UEFA Euro 2008 Thread
- Thread starter Brother None
- Start date
I don't get why people think Portugal has such a big shot. They have Cristiano Ronaldo - and that's about it, really. Deco had a pretty poor season, too.
Sander said:
I think Ricardo Carvalho is a pretty solid D, and I always liked Maniche somewhat though I don't think that's a popular attitude.
But seriously, they were 2nd in the 2004 EC and and 4th at the 2006 WC.
You can list Dutch quality soccer players until you turn blue in the face, but we haven't got any results like that over the past half decade. And it's results that count, not how pretty your player list looks.
(it's times like these I prefer the US attitude to the European one. Fuck discussing list of players and who you prefer, the best team is the one that wins)
Maniche is one of the few players who tried to play football in that disgrace of a match with the Netherlands two years ago.Brother None said:
No, but a team needs to have some quality to win. Portugal has neither the individual class (outside of Ronaldo) nor the real capability of team play to be a real favourite.Brother None said:
2 years is a long time in sports.
Eh? I'm pretty sure that Americans discuss the players and their merits at length when previewing a tournament.Brother None said:
Ronaldo the only class player? Naw, Carvalho and Quaresma are top class as well, with Deco pulling close in his best form. The only thing Portugal lacks is, as was mentioned, true teamwork, they all try to shine individually too much. I don't see them as favourites, to be honest.
Carvalho is good indeed. Quaresma is good, although he's too selfish. Deco hasn't been in good form for months now.Madbringer said:
Sander said:
Aye, that might be why I like him.
Though I hear he's not been doing well this past year.
Sander said:
It can be, but it doesn't need to be. What would be so different about Portugal now compared to Portugal over the last half decade.
I could say "they need some quality to win" 2 or 4 years ago too, but they did more than we did.
Sander said:
's not what I mean.
I once tried discussing with an American about the NFL season and the fact that I did not necessarily consider the winners (the Colts, back then) the best team, considering them somewhat inferior to other teams (most noteably the Pats, predictably).
But it's a non-argument: you can talk up and down about players, sure, even moreso when preparing for a tournament and the pundits are making their vaguely useless predictions and lists, but at the end of the day the winner is best, period.
Yer, he's getting a bit older and has barely played this year.Brother None said:
Figo.Brother None said:
The differences are there, though. Players have been getting older and generally degraded. The only players who have progressed rather than regressed in the last 2 years would be Ronaldo and Quaresma.
Well, yes, but that'd take all of the fun out of discussing football.Brother None said:
ZiggyMeister
It Wandered In From the Wastes
I like to see a good football match, and to see the best team wining.
But I rather see Portugal playing some crappy football and wining, than playing some great football and losing.
In the end, it's really the score that counts and not how great a team played.
Games are won with goals.
P.S.: Maniche wont be playing in this Eurocup. He wasn't selected by Scolari.
But I rather see Portugal playing some crappy football and wining, than playing some great football and losing.
In the end, it's really the score that counts and not how great a team played.
Games are won with goals.
P.S.: Maniche wont be playing in this Eurocup. He wasn't selected by Scolari.
I watch football to be entertained. I'm not entertained by a team playing crappy football.ZiggyMeister said:
I am entertained by the Netherlands winning, though, or by a very close match.
Incidentally, the Portugal-Netherlands match 2 years ago was *very* entertaining - but not for reasons of beautiful football.
Some pretty cool ads for the Euro.
Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqZ7HoOLtQ
Spain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAh5xFomauE
Portugal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_7fKzasYjA
Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqZ7HoOLtQ
Spain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAh5xFomauE
Portugal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_7fKzasYjA
Briosafreak
Lived Through the Heat Death
You're wrong about that Sander, it's the most balanced team in terms of quality since, well, pretty much ever. They even have a good bench this time, must be a first...
Except the strikers, there's one that might be very good in the future, but will seat in the bench this time, the others are a complete disaster. Oh and the goalies. Hmmmm, not so balanced as I thought, but still 80% of them are really really good, just quite a few aren't very well known or are simply too young to be recognized. They will be in the future.
On this I fully agree with you, and there are a few reasons for that, but they are not connected to the individual quality of the players.
Jesterka
Water Chip? Been There, Done That
Hey, any goddamn Swiss here? Any Swiss I could have the laugh of him as soon as they'll critically fail today? 
Not entirely true, Carvalho has become a world class defender, espeically over the last two years. Terry's various injuries have placed alot of responsibility on his shoulder, as his back up partners have not really inspired confidence. He has taken the pressure well and has held Chelsea's backline together.
Great match! Up there with Croatia v. Australia from the same tournie, the later edges it but only because of the incredibly display by Poll...
I have not been impressed with Quaresma. For all his ability he has not become a very effective player. A few years back he looked a better prospect than Ronaldo - look how that turned out.
I can't wait to see the mighty Degan. He is coming to set the PL on fire next year. Really.
Meh, I don't know. Looking at the players none of them really have the individual class, some of them have the potential to grow into being great players - but only in the future, and not as they are now. Hugo Almeida, for instance, has some great potential. But hasn't reached it yet.Briosafreak said:
Well, yes, that's true enough. Although he was a world-class defender before that already.Yoshi said:
I don't think the Swiss will be surprised or ashamed if they lose today. It's a win-win situation for them, really. It's the Czech's ancient team (and no Baros, what's up with that?) that're going to be laughed at if they lose. Seems pretty evenly matched in the first 15 minutes.Jesterka said:Hey, any goddamn Swiss here? Any Swiss I could have the laugh of him as soon as they'll critically fail today?
Also, it's underway now. Wheeeeee.
PS: Robben is going to miss the first game against Italy. Suppose that solves the midfield balance problem, althoughit means we're missing a great attacking force. Might thrust Van Persie into the starting 11, though.
Czech's don't look too impressive going into the half-time, i have to say, expected much more offensive play from them. Too bad about Frei, the commentators said the tourney is over for him, and the look on his face (not to mention that he was crying) is backing that up.. wow. Talk about bad luck.
Lost about a quid on that result, i'm sure things will improve!
Cech had a good game, but other than that Czechs were poor. Koller can barely run. Jankulovski is fat. I'm glad they won though, don't like the Swiss, especially Fernandes and Magnin.
Cech had a good game, but other than that Czechs were poor. Koller can barely run. Jankulovski is fat. I'm glad they won though, don't like the Swiss, especially Fernandes and Magnin.
Jesterka
Water Chip? Been There, Done That
What a luck on the Czech side. How very German of us. Sverkos might achieve a breaking tournament here.
As for the Frei... what to say. I'd like to see Rosicky, Baros and good ol' (whelp) Nedved as well. That's football.
As for the Frei... what to say. I'd like to see Rosicky, Baros and good ol' (whelp) Nedved as well. That's football.
Undeserved win for the Czechs. They were even worse than I had expected, really. No spirit.
Also Fabio Aurelio just tried out his flying kick on Nani's shins. A red card would not have been undeserved there.
Portugal played better than I expected, though. Deserved win, and well played really. Although that final minute second goal fucked over my predictions.
Turkey probably isn't going to go far.
Also Fabio Aurelio just tried out his flying kick on Nani's shins. A red card would not have been undeserved there.
Portugal played better than I expected, though. Deserved win, and well played really. Although that final minute second goal fucked over my predictions.
Turkey probably isn't going to go far.
