Euro 2008

Still unsure about this one. Will the Dutch have lost momentum by fielding reserves in the final group
game? I'm inclined to think not. The Russians, as has been demonstrated, are capable of playing football
any classic Dutch side would be proud of when Arshavin drives the team. But inexperience could
cost them. Both sides thrive when playing a counter-attacking game, so this has the potential to be
very open from the off, or cagey with both sides looking too keen to guard against being torn apart.

Argh. We haven't seen how the Dutch cope with going a goal down, and that is the only real seed of
doubt. I think the Russians might nick this game if they press hard from the kick-off and get the first
goal, but I can't back them.

Anthems...

Quarter-final Prediction 3

Netherlands 2-1 Russia (2045)

[Possibly after extra-time.]

Hiddi had said something along lines like "I want to be a betrayer tonight". And apparently he's quite determined to.

Oranjes are sinking without a single glimpse of team play while Moskofs are playing collectively.

There we have the greatest opportunist of all time. Van Nistelrooy necromances his eleven.

Wow very weird instance there.

Lubos Michel showed the second yellow card to Kolodin first. However Kolodin's harsh intervention was right after the ball going out before it was returned to the pitch by Sneijder. So Mr. Michel cancelled his second yellow card.

This tournament possesses all beauties of football indeed.

And the match goes to extra time. :2thumbsup:

Well, the Russians did press from the beginning, and I think it's fair to say they've shown more
ambition. One half of extra-time down, are we due some more penalties?

The Russians should've put this away.

The Dutch are just hanging on, and not very well.

В чём дело? I'll tell you what's the matter. The Dutch are outpaced and outclassed by these Russians, most of all by Arshavin. What a talent he is.

Удачи! Kudos! :bow:

Is it the end of a prematurely pumped Orange dream ?

Yes it is.

Arshavin 3 - 1 Oranjes

I should have backed Arshavin again.

What odds a Turkey - Russia final?

Italy 3 - 0 Spain

That was a good game. Congrats Russia :2thumbsup: :russia:

My goodness this is a wonderful Russian side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mehphistophilis

What odds a Turkey - Russia final?

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At first sight, this matchup seems even weirder than that Porto-Monaco CL final a couple of years ago.

Well, thanks for giving the giants some lesson and violent displays in the group stage, teh Oranjes. As I said in my predictions thread, watch out for them in WC '10.

:netherlands: :balloon2:

P.S. Congrats to the team called Russia. :russia:

Russia deserved a win. Just great play. Great.

Spain 1 : 2 Italy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craterus

Italy 3 - 0 Spain

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Are you mad!?

Spain 3-1 Italy

*sigh*

Anyways,

Spain 4-0 Italy

based off of nothing besides my loathing of Italy's team.

After reading the entrails of a drunk Dutch football fan on my doorstep, I have decided that I'll be eating pasta tomorrow. Bolognese, with scraps of grada padano, and lots of cheap bubbly wine to go with it.

Day 16
Final prediction

Spain 1:2 Italy

Lads, remember the great rule once again. Tournament teams take it further no matter what. Germany has proved it and Netherlands proved it from the opposite (and dutch specific) way.

Italy will take down the Dutch-like-prepumped Spain tomorrow. The Azurri are coming with a huge morale boost, remember.

Another outsider! Congrats to Russia as they were just amazing tonight!!!

Superb teamwork and individual skills totally control the match since kick-off, extra-time was unfair for them. 3-1 was well deserved!
It seems that the oranjes spent all their bullets in the group stage...

After this match i think any team can reach the final and win...

I would like 1-0 for Spain but sadly i think it will be:

Prediction
Spain 0 - 1 Itay

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

Teams need momentum. Both theams that easily won their groups lost in the quarters from teams with the right momentum. Will the Russki's repeat the feat?

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And indeed the Russians repeated the feat. Third team out that destroyed its' momentum. It's better to lose a game in the group stage and then gain momentum from there. Italy and Germany have been the grandmasters of this since forever.

Russia is a bloody good team. This Arshavin is a monster. (ars havin'?)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Louis VI

1-1 after 90 minutes. (I'm still not sure about the rules for extra time and penalties in our prediction game)

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I want points for my prediction! :yes:


Tomorrow:

Italy - Spain 2-1

Spain doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. They can't beat their Latin rivals owing to mental inhibitions. Plus the Ritals are right back in it, and lest Hiddink destroys them, will go on to win the tournament.
I predict that Torres will go off with a horrible injury after just seven minutes. Then a few minutes later that 150 kilogram ox Luca Toni will come crashing down on the pitch after the slightests of touches, will receive a penalty, and reduce Spain to ten men and needing two goals to progress.

Are there any Jan Koller-type strikers left in the tournament? When England played Russia at Wembley, the Russian defenders didn't know what to do with Emile Heskey, as he held them off at will and won just about everything that came his way.

Edited earlier prediction. Now I'm thinking:

Spain 1 : 2 Italy

Interesting note:

All 3 teams that have rested their first choice of elevens in the last match of the groups have failed to qualify.

All 3 leader teams of their groups have failed to qualify.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pannonian

Are there any Jan Koller-type strikers left in the tournament?

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Luca Toni.

Pavlyuchenko.

Miroslav Klose.

Damn, didn't expect that. What a farce.

Oh well, to be realistic we were tactically outclassed and didn't deserve the win at all. But that doesn't make it hurt less.

:balloon2:

Hmm unexpected but a good game asharvin is a hell of a player!

Hopefully i can do better with todays predictions..

Italy 3 - 2 Spain

Italy will just take it one step further

Now I really have to rethink, maybe go to my olde chest and dig out that nationalism I stored deep inside it but if I do that I bet Turkey will beat Germany so I say go Russia and go Italy!

Third Quarter final or day sixteen:

Spain 1-3 Italy

A deservede wwin for le erussians, thoug I must att tat Vzan Basten made some wierd choices too, when it czme to staring players. Which was different form the first fase, and though it might hzve mazde a difference, it wouldn't hzave been thzt big. A shame I would hjave liked the dutch to win, but russia definately frderved it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moros

A deservede wwin for le erussians, thoug I must att tat Vzan Basten made some wierd choices too, when it czme to staring players. Which was different form the first fase, and though it might hzve mazde a difference, it wouldn't hzave been thzt big. A shame I would hjave liked the dutch to win, but russia definately frderved it.

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hehe now this is true solidarity but we are supposed to be drunk with sorrow :beam:

Ah well pwned, by russians!

Hmmmrph. Dutch ' fans' are apparently causing our hosts quite the trouble. No shame in losing from a better team but being a poor guest is downright emberassing. Just shoot them for me please.

Gah disgusting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

I want points for my prediction! :yes:

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And you shall. Andrei Arshavin looked like his from another planet, surely some of the top clubs in Europe will be interested in him now.

Italy got the winning mentality, on a scale of winning mentality Italy would have 9 while Spain with 5, but without Pirlo and Gattuso the result would be less obvious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moros

A deservede wwin for le erussians, thoug I must att tat Vzan Basten made some wierd choices too, when it czme to staring players. Which was different form the first fase, and though it might hzve mazde a difference, it wouldn't hzave been thzt big. A shame I would hjave liked the dutch to win, but russia definately frderved it.

---

:medievalcheers:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quintus.J.Cicero

...but without Pirlo and Gattuso the result would be less obvious.

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'fraid not. The Spanish have a severe case of bogey team mentality when approaching the Italians.
Hence 88 years of hurt. [Nevermind inability to progress beyond quarter-finals.] They may well fight
valiantly, but they will fail.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mehphistophilis

'fraid not. The Spanish have a severe case of bogey team mentality when approaching the Italians.
Hence 88 years of hurt. [Nevermind inability to progress beyond quarter-finals.] They may well fight
valiantly, but they will fail.

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David Villa is going to put one in. He's a lone killer, he doesn't care if the other side are Italian, Brazilian or Martian.

But the rest of the Spanish team is going to be mesmerized. They're going to be wiped away by Italian brutality and genius, and end up mentally crushed again, even if that is not reflected in the numbers because the Italian strikers either suck or AWOL. If they had more than just the Iniesta/Villa (trigger/bullet) couple to bring the pasta's to their knees, they might actually win. But they don't.

Anyway, I didn't predict yesterday's outcome by a long stretch either - so who knows.

Great tournament. :thumbsup:

Russia played great. One thing I'd really like to see though is them staying on their feet. All their diving was driving me absolutely bollox. MAN-UP!

Arsharvin is fantastic. Well played Hiddink.

Tomorrow, the bull fighters should win, unless Italy get their act together.

Quarter Final #4
Italy 0 - 2 Spain

Italy 1-0 Spain

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adrian II

David Villa is going to put one in. He's a lone killer, he doesn't care if the other side are Italian, Brazilian or Martian.

But the rest of the Spanish team is going to be mesmerized. They're going to be wiped away by Italian brutality and genius, and end up mentally crushed again, even if that is not reflected in the numbers because the Italian strikers either suck or AWOL. If they had more than just the Iniesta/Villa (trigger/bullet) couple to bring the pasta's to their knees, they might actually win. But they don't.

Anyway, I didn't predict yesterday's outcome by a long stretch either - so who knows.

Great tournament. :thumbsup:

---

Italy doesn't look so strong this year. I still think they'll progress but without the creativity of Pirlo, and that bulldog Gattuso could be a blow, their back-four had not impressed me at all this year. Toni had a rubbish tournament so far despite his superb season with Bayern, although Buffon had been brilliant as always.

The tournament had a slow start but gradually picked up, quite opposite of the last world cup when it was an explosive start. The Dutch looked great, and the Turks had been delightful with their stuff. Lots of upsets so far, maybe we could see more that later.

I'm going for a Spanish upset...

Italy 0 - 1 Spain

Is it too late to change my prediction for Holland v Russia? :laugh4:

Quarter-final Prediction 4

Spain 1-2 Italy (2045)

[The feeling in my bones says a scrappy one-nil to the Italians, but I think Adrian is right - Villa should
score. That leads me towards 1-2, with the prospect of predictably early Spanish hope being snatched
away at the death. In all honesty, I hope the scoreline is reversed, preferably with Panucci scoring an
injury time own-goal. I want to see that man cry. Pirlo doesn't cut it at international level, for me, so I
think the Italians will survive with the replacements on offer. Gnasher out is good, of course, though I
just hope he doesn't come to disrupt Arshussia too much. The Italian defence has been poor, but Spain
won't kill it off.]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fragony

hehe now this is true solidarity but we are supposed to be drunk with sorrow :beam:

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lol, yeah. Quite drunk I was. hehe.

Spain 2:1 Italy

Italy - Spain 2 - 0

Italy 2 - 1 Spain.

:balloon2:

Italy 3 - 1 Spain

Go Pastas!

Spain 2:1 Italy

Its currently 0 0 at the 72nd minute.

Looks like every quarter final game may just end in a draw with advancement decided in extra time or penalties. Something to keep in mind when posting predictions for the next few games.

Darn, I was so close of switching to 1 - 1 before the match, guess it's too late now.:laugh4: Looks destined for penalties.

Casillas !!!

WOOOOOOOOOOO! Suck on that Buffon!!!!!!!

That was a match only to be solved through penalties. And so it did. It was the same TV angle as Baggio had missed in WC '94 final, and mediocre penalty kicks were absorbed by one of the world class keepers on the pitch, Casillas.

Considering the fact that Spain are technically the better team, their qualification seems more favorable for the taste of the rest of the tournament.

:spain: Viva La España ! :spain:

...e viva España!!!! :spain:

¡Viva España!

Italy was boring. Not 'razorsharp, leaning-on-defense-to explode-at-the-right-moment' kind of boring, but just plain 'we're-really-not-good-enough-for-this-level-so-we'll-just-sit-back-and-hope-for-some-sort-of-miracle' kind of boring. Only Buffoon was up to par. But Casillas showed him off!!!

Four games, three goals, one of which a penalty and one a deflected free kick. Crap. I've seen more technical skill and refinement in an English penalty shootout than in four games of this sorry lot. Can't believe some teams are incompetent enough to lose from this travesty of a football team. :wall:

No only France could manage that....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elite Ferret

No only France could manage that....

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At least the French were in the tournament and gave everyone a great, great run for their money.

Stay off the Frogs or I'ma go Russian on yo ass, bro. :laugh4:

Well, the football analysis in the chat was lacking today:

"Casillas? Never heard of him."
"He's not that great"

Well, I'm glad Spain are through. I'm hoping for a Spain-Germany final now.

This one I listened to. The last three I thought about it. Go with the gut guys. always go with the gut.

Well done Espana!

:2thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Proletariat

Italy 3 - 1 Spain

Go Pastas!

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you really tought the Italians would attack for the first time in almost 30 games? Or did you think they'd wi it this way by penalties?

Glad spain won. Especially considering the dutch and the portugese are already out. It would have been totally unfair if Italy would have gone further than those and Spain.

Ah, thank God!! It would've been so awful if Italy won that.

¡¡¡Felicitaciones España, un triunfo bien merecido!!!

:spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain: :spain:

Vive L'Espana!!!! (I'm entirely aware that that's probably completely wrong but...)

Italy didn't deserve to get further than the Duch and Portugese.

Speaking of which I was really impressed by Russia yesterday. Arshavin is insane!

Predictions for semis:

Germany 2 - 0 Turkey

I want Turkey to prevail but with an injury/suspension raddled squad (so bad that apparently the third Kepper may play as an outfield sub!!!) I don't see the comeback coming.

Spain 3 - 2 Russia

Should be a good game to watch. Spain should win, but it definitely won't be a walkover like the first one. Could go either way, but as said above...

Vive L'Espana!!!

spain 3-2 Russia
should be a good game to watch.

Germany ?-? Turkey
I'd like to call a Turkey upset but iirc a lot of their players will miss this game. Does anyone know who is missing on each side?

Germany 1-0 Turkey

Although I really am tempted to say it will be a draw during normal time

Moros, la bella Proletaria has pastasauce running through her veins. She's allowed to cheer for her boys. :balloon2:

So I'll let her off. This time only. :whip:

And yes Ferret, the thought that only les Bleus could manage a defeat against this bunch was somewhat in the mind of that chap bonking his head against the wall. ~;)

Germany 2-1 Turkey

This is obviously another wrong score on my streak off bad guesses, so im just throwing this one out here and seeing what can happen with it... those sperm whales were alot of effort to prepare and sacrifice, messy too, so they better pay off...

This chap who's head is constantly bonking; is this a punishment for voting Sarkozy?

Inquiring minds are bemused.

If we get raped on Wednesday (starting from scores such as 3-0 and on), just applaud a team of wonders for their wonderful magic up to that point and send them home.

We have NO centrebacks left. Either Hakan Balta (DL) or Mehmet Topal (DMC) will play along with Gökhan Zan. No Arda, no Tuncay, no Nihat, we don't have ones to drive the game paced with pure determination. Emre's injury will keep him off too.

I really wanted Germany for rivals; Portugal would be worse indeed. However foreseeing our Mission Impossible with such a broken squad, I'm not daydreaming here. If "X factor" was with us upto now, we need "X factor squared" this time.

Well, that was frigging boring. I don't really mind Italy getting bounced, since going in to this I was rooting for Portugal, Spain and Italy all to varying degrees. But that game was a total yawnfest. The Germany game was great, the Russia match was okay but only really got interesting in the last 30 minutes, and this game was like watching paint dry for 120 minutes. I know teams should be more careful in this round but why not play the game that got you here? Hopefully Spain-Russia will be a real shoot out.

:2thumbsup:

The tiny amount of Spanish blood in me is so friggin happy.

I'm also very happy and on that high I'd like to note that I see again and again that a lot of the predictions made before matches are just blabla, pure guesswork bollox. At least in this cup and yes you can include whatever I may have predicted as well.

Now the next step is for Germany to beat Turkey and win the following civil war. *puts more sandbags into the window openings*

Then Spain can crush Russia and we get a Spain Germany final in which the better team shall win in a good and interesting match, else I just hope that Germany will crush Russia in the final. The sad thing is I may miss this due to the ongoing civil war. :sweatdrop:

Germany 2-1 Turkey

Germany should win but I don't think Turkey will stay goalless.

I think the Turks has got as far as they can get. Crippled by injury and suspensions, Terim said he might have to use his reserve GK (Tolga Zengin?) as an defender or a striker for the semi-final. :sweatdrop:

The Italians really missed Pirlo.

Germany 2 - 0 Turkey

Gah, so from 360 possible points in the quarter finals, I managed a big fat zero.

The problem with football tournaments IMHO is that the best games almost always occur in the early rounds, when there's less pressure on. The semis and the final are almost always dreary, cagey affairs where neither team is willing to take risks. Great if your team's in the final, not much fun for neutrals.

Anyway, let's see if I can manage any more points at all from this competition:

Semi-Final Predictions:

Germany 1-0 Turkey

Spain 0-0 Russia

Spain to go through on penalties.


I fear Turkey may well run out of steam, while Germany are just getting up to speed. Meanwhile Spain-Russia I expect to be close, but although I fear a piece of magic from Arshevin could well cost me the points, I suspect the teams will be tied after 120 minutes. In the shootout last night I had doubts about some of the Spanish penalty takers, but I suspect Casillas will do his part to win it for Spain.

The italians missed willingess, and a sane strategy. If your strategy is to play draws, well you usually get into problems when you need to win to get trough. They already went too far.

Turkey, when they feel like t they could take on the world. A bit like Figo in his later years, if he only felt like it he could work wonders. (Remember last EK against the dutch, if Figo wasn't taken of the game before, the dutch would have won.) However they really should learn to dare to attack, when they aren't behind yet. They had the quality for this. However with the key players off, and against a solid organised germany (Who can always use Turkey's long games, and their superior size and fitness). I do no not see a brilliant futur for them.

Germany, hasn't won all games at the start however they're solid defence and organisation is the perfect counter to spain. Not to mention that they are great at corners and freekicks, which they'll use against the shorter Turks and Spaniards. I see them as the possible champions. Their counters are deadly too, remember the Sweinsteiger goal? That goal was just undefendable.

Spain, while I could see them beat the weakened turks, they have to face the Russians and perhaps later the Germans. (probably) The russians seem to be really strong since their keyplayer is back. They've got a secret weapon with Guus (their coach) too. Their defense seems organised enough to handle or the spanish, and their attack force is remarkable. The Dutch were lucky to keep a 1-1 untill extra time. Spain-Russians can go either way. However I'd say the Russians will prevail.

They seem to play a bit like the dutch, but more solid. And a little less emphasis on the attack. They appear more balanced out. However the whole play seems to be based on the work of only one man. If this guy goes down, or if he's constatly followed by two men their game might not wrok anymore. I'd see them win against spain. However Germany looks like the bigger man. (pun intended)

even though I don't play the game...

My predictions:
Germany - Turkey: 2 - 0
Spain - Russia: 1 - 2 (possible extra time or penalties though)

And when it comes to the final I'm thinking of Germany. Who'd win against both Russia and Spain as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Poor Bloody Infantry

Gah, so from 360 possible points in the quarter finals, I managed a big fat zero.

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I got a big fat -20 :tongue2: beat that!

well i got all 4 semi-finals wrong.... :oops:

Germany 1 - 2 Turkey

More hope than judgment

Spain 1 - 3 Russia

Should be a good game


:2thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scurvy

Germany 1 - 2 Turkey

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I wonder how much you'd get if you put 5 dollars on them and they even manage to win... Turkey must have horrible numbers with the bookies.

Germany 2 - 0 Turkey

Still got a few days until the next match, so I'll reserve judgement for a while.

Germany - Turkey 3 - 1
(I just hope that our team takes Turkey seriously until the very last second of the match (or even better until every single Turkish player left the field after the game - you never know...)

Russia - Spain 2 - 1