The 2012 UEFA European Championship - Poland/Ukraine - The Thread!

[d_phaneuf]

Ya but Pedro will make it anyway I would think, may even start over Mata/Silva

I still think Torres does but I also think he has a good 2nd half, especially when Drogba goes to the ACN

[pewpew]

I was watching the match and that play looked so innocent. Commentators were even commenting that Villa may come back into the match. Definitely a big blow to Spain. Villa's one of my favs.

[Mango]

Just saw a bit of an update from the Canadian Press:

Spanish soccer star David Villa underwent surgery today on his broken leg and has only a slim chance of playing for Barcelona again this season. He could also miss the 2012 European Championship, as Spain looks to defend its title starting in June against Italy.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Croatia upsets Italy and advances with Spain. Book it. Dirty dirty azzure.

[Locke]

With a few rounds of International friendlies coming up, its time to bump this thread for news.

Fernando Torres has been dropped from the Spain squad for next week's friendly against Venezuela.

Del Bosque said of Torres, who struck the winning goal in Spain's Euro 2008 final win over Germany, in quotes reported by Marca: ''Torres isn't doing well, and we've decided that in this case he won't come. It hurts me to leave out Fernando Torres, but I cannot be unfair and hold back those who have been pushing to get in.''

The Spain coach insisted there was still time for players not included in today's selection to force their way into his Euro 2012 squad though, adding: ''This list is a base for the European Championships, but it isn't definitive.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...iendly?cc=5901

[TopChed]

Well, at least he can still cash those nice big pay checks right?

[Locke]

The Football Association will draw up a shortlist of candidates for the vacant England job at the end of this week in case it proves impossible to lure Harry Redknapp away from Spurs.

Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Roy Hodgson, Martin O'Neill and caretaker boss Stuart Pearce, as well as Gareth Southgate, will be discussed as possible contenders.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ack-up?cc=5901

What are these guys smoking? Why would either of them leave their current posts to take on England? Not to mention, not one of these contenders for the England post aside from Stuart Pearce have ever managed a national team.

[TopChed]

It'd be funny if Hodgson got it. At least then all of England would hate him, not just Liverpool fans.

[d_phaneuf]

Jose will coach England at some point, it's still the highest profile job in the world and if you win you are a god

that plays right in to his ego

if it's Southgate or Pearce I will fly to England and punch David Bernstein in the face

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ack-up?cc=5901

What are these guys smoking? Why would either of them leave their current posts to take on England? Not to mention, not one of these contenders for the England post aside from Stuart Pearce have ever managed a national team.

$10 million US/year to manage England.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

$10 million US/year to manage England.

Fair enough, but as a cynic I'd contend that it might still not be worth it. Arry's right, the England job is like a poisoned chalice, they have to get paid a lot because there may be no more jobs for them afterwards.

Anyways, as fun as it is to speculate, some news! Not really Euro related, but rather International Friendly focused.

Brazil vs. Bosnia HG

Brazil have taken steps to ensure that their players are not flown huge distances to play in friendly matches ahead of the 2014 World Cup by situating the majority of matches in Europe, or leaving out foreign-based talent for the ones that are in South America.

This time, Robinho, Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Maicon have all been left out of Mano Menezes' squad, despite there being no restrictions on the number of foreign-based players he can use. It is a chance, then, for the young stars of Neymar, Ganso and Lucas to show once again why they should be the core of the attack when the World Cup rolls around in two years' time.

Key Battle: Leandro Damiao vs. Emir Spahic. The Internacional forward has made such an impression that Spurs have been linked with a €30 million bid in the summer and it will not be long before he gets his chance at a big European club. Quick and skilful, he has been tipped to fill the boots of the legendary Ronaldo, but faces a tough opponent in Spahic, who has done well since moving to Spain with Sevilla. A combative customer, the international break could do the Bosnia & Herzegovina skipper good as he came to blows with team-mate Gary Medel on the training ground only two weeks ago.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=337289&cc=5901

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

Fair enough, but as a cynic I'd contend that it might still not be worth it. Arry's right, the England job is like a poisoned chalice, they have to get paid a lot because there may be no more jobs for them afterwards.

Anyways, as fun as it is to speculate, some news! Not really Euro related, but rather International Friendly focused.

Brazil vs. Bosnia HG

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=337289&cc=5901

This is why I could see Jose taking the position.

He knows that even if he was not successful at England he will still be able to get a job after that position due to his success at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.

He has been successful at pretty much every level so he would be confident enough. The reason Jose would not take the job right now is because is is a strategist and knows that the time is not right to take over England due to all the dissention and controversy around the team.

The only way I could see him taking the team over for Euro 2012 is if he wins the League and Champions League with Real this season. He is the type that once he wins at a team wants to try and prove he can win somewhere else.

For somebody like Arry it is a risk to take that job because at best he has only had relative success domestically. For him a terrible international showing would completely distroy his credibility and may remove him from consideration for any high profile jobs in the future.

[Locke]

Its Scott Parker.

Stuart Pearce has given the England captain's armband to Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker for the friendly against Netherlands.

Although it has been claimed the entire captaincy issue is over-rated, Pearce disagreed on Tuesday, stating it was one of the best moments of his career when he did the job.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...report?cc=5901

Its a good choice I think, but I kind of figured it would be Gerrard.

[Locke]

Oh, the grim ignominy of defeat. Canada falls 3-1 to Armenia.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its Scott Parker.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...report?cc=5901

Its a good choice I think, but I kind of figured it would be Gerrard.

thought it was 50/50 between him and Gerrard

don't think you can go wrong with one of those two, Parker more likely to be available for every game though may have pushed it over the edge

[troutman]

FAI ‏ @FAIreland
Coming up to 40 minutes gone here at @AvivaStadium - still 0-0 between @FAIreland and Czech Republic #IrlCze

[d_phaneuf]

Gerrard hurt.. shocking

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Gerrard hurt.. shocking

He did just play 120 minutes on Sunday.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Gerrard hurt.. shocking

He didn't really look hurt. They may just be managing his minutes after the Carling Cup final and a game against Arsenal on Sat. That's what I'm hoping anyway.

I didn't watch the whole half but England have looked decent so far.

[d_phaneuf]

he shouldn't have been playing today