OT: Euro 2016

Italy v spain should be fun to watch. Winner most likely plays Germany.

AzorianPats said:

Striker and age at CB is the biggest issue for sure.

Sanches needs to play, and he needs to play now. Moutinho time as come. We know what he is. Hes the safe guy, that makes all the safe passes. Its lead us to 3 draws. Sanches made an impact every time hes entered the pitch. He was just sold to Bayern for €35M. For a team the size of Bayern Munich to come to Portugal and pay for an 18 year old kid the money they did says something.

Its time to put all our chips on the table and roll with the young kid.

Click to expand...

I like Portugal ( my favorite soccer team is a Portuguese club here in Brazil - Vasco da Gama) theu have a lot of youngsters but i am afraid that CR7 window is closing ..

I like Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Sanches and André Gomes a lot They can build a nice group around those guys.

TommyBrady12 said:

Italy v spain should be fun to watch. Winner most likely plays Germany.

Click to expand...

That's the third consecutive Euro where Italy and Spain meet in the knockout stage. They played in the quarterfinals in 2008 (ended 0:0, Spain advanced on penalties), in the finals in 2012 (Spain beat Italy 4:0) and now in the best-16 in 2016.

Gumby said:

Also there wouldnt be much point to the qualies the last 18 monthes if they took 32. but then maybe Gibralter would have had a moment in the sun

Click to expand...

Sad to contemplate the Gibbies beating out my Litvaks, sigh...

Holy hangover Batman.

Ireland beat ITaly.
Ireland advance to Lyon on Sunday to play the hosts.

my god, that wasn't pretty but boy it was exciting. Love the attitude of this team. not the most skillful but doubtful theres a team with more heart.

I thought this was a useful review for people who haven't followed the tournament closely. I was a bit surprised that all of the BBC pundits were positive about the enlarged format, but their point -- that the fans of the smaller countries have had a ball -- is a great one. From what I've seen too, they're right that Payet is the man of the tournament so far.


If this one had gone in, it would have been one of the best goals of all time:

patsbrasilpatriotas said:

I like Portugal ( my favorite soccer team is a Portuguese club here in Brazil - Vasco da Gama) theu have a lot of youngsters but i am afraid that CR7 window is closing ..

I like Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Sanches and André Gomes a lot They can build a nice group around those guys.

Click to expand...

Vasco!!!

Oh I'm sure this Euro is Ronaldo last big chance to win something with Portugal. I do think they still have a shot but yesterday left a lot to be desired. Very disappointing

As good as he is, he's showing signs of slowing down. I don't carry much hope with Portugal winning a WC. World cups aren't meant for countries the size of Portugal to win, but Euro is a possibility.

This team needs a spark, and I think Renato Sanches is it. Roll with the kid, see what he can do. He's made an impact every chance he's got.

Also, Ronaldo as great as he is, needs to be a better captain. This is a young squad. Many of these players grew up idolizing Ronaldo. When he throws his temper tantrums on the field for not getting the ball, taking ridiculous shots/free kicks at ridiculous angles, I could imagine it being demoralizing to a young player. Lowers there confidence.

I felt vs Austria, Portugal as a team played really good, but Ronaldo was off. Yesterday was the opposite..we're due for a complete game with goals.

AzorianPats said:

Vasco!!!

Oh I'm sure this Euro is Ronaldo last big chance to win something with Portugal. I do think they still have a shot but yesterday left a lot to be desired. Very disappointing

As good as he is, he's showing signs of slowing down. I don't carry much hope with Portugal winning a WC. World cups aren't meant for countries the size of Portugal to win, but Euro is a possibility.

This team needs a spark, and I think Renato Sanches is it. Roll with the kid, see what he can do. He's made an impact every chance he's got.

Also, Ronaldo as great as he is, needs to be a better captain. This is a young squad. Many of these players grew up idolizing Ronaldo. When he throws his temper tantrums on the field for not getting the ball, taking ridiculous shots/free kicks at ridiculous angles, I could imagine it being demoralizing to a young player. Lowers there confidence.

I felt vs Austria, Portugal as a team played really good, but Ronaldo was off. Yesterday was the opposite..we're due for a complete game with goals.

Click to expand...

Yeah they kind missed the opportunity with Deco, Figo, young Pepe, Vitor Bahia, Ronaldo, Pauleta ... That was a great team. But lets see what happens.. I think Spain will win but adain lets wait and see 2004 they only had HFA and that was huge...

I think it will be spain or germany who will win it.

mikejd said:

This hasn't shaken out too good for my rooting interests. they will be overlapping a lot. England will have to play Iceland in the round of 16. Then the winner of that will have to turn around and play (hopefully) France in the quarters.

Click to expand...

For some strange reason I would prefer (hopefully) Ireland (l0l)

AzorianPats said:

Vasco!!!

Oh I'm sure this Euro is Ronaldo last big chance to win something with Portugal. I do think they still have a shot but yesterday left a lot to be desired. Very disappointing

As good as he is, he's showing signs of slowing down. I don't carry much hope with Portugal winning a WC. World cups aren't meant for countries the size of Portugal to win, but Euro is a possibility.

This team needs a spark, and I think Renato Sanches is it. Roll with the kid, see what he can do. He's made an impact every chance he's got.

Also, Ronaldo as great as he is, needs to be a better captain. This is a young squad. Many of these players grew up idolizing Ronaldo. When he throws his temper tantrums on the field for not getting the ball, taking ridiculous shots/free kicks at ridiculous angles, I could imagine it being demoralizing to a young player. Lowers there confidence.

I felt vs Austria, Portugal as a team played really good, but Ronaldo was off. Yesterday was the opposite..we're due for a complete game with goals.

Click to expand...

The winner of croatia-Portugal can almost coast to the final, then who knows what could happen. The survivor from the OTHER side of the bracket may be too beat up or battle-tested, take your pick. England and Spain vacated the Portugal side of the bracket and left a gaping hole for either one of these two or what i would love to see, a true underdog (wales or Hungary).

PS: my money is on croatia.

Where is the guy that said that was impossible to save Messi s kick? Did you saw what Fabiansk just did?

N. Ireland lost in a heartbreaking fashion by an own goal.

ArchAngel007 said:

Ireland lost in a heartbreaking fashion by an own goal.

Click to expand...

Point of Order.
Northern Ireland.

ArchAngel007 said:

Ireland lost in a heartbreaking fashion by an own goal.

Click to expand...

thought bale had a foot on that ball, no?

TommyBrady12 said:

thought bale had a foot on that ball, no?

Click to expand...

He crossed the ball the N.Ireland defender straight up put it in trying to keep it away from the Wales forward going in strong.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Does portugal suck this much? Idk much about their team other then ronaldo but even he has trouble when he plays for his national team.

PatriotsPimp136 said:

Does portugal suck this much? Idk much about their team other then ronaldo but even he has trouble when he plays for his national team.

Click to expand...

No..this was the strategy. They brought in Adrien to help Wiliam Carvalho negate Croatia MF. Modric and Rakitic were invincible for most of the game. Plan worked..

It wasnt pretty, but if thats what it takes to get to the finals...Ill take it every time.