Match Day 7
Italy 2-0 Romania
Netherlands 2-1 France
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Match Day 7
Italy 2-0 Romania
Netherlands 2-1 France
Okay,
Italy 2-1 Romania
Netherlands 2-1 France
:balloon2:
Italy 2-0 Romania
Netherlands 2-1 France
bugger I think I'm too late.
Hey Adrian, I'm realising now that I've ignored this soccer fun for too long. I had been interested in the sport for awhile, but it's difficult to follow over here with the lack of coverage so I never got into it. When I saw all the Org a flurrying over this Euro08 and it was being broadcast here in the States, I decided this would be the best time to get my feet wet.
Most of the games come on while I'm at work, but I've been able to catch the first hour of all the early games this week, and I'll be making sure I'm alert enough by 12am tomorrow to catch Spain and the dreamy Fernando Torres (whether he has a mullet or not).
For my analysis so far on today's match: Italy is making a grave mistake here and if I were the coach, I'd make certain my team scored often. If Italy had 3 points right now it would be a very different game, and Romania would be ready to go home or just concede. Once the Italians realize that scoring more than the Romanians is key here, the match will be in the bag.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
hi Proletariat, nice to have you along for the fun!
Whatever the outcome, this is a different Italy from the one who played on Monday. Lobont is the only reason Romania are still level. Great attacking game on both ends though, fun to watch.
A lady interested in soccer is always attractive.
Should you run out of any chances, marry me, prol.
ROMANIAN GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!
:mad:
Now, everyone stop scoring so I can get one right :beam:
Sorry, Woad. That didn't last long. :laugh4:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
So who are you rooting for?
ROMANIA!!!!!!!!
Right now I'm rooting for nobody since I have 1-1.
Though I think if Italy could only stop diving in the penalty area they could have scored several by now.
Fine save by Buffon, BTW.
Edit: YES! I got one right, for the first time this tournament. Thought I was sunk when Romania got that penalty though.
Betting on draws FTW.
Referee sucks. Goal was good, and he could have just not given that penalty, no goal but way too stern. True score is 2-1.
You may be right. But I still get the points. :beam:
And to look at it another way, at least they both still have something to play for in the final game.
Just realised I didn't even bet on that match :wall:
If I still can:
Netherlands 2-1 France
Tomorrow:
Russia 1-0 Greece
Spain 3-1 Sweden
Ah well Holland vs France comming up, would be great if we play just as good as we did monday. Italy may be the world champion but France is a fun team maybe we play even better.
Leader board updated again. LittleGrizzly is beginning to pull a distance from the rest, Ser Clegane and Scurvy are in hot pursuit. Gaius Scribonius Curio and Poor Bloody Infantry joins the top 5 for the first time after their last 2 sensational predictions.......
Match Day 8
Final Predictions
Spain 3 - 1 Sweden
Greece 0 - 2 Russia
I swear I saw one of the French fans holding a live chicken:laugh4:
Italy looked past their prime. I was hoping for them to bounce back after the Netherland thrashing, but didn't happen today. Romanian was getting through too many times, Donadoni didn't get the formation right, maybe their'd be better off going back to Catenaccio instead.....
Was praying for that penalty to hit the back of the net. So, so much pain. So close to that sweet sight
of Italian tears.
As for the Dutch game, I must say it's good to see a team so well supported for once. They outnumber
the French fans 6 to 1. Excellent. And not a bad game at all. I start to worry again that Holland are in
our World Cup qualifying group. :sweatdrop:
[Astrology boys waking up now. These games are reminding me why I prefer this tournament to the
World Cup, certainly. Hopefully after 2012 we will see the expected expansion.]
Holland now up 2-0. Uncanny foresight with the substitution of Kuyt-Van Persie.
Is this guy doing the Euro2008 commentary for Dutch TV? ~D
no no-one score and I'll get a correct prediciton!
All hail the Dutch masters!
Why isn't Brazil in America ?
BECAUSE EUROPE HAS THE NETHERLANDS !
SHOOT ME I'M DUTCH !
That match has been a proof of why most of the world calls this one the "football".
Sorry for the unparalleled arrangement level of this post but my Oranges blew me up into euphoria
Y'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL
Cretarus is right. Proletariat rulezz!
Good to have you on board, lady. You just walk the walk, and one day soon you will talk the talk like the best of us. :bow:
As for Neds-France, Jeeesus H. Christ what a match!! I haven't seen such a good match in years. The pace of that second half was absolutely murderous, remarkable. Hats off to the Bleus for never quitting, not until the last second. Poor Henry, poor Ribery, they gave everyone such a great run for their money. And I've seen the hand of God. If you watch that Robben goal in slow motion you see a giant hairy finger tipping that ball up just a few inches so it flies above Coupet's reach. Man, what a goal.
The worst day to be out of money would be today but still that's how it is. And I was so worried france would gain the momentum absolutily incredible.
Gah!!! I missed the Holland V. France matchup :wall:
At least I guessed the winner correctly.
On a Friday afternoon, no less. I would hate to be a bottle of booze in Holland this weekend. :barrel: :netherlands: :medievalcheers:
Wonderful game. France v Italy hopefully will attempt to match the intensity at the least.
I had an ominous feeling the first two minutes of the match...poor Frenchies, they played a lot better than the Italians.
Hup Holland, hup! :2thumbsup:
gah, meant to change to a Netherlands win. And I debated with an Italy draw. Too much second-guessing for me. Or not enough.
:cry:
Holy...! No way I'm a fan of football, and the first half would probably have left me that way - I actually thought the French were the better side, there. But the second half! The Dutch produced masterful moments, but the French certainly weren't asleep. A fun, fast-paced match of a kind I hope to see more of.
Haven't scored any points in the last 5 games, so here's tomorrows:
Sweden 0 - 2 Spain
Russia 2 - 1 Greece
Well, that was really disappointing. Good show for Romania, but it was really Italy that lost, not the Romanians that won. Where were the ever resourceful Italian defenders? Where were the merciless attackers who need only half an opening to score? Nowhere to be seen. I really miss my pasta's; they used to make or break a tournament and now they hardly take part in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Craterus
Cegorach, just click here for the highlights.
really enjoyed both games, hope Romania can beat Holland next round (as Dutch have nothing to play for)
:2thumbsup:
Romania was my surprise team of the tournament. And they are proving out to be one. A "resting" Dutch team may be defeated by a narrow score in favor of the Romanians which will take the Yellows along with the Oranges for the quarter finals.
This group could possess the domination show-offs of the giants however all teams convinced us that they are all good enough. (ok ok, such an Italian defense could never be seen)
Very nice game for the Dutch, although I was hoping for France to score that last goal(just for the 20 extra points I admit ~;) ).
France really put some pressure on them but the accuracy was not theirs.
That Italy match was rather disappointing. :no:
They should sign a secret pact to let the Romanians win so that they both go through and everyone stupidly thinks the Ducth will play badly in the Quarter finals only they don't and the final is between Holland and Romania!
I think they need Dries Roelvink on the attack, supported by Guus Meeuwis.
Wow...
Strange as it may seem, I was pleased with les Bleus. They did most of what I wanted them to do. They gave it their best. They played with passion, urgency and determination, right until the last minute! Even if that last bit of finesse was absent - little triangles, cool combinations - they did me proud.
I would not have brought on Gomis maybe, nor Anelka. Benzema it should have been.
We missed that little bit of luck too. A penalty that wasn't given, a devastating attack right after getting the game back up to 2-1, Henry -great though he was - who still lacked some accuracy in front of goal, etcetera.
But this game was about something else. Over the last decade I have seen France play against the Brazilians, the Portuguese, the Spanish, the English, the Italians, the Croats. I've seen it all, great clashes, great games, gifted opponents.
But what I have not witnessed was an opponent that outclasses France on sheer technical prowess. Players, who are simply better, more gifted. This Orange is phenomenal. The greatest team France has met in the modern age. :bow:
I hate to tell a French that France's offensive success' over recent years was due to that underlying MAJOR tactic -triangles, one-twos and players that break through-.
Thanks to Domenech, with some of the most rapid wingers of all-time France, we are yet to see any of this which can produce Orange-like results for France.
Gah.
Sweden 0 - 2 Spain
Russia 0 - 0 Greece Sure bet
Hell of a game, Netherlands were simply amazing. Though i was hopeful it would stay 2-1 as two correct results would have been great!
Well done Italy Romania for getting a 1-1 draw, did me proud :)
Day Something
Sweden 0 - 2 Spain
Russia 1 - 0 Greece
Spain - Sweden 2 - 1
Russia - Greece 2 - 1
As always I like your analysis, Louis. The sheer physical prowess of all the Dutch players isn't in doubt, they lost very few duels on that. The technical prowess isn't spread equally well. Only a few have this 'teflon' quality that makes them appear untouchable. Van de Sar, Van Nistelrooy, Robben and Kuyt certainly have it. Robben displayed it when he made his brilliant solo goal. You can see it in the run-up to Van Persie's goal, too. Van Nistelrooy makes an otherworldly flick in left field that takes care of three French defenders and sends away Robben virtually unchallenged, who then passes to Van Persie in front of the goal. All textbook, except that incredible flick.
I think I know where that little flick comes from. It can not be taught, exercised or drilled. It is the result of kids playing street soccer from the age of six or seven upwards, day in, day out. That's where very young players develop the neural tissue and spatial orientation needed for such moves. The Brazilians used to be past masters as it, because football is totally integrated with street culture there and it is played in impossible spaces and on terrible gravel plots where technical control is everything. Fortunately this culture isn't yet lost in The Neds, or so it seems. Van Nistelrooy certainly has it.
But yeah, respect for the Bleus. They always had exceptional character, and they haven't lost it. They gave it their best as if this were the final. :bow:
They are the better team. Heard the joke about the frenchie who made an mistake? He didn't. France is clockwork perfection. At the end of the first half when France was taking back the match Holland was starting to lose the magic and started to make silly mistakes, I thought we were done. What happened in the second half is nothing short of a miracle. Viva la France, fantastic team and great sports this game was really about good football and chivalry :2thumbsup:
I think it's day 8 isn't it?
Spain 2-1 Sweden
Russia 1-0 Greece
Spain is going to try and take it easy, maybe Villa will even be spared for the second half. Greece is going to have to play offensive football, which they´re incapable of, so they will be slaughtered in a very messy game. Says the worst predictor of the thread (OK, so I joined late).
Day 8
Final prediction
Spain 2:1 Sweden
Russia 2:0 Greece
Ow, that's a nasty one. I've said it before, you have been 'integrated' too well. ~D
Oh but the English have shown character throughout this opening round of the tournament. And they have their job cut out for them in the quarter finals. :tongue2:
That was in my opinion the most beautiful moment of the match. We were all watching him being surrounded, then suddenly there's that flick and the field is wide, wide open for Robben and Van Persie. Barely a Frenchman in sight. It was clear ten seconds before the ball actually hit the net that it would be a goal, and everyone was ecstatic.
I'd better pull my socks up here before a certain small bear roars off into the dist......
Here goes..
Spain 3:0 Sweden
Russia 1:0 Greece
Match Day 8:
Spain 2 - 0 Sweden
Russia 1 - 1 Greece
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Greece 1-0 Russia
Spain is no big team yet. And Greece are sure to grab some points from one of the "almost-nothing" teams of the tournament.
Sweden 1-2 Spain
Greece 1-1 Russia
Matchday 8 Predictions
Sweden 1-1 Spain (1800)
[Spanish bubbles usually tend to burst a little later, but I think Sweden might contain them and be able
to exploit their defensive weaknesses just enough to bring them down to earth. Sweden are missing a
couple of critical players to injuries, though I've been led to believe their more youthful alternatives
aren't half bad. I trust they'll do me a favour here, then.] :skull:
Greece 1-2 Russia (2045)
[Greece have to change to a more positive system, as they are quite capable of doing. Whether they
do or not, Russia might just prove too strong for them. They were unlucky early on against Spain, and
I think their endeavour could pull them through for a repeat of the result four years ago.]
Sweden 2-1 Spain
Greece 3-1 Russia
Nice change. Care to explain?Quote:
Originally Posted by FactionHeir
Day 8
Spain 3:1 Sweden
Russia 0:2 Greece
Looks like Romania will sneak into second spot if they can get a decent result against a second string Dutch side next week.
Match Day 8 Prediction
Spain 2 - 1 Sweden
Greece 0 - 0 Russia (i predict a very very boring match...:shame:)
At last!!! :2thumbsup: i see someone who understand the reasons for Brazilian wold cup superiority and Portugal's past years success. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldinho, among many others (almost the entire teams, actualy) came from that street culture and that explain individual skills and ball possession. Usualy both Portugal and Brazil have a lot of ball possession in their matches and that can also explain Dutch failures against both.
But in this Dutch team, teamwork is amazing and together with very good individual skills makes them the main favourite for this trophy. Playing like these, i think this time The Neds can easily win over Portugal...:shame::sweatdrop:
Lest we never forget :beam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXq7xcnkis
hehe that was fun
I love this commentating.
Spain is overrated.
But I guess they will win.
Russia - Greece. Arr, I won't watch it, probably.
God, that idiot again... he should be shot in a ditch, his possessions burnt and his children sold into slavery in some third world country. Not Bergkamp, the commentator.
Geoffrey, please stop destroying the illusion that the Dutch are in the big league and are not the emotional and intellectual midgets that we really are. You can still be 'uitgeburgerd', you know...
:laugh4:
I wouldn't be at all surprised if we had Portugal - Neths for a final this time. Hopefully, it will be a better match than two years ago. Last World Cup both teams wasted their considerable talent on too much nonsense. If the Portuguese hadn't mistaken the semi-final for an Olympic diving contest, the final would've been theirs.
Spain 2 - 1 Sweden
Greece 0 - 1 Russia
Still recovering from last night's game. Biggest defeat in a competetive match since before I was born. The defensive duo of Gallas and Thuram were too vulnerable.
*cries for Mexes*
No wait, Domenech didn't bring him. :wall:
If the Dutch decide to lose the last game, or play their reserves, it's all over for France. Bah.
Spain 2-1 sweden
Russia 2-0 greece
Fun? it was a shame for both teams! :shame:
But your right, we shouldn't forget some butchers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIYHDU2b7DM
Oh common you won, Portugal was a dirty chief as well :whip:
Right, Sunday's games:
Match Day 9:
Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey
Switzerland 2-1 Portugal
Czech Republic haven't done anything like enough to justify a quarter final spot so I pick the more energetic Turks to just edge it to take second place in the group. In the other game, Portugal have already qualified and it is the last chance for the Swiss to take some points since they are already eliminated so I expect them to go all-out against a weakened Portugal side and get a victory for pride.