Euro 2008

[Ciara's Dad]

Group A
Czech Republic
Portugal
Switzerland
Turkey

Group B
Austria
Croatia
Germany
Poland

Group C
France
Netherlands
Italy
Romania

Group D
Greece
Russia
Spain
Sweden

The tournament starts on Saturday.
Games are all taking place in either Switzerland or Austria.
The winners of each group plus the runners up go forward into the last 16, when it will become a straight knockout tournament.
The betting has Germany favourites at 4/1 , Spain 5/1, Italy 6/1, Portugal 8/1, Netherlands 12/1, Croatia 12/1 and Czech Rep 20/1.
My £5, ($10), will be going on the Czechs. I can only assume the Germans are favourites due to the group they are in and are seen as certs to finish in the top 2, therefore going easily into the last 16. Italy and France will be there or thereabouts but the Dutch could upset one of them in that ' group of death'.
No team qualified from the British Isles or Ireland.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Italy are favourites by default, world champions and they should come out that group. Be a pretty big surprise if they didn't. I'll slide off the fence and say France and Italy will qualify as I don't think the dutch are strong enough. Ankle injuries are the theme in that group aswell

The rest are exactly that, the rest. The likes of Germany and Spain should do alot better in tournaments but don't have the stength and togetherness contenders like Italy have. Portugal have quality but enough? Not for me. Croatia might not be a bad shout, Bilic has them playing some good football, some good players and in a decent group to boot. Eyes will be on Group C but Group D could be pretty lively. Spain wont be a lock to come out of that group in my opinion.

Liverpool eyes will be fixed on Switzerland and a certain full back of theirs.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

When two of the more popular thread in the main forum are about a released, idiot punter and a fourth or fifth LB who's not even on the team, you know it's a slow day in Pats land. Better to post about football here.

In addition to Germany's high ranking, I'm also baffled on how Domenech could possible leave Trez off his squad. WTF?!

Also, I personally think Group A is the most interesting. In addition to the Czech and Portuguese sides, the Swiss side is no longer a push over and they play solid, quality football. I'd not be surprised to see them go through, perhaps even benifitting on a few advantages that host teams tend to enjoy.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Maybe he feels it's time to bring through a new generation with the likes of Gomis and Benzema?

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Well, I have no problem with that had he chosen to do so during the qualifiers. But even there, Trez did score some goals so it makes no sense to me to leave a highly prolific scorer off the squad when it matters the most.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

They don't like each other either do they, I know Domenech has criticised him before and Trezeguet has come out recently and said something. Maybe he has a system in mind Trezeguet doesn't suit (going back to Domenechs he must improve as a striker comments) and they'll revert to the 4-2-3-1, or maybe he just doesn't like him full stop. Either way it'll be interesting to see how the likes of Benzema plays on such a big stage, especially in that group.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Isn't it great stuff when the outcome of the event isn't a done deal? I wouldn't be surprised to see 1 of 8 teams winning it. With a favourable draw, there are another 2 teams that could also sneak it. (Greece in 2004!) That is why this has all the ingredients for a great tournament.
As for Benzema, I think he could be one of the best strikers in the world. Saw him tear our local rivals apart at the back and score 2 wonderful goals. 33/1 to be top scorer, but I think this is because of the group they are in. With the year that he has had, would you bet against C.Ronaldo to be the top man? 9/1 in a group with the Turks and Swiss. The Spanish and Liverpool hitman, F.Torres won't be far away, 8/1, in yet another of the easier groups.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

What are the odds on Luca Toni?
Also, I agree with Scouse that the Azzurri should be considered #1 as of now.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Luca Toni is 14/1. I'm not sure about the Italians this time. No Cannavaro to lead them. Cassano causing a lot of disharmony at the training camp.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Opening game in the tournament sees the Czech Rep beat the Swiss 1-0.
Swiss were very unlucky but not enough class. The Czechs weren't much better though. Having the worlds best keeper helps a lot!
With this win, the Czechs will go on and qualify for the last 16, but
I don't think I'll be collecting any winnings from the bookies based on that performance.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Portugal beet the Turks 2-0 in the 2nd match. Some fantastic footy by Portugal. Can't wait to see C.Ronaldo playing in the famous white jersey of Madrid next year.

 

[tmracht]

Man Portugal just dismantled Turkey, Tuncay and Sabri were useless, Nihat needs a second striker to work off of and Kazim had noone to cross to when he managed to beat Paulo Ferreria. Not good at all for Turkey, dead last in the group now...

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Turkey seem to have fell off the face of the earth once that generation of players went. The used to be a very solid side. Kazim Richards didn't do too bad either, didn't look out of his depth at all. I think Portugal would be better off if they played Quaresma and Ronaldo with both floating and switching flanks, far more dangerous. Still, nice performance from them.

Czechs made hard work of their game although the swiss were alot better than people gave them credit for before the tournament, though the loss of Frei is massive. If Behrami does leave I'd like Liverpool to have a look at him. He's like Dirk Kuyt but with technical ability. Hard working, young, has alot of potential and would fit in nicely in our new system. I hope Degen gets a run out aswell so I can have a good look at him.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Croatia beat Austria 1-0. Very poor game. Austrians terrible.
Germany beat Poland 2-0. A deserved win for the Germans in a hard fought game in front of vociferous fans from both countries. No love lost between them either!! They will go close in this tournament because of the group they are in, but I'm not so sure about them.
Portugal still the best team I've saw so far.

 

[tmracht]

Austria was poop, but that penalty was weak especially 4 minutes in. And Podolski ran Poland in circles, Germany is going to be tough to beat if Klose keeps making passes like yesterday.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

France 0-0 v Rumania. A snorefest! Did the French think all they had to do was show up? Arrogant bunch of tossers. Riberry the only one who tried. Rumania worked their socks off and deserved a point.

Netherlands 3-0 Italy. What a game! Simply wonderful soccer. The Italians weren't that bad either. Dutch were magnificent though. The 2nd goal will be goal of the tournament and will live long in the memory. Being 2 goals up, it should have been shut up shop and get the 3pts, but they went for the 3rd. And when they got it, they went for a fourth. Attacking philosophy from the coach, and one of my favourite players of all time, Marco Van Basten.
Hope the Italians beat the French and go through to the next round. Can't wait to see the Dutch again.

 

[Lakesidepatsfan]

France 0-0 v Rumania. A snorefest! Did the French think all they had to do was show up? Arrogant bunch of tossers. Riberry the only one who tried. Rumania worked their socks off and deserved a point.

Netherlands 3-0 Italy. What a game! Simply wonderful soccer. The Italians weren't that bad either. Dutch were magnificent though. The 2nd goal will be goal of the tournament and will live long in the memory. Being 2 goals up, it should have been shut up shop and get the 3pts, but they went for the 3rd. And when they got it, they went for a fourth. Attacking philosophy from the coach, and one of my favourite players of all time, Marco Van Basten.
Hope the Italians beat the French and go through to the next round. Can't wait to see the Dutch again.

:agree: the french could end up like england if they don't realize that they have to do more than turn up to win a game, even if it is against romania!

 

[spook75]

What an awesome victory for the Netherlands.. I have been living in the US for a while now , so was out of touch with the team. I relied on articles and "fans" opinion's leading up to this tourney and was getting mostly negative info. I was hoping they could at least hang with the Italians , so this result was overwhelming... what a good day . let hope they keep this spirit and enthusiasm in their other games. ( oooh it feels like 1988 .. )

 

[Patriote_de_France]

:agree: the french could end up like england if they don't realize that they have to do more than turn up to win a game, even if it is against romania!

Viva La France

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Yeah, I'm not ready to count out France just yet. For some reason of late, Les Bleues as well as the Italian side have played rubbish football at the early stages of tournaments. Getting both Henry and Vieira back though is critical. So long as the defense remains solid, I think they'll be ok. With Thuram still strong and Makelele stopping the middle, they're still strong in the critical central defense.

Can't say I'd say the same about the Azzurri. How many 50/50 balls did they win yestersay? 2? Man, the Italian press is going to have a field day over yesterday's debacle and lack of effort.

Thus far though, I'd say the Oranje and the Germans are the class of the tournament and I really liked that Van Basten's side didn't resort to cynical football after going up 2-nil. I just hope the Dutch side doesn't disappear of implode as Cup continues though.

I'm looking forward to today's game: Spain v Hiddink.
Never quite understood why the Russians have not been a better footballing nation.