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Euro 2012: Less than 48 hrs. away!
Boopotts
Posts: 6,784 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
I'm not sure how many (if any) people here are interested, but the 2012 Euro tournament starts on Friday. Think of it as every team that participates in the World Cup that matters, sans Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The first 'big' game is Germany v Portugal on Saturday. For those who enjoy (even occasionally) the Beautiful Game it promises to be one heck of a tournament. Let the games begin!
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I lived in Scotland during Euro 2000, and despite the Scots not being in it, just being in Europe alone while it was going on was quite the treat. I remember my parents bought me one of the little Euro 2000 preview magazines that came with a bunch of stickers and I would watch almost every game on SKY Sports and fill in my group results and bracket. Ahhh, I really do have some great sports memories (and others of course) from when I lived there.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Two yawners start the tourney, but then things pick on on Saturday, and then of course we have England v France early next week. Spain v Italy was going to be a great match, but I think this matchfixing scandal in Serie A has gutted the Azzurri. At this point I'm thinking it's possible that Ireland or even Croatia could come out of the group with Spain.
Edit to add: Speaking of Germany, it looks like Lamm is going to be switched to left back for the game against Portugal, which I think means that Boateng is going to slot in at right back and be asked to contain Christiano.
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<< <i>Just as I'd expect- lots of Polish solidarity amongst the Detroit guys!
Two yawners start the tourney, but then things pick on on Saturday, and then of course we have England v France early next week. Spain v Italy was going to be a great match, but I think this matchfixing scandal in Serie A has gutted the Azzurri. At this point I'm thinking it's possible that Ireland or even Croatia could come out of the group with Spain.
Edit to add: Speaking of Germany, it looks like Lamm is going to be switched to left back for the game against Portugal, which I think means that Boateng is going to slot in at right back and be asked to contain Christiano. >>
Plus Poland is basically the host country. I'm in the UK presently before heading to Milan and the south of France. I love watching the matches from Europe. I hope no countries go bankrupt while I'm here. I thought the Spain/Italy match was fantastic. Alonzo and Torres had the matches on their foot a few times between them. I didn't understand the Torres/Fabergas substitution when they made it. Maybe with 5 minutes left but not when it was made. Torres stunk it up with Chelsea and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>Won't be as fun as the World Cup with the good old USA to cheer for, but I'm always up for seeing the Italians embarrass themselves with the diving and whining! >>
I dunno. Saw the Spain Italy game today, and Italy looked like they really wanted to play. In other words, they finally found out they can't just show up and win becuase they are Italy. And as a result, they looked pretty damn good
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<< <i>The Dutch looked pathetic today. >>
The Dutch set themselves up for a listless performance when they started Van Bommel AND DeJong as holding midfielders. Two holders? On a Dutch team? Please.
It seems weird to say this, but this Dutch team is playing like it's scared to lose. We started to see a bit of this in the WC final in '10, and now we're seeing it full-on. Any team that prides itself as much as the Dutch do in their ability to play attacking, positive soccer shouldn't be clogging up the midfield and trying to poach goals on the counter attack. I'm sure Cruyff is just freaking out back in Holland right now.
<< <i>
<< <i>Just as I'd expect- lots of Polish solidarity amongst the Detroit guys!
Two yawners start the tourney, but then things pick on on Saturday, and then of course we have England v France early next week. Spain v Italy was going to be a great match, but I think this matchfixing scandal in Serie A has gutted the Azzurri. At this point I'm thinking it's possible that Ireland or even Croatia could come out of the group with Spain.
Edit to add: Speaking of Germany, it looks like Lamm is going to be switched to left back for the game against Portugal, which I think means that Boateng is going to slot in at right back and be asked to contain Christiano. >>
Plus Poland is basically the host country. I'm in the UK presently before heading to Milan and the south of France. I love watching the matches from Europe. I hope no countries go bankrupt while I'm here. I thought the Spain/Italy match was fantastic. Alonzo and Torres had the matches on their foot a few times between them. I didn't understand the Torres/Fabergas substitution when they made it. Maybe with 5 minutes left but not when it was made. Torres stunk it up with Chelsea and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon.
MJ >>
The Azzurri had an undersized DiRossi anchoring a three man defense, and I imagine the Spaniards figured they could snag a winner if they could just get Torres matched up against an undersized centre-back. Strange formation for the Spanish team yesterday; we're seeing what happens when a team has a bunch of truly world-class players who all happen to play similar positions. I think this Spanish team is going to need to find some width if they're going to make it to the finals.
I agree. Italy is my squad, and I didn't have high expectations for them coming in. They showed me a lot vs. Spain. What a difference Pirlo makes for them - completely different from the team that got bounced early in the 2010 WC.
As a side note, did the pitch in the Italy vs. Spain game seem slow to anyone else? Every deep ball checked up nicely, and passes along the ground seemed to be intercepted quite frequently. Has that been consistent across all the sites?
<< <i><<<I dunno. Saw the Spain Italy game today, and Italy looked like they really wanted to play. In other words, they finally found out they can't just show up and win becuase they are Italy. And as a result, they looked pretty damn good>>>
I agree. Italy is my squad, and I didn't have high expectations for them coming in. They showed me a lot vs. Spain. What a difference Pirlo makes for them - completely different from the team that got bounced early in the 2010 WC.
As a side note, did the pitch in the Italy vs. Spain game seem slow to anyone else? Every deep ball checked up nicely, and passes along the ground seemed to be intercepted quite frequently. Has that been consistent across all the sites? >>
Cassanno was also terrific yesterday. If they can get anything out of him it would truly seem like pennies from heaven, given the health issues he's been dealing with for the past year.
I think DiNatale starts on Thurs., and Balotelli hits the pine.
<< <i>
<< <i><<<I dunno. Saw the Spain Italy game today, and Italy looked like they really wanted to play. In other words, they finally found out they can't just show up and win becuase they are Italy. And as a result, they looked pretty damn good>>>
I agree. Italy is my squad, and I didn't have high expectations for them coming in. They showed me a lot vs. Spain. What a difference Pirlo makes for them - completely different from the team that got bounced early in the 2010 WC.
As a side note, did the pitch in the Italy vs. Spain game seem slow to anyone else? Every deep ball checked up nicely, and passes along the ground seemed to be intercepted quite frequently. Has that been consistent across all the sites? >>
Cassanno was also terrific yesterday. If they can get anything out of him it would truly seem like pennies from heaven, given the health issues he's been dealing with for the past year.
I think DiNatale starts on Thurs., and Balotelli hits the pine. >>
Boo, far be it for me to say this, but I think you need to get out more . . .
Poland v Russia could create some fireworks today. We'll have to wait and see.
<< <i>I can't think of a more nerve-wracking thing in sports than watching your team go into penalty kicks after thoroughly dominating their opponent for 120 minutes....so glad justice prevailed and Italy moved on. >>
I loved the Pirlo PK; that was just pure class. I suppose there may be a more underrated player than Pirlo, but I can't think of who it is.
Like you, I'm thrilled that the technically superior Italian side went through, and that we were finally able to send off that agonizingly dull England team. Now if Portugal could find a way to beat Spain we might find ourselves with a lights-out, action packed final that would truly be worth the price of admission.
<< <i>How does Ronaldo not take one of the PKs??? Why wouldn't he take the 1st one after the opening Spain miss? >>
I know what you mean- I just have no explanation for that. Ultimately the more deserving team went through, but I'm sure that's of no consolation to the millions of Portugese who are left to wonder why the best player on their team- indeed, perhaps the best European-born player in the world- never stepped up to the spot.
Two superb finishes yesterday. He is certifiably nuts, but a great talent...no reason to think Italy can't pull this off on Sunday.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......