Offical Euro 2008 Thread.

[Bradesmaen]

Two pretty boring and bland games overnight to be honest.

Portugal will beat Germany.

Germany will win. Ronaldo do disappear because it is too tough for him.

 

[apollo_creed]

Germany will win. Ronaldo do disappear because it is too tough for him.

as always.

ballack is a far more technically gifted and talented footballer (not athlete) than Ronaldo will ever be.

 

[Kompany]

The Germans had absolutely no idea against the Croats. I can't see how all of a sudden they'll manage to pull it off against Portugal then. This team looks uninspired and is not that good anyway. 3-0 Portugal.

And Romania deserves some respect. They didn't 'just' draw with the world cup finalists and finish above Holland in their qualification group.

 

[Bradesmaen]

The Germans had absolutely no idea against the Croats. I can't see how all of a sudden they'll manage to pull it off against Portugal then. This team looks uninspired and is not that good anyway. 3-0 Portugal.

And Romania deserves some respect. They didn't 'just' draw with the world cup finalists and finish above Holland in their qualification group.

Germany struggled against Poland in the WC and Costa Rica early.. but they still made the semis. Its germany, you never count them out.

 

[McLeodMagic]

Ronaldo 1 - 0 Germany.

Massive Lemon blunder.

 

[apollo_creed]

The Germans had absolutely no idea against the Croats. I can't see how all of a sudden they'll manage to pull it off against Portugal then. This team looks uninspired and is not that good anyway. 3-0 Portugal.

And Romania deserves some respect. They didn't 'just' draw with the world cup finalists and finish above Holland in their qualification group.

2002 World Cup Finalists.... what was so much better about that side?
cue ________ liverpool fans being stupid about hamann
2006 World Cup Semi-Finalists.... what was so much better about that side?

Ok.... so it isn't the World Cup and the only team of note I remember Germany knocking out in either of those two World Cup's was Argentina. (and that was only on penalties)

So they haven't shown that they can beat the best teams over 90 minutes in big games.

Then again, neither have Portugal. Struggling past 10 man England and relying on penalties.

And they couldn't even beat England in 2004 Euro. The tournament held in their own country.

Portgual aren't much to be honest.

Germany to win. Please.

 

[Ricketts]

So one of Croatia and Turkey will be in the semis. Boo urns.

 

[Kompany]

In 2002 Germany were ordinary, but so were their opponents. They got to the final playing the US and South Korea - now they're playing arguably the best Portuguese XI in decades.

In 2006 they were a lot better. Let it be Klinsmann or the home advantage thing and all, but they were on fire and they're nowhere near that in this tournament. I know they're a team for the tournaments and all, but their performance against Croatia was so poor I seriously can't see them get it together.

Bradesmaen, they didn't really struggle against those two. They let Costa Rica come back into the game after some individual mistakes, but they were always well on top. And they were rolling Poland upside down for 90 minutes - only a miracle caused Poland not to concede earlier and many more goals.

As for Portugal in 2004, the only thing they didn't do was beat Greece, something France and Spain couldn't do either. And as for relying on penalties against England in 2006... Portugal had just come out of a war against Holland, ending the match with 9, injured players and missing 2 of its central midfielders against England. Portugal visibly never recovered from their 2nd round match, they'd run completely out of breath.

 

[DonMania#5]

Great goal by Ballack

 

[Bradesmaen]

In 2002 Germany were ordinary, but so were their opponents. They got to the final playing the US and South Korea - now they're playing arguably the best Portuguese XI in decades.

In 2006 they were a lot better. Let it be Klinsmann or the home advantage thing and all, but they were on fire and they're nowhere near that in this tournament. I know they're a team for the tournaments and all, but their performance against Croatia was so poor I seriously can't see them get it together.

Bradesmaen, they didn't really struggle against those two. They let Costa Rica come back into the game after some individual mistakes, but they were always well on top. And they were rolling Poland upside down for 90 minutes - only a miracle caused Poland not to concede earlier and many more goals.

As for Portugal in 2004, the only thing they didn't do was beat Greece, something France and Spain couldn't do either. And as for relying on penalties against England in 2006... Portugal had just come out of a war against Holland, ending the match with 9, injured players and missing 2 of its central midfielders against England. Portugal visibly never recovered from their 2nd round match, they'd run completely out of breath.

That in bold = struggle. If you can't score while rolling poland, you struggle to score.. get it? Or shall I bring out the Oxford.

 

[davey_magik]

Portugal 3-0? Come on Kompany, let's be realistic here. Portugal have been good in this tournament but haven't been brilliant like Holland and Spain and as for Germany yes they're plodding along, but overall they're a better team than Portugal.

My boys will win it 2-1 as Ronaldo hides in the corner .

 

[angie4]

ordinary game is right from the outside. but seeing it from our point of view it was a big relief for the team & coach plus fans that we turned away a big disgrace.


honestly?

i reckon germany will only win if:
portugal has a bad day
we have a really really awesome day

it's not possible to win by solo actings like yesterday.


we can only win if EVERYBODY is doing his best job.
we have to use our chances (and not give them away as yest) and we have to defend like hell.


as for tnight:


17th july 08

group C

france - italy
8.45 pm (CET)
zurich, letzigrund stadion

netherlands - romania
8.45 pm (CET)
bern, stade de suisse wankdorf

my tip: 1st france (little revenge from WC 06 final), 2nd holland

Portugal 3-0? Come on Kompany, let's be realistic here. Portugal have been good in this tournament but haven't been brilliant like Holland and Spain and as for Germany yes they're plodding along, but overall they're a better team than Portugal.

My boys will win it 2-1 as Ronaldo hides in the corner

I’d love to share your optimism mate but if we dont improve by 200% it’ll be more likely to end 1-2 for Portugal.
damn if we only had beaten croatia we wouldn’t have to play against Portugal already

 

[davey_magik]

I’d love to share your optimism mate but if we dont improve by 200% it’ll be more likely to end 1-2 for Portugal.
damn if we only had beaten croatia we wouldn’t have to play against Portugal already

We were average this morning but in reality we should have scored 3 with the amount of breaks we had in the last 10 minutes.

Portugal are good but I think their lack of strikers will really hurt them. Frings will go head to head with Deco in midfield and Ballack will do his thing (Carrying his country over the line). Let's not forget last time the two teams met they were sent packing 3-1 so that has to count for something.

Up front Podolski is obviously in excellent form but Klose and Gomez have so much more to give. I'm not expecting too much from Gomez but Klose is one who can definitely step up against Portugal.

No Bastian will hurt as he killed them last time but I'd play Podolski on the left again with Klose and Gomez up front (Gomez on his last chance to do something).

A poor start often leads to a good finish in these tournaments. If we can get past Portugal I think we'll go all the way.

 

[angie4]

well said

still....it s just obvious that the portugese will eat the krauts for breakfast if we play again this bad

but yeah it should have been 3-0 yest

 

[Kompany]

That in bold = struggle. If you can't score while rolling poland, you struggle to score.. get it? Or shall I bring out the Oxford.

Nah they were just unlucky, that's not struggling. Struggling = not being able to create any danger, like they did against the Croats.

Portugal 3-0? Come on Kompany, let's be realistic here. Portugal have been good in this tournament but haven't been brilliant like Holland and Spain and as for Germany yes they're plodding along, but overall they're a better team than Portugal.

Don't overestimate Spain and Holland. Spain = Spain (they won't win it) and Holland have been lucky, simple as. Their counterattacks have been great, but France seriously hurt them for quite some time. I don't think either of them would be blind favourites against Croatia or Portugal.

And I don't think this German team is any better than Portugal. All teams look very even. I wouldn't put any money on Holland beating Portugal or Spain beating Croatia right now - let's hope for some great matches

 

[angie4]

another fact: going into the game not as the favourite might help us too plus portugal is a team who is offensive and who combines which might suit our krauts better than the others did before.

 

[angie4]

first half
france - italy
0-1

ribery fracture of his lower leg
abidal got red carded - france only with 10 players on the field.

toni with 3 big chances
italy playing awesome.
henry not giving up yet.


looks like italy is going into the quarter final...

 

[angie4]

netherlands-romania
1-0
so far

 

[angie4]

henry makes it
2-0
for italy

france very unlucky today

 

[angie4]

holland-romania
2-0 by persie


that's how it ends.
une journée très triste pour l'èquipe tricolore

 

[Jolldo87]

i can't believe the Netherlands beat Romania. Surely Romania were going to be less dangerous than Italy.

 

[Big Delut]

i can't believe the Netherlands beat Romania. Surely Romania were going to be less dangerous than Italy.

They were never gonna lose with the likes of Van Persie and Robben on the pitch.

 

[A Bit High]

i can't believe the Netherlands beat Romania. Surely Romania were going to be less dangerous than Italy.

Dutch have good depth and are looking good along with Spain and Portugal but you can never write off Germany and Italy. Italy always just seem to do enough to get to the business end dont they.

Romania had everything to play for and didnt really give a yelp.

France are at the end of their cycle with this lot. They must have a clean out surely after this poor campaign.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Abidal is bad enough as a left back, but playing him centrally?

Domenech has lost the plot. So many young, talented French players, and whoever replaces him at the helm has a chance to build another strong team.

 

[Lowie01]

Finally France get exposed. Wonderful to see, as now they will get rid of that clown Domenech, who was saved only by the mastery of Zidane at the last World Cup.

Losing Pirlo and Gattuso is a big blow for Italy's quarter final hopes, although I can't help but think that Spain will just crumble at the sight of them.