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

[goodyear]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Can't wait for Sunday.

Several people said good job today to me. Feels good considering all I did was weary Pirlo jersey. Unfortunately my cheering doesn't single handedly lead the team to victory. Or maybe it does.

Balotelli was awesome today but Pirlo is unreal.

Don't always get a chance to watch him play but the guy is so cool ,calm and collected...the chip against England on Sunday and then today...saw the replay again of the goal-line clearance...so poised and just took care of business and cleared the ball away...pure class

#7NationArmy

[moon]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Unlikeable teams? Personally, while there might not be some cinderella story team to root for, but I think all 3 teams are pretty likable in different ways. I'm a pretty big fan of this Spanish team....there's a reason they've been so good the last few tournaments. They put the team first, don't have any overblown egos, and don't flop around too much (for a Mediterranean country at least). There might not be as good of a story around this team compared to 08, but that's because they're more mature and experienced.

Spain is so boring to watch with the pass it back, pass it back, pass it back, don't attack, dive, dive, dive, hope for a break and then pass it back, pass it back, pass it back.

I haven't watched a ton of their games because as I said they are boring but when I watched I saw some dives and having seen the way they played in the past and especially for their Clubs I have a hard time believing they aren't doing what comes naturally to them.

They weren't a good story in '08 and are a worse story now with their boring, boring play.

Hate to say it but Go Italy!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

it will water down a bit but it's still way ahead of the world cup

there are good European teams not at this tournament, there are 10-15 garbage teams at every world cup

10-15 is a stretch. The world is catching up. Unless you consider teams like Uruguay, Japan, Korea, USA and Mexico garbage. New Zealand didn't lose a game!

France, Greece and Italy who were quarterfinalists here in 2012 didn't make it out of the groups at the World Cup.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

10-15 is a stretch. The world is catching up. Unless you consider teams like Uruguay, Japan, Korea, USA and Mexico garbage. New Zealand didn't lose a game!

France, Greece and Italy who were quarterfinalists here in 2012 didn't make it out of the groups at the World Cup.

just because NZ didn't lose a game doesn't mean they aren't garbage


Australia (20)
Japan (45)
North Korea (105)
South Korea (47)
Algeria (30)
Cameroon (19)
Côte d'Ivoire (27)
Ghana (32)
Nigeria (21)
South Africa (83) (hosts)
Honduras (38)
Mexico (17)
United States (14)
Argentina (7)
Brazil (1)
Chile (18)
Paraguay (31)
Uruguay (16)
New Zealand (78)
Denmark (36)
England (8)
France (9)
Germany (6)
Greece (13)
Italy (5)
Netherlands (4)
Portugal (3)
Serbia (15)
Slovakia (34)
Slovenia (25)
Spain (2)
Switzerland (24)

[moon]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

10-15 is a stretch. The world is catching up. Unless you consider teams like Uruguay, Japan, Korea, USA and Mexico garbage.

Outside of Uruguay the other teams are garbage!

[d_phaneuf]

the 9 bolded teams had a zero % chance of winning, or playing attractive football

teams like France and Italy didn't make it out of their group and people got fired for it, the 9 (plus many more) were happy to be there

give me

Belgium
Turkey
B & H
Wales
Croatia
Montenegro
Sweden
Russia
etc.

where they will have actual expectation to at least make it out of the group stages over any non Mexico AFC/OFC/CONCACAF team

[Bagor]

@ItalyFA. To everyone in Europe outside of Germany, you're welcome.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Who else woud play for wales besides bale?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

Who else woud play for wales besides bale?

Giggs?

Those 2 guys and 9 random Weshmen should be able to beat the 4 teams from Group A.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

the 9 bolded teams had a zero % chance of winning, or playing attractive football

teams like France and Italy didn't make it out of their group and people got fired for it, the 9 (plus many more) were happy to be there

give me

Belgium
Turkey
B & H
Wales
Croatia
Montenegro
Sweden
Russia
etc.

where they will have actual expectation to at least make it out of the group stages over any non Mexico AFC/OFC/CONCACAF team

Really? You seriously think Belgium, Turkey, B & H, and Wales play entertaining football and have more of a 0% chance of winning the World Cup? Belgium hasn't qualified for a tournament since 2002.

Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Denmark and Switzerland couldn't make it out of relatively easy groups in 2010. Slovenia failed against USA, Greece failed against Korea, Serbia failed against Ghana and Australia, Denmark failed against Japan and Switzerland failed against both Chile AND Honduras after beating Spain! All garbage teams right?

Europe doesn't play attractive football either. The next time Switzerland plays an entertaining game will be the first.

[d_phaneuf]

I said expectation to make it out of the group stages, all of those teams would be expected to make it out of the group during a world cup

and yes a team with Kompany, Vermaelan, Vertonghen, Hazard, Lukaku, and Dembele etc. is one I would be interested to watch

so is one with Sahin, Turan, Tore. Or Bale and Ramsey, or Modric, Jelavic, and Mandzukic, or Dzagoev, or Dzeko, or Ibra, or Vucinic etc.

I also must have missed when Ghana and Chile left their respective continents, South American and African teams aren't the issue

and yes some of those teams made it out of their group, it does not change them being bad teams who only play defensive football. This last world cup was widely criticized as one of the worst tournaments of recent memory because of boring park the bus football.

[sadora]

I honestly could not see that happening today. Great job on Italy though! Bolatelli has shown up to play when Italy need the most and those were two amazing goals. I don't know what it is about Italy but Germany just cannot find a way to win against them. Should be an interesting final, historically, Spain have not beaten Italy in official competitions since 1920....I hope to God that changes this Sunday.

Vamos La Roja!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

More teams equals more soccer. Win in my books.

[CFENT]

Originally Posted by sadora

I honestly could not see that happening today. Great job on Italy though! Bolatelli has shown up to play when Italy need the most and those were two amazing goals. I don't know what it is about Italy but Germany just cannot find a way to win against them. Should be an interesting final, historically, Spain have not beaten Italy in official competitions since 1920....I hope to God that changes this Sunday.

Vamos La Roja!

I thought Spain eliminated Italy on penelties in the 2008 semi or quarterfinals.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

More teams equals more soccer. Win in my books.

Definitely! They've have already determined the times for the matches in Brazil 2014.

(subtract 3 hours for Calgary time)

4 matches per day!
Opening Match: 17.00
Group Stage matches: 13.00, 16.00, 19.00, 22.00
Round of 16/Quarter-finals: 13.00, 17.00
Semi-finals: 17.00
Match for Third Place: 17.00
Final: 16.00

Plan accordingly!

[sadora]

Originally Posted by CFENT

I thought Spain eliminated Italy on penelties in the 2008 semi or quarterfinals.

You're completely right. Spain did win over Italy in penalties in 2008. Here's the article where I was getting that from, I must admit, I kind of misread that a little bit.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/ne...+spain+rematch

If Spain are to make history and stack together three straight continental and world titles with victory in Sunday's UEFA EURO 2012 final, something no side has ever achieved, how appropriate that it should come against Italy. The final hurdle must always be the most daunting, the most testing, so who better than the Azzurri, who Spain have not beaten in 90 minutes of competitive football since 1920?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CFENT

I thought Spain eliminated Italy on penelties in the 2008 semi or quarterfinals.

2008 Quarterfinals on penalty kicks, in a game that the Italian side was decimated by injury/suspension.

Barzagli & Cannavaro were both missing due to injury, and Pirlo & Gattuso were both out due to suspension.

[Locke]

Well deserved win for Italy. Go beat Spain.

Have to say though, that was a hell of a game.

[GirlySports]

I notice that most teams have a very bad record against Italy, they're just so good throughout history. They're not 4 time World Champs for nothing.

The only two teams I remember giving Italy trouble are France (knocked them out of 1986 and 1998 world cup and euro 2000) and surprisingly Russia or old CCCP (beat Italy in WC 66 and Euro 88) Italy beat CCCP on a coin toss in 68 to win their only ever Euro. There was that playoff in the snow in 97 that Italy barely survived.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by moon

Giggs?

Those 2 guys and 9 random Weshmen should be able to beat the 4 teams from Group A.

Great post we have a winner!!!!! Seriously, you've got to be kidding. There is a reason Wales didn't make it, they are not as good as 3 of those 4 teams in Group A.