next season I think. He is certainly a presence.