Euro 2008 - UEFA

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

Mellberg? You must be referring to Henrik Zetterberg's evil defensman twin.

Yeah, we was not having a great day, he was looking a little scrambly in front of the net and his defensive coverage was a little spotty.

I have a feeling that the general message to Sweden before the game was:

"Everybody push up and attack and for the love of God dont let the Greeks score."

Because Mellberg was up in the attack very frequently especially on set pieces. I gotta give huge props to Hansson, that guy only made 1 or 2 defensive errors and was an absolute stone wall all game on the defense.

Yeah... Hansson was definitely the defensive conscience. I was hoping Mellberg would look more like he did, but I think Sweden was more concerned about scoring on Greece. He looked like Barzagli, and right now, thats not a good thing.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Yeah... Hansson was definitely the defensive conscience. I was hoping Mellberg would look more like he did, but I think Sweden was more concerned about scoring on Greece. He looked like Barzagli, and right now, thats not a good thing.

Speaking of Barzaghi, do you foresee wholesale changes? I expect 3 or 4 changes but I've been hearing in the Italian press of total changes. Something like:

Buffon, Zambrotta, Chellini, Gamborini, Grosso, Pirlo, Di Rossi, Aquilani, Del Piero, Boriello and Toni.

That's 8 changes!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Speaking of Barzaghi, do you foresee wholesale changes? I expect 3 or 4 changes but I've been hearing in the Italian press of total changes. Something like:

Buffon, Zambrotta, Chellini, Gamborini, Grosso, Pirlo, Di Rossi, Aquilani, Del Piero, Boriello and Toni.

That's 8 changes!

The Italian press is right this time... they do need pretty much a whole new lineup.

Buffon, Zambrotta, Chiellini, Gamberini, Grosso, De Rossi, Aquilani, Pirlo, Del Piero, Cassano and Toni (with Borriello, Camoranesi, Panucci and Gattuso as top substitutes) is what I think they simply have to do. Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi and Ambrosini simply should not see the field again. Di Natale and Camoranesi were not effective. Di Natale because he's not that good, Camoranesi because he's not a forward, and needs to be in the midfield to be effective.

My bet is Donadoni will do something like this:

Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, De Rossi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Del Piero, Camoranesi, Toni (with Ambrosini, Di Natale, Barzagli, and Cassano as top substitutes).

Four new faces to placate the masses, but still keeps the basic core structure intact. I think this will be enough for Romania, but not for France if they get their act together.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

It was a pretty big match. The Greeks had the best qualifying record in the tournament and only allowed 1 goal in the entire Euro 2004 tournament.

.

Not true, they let in a goal to Portugal, then let it in a goal and lost to the Russians 2-1. They didn't let it a goal in the rounds after, winning all three matches 1-0. God, I hate the Greeks.

And their best qualifying record is all fine and dandy but might be skewed a lil bit consider they player Turkey, Norway, Bosnia, Hungary, Moldova and Malta, none of whom made the WC in 06.

[Delthefunky]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Yeah... Hansson was definitely the defensive conscience. I was hoping Mellberg would look more like he did, but I think Sweden was more concerned about scoring on Greece. He looked like Barzagli, and right now, thats not a good thing.

I think Mellberg's heading to Juventus next year . I've always liked the guy, atleast internationally.

I still disagree that Zlatan's not a clutch player, again referring to the tying goal against Italy last Euro. Was that in injury time?

Anyways, like you say he's still got time to prove it, and this might be his year.

Kevin

[troutman]

What were the Greeks doing? If they didn't want to play football, they should have declined their invitation.

Spain looks like money, but we have seen them start well before, and fail to come through in the clutch. Villa could have had 4-5 goals.

[Locke]

Oddly enough there havent been any surprises so far in this Euro.

This Portugal/Croatia game could have Czechs pull off a surprise upset, but personally I didnt think the Czechs played all that well against Switzerland while the Portuguese handled the Turks without too much trouble.

I fully expect a Portuguese win today, but we'll see what happens, I'd also love for Switzerland to beat the Turks.

EDIT: ROFL, the little kid is taller than Deco.....hilarious.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oddly enough there havent been any surprises so far in this Euro.

Well, aside from the Dutch winning 3-0 over the Italians that is. Conventional wisdom said that game would be a slight Dutch win, a draw, or a slight Italian win... not a blowout.

I think the upsets are yet to come though. However, it wont be this game... the Czechs are quite average.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Well, aside from the Dutch winning 3-0 over the Italians that is. Conventional wisdom said that game would be a slight Dutch win, a draw, or a slight Italian win... not a blowout.

I think the upsets are yet to come though. However, it wont be this game... the Czechs are quite average.

Fair enough. I wasnt overly surprised there, if anything by the 3-0 score, but I was favouring the Dutch.

Good play from the Portuguese combined with some shameful Czech defending and on his third try Deco gets the ball past Cech.

1-0 Portugal.

[Locke]

1-1, Czechs tie it up after some pathetic Portuguese defending off a corner.

2 bad plays by Portugal and the Czechs make them pay second time around.

[Thunderball]

Trouble with the Czechs is that none of their defensemen are bonafide starters on their team, except maybe Ujfalusi at Fiorentina (now Athletico Madrid). Grygera is depth at Juve, Jankulovski is depth at Milan, and Rozenhal is at Newcastle (now Lazio).

Grygera is proving why he's not a starter, he's just not steady. The talent is there, but he's just too inconsistent. Mellberg will likely push him to the transfer list at Juve.

[Locke]

Portugal almost in trouble there, the forward went for a dive, and while the whole team was standing around waiting for the call Baros almost got away.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Trouble with the Czechs is that none of their defensemen are bonafide starters on their team, except maybe Ujfalusi at Fiorentina (now Athletico Madrid). Grygera is depth at Juve, Jankulovski is depth at Milan, and Rozenhal is at Newcastle (now Lazio).

Grygera is proving why he's not a starter, he's just not steady. The talent is there, but he's just too inconsistent. Mellberg will likely push him to the transfer list at Juve.

Mellberg >>> Grygera.

[KTown]

Czechs are hanging in there with a far superior team on paper in Portugal. I'm happy with what I see right now.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

Mellberg >>> Grygera.

Agreed. Grygera is so frustrating, since he can have stellar games, and then a total crapper the next 10. Zebina is inconsistent too, but Grygera makes him look like a rock. Mellberg should have easy pickings if he wants to play RB. CB might be a little tougher for him since Chiellini has one spot sewn up, and Andrade if his knee heals properly. Incidentally, Portugal seems to be missing his presence at the backend.

[Locke]

On another note, is Chelsea seriously looking at Big Phil Scolari to replace Avram Grant?

Are they insane? The EPL cannot handle Big Phil. The man is crazy. His definition of ethical behaviour is wiring his players to give them in game instructions and trying to break the other team's legs.

Just look up some of his antics when he coached in Brazil. The man is batschit insane.

Furthermore, on the David Villa to Liverpool rumour, that would be AWESOME. Villa and Torres for Liverpool would be dream come true.

[Locke]

Ronaldo showing his class again. Goes for the obvious dive, gets no call and proceeds to body check an opposing player from behind in frustration.

You stay classy Ronny.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

On another note, is Chelsea seriously looking at Big Phil Scolari to replace Avram Grant?

Are they insane? The EPL cannot handle Big Phil. The man is crazy. His definition of ethical behaviour is wiring his players to give them in game instructions and trying to break the other team's legs.

Just look up some of his antics when he coached in Brazil. The man is batschit insane.

Furthermore, on the David Villa to Liverpool rumour, that would be AWESOME. Villa and Torres for Liverpool would be dream come true.

One thing about Chelsea is the coach has to be a character... and they seem to have been getting extreme with that. Ranieri was a character, Mourinho was even more of a character, Grant wasn't and barely lasted the season despite respectable results, and I'd say batsh1t insane would fit right in. Apparently, Ancelotti was their first choice and he said no. Now its between Spalletti, Mancini and Scolari. I don't see Spalletti leaving Roma, and I doubt Mancini wants another go with a control freak owner, so, that leaves but one option.

Villa would be awesome for Liverpool. They look prime for a bit of a clearout essentially being Alonso, Crouch, Pennant(?), and a couple fringe guys for Barry and possibly Villa and there's another English winger whose name escapes me.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

What were the Greeks doing? If they didn't want to play football, they should have declined their invitation.

They played like that in 2004 and it was embarrassing. I kept thinking is this the best Europe can offer that they can't breakdown this crappy team?

The following year Greece went to the confederations cup and got smoked by Brazil and Japan which proved that they were awful.

It seems this year that the attacking quality of European football has improved and hopefully both Russia and Spain attack like they did yesterday and finish off Greece once and for all.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

One thing about Chelsea is the coach has to be a character... and they seem to have been getting extreme with that. Ranieri was a character, Mourinho was even more of a character, Grant wasn't and barely lasted the season despite respectable results, and I'd say batsh1t insane would fit right in. Apparently, Ancelotti was their first choice and he said no. Now its between Spalletti, Mancini and Scolari. I don't see Spalletti leaving Roma, and I doubt Mancini wants another go with a control freak owner, so, that leaves but one option.

Villa would be awesome for Liverpool. They look prime for a bit of a clearout essentially being Alonso, Crouch, Pennant(?), and a couple fringe guys for Barry and possibly Villa and there's another English winger whose name escapes me.

I dont think these people understand the level of insanity that Big Phil brings to a club team, but hey whatever, Chelsea's mistake is everyone else's good fortune.

The Czech midfield is letting down the team right now, not coming back and helping and leaving their defense out to dry.

Ronaldo scores, 2-1 Portugal.