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

[Locke]

Italy would be insane to bring Balotelli. Huge liability right there.

And you're right, there are some world class players on England, theres also a goaltender from the Championship, a pretty suspect back four and a midfield that are largely on the wrong side of 30, the wrong side of 20 and in pretty poor form.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by NBC

England squad:

Goalkeepers - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.

Defenders - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.

Midfielders - Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

Strikers - Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.

Standby - Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.

Not to forget:

- Scott Parker - Injured/Unlikely to be fit
- Gary Cahill - Injured/Unlikely to be fit
- Wayne Rooney - Suspended 2 games

So they're down 1 CB, 1 CM and 1 striker before they've kicked their first ball.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Apparently there are other countries other than England! (j/k but you have to admit they are getting by far the most attention in this thread)

Italy's provisional roster

I got all excited about the talk of other countries but then you went on to talk about Italy, jk.

Balotelli would be a risky pick, no doubt. Can he leave behind his drama and just focus on scoring goals? Remains to be seen

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

Woah. That is grim. Pray that Hart doesnt get injured, how does Rob Green still get England invites?

Foster & Robbo are over it.

[d_phaneuf]

because of the injuries it's fantastic that Mario is going to play a part, absolutely fantastic

I think we see minimum 2 international incidents

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

because of the injuries it's fantastic that Mario is going to play a part, absolutely fantastic

I think we see minimum 2 international incidents

It is really too bad Rossi is hurt.

The last thing Italy needs is Balotelli making an ass of himself.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

because of the injuries it's fantastic that Mario is going to play a part, absolutely fantastic

I think we see minimum 2 international incidents

Well, if Rooney thinks he can kick whoever he wants, why not Balotelli?

[GirlySports]

France (Provisional)
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux).

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon), Mapou Yanga Mbiwa (Montpellier).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Alou Diarra (Olympique Marseille), Yann Mvila (Stade Rennes), Yoann Gourcuff (Olympique Lyon), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain).

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (Paris St Germain), Loic Remy (Olympique Marseille), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille).

Looks like a pretty good squad. They are my darkhorses for the tournament. Lauren Blanc as manager gives them the credibility they've needed for about a decade (before that it was one academy manager after another with no experience).

A forward/midfield 6 of Cabaye, Nasri, Gourcoof, Ribery, Benzema and Valbuena with the likes of Malouda, Ben Arfa and Giroud off the bench is a very potent offense.

Again I predict in the first game they run the English ragged.

[Locke]

Lol! They're taking Patrice Evra again! Maybe they like a little mutiny in their squad. Speaking of international incidents, how long will it take the French to go nuts?

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Guys how reliable is http://www.viagogo.com?

It has tickets available for Italy vs Croatia but I dont want to go to Poland wind up screw out of a ticket...

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

Lol! They're taking Patrice Evra again! Maybe they like a little mutiny in their squad. Speaking of international incidents, how long will it take the French to go nuts?

Not with Blanc and Boghossian at the helm. That coaching staff is solid.
Also no malcontent Anelka.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

Guys how reliable is http://www.viagogo.com?

It has tickets available for Italy vs Croatia but I dont want to go to Poland wind up screw out of a ticket...

I bought my everton/united tickets off that website last april. Solid website, if I recall united's own website refers you to viagogo.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Thanks!

return flight to frankfurt=650 dollars
return flight to warsaw from frankfurt=180 dollars
ticket to croatia italy=230 dollars

when i go home tonight im going to figure out how much hostels cost see how cheap i can make it

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Looks like a pretty good squad. They are my darkhorses for the tournament. Lauren Blanc as manager gives them the credibility they've needed for about a decade (before that it was one academy manager after another with no experience).

A forward/midfield 6 of Cabaye, Nasri, Gourcoof, Ribery, Benzema and Valbuena with the likes of Malouda, Ben Arfa and Giroud off the bench is a very potent offense.

Again I predict in the first game they run the English ragged.

would be very surprised if Gourcoff starts, he has been terrible for 2 years and most thought he wouldn't even be selected

[d_phaneuf]

I don't think that French side is very good

still discontent in that squad, Ribery causes most of it just like he does at Bayern, Evra doesn't help

They will miss Sagna and Kaboul a lot

Kaboul and Koscielny could have been a very strong pairing pairing but the options now are lacking, Clichy and Evra both aren't solid defensively anymore

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I know there's a lot of footy fans here who probably don't venture into the MLS thread, but check out this goal from Hassli tonight.

World class. Hope we see stuff like this next month.

[mac_82]

Originally Posted by Locke

Not to forget:

- Scott Parker - Injured/Unlikely to be fit
- Gary Cahill - Injured/Unlikely to be fit
- Wayne Rooney - Suspended 2 games

So they're down 1 CB, 1 CM and 1 striker before they've kicked their first ball.

Sounds like Cahill should be good to go this Saturday for the finals.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mac_82

Sounds like Cahill should be good to go this Saturday for the finals.

Yeah, but thats probably just because they dont really have any other choice.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Locke

Italy would be insane to bring Balotelli. Huge liability right there.

And you're right, there are some world class players on England, theres also a goaltender from the Championship, a pretty suspect back four and a midfield that are largely on the wrong side of 30, the wrong side of 20 and in pretty poor form.

Who only sees the field if disaster strikes. Not really sure how that matters.

I'm not in England, but the sense I get is that for once people don't have inflated expectations of this team. That may be the biggest boost they've had in a long time.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by valo403

Who only sees the field if disaster strikes. Not really sure how that matters.

I'm not in England, but the sense I get is that for once people don't have inflated expectations of this team. That may be the biggest boost they've had in a long time.

Disaster strikes if he sees the field. Do you remember Robert Green?

My point is, how thin is English goaltending when you're still taking Robert Green and Ruddy, a guy who only has one season of PL experience? Granted, I'd put Ruddy in net well before Green.

And I agree, the lowered expectations are a positive step for England, but I'm not exactly convinced on how long those will stay down.