Anyone on here besides me, maxpower, and mufan12 actually going to watch this great display of the real football?? It should be one of the most entertaining tournaments in a while. I'm looking forward to it!
Me too. "Gooooooooooole!"
I, too, will be watching.
Anybody had a chance to catch the US Men's team last 2 friendlies? Underwhelming to say the least...
for those in the MKE area, a great little niche I've found for footie viewing is the Highbury Pub in Bayview. I will hopefully be down there as often as I can be the next couple weeks. It's got an absolute fantastic atmosphere.
I'm tuning in.
Just a few random thoughts...
-Kind of a slow start to the tournament today. The Czechs, although they won, were particularly disappointing. Four years ago they were one of the most entertaining teams in the world. Now, not so much.
-The only thing that keeps Portugal from being the run-away favorite is their lack of a dominant striker, or at least two decent strikers to pair together. Nuno Gomes was way too isolated up front today...the wings could do a better job of pushing up alongside of him.
-I'm thrilled that ESPN brought in Andy Gray as a commentator. Those of you who are familiar with the FIFA video game series know what I'm talking about.
-Co-sign on the Highbury. Nomad on Brady St. is also a good bet.
Quote from: muwarrior87 on June 07, 2008, 02:32:46 PM
for those in the MKE area, a great little niche I've found for footie viewing is the Highbury Pub in Bayview. I will hopefully be down there as often as I can be the next couple weeks. It's got an absolute fantastic atmosphere.
+1
Caught the 2006 England-Portugal World Cup match there. Great place.
Muwarrior, nomad is a much much better place to watch... ive been to both and Nomad is by far the better bar for football watching. Nomad is on Brady so its closer too
gimme me a call muwarrior when u go watch these games
austria v. croatia 4 minute shoud the referee hvae given a PK?
I say no!
Quote from: ATWizJr on June 08, 2008, 11:07:21 AM
austria v. croatia 4 minute shoud the referee hvae given a PK?
I say no!
That was complet shiiite! I hate calls like that! Let em play!
I have to say it was a penalty, it was a clumsy tackle. But play should have been brought back on the throw-in.
I'll second the Andy Gray comment. Even though he played for Everton, I find him entertaining.
Poland/Germany in a couple of hours... GO POLSKA!
You're probably right, but I still hate the game being decided on a penalty kick. :(
Deutschland! Wuenderbar!
was the tackle anything like this?
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/0SAJ7JN5VFAWT249NNR2.anigifdel/9ad207c2b1664be319a6c3ec1b97f5fd)
Caught the second half of Switzerland - Czech Republic at a bar in Rome last night.
I'm sure I'll be watching plenty of the tournament. I hear Europeans kind of like soccer.
Those of you not able to watch right now...Italy just got screwed by the refs in a non-offside call that my blind grandma could have made. It sits at 2-0 right now which would be trouble for Italy in the Pool of Death
Quote from: robmufan on June 09, 2008, 02:19:18 PM
Those of you not able to watch right now...Italy just got screwed by the refs in a non-offside call that my blind grandma could have made. It sits at 2-0 right now which would be trouble for Italy in the Pool of Death
van Nistelrooy was CLEARLY offside, and that goal did give the Dutch the lead, but if you're the Italians, the way you can overcome that is by NOT giving up 2 more. The Dutch were impressive. Italy could be in trouble on goal differential.
Anybody catch the US-Argentina friendly last night? Tim Howard was unbelievable. Gutsy performance by the US men against the best team in the world.
The offside clarification was that the Italian player that was off the field due to injury was still in play, therefore Ruud not offsides. Definitely crap, even though Ruud is a former Manc!
How about the 5'6" vanBronkhorst?
Quote from: 21Jumpstreet on June 09, 2008, 05:16:11 PM
The offside clarification was that the Italian player that was off the field due to injury was still in play, therefore Ruud not offsides. Definitely crap, even though Ruud is a former Manc!
How about the 5'6" vanBronkhorst?
The commentators discussed that (whoever mentioned Andy Gray earlier in the thread, you were right. He's fantastic). I guess I was under the impression (as was Gray) that the injured player should not have been considered, and therefore the goal should not have counted.
And how does a 33-year-old (with all due respect ;D), 5' 6" defender/midfielder get that kind of scoring opportunity? Embarrassing defense by the Azzurri.
spartan...I'll never leave the highbury. Know the owner and many others too well. Like a family.
Gwaki...heading down tomorrow for the action. I'll give ya a call around 10:40 or so to see if you'd like to join.
Definitely a penalty in the Croatia game. Clumsy challenge and just took him out. Croatia player could have gotten a decent feed across the goal mouth off had he not been taken down.
As for the first goal by Ruud...I agree w/ Tommy Smyth. The Italian defender was taken out of the play by Buffon and he could have made an effort to get back on the pitch...though I'm a bit bias against those floppers...which would have made it deliberate that he stayed off thus making Ruud onside. That ruling is a judgement call though seeing how it must be 'deliberate' that the player is off the field.
I was getting all set to sit here at work and watch the games on ESPN360, but last wednesday, the day of USA vs. Spain, the IT department blocked ESPN360's website. In one simple click of a button they dashed my hopes of unproductive days watching the best of Europe play. I need a new job!
half time score Poland 1, Austria 0
Go Polska!
What r the thoughts on the penalty for Austria in stoppage time? I was trying to stream the game at work and it crapped out on me right at the end. Haven't had a chance to see the replay.
Pulling for Les Bleus all the way, Benzema needs a breakout game on Saturday
the Dutch will dominate just as they did against Italia! well, maybe not quite that much dominating but I'll say 2-0 w/ Henry aggravating the injury that had him sidelined for the first match, if France's Tarot reading, astrologer of a coach even decides to play their most creative and dangerous striker. If Henry is on the pitch, the game will be a little closer as the Netherlands are solid up top but have a very leaky defense minus VanDerSar.
erp, i meant today...the offense looked inept the other day, but hopefully Henry can sack up and play today
fear the rooster!
wow, the Dutch looked good today.
I picked Holland to win the 2006 World Cup. A little late fellas but I love that van Basten is now bringing Robben and Van Persie off the bench.
Holland looks unstoppable. hopefully they rest some guys and romania can get a result to advance out of the group. would love to see france and italy left licking their wounds. ;D
Since my family comes from Italy, I'm all Italia... however they are struggling this year, the defense isn't as strong as in past years...
Netherlands and Portugal have looked quite good these games.
What has happened to Die Mannschaft?
Quote from: Mayor McCheese on June 16, 2008, 01:39:58 AM
Since my family comes from Italy, I'm all Italia... however they are struggling this year, the defense isn't as strong as in past years...
Netherlands and Portugal have looked quite good these games.
McCheese is an Italian name?
sure, just like McRomano, McParmesan, McMozzarella, etc.
Quote from: Mayor McCheese on June 16, 2008, 01:39:58 AM
Since my family comes from Italy, I'm all Italia... however they are struggling this year, the defense isn't as strong as in past years...
Netherlands and Portugal have looked quite good these games.
Same, my mother was born in Italy, so that's my international squad.
Not having Cannavarro really puts a hole in our defense. Good thing we have Buffon... It's interesting that the entire midfield from AC Milan that struggled so much through the Serie A season continues to do so in international play. There's a whole load of guys from Inter and elsewhere in Italy sitting on the bench with far too much talent to justify being there.
We have to take care of business against the French tomorrow, and hopefully we get the right result (Draw/Loss) from Romania. That will give us life.
Red on Abidal! Goal Pirlo! Italy currently holds a spot in the elimination round!!
Get another goal. And GO HOLLAND.
The knockout stage is turning out to be a dandy
Portugal v Germany
Turkey v Croatia
Spain v Italy
Netherlands v ?(either Sweden or Russia)
I have not been able to watch much of the Euro this year, but Portugal v Germany was highly entertaining. It is great to hear the announcer rip on the players for taking dives.
Come on.... Italy!
Italy should beat Spain since this is when the Spanish always fall apart but they'll have to match up against the Netherlands in the semis most likely and I don't see them being able to stop the Dutch. Will be a repeat of their first game.
Quote from: MU_B2002 on June 20, 2008, 08:22:45 AM
I have not been able to watch much of the Euro this year, but Portugal v Germany was highly entertaining. It is great to hear the announcer rip on the players for taking dives.
Their flopping is almost as bad as the NBA!
I do think MU should have the ice guy who rubs your legs or sprays them whenever a player falls down. Threatening players who lay down too long with a stretcher would be a nice touch too. :D
i wish Ronaldo would have cried yesterday, that little pretty boy. Croatia has blown some good opportunities today against Turkey, both sides have actually. Hopefully they find the back of the net second half.
As much as I want the Azzurri to win, the Dutch seem to be superior to all, and Turkey is this years Greece! What a comeback.
After that match yesterday I have to agree abt Turkey being this years Greece. I was not really looking forward to this semifinal match btwn Turkey and Germany since there are many Turks living in Germany and they are not all that well liked. Similar in some sense to how Hispanics are viewed here in the States at times. It should be a very heated semi and hopefully there wont be too much violence in Germany, but I still see the Dutch firepower too much for any team to overcome this year especially since their defense has been very consistent as well which is not usual for that squad.
I have to miss Italy-Spain because I have Brewer tickets tomorrow :-\
Ahh, the conflicts of fandom.
I hereby declare the semifinals to be officially watchable.
What a pathetic display by Italy. They looked sluggish and uninspired. Luca Toni was non existant, they gave way too many possesions away. Donandoni should be gone, with as much talent as Italy has, he couldn't have put together a more average team. He needs to start looking toward the future and stop living in 2006.
I thought Italy played their game. They were never going to come out and attack. Donadoni went back to the catenaccio of old. They had some chances. Camoranesi was stopped point blank by Casillas in the 65th. Saint Iker doesn't stand that up, we never get to extra time, and everyone is still marveling at how Italy did it their way once again.
I think Donadoni stays on. They're in the same spot as France stuck between generations. Since they won in Germany he had to keep some of the older stars. Through injury, suspension, retirement today's squad was a 50% change from the team that beat France. It should be a good starting point for qualifying to South Africa. Time to let Del Piero, Panucci, Ambrosini and the like go away and let the young kids take responsibility.
I just wish those Azzurri bastards would give us Guiseppe Rossi back. We need him.
Donadoni is way over his head. Italians have been calling for his head well before Euro 08 started, no way he stays on past this summer. With 2010 coming fast, they need some stability fast.
I didn't want to pull for Greece in 04, but this year's "Greece" - Turkey - looks like they may be the inspirational story and victor!
Donadoni gone. Champs- Die Mannsschaft! Ja!
BBC reports that Donadoni was asked to leave earlier today. I understand the clamor asking for this and combining the qualification struggles and the Euro performance, there's enough evidence to be upset.
Then again, if you hire a guy who played like Donadoni did (and as Dunga did with Brazil) you have to expect the national team to play in that manner. The FIGC fucked this one up and hope that Lippi can come in and save face for South Africa.
Good, enough time to get things together for 2010. Hopefully we can have a healthy Cannavarro at that time to solidify the back 4, and we'll still have Luca Toni in his prime to score goals up front. Some say we're a team in transition, and with players like Del Piero on the way out it's easy to make that assumption, but I'm excited about the possibility of guys like Palladino and Quagliarella up front. If only we could convince Francesco Totti to represent his country. :-\ At 34, I'd take him in a heartbeat.
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on June 24, 2008, 12:24:15 AM
I didn't want to pull for Greece in 04, but this year's "Greece" - Turkey - looks like they may be the inspirational story and victor!
I wonder if the Croatian players look back in regret at all of the fake injury time they added to the game. If they take 20 seconds less rolling around while waiting for the "magic spray" they are getting prepared for Germany.
Quote from: PXILibero2 on June 24, 2008, 11:18:12 AM
Good, enough time to get things together for 2010. Hopefully we can have a healthy Cannavarro at that time to solidify the back 4, and we'll still have Luca Toni in his prime to score goals up front. Some say we're a team in transition, and with players like Del Piero on the way out it's easy to make that assumption, but I'm excited about the possibility of guys like Palladino and Quagliarella up front. If only we could convince Francesco Totti to represent his country. :-\ At 34, I'd take him in a heartbeat.
Now I root for Italia more than any other squad... however I find Luca Toni to be incredibly over-rated. In Euro 2008, he must have had 50 chances to put a ball on goal, and probably only put 5 on goal, he just doesn't do it for me the way that Totti and Del Piero did. I will give him that his size is a big deal and helps for set pieces, just don't like his style of play
Turkey's play has been inspiring!
But Sweinsteiger's (sp) redirection was beautiful!
Go TURKIYE!
going to have to find a full game replay of this somewhere. good grief, what a second half!! Go DEUTSCHLAND!!!
The final ten minutes was nuts. I'm really hoping they do a replay later tonight.
In somewhat related news, is anyone else following the live commentary on ESPN.com? Whoever the guy is that does the minute by minute updates is great.
Yup, the last ten minutes was so reminiscent of the "Heidi game" - with Turkey tying it up and Germany winning it...all with the "lights out!"
Espana - Ole!!