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***The Official Eurocup 2008 thread***

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by giovafin, May 25, 2008.

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  1. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    France must switch to attack mode - Gallas

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=544980&cc=5901
     
  2. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Keeper Buffon rages at Italy's capitulation

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=544816&cc=5901
     
  3. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Romania striker Marica taken to hospital

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=544954&cc=5901
     
  4. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Cash stolen from Czechs at team hotel in Austria

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=545128&cc=5901
     
  5. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    What a beautiful finish by Ibrahimovic.
     
  6. Pink_dove

    Pink_dove Burning coal Luxury Box

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    Clearly, he hasn't been fitted for glasses yet with regards to Malouda, and Abidal. On the other hand, he can't be faulted for the stunning lack of movement off the ball. Agreed about the little engine that could in Diarra who would've helped, but they were far too static as a whole for my taste.

    Perhaps Henry with his superb movement off the ball, and roaming tendencies on the right wing, which in turn opens up the middle, will somewhat change that. The more important spade is Viera, who as opposed to Toulalan or Maka, is capable of providing a bit more bite and support up front. He can flip his mind into attacking mode faster than them.

    I thought last week that the middle of that Dutch defense could be exploited, but they fared well, with that Engelaar and De Jong pairing in support. Still thought Italy had some quality chances, and apart from Pirlo and Di Natale early on, Toni lacked support. I do worry about Van der Vaart, who was excellent, and all over the pitch. When you're facing such a hard working side as the Netherlands, who have terrific movement off the ball, you have to sink or swim. So, it's quite simple. The cement in the boots must go.
     
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  7. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Like you I was stunned by the lack of movement. Ribery was the only one who seemed to understand the term 'running off the ball'. Thierry should add some much needed oomph to the team, but we're kidding ourselves if it's the same Thierry of 2 years ago. I almost thing you're flash in the middle of that transition and it's just come too early for this tournament. In South Africa in two years time, I would imagine that Benzema, Ben Arfa, Gomis, Nasri, Lassana Diarra, etc., will all be experienced internationals and that you will have found long term replacements for Gallas, Thuram, Sagnol, etc.

    BTW - Why, when he outplayed Gigi Buffon this season, is Frei on the bench behind Coupet?

    Talking of movement as you did, the Dutch excelled in that department. Sneijder especially, along with the aforementioned Van Der Vaart who has finally found his international legs. Kuyt works so hard and his movement is similarly strong, that it allows VDV and Sneijder to play more freely and whilst De Jong and Engelaar hold, Engelaar especially, is more of an attacking midfielder and he can push on. There were times yesterday when the Dutch had RVN, VDV, Kuyt, Engelaar, Sneijder and Van Bronkhorst in the final 3rd when breaking away. I was surprised they played Ooijer as he's struggled in the Premiership, but he's more physical than Johnny Heitinga and against Toni who never fails to impress, he did a solid job.

    The Spanish moved like the Dutch today; Torres and Villa finally played well together, but Xavi and Iniesta played well, but the key was Senna who protects that pretty mediocre centre half pairing of Puyol and Marchena and allows the forward quartet to move forwards. David Silva is a pretty tasty outlet ball as well.
     
  8. Pink_dove

    Pink_dove Burning coal Luxury Box

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    Yep, well seen on Senna. Watched the last half hour of that game, and he serves as the lee to that centre-half pairing. In just cause, as Marchena does nothing for me, and whilst Puyol is a strong communicator, and understands the game, he has his limitations. The Spanish midfield looked a bit too tippety tappety for my liking. I wonder how that will work against a more physical side like the Germans who can bring the wood. No doubt, they're devastating up front with Villa, n El Nino, brilliant on the counter, and quicksilver in midfield, with Silva, and Xavi. And when you can bring in Cesc and Xabi Alonso off the bench, you know you've got plenty of depth, but I do wonder.

    RE 2010, I'm still hoping we do some damage this year, but you could be right. As for Frey, his sorry *** is on the bench, because of a blunder against Ukraine earlier this year. Claims he lost the ball in the floodlights, but he basically punched the ball in his own net. That's a major issue for 2010. The rest of the team is more or less settled, but it's wide open back there. Hugo Lloris looks to be the front runner, and while he'll be replacing Coupet at Lyon next year, and has been called the next Barthez because of his show stopping skills at Nice, he'll be awfully young at 22 years of age on such a stage. Considering Calamity James isn't exactly in the wank bank, I would think England will be in a similar predicament as well no ?
     
  9. PeaTearGriffin

    PeaTearGriffin Season Ticket Holder

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    Well that was quick 1-0 Portugal
     
  10. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Not so fast, 1-1.

    Really happy to see my boy Baros. Made a nice run.
     
  11. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Good game between Swiss and Turkey here.
     
  12. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Hell of a goal in extra time. Arda Turan.
     
  13. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Arda is the poster boy for Turkish football. That was an excellent game; Swiss were very unlucky.
     
  14. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I know what you mean about the Spaniards. It would be interesting to see how Iniesta, Senna, Silva and Xabi dealt with Frings, Ballack and someone like Tim Borowski who's a very progressive midfielder. I think they'd probably sacrifice Iniesta and just allow Xabi Alonso to slide in next to Senna and wall off Marchena and Puyol a little more, especially if they went with Borowski and Ballack.

    I think it's interesting in this tournament how all the teams that have a genuine chance to win - apart from Portugal - have real issues at centre back; yourselves with Thuram looking his age and Gallas coming off a disappointing run of form since Christmas; the Italians losing Cannavaro and inexplicably playing Materazzi against someone with the movement of RVN, as well as Barzagli playing down to Materazzi's level; the Dutch with Methuson and Ooijer - Ooijer who can't get a game for Blackburn - although I suspect he played in part because of Toni's size compared to a much better player in Johnny Heitinga who's smaller; the Germans who have Metzelder who hardly played at Madrid and the other guy whose name escapes me sitting here, but who is really immobile; the Spanish with Puyol, who you quite rightly pointed out is a great leader and reader of the game, but who can get turned far more easily than you'd like and Marchena who's strong in the air, but again struggles with pace. It's only the Portugese with Pepe and Carvalho who look a really solid pairing. The difference is of course, that the Portugese don't have any strikers; lots of show ponies in a very disappointing Ronaldo - will he ever play well in a big game or on the big stage? - Simao, Quaresma, etc. Deco is the heart and soul of that team, but unless Nuno Gomes starts weighing in with goals, that is a team with limits.

    Back to you guys - I didn't know about the Ukraine howler with Frei; seems a little unfair though considering how well he's played all season long. As for us, we have two really good young goalkeepers, both plying their trades in Manchester; Joe Hart of Manchester City who has been outstanding all season and Ben Foster who has only played once for United, but who spent all last season on loan at Watford and was absolutely extraordinary before tearing knee ligaments. He'll likely make Van Der Saar expendable at the start of next season. But they have no experience at all at international level; Foster may have been in the squad for a friendly and Hart played the 2nd half against Trinidad last weekend. But apart from that; nothing.

    As for your defenders, why oh why is Bacary Sagna not playing at right back? He's not even in the squad is he? I thought he was outstanding all season long and rightly was named in the PFA Team of the Season. He and Evra at fullback.....doesn't get much better than that. And given the very mediocre year that Abidal had at Barcelona, your boy Gael should surely be in the squad behind Evra.
     
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  15. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Mertesacker is of course the other German centre back.
     
  16. finattic79

    finattic79 Season Ticket Holder

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    Man I was pissed after I woke up from my nap before I headed into my second job and saw the score, missed a good second half :sad::sad:
     
  17. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Lol, a really good second half. Sorry to hear though. That's why I sit in a chair with a Pepsi in my hand during soccer games :up:.
     
  18. quelonio

    quelonio Season Ticket Holder

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    :pity:
     
  19. phunwin

    phunwin Happy kids are Dolfans. Luxury Box

    Nice game between Portgual and the Czechs. But wow, what a terrible defensive lapse on the third Portugal goal. Beautiful play by Ronaldo, who was his usual brilliant self yesterday.

    I missed Switzerland-Turkey, and it sounds like I missed a whale of a game. Bummer.
     
  20. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I thought Ronaldo did sod all apart from the goal.
     
  21. phunwin

    phunwin Happy kids are Dolfans. Luxury Box

    Really? I must disagree with that. He had the goal, could have had a second, except he passed it off like a good teammate for an easy one, and I thought he gave the Czechs fits throughout the second half. And while they marked him fairly well in the first half, he still had a couple chances.

    Basically, I saw a player who the Czechs had to pay attention to the entire game, and if they held him down in the first half, he exploded in the second.
     
  22. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Pfftt....for the 'best player in the world' he NEVER plays well in big games and whilst he scored, he could hardly have done anything else than score or square it to Quaresma. Deco is the playmaker in that team. Hook me up when Ronaldo takes over a game.
     
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  23. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Can't drink the beer with the dad around.
     
  24. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Best player in the world - Kaka!
     
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  25. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agreed. :hi5:
     
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  26. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    SICK sig!
     
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  27. quelonio

    quelonio Season Ticket Holder

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    but why drink pepsi when you could drink coke?
     
  28. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Because Pepsi is better than Coke to me.
     
  29. Boomer

    Boomer Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I think it's hard to call the "best player in the world". How do you quantify that? I mean, you'll probably never hear of a defender being called 'the best player in the world', but they're just as important as strikers or midfielders. I think if you look past Deco, Fernando Torres, Fabio Cannavaro, Kaka, Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas, Wesley Sneijder and a few others, then you're in the wrong ball park, but I think it's tough to say that "X" is the best player in the world. If I was told I could buy one player in world football, I'd choose between Kaka, Messi, Gerrard and Torres. Is there a "best" out of all that lot?

    Not sure you can quantify that.
     
  30. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Thats true. I say Kaka because he is my favorite player in the world lol.
     
  31. finattic79

    finattic79 Season Ticket Holder

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    Man the German backline looks out to lunch right now.
     
  32. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    How about them Croatians!?!?! Woooo!
     
  33. wpgfishfan

    wpgfishfan Member

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    Terrible play by the keeper.

    The Croatians are looking good today compared to their other win

    Can you imagine the final 8 without Germany, Italy and France
     
  34. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Lol yeah that would be awkward.
     
  35. finattic79

    finattic79 Season Ticket Holder

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    Man another goal at by Podolski. Not much time left know for Germany to get the equalisier.
     
  36. phunwin

    phunwin Happy kids are Dolfans. Luxury Box

    And England never even made the tournament! More than a few people would tell you those are the four best sides in Europe.

    Won't happen, though. Austria and Poland are so weak that it would take a miracle for Germany not to advance.
     
  37. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It was a deflection. What exactly could he have done? :confused2:
     
  38. finattic79

    finattic79 Season Ticket Holder

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    It shouldn't have been a deflection. Lehmann should have been able to play that out of bounds easily.
     
  39. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Deflection or not, he should have stopped that. It came straight towards him.
     

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