Offical Euro 2008 Thread.

[KingyOrTheKing]

F***.

Oh well. The best team tonight won. If I was Van Der Sar I would be filthy on the defenders. They were downright pitiful.

Goodbye Netherlands. Hello Spain, Torres.

 

[GuzzLG]

The first game I stay up and watch all tournament and I witness one of the most pea-hearted performances I've seen on a soccer field in a long time.

Netherlands are a disgrace, the first team to stay with them for a half and then they turn to water.

Were lucky not to lose 3 or 4 nil in normal time.

Well done Russia.

Russia number 1, Australia number 1

Netherlands, huck ptoo.

 

[Fwoy]

Arshavin is mesmerizing. The kid just controls that team. Fantastic to watch...and Guus just can't stop breeding winning cultures. Well done Russia.

 

[bus24]

Well I'm going to bed.

Good night (morning)

 

[Hlebalicious]

Amazing to see Holland play so poorly and be totally outclassed by Russia.

The only time during the entire game the Dutch looked anything like scoring was either from a free kick on the wings or a corner since Russia's defending from those was quite comical, me n my brother were joking itd be like giving away a penalty if they conceeded a free kick in those positions.

Shouldve been like 4 or 5-1 in the end and their wastefulness might cost them a game in the end. Till then im in love with Russian football since watching Zenit play in the UEFA Cup and i hope they take the whole thing out .

P.S. Arshavin is heckin' class!!!!!! Also love Zhirkov but theyre total opposites in looks tho, Arshavin is 27 going on 12 and Zhirkov is 25 going on 40.

 

[apollo_creed]

gee, who's right again re; Holland.

some of you people should learn to make your comments at the end of the tournament.

 

[whythelongface]

gee, who's right again re; Holland.

some of you people should learn to make your comments at the end of the tournament.

Deep down we all know that - nothing wrong with hope and expressing it publicly. As today has shown there is always disappoint in major events for Holland, thus when a team dominates a group of course we are all going to be excited and express this and hope that they continue this form throughout the tournament.

 

[Embers]

At this stage I just wanted to point out I loved Arshavin first. Hes not even fit which is scary in itself.

 

[apollo_creed]

Deep down we all know that - nothing wrong with hope and expressing it publicly. As today has shown there is always disappoint in major events for Holland, thus when a team dominates a group of course we are all going to be excited and express this and hope that they continue this form throughout the tournament.

It was evident against a very average French team who looked constantly threatening when they had the ball.

this is a French team who struggles to create chances and score goals.

Holland aren't good enough. They never were and anyone who fooled themselves thinking that things might be different this time should be disappointed with their own bandwagoning.

if you choose to express an opinion publicly and it's obviously wrong then you must accept that you were wrong. no excuses of hope or excitement justfity the premature reactions from far too many on here.

 

[Lowie01]

The worry about the Dutch was their defence - not many teams win a tournament with players like Ooijer and Mathijsen at the back. They played mesmerising football at times, but it can be hard to sustain for six straight games.

Also, three group winners out, all after resting pretty much their whole XI in the last group game. Easy to say in hindsight, but I wonder whether that was the right move or not. Suffice to say, not a good sign for Spain.

 

[Embers]

The worry about the Dutch was their defence - not many teams win a tournament with players like Ooijer and Mathijsen at the back. They played mesmerising football at times, but it can be hard to sustain for six straight games.

Also, three group winners out, all after resting pretty much their whole XI in the last group game. Easy to say in hindsight, but I wonder whether that was the right move or not. Suffice to say, not a good sign for Spain.

Italy need/MUST start with Cassano upfront with Toni if they are going to win. All tournament long they have struggled to find the right striking combination. Cassano Toni is it.

ALOT of money for Italy worldwide interestingly enough so someone must know something

 

[Lowie01]

All the signs are there. A slow start by Italy normally means they end up winning the tournament. And we all know how easily Spain go to water.

Key for Italy is how they replace Pirlo. I don't think they'll miss Gattuso much, he hasn't had a great season, but they need De Rossi to have a big game to compensate for Pirlo's absence. Both teams have dodgy defences so there might be a few goals.

 

[Embers]

All the signs are there. A slow start by Italy normally means they end up winning the tournament. And we all know how easily Spain go to water.

Key for Italy is how they replace Pirlo. I don't think they'll miss Gattuso much, he hasn't had a great season, but they need De Rossi to have a big game to compensate for Pirlo's absence. Both teams have dodgy defences so there might be a few goals.

Pirlos been complete tripe so far so im not sure how much they will miss him. They need more from Perotta I feel. From the noises being made Cassano is going to get a start which will help their chances alot.

 

[Boro]

Croatia were the better side last night and I would've preferred them to go through because a) they deserved to and b) it'd make for a better semi-final.

I thought Croatia made the running for about 75-80 minutes, which would have been Terim's plan tbh, and then when he made the tactical shift Turkey were the better side of the last 40-45 minutes of the match.

Terim is a very very good manager and he played the match out to perfection. Imo Turkey's progress has more to do with Terim than luck. Not too many other managers could manage to do what he has with some of the players at his disposal. I mean how bad was that Sabri at RB? and Kazim Richards as well? Terim is a genius.

 

[Big Delut]

I thought Croatia made the running for about 75-80 minutes, which would have been Terim's plan tbh, and then when he made the tactical shift Turkey were the better side of the last 40-45 minutes of the match.

Terim is a very very good manager and he played the match out to perfection. Imo Turkey's progress has more to do with Terim than luck. Not too many other managers could manage to do what he has with some of the players at his disposal. I mean how bad was that Sabri at RB? and Kazim Richards as well? Terim is a genius.

In Serie A he was very very ordinary.

 

[Boro]

Also, three group winners out, all after resting pretty much their whole XI in the last group game. Easy to say in hindsight, but I wonder whether that was the right move or not. Suffice to say, not a good sign for Spain.

Yeah I was thinking it was the wrong move at the time as it stops momentum, although Holland did win anyway. Guus had Russia play the perfect game against the Dutch and they have a few really top quality players. Seeing as they are the youngest side in the tournament and assuming Guus stays with them they'd be worth a speculative bet on the World Cup Winner for 2010.

I can't wait for tonight's game

 

[Boro]

In Serie A he was very very ordinary.

International management is very different to club management, but having said that he had a good record in Turkey and a lot of managers fail at certain clubs but are still good managers.

 

[Big Delut]

International management is very different to club management, but having said that he had a good record in Turkey and a lot of managers fail at certain clubs but are still good managers.

Spot on with that. I just can't forget some of his management from his time with Fiorentina/Milan. He is clearly a decent manager but just struggled to deal with the tactical side of Serie A.

 

[DonMania#5]

Arshavin >>>>> Ronaldo

 

[McLeodMagic]

Russia play sexy football, I hope they win Euro.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Gah, ____ing dutch. Way to ruin my chances at the Sweep Its all Dirk Kuyts fault.

 

[Kompany]

This is seriously turning into one of the best tournaments I've ever seen - let's hope the Germans or Italians don't ruin it

Russia were just great this morning and apart from their awful defending at times, especially at set pieces, they should be capable of beating anyone now. They completely outclassed Holland.

And on Fatih Terim... I read he did very well with Fiorentina (so he was not very very ordinary) and when he resigned after not getting along with the president, Milan signed him while also Barcelona and Liverpool were interested. It's very wrong to judge him on those 5 months at Milan then. That's like saying Hiddink's no good because he failed at Real.

 

[sneakydaycrawler]

^good post

 

[Benno_900]

Arshavin is mesmerizing. The kid just controls that team. Fantastic to watch...and Guus just can't stop breeding winning cultures. Well done Russia.

That 'kid' is 27.

That is probably too old for Wenger.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Arshavin is absolutely magic.

Newcastle, Man City and Everton? Yeah, right.

He should end up at a big club, and rightly so. Brilliant

Phht.

We are a big club