Official Euro 2008 Thread

[Casperian]

We have millions of turkish people here in Germany, and most of them live in my area. What a party. Great game, I´m very impressed with the turkish team.

Germany once again had a mediocre game, several players did not show up. Gladly, Ballack made the goal. Lahm was also excellent. The game against Portugal will be the real climax and will decide over the future of this team.

[ederson]

Sorry it`s old but i`ve just read that

i think the netherlands have been the best attacking team this tournament, no doubt. but i still rank them behind germany and portugal in terms of talent. one loss to croatia doesn't make germany a bad team.

I can`t argue about Portugal. I thinks the Dutch are better but both teams are excellent so it`s more of a personal taste matter. But Germany Seriously? Germany a talented team?
Lam - Ballack - Podolsky are class acts. But the rest are no more than average players. Croatia, Spain, France (although they play real bad) are far more talented teams.


Anyway ... France and Italy are in deep s__t ! I think Holland would prefer as a possible opponent Romania rather than Italy or France. Germany and Croatia were as expected are through so is Spain and hopefuly the Russians although Sweeden needs a draw to qualify.


Although the most games are very good there is one thing i miss in this Euro. There are no new stars introduced. Maybe Mutihno and Turkey`s Arda. Anyone else? 

[celticmaestro]

Sorry it`s old but i`ve just read that

i think the netherlands have been the best attacking team this tournament, no doubt. but i still rank them behind germany and portugal in terms of talent. one loss to croatia doesn't make germany a bad team.

I can`t argue about Portugal. I thinks the Dutch are better but both teams are excellent so it`s more of a personal taste matter. But Germany Seriously? Germany a talented team?
Lam - Ballack - Podolsky are class acts. But the rest are no more than average players. Croatia, Spain, France (although they play real bad) are far more talented teams.

do you even watch the germany games? klose is one of the best strikers of the last 6 years and does so much for the team in terms of his work rate and vision, the centre back pairing, though they can be immobile, are brilliant defenders with impeccable ability in the air, and frings is one of the best holding midfielders *in the world*. gomez is an outstanding talent just lacking form, as with jansen, it happens. kuranyi and schweinsteiger are both great players too but their heads are not in it.

there is an abundance of talent in the german side as well as experience and that's why i see them as better than the dutch. the netherlands have been outstanding at counter attacking football, you don't win tournaments playing counter attacking football. not unless you are brazil.

[ederson]

I`ve tried very hard and i managed to watch the last two games. I consider myself a hero for doing so.

Outstanding talent Gomez? Don`t you think you exaggerate a bit?

the centre back pairing, though they can be immobile, are brilliant defenders with impeccable ability in the air,

And this doesn`t stike you as a problem?

Frings could have been a great player but too many injuries have hold him back.

There is a reason why Germany in the last two games atleast was bad (unless you consider yesterdays game a good one). They can`t play better !!

you don't win tournaments playing counter attacking football. not unless you are brazil.

You are right that`s the general rule although i think that this year it will be a different story. But we weren`t talking about effective teams but talented ones. Unless Greece was the most talented team in Euro2004

[celticmaestro]

Outstanding talent Gomez? Don`t you think you exaggerate a bit?

absolutely no exaggeration, gomez scored 28 goals in 32 games for stuttgart this season and before the euro's his record for germany was brilliant. all strikers have a bad spell, this has just come at an unfortunate time. he has no confidence.

Frings could have been a great player but too many injuries have hold him back.

There is a reason why Germany in the last two games atleast was bad (unless you consider yesterdays game a good one). They can`t play better !!

frings indeed has had injuries, but these haven't held him back, he's still just as effective as anyone else in the world in that position.

as for you saying germany can't play better, this i disagree with. germany do what's necessary to get to where they need to be. when it comes to crunch time they will get their act together. they beat poland without stepping out of second gear, they lost to croatia thanks to a fluke goal (although it can be said that croatia deserved to win anyway) and beat austria again without any effort. this team has much more to give.

[CelticPride]

So do the Dutch punt today's game in order to eliminate both France and Italy?

[ederson]

Outstanding is Cristiano Ronaldo , Fernando Tores, Outstanding was Henry 2-3 years ago. Gomez with just one good season can`t be "outstanding". He scored 28 goals which is not easy of course, but in the same league Gekas scored 20.

Still add Gomez and Frings to the three i`ve mentioned.

At the same time Roben and Van Persi are a subs in Holland and Spain has the luxury of having Cesk and on the bench. Also not starting is Guitha who scored 27 goals last season. Is he also outstanding?

So do the Dutch punt today's game in order to eliminate both France and Italy?

I would. I doubt that Van Basten will though

[CelticPride]

Tactically it would make sense, but sometimes moves like that have a way of haunting you. - Imagine a Romania-Netherlands final where Romania has all the confidence in the world (Similar to Portugal-Greece last year...)

[celticmaestro]

Outstanding is Cristiano Ronaldo , Fernando Tores, Outstanding was Henry 2-3 years ago. Gomez with just one good season can`t be "outstanding". He scored 28 goals which is not easy of course, but in the same league Gekas scored 20.

Still add Gomez and Frings to the three i`ve mentioned.

At the same time Roben and Van Persi are a subs in Holland and Spain has the luxury of having Cesk and on the bench. Also not starting is Guitha who scored 27 goals last season. Is he also outstanding?

So do the Dutch punt today's game in order to eliminate both France and Italy?

I would. I doubt that Van Basten will though

add klose to your three also.

and gomez's potential is outstanding. he has not had just one good year, but 2 very good years one of which led stuttgart to the bundesliga title. but then you don't watch the bundesliga or follow german football so i wouldn't expect you to know that. a fact that pretty much renders your point on the matter meaningless.

holland and spain are notorious for "bottling" it and despite their undoubted talent i don't see them as winners. i see the winner coming from the portugal-germany tie, because those 2 have the right blend of talent and experience.

tp to you ederson for the debate.

ps. if i'm van basten then i go for the win to maintain the momentum.

[Galiza Ceive]

My first forecast of Portugal-Germany was not very accurate but lets try with a second one: Romania is a good team and with their motivation they will defeat the Netherlands (playing with substitutes of course). So, in my opinion France and Italy will be out of the euro, and it will be well deserved.

By the way, I live in Brussels and here there are so many foreigners that it doesnt matter what team win, there is always noisy crazy people in the street.
I am going to start supporting Sweden because their supporters are more silent and I want a night to sleep from time to time.

[eddietours]

anywhere l could watch the games online 

[jchamorro]

Check this out: you can watch the games live here.  I've been watching the C's finals as well on here:

http://www.****/directory?category=sports

[eddietours]

TP for you thanks

[ederson]

Lineker said it better "Football is the sport that two teams play for 90 mins and in the end the Germans win".

I`ve never doubt their ability to win any game nor their clutch. Nor have i praised Spain`s toughness and winning spirit. On the contrary i`m going to bet in favour of Germany against portugal! But again the most talented isn`t the one winning in the end.

BTW I do watch german league but only german league. i`ve seen Gomez as i`ve seen Guitha Benzema BenArfa (few examples). I can`t say he is better than any of them. Bundesliga is the league where Gekas and Amanatidis are considered good strikers !!!


Today i`d like to see Romania qualify but i`d put my money on Italy. Holland wins , draw at the other game and Italy qualifies wth 2 points!

[ederson]

France is in very big trouble! They need the win but Ribery got injured on the knee  and it seems very serious. I hope it`s nothing