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

[Locke]

Holy balls! Why is this substance required in a shirt?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Locke

Holy balls! Why is this substance required in a shirt?

It named one of them and it prevents sweat smells. I blame it on all the "dry-fit" technology crap.

That or they just enjoy poisoning us.

[d_phaneuf]

I think Portugal makes it through that group

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I think Portugal makes it through that group

Why?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

Why?

A couple things Portugal has going for them.....and yes, some of this is very biased.

1. Their schedule is ideal. They have Germany first. Crazy things can happen to favorites in the first game of a major tourney. It's happened before and Portugal could surprise and get a result. Even if they lose, they arguably have their toughest game out of the way early. Their next game against Denmark, probably the weakest in the group. I know you mentioned Denmark owned Portugal in previous qualifying, but do keep in mind, Portugal beat them and dominated a game in this campaign at home. Then they have Holland in what could be a knockout game......Portugal have beat Holland twice in knockout games in the last decade......

2. Ronaldo and Nani.......tough to find a better 1-2 winger combo in this tourney. Ronaldo is in his prime, and wants to get back in the conversation as best in the game and can do so with a good tourney. He's so key.

3. Surprise element. NO ONE is giving them any credit

These are the pros for Portugal progressing, the cons list is a lot longer.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

A couple things Portugal has going for them.....and yes, some of this is very biased.

1. Their schedule is ideal. They have Germany first. Crazy things can happen to favorites in the first game of a major tourney. It's happened before and Portugal could surprise and get a result. Even if they lose, they arguably have their toughest game out of the way early. Their next game against Denmark, probably the weakest in the group. I know you mentioned Denmark owned Portugal in previous qualifying, but do keep in mind, Portugal beat them and dominated a game in this campaign at home. Then they have Holland in what could be a knockout game.

2. Ronaldo and Nani.......tough to find a better 1-2 winger combo in this tourney. Ronaldo is in his prime, and wants to get back in the conversation as best in the game and can do so with a good tourney. He's so key.

3. Surprise element. NO ONE is giving them any credit

These are the pros for Portugal progressing, the cons list is a lot longer.

Thats reasonable. I hate people saying; "Portugal is going to make it!" And not giving reasons why.

Ronaldo and Nani are amazing players and if they put it together can definitely break a game. They have not been doing so for their country lately.

Further, I think the lack of depth in terms of scoring is whats really killing Portugal. Teams key in on those two players and if thats done effectively then they're done.

You know the list of cons, if they bring their form from that Turkey game against any of the teams in their group they're going to get slaughtered.

I see Germany advancing on probably 9 or 7 points. 2 wins and a draw, probably drawing Holland despite soundly beating them in a friendly a while ago.

I see Holland advancing on 6 or 7 points.

At best I can see Portugal or Denmark getting a win and maybe stealing a draw against Germany or Holland netting them only 4 points.

I dont think either of those teams has what it takes because it is a 3 game tournament at that stage and I think if either Holland or Germany get an early scare they will step up their final 2 matches.

Anything can happen.

[SuperMatt18]

Group A
1. Russia
2. Greece
3. Czech
4. Poland

Group B
1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. Portugal
4. Denmark

Group C
1. Spain
2. Italy
3. Croatia
4. Ireland

Group D
1. France
2. Sweden
3. England
4. Ukraine

QF
Dutch over Russia
Germany over Greece
Spain over Sweden
Italy over France

SF
Dutch over Spain
Germany over Italy

F
Germany over Netherlands

There is a saying that Germany always wins the weak tournaments and personally to me this is a weaker Euro tournament then usual.

France, England, Italy are all in a transition period. Spain will be "full" after winning the last two and won't have the hunger they need to succeed.

The Dutch poise the biggest threat but even then their players have not been as successful in their domestic leagues and the backend has some holes.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I see it playing out like this:

Russia takes group A easily. That group is incredibly weak.

Netherlands have a slip up despite being favored to advance and Germany and Portugal make it through. I could even see all three teams having identical records of 1W-1L-1D or something like that and it coming down to a tiebreaker. Or maybe Portugal catches the Dutch or Germans off guard and takes a W. Or maybe Denmark play spoiler by getting a draw against the Dutch and losing to Ger and Portugal.

Spain will win their group easily only because I see Italy totally sucking again like they did in 2010. I picked Ireland in 2nd even though Croatia is probably the stronger side because there is a chance that Ireland beats Italy in a huge upset and the Italians hold Croatia to a draw. This could be especially true if the Italians lose their opener to Spain, draw Croatia and head into the final match with Ireland having a chance to win to advance (with Spain beating Croatia in the other final day match).

England and France play at or above expectations, especially England, and easily come out of D.

The Spain team is incredibly overworked in the last 2 years and run out of gas in the Semi against Portugal. They've got enough to knock off France in the QF but not much more.

Germany coast through to the Final with their only real challenge coming in the form of a SF matchup against the English. Despite England having a somewhat successful tourney they aren't as powerful and fall to ze Germans.

Germany takes the final. They seem to have one of the healthier squads at the tourney and I think that could be the difference with fatigue playing such a factor in a short tourney at the end of a long season for some of these players.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats reasonable. I hate people saying; "Portugal is going to make it!" And not giving reasons why.

Ronaldo and Nani are amazing players and if they put it together can definitely break a game. They have not been doing so for their country lately.

Further, I think the lack of depth in terms of scoring is whats really killing Portugal. Teams key in on those two players and if thats done effectively then they're done.

You know the list of cons, if they bring their form from that Turkey game against any of the teams in their group they're going to get slaughtered.

I see Germany advancing on probably 9 or 7 points. 2 wins and a draw, probably drawing Holland despite soundly beating them in a friendly a while ago.

.

What's messed up about that Turkey result is that was the best they've played since their convincing win against Bosnia in the playoffs. It was their putrid defending on 2 instances, and embarassing efforts by Bruno Alves that cost them in that game. Everywhere else, they were solid. They controlled the play, created good chances. They missed a PK and hit two posts in that game along with some great saves by the Turkish keeper, so their form wasn't as bad as you might think. But if that putrid defending shows up on Saturday, Germany will carve them up real nice.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

What's messed up about that Turkey result is that was the best they've played since their convincing win against Bosnia in the playoffs. It was their putrid defending on 2 instances, and embarassing efforts by Bruno Alves that cost them in that game. Everywhere else, they were solid. They controlled the play, created good chances. They missed a PK and hit two posts in that game along with some great saves by the Turkish keeper, so their form wasn't as bad as you might think. But if that putrid defending shows up on Saturday, Germany will carve them up real nice.

Its really tough to get a good feel for a team out of friendlies. That one was fun to watch but really Portugal just werent getting goals which has been a common theme for them of late.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its really tough to get a good feel for a team out of friendlies. That one was fun to watch but really Portugal just werent getting goals which has been a common theme for them of late.

Outside of their 6-2 win against Bosnia in playoffs, I would agree.

[Cheerio]

Group A
1. Russia
2. Czech
3. Greece
4. Poland

Group B
1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. Portugal
4. Denmark

Group C
1. Spain
2. Italy
3. Croatia
4. Ireland

Group D
1. France
2. England
3. Sweden
4. Ukraine

QF
Netherlands over Russia
Germany over Czech
Spain over England
Italy over France

SF
Spain over Netherlands
Germany over Italy

F
Germany over Spain

[The Big Chill]

Group A
1. Russia
2. Czech
3. Greece
4. Poland

Group B
1. Germany
2. Denmark
3. Netherlands
4. Portugal

Group C
1. Spain
2. Croatia
3. Italy
4. Ireland

Group D
1. Sweden
2. France
3. England
4. Ukraine

QF
Denmark over Russia
Germany over Czech
Spain over France
Sweden over Croatia

SF
Germany over Denmark
Spain over Sweden

Final
Spain over Germany

[Locke]

Well, either we're all geniuses or we're all idiots because so far everyone has picked Germany except troutman.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, either we're all geniuses or we're all idiots because so far everyone has picked Germany except troutman.

Probably means that Germany ends up falling flat on their face and finishes third in the group to Portugal and The Netherlands.

[GirlySports]

I picked Holland

BTW you don't have to give group standings.. just the bracket.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

The Ukraine is fine, but that is clearly Belarus masquerading as Poland. They just plunked down the Polish cities in Belarus and added Polish colours. I now think they did it deliberately so that the map would be less oblong.

Thanks. Now I get it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Probably means that Germany ends up falling flat on their face and finishes third in the group to Portugal and The Netherlands.

Thats what I'm worried about.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Just for ####s and giggles here is my ideal results, not what I actually think will happen. It's basically the same as my previous post except Italy and Ireland own the tourney.

Group A
1. Russia
2. Czech
3. Greece
4. Poland

Group B
1. Portugal
2. Germany
3. Netherlands
4. Denmark

Group C
1. Italy
2. Ireland
3. Spain
4. Croatia

Group D
1. England
2. France
3. Sweden
4. Ukraine

QF
Germany over Russia
Portugal over Czech
Italy over France
Ireland over England

SF
Italy over Germany
Ireland over Portugal

Final
I don't care. I'm half Irish and half Italian. This would almost be a perfect dream/nightmare scenario where I would love to see either team win and would hate for either team to lose.

[Locke]

You're half Irish and half Italian? You must be all alcoholic.