The 2008 Euro Cup Thread

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

yup. Domenech is an idiot.

At this point, I'm wondering when Spain and Holland will self-destruct - it wouldn't be a major international tournament without it.

Spain in the quarterfinals, us in the semis. Incredible, we're going to let Romania cakewalk into the final!

[cougarfreak]

If you're the dutch, do you rest up in your third game?

[DaddyTorgo]

just heard from the announcers on the euro games today that paraguay is 2-0 up on brazil

[miami_fan]

Are you kidding me?!

[SirFozzie]

Holee shit, we're gonna have PK's in a Group Stage Game, what a howler.

[SirFozzie]

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

[Crapshoot]

What a fucking amazing game. Can't match this.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Holee shit, we're gonna have PK's in a Group Stage Game, what a howler.

Uh no. We are not. I don't think. This 2nd half has been amazing

[MIJB#19]

OMG, what a dramatic game.

[Crapshoot]

WTF? DID THE GOALIE JUST GET SENT OFF!

[SirFozzie]

Goalie sent off! WTF next?

[miami_fan]

What was that all about?!

[MIJB#19]

Nihat's golas or not, Tuncay gets my vote for player of the game.

[Crapshoot]

This ref is a fucking idiot. Seriously.

[SirFozzie]

Guy said something nasty the goalie, goalie wigs out and pushes the Czech attacker, Czech attacker sells it hard, ref sees it. red card.

[Crapshoot]

I'm glad I watched that 2nd half. Surreal performance.

[Sgran]

Hands down, the craziest match I've ever seen. Even better than Slovenia-Yugoslavia in 2000. But I have to say that even with 75 minutes gone I knew that Turkey would at least make it close. But that crazy ending?

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

This ref is a fucking idiot. Seriously.

Nah, he had no choice but to sent him off. If somebody has to be called that, it's Volkan for putting a 3-2 victory at risk.

[Sgran]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Guy said something nasty the goalie, goalie wigs out and pushes the Czech attacker, Czech attacker sells it hard, ref sees it. red card.

But that's been consistent. Any extra-curricular and you're done.

[Celeval]

Instant Classic? I may need to find and DVR this one.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Sgran

Hands down, the craziest match I've ever seen. Even better than Slovenia-Yugoslavia in 2000. But I have to say that even with 75 minutes gone I knew that Turkey would at least make it close. But that crazy ending?

Yeah, the Czechs were totally choking, as soon as the 2-1 fell, I was getting ready for the spot kicks. Craziness that they even avoided those. I'll take my hat off for Turkey's incredible comeback aftersuch a pathetic first half.

[miami_fan]

A smile comes to my face every time I see a team get a goal scored on them while they are begging for an offsides call like that last Turkish goal.

[MrBug708]

Great second half

[samifan24]

Wow, what an amazing finish!

[scooter]

All credit to the Turks, they played an inspirational second half. But I've got to say, I've Tivoed the game and went back and watched the play where Polak got kicked in the head in the Turk penalty box about four times. That was a dangerous play by the Turk defender (Polak was not diving and therefore not "being brave" - the defenders foot ends up above his own head). That should have been a penalty, 3-0 and game over. If it had been hockey, the Turks would have had to kill off a 4 minute penalty!

The officiating in both games today did not live up to a European CHAMPIONSHIPS standard (best refs in Europe - pfft!).

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by scooter

All credit to the Turks, they played an inspirational second half. But I've got to say, I've Tivoed the game and went back and watched the play where Polak got kicked in the head in the Turk penalty box about four times. That was a dangerous play by the Turk defender (Polak was not diving and therefore not "being brave" - the defenders foot ends up above his own head). That should have been a penalty, 3-0 and game over. If it had been hockey, the Turks would have had to kill off a 4 minute penalty!

The officiating in both games today did not live up to a European CHAMPIONSHIPS standard (best refs in Europe - pfft!).

Isn't that by rule an indirect free kick? Or am I thinking of something else?

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by scooter

All credit to the Turks, they played an inspirational second half. But I've got to say, I've Tivoed the game and went back and watched the play where Polak got kicked in the head in the Turk penalty box about four times. That was a dangerous play by the Turk defender (Polak was not diving and therefore not "being brave" - the defenders foot ends up above his own head). That should have been a penalty, 3-0 and game over. If it had been hockey, the Turks would have had to kill off a 4 minute penalty!

The officiating in both games today did not live up to a European CHAMPIONSHIPS standard (best refs in Europe - pfft!).

never in a million years would that PK be given. in any tournament, ever.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Isn't that by rule an indirect free kick? Or am I thinking of something else?

Except that it happened inside the 6-yard box. You are correct though, it would only be an indirect free kick from the spot of the foul (I'm not sure why, getting kicked in the head is far more dangerous than a tackle from behind). I think I've seen indirect free kicks taken from there but it is a nightmare to setup for the referee as you essentially end up with about 18 players in the goalmouth.

[cougarfreak]

What in god's name? The ref just sent off both the German and Austrian coach.

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

What in god's name? The ref just sent off both the German and Austrian coach.

Yeah, that was crazy. I've never watched much international football before, aside from the World Cup, and I never played much as a kid, but why would the ref ever do this? It's not like the coaches were fighting or even screaming at each other ala the NHL playoffs.

[cougarfreak]

Quite a blast by Ballack.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

I wouldn't mind the Dutch taking a dive either to knock those two teams out.

I would. With the way the French attacked during the game, it'd be shame to see them get bounced in favor of a more boring Romania side. I like me some entertaining football.

[MIJB#19]

Excellent, we're pretty much starting the second-stringers tonight. That should keep all but three players happy for now. Henk Timmer (goalkeeper #3), Jan Vennegoor (striker #3) and Mario Melchiot (right back #2, but injured) are the only guys who are kept on the bench. Only Khalid Boulahrouz and Orlando Engelaar are staying from the first two games. That is, if you consider a front four of Robin van Persie, Ibrahim Afellay, Arjen Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar as second string.

[-apoc-]

Good game by the "backups" and both Melchiot and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink got to play. The only unfortunate thing about this is that Italy got through but hopefully Spain will take care of them and really tire themselves out in the process

[BishopMVP]

And France is done. Apparently Raymond Domenech misread the Tarot cards.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm not looking at how today's games went, but I love how they're obsessed with calling cassano the "enfant terrible of italian soccer" - LOL

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I would. With the way the French attacked during the game, it'd be shame to see them get bounced in favor of a more boring Romania side. I like me some entertaining football.

ummm . . .

Originally Posted by Isiddiqui

Well... bunkering isn't all that bad... it works for the Italians . Though I think they did well against the #1 in the world. I remember reading that before the friendly at Wembley some England players said when they shook hands, some Americans' hands were shaking. Perhaps the bunker ideal was to keep the players from feeling too scared? Who knows.

who what now?

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Excellent, we're pretty much starting the second-stringers tonight. That should keep all but three players happy for now. Henk Timmer (goalkeeper #3), Jan Vennegoor (striker #3) and Mario Melchiot (right back #2, but injured) are the only guys who are kept on the bench. Only Khalid Boulahrouz and Orlando Engelaar are staying from the first two games. That is, if you consider a front four of Robin van Persie, Ibrahim Afellay, Arjen Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar as second string.

i don't know, playing the glassmen (robben and van persie) in a relatively meaningless game seems silly.

[cthomer5000]

The French really just never showed up to the tournament. Italy could easily turn it around and win this whole thing. I think everyone could end up regretting that Romania couldn't get it done against the Dutch backups.

[Icy]

Spain is going to play 11 backups today vs Greece, still will watch it or i would lose my Spanish citizenship.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by daedalus

i don't know, playing the glassmen (robben and van persie) in a relatively meaningless game seems silly.

Yeah, agreed there. Feel free to add Ibrahim Afellay to that list of men of glass as well. As far as I know, Van Basten's thinking was giving them another friendly game to get some extra action before the quarterfinals.

[MIJB#19]

Oh boy, Guus Hiddink does it again!

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by daedalus

ummm . . . who what now?

I think you failed to comprehend the context there. Bunkering isn't that bad... when you want to win a game.

However, exciting football is better to watch.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Oh boy, Guus Hiddink does it again!

Yep, and Russia looked AMAZING! Russia - Holland may be end to end action. It'll be fun .

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm pissed - I tried to tape spain-greece but they flipped the games/channels or whatever so I taped sweeden-russia

*pouts*

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

i'm pissed - I tried to tape spain-greece but they flipped the games/channels or whatever so I taped sweeden-russia

*pouts*

Yeah, I noticed that... I was home because I had a doc's appointment and took the rest of the day off (not to watch soccer or anything ) and say they moved the games. Kind of crappy in this day of Tivos and DVRs to do that without prior warning.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I think you failed to comprehend the context there. Bunkering isn't that bad... when you want to win a game.

i think bunkering is bad, both as a strategy and for the game.

the issue could be in our definitions of bunkering. i think of bunkering as having everybody but, say, one striker in the defensive third, behind the ball and hope for a draw. a team with some decent long-range shots and/or a decent plan B (read: not the fucking gooners . . . bastards) could, if not should, eventually beat you.

i do not define it as playing a very tight formation and cautious football, for example, say maybe the greeks in euro '04 or what we generally think of as italian-style of footie. i still think it's day old dog turd and crap for footie as a sport but not nearly as disgusting.

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

However, exciting football is better to watch.

or, better yet, the only footie worth watching. i don't even need "exciting". just at least attacking minded footie with some above average skill would happifies me.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

i'm pissed - I tried to tape spain-greece but they flipped the games/channels or whatever so I taped sweeden-russia

*pouts*

You did not miss anything, besides the last 15 minutes of Spain dominating with Greece players totally inside their own area.

Greece is the anti-football, not any skill besides headers on strategic fouls, then just bunkering, stopping the play all the time with fouls, falling down on purpose, etc etc. It was an ugly game with all the stoppage generated by Greece trying to kill the time as they got the early lead with a good header goalfrom a fault. Luckily Spainish backups (10 of the starting 11 were usual backups) played a great second half despite the efforts of Greece to make an ugly game.

[3ric]

Sweden playing for the draw was a sure way of losing the game - Russia showed us how it should be done, but I'm afraid the current management will stick around and continue in their set ways.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by daedalus

i think bunkering is bad, both as a strategy and for the game.

the issue could be in our definitions of bunkering. i think of bunkering as having everybody but, say, one striker in the defensive third, behind the ball and hope for a draw. a team with some decent long-range shots and/or a decent plan B (read: not the fucking gooners . . . bastards) could, if not should, eventually beat you.

i do not define it as playing a very tight formation and cautious football, for example, say maybe the greeks in euro '04 or what we generally think of as italian-style of footie. i still think it's day old dog turd and crap for footie as a sport but not nearly as disgusting.

Most people would call what the Greeks play as bunkering. And it's been a fairly successful strategy for them (compare their results with their talent level). It can be very successful for a team that is totally outmatched talent wise.