Euro 2008

[CaptTurbo]

Any predictions for the opening games?

Switzerland Vs Czech Republic

Portugal Vs Turkey

I say a draw in the first game and a win for Portugal

Czech 2-0
Portugal 2-1

 

[Zeno]

Czech 2-0
Portugal 2-1

I'll be shocked if the Czechs manage 2 on the Swiss, I'll be shocked if ANYONE manages 2 goals on the Swiss. Remember this team gave up zero goals in 4 games at the WC (they lost in a PK shoot out) and basically is returning the same defense. At the same time I'd be shocked if they manage to put more than 1 goal on anyone either.

 

[slinslin]

Along with France and Portugal surely? I don't want to see it happen, but the Dutch may not make it out of the group.

Portugal is not a winner, they won't go all the way no matter how much talent they have or dont have much like Spain.

France isn't that dangerous either in my opionion they are the most likely not to get out of the group. Only Ribery is world class, Benzema is a world class talent and the rest is either not that good or way over the hill.

 

[Milgod]

Portugal is not a winner, they won't go all the way no matter how much talent they have or dont have much like Spain.

France isn't that dangerous either in my opionion they are the most likely not to get out of the group. Only Ribery is world class, Benzema is a world class talent and the rest is either not that good or way over the hill.

France might not get out of the group because it's a tough group, not because they don't have the players. In fact I would say as a squad they are the strongest.

Portugal might have lost a few of the golden generation but they are a better team than 4 years ago when they got to the final.

Right my predictions, haven't thought about them as long as I would have liked but here goes. (in finishing order)

Group A
Portugal
Switzerland
Czech Rep
Turkey

Group B
Germany
Croatia
Poland
Austria

Group C
France
Italy
Netherlands
Romania (could go through in most other groups)

Group D
Spain
Sweden
Russia
Greece (sorry boys)

 

[Chaplin]

Czech Republic in 3rd behind the Swiss? I must say, even losing, the Swiss looked pretty good--they had so many chances at goals in that game--they should have blown away the Czech Republic. But the CR just doesn't lose in the first game of Euro play.

 

[Zeno]

Ok predictions for tomorrow's games...

Austria V Croatia - Croatia wins fairly comfortably, but I think it will be their only win
Germany V Poland - Germany wins but it won't be easy

Ok I know this isn't a Euro but its still on tomorrow...
US V Argentina - Argentina wins with ease and the US gets booed in the Meadowlands

 

[Ciani]

Austria v Croatia - It should be a comfortable win for Croatia they are much better talent wise, but you can never know with a home team, especially in their first game. It will be a hard fight and I wont be shocked if it ends in a 0-0 draw.


Germany v Poland - Poland has a very good team, but the Germans always beat them, the Nationalelf is a very confident team, they are one of the favourites to win the title.


I root for Italy, but dont really like the Azzurri's chances. Donadoni is a mediocre coach, and without Cannavaro the defense wont be as superior as it should be. Barzagli and Chiellini are good players, but losing the leader of the D will haunt them. Not to mention the tough group C, its very possible that they will not advance.

 

[Stout]

Czech Republic in 3rd behind the Swiss? I must say, even losing, the Swiss looked pretty good--they had so many chances at goals in that game--they should have blown away the Czech Republic. But the CR just doesn't lose in the first game of Euro play.

Yeah, but the CR also had the refs on their side late. I only saw the last part of the game, and there was a clear handball and another questionable one. The Swiss should have absolutely had one PK and possibly another. Even Tommy Smythe was amazed that the ref didn't call it.

 

[cardfaninfl]

Ok predictions for tomorrow's games...

Croatia 5 - Austria 0 Not only does the home crowd boo the team, the fans boycot the next game.

Germany 2 - Poland 0 I think Germany has a little history on their side.

US 3 - Argentina 0 Argentina comes out flat after a late night partying with the Bridge-and-Tunnel-Crowd.

 

[Chaplin]

Croatia isn't winning easily right now: 1-0 on a penalty kick at the half. We'll see if Austria can pull it out.

I TIVOed the US game, but I'm afraid it's not going to be much of a competition.

 

[TheKid_1]

Austria is actually playing quite well. The PK was was a bogus call. Perhaps a foul outside the box, but in the box you have to keep the whistle in the pocket.

 

[Zeno]

I was wrong about the Croatia Austria match. Austria is outplaying Croatia...better possesion & more shots, I have seen nothing from Croatia to convince me that they will finish higher than Poland in this group.

 

[Chaplin]

Well, that last 20 minutes, Austria was CLEARLY the better team on the field. There was a stretch of 15 minutes or so between the 70th and 85th minutes where the ball never even made it to the Austrian half of the field.

I still don't think the Austrians are intelligent enough to make much noise, but, like the Swiss, this is probably the best possible outcome from a loss they could come up with.

 

[Zeno]

Today...

Romania V France, I say this will be a draw
Italy V The Netherlands, Italy wins a close one

 

[Ollie]

For the fun, even if I'll probably be wrong :

A
Switzerland (lost the game they shouldn't)
Czech Republic
Portugal
Turkey (no attack)

B
Austria (horrible team)
Croatia
Germany
Poland (no defense)

C
Netherlands (no Robben, too many mental lapses on defense)
Italy
Romania (unexperienced, not enough "fuoriclasse" players)
France

D
Greece
Sweden (no team spirit at all)
Spain (serial chokers, bad coach)
Russia

Austria vs Croatia was probably the worst game ever played during an Euro, Austria was putrid and Croatia ran out of gas after 30 mns... really painful to watch.

 

[Zeno]

Romania looks like they don't care about trying to score and France looks like they can't score. Makes me feel even better about my prediction of Italy & Holland advancing to the quarters.

 

[Ciani]

Romania looks like they don't care about trying to score and France looks like they can't score. Makes me feel even better about my prediction of Italy & Holland advancing to the quarters.

Correct analysis, but France struggled also in the group stage against lesser opponents in the World Cup two years ago, then played well against better teams that are not as passive offensively as these underdogs like Romania.

 

[Zeno]

Correct analysis, but France struggled also in the group stage against lesser opponents in the World Cup two years ago, then played well against better teams that are not as passive offensively as these underdogs like Romania.

Last WC they had Zidane, they don't have a difference maker like that on this team and with Henry not healthy they look to struggle to score.

 

[Ciani]

Last WC they had Zidane, they don't have a difference maker like that on this team and with Henry not healthy they look to struggle to score.

True, they desperately need a playmaker. I still dont like the fact that Italy has to face them in the group
Hope I'm wrong but I expect France to do much better in the other two games.


Now, lets kick some Dutch asses

 

[Chaplin]

For the fun, even if I'll probably be wrong :

A
Switzerland (lost the game they shouldn't)
Czech Republic
Portugal
Turkey (no attack)

B
Austria (horrible team)
Croatia
Germany
Poland (no defense)

C
Netherlands (no Robben, too many mental lapses on defense)
Italy
Romania (unexperienced, not enough "fuoriclasse" players)
France

D
Greece
Sweden (no team spirit at all)
Spain (serial chokers, bad coach)
Russia

Austria vs Croatia was probably the worst game ever played during an Euro, Austria was putrid and Croatia ran out of gas after 30 mns... really painful to watch.

Did you watch the Austria/Croatia game? I'm not sure which game you were watching, but I would definitely not call Austria "horrible" after that performance. I don't think they have a very good soccer IQ, and I don't think they'll get out of their group, but they were certainly much better yesterday than you give them credit for. (Maybe that's because you're French, which explains your pick of them getting out of group C!)

 

[Zeno]

That second goal by the Dutch was simply awesome, the entire sequence was great to watch. Down 2-0 and being outplayed looks like I picked the wrong team again. No matter the result both of these teams are better than France and Romania.

 

[Zeno]

It seems the announcers & ESPN crew are wrong about the first goal being offside, if you noticed there was an Italian defender off the field during the play. This is from a different site...

The Italian player who fell across the endline kept van Nistelrooy onside. From Advice to Referees 11.11:

"A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does not immediately return must still be considered in determining where the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered to be on the touch line or goal line closest to his or her off-field position. A defender who leaves the field with the referee's permission (and who thus requires the referee's permission to return) is not included in determining offside position."

Posted by: ricecloudnine | June 09, 2008 at 03:35 PM

Obscure rule but the right call.

 

[Ciani]

Well, Panucci was forced out of bounds which could make him an inactive player. But it was still a good decision by the ref, because it was his teammate who pushed him ob, so he was active, wasnt offside.

Italy's inside defence is terrible without Cannavaro, there is no cohesion between Materazzi and Barzagli and they are slooooooow.

 

[Zeno]

I went 1-1 in my picks today. I'm 4-2 in my ESPN pick 'em league. My 2 wrong picks were I had the Swiss & Czechs playing to a draw and Italy winning.

 

[Ciani]

In the Hungarian tv Sándor Puhl, who was the referee of the 94 WC final and the Champions League final in 97 said the first goal was off side, becuase the Italian defender didnt leave the field intentionally. The Dutch counter attacks killed Italy after the first goal.


Well sh*t happens.

Donadoni's strating lineup was terrible, his team started to play well after he completely changed it. But its not a good sign that they couldnt score despite the number of very good opportunities.