Euro 2008 - UEFA

[Thunderball]

I hate when teams resort to the kind of diving BS Croatia did... it gives soccer a bad rep to say the least. The ref lost control of this one too...

Should be interesting to see if Poland or Austria capitalize on this turn of events.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I really really don't want to see another dull European match like the Swiss-Ukraine match. They could have played for 2 days and not score.

I don't think I have ever watched a more dreadful game. I honestly think that was the worst match in the history of the sport, I would have preferred if monkeys threw on jersey and kicked a ball around.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You should watch now when there are more goals. The knockout stage will be very tight and probably be all 1-0.
.

I've been watching football for over 35 years so I don't need goals to keep me entertained! I enjoy the knockout phase for the drama that enfolds and, believe me, I watched lots of 1-0 games over the years. I'm sure part of the reason for not watching any matches so far is that I'm just too darned busy at work to be able to.

Croatia winning over Germany is a bit of a shocker. That Croatian team is very good actually though. Doing the double over England proved that. There were certainly my dark horse going in and they are certainly looking that way.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I don't think I have ever watched a more dreadful game. I honestly think that was the worst match in the history of the sport, I would have preferred if monkeys threw on jersey and kicked a ball around.

Swiss knocked out Korea in the group stage.
Korea would have probably been killed by Ukraine but it wouldn't have been THAT boring. So sometimes I like an non-european country to get far

[Locke]

First of all, full marks to Croatia, they wanted it more and worked harder for it. The Germans really have to work harder now to make it past the group stage.

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I guess the question is, is it worth losing a big nation or two in a big tournament to try and lure a small fry into the fray?

Well, part of FIFA's mandate is to grow the game like any other sport, so yes.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I love the World Cup, but I really have no desire to watch teams like Togo, Saudi Arabia Costa Rica or Ecuador or teams of that ilk. I find overall, the Euro is a better tourney overall. If there could be a World Cup with Euro teams and Brazil/Argentina, I'd be all over that. Don't need to see African/Asian countries go 0-3. Although when they do surprise a la Senegal in 02, Ivory Coast in 06, Nigeria in 98 and Cameroon in 94, I'm all for it.

You must not watch the World Cup much then, some of those African countries play some great soccer. I love watching Nigeria, Cameroon. These are countries that play a tough grinding game. Yeah, you're going to have some minnow teams in there, there have to be.

By this standard you dont want to see teams like Canada in there either, you just want the current top 20 teams in the world to play each other over and over and over.

If smaller teams dont get into big tournaments like this they'll never improve, and that includes Canada. Look at Switzerland and Austria, they're the minnows of this tournament and I think they've played some great games.

[Mango]

To say I'm beaming right now would be an understatement Huge victory for Croatia. Huge.

[josef]

Originally Posted by Mango

To say I'm beaming right now would be an understatement Huge victory for Croatia. Huge.

and well deserved!!! germans really sucked today - that was painful to watch

[GirlySports]

Austria all over the Poles early on.

Austrian #20 just missed an open goal and a lifetime of beer!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Austria all over the Poles early on.

Austrian #20 just missed an open goal and a lifetime of beer!

Which do you think hes most distraught about?

[troutman]

Shall I translate Schweinsteiger for all of you?

pig -&$%#er

OK, I'm exaggerating a little bit:

http://www.dict.cc/german-english/Steiger.html

One translation is literally pig-womanizer

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I hate when teams resort to the kind of diving BS Croatia did... it gives soccer a bad rep to say the least. The ref lost control of this one too...

Wouldn't you say only POR dove more than ITA in 2006?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Jagger

I've been watching football for over 35 years so I don't need goals to keep me entertained! I enjoy the knockout phase for the drama that enfolds and, believe me, I watched lots of 1-0 games over the years. I'm sure part of the reason for not watching any matches so far is that I'm just too darned busy at work to be able to.

Croatia winning over Germany is a bit of a shocker. That Croatian team is very good actually though. Doing the double over England proved that. There were certainly my dark horse going in and they are certainly looking that way.

I agree. Knockout matches are so tense when everything is on the line.
But I feel the importance of winning and losing overshadows the flow of the game. Players are restricted by coaches to what they can or cannot do and they are overly cautious.

In the group stages, whether there are goals or not, players are free to be creative and the pace of the game is better.

For example the Austria-Poland match I'm watching now has a fabulous pace to it. If this were a knockout stage match, I feel both teams would concentrate on shutting each other down and 'not losing'.

I've always argued that the World Cup should have a 2nd group stage.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

For example the Austria-Poland match I'm watching now has a fabulous pace to it. If this were a knockout stage match, I feel both teams would concentrate on shutting each other down and 'not losing'.

I hear ya. Actually, I really enjoy the group stages in the World Cup. Most times there are a few really entertaining teams that come 'out of the blue' as it were. Like I said, I'm sure this time my issue is more no time to watch, coupled with no England, Scotland, or Wales to follow too.

Oh and, Girly, I'll take Kenny Dalglish with my first pick in the All-time athletes draft! (Just wanted my pick out there for when it eventually happens!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by troutman

Wouldn't you say only POR dove more than ITA in 2006?

No, I wouldn't. Italy has a bad reputation for diving, but it is increasingly unfounded and born of years past. Totti was the only one on the team I could consider a flopper. Portugal (Figo, Ronaldo), Brazil (Robinho, Ronaldinho), Ghana(Gyan), France (Zidane), Spain, Switzerland and Croatia were all worse.

For your reference... the top 10 "dives" of the World Cup... 1 Italian... and they got the name wrong, it was Grosso, not Zaccardo. To be fair to Grosso and Shevchenko... theirs shouldn't have been penalties, but they clearly weren't intentional dives, like some of the disgusting antics caught on tape. With the Grosso one, there clearly was contact... just like how Buffon's challenge on Van Nistelrooy would have been a PK if Ruud would have fell. That's a dumb rule, especially when goalies are concerned, but they are all aware of it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WgsGG8Mh2PA&feature=related

This one only has 1 Italian "dive" and its the same one... notice how pretty much every team is there:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EtGOuBPdtg&feature=related

Everyone dives, including Italy... they're just not particularly bad, like other countries are.

[Mango]

Well, thank you Austria!

[Locke]

YES!! FREE BEER FOR VASTIC!! 1-1 Austria and Poland!!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

No, I wouldn't. Italy has a bad reputation for diving, but it is increasingly unfounded and born of years past. Totti was the only one on the team I could consider a flopper. Portugal (Figo, Ronaldo), Brazil (Robinho, Ronaldinho), Ghana(Gyan), France (Zidane), Spain, Switzerland and Croatia were all worse.

For your reference... the top 10 "dives" of the World Cup... 1 Italian... and they got the name wrong, it was Grosso, not Zaccardo. To be fair to Grosso and Shevchenko... theirs shouldn't have been penalties, but they clearly weren't intentional dives, like some of the disgusting antics caught on tape. With the Grosso one, there clearly was contact... just like how Buffon's challenge on Van Nistelrooy would have been a PK if Ruud would have fell. That's a dumb rule, especially when goalies are concerned, but they are all aware of it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WgsGG8Mh2PA&feature=related

This one only has 1 Italian "dive" and its the same one... notice how pretty much every team is there:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EtGOuBPdtg&feature=related

Everyone dives, including Italy... they're just not particularly bad, like other countries are.

Thanks. I'm learning a lot from your commentary. You obviously love the game. I just think a lot of people roll their eyes when an Italian fan complains about diving.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by troutman

Thanks. I'm learning a lot from your commentary. You obviously love the game. I just think a lot of people roll their eyes when an Italian fan complains about diving.

Oh for sure... it'll take a long time for the Italians to separate themselves from that stereotype, as well as other countries being worse and taking their place as the stereotypical divers (I think Portugal has deservingly (especially Figo), but they're still in the next breath). They are not flawless, but they're more in the middle of the pack than they've ever been.

In Italy, they started with awarding fines and suspensions for diving that was caught on video during the game and the referee might have missed, I think a few other leagues do this too now, and its really helped. Who really wants to be suspended for being a wuss?

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I don't think I have ever watched a more dreadful game. I honestly think that was the worst match in the history of the sport, I would have preferred if monkeys threw on jersey and kicked a ball around.

That would actually be quite entertaining!

[iggypop]

Updated background if anyone wants it