Euro 2008

[scotchedpommes]

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.]

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[LeftEyeNine]

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

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[scotchedpommes]

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.

[Adrian II]

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!

[LeftEyeNine]

Is it the end of a prematurely pumped Orange dream ?

[LeftEyeNine]

Yes it is.

Arshavin 3 - 1 Oranjes

[scotchedpommes]

I should have backed Arshavin again.

What odds a Turkey - Russia final?

[Craterus]

Italy 3 - 0 Spain

[Conqueror]

That was a good game. Congrats Russia

[Pannonian]

My goodness this is a wonderful Russian side.

[LeftEyeNine]

What odds a Turkey - Russia final?

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.



P.S. Congrats to the team called Russia.

[Hax]

Russia deserved a win. Just great play. Great.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Spain 1 : 2 Italy

[Ferret]

Italy 3 - 0 Spain

Are you mad!?

Spain 3-1 Italy

[woad&fangs]

*sigh*

Anyways,

Spain 4-0 Italy

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

[Adrian II]

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

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

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...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

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

Prediction
Spain 0 - 1 Itay

[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?

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'?)

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

I want points for my prediction!


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.

[Pannonian]

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.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Edited earlier prediction. Now I'm thinking:

Spain 1 : 2 Italy

[LeftEyeNine]

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.

[LeftEyeNine]

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

Luca Toni.

Pavlyuchenko.

Miroslav Klose.

[Dutch_guy]

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.

[LittleGrizzly]

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

[Husar]

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

[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.