Euro 2008 Thread

[luckyjackson]

Yeah, but the six Dutch people in the city will probably be making almost as much noise!

Italy folded. I can't believe it. I picked them to win the whole thing...and I still think they have it in them to turn it around...but their collapse in this game was shocking. Incomplete passes, bad defending, they just looked slow and dull.

Well tomorrow I can't stay home to watch the games like I did today, (hi boss!), but Wednesday I'm taking the whole day off to watch Portugal and Czechs.

Anyone know if Rogers has plans to make the games available on the On Demand channel?

 

[Big Michael]

That first goal should not have been allowed

I think the player (Pannucci ?) lying down behind the goal (pretending he was hurt ) played van Nistelroy on side, that has to be the only explanation because if not, he was at least 5 feet offside.

Other than that, the most exciting game so far. This group is going to get interesting. Here's a question, if Holland wraps up the group after 2 games and Romania needs to beat Holland in the last game to eliminate Italy and France, does Holland tank it?

 

[Dartman]

It was explained that because the goalie bumped the defender he is still considered in bounds, Therefore there was no offside on the first goal. That also suprised me too

 

[Insidious Von]

It's not even sunset and the crickets are in full vioce in Woodbridge.

...so what happened.

Roberto Donadoni was in a thankless position; he couldn't make the team over to his liking because of the cache the older players have from the WC. Still he didn't do himself any favours. Putting Chiellini in the doghouse, for injuring Cannavaro, was a mistake; Materazzi should not have started. Regardless of the first goal, Van Nistelrooy had him out of sorts all game. Also what is the mystery surrounding Daniel De Rossi? Donadoni showed his loyalty to his former club Milan by playing Ambrosini and Gattuso - the end result was that Pirlo was overworked into irrelevance. Suffice to say that when I saw the starting line-up I cringed.

Full credit to Van Nistelrooy for not diving when he got tapped by Buffon, he would have gotten red carded had he done so. Maybe the Dutchman knew something, if Buffon had gotten ejected the Azzurri may have circled the wagons.

.....probably not.

 

[David Beckham 23]

I was just about to ask about De Rossi? Is he injured?

 

[herames]

Del Piero should have been on sooner.As much as i love Pirlo and Gattuso...they were not up to the task. De Rossi should have been fielded. Panucci should not have been first string. Buffon didn't look fresh and lively. I tip my Hat to Dutch boys as they ran circles aroung the Italian old men.

 

[ricepower88]

Everybody let's get on the Romanian Bandwagon.... Italy can be gone by next game. Who thought the Italiens were so evironmentaly friendly lately

 

[the_big_E]

That France/Romania game was like having a lobotomy...that was a terrible, terrible game.

The Dutchies used the counter attack to perfection. That's what you get for starting Materazzi (especially with no Cannavaro) and an all AC Milan midfield, wouldn't have been a problem if you could substitute Kaka for Ambro-useless-ini!

 

[Esco!]

What I find is amazing is a puny little country of 15 million people, can find a way of PWNING Italy!!!!!!!!!

Please help if I'm wrong!!

BTW: Wasnt it Holland that beat Italy????????

 

[spino1123]

Wow! Italy got totally smoked today. Like I said without Cannavaro they'll be disorganized at the back and that's exactly what happened. Materazzi's a useless moron and Barzagli looks like a chicken running around without its head. Donadoni has to start De Rossi and Del Piero next game, Pirlo can't do it alone.

The oranje crush looked awesome today. I knew they had the individual talent, but they really pulled it together. Props to the Madridistas Van Nistelroy and Sneider who were totally awesome. Just wait until Robben comes back. Hopefully they can keep playing like this and they'll be hard KO.

I can't wait for the game tomorrow. A little team I'm rooting for plays.


España! España! España! España!

 

[the_big_E]

Totti retired from international football after the World Cup. He never captured his club form for Italy though...they could probably use Nesta too!

Italy can still make it through to the knockout stages. Italy had chances, France had NOTHING.

 

[Esco!]

boo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Esco!]

Italy got PWND today, people!!!

Holy shit, 3-0

 

[Fingers]

http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=711341.html

In case any Italians out there complaining about the 1st goal....this might help

 

[Insidious Von]

Forgedboutit...no complaints here.

All this year we heard about the racial divisions within the Dutch team; Clarence Seedorf didn't want any part of it and stayed home. We heard that Marco Van Basten was part of the problem and made matters worse. For all his portayal of dimness, Van Basten figured out what his ex-teammate Donadoni was going to do and set up his squad accordingly. I hope the Dutch now make Raymond Domenech eat humble pie.

Things may have been different had Pirlo scored on that spot kick but Van Der Saar rose to the occasion. He had to - Buffon replaced him at Juventus. If Italy doesn't set up this way against Romania they can book their ticket home and greetings of flying tomatoes.

Buffon, Chiellini,Panucci,Grosso,Zambrotta,De Rossi,Pirlo,Aquilani,Cassano,Toni,Di Natale

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=730752

 

[Esco!]

I was just kidding mate, didnt mean anything by it

 

[Big Michael]

Forgedboutit...no complaints here.

All this year we heard about the racial divisions within the Dutch team; Clarence Seedorf didn't want any part of it and stayed home. We heard that Marco Van Basten was part of the problem and made matters worse. For all his portayal of dimness, Van Basten figured out what his ex-teammate Donadoni was going to do and set up his squad accordingly. I hope the Dutch now make Raymond Domenech eat humble pie.

Things may have been different had Pirlo scored on that spot kick but Van Der Saar rose to the occasion. He had to - Buffon replaced him at Juventus. If Italy doesn't set up this way against Romania they can book their ticket home and greetings of flying tomatoes.

Buffon, Chiellini,Panucci,Grosso,Zambrotta,De Rossi,Pirlo,Aquilani,Cassano,Toni,Di Natale

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=730752

I think the race thing is not accurate in respect of Van Basten. I think Van Basten generally prefers younger players and he is not afraid to sit established players that are not in-form, something Donadoni could learn from. It's tough to argue that Seedorf should play in front of Sneijder or Van de Vaart. Also, Van Basten left Van Bommel (white) at home as well. Van Basten wasn't afraid to sit Van Nistellroy (white) at 2006 WC. That said he does love Van Persie and Robben who are both perenially injured and he perhaps should have perhaps omitted one from the team and brought Seedort to ensure depth.

I would like your Italy line-up if I didn't want them to lose . I knew they were in trouble yesterday when I saw Gattuso and Materazzi in the line up.
Also, what was he thinking with no DDR, I assumed he was injured.

 

[Mr. Black]

I was just kidding mate, didnt mean anything by it

ok cool

 

[luckyjackson]

Everyone's writing Italy off too soon. All of a sudden Van Basten's a genius and Donadoni a donkey because of one game.

It's true that the defense was slow and cracked under pressure, and worrying that they stopped trying around minute 70...but this is still Italy.

 

[forcebwu]

Spain All the Way !