European Championship predictions?

[chairboys]

Will Spain become the first to win 3 major titles on the bounce?
Are England complete no-hopers?
Russia?
Denmark?
What do we reckon?

[Adje]

I'm Dutch and very dissapointed in the way the Dutch play footbal since 2,5 years (I think I was the only Dutchmen to cheer when Spain made the late goal against our team in the Wold Cup final.

So I was pleased with Denmark's win today

My prediction: Germany vs Spain (and I give the German's a light advantage to win)

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Adje

I'm Dutch and very dissapointed in the way the Dutch play footbal since 2,5 years (I think I was the only Dutchmen to cheer when Spain made the late goal against our team in the Wold Cup final.

How can you say that when Holland won like 40 matches in a row 2008-2010 right up to their final at the world championship?

They were dirty in the final I agree and probably deserved to lose but a lot of Dutch supporters seem to have this "We suck" approach. It's a bit silly I think considering they played WAYyy better than Denmark. Their finishing sucked or was simply unlucky. Bommel should have been taken out. Kuyt should have started but other than that it was just unlucky in my opinion. A penalty could have made all the difference. Germany weren't exactly on fire, so we will see what happens Wednesday.

That Spanish goal was a result from a goal kick which should have been a corner btw. I was there and saw it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqDEjQy-mxI


I predict Russia may win it but hope for The Netherlands.

[Sebastian.]

I'm backing Russia!

[chairboys]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

That Spanish goal was a result from a goal kick which should have been a corner btw. I was there and saw it.

Not a bad ticket to have!

My winners - England. "This time, more than any other time...."

[robgomm]

I'm not sure but i'm sure loving all the football!

I think Germany have a real chance of winning as they have such a good team again now, but obviously Spain will be the one to watch. I also think despite the shock loss yesterday Holland still have a chance as they score a lot of goals, yesterday was just an off day, every team has them.

I'd back Russia to go far in the tournemount as they play great attacking football, probably semis for them.

And England? I just don't know I really don't. Anything could happen this year with us. For the first time since I can remember we're an unknown quantity. New manager, a vastly different team due to injuries, a different playing style, no one knows what will happen. The thing you can say is that straight away Roy has got them playing his way, tight, compact, hard to beat, like Greece when they won it in 2004. I suspect that with the players we have at our disposal we will soak up the pressure and hit teams on the break as we have some VERY fast players. This is no bad thing as I think we have to accept we just don't have the players any more to play attacking possession football.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

How can you say that when Holland won like 40 matches in a row 2008-2010 right up to their final at the world championship?

Because I prefer to enjoy my matches.

The Dutch team played 20 minutes of "Dutch football" at the 2010 WC (The match against Brasil). I still believe that the Dutch should play attractive offensive football (like the Spanish team has done for over two years now, or like former Dutch squads did before the Bert van Marwijk era). v Marwijk doesn't prefer offensive football and one of the obvious results is that he doesn't dare to let van Persie play in a free role behind Huntelaar (top scorers in Germany and England) Instead he prefers to play with two defensive midfielders and v. Persie as the striker, which v. Persie is not.

Result we have a balanced midfield but hardly any power upfront because our striker is playing as a half midfielder himself. If you are the coach of a team with two of the best scoring players in the World but you are affraid to use them because you prefer to look to your defence then you don't get the Dutch philosiphy. And you don't get enjoyable matches,

40years later people still talk about the 1974 Orange squad that also lost the final (Maradonna called it the best football team ever). Nobody will remember the 2010 team for their excellent play (maybe for the hard fouls, though) and that's a major difference for me

Personally I prefer to see the Dutch lose 3-5 in an entertaining match rather than a 1-0 victory in a 'boring to hell' game. And this Dutch team has had too many boring as hell games to be a fan.

For me result doesn't mean everything

This year I cheer the German squad because they almost play like the Dutch team used to do. As a football fan I enjoy the Spain and German kind of games the most. Win or lose

[GDW]

Greece 120 billion Euros narrow winners over Spain 119 Billion Euros.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Adje

This year I cheer the German squad because they almost play like the Dutch team used to do. As a football fan I enjoy the Spain and German kind of games the most. Win or lose

I thought Germany sucked last night. I was cheering for Portugal last 20 minutes, THAT was passionate football.

[The Flying Mouse]

There are but three sports worthy of a moments consideration.

Wine, women, and song.

Or, my own version, beer, Jo, and Loaf

As for football, i'll be avoiding it like the plague.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

I thought Germany sucked last night. I was cheering for Portugal last 20 minutes, THAT was passionate football.

Did you see that Ronaldo changed his hairstyle during half time? What a joke.

But I agree. Germany didn't play well and Spain seem to make the Dutch mistake by putting in a whole bunch of defenders without a target man.

[robgomm]

Well i'd like to say that I thought England did really well last night against France and i'm really encouraged by the start we've made.

Considoring we're missing players, we've just got a new manager, we were playing in hot temperatures that we never do well in, and we were playing a team technically superior and who haven't lost in over two years, we did bloody brilliant and we caused the french side a lot of problems ourselves.

We could even have won the game if it wasn't for the dirty french tactics and poor officials. Every time we had a chance to break a french player would commit a cynical foul so they could get back into position, and they never even got booked for it! They fouled us loads of other times as well and we didn't even get free kicks for hardly any of them.

Anyway I think it's a really good start by us.

[Sebastian.]

^^I enjoyed the match.

80 minutes of "THE REFEREE'S A W*****!"

Oh England fans.

[chairboys]

I predict 4-0 to the Three Lions tonight.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by chairboys

I predict 4-0 to the Three Lions tonight.

Why? Are they playing the Dutch?

[Monstro]

Got to admit I had Russia as my outsiders to win, will say that a Germany Spain final would be fair. Can't see us getting further than the qtr finals even with the blessed return of our saviour "Red Card Rooney" (that's sarcasm just in case anyone was fooled)

[Sebastian.]

Game so far:



Oh well, hopefully the second half may prove better for England.

[Sebastian.]

After much consideration and thought, I really do feel that goal line technology would ruin the flow of the game.

[robgomm]

Originally Posted by Snafu

After much consideration and thought, I really do feel that goal line technology would ruin the flow of the game.

Lmao!

[robgomm]

I have to say that was Englands poorest showing so far at the tournemount. They looked very flat and tried first half and gave the ball away constantly, didn't close down etc. Second half was a lot better but still not brilliant. I thought Rooney was very poor on his comeback, gave the ball away a lot. Wellbeck non existent. Milner and Ashley Young were very poor on the wings.

But do you know what, for all that criticism this England team is showing me something I have NEVER seen before. For the first time EVER they are playing as a TEAM! They are working their socks off, throwing themselves in front of every ball, looking very good at the back. They're showing true English grit and determination. And the thing is that even when you're not playing well going forward, if you're keeping things tight at the back you've always got a chance.

I think we have a chance against Italy, I would say they are huge favourites but theirs always a chance. I think Roy must make some changes though.

[AndrewG]

How you play makes no difference, it's results which count. Holland were pretty damn good I thought against Denmark, yet they lost. Spain sucked horses' ass in the last game I saw of them yet keep going through regardless. It'd be nice if Spain or Germany did NOT win it. If either of them do I feel a lot of it is just down to luck. Some of the minor teams have shown more form and willingness and heart in my opinion.

[robgomm]

You're right to some degree. How you play does have some effect as if you can't tackle or head or show tactical intelligence and discipline you've got no chance, especially if there are things you can't do that well like pass and dribble.

[Sebastian.]

Well, I guess my friend at Titan Airways needs to send the flightplan off, and Aircraft to Krakow to bring the England team home :P

[robgomm]

I'm happy with the team. Italy deserved to win and should have won in normal time. We played well first half but I just thought second half and extra time we looked very tired. The players ran themselves into the ground and put every effort in so we have to be pleased with them. At the end of the day if you can say you've worked as hard as you can but you lose you just have to hold your hands up and say fair enough.

[chairboys]

Yep, no complaints. Italy deserved it.
As painful as it is to say it, I thought Terry was outstanding throughout the tournament.