Euro 2016 Thread

[GirlySports]

and the cheating of 2014. Brazil stole the opening game against Croatia.

[polak]

Ugh another disappointing performance for Poland in their least friendly before the tournament.

0-0 draw against Lithuania. Lewandowski was left on the bench but still. You'd hope they could score a goal against their medieval countrymen.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

and the cheating of 2014. Brazil stole the opening game against Croatia.

Don't even get me started.

EDIT: Congratulations, you got me started.

From Wikipedia:

Brazil vs Croatia




Referee Yuichi Nishimura (right) at the Group A opening match


Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura faced heavy criticism for his performance in the Group A opening match between Croatia and the host team Brazil as several decisions favoured the host nation.
In the 71st minute, Croatia defender Dejan Lovren put his hands below Brazil striker Fred's arms in the Croatian penalty area, after which Fred fell down. Nishimura decided to award Brazil a penalty kick which forward Neymar subsequently converted for their second goal in a 3–1 win. The call was condemned by various sources, including former top-level FIFA referees,[28] newspaper writers,[29][30][31] players from other teams,[32] and fans in Nishimura's home country,[33] saying that Lovren's contact was minimal and that Fred went down on his own. 12 minutes later, the Croatians had an equaliser controversially disallowed for a supposed foul by Croatian forward Ivica Olić as Brazilian goalkeeper Júlio César went down in a high-ball duel, another call that was also condemned by many sources.[34][35][36][37]
Earlier in the game, in the 26th minute, Neymar elbowed Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić, after which Neymar was issued a yellow card. Croatia was at that time leading the game 1–0.[38] Many critics agreed that Neymar's punishment was too lenient and that Neymar should have been issued a full red card, which would have taken him out for the remainder of the game and left Brazil with just 10 players on the field.[33][39][40][41][42]
Also, while the match being equalised, Ivica Olic was running with the ball in a fast Croatian counterattack, Dani Alves tripped him with his knee against the heel but, even though it was not on purpose, Olic was right about to face the keeper and the Brazilian deserved a red card for it. Nevertheless, the Japanese referee didn't show Alves any cards because he didn't give Croatia the free kick. Right after that, FIFA repeated the action on the screens twice, being the first in a very complicated angle to determinate if there was or was not a contact between the players, and being the second showed from a very good angle but right after the contact between the player was made.
Near the end of the match, right before Oscar scored a third goal for the home team, Ramires went on a tackle with a very hard kick against Rakitic's legs in the center of the field that made the Croatian fall and lose the ball. No foul was called, and the ball was taken by Oscar who ran with it and scored.
Renowned former top-level FIFA referee Markus Merk questioned FIFA's appointment of Nishimura as the referee in the opening match, labelling the refereeing in the match as "embarrassing".[43] Massimo Busacca, Head of Refereeing Development at FIFA, defended Nishimura's penalty kick decision and insisted that Lovren's contact was significant enough.[44][45] FIFA's marketing director Thierry Weil rejected suggestions that the Brazilians were favoured by Nishimura.[44]

[Bagor]

Republic of Ireland for me.
Getting out of the group will be a result for them.
I'm expecting their games to be typical MON pressing affairs.

[devo22]

Austria obviously, first time we've actually qualified for the Euros. Friendlies have been pretty disappointing, but if we can find our rhythm, getting out of the group stage is a more than realistic goal.

as always I'll also support England, but I'm not expecting much. Pretty used to the crash and burn performances by now.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Winning a game might be a decent result for Ireland in that group. As long as the fans are extremely loud and extremely drunk they'll do us proud.

[Locke]

Ugh....start the damned tournament already!

[GirlySports]

Rating Euro 2016 favorites:
1. France: home team, great array of talents in every line. Risk: internal implosion.
2. Belgium: On paper at least, this team looks awesome. It's been a famine for Belgium for a long time, and suddenly they're deluged with top tranche footballers. Risk: team chemistry. If they peak at the right time, they'll be unbeatable.
3. Germany: should be the absolute favorite by a country mile. But they've won everything, the hunger is not as intense; not the best team individually looking suspect especially at fullbacks and striker. Can anybody fill the Lahm-size hole on both the field and in the locker room?
4. Spain: First also-ran. Spanish clubs snatched everything not bolt down by nationality-exclusion for 3 years running now. The national team though doesn't have the same focus or the unity.
5. England: Second also-ran. There was a glimpse of hope that this will be the first England for a long time playing with joy and free of paralyzing anxiety. Then Hodgson confirmed that Rooney would be a "mandatory starter", and that's that. So to state the obvious: Nope, football is not coming home.
6. Italy: Third also-ran. A team with no obvious stand-out. But their spine is a Juventus team that had won like 23570834976 games in a row so they should actually be the 4th favorite. Conte though had more than once indicated he was utterly bored with managing the national team so I'm not sure they'll have the necessary motivation.

With all that said that means Portugal will win the tournament and Ronaldo's head will finally become the biggest structure in our solar system, slightly overtaking Zlatan. Down to third place: the sun.

[White Out 403]

I have a great feeling about Croatia this year. So much talent and they're doing so well for their club teams, hopefully it translates in France.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Some of these are pretty nice posters.

http://www.espnfc.com/european-champ...4-participants

[cam_wmh]

My Picks

A:
France
Switzerland
Romania
Albania

B:
England
Wales
Russia (Q)
Slovakia

C:
Germany
Poland
Ukraine (Q)
N. Ireland

D:
Spain
Croatia
Turkey (Q)
Czech Rep.

E:
Belgium
Rep. Ireland
Italy (Q)
Sweden

F:
Portugal
Hungary
Austria
Iceland

[Senator Clay Davis]

That's the kind of momentum Spain was looking for coming into Euro: A 1-0 loss to Georgia at home.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

That's the kind of momentum Spain was looking for coming into Euro: A 1-0 loss to Georgia at home.

Just not a good team anymore. The book is out on 'holding the ball and praying for a penalty.'

[troutman]

[polak]

Want.

[Locke]

But they arent. They are not more than a striker. Thats false advertising.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

But they arent. They are not more than a striker. Thats false advertising.

Lmao. I was just gonna say that. That wallpaper is flat out wrong haha.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I have a great feeling about Croatia this year. So much talent and they're doing so well for their club teams, hopefully it translates in France.

I seem to remember good things for Croatia the last time a major tournament was held in France.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Locke

But they arent. They are not more than a striker. Thats false advertising.

lol I think they mean he's more than a striker.

But the comment is fair. No rebuttal. Especially since our 2nd best player is also usually a striker

Piszczek is good?

[Locke]

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger will miss Euro 2016 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in training on Tuesday.

The Roma centre-half was training with teammates in France when he ruptured his ACL, the DFB announced on Tuesday evening.

Rudiger played the full 90 minutes in each of Germany's past five matches and had been expected to line up in the starting formation once again for his country's opening game of the tournament against Ukraine on June 12.

http://www.espnfc.us/germany/story/2...-for-euro-2016

Come on Lahm, unretire!