Offical Euro 2008 Thread.

[TorresIsGod]

Interesting to note; Abidal starts ahead of Evra, Makelele is in the XI, Benzema and Anelka up front.

4-4-2 formation

Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Adibal, Ribery, Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda, Anelka, Benzema

 

[ashley12]

Very interesting to note they went that way with the formation.

Also interesting that Romania, who from what I had read were going to play a 4-4-2, lined up with a 4-3-3, with Mutu on the left of the attacking trident.

 

[TorresIsGod]

Romania have a Rat in their side, they must be flying!

 

[Benno_900]

Not a great match TBH ...

 

[Knowledge]

thought croatia played shithouse vs austria and austria prob deserved a draw.

 

[angie4]

romania - france
0:0

most boring game so far

romania is happy, WTF was going on with les bleux?

ribery best one, too much tactic in this game

 

[SBI]

Fantastic result for Holland.

Now to beat Italy!

 

[angie4]

Fantastic result for Holland.

Now to beat Italy!

would be cool, but italy is not as stupid as france i reckon.

anyway gonna be way more interesting than this 1st game!

 

[Benno_900]

France were terrible.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Fingers crossed the dutch and italians serve up something more entertaining than the french did..

 

[angie4]

netherlands - italy
first half
2:0

italy even more stupid than france - good for holland !! yeah
crossed fingers helped.

 

[moomba]

How bad was the decision for Hollands first?

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Incompetent decision.

Should be an interesting 2nd half with the Italians having no option but to all out attack to stay in the tournament.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Fingers crossed the dutch and italians serve up something more entertaining than the french did..

it has been..........end to end stuff......the italians are getting a bit of possession now tho.........dutch protecting the lead a bit.........ironic really but entertaining match nonetheless.

del piero has been a spark.......interesting substitution by van basten bringing on van persie for van nistelrooy........they'll get a 3rd on the counter.........i can feel it.

 

[mcgarnacle]

luca toni!!!!

these italians just crumble under pressure, dont they?

 

[mcgarnacle]

3 -0!!!!!

awesome free kick by pirlo and save from van der sar down the other end, and then van bronkhurst goal for dutch on counter

 

[angie4]

holland finishes italy up - toni had 1000 chances but...

italians losers of the day !!!! yihaaaa!!!

orange party !!!!

nice game though, nice goals, well done van der sar, well done dutch

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Great scoreline for Holland.

The italians were dreadfully unlucky with the first goal, then two superb oranje goals on the counterattack. Brilliant to watch

 

[mcgarnacle]

Full-time
Holland 3 - Italy 0

Best match of the tourney so far. I reckon the Italians will be bleating down the road in Leichhardt for the next 4 years if they're punted form the competition due to the offside for the 1st goal, but the next 2 were all-time classic counters.

Italians need to win their remaining matches to have any chance now considering they're already -3 goals. lucky for them, the 1st tiebreaker is head-to-head and not goal diff so its really just the dutch who can knock em out at the mo.

 

[whythelongface]

Full-time
Holland 3 - Italy 0

Best match of the tourney so far. I reckon the Italians will be bleating down the road in Leichhardt for the next 4 years if they're punted form the competition bout the offside for the 1st goal, but the next 2 were all-time classic counters.

Italians need to win their remaining matches to have any chance now considering they're already -3 goals. lucky for them, the 1st tiebreaker is head-to-head and not goal diff so its really just the dutch who can knock em out at the mo.

Just watched it in Leichhardt - the Italians in a very sombre mood as you would expect.

The Dutch were magnificent.

Hup Holland Hup

 

[The Spornstar]

Full-time
Holland 3 - Italy 0

Best match of the tourney so far. I reckon the Italians will be bleating down the road in Leichhardt for the next 4 years if they're punted form the competition due to the offside for the 1st goal, but the next 2 were all-time classic counters.

Panucci was lying on the ground past the goal line when the ball was played. Does anyone know the rule on this? Could he be counted as a defender, thus playing RVN onside?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363339.stm

"Italy were furious, but the chairman of Austria's refereeing commission Gerhard Kapl later insisted that Van Nistelrooy had been played onside by Italy defender Christian Panucci, who had been injured seconds and was lying off the pitch"

 

[Boro]

Panucci was lying on the ground past the goal line when the ball was played. Does anyone know the rule on this? Could he be counted as a defender, thus playing RVN onside?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363339.stm

"Italy were furious, but the chairman of Austria's refereeing commission Gerhard Kapl later insisted that Van Nistelrooy had been played onside by Italy defender Christian Panucci, who had been injured seconds and was lying off the pitch"

Nah, I'm willing to be proven wrong but afaia as Panucci was out of play RVN was offside. That may have been the assistants excuse though. Oh well, it's not as if the Italians have never had a dodgy refs decision go their way before

A great game this morning and both Italy and Holland should progress from that group hopefully.

 

[Lowie01]

I know Italy normally aren't happy unless they start a tournament slowly, but wow. I know their chances took a blow when Cannavaro got injured, but I didn't expect this from a Dutch team that has really failed to impress lately.

France getting held isn't a huge surprise, but now that final France-Italy game is shaping like an eliminator.

 

[Boro]

I know Italy normally aren't happy unless they start a tournament slowly, but wow. I know their chances took a blow when Cannavaro got injured, but I didn't expect this from a Dutch team that has really failed to impress lately.

France getting held isn't a huge surprise, but now that final France-Italy game is shaping like an eliminator.

Don't write off Romania. If they get a result v Italy then they'll beat Holland and go through imo. If the lose then Italy should progress. France must beat Holland to have a chance I reckon. It's a great group.

 

[davey_magik]

Had money on Holland at $3.55 as well . Was only a fiver but I'll take my money.