Euro 2008 - UEFA

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by moon

Not when the underdog sucks!



I think it does come to play when one team got the crap kicked out of them and the other dominated the toughest group in the tournament.

Doesn't mean much at the end of today but the Dutch had looked better throughout the tournament, are the better team and got beat by playing like garbage today.

HEH!

I guess the toughest group in the tournament was just on reputation and not on merit. Romania and France were absolute crap and Italy isn't much better although we'll have to see how they play tomorrow.

Remember in 2004 when the Flames played their first playoff game in a bazillion years? They looked like they didn't belong because they were so nervous. But slowly they learned to play properly and I think that's what the Russians have done.

The underdog doesn't suck.

[ricoFlame]

WHOA. full marks to the russians. great play. good stuff.

[SebC]

I'm with GirlySports here. Russia deserved this win.

Holland got through the group stages with rapid conterattacks against teams with slower buildups. Russia plays the same game with less finishing touch but more pace. They forced Holland to play the role that Holland had previously forced its opponents into. Russia beat Holland at their own game.

... and I can't wait to watch them as an absolute powerhouse once Pavlyuchenko and Kolodin get through puberty.

[ricoFlame]

the russians were quick to attack and very effective at getting back on D. solid, solid stuff from them this afternoon. great to watch.

[You Need a Thneed]

Russia deserved to win the game, but the reffing may have made the difference in this case. Holland was totally robbed of a penalty kick in the first half on the free hick that Van Nistelrooy couldn't quite reach. Replays claerly showed Van Nistelrooy was being held, and that holding was almost certainly what kept a goal from being scored.

Russia's first goal wasn't directly off of they play, but shortly after the play wher Can Persie got the Yellow card which learly was a bad call as well.

I'd like to see how this game turns out different if Holland takes the lead there in the first half. I was surprised I didn't hear any commentators comment about that play. I thought it was pretty obvious.

[Locke]

Full marks to the Russians, they wanted it more and worked harder to get it.

The Dutch looked like they thought they were going to win this game at half-pace and that simply wasnt the case.

I'm disappointed but hopefully Spain will win tomorrow and Germany will go all the way.

I'm more surprised that anything. The Dutch should know better. I even said it before the game, if the Dutch underestimate the Russians or take the game lightly they would lose and they did both and lost.

In the end, it was poor Dutch defending that did them in, they looked tired and disinterested in the second half of added time.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Sad to see the Oranje get outplayed today. Full marks to the Russians........they simply wanted it more.......more hustle, more intensity. Was expecting more from the boys today, but alas, that's the way it goes.

[troutman]

Russia deserved the win for sure.

I don't think these tournaments tell you very much about who is better. Any given team can win a one game knock-out.

[ricoFlame]

big surprise...extra time yet again. 0-0 italy/spain through regular time.

[FurnaceFace]

Italy: The Minnesota Wild of football

quite the snoozer

[Flame Of Liberty]

What a pathetic display by DiNatalia, should have been a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.

[FurnaceFace]

at least when Italy wins this (it's kicks, they are ordained to win) I can cheer for The Russians and Turks to make it a bizarro final.

[ricoFlame]

this is exactly how the azzurri have become one of the elite in world football. exactly how they wanted to play it i'm sure.

[Sune76]

if italy moves on I will puke

[ricoFlame]

Go Azzurri!!!!!

[ricoFlame]

whoa, massive save, buffon has to step up

[Flame Of Liberty]

Nice goal by Senna

[Flame Of Liberty]

Buffon great save

[ricoFlame]

BUFFON, italy back in it!

[ricoFlame]

spain are through to the semis.