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

[Locke]

Hey all, no thread for the Euro cup, so here goes, today is the international break, hence the lack of domestic action and the commencement of the qualifying rounds:

Armenia - Rep. of Ireland
Kazakhstan - Turkey
Moldova - Finland
Andorra - Russia
Faroe Islands - Serbia
Montenegro - Wales
Sweden - Hungary
Romania - Albania
Latvia - Croatia
Luxembourg - Bosnia Herzegovina
Lithuania - Scotland
Estonia - Italy
Slovakia - Macedonia
San Marino - Netherlands
Belgium - Germany
Slovenia - Northern Ireland
Lichtenstein - Spain
Greece - Georgia
France - Belarus
England - Bulgaria
Iceland - Norway
Portugal - Cyprus

I'll post more later, sorry, no time for snarky comments on poor teams, but lets see what happens. There is potential for some upsets, notably France/Belarus, France is in a sorry state at the moment and Belarus are a decent side.

Portugal/Cyprus, Portugal has demonstrated a tendency to play down to their opponents' level, I doubt they lose that match, but it really depends, if Portugal show up to play the points are theirs, if they dont and Cyprus defends like hell a draw isnt out of the question.

Germany/Belgium, Germany is the class of the group and the scalp that every team is going to want, not going to be too easy of a qualification group for them, still no Mikael Ballack in the squad due to lack of match fitness. Belgium and Turkey are the contenders in the group for the #2 spot, but if Germany slip up anything could happen.

England/Bulgaria, if England show the quality they've been playing of late they're going to lose. Steven Gerrard cant win every game for them, eventually Rooney, Terry, Lampard and company are going to have to start playing. Good news for England: Joe Hart is supposed to get the start. Imagine that...

The rest either look pretty straightforward or totally open, see: Iceland/Norway and Sweden/Hungary. Who knows really?

[GirlySports]

Italia going to Estonia is not easy either, especially with a new coach and alot of new players.

There has been news of the Ukraine not at all ready to host this thing.

[united]

Ummm none of those teams are competing in the European Cup.


I think you mean European Championships.

[d_phaneuf]

ya its the European championships, Euro Cup is what the champions league used to be called

England's lineup today is

Hart (thank god)
Glen Johnson, Jagielka, Dawson, Cole
Walcott, Milner, Barry, Gerrard
Defoe, Rooney

[d_phaneuf]

I actually like the side, only change I would prefer since Capello only knows the 4-4-2 and won't play a lone striker is Gerrard in the middle replacing Milner and Adam Johnson on the left

[united]

I agree with you.
If Lampard is out Gerrard has got to be in the middle, preferably linking up with Rooney.

Thankfully Hart is in goal!


Also some talk lately about Scholes returning. I think it's just a dream at this point but he instantly becomes England's best midfielder if he does.

[chris_yk]

Watched the Armenia - Ireland game earlier, was pretty entertaining and nice to see Ireland get off to a good start. Watching Faroe Islands - Serbia right now and Faroes are losing 0-2 the second goal was a beauty freekick by Dejan Stankovic though. Not too sure what to watch this afternoon yet, couldn't give a shag about England unless Bent or A Johnson are in the lineup (although Jagielka is nice to see) so might go with Iceland - Norway or Belgium - Germany, I think that one could be a beauty, Belgium's got a good looking team.

[GirlySports]

Faroe Islands have the Tranmere keeper Nielsen!! Lost 0-3

[GirlySports]

The boys from Tallinn are up on the boys from Turin.

[chris_yk]

hahah whats going on in Portugal? 1 - 2 Cyprus after 11 minutes. hope they hold on!

[Phaneufenstein]

lol at tag...
what's next? arbeit macht frei..

watched Russia - Andorra today, pretty sad to see only two goals scored by Russia, even though they dominated most of the play.

[d_phaneuf]

looks like Daws just tore something in his knee, that was ugly

[d_phaneuf]

2-0 england

2nd by defoe, great pass by Rooney

[Mango]

A good start from Croatia with a 3-0 win over Latvia. I've really missed soccer. I always enjoy qualifications.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Mango

A good start from Croatia with a 3-0 win over Latvia. I've really missed soccer. I always enjoy qualifications.

did Modric play?

[Mango]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

did Modric play?

He did not.

[chris_yk]

Adam Johnson scores! how does he still not start? not so excited about the Defoe hatty though..

[d_phaneuf]

very good game by most of the team

Hart made a couple very good saves, Daws/Jagielka played well together until Dawsons injury. Cahill looked steady when he came on

Rooney and Defoe were brilliant together in movement and passing

Gerrard was great in a central role

Walcott didn't stand out but he never really got the ball, same thing happened in the WC with Lennon so I think it has something to do with Capello's tactics

Milner was average, Glen Johnson tried his hardest to give Bulgaria a goal but Hart made a save

much bigger game next tuesday away in Switzerland, probly the hardest game of qualifying in the group

[united]

I think Glen Johnson keeps surprising Walcott/Lennon and even getting in their way. Neither of them seem comfortable with him running about like he does. I hope they can get used to it and take advantage of it, as I don't think Johnson can be reined in.

Rooney and Defoe were immense. Hat trick for Defoe and four apples for Wayne. Can't complain about either of their performances.
Gerrard looked great and very comfortable, played his role well.
Hart was confident as can be. He looked like he was just having fun.

A good confidence booster for the team, but in the end it's Bulgaria. Let's see how they do against better opposition.

Hope Dawson is alright. That was ugly to watch!

[SebC]

Woohoo!