Euro 2008 - UEFA - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 05-30-2008, 02:57 PM

http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/index.html

Who do you like? I'm going for the Netherlands, (my boys are dual citizens). Hop Holland!

Also, I'd like to see Spain finally do something in a big tournament.

Flickered Flame · 05-30-2008, 03:00 PM

I have read several articles that say Germany should win it all.

604flames · 05-30-2008, 03:02 PM

I will cheer for Turkey and Germany (the former since my only European live soccer game was in Istanbul, the latter due to roots).

GirlySports · 05-30-2008, 03:06 PM

Italy! World and European double

Locke · 05-30-2008, 03:11 PM

I hope the Germans come through and win this, I'd also like to see the Dutch and Spanish do well. If either of these 3 teams wins I'll be extremely happy.

I doubt Italy will even make it out of the group stage.

Mango · 05-30-2008, 03:18 PM

I'll be cheering for my country, Croatia, but I think Portugal will win.

I can't wait

ricoFlame · 05-30-2008, 03:26 PM

Azzurri! so pumped for this tourney. stay out of the way of the world champs!

arloiginla · 05-30-2008, 03:29 PM

GERMANY!!!!!!

If anyone saw me at U of C today, I was the guy with the Germany t-shirt, Germany hat, and red Germany jacket. DEUTSCHLAND WIRD EUROPAMEISTER!!!!!!

Thunderball · 05-30-2008, 04:29 PM

Italy for the double!

I don't care what some doubters say, these guys know how to win when it counts. Donadoni is not a good coach, but he's learning. Italy also got first place in arguably one of the toughest three groups in European qualification, with them (#3), France (FIFA #7), Scotland (FIFA #15), & Ukraine (FIFA #32).

Plus, this is the last hurrah for the majority of the team since the vast majority were born before 1980 (28 or older). Maybe half of the 23 called up will be around for WC 2010.

The only teams with the kind of star power and depth that Italy has are Spain, Germany and maybe, maybe Holland and Portugal. France is a mess with a borderline ######ed coach, have a gaping hole without Zidane, and lack top-end goaltending.

The Goon · 05-30-2008, 04:32 PM

I can see the final being Italy vs. Portugal, a diving masterpiece.

Not really sure who to cheer for in the tournament, but I am hoping for some entertaining football.

troutman · 05-30-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Italy for the double!

I don't care what some doubters say, these guys know how to win when it counts.

I suppose, but it was a miracle they won in 2006. They were outplayed by the US, Australia and France. Still, they won.

ricoFlame · 05-30-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I suppose, but it was a miracle they won in 2006. They were outplayed by the US, Australia and France. Still, they won.

meh, that's italian football. they got outplayed in pretty much every game in the '94 world cup (including the group stage) and still just a spot kick away from the title.

Frequitude · 05-30-2008, 09:43 PM

Netherlands!

KTown · 05-30-2008, 11:09 PM

Czech Republic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GirlySports · 05-31-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I suppose, but it was a miracle they won in 2006. They were outplayed by the US, Australia and France. Still, they won.

Are you sure it was a miracle? Italy scored 12 goals and conceded 2

12 goals! That's usually like 3 world cups combined for Italy!

Thunderball · 05-31-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I suppose, but it was a miracle they won in 2006. They were outplayed by the US, Australia and France. Still, they won.

Outplayed insofar as they allowed one goal against before playing France? Not to mention it was an own goal caused by an inexperienced player who only got to play because the starter wasn't game fit. The goal that France scored was also a PK. Italy is probably the only team ever to not concede a regular goal in the World Cup.

You have to bear in mind that Italy plays a very frustrating game... they toy with their opponents, allow them deep into their zone, and then spring the trap. They often look outplayed in this system because they give the other team a lot of the field. They rely heavily on their defenders, wingbacks and defensive midfielders... which is why they could be in big trouble after this tournament (and possibly in this tournament as Nesta retired from international play, Zambrotta and Cannavaro are both shadows of the players they were in 2006 with Italy and Juventus, Grosso has been average with Lyon, and both Barzagli and Materazzi had really lousy years. Chiellini is the only one of the bunch who had a stellar season, but at 23, he wouldn't be the ideal choice to be a starting CB yet).

The ideal Italy game is a 2-0 win, one goal in each half, since it is considered a decisive victory to them. They did that twice in the group stage against better teams than the US and Australia, and once in the quarter finals 3-0 against Ukraine... also a better team. They also beat Germany 2-0, but both those goals were second half strikes.

They were en route to that against the US, before getting down a player, having the Zaccardo own goal... though they were still the dominant team with 10 men v. 11.

Against France, Zidane was awarded a questionable PK very early in the game... Italy got the equalizer 10 minutes later, and the rest was pretty even.

Australia was the only real stinker, and even then they played a man down for nearly the entire second half.

cSpooge · 05-31-2008, 11:05 AM

I'm cheering for Netherlands... but Babel is our for the tourney now damnit!!

KTown · 05-31-2008, 11:06 AM

History means crap in soccer.

Unlike hockey where you know Canada/Russia will be dominate there are at least 10 nations that have a legitimate shot at winning the European Championships.

Some might say this is a harder tournament to win then the World Cup because you don't get those terrible teams in the tournament. Outside of Brazil and Argentina, there are no major threats to win a worldcup from a country outside of Europe.

ricoFlame · 05-31-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTown

History means crap in soccer.

Unlike hockey where you know Canada/Russia will be dominate there are at least 10 nations that have a legitimate shot at winning the European Championships.

Some might say this is a harder tournament to win then the World Cup because you don't get those terrible teams in the tournament. Outside of Brazil and Argentina, there are no major threats to win a worldcup from a country outside of Europe.

actually any team can win this tourney, that's what is so great about it. greece definitely wasn't in the group of teams that people had a shot to win the tournament last time around. and how about the danes in '92. any team in the field can win this tourney, just a matter of the right group playing the right system at the right time. love this tourney.

KTown · 05-31-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

actually any team can win this tourney, that's what is so great about it. greece definitely wasn't in the group of teams that people had a shot to win the tournament last time around. and how about the danes in '92. any team in the field can win this tourney, just a matter of the right group playing the right system at the right time. love this tourney.

Don't even get me started on Greece.