Euro 2008

[Ferret]

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!

[Geoffrey S]

I think they need Dries Roelvink on the attack, supported by Guus Meeuwis.

[FactionHeir]

On a Friday afternoon, no less. I would hate to be a bottle of booze in Holland this weekend.

Wonderful game. France v Italy hopefully will attempt to match the intensity at the least.

On a Friday the 13th afternoon no less indeed

Quite an impressive game by the Oranjes there, our Dutch overlords here will be singing for a while

[Louis VI the Fat]

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.

[LeftEyeNine]

Even if that last bit of finesse was absent - little triangles, cool combinations - they did me proud.

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.

[Moros]

Holland now up 2-0. Uncanny foresight with the substitution of Kuyt-Van Persie.

Is this guy doing the Euro2008 commentary for Dutch TV?

The guy is Jack van Gelder. He's great. He puts his soul into and is sometimes a bit funny. Like Last World Cup when he was making fun of Ronaldo (The brazilain guy).
I do not believe he's commenting any games though.

[atheotes]

Sweden 0 - 2 Spain
Russia 0 - 0 Greece Sure bet

[LittleGrizzly]

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 :)

[naut]

Day Something

Sweden 0 - 2 Spain
Russia 1 - 0 Greece

[PBI]

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.

Methinks you have been talking to too many British people, Louis. We're the ones who are supposed to be pleased about how we got thrashed but "played well" and "showed character".

[Ser Clegane]

Spain - Sweden 2 - 1
Russia - Greece 2 - 1

[Adrian II]

But what I have not witnessed was an opponent that outclasses France on sheer technical prowess. Players, who are simply better, more gifted.

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.

[Fragony]

I actually thought the French were the better side, there.

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

[Husar]

I think it's day 8 isn't it?

Spain 2-1 Sweden
Russia 1-0 Greece

[Adrian II]

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

I think they need Dries Roelvink on the attack, supported by Guus Meeuwis.

Ow, that's a nasty one. I've said it before, you have been 'integrated' too well.

Methinks you have been talking to too many British people, Louis. We're the ones who are supposed to be pleased about how we got thrashed but "played well" and "showed character".

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.

[Geoffrey S]

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.

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.

[InsaneApache]

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

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Match Day 8:

Spain 2 - 0 Sweden

Russia 1 - 1 Greece

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[Adrian II]

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.

Russia can play offensive football. It's not pretty. But it is offensive football. Greece can't - which doesn't mean it is going to be a pretty sight either.

[LeftEyeNine]

Russia can play offensive football. It's not pretty. But it is offensive football. Greece can't - which doesn't mean it is going to be a pretty sight either.

Well, that's the trick. Russia does not have an excessive offensive capability where Greece can stop that. What's more Greece have better strikers this time and one of the counter attacks will knock the Russkis unconscious.

[woad&fangs]

Sweden 1-2 Spain

Greece 1-1 Russia

[scotchedpommes]

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.]


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.]

[FactionHeir]

Sweden 2-1 Spain
Greece 3-1 Russia

[Adrian II]

Greece 3-1 Russia

Nice change. Care to explain?

[Proletariat]

Day 8

Spain 3:1 Sweden

Russia 0:2 Greece

[naut]

Looks like Romania will sneak into second spot if they can get a decent result against a second string Dutch side next week.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Match Day 8 Prediction

Spain 2 - 1 Sweden
Greece 0 - 0 Russia (i predict a very very boring match...)

[Afonso I of Portugal]

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.

At last!!! 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...

[Fragony]

Lest we never forget

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXq7xcnkis

hehe that was fun