UEFA Euro 2008 Thread

[Jesterka]

There was no foul on Polak. True, he had his leg high, but he was clearly attempting to reach the ball. If you take it straight by the book, it was dangerous play and deserved a penalty, but only an asshole arbiter would've given a penalty there.

Yeah, in such circumstances (2:0 at cca 70 min) you're right. Especially Brückner and Cech screwed up their jobs in the most important moments, Czech fucked it up completely, let the crazy Turks a fuckin' breathe, etc etc. No doubt about it.

But simultaneously, there's so many apparent things that probably no Turk on the planet (want to) see. Fouls, ragging, moronic spitfire moments, another (even more disgusting) fouls and all that jazz.

Therefore, whinning like 'Czechs have no heart anyway' or 'look at that fucking referee' are just monumentally ridiculous. Holy hell, the red card for the Turk was eventually the best result for the Turks, 'cause there was both no penalty kick and no eventual Czech press (Turks basically flamed through the very end).

Fuck.

Anyway, Group A turned out to be pretty hot, what do you think, guys?

 

[Yata]

Indeed.

 

[Brother None]

Therefore, whinning like 'Czechs have no heart anyway' or 'look at that fucking referee' are just monumentally ridiculous.

Of course it is. The Czechs showed plenty of heart and almost made it despite their huge opening-day issues.

However, if someone were to call this in the typical Yank terms of "who wants it more?" I'd be apt to agree: Turkey wanted it more.

Also, did you know Cech is currently the leader in saves of all goalies participating in the EC? Dude had a tough time of it these past months, I hope no one is stupid enough to think he's any less great of a keeper 'coz of it.

Also our biggest weakness is dead balls/crosses and tall forwards.

I think your biggest weakness is that you aren't very good.

Which Crotia lacks, so i am hopeful. Biggest worry is Aurelio being suspended. He really is a special player.

As I duly noted on day 1 in this thread, I'll note.

Yes, you're going to be seriously crippled next match, and you have no one to blame 'cept yourself.

About the dirty tackles we do, i dont really get how we are worse then any other team. And i wouldnt be convinced Aurelio's tackle against Nani was on purpose. He is not a dirty player.

You mean intentional as in "he wanted to break his leg"? Nah, he's no Boulahrouz. But intentional as in he went in flying high knowing full well that can break someone's leg? Duh, he's a professional football player.

Also, please look at these stats. There is such a thing as coincidence, you could argue the difference between Switzerland and Turkey is so small they might be equally foul on the pitch. But when you actually manage to gather double the amount of yellow cards as foul, dirty-playing backstabbing teams like Italy, Portugal and Greece, then yes, you have a problem. (albeit two of them player a game less, but I doubt they'll catch up that quick)

Blaming the ref would honestly be ridiculous. I don't know what the problem is, maybe too many players still mentally following the Bundesliga/Turkish league rules, which no doubt allow for rougher play than this EC...

But here's the funny thing: this is a really clean, sportsmanlike EC. Exceedingly so. Friendly behaviour by the teams, even Poland and Germany showing off the right example to their fans, frustration starting to kick in but not really taking over. That's the EC.

Except in Group A

Group A is full of assholes.

 

[Sander]

However, they're up against Croatia.
Which should actually make for a spirited game, but not the most difficult opponent for the Turks.

You're saying Turkey is qualitatively better than Croatia?

I disagree.

No, but I'm saying they've got a decent shot against Croatia. Like 1:2 or so.
They're qualitatively worse than the Czech's too, but that didn't stop them from winning.

About the dirty tackles we do, i dont really get how we are worse then any other team. And i wouldnt be convinced Aurelio's tackle against Nani was on purpose. He is not a dirty player.

Ehm, do you watch the same games we do? Yes, you are most definitely worse. Similarly, Portugal is worse with the falling down.

Also, whether or not Aurelio intended to injure Nani is irrelevant, he's a professional football player and coming into a sliding with two stretched legs forward like that is really unacceptable and dangerous.

EDIT:

Blaming the ref would honestly be ridiculous. I don't know what the problem is, maybe too many players still mentally following the Bundesliga/Turkish league rules, which no doubt allow for rougher play than this EC...

The Bundesliga doesn't. Not sure about the Turkish League, but I'm positive at least the Premier League is more lenient than this.

Also, usually referees seem to generally come from a lot of different countries regardless of quality. Having more than one referee from one country regardless of quality seems pretty rare.
This is true for this tournament, too, and it seems to be a form of politics in some cases.

 

[Brother None]

No, but I'm saying they've got a decent shot against Croatia. Like 1:2 or so.
They're qualitatively worse than the Czech's too, but that didn't stop them from winning.

The Czechs weren't very good, tho'

Croatia is. Dark horse team, y'know. Whereas Czech was more like a crippled horse team.

The Bundesliga doesn't. Not sure about the Turkish League, but I'm positive at least the Premier League is more lenient than this.

Also, usually referees seem to generally come from a lot of different countries regardless of quality. Having more than one referee from one country regardless of quality seems pretty rare.

The Bundesliga definitely allows more than this EC is doing so far.

I wouldn't say regardless of quality. They have to mix it up for a variety of reasons, amongst which politics and the fact that the referee's nationality musn't interfere, which means you have to mix and match a lot. Why you mention that is beyond me, tho', what does it have to do with anything?

 

[Yata]

Never mind.

 

[Brother None]

I am not defending Aurelio by any means, nor the challenge he did. I was just trying to make a point that he is not a dirty player. It wasnt professional either, but the posts in this thread kept assuming he was a dirty player who always played dirty which is wrong.

Uh, who said that where? Briosa did, in his usual emotional Mediterranean way a few pages back, I love Mehmet Aurelio.

We said the team is dirty.

And it is. Dirtiest team in this championship, together with Portugal 'cor.

About the yellows, i would love to see a more detailed stats where it shows the cause of yellow cards.

Why? I doubt you managed to gather 8 whining cards, and you'd have to be pretty far in denial to think Turkey is not the most physically playing team so far.

Wrong, i will go ahead and say we have a great midfield and decent forwards.

Ok.

That doesn't a great team make. Remember, I also think Spain's not very good. But I wouldn't call their forwards bad, nor their midfielders.

 

[Jesterka]

Also, did you know Cech is currently the leader in saves of all goalies participating in the EC? Dude had a tough time of it these past months, I hope no one is stupid enough to think he's any less great of a keeper 'coz of it.

Same opinion, more or less.

And Czechs really shouldn't build up their "whatever we screw up, Cech is gonna work it out anyway" strategy any more.

The Czechs weren't very good, tho'

Croatia is. Dark horse team, y'know. Whereas Czech was more like a crippled horse team.

No. Rather a solid, but slightly wounded horse with an incredibly sentimental jockey (Brückner). 'Good old fella' Galasek ftw? I don't think so. Hate this heavily favoured <s>fouler</s> player, really.

 

[Yata]

Never mind

 

[Sander]

The Czechs weren't very good, tho'

Croatia is. Dark horse team, y'know. Whereas Czech was more like a crippled horse team.

Heh.
Croatia in their first match wasn't much better than Turkey is. They were better against the Germans, though, but I think you're overestimating Croatia and underestimating Turkey.

I don't think a 33% chance is far off the mark, though. And the bookies seem to more or less agree with me.

The Bundesliga definitely allows more than this EC is doing so far.

From the Bundesliga matches I've watched I wouldn't say this, but this EC (as with most ECs and leagues even) it's still very match and referee dependent on what is allowed and what isn't. The kind of grappling that got Austria and Romania a penalty has been allowed in several other matches, for instance.

I wouldn't say regardless of quality. They have to mix it up for a variety of reasons, amongst which politics and the fact that the referee's nationality musn't interfere, which means you have to mix and match a lot. Why you mention that is beyond me, tho', what does it have to do with anything?

The fact that they aren't the best referees full stop, but the best referees per country. I'd say that most top notch referees are active in the Premier League, for instance, while there's only one Premier League referee at this tournament.

Not very relevant, though, as all the referees are still of a high level and so far have done a very good job when compared to previous tournaments.

Edit: By the way, i still think Cech is the best keeper in the world! Lots of respect to him seeing he had so many nasty injuries last 2 years (skull fracture and lots of stitches on the face thanks to Ben"how the fuck did i end up at chelsea oh wait i am jewish like the team owner" Haim)

Yeah, not doing the Turkish image a good favour with that retard remark there, pal.

 

[Yata]

Never mind

 

[Brother None]

Croatia in their first match wasn't much better than Turkey is. They were better against the Germans, though, but I think you're overestimating Croatia and underestimating Turkey.

Perhaps. But the Czechs, right off the bat, had too many glaring flaws to overcome. The opening match of Croatia was bleh but not exactly telling of particular insurmountable flaws in your team.

It is you who is the one who is underestimating Croatia. Ball licker.

From the Bundesliga matches I've watched I wouldn't say this.

So far this EC, on what it does do consistently, has kept a closer watch on fair play than almost any competition.

So apropos. The teams were warned of this. The grappling-in-the-pitch thing really needs polishing, the UEFA fucked up on that, but otherwise teams got a far whining. If you're still stupid enough to - say - whine and be sent off, 's your own fault.

Did you watch Makelele against your players? Now that was dirtiness, that old lil cunt.

Makelele has raised foul play to an art form. I like the ol' bastard, but I won't be all that sad to see him go (finally).

Glad to see the Dutch players overcame such needs for fouls, even the Cannibal.

 

[Jesterka]

Not very relevant, though, as all the referees are still of a high level and so far have done a very good job when compared to previous tournaments.

It's not only 'not very relevant', it's irrelevant at all.

But referees in the Balkan states are basically a scum-rats, who almost must took some bribes from time to time... just for livable living. So call this referee-related whining a bad habit. I know it 'cause Czech conditions are not far too better.

Also, Keenan, maybe now's a good time to realize EC isn't a Turkish league, once for all. Why the hell they should that poor Swede patronize with Czechs? Because Czech Republic is more closely to Sweeden than Turkey?

Jesus Christ.

 

[Brother None]

Also, Keenan, maybe now's a good time to realize EC isn't a Turkish league, once for all. Why the hell they should that poor Swede patronize with Czechs? Because Czech Republic is more closely to Sweeden than Turkey?

That's a pretty damned stupid thing to say, J.

 

[Sander]

Perhaps. But the Czechs, right off the bat, had too many glaring flaws to overcome. The opening match of Croatia was bleh but not exactly telling of particular insurmountable flaws in your team.

That, or the game Croatia played against the Germans was just a lucky fluke.
If they can play the opening game horribly, they can also play the quarter final horribly. Yeah, Croatia is the favourite, but Turkey isn't without a shot.

It is you who is the one who is underestimating Croatia. Ball licker.

Wow, that sentence is horribly constructed.

Oh, and something about crawling up player's asses.

So far this EC, on what it does do consistently, has kept a closer watch on fair play than almost any competition.

So apropos. The teams were warned of this. The grappling-in-the-pitch thing really needs polishing, the UEFA fucked up on that, but otherwise teams got a far whining. If you're still stupid enough to - say - whine and be sent off, 's your own fault.

Yer, that's true enough. The yellow card for disapproving of referee decisions is pretty good as well.

Glad to see the Dutch players overcame such needs for fouls, even the Cannibal.

Most people would say that that's exactly what the Dutch team is missing, exactly. In fact, that's what I've heard a lot before this tournament.

I took the remark from your average Chelsea fan on Chelsea message boards, so it is not really my thought, (read the same exact comment) everyone thinks he is far-below Chelsea quality. And i am by no means a Jew bashing Muslim, religion isnt my thing. Sorry if it sounded like that.

Thou art forgiven, or something like that.
But really, that's what you hear on the Chelsea forums? What the fuck?

 

[Yata]

Never mind

 

[Jesterka]

Mehmet Topal got a yellow for a challenge early in the game, same nastiness level of a challenge from Czechs got away with no yellow.

No.

Of course, except the poor Galasek, whom I'd sometimes like to slap in his face personally. Apropo, he's not a total <s>Turk</s> butcher, rather a Makelele-like rat. A dirty king of tactical fouls. Yey.

We get a player injured, game goes on. He leaves the pitch because of injury, we are 10 men. Game stops.
(...)

This regretful case still can't trump the fact he basically saved Turk's asses in the overtime. But OK, hey, that's just football.

And do you even know how the Turkish league is? Or how much i care about the Turkish league? Because i dont, it is rubbish, i stopped watching/caring about it long ago, i follow Premier League, i dont miss a single game. So dont go ahead making assumptions.

Well, according to your referee-whining posts, I'm not sure. Sorry.

By the way, Koller's definitely putting the Czech jersey off after this disaster. With 90/55 balance.

 

[Yata]

Never mind

 

[Sander]

And do you even know how the Turkish league is? Or how much i care about the Turkish league? Because i dont, it is rubbish, i stopped watching/caring about it long ago, i follow Premier League, i dont miss a single game. So dont go ahead making assumptions.

Really? Cause when I was in Istanbul a few years back they had this absolutely brilliant Van Hooydonk commercial going, something about wearing a moustache.

Well, according to your referee-whining posts, I'm not sure. Sorry.

By the way, Koller's definitely putting the Czech jersey off after this disaster. With 90/55 balance.

Koller played pretty decently, though.

 

[Yata]

Never mind