Euro 2012 (3 Viewers)

[jazzeum]

As everybody in Europe and hopefully elsewhere knows the European Championships, second only to the World Cup in prestige, in national team competition has started.

The big surprise so far are the Dutch losing to Denmark; they could be in serious trouble. The goal, so to speak, is not to lose the first match. Germany managed to eke out a deserved win. Spain looked ok and Italy looked scary at times. Why the Spanish coach, Del Bosque, played a mostly strikerless match, is beyond me. It was a well deserved tie for each in what, aside from them, is not a terribly strong group.

England France tomorrow should be interesting.

 

[VIRIATO]

As everybody in Europe and hopefully elsewhere knows the European Championships, second only to the World Cup in prestige, in national team competition has started.

The big surprise so far are the Dutch losing to Denmark; they could be in serious trouble. The goal, so to speak, is not to lose the first match. Germany managed to eke out a deserved win. Spain looked ok and Italy looked scary at times. Why the Spanish coach, Del Bosque, played a mostly strikerless match, is beyond me. It was a well deserved tie for each in what, aside from them, is not a terribly strong group.

England France tomorrow should be interesting.

I have seen 2 matches so far, a relatively boring closed defensive Germany v. Portugal match (except for Portugal's last 10 minutes after being behind...) and a terrific match between Spain and Italy, both played very positive quality attacking football, I especially liked Spain but Italy also looked much better than in other previous competitions.Lack of a striker did surprise me too, I guess Del Bosque does not trust Torres at the moment but why not play the excellent Llorente?

Paulo

Paulo

 

[Cornwallis]

The Euros start tonight for England against France, think it will be a tough one as they are 21 games unbeaten and we have no Rooney or Walcott available, think we will be lucky to get a draw, but then who would have put Denmark down for a win against the Netherlands!

 

[jazzeum]

Saw a little bit of the Irish match. Defense appears weak, not to mention that I have never a high opinion of their keeper. Think Croatia will be tough for Italy and Spain.

 

[jazzeum]

A great defensive performance but offensively awful. On the post game show Michael Ballack was quite harsh in his appraisal of England. I wish Dafoe would play more and why is Walcott coming in with a minute to go. What a waste of a substitution.

 

[Mitch]

quite pleased this thread has started. Not surprised the dutch were beaten by the danes. The defence of the dutch is weak and suspect and, again was shown. The portugese also showed that a team which, like the dutch have ''superstars'' had no tactical idea and, played for a draw. Only when the went one down did they decide to try and play. For the good of the tournament I hope both progress no further than the groups stages.

Spain played like most spanish teams of recent have done plenty of flair and, expectation for a group of great players but, placed in front of a group of determined defensive players ran out of ideas how to break them down. not sure they will do all that well this tournament

Germany did what the germans are good at and, were not a shadow of what undoubtedly will come in later games.

I was pleased with the show England put on and, considering how nearly everyone put us down to get a drubbing we did well and, nullified the french who are also suspect at the back. Perhaps if defoe had played from the start with wellbeck we could have got at them from the off. Cannot understand the decision to substitute at the end of the game I would have liked defoe and Walcott on say, 60 mins to have a greater impact. Mind, I am glad we have Hodgson who IMO is a great manager he did sau it might not be pretty but, all that is important is to get through the group at the moment and, we did show some spells of very good football so, maybe, semi-ugly!!

Been a good show of games so far
Mitch

 

[VIRIATO]

Concerning the Portuguese I agree «my» team played very defensively, boring stuff, no superstars apart from Ronaldo or eventually Nani I am afraid. It was a defensive Chelsea like strategy against a much superior German team, but as any other strategy it has risks and didn't pay off. The usual disappointing stuff from Portugal, I really don't care that much anymore^&grin...
The England-France match was another very boring match, at least England managed to frustrate a much technically superior French team and get a draw (I guess both teams accomodated to the draw). Very much liked Wellbeck though, hadn't seen him play.
In any case it's early days, let's wait for the following games to see what happens.

Paulo

 

[glossman]

I stayed up till 2.00am this morning to watch the England vs France match.

England were fortunate to get a draw as I thought France had a better chance of a 2-1 win.

Anyway, I hope to see both England and France progress forward from the Group stage.

Raymond

 

[jazzeum]

Forgot to mention that in the postgame show Ballack and Alexi Lalas got into it about how England played. Ballack said that if you like three buses blocking the goal, then the match was your style but he didn't think it was football.

 

[jazzeum]

Varela just saved Ronaldo's butt (who missed as open a shot as you'll ever see). Of course, the Danes scored but Portugal pulled it out with 5 minutes to go.

 

[VIRIATO]

Varela just saved Ronaldo's butt (who missed as open a shot as you'll ever see). Of course, the Danes scored but Portugal pulled it out with 5 minutes to go.

With all due respect to our Danish friends, Portugal should have killed this game early instead of going through all that final suffering. The Portuguese defence looked suspect and how can Ronaldo miss 2 sitters that he sinks day in day out at Real Madrid, he scored 60 for them this season for God's sake^&grin... I am not convinced but maybe «we» can at least get to the quarter finals. Great performance though from Nani and a good one from newcomer Benfica forward Nelson Oliveira (great future ahead of this one?).

Paulo

 

[jazzeum]

Ronaldo is probably putting too much pressure on himself when he plays for the national team; he only has three goals in 14 matches.

 

[VIRIATO]

Ronaldo is probably putting too much pressure on himself when he plays for the national team; he only has three goals in 14 matches.

Yes, this is a very good point in my opinion. He is not playing with the joy and free flowing stuff he does at Real and did at Man U. He looks very tight and seems to feel he is obliged to do the extraordinary, like taking free kicks directly on goal from impossible angles and distances, etc.. Maybe he should just start doing the simpler more effective things and start from there gaining confidence upwards.
On stats, that's curious stuff, I have checked wiki, he has scored 32 goals in 91 games for the national team (which includes friendlies and qualification matches) the 3 in 14 must be World Cup and European Championship finals, am I right Brad?
Anyway, he is not the only one finding it hard to perform for the national team^&cool...


Paulo

PS
To be honest, although I am Portuguese I am not too fond of Ronaldo's or Mourinho's aggressive types of personalities, there are other nicer ways of being when successful (think Pete Sampras, Federer or Bjorn Borg for instance), but successful they are, that's a fact...

 

[jazzeum]

Tonight's Spain match was a thing of beauty, beautiful football at its best, unless you were Ireland. Then, it wasn't too much fun. Europe is now on notice. We have a title in our sights.

 

[VIRIATO]

Tonight's Spain match was a thing of beauty, beautiful football at its best, unless you were Ireland. Then, it wasn't too much fun. Europe is now on notice. We have a title in our sights.

Haven't seen the match, just the goals, but from what I saw against Italy Spain looks in top form, they are playing even better than in the last World Cup, I believe. Just love their skill, fluidity and an improved attacking purpose in my view. And Torres is back, 2 goals against Ireland (although you have to say that Ireland's defence was really helpful, I am afraid...). The final singing by the Irish fans (got this final part on TV...), even when 4 behind, was outstanding stuff though...

Paulo

 

[kogu]

What an amazing event.
I just watched Greece winning against Russia.
Who would have thought seeing Greece advancing to the Knockout Round and Russia being out, due to the Czech Republic winning against Poland.
You never know until the games are over, I guess :smile2:
Konrad

 

[glossman]

What an amazing event.
I just watched Greece winning against Russia.
Who would have thought seeing Greece advancing to the Knockout Round and Russia being out, due to the Czech Republic winning against Poland.
You never know until the games are over, I guess :smile2:
Konrad

Konrad,

I did not watch the match live, but will try catch the replay tonight.

Good for Greece. The Greek people need something to cheer about given their economic problems at home.

Greece pulled off a surprise at Euro 2004 when they beat favourites Portugal 1-0 in the final to win the cup.

Raymond

 

[glossman]

Roy Hodgson's inspired substituition in the form of Theo Walcott saved the match for England against Sweden.

England need at least one point in the next match against the Ukraine to stay in business.

Raymond

 

[VIRIATO]

PORTUGAL!
Stunning display from Portugal against Holland. With all due respect to our Dutch friends, this time, at last, Portugal had a great performance . And Ronaldo was fantastic, now you can see why he is one of the very best(if not the best)! Only downside, too many opportunities too few goals for Portugal. This despite some good periods from Holland. Better luck next time.

Paulo

 

[hoogri]

congratulations paulo
we tried but lost to a better team.
we have good players but no team.

richard