UEFA Euro 2008 Thread

[Sander]

So far in the tournament, the unknown name that impressed me is Engelaar from Holland. Travesty that he wasnt discovered until this age. He is the perfect defensive midfielder. I am sure he wont go back to Holland after the tournament if he keeps this going. Likes of Tottenham should go after him, would be a bargain.

He's been contracted by Schalke 04, being contracted by Fred Rutten who coached him at Twente the past year.

And he's mainly gotten better over the past year. He was well-known for years beforehand, he simply wasn't as good as he was the past year.

In any case, Czech Republic v Portugal should be an entertaining game later today. We'll see if Portugal manage to continue to play good football, and if the Czechs can manage to start playing decent football.
I expect it'll be much better than Turkey - Switzerland, in any case.

 

[Yata]

I see.

 

[Sander]

I know there's a rivalry between Turkey and Switzerland, but that won't make the match any better really. You'll still have two somewhat crappy teams playing what will probably be a relatively defensive match.
I hope they'll prove me wrong, though.

 

[Brother None]

Spain played wonderfully, except for the last five minutes. Nice game, really fast.

Dude. You officially have the worst opinion in football that I've ever seen. It's like you watch football on another planet or something. Call excellent refereeing terrible, pretend a very sportsmanlike EC is happening with foul play, see a horrible Spain as wonderful. Bizarro world.

Spain was absolutely atrocious, floating on a few bits of individual quality.

Sweden - Greece was as expected. The look of pure surprise on Zlatan's face after scoring was gold. Still, Sweden disappoints, not surprisingly.

So far in the tournament, the unknown name that impressed me is Engelaar from Holland. Travesty that he wasnt discovered until this age. He is the perfect defensive midfielder. I am sure he wont go back to Holland after the tournament if he keeps this going. Likes of Tottenham should go after him, would be a bargain.

He used to play striker/offensive mid-fielder. It was Rutten who pushed him into becoming a defensive midfielder, since Rutten felt he reached his ceiling as an offensive midfielder.

Looks like ol' Fred was right. Good coach.

<hr>

Anyway that's every team and nobody really managed to impress, except the Netherlands. Based purely on initial matches they'd be favourites, but obviously we have more to go on than just initial matches.

That said...

France and Italy obviously didn't impress. Spain looks dividied and lackluster, lacks any kind of system (much like the French, really).

Portugal looked good but was playing against a team that wasn't really trying to play football. I don't think the crippled midfield-less Czechs will be a better test, either. Still, Portugal has the most potential, thanks to their defence and field control, but they haven't been tested yet - and probably won't be in the pool.

Germany didn't look that impressive against the not-so-good Poles, and is showing a lot of weaknesses.

All of group D looks atrocious. I would already feel confident predicting the #1 and #2 of group C to move into the semi-finals. Would've been a fine prediction prior to the tournament, too, but with Spain looking that weak, it's ensured now.

 

[Yata]

Portugal - Holland, dream final for the sake of beautiful football. and they cant meet before the final as well.

 

[Sander]

I only now read your edit, Tool-singer.

Basically you, as what I assume is a Turkish football fan, is holding it against a Turkish football player that he's emotional.

....

Somehow that strikes me as terribly weird.

France and Italy obviously didn't impress.

France didn't impress, but Italy wasn't all that bad and I think the 4rth or 5th best team we've seen so far (Portugal and Germany definitely impressed more, I'm constantly hearing mixed things about Spain and missed the match myself so can't really judge that team).

Portugal looked good but was playing against a team that wasn't really trying to play football. I don't think the crippled midfield-less Czechs will be a better test, either. Still, Portugal has the most potential, thanks to their defence and field control, but they haven't been tested yet - and probably won't be in the pool.

It's quite possible the Czechs will get a better team together for this afternoon's match, though, and we'll get to see more of Portugal's true colours. Although I agree that Portugal's real test won't be until they get out of the group phase, and honestly I think think they won't be really tested until they hit the semis vs Germany.


And I'd love to see either Netherlands - Germany or Netherlands - Portugal in the final. Preferably Netherlands - Germany since I expect Germany to play better and more offensive football than the Portuguese (how strange is that?).

 

[Yata]

Never mind.

 

[Brother None]

Just imagine Sneijder and Van Nistelrooy... being left out for no reason. (They are not injured, they perform well) It is exactly the situation.

You mean like Seedorf, van Bommel, Makaay and van Nistelrooy being snubbed?

Been there, done that.

 

[Yata]

Czech - Portugal is going good.

 

[Jesterka]

Ha. Czechs vs. Briosafreaks 1:1 in the half. Finally someone forced Czechs not to be lazy and play some football instead again.

 

[Brother None]

At this tournament, i doubt you will miss the first 3, maybe Seedorf but he quit himself didnt he? And RVN is already playing.

Van Gol was out for a while due to a conflict with van Basten. Same for many other players. You can blame the players, but Van Basten is the constant.

So, Por-Cze 3-1. Slightly flattered in the final goal, but a deserved win.

Portugal looked good, but with some major flaws. They're obviously not a team, and have a lot of internal issues (did you see that free kick discussion between Deco-Ronaldo-Simao? Fucking ridiculous). But that'll grow in the tournament.

More worryingly, the defence was really solid but undisciplined, and fell apart at weird moments, including the shamefully bad defending at the Czech 1-1 from a corner. That was just terribad.

Also, the midfield is wobbly, and not connecting well with the offence.

Also, Portugal keeps trying to fit in as Italy's retarded kid brother. Rarely have I seen so much whining. I think Ronaldo is going for the record for schwalbes, too.

Few ugly fouls from the Czechs too, though. Odd that these ugly fouls always happen in matches with Portugal. Almost like they're asking for it.

 

[Sander]

Goddammit stop mucking up my predictions by scoring in the final minute, Portugal. Twice now, gah!

Also, Portugal's defence and midfield were really shabby. And the goalkeeper was beyond terribile. Every high ball was dangerous, and not because the Czechs were that brilliant.

Other than that, Portugal played well, although it felt as if it was due mainly to individual skill rather than good teamplay. Disappointing after the previous match, really.

 

[ZiggyMeister]

PORTUGAL! PORTUGAL! PORTUGAL!
We're almost through

As the great Esteves would have said: "Até os comemos, carago!" (that is something like "We even fucken shagged them!")

(...)
Portugal looked good, but with some major flaws. They're obviously not a team, and have a lot of internal issues (did you see that free kick discussion between Deco-Ronaldo-Simao? Fucking ridiculous). But that'll grow in the tournament.
(...)

Take this from a Portuguese: That was all a theatric play.
Some 10 years ago, a former Sub-21, called Dani, scored a great goal after a similar discussion.

(...)
More worryingly, the defence was really solid but undisciplined, and fell apart at weird moments, including the shamefully bad defending at the Czech 1-1 from a corner. That was just terribad.
(...)

Ricardo is one of the worst Goal Keeper defending corners...
He has a very weird high pitch voice and he also is a really bad singer

(...)
Also, Portugal keeps trying to fit in as Italy's retarded kid brother. Rarely have I seen so much whining. I think Ronaldo is going for the record for schwalbes, too.
(...)

Yeah! Although there's nothing new there.

 

[Madbringer]

What was wrong with Quaresma, until few minutes prior to him scoring the goal, he was playing like an idiot. I hope he won't embarass himself like that next time he goes in.

Meh, Ricardo isn't that bad, really. He is terrible with positioning himself to, and catching, high balls, true that. Much more solid on the line, though. Ronaldo looked like he's about to cry a few times after he was repeatedly stopped by the Czechs. Refs should carry lollipops to give him after he fails yet another unnecessary run.

Deco was definitely the man of the match. He worked very hard, and was one of the few people in Portugal team that actually cared about teamwork.

Nothing special, though. Czechs fail very hard without a real playmaker, like Rosicky, and Koller seems practically useless, wonder why he was even sent in.

 

[Yata]

Nice goal there.

 

[Sander]

What is it with those last minute goals mucking up my predictions again? Predicted 1-1 obviously.

And yeah, boring match, as I predicted.

 

[Yata]

Wasn't that bad.

 

[Madbringer]

And yeah, boring match, as I predicted.

He. Really, you were bored? I had fun watching that game, the soaked pitch + some hilarious mistakes from both sides made me keep watching with interest till the end. Maybe the first half was more of a snoozer, but the second one provided lots of entertainment.

Though, obviously, not a great football match, per se, but you can't say it didn't had it's drama.

 

[Brother None]

Wasn't a boring match. Wasn't a good match either. Typical knife-between-teeth game, really.

Take this from a Portuguese: That was all a theatric play.

Don't care if it was, it was just an exponent of multiple instance in which communication looked terrible and team play was missing.

Ricardo is one of the worst Goal Keeper defending corners...

He's a line-keeper. That means he sticks to his line and lets the ball come to him. 's pretty old-fashioned, but it doesn't absolutely "not work"

What was wrong was this: there were no men at the 1st and 2nd pole of the goal, right? That means you have two extra defenders in the 16-meter territory. So where were they? Where was the numerical superiority which should have meant no room for movement for the offensive players?

I don't like Ricardo that much, but this one wasn't his fault. The D's positioning was all wrong. Amateurishly so, really.

Ronaldo looked like he's about to cry a few times after he was repeatedly stopped by the Czechs. Refs should carry lollipops to give him after he fails yet another unnecessary run.

True dat. I hope the drooling over the "majestic Ronaldo" stops soon. He's failing at this tournament so far, and doesn't look anywhere near grabbing any kind of form. He's playing for himself, lazily and badly. Thumbs down.

 

[Jesterka]

Holy hell.

The Czechs do need a real playmaker as a compensation for T. Rosicky, it's so fucking obvious. Big shame on you, Mr. wtf-I-can-not-play-at-another-tourney Pavel Nedved. What a true patriot.

Slightly good performance for Deco and Ronaldo, although I don't like this gay-lookin' striker too much.

Also, Pepe is pretty ankward, malingerery asshole. Some Czech back just hastily touched his thigh and he acted like someone's ripping his nuts out of his body. Good to mention that he obviously wans't alone "overreacting". For me, it's a monumentally embarassing abuse of some Southern Europe nations.

But to be fair, Matejovsky's finger-cutting foul on some Portuguese guy was moronic as well. It's obviously good when the young guy is so (over)motivated, but it haven't done any good this evening. Unless the squelched finger.

Anyway, congratulations Briosa, you ol' bastard.