General Chat / EURO 2012

I would say Denmark were the superior team to be honest.


Yes, the Oranges were attacking more often, but very few of their attacks looked actually threatening. It looked like they were pretty desperate at times. On the other hand, I was truly believing that Denmark had the chance to score every time they pushed forward. I was pleasantly surprised with how technical the football they were playing was.


On the match at the moment, I'm very unimpressed with Germany half an hour in. They look like they're lacking in inspiration, similar to the Netherlands. Germany should just be glad that Postiga is so shit really.

At least the German fans are being very vocal.

IN YOUR FACE RONALDO!
IN! YOUR! FACE!

I've got nothing against Portugal and/or the fans. Just against him personally.

You guys were pretty lucky.


Portugal had the much better chances, albeit not as many of them. Gomez' header was one of only two or three chances I saw that could have ended in the Portuguese net. If Portugal played as they did in the last 25 minutes for the whole game, you guys would have been 2 or 3 down I think.


I was just disappointed at the lack of younger players in the German team. I think that the young German players are definitely the ones to carry the team forward. Schweinsteiger and Podolski just don't perform anymore I don't think. Without Ozil or Khedira in that team today, you guys would have been much worse off.

Would've could've should've.
It was the same as with the CL finals. You can play as spectacular as you like, as long as you don't score, it's worth what? Right. Nothing.

And that edit shows you don't really know anything about German football. Schweinsteiger played about half a season in total and could train with the team just since Monday. Podolski's former team relegated in a shameful way last season. I wonder how his mental state was due to that.
We had an incredibly strong defense, concerning the fact that they basically never played in that combination before.

Weak: Schweinsteiger, Özil
Average: Lahm, Podolski (worked a lot, though), Gomez (!)
Strong: Badstuber, Khedira, Müller
Really Strong: Neuer, Hummels, Boateng

That's true, but there's only so long you can expect to play like that and get somewhere. There will always be a team who manage to get past Neuer eventually.

I don't have much with football, but viewed the second half for a bit. I still am not entirely certin why we actually lost the match tbh. What baffles me most though was the last few minutes where there was a hands TWICE! which wasn't spotted by the referee which should have meant a penalty...

That aside, it isn't played until is has been played. This goes for all contestants. Also I hate that meme of the 'group of death'. You are there to win a championship, which means you actually have to win. Who the hell cares in what order and difficulty you face your opponents. It's winning or get the hell out.... seriously xD

I thought Denmark was fucking awful. Incredibly lucky and Bendtner seemed shit to me. Had Holland taken their chances we'd be talking about an impressive performance now. This way it's gonna be very tough for Holland to progress!

That said out of self interest I was obviously rooting for Denmark but to be fair a draw would've been my favorite result. Holland certainly didn't deserve to lose whereas Denmark gave away many chances, made lots of individual mistakes, had a shaky build up, was slow on the counter, and didn't create more than 1 or 2 clear cut chances actually. I would feel sick to my stomach now if I was Dutch.




The second game was a borefest really.
But I blame the portuguese. They were sitting back so much and didn't really attack in numbers either until the goal.
We had around 65% possession after 70 minutes but just couldn't do anything with it. Really uninspired performance but then again Portugal is a team with world class players and Spain had the very same problems against Portugal in 2010.

I don't think anyone should expect us to rip a Portuguese side that sits back with 11 men within 40 yards of their goal a new a** hole but tell me please: which team would've looked good against their well organised defense today?

I don't think your point is valid trav as Germany loves to take on attacking teams to hit them on the counter as the 2010 world cup has shown. So if Portugal had played the way they did at the end all game long it'd have been a very different game surely. Most likely a very open and interesting one with good football on display instead of this borefest. Also don't forget that we were most likely happy with the scoreline then and Portugal really had to go for it whereas we just had to sit back which isn't the biggest strength of ours usually.

Also your point that we should've played the young guns isn't valid either as I'm pretty sure the side we fielded today still has a younger average age than the English squad. Schweinsteiger and Podolski aren't as old as you think, they're not even in their 30s. The average age of our 23 men squad is 24.something years and that's partly due to our second goalkeeper who pushes the age along with Klose. Aside of those 2 everyone on our squad is young and kicking or in their mid twenties.



After all, all that matters are 3 points and topping the group alongside Denmark. A draw versus Holland in the next game should really be enough to guarantee first place in my opinion. I really hope Holland goes for a win in the next game and doesn't use similar tactics as Portugal. But thinking about all the world class offensive talent in the Dutch starting eleven I can't see you guys taking the Chelsea-ChampionsLeague-tactics at all. I'm sure the next game will be a lot better!

I don't normally pay attention to soccer but I saw most of the Germany-Portugal game today. That is all.

I havent read through the whole topic as there is a lot to read so aplogies if my opinions cause any arguments that have already taken place

I'd be highly surprised if England make it passed the group stage, and to be honest I don't care either way. Now onto the particular teams/matches that have taken place.

Russia were fantastic! They played exceptionally well and I hope they go far in the contest, I'm 'rooting' for this team. The other teams of the group were forgettable. This is the easiest group by far and it's a shame really because Russia obviously deserve to go through, but I don't think any of the remaining 3 teams do.

Germany were lucky, I think the result should have been a draw based on how well both sides played, I even think that Portugal played a bit better. Overall I wouldn't be surprised if it were these two that go through. The Netherlands lost a pretty crucial match IMO and it's gonna take a lot to recover and beat Germany and Portugal to the place in the final 8. I had high hopes for them, but ultimately I did think that it would be Germany and Portugal who went through before the games began, but still it would be nice for any of the 3 to go through.

Italy V Spain should be a good match to watch as they should be the ones that go through out of that group and it's a crucial match as a win for one side would basically solidify their place in the final 8.

I also think France V England will be a good match to watch, but I expect France to win.

Children are crying, torches are being lit, men are divorcing their wives. It's that time again, The Netherlands lost again.

On a more serieus note though, in '88 we lost the first match aa well.

Dammit... the england game is on at 5pm and my night shift ends at midday.... DAMN YOU SCHEDULERS.... no sleep for me today then

Surprised at the Ireland game. When the first goal came in I thought they would get trounced, then they equalised and I thought perhaps Ireland would manage to hold on and possible even win, but then they indeed got trounced. Croatia are strong like I thought they would be.

Allez les blues!

I'm not rooting for France, but I'm definitely rooting against England.

Why exactly?

2-1 france. I hope I'm right ;p

trav: Because England is England.

I don't like England's typical playing style. Never has and never will. And I like the country of France, hope to live their sometime.

Their game is rough, almost fully based on counters and feels largely uncoordinate. The diving sure isn't helping. They're just not entertaining to watch.

Sweet jesus, that's an incredibly lame soccer game.