Re: Euro 2012 Thread

[Thomas Clarke]

...but foreign sports make me sick these days!

All of them? Why?

[Thomas Clarke]

I would be leaning towards Germany at this point. Spain have looked a little tired so it will be interesting to see how Portugal fare with two days extra rest. I still think they have enough to see off the Portuguese but it wouldn't be the greatest shock ever if Ronaldo and Co won - and with the Number 7 in current form anything is possible.

I think the Germans will take Italy (3-1) and will go on to win it. They look to have all the attributes. Its been a great tournament so far - possibly the best EC or WC that I can remember though '82 was special for a variety of reasons.

Is it true that the Germans have never beaten the Italians in a major tournament? I heard that somewhere, and apparently the Germans never fancy playing them.

Germany should beat Italy, as they have better players, but there is something about Italian sides and the longer tournaments go. Strip away all the cheating, whinging and persecution complexes, and you have a nation with a strong sense of national pride. Unlike the likes of the English and Dutch, who implode when locked up together for several weeks, Italians like other Italians, and tend to bond very well. They may not have the talent of Spain or Germany, but they will now believe that they can win this.

As for the other game, tiredness may be part of Spain's problem, but the losses of Puyol and David Villa, added to Xavi not being fully fit, are probably more strongly felt. Strangely, for a side seeking to win their 3rd major trophy in a row (and perhaps be regarded as the greatest of all time), no-one seems to fancy them. Personally, I think that they will beat Portugal, despite how well Ronaldo is playing, and I also fancy them to win the final. I hope they do, as it really would mark them out as something very special.

Anyway, 3 great games to look forward to, and they all could go either way. A great tournament so far (N.B. Euro 2008 was also very good), and let's hope we get the finish it has been building towards.

[North Side Gael]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzvpMlHuIrs&feature=share

[Thomas Clarke]

In my eyes, regional teams shouldnt be allowed to play against countries, they should play for England if they want, i hold an irish pp so im sticking to my own

If the North is a 'Regional team', what does that make the South?

I suspect that NSG is a closet partitionist, cheering on representatives from only part of the island, and shunning the others for being 'English'. Embrace them both - soon enough it will all be the one team anyway, and then they might start to improve a bit.

[North Side Gael]

In my eyes, regional teams shouldnt be allowed to play against countries, they should play for England if they want, i hold an irish pp so im sticking to my own

If the North is a 'Regional team', what does that make the South?

I suspect that NSG is a closet partitionist, cheering on representatives from only part of the island, and shunning the others for being 'English'. Embrace them both - soon enough it will all be the one team anyway, and then they might start to improve a bit.

I take it your its soon to be one team is based on what martin says on my you tube video?

[Thomas Clarke]

I didn't look at your youtube video.

But the country is too small for 2 international level squads. Rugby, football, hurling, boxing, cricket, golf, swimming, cycling - virtually all other sports are governed by 32 county organisations, and it makes total sense to think that the soccer bodies, backward though they are, will eventually follow suit.

[North Side Gael]

I didn't look at your youtube video.

But the country is too small for 2 international level squads. Rugby, football, hurling, boxing, cricket, golf, swimming, cycling - virtually all other sports are governed by 32 county organisations, and it makes total sense to think that the soccer bodies, backward though they are, will eventually follow suit.

You mean like the dissidents are saying the only way forward is a socialist republic, so all the other sh*t such as stormont can go f**k too? glad to see were agreeing.

[Thomas Clarke]

I was talking about soccer, this being the Euro 2012 thread. I've no idea what the dissidents are saying, be it about stormont, or who should play central midfield.

[North Side Gael]

you get things **** about face anyways like some of the tyrone players you claim to be the greatest who wouldnt lace the boots of some of the 90s meath players ffs

[Thomas Clarke]

you get things **** about face anyways like some of the tyrone players you claim to be the greatest who wouldnt lace the boots of some of the 90s meath players ffs

I fear that we are going further and further off topic here. Stick to the Euros, NSG. Tell us who you think will win the semis, for instance.

[The Puke]

North Side Gael giving Thomas Clarke the beating of his life here

[Parouisa]

Unfortunately the tournament has fizzled out a bit over the last two games. Spain are like a GAA team who are superb from 1-12 but who have no FF line. Against a very disciplined Portuguese defence they struggled to make any incisions in the 90 minutes. Even when they made space and worked a ball wide there was no point in crossing as they had no-one in the box. Surprisingly for a jaded looking team they made all the running in ET and Iniesta came into his own. But they have no spearhead in attack - indeed they have no-one at all there. Surely Torres was worth a run or even Llorente? Can't understand Del Bosque sometimes. If it is Germany in the final I can only see one winner.

Moutino was excellent for Portugal as was Pepe - but for me Fabio Coentrao was superb in everything he did. Once again Ronaldo made sure the show was all about him - bafflingly saving his penalty for the potentially glorious 5th. Watching Portugal throughout I felt that some of their players (especially up front) were cowed by their number 7 who seemed to give the vibe that they were unworthy to be on the same team as him - not what you need from your captain.

[bocerty]

Unfortunately the tournament has fizzled out a bit over the last two games. Spain are like a GAA team who are superb from 1-12 but who have no FF line. Against a very disciplined Portuguese defence they struggled to make any incisions in the 90 minutes. Even when they made space and worked a ball wide there was no point in crossing as they had no-one in the box. Surprisingly for a jaded looking team they made all the running in ET and Iniesta came into his own. But they have no spearhead in attack - indeed they have no-one at all there. Surely Torres was worth a run or even Llorente? Can't understand Del Bosque sometimes. If it is Germany in the final I can only see one winner.

Moutino was excellent for Portugal as was Pepe - but for me Fabio Coentrao was superb in everything he did. Once again Ronaldo made sure the show was all about him - bafflingly saving his penalty for the potentially glorious 5th. Watching Portugal throughout I felt that some of their players (especially up front) were cowed by their number 7 who seemed to give the vibe that they were unworthy to be on the same team as him - not what you need from your captain.

didnt see the game tonight bar the last 10 minutes of extra time and the penalties, but there is certainly an element of we're not worthy amongst the Portuguese team as far as Ronaldo is concerned, i noticed it in nearly all the game were he always had a scowl and something to say if a pass wasnt inch perfect or every ball wasnt played to him.

He likes the glory and wanted to be a national hero hence opting to wait to the end to take his penalty, a wonderful footballer but has an ego that surpasses that and you wonder what the rest of the team really think of him.

Funny that with two wonderfully talented teams you still find defenders being nominate to penalties in the first 5, Spain with some of the most gifted players int he world had Pique and Ramos both take penalties!!!!

[Parouisa]

Aye but Ramos hit a beaut (as did Gerard P) - and Ramos had another marvellous outing. If a player is playing with that much confidence let him take one - remember Dave O'Leary's pearler ....

Come to think of it many full backs were good penalty takers - Tommy Smyth!, Julian Dicks, Phil Neal, Lee Dixon, Alan Kennedy, Paul Breitner, Phil Neal and not forgetting Rob Kearney!

[Boxtyeater]

Unfortunately the tournament has fizzled out a bit over the last two games. Spain are like a GAA team who are superb from 1-12 but who have no FF line.

Parouisa finally getting the hang of this soccerball phenomenon.....Late, but progress nonetheless.....Good man.

"I looked at some of this. Intricate stuff but all too tippy-tappy for me. Have they no, what I'd call full forwards at all..
They're a spin off of the Kerry team of the 70's without Sheehy. Well fit to sling it around but without the goal scorer...."

[North Side Gael]

Even the highlights of that game last night was like watcing paint dry, then the English commentary the other night at the english game was more to be pitied than laughed at.

Shut this down, nonsense sport!

[Parouisa]

[Thomas Clarke]

I thought Spain were better last night playing without a centre forward. When Fabregas came on and dropped into midfield they have more of the ball, and their passing improved. The other big changes were Pedro and, to a much lesser degree, Navas, both of whom added pace and width to the Spanish attack. In the final, I think Del Bosque must start Fabregas and one of those 2 (I'd go for Pedro), in place of Negreda and David Silva.

I think that Spain are a brilliant side, and I still strongly fancy them. They haven't been on fire, but they have never looked like they were under the cosh in any of their games. Even last night, the Portugese were hanging on for penalties throughout extra time.

Much is made of Spain passing the ball and doing nothing with it, but I read a great article earlier in the week which contested that viewpoint. It made the point that in passing and passing, Spain are actually defending, the premise being that if you have that ball, the opposition can't score. It also talked about how Spain wear the oppostion into the ground, and usually finish very strongly, with opponents covering 2km more per match.

Spain control the ball, and thus control games. Not convinced? Well, in the last 3 major tournaments (Euro 2008, WC 2010, Euro 2012), Spain have played in 9 knock-out matches. In those 9 matches (including those which went to extra time) they have not conceded a single goal. Not one goal, in 9 do-or-die matches against the best sides in the world.

Yes, they are missing Villa, and maybe even Puyol's drive. Yes, Xavi isn't fully fit, and Torres is a shadow of the player he was. I agree that they don't look quite as good as they did 2 years ago, but I still expect them to win the final, simply because I believe that neither Germany nor Italy will see enough of the ball to beat them.

[bald eagle]

I've just been reading that the world are getting bored of Spains passing game, well mainly the english media! Well, when your possession rate was in the 30% mark and your best passing partenership was Hart to Carroll then you would get bored watching a brilliant passing game!

[Parouisa]

I dunno TC. Yes the stats don't lie but I can't help thinking that if they had the potential of getting someone on the end of the creativity - when they do get behind the full backs - then they could reap more rewards. Portugal's defence for 90 minutes more than coped with the passing in front of them and were not drawn out of place in central positions to let a MF or Fabregas in behind.

It may well be that they pass teams to death! I am convinced that Germany will cope easily with a set up as started last night and will offer much more power and pace offensively than Portugal and from a lot more sources.

I have no real problem with the Spanish passing game but feel that a tweak up front could be far more beneficial to them. As I said its like watching a GAA team who are red hot from 1-12 but have nothing in the FF line.

[bocerty]

against Chelsea in Champions League, Barcelona had something like 70% (possibly even more) of possession over the two games and yet Chelsea outscored them with what can only be described as an average team.

So it doesnt always work out TC

[Parouisa]

True Boc. And at the end of the day (to coin a soccer cliche) Spain, for all their possession and territory last night found themselves at the mercy of the lottery of a shootout. This possibility only seemed to dawn on them in ET. At 89 mins they had a corner and 3/4 touches later, Casillas had the ball.

[Thomas Clarke]

against Chelsea in Champions League, Barcelona had something like 70% (possibly even more) of possession over the two games and yet Chelsea outscored them with what can only be described as an average team.

So it doesnt always work out TC

Of course, you are right, and any side can be beaten. But Spain are one game away from winning their 3rd major tournament in a row, something that no other side has ever done, so it clearly works out most of the time for them.

Couple of mouthwatering games left though, starting tonite when the Germans will have their work cut out for them against a dogged Italian side.

[OMAR]

The cordinantion and command of the English language is much better than the versions I heard

[OMAR]

True Boc. And at the end of the day (to coin a soccer cliche) Spain, for all their possession and territory last night found themselves at the mercy of the lottery of a shootout. This possibility only seemed to dawn on them in ET. At 89 mins they had a corner and 3/4 touches later, Casillas had the ball.

True but the last goal they have conceded in knock out was against Zidane- not conceding a goal
materially reduces your chances of losing.

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