Euro 2008

[cegorach]

This nationalising of Brasilian footy players is getting a bit out of hand, isn't it? The Portuguese, the Poles, the Croats...

It has happened before and will happen again and with Roger it is accidental - not because of a fashion. For example our volleyball woman team includes one Belorussian and one Ukrainian, while we had a Nigerian in the football team before.

Actually the fact we qualified to the entire thing without such 'miracles' on the top of our group beating Portugal suggests there is something more about the team, even if it managed to lose to Finland (just like some mighty English did against Northern Ireland once, recently).
The main reason was the coach and his reputation - there is something about those Dutch wizards they can ask for more and get otherwise someone wouldn't give them.

I'm not judging you, Cego! I love you mate, and was wondering how you coped!

Me, I always stock up on old televisions before every tournament. Then I throw beer bottles at them during matches.
It helps me cope.

Actually I have a small TV set (useless with the EURO thanks to our 'competent', public broadcaster) but:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

a) it would cause little damage despite I am living at the third floor in a pre-war, modernist so really high building,

b) there are two sushi bars around and I don't want to endanger POlish-Japanese relationship hitting a random tourist from Nippon. ;)

c) there are groups of British 'adventurers' any evening and although a revenge for the 2nd WW sounds sweet it would be more elaborate than just one, little TV - I can better !

d) when I was buing beer I have seen a number of German pensioners sightseeing just below my windows. Imagine the headlines 'drunked Poles attacking elderly German women after the lost Euro match' in der Bild or other printed garbage. ;)

All in all I can only take a cold shower or write nonsense at the ORG watching 'Seven Samurais'. :)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I am rather 'mild' when it comes to football in general, I found that all really ridiculous in the past - but that was the reality when we were losing to Sri Lanka in not so surreal jokes - though there is something about the emotions I find a bit addictive right now.

All in all in 2012 the Euro will be played in my city and I will finally take some 5 minutes from my precious time and buy something the guy has

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

surely he is a really heavy hussar unlike me...

, but I love the perfect mixture of sport and history with a doze of the hussar obsession we apparently all have.


And don't tell me about coping. Since I am in the most central part of the city center I can still hear drunked funs singing really, really badly... these medieval cities have exceptional acustics which not a good thing today...

Still I must end this off-topic (finally !) and once more deal with the question of the German goalkeeper.
He really seems to be the worst part of the team - the question is if for example the Croats (certainly will play better against a stronger team - they are the kind of people to enjoy the challange) exploit that, just like the Belorussians did ?

[Afonso I of Portugal]

This nationalising of Brasilian footy players is getting a bit out of hand, isn't it? The Portuguese, the Poles, the Croats...

Interesting subject but for a long, long debate...although Brasil is a former Portuguese colony sharing language, traditions and culture, it was only in 2003 that a Brasilian born player was picked up for the national team for the first time - Deco. Against Turkey Pepe made his 3td match. They both went to Portugal very young, lived in Portugal for years, kept a permanent residence in Portugal, both have Portuguese wifes and kids. Even with all that, their nationalising was controversial. In fact, it is said that players like Figo and Rui Costa refused to play with Deco in 2003. It was only after conversations with the coach and Federation that they eventualy accept him.

Match Day 3 Predictions

Romania 0 - 1 France
Holland 0 - 1 Italy

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Match Day 3:

France 1 - 0 Romania

Italy 1 - 1 The Netherlands

[scotchedpommes]

...the question of the German goalkeeper.
He really seems to be the worst part of the team - the question is if for example the Croats (certainly will play better against a stronger team - they are the kind of people to enjoy the challange) exploit that, just like the Belorussians did ?

Metzelder and Jansen also appeared to be there for the taking. Your lot were getting some real joy
going down the right, and though yes, while I don't see the Croats bottling it so badly like they did
today, I'd also say the Germans will probably have taken steps to rectify that problem.

As for Lehmann, yes, he needs to be tested more, and sharpish. He had one decent reaction to
Saganowski, but other than that he was far too comfortable.

[naut]

The leader board is updated again.

Great.

But I think I'd be on 40 points not 30.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Match Day 2:

Croatia 2 - 0 Austria (Croatia won, 10p)

Germany 1 - 0 Poland (Germany won, 10p)

+ 20 p

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

As above...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

R1: Portugal and Czech's tipped, both won.
R2: Germany and Croats tipped, both won.

=40pts not 30.

[Quid]

I thought the Poles looked weak all round. Defensively, they clearly were not comfortable with the system (does not work in modern football) and offensively, they didn't seem to have any punch either. The Brazilian dude had a good match, however.

The Germans looked good in everything. Perhaps, they were not tested enough, but their passing and sense of positional running was excellent. A comfortable win. Good game for a number of players: Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Podolski...the only real weak point I thought was Jansen defensively.

Croatia probably underestimated Austria and got run over by sheer will power and the 'homeadvantage'. Fortunately for Croatia, Austria lacks a decent striker (actually lacks everything but mainly a striker as I thought they might actually have pulled level had it been otherwise).

Quid

[InsaneApache]

Day 3.

France 1 - 1 Romania

Italy 1 - 2 The Netherlands

[LittleGrizzly]

Day 3.

France 2 - 1 Romania

Italy 1 - 2 The Netherlands

France and Holland for the victory...

[Subedei]

Clemens Fritz made a hell of a game. Well, he was replaced, but I think that was due to his extraordinary ammount of running. Mertesacker & Frings: good performance! That is all for the Werder players.

It would be very important for Ballack and most of all Klose to make a goal or two. Psyche-wise.

Very well done Lukas Podolski, after a very tough season with the FC Bayern he deserves the goals!

[Byblos]

Match Day 3.
Romania 0-2 France
Netherlands 0-1 Italy

Match Day 4.
Spain 1-0 Russia
Greece 1-1 Sweden

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

France Romania 1-0.

Italy-Holland 1-0.

[scotchedpommes]

Matchday 3 Predictions

Romania 1-2 France (1800)

[Would love to see Romania pull something out of this game, and
possibly without Ribéry playing against them(?), and a comparatively
settled side themselves, I could almost see them getting a result.
They can defend very well, and have fine players in Chivu, Mutu and
Marica, but I think might just have to be predictable myself to get
some points on the board.]

Italy 2-0 Netherlands (2045)

[I can only hope I'm wrong, but I think there are too many injuries
for the Dutch, and I think the holding midfielders are too hit and
miss.]

[scotchedpommes]

Ah, it's my favourite team of officials. Expect the unexpected.

[atheotes]

what a bore!!!! France

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

What happened there Louis? No creativity, couldn't keep the ball, didn't seem to care-if you'd been wearing white I would have thought I was watching England.

[Craterus]

Wow, based on that, I can't see France getting past the group stage.

[LeftEyeNine]

At least this score has been a tiny proof of what Romania can do further. This draw will give them some self-confidence.

[Adrian II]

June 9, 2008, 20.17 CET

My prediction: Italy - Netherlands 2:0

Please, God, make it true, and let them lose all other games so we won't look like a third world country for weeks on end, with streets full of silly flags, sillier drunks and stupid light shows.

I want my country back.

[LeftEyeNine]

June 9, 2008, 20.17 CET

My prediction: Italy - Netherlands 2:0

Please, God, make it true, and let them lose all other games so we won't look like a third world country for weeks on end, with streets full of silly flags, sillier drunks and stupid light shows.

I want my country back.

Shall the wrath of the Footy God be upon you.

No tournament without teh Oranges !

[Louis VI the Fat]

zizou, zizou...oh....zizou




All I did during the second half was burn incense and candles at my Zidane shrine...

[cegorach]

My favourite footaball blog z Czuba.pl concluded after the end of the entire affair with France-Romania that it is indeed the group of death - from boredom...
Of course for now...



@Louis

This might cheer you up a bit.

The shortest relation from a football match I have seen...

[Craterus]

Yep, I'm going to change my prediction: Italy 2 - 1 Netherlands

Think I'm on 80 points so far.

[Quintus.JC]

Leader board up dated again.

Sorry I couldn't edit on time but it clearly tells the viewers when it was last updated. After which match it was last up-dated.

[Quintus.JC]

The Euro has been disapointing so far. Hope it will light up later on.

Match Day 4
Final Prediction
Spain 2 - 1 Russia
Greece 1 - 1 Sweden

[Quintus.JC]

OMG Italy are 2 goals down. First goal poor dicision by the ref, second a great break from the Dutch. Seen some good football so far...

[LeftEyeNine]

WOOooooOOOOOoOOOooOOO !

My Oranges seem to have matured before the time I've predicted. Italy is trying to handle the Dutchman storm. 2-0 o far.

WooooOOOooooOOoooOOO !

[InsaneApache]

Nistleroy missed a sitter!

Potentially another 20 points pour moi.

Oh, and France were bobbins.

[scotchedpommes]

Never has a non-offside goal been so sweet. GET IN THERE.
2-0 and coasting, couldn't give a chuff about standings, go
on lads!

[Adrian II]

Shall the wrath of the Footy God be upon you.

No tournament without teh Oranges !

Your Antalian voodoo is working. It's 0:2 at halftime.

They're drunk and they're out there - already..