Euro 2008 - UEFA

[vodafone_b]

the prize for finishing first in group stages for portugal is a date with germany..
that is not cool..
germany did not play well so far, but i think portgual will still have to be at its best to ensure they can beat germany.. germany always find a way through and wins the match (just look at the thunderbolt today from ballack!)
it will be one good match for the fans! can't wait

[flip]

Originally Posted by vodafone_b

the prize for finishing first in group stages for portugal is a date with germany..
that is not cool..
germany did not play well so far, but i think portgual will still have to be at its best to ensure they can beat germany.. germany always find a way through and wins the match (just look at the thunderbolt today from ballack!)
it will be one good match for the fans! can't wait

That means that since I think the Dutch will blow it against Romania (semi-on purpose) of the 4 semi finalists from WC 06 only 1 will remain (either Germany or Portugal). and only 1 from the quarters (Port. or Ger again)

Furthermore of the round of 16 from the 06 WC only 3 will remain, Spain, Portugal/Germany and Netherlands.

This leaves a great opportunity for the 1b type teams like Romania, Croatia and Turkey to win the tourney, except Croatia and Turkey are playing in the quarters.

[kdogg]

I have to make my Group A and B side QF pool picks today.... Predictions anyone???

Portugal vs. Germany
Croatia vs. Turkey

[troutman]

Portugal vs. Germany
Croatia vs. Turkey

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

Portugal vs. Germany
Croatia vs. Turkey

Yeah, same.

Germany vs. Portugal will be tight, and the Turks have lost too many players to injury and suspension, they are as far as they're going to go.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

There's been much speculation that with Volkan being out for Turkey, that's gonna hinder their chances. I don't think it will. Rustu is a very competent keeper and could easily be the starter of the Turks.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by kdogg

I have to make my Group A and B side QF pool picks today.... Predictions anyone???

Portugal vs. Germany
Croatia vs. Turkey

In my pool, I have a Turkey v portugal semi final, although, I did have Turkey beating Germany and Portugal beating Croatia. Oh well, at least the four teams that are thru right.

[josef]

thorsten frings (germany) broke his ribs and won´t play against portugal
when frings was banned for one game at the wc against italy the germans lost, so i hope it´s not a bad omen

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by josef

thorsten frings (germany) broke his ribs and won´t play against portugal
when frings was banned for one game at the wc against italy the germans lost, so i hope it´s not a bad omen

That hasnt been made official yet from what I can gather. But good news for Portugal!!!!

[GirlySports]

So..

Poll: Does Holland roll over and die today?

I'd say no. I'm not sure Holland would want to face Romania again!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

So..

Poll: Does Holland roll over and die today?

I'd say no. I'm not sure Holland would want to face Romania again!

I agree with you. They may not play with the same intensity, but they wont roll over.

I doubt you'll even see many Dutch changes today. Maybe no Van Nistelrooy or Van Persie, maybe no Robben, and see the introductions of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Jan Venegoor of Hessellink, but by no means does that constitute rolling over, those are still some strong players.

You have to remember, everyone here knows the score, Romania know what they have to do, and France and Italy know that they are at Romania's mercy.

My ideal outcome today would be a Romanian win, send France and Italy home.

The news about Frings sort of explains why he played like crap yesterday. Bad free kicks, errant passes, the like. Its a loss for sure, but Germany has the depth to cover.

What I cant find is Schweinsteiger's availability, is it 2 matches? I know that after the quarterfinals the cards are wiped clean, but will he be available against Portugal?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree with you. They may not play with the same intensity, but they wont roll over.

I doubt you'll even see many Dutch changes today. Maybe no Van Nistelrooy or Van Persie, maybe no Robben, and see the introductions of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Jan Venegoor of Hessellink, but by no means does that constitute rolling over, those are still some strong players.

You have to remember, everyone here knows the score, Romania know what they have to do, and France and Italy know that they are at Romania's mercy.

My ideal outcome today would be a Romanian win, send France and Italy home.

The news about Frings sort of explains why he played like crap yesterday. Bad free kicks, errant passes, the like. Its a loss for sure, but Germany has the depth to cover.

What I cant find is Schweinsteiger's availability, is it 2 matches? I know that after the quarterfinals the cards are wiped clean, but will he be available against Portugal?

Jan Venegoor of Hessellink! What a cool name!

I think red cards are only a 1 match suspension in UEFA.

The bigger question is about the German manager. Is he suspended for the QF?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I can already here the Italian conspiracy theorists going nuts.

Even if the Dutch fielded a proper side and Romania won, the Italians would still cry. The Dutch have more pride then to let someone win. Sure, they're gonna sit some key players, but they have every right to do so and they're not gonna do it to spite the French or Italians.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

So..

Poll: Does Holland roll over and die today?

I'd say no. I'm not sure Holland would want to face Romania again!

They SHOULD roll over. They have nothing to gain by winning. They can eliminate ITA and FRA (the World Cup finalists) without lifting a finger.

Didn't work for the Colts in the NFL though. The karma came back to bite them. The curse of the Cleveland Browns.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I can already here the Italian conspiracy theorists going nuts.

Even if the Dutch fielded a proper side and Romania won, the Italians would still cry. The Dutch have more pride then to let someone win. Sure, they're gonna sit some key players, but they have every right to do so and they're not gonna do it to spite the French or Italians.

I hear ya man. I'm not happy with all of the 3rd group stage games being played at the same time because it sucks to watch, but the Italians cried about the crippling injustice of Euro 2004 and here we are.

The message? Waterworks will get you whatever you want.

Well, here we are appeasing the Italians and it still looks like they wont get through.

Will they demand a 3 point lead next time around? It still might not help.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

They SHOULD roll over. They have nothing to gain by winning. They can eliminate ITA and FRA (the World Cup finalists) without lifting a finger.

Didn't work for the Colts in the NFL though. The karma came back to bite them. The curse of the Cleveland Browns.

And it helped the Giants, who played the Patsies tough in the last game when there was nothing on the line and rode that momentum all the way to the Super Bowl!

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I can already here the Italian conspiracy theorists going nuts.

Even if the Dutch fielded a proper side and Romania won, the Italians would still cry. The Dutch have more pride then to let someone win. Sure, they're gonna sit some key players, but they have every right to do so and they're not gonna do it to spite the French or Italians.

I don't think the Italians would cry this time because they're more mad at their own team and coach. I have an Italian friend and he just given up saying how badly the team is managed. They really had a gripe in 2004 though. Two Scandinavian teams drawing exactly 2-2 so they both get in? That was really fishy.

Italian teams in Champions League have rolled over before so it's not unusual.

So far we've seen Portugal rollover and Croatia get 9 points. I'm curious to see what the Dutch and Spanish do.

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Ok soccer fans I bet the Netherlands to beat Romania.

I also took Italy to win, Croatia to win and Spain.

the big ones I bet were Croatia and Netherlands, italy was just a small parlay.

What do you guys think?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

They SHOULD roll over. They have nothing to gain by winning. They can eliminate ITA and FRA (the World Cup finalists) without lifting a finger.

Yeah, but Italy and France arent the Dutch's problem. They've shown that they can handle either of them and quite easily at that.

I want to see France and Italy go home more than anyone, but really its all about the Dutch in this group.

[J pold]

Ah! I thought the games where at 12:00 now I can’t watch them over the lunch hour

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

I hear ya man. I'm not happy with all of the 3rd group stage games being played at the same time because it sucks to watch,

Yeah, it sucks to have to flip in between games like yesterday and like I'll be doing within the hour, but the quality of soccer is probably better. I mean, if Romania-Holland was the first game and Romania won, a game between France and Italy would be meaningless. Playing both games at the same time ensures there will be drama at both stadiums.