Anyone watching it? If so, you guys impressed with Russians so far?
Euro 2012
- Thread starter Sub-Human
- Start date
Mostly this pool looks pretty weak. Wish we'd landed it 
But yeah, for 30-year olds dribbling about, Russia looks pretty good. Well-coached, Dick, well-coached!
But yeah, for 30-year olds dribbling about, Russia looks pretty good. Well-coached, Dick, well-coached!
Brother None said:
Well if we make it to the quarter finals that'll be quite the achievement. The first goal vs Czechs was pretty strong though.
Ok, so yeah, this Russian team is pretty good.
Dzagoev is something else, huh? Quite a talent.
So anyway, how's everyone else like their team? I like the Netherlands, and think Robin van Persie is probably one of the world's best players right now, but he's rarely performed as well in Orange. We're also stuck with two Eredivisie-level players in the back, one of whom is only 18. Might not even make it out of the group stage.
Dzagoev is something else, huh? Quite a talent.
So anyway, how's everyone else like their team? I like the Netherlands, and think Robin van Persie is probably one of the world's best players right now, but he's rarely performed as well in Orange. We're also stuck with two Eredivisie-level players in the back, one of whom is only 18. Might not even make it out of the group stage.
Pft, whinger. Jetro Willems is going to be the revelation of the tournament!Brother None said:
Dutch national team is a little odd. They didn't play all that well at the World Cup, though it certainly was efficient in the end. They've struggled in recent matches, but seemed to regain form against the Northern Irish hangover team. The key will be whether they can play like a full team, or whether they'll split into six defenders/four attackers again. If everything goes according to plan, Mark Van Bommel will be able to link defense and offense, the two backs will be able to provide some crosses (and they both have the stamina and skill to do that consistently) and you'll see a real and very good team.
I've got my hopes pinned on the brilliance of Robin Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. They have the talent to decide any match on their own. But if the Dutch play like they should, they won't need to.
Still, Russia looks really strong (and fit) and Poland looked pretty good until somehow they collapsed in the second half. The Germans look promising, as they have for the past six years. The French have a ridiculous amount of talent. Spain is same ol'. Lots of good teams at this tournament.
Brother None said:
Two badass goals and damn boy is he a fast runner. Now (as far as I'm aware) we have to fight versus Poland and Greece, and their current performance doesn't seem to be very challenging. Hopefully we get to rack off a few more points off these guys.
Also, unsurprisingly throughout the whole game there was at least two players covering Arshavin. If the more important teams don't watch him, he might be able to net something as well. Hopefully.
Putting my vote down on Germany (like most other tournaments too), but Spain and Italy have a shot at the finals as well. Netherlands? Hmm...
Dzagoev was really impressive in his passing. I love all the through passes the Russians played.
Also, this tournament looks like play will be a lot more open than at the 2010 World Cup, where the lack of goals was stunning. I wonder whether the ball had anything to do with it? A lot of players hated the 2010 ball because it was supersmooth (6 panels, I think) - and hence moved very differently from what they were used to with normal, 32-panel balls. Euro 2012 moved back to a 32-panel ball.
Also, this tournament looks like play will be a lot more open than at the 2010 World Cup, where the lack of goals was stunning. I wonder whether the ball had anything to do with it? A lot of players hated the 2010 ball because it was supersmooth (6 panels, I think) - and hence moved very differently from what they were used to with normal, 32-panel balls. Euro 2012 moved back to a 32-panel ball.
Sander said:
Really? I found most passes overall in the game to be lazy and sometimes unnecessary. Our players might be coached well, but whenever they get the ball, they try to get rid of it ASAP. Inaccurate shots, out of place passes - all that comes into play.
But certainly some were badass.
Ilosar
Vault Fossil
Had to vote for the country I was born in 
Doubt France is going to make it however. It probably won't be the disaster the 2010 world cup was, but if we pass quarter finals I'll be happy.
As for the real winner, Germany seems boss this time around, albeit Russia puts on a very good show. I called for a Germany-Spain final myself (I know, playing it safe).
What I cannot wait for is for Portugal to smash its face, so that my Portugese friend finally shuts up about Christiano Ronaldo.
Doubt France is going to make it however. It probably won't be the disaster the 2010 world cup was, but if we pass quarter finals I'll be happy.
As for the real winner, Germany seems boss this time around, albeit Russia puts on a very good show. I called for a Germany-Spain final myself (I know, playing it safe).
What I cannot wait for is for Portugal to smash its face, so that my Portugese friend finally shuts up about Christiano Ronaldo.
Christiano Ronaldo won't be any good. He never is, playing for Portugal. Not expecting too much from them.
I have my doubts about Spain too. They were such a boring, playing-it-safe club in the world cup. I think they'll look less strong this time around.
Germany is the easy favorite.
Yes really. It was a quick passing game, but it had nowhere near the superfluous, obsessive passing of tiki-taka. It was a fast, disciplined through-passing game, very well-executed. You can focus on the bad passes as you like, but that's just a consequence of passing density.
I have my doubts about Spain too. They were such a boring, playing-it-safe club in the world cup. I think they'll look less strong this time around.
Germany is the easy favorite.
Sub-Human said:
Yes really. It was a quick passing game, but it had nowhere near the superfluous, obsessive passing of tiki-taka. It was a fast, disciplined through-passing game, very well-executed. You can focus on the bad passes as you like, but that's just a consequence of passing density.
donperkan
Sonny, I Watched the Vault Bein' Built!
Bilić's gonna plow through that whole championship.
fucking serbians aren't even in ...
Anyway. I think Germany is going to make it.
Anyway. I think Germany is going to make it.
Netherlands not playing well enough today... I mean, Denmark? With this pace they'll never make it to the finals.
Let's hope they step up a notch on the second half and score some goals. Their current performance is embarrassing.
Let's hope they step up a notch on the second half and score some goals. Their current performance is embarrassing.
Embarrassing? lol result-oriented thinking.Sub-Human said:
Basically, they're just not finishing well enough. Tons more chances and shots than Denmark (32 vs 8 shots at goal IIRC), routinely outplaying the Danish midfield, barely gave up half a dozen chances. Unlucky on both ends, but that won't hold. Sadly, now they have to beat Portugal and Germany, and that's going to be very tough.
Robin van Persie looked better than he did at the World Cup, but continues to suffer from poor luck in the box. Wesley Sneijder had an amazing game, much better than any of his games at the World Cup last year. Jetro Willems gave Rommedahl no room, which is a nice surprise - dude was a youth player for Dutch second division club Sparta Rotterdam one year ago.
Robben outside of two shots was shite, but did draw double and triple coverage throughout the game. Van Bommel had a pretty poor game, but not horrific. Van der Wiel was shockingly bad.
You could also see why the Dutch play with their current set of players. Van der Vaart and Huntelaar clearly disconnected with their fellow players much too frequently when they came on late in the half.
Sander said:
True, but Netherlands (at least as far as I remember) have been the better players for quite some time now. I'll be honest, I thought they'd crash Denmark. Instead, they were barely jogging on the field throughout the whole game. Some of their shots could have required a little bit more precision.
Sander said:
Lol, yes. Seeing Germany and Portugal play was a huge contrast. Especially those last ten minutes when Portugal tried to score back and Germany dragged the time by changing players.
Alphadrop
A right proper chap.
As a patriotic Englishman of course I am hoping for Germany to win.
Alphadrop said:
I'd be interested to see how you play with France. A draw, perhaps?
Alphadrop
A right proper chap.
Hard to tell, oddly Euro coverage is quite muted here.
Then again we can't do worse than we did in the World Cup.
Then again we can't do worse than we did in the World Cup.
donperkan
Sonny, I Watched the Vault Bein' Built!
I hope germany lasts long enough to face croatia. I have a bottle of 7 year old šljivovica i'm gonna celebrate with. 
poll is missing brazil. Italy are looking pretty good for bunch of actors. Spain can go fuck themselves.