EURO 2012

[Jax]

That ENG game nearly killed me god we can't do anything easy but its great to put the Sweden jinx behind us at last.

Hart (6) - A few good saves though wish he would hold rather than parry sometimes.

Johnson (5) - Got caught out several times and played Mellberg onside when the other players pushed up.

Terry (6) - Solid enough at times but failed to organise his defence for both goals.

Lescott (6) - "Same as Above"

A.Cole (7) - Typical solid performance and did well when Young left him 2 on 1 many times.

Milner (5) - Helped out at the back but once again offered nothing going forward and seems to have loss so much pace over the last 12 months.

Parker (7) - Never stops running and gives everything for the cause. Also unlucky not to score with half volley.

Gerrard (7) - Set up the first goal and was invovled in the 3rd but was STUPID to take the ball of Chamberlain's right foot near the end to miss with his left foot from 6 yards out.

Young (5) - Probably deserves to be dropped after a 2nd dismal performance. Came into the centre far too often and left Cole heavily exposed at times.

Welbeck (6) - Wonderful finish for the goal but didn't link up with Carroll and some of his movement to get in behind the defence was lackluster.

Carroll (6) - Great header but didn't do much else, dropped too deep at times.

--------------------

Walcott (8) - Lucky to score but still a good hit and great run to set up the winner for Welbeck. Beat Swedish defenders early after coming on but then had another 2 great runs but passed the ball off instead of carrying on, needs to have more confident still.

Chamberlain (N/A) - Only played 6/7 minutes but unlucky not too score when Gerrard knicked the ball off his toe.

 

[Roger Wilco]

YEEEAH, Greece! Byebye fucking Russia.

 

[{ Emilia }]

YEEEAH, Greece! Byebye fucking Russia.

Russia is still in unless Poland or the Czech Republic manage to wake up and score.

 

[{ Emilia }]

And bye bye, Russia.

 

[Roger Wilco]

YEEEAH, Greece! Byebye fucking Russia.

Russia is still in unless Poland or the Czech Republic manage to wake up and score.

Yes, I wasn't aware of that at the time, and any way I don't want to cheer too early.

I really wanted Poland to go through too though.

 

[{ Emilia }]

YEEEAH, Greece! Byebye fucking Russia.

Russia is still in unless Poland or the Czech Republic manage to wake up and score.

Yes, I wasn't aware of that at the time, and any way I don't want to cheer too early.

I really wanted Poland to go through too though.

Same but I'll take what I can get. Poland is a victim of the pressure that's on the team. They keep running like crazy in the first half and then they're totally knackered in the second half.
Hurt them today, hurt them vs. Greece in the first game.


ETA: Katsouranis is a great actor. Falls to the ground without any Russian player touching him, starts crying, can't stand up, gets carried off the field wasting valuable time... and then once he's out and the game resumes he stands up, limps for 2 steps, then walks normally and asks to get back onto the pitch 2 seconds later.

Academy Award!

 

[Roger Wilco]

Hahaha, Russian wannabe Tiki Taka total fail.

Can't say I like Greece's style much, but I enjoy this a lot.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Shocking night of football. I really wanted Poland to get through, but will just about settle for the Czechs. Greece though? Greece!?

Why do you hate Russia? This is a new and exciting grudge for the thread!

Germany v Greece had better happen now

 

[Angel4576]

Amusing that the team that got thumped in the first round of games ends up topping the group, whilst the team that nailed them ends up going out!

Russia only have themselves to blame. They dropped off the pace against Poland in the second half of that game, and tonight wasted too many chances.

Still no 0-0 scores!

 

[{ Emilia }]

Germany v Greece had better happen now

Oh, noes. I bet the Greek media is going to turn that into a Euro Crisis showdown. *sigh*

But hey, another reason to support Germany.

 

[Angel4576]

Fair play though, at least now Greece are through we're spared the inevitable 'Stalingrad' references that would have from a Russia vs Germany game!

Thank god they're not playing us. You just know this would get trotted out....

 

[Alidar Jarok]

One thing I love about European (Association) Football matches (especially with the English) is they love trotting out history for trash talking.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Shocking night of football. I really wanted Poland to get through, but will just about settle for the Czechs. Greece though? Greece!?

I've always liked Greece, even in 2004 I thought it was hilarious how they played and rooted for them all the way. Unfortunately they aren't the team they were in 2004, but how awesome would it be if they could make another run at the victory?

Why do you hate Russia? This is a new and exciting grudge for the thread!

Because they are shit and they never were as good as people made them out to be (in my lifetime). They have lots and lots and lots of money right now, but that can't buy football culture. I will look on in amusement though when in the foreseeable future it will only go downhill for Russian football. And I'm still 100% convinced the only reason they did so well in 2008 was that they were full of dope.

And their asshole racist supporters don't make me like Russia any more either.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

^ That's true, they have been overrated for a while now. Great fun at 2008 though to be fair. And they are very racist - let's hope that's sorted out by the time they host the WC....

Germany v Greece had better happen now

Oh, noes. I bet the Greek media is going to turn that into a Euro Crisis showdown. *sigh*

But hey, another reason to support Germany.

The Greeks will be well behind the rest of the continent if they do I hope Germany rip them to pieces. Unlike Roger, I did not find 2004 amusing. It made me sick with anger at how bored I was watching if anything. Their one saving grace was that they stopped Portugal winning it. Now there's a side I really can't stand! Do they have a single likable player from the last 10 years or so?

 

[{ Emilia }]

One thing I love about European (Association) Football matches (especially with the English) is they love trotting out history for trash talking.

That's actually one of the main reasons I hate the English team so much. It just annoys me to no end because it's so incredibly stupid.
WW2 references because of football, really? Makes me wanna puke.

Life is so unfair, huh? First the English single-handedly win WW2 (or something like that) and then Germany keeps beating them on the pitch?! How rude, right?!
And it amuses me how the English and their media always seem to think that their team is actually decent when in fact it's terribly mediocre. That's a bit different this time at least. So who knows? Maybe the English can pull off a surprise win and take home the trophy. Everything is possible. Denmark and Greece won this cup before.
It would make me sad, though. England failing is a charming constant in football and I'd miss it. No more "No cup since 1966!". So yeah... Germany... penalties...

I used to kinda like Portugal but with CR7 (ugh, he's all about show and trademarks) on their side I can't stand them. They didn't have many likable players in recent history. I thought Rui Costa was a great player, though.

Greece... no, thanks. EC2004 was the triumph of negative football thanks to them and Rehagel. Not again, please.

Russia: What Roger Wilco said.

I'm obviously rooting for Italy who are playing entertaining football this year. But since we failed to win both matches so far I'm afraid we won't qualify for the quarter finals. It's a bit sad because I think we're among the best teams in the tournament but Italy's usual slacking in the group stages is again ruining our chances. Oh well, at least Juve's national team players will be home earlier then.

I also can't stand Spain at all just like I can't stand Barca. Their fucking boring horizontal possession play is boring the hell out of me. There's no passion there, no vertical play, no risk. Just keep possession at all costs, yuck. And the attitude of players like Xavi who think that their way to play football is "the only right way". He seems to be insulted every time they meet a team that actually tries to beat them.
I don't find them entertaining at all. It's boring, it's lifeless. Football isn't just about endless passing orgies. I much preferred Germany 2008-2011 (not sure about the switch to a wider play in 2012. I liked the fast combinations through the centre with Klose but you can't do that with Gomez) and Italy this year. There's just as much skill involved, and the tactics are very interesting (I'm Italian, what can I do? I love tactics. I even find www.zonalmarking.net too shallow at times. ).

 

[Roger Wilco]

He seems to be insulted every time they meet a team that actually tries to beat them.

Well put.

I see Spain's/Barca's style similar to you, but I can't deny being deeply impressed by them when it really works though, like that Clasico Barca won 5:0 last year or Spain-Germany in the 2010 WC, which despite just being 1:0 was simply total domination on a scale that's rarely seen in top football.

I prefer aggressive, determination football, but I have to admit sometimes Spain/Barca is marvellous to watch.

 

[Angel4576]

The main problem with England is the media.

They whip the public up into a frenzy as they play the jingoism card - constant references to WW2 and God knows what else. I'd imagine we get those references as there are no footballing ones to use, bar '66, and that got old about 5 minutes after they first used it.

They also set the level of expectation - more often than not brainwashing the public into believing that the team are far, far better than they actually are.

Watch what happens if we get through to the QFs - we'll go from having no chance to being nailed on for the tournament.

Re Greece and their win in 2004 - How can you not admire, or find amusing, a team that caused this.....

this....

and this....

Un-fucking-lucky Greaseball......

 

[Angel4576]

I also can't stand Spain at all just like I can't stand Barca. Their fucking boring horizontal possession play is boring the hell out of me. There's no passion there, no vertical play, no risk. Just keep possession at all costs, yuck. And the attitude of players like Xavi who think that their way to play football is "the only right way". He seems to be insulted every time they meet a team that actually tries to beat them.
I don't find them entertaining at all. It's boring, it's lifeless. Football isn't just about endless passing orgies.

This, is quite possibly the greatest comment that's ever been made on TrekBBS, because it's so, sooooooo, true. I can't stand Spain, and I can't stand Barcelona. For all their technical ability they should watch videos of the 1970 Brazil side, now that's entertaining football! Not this tip-tap sideways passing bullshit game that they've perfected which bores teams into submission.

 

[Jax]

One thing I love about European (Association) Football matches (especially with the English) is they love trotting out history for trash talking.

Generally its all done for a laugh and nothing is really meant by it. Also Europe has a very very long and rich history so am not surprised by how frequently its brought up by fans. On the hate for Greece 2004, first of all Euro 2004 was a superb tournament IMO and defending is an art, so if teams were unable to break down Greece then thats their fault. I hate comments that other teams make that suggest the other one should lye down and let them score (I look at you Arsene Wenger & all of Spain/Barcelona). As for Barca/Spain I agree with what was said above, THEY ARE FUCKING TEDIOUS LITTLE SHITS ...

The Brazil side of 2002, 1998 and 1970 are far far better because they could hold the ball but attack at pace, not walk around the pitch hitting 2 yard passes back n forth until the opposite side head explodes through bordem. Spain are heavily overrated in terms of where they lye in history of the best teams EVER.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

One thing I love about European (Association) Football matches (especially with the English) is they love trotting out history for trash talking.

That's actually one of the main reasons I hate the English team so much. It just annoys me to no end because it's so incredibly stupid.
WW2 references because of football, really? Makes me wanna puke.

Oh, it's a horrible, childish thing to do. It's just that, as a complete outsider, I find the childishness amusing. Football matches are the only place Europeans can still get away with flag waving and nationalism.

Life is so unfair, huh? First the English single-handedly win WW2 (or something like that) and then Germany keeps beating them on the pitch?! How rude, right?!

Besides, we all know America single-handedly won WW2