Euro 2008 Discussion Thread.

[RivaOni]

So this Saturday, the international European Championships kick off with joint hosting from Austria and Switzerland. There won't be any England squad there, our bunch of over paid wanabe celebs didn't qualify. So it will be an interesting tournament..

Heres the groups:

Group A

W L D F A Pts
Portugal 1 0 0 2 0 3
Czech Rpc 1 0 0 1 0 3
Switzerland 0 1 0 0 1 0
Turkey 0 1 0 0 2 0

Group B


1 Germany 1 0 0 2 0 3
2 Croatia 1 0 0 1 0 3
3 Austria 0 1 0 0 1 0
4 Poland 0 1 0 0 2 0

Group C

Netherlands 1 0 0 3 0 3
France 0 0 1 0 0 1
Romania 0 0 1 0 0 1
Italy 0 1 0 0 3 0

Group D

Spain 1 0 0 4 1 3
Sweden 1 0 0 2 0 3
Greece 0 1 0 0 2 0
Russia 0 1 0 0 2
------------------------

Group A could be interesting, Switzerland beat Turkey in a play-off to reach the last World Cup, whilst Turkey have had a suprising amount of success when they've actually reached the tournament stages (think they were third at World Cup 2002 iirc). Whilst Portugal have some impressive players, especially in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco and the Czech Republic always seem to do pretty well.

Group B looks a bit like a early World War 2 battle with Poland, Austria and Germany all tackling each other, although I can see Croatia being the suprise package of that group, Davor Suker seemed to be a very good tactician in the qualifying stages, particular in the games against England.

Group C has been labelled the "Group of Death", unsuprising considering it has the two teams from 2006's World Cup final, plus the Netherlands who are incredibly entertaining to watch and know how to win a game, plus Romania have a habit of upsetting big teams.

In Group D, Greece are the current European Champions after winning the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal, although their not expected to do too well this time round, especially as they didn't qualify for 2006's World Cup in Germany. Russia have a great coach in Guus Hiddink, but I fancy Sweden and Spain to progress from that group.

In fact, I'm gonna go out on a whim here and say I'm backing Spain to win the tournament, they've always been nearly men, much like England, and have a high number of top quality players, again like England, so I'm backing them on the basis that they're the most English like team at the finals .

Lastly, I hear this is the first European Championships thats going to recieve some proper coverage in the US, so if you like *shudders* Soccer, then you have no excuse but to watch what is looking like it will be a fantastic tournament for neutrals.

[RivaOni]

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has had to return home with a ligament injury, this will probably be the end of his international career too. He has been replaced by Alessandro Gamberini from Fiorentina

[Robb]

Sucks for Cannavaro Great player.

I am officially supporting Spain this year, as they are the only other team that comes close to England in terms of underachieving.

[Kudasai Hiroki]

I've never seen so many German flags on cars here. Somebody made a killing selling these things. This is the most alive I've seen this place in a long time. I suppose I should be chanting "Go Deutchland", but I just can't bring myself to do it. If England or Scotland aren't in it it's just no fun to watch.

[RivaOni]

Well, thats Day 1 over and done with, watched the Switzerland v Czech Republiuc match which was quite boring up until the goal which opened things up, injury time was very entertaining with the Czechs only just hanging on!

Missed the Portugal match though.

Results:

Switzerland 0 - 1 Czech Republic
Sverkos - 70th

Booked: Magnin
Vonlanthen
Barnetta


Portugal 2 - 0 Turkey
Pepe - 61th
Raul Meireles - 90th

Booked: Kazim-Richards
Zan
Sarioglu

Standings:

Group A:

W L D F A Pts
Portugal 1 0 0 2 0 3
Czech Rpc 1 0 0 1 0 3
Switzerland 0 1 0 0 1 0
Turkey 0 1 0 0 2 0

[Robb]

Austria 0 Croatia 1

Goals: Modric 4 pen.

Booked: Pogatetz, Saumel, Prodl, Robert Kovac

All credit to Austria here, I has this one down as a 4-0 victory for Croatia, but I think that Austria played tremendously against obviously superior opposition, but just lacked real quality in the final third of the pitch.


Germany 2 Poland 0

Goals: Podolski 20, 72.

Bookings: Smolarek, Lewandowski, Schweinsteiger

Now Germany is a team that England should watch closely, even after going 2-0 up, they still peppered the goal with shots and were always looking to score and create chances, and dominated the game for most of the 90 minutes, my favourite game of the tournament so far.

P GD PTS
1 Germany 1 2 3
2 Croatia 1 1 3
3 Austria 1 -1 0
4 Poland 1 -2 0

[RivaOni]

Thanks for updating Robb, I was out all day yesterday so missed both matches, only knew the results as I've just come from the BBC Sport homepage

Saw some Poles coming out of a pub though, they didn't look too displeased so I thought the scoreline had been a bit closer than that. Maybe their kjust happy with being there?

[RivaOni]

Romania 0 - 0 France

Booked: Daniel Niculae Sagnol
Contra
Goian


Netherlands 3 - 0 Italy

van Nistelrooy (26th)
Sneijder (31st)
van Bronkhorst (80th)

Booked: De Jong Toni
Zambrotta
Gatusso


Group C Standings:

Netherlands 1 0 0 3 0 3
France 0 0 1 0 0 1
Romania 0 0 1 0 0 1
Italy 0 1 0 0 3 0


the Romania - France match was god awful, nothing really happened at all! But the Holland - Italy match! christ almighty, I remember reading a couple of days ago how Ronald De Boer felt that the dutch team had stopped playing to their "Total Football" ideals, but based on that performance I think he may be eating his hat now as they destroyed Italy. I mean, its very rare Italy let three goals in, regardless of wether Cannavaro is on the pitch or not!

[RivaOni]

Group D

Spain 4 - 1 Russia
Villa (20th, 45th, 75th) Pavluchenko (86th)
Fabregas (80th)

Booked:


Greece 0 - 2 Sweden
Ibrahimovic (67th)
Hansson (73th)

Booked: Charisteas
Seitaridis
Torosidis


Standings:

Spain 1 0 0 4 1 3
Sweden 1 0 0 2 0 3
Greece 0 1 0 0 2 0
Russia 0 1 0 0 2