xkcd

by **Garm** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:31 pm UTC

I was under the impression that attempting to play the ball from an offside position would be an offense. Apparently I was wrong. Nevermind then.

by **Dream** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:49 pm UTC

Can't be offside if the opposition plays the ball to you. Which is what Ireland did. Hard not to feel that Croatia were as lucky as it gets in football to have that one handed to them. Ditto the ricochet off given's head.

Garm wrote:Also, too, this: http://deadspin.com/5917330/polish-riot ... who-ya-got

the Irish version:

Spoiler:

by **charliepanayi** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:51 pm UTC

That England v France game was pretty dull - hoping for better here.

by **Garm** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:53 pm UTC

Dream wrote:Can't be offside if the opposition plays the ball to you. Which is what Ireland did. Hard not to feel that Croatia were as lucky as it gets in football to have that one handed to them. Ditto the ricochet off given's head.

Garm wrote:Also, too, this: http://deadspin.com/5917330/polish-riot ... who-ya-got

the Irish version:
Spoiler:

That ricochet was depressing. I've had that happen to me but it was during indoor soccer so there was a wall involved. Seemed less embarrassing.

Those Irish fans make me happy to share at least some Irish heritage (I'm an American mutt with an Irish last name).

by **charliepanayi** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:54 pm UTC

Nice to see Shevchenko getting the headlines there. I thought Sweden might be the dangerous team in Group D and Ukraine would struggle but might yet prove to be the other way round.

by **Negated** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:22 pm UTC

I think Sweden and Ukraine are simply not good enough. Their defence both look very vulnerable. Their attack lack quality. I cannot see them posing serious threat to France and England.

by **charliepanayi** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:16 pm UTC

I think England would be wise to not dismiss any team they play, based on past experience.

I wonder how many 'Czechmate' or 'Czechs bounce back' headlines we'll get this evening and tomorrow.

Group of Death resumes tomorrow!

by **Dream** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:18 pm UTC

charliepanayi wrote:I wonder how many 'Czechmate' or 'Czechs bounce back' headlines we'll get this evening and tomorrow.

No, it'll be "Greece wreck themselves."

by **ElWanderer** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:17 am UTC

I tried to coin "Greek Euro Crisis" as a suitable headline at half-time in Poland v Greece when they looked totally dead and buried... though their second half performance was then much better. They seem to be a real game-of-two-halves team. I hear if they beat Russia, they should qualify for the next round (possibly in Russia's place). Turning up for the first half would probably be a good idea.

Poland v Russia was a cracking match. I may eventually drum up the courage to attempt pronouncing Błaszczykowski's name out loud.

Meanwhile, Petr Cech is single-handedly ruining my fantasy football team.

by **charliepanayi** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:02 pm UTC

Curse you Denmark! That was maybe the best game so far.

Bright start from the Dutch here, if they did win as has been mentioned everyone in Group B would be on three points ahead of the final games.

by **Chuff** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:26 pm UTC

Oh god RVP you're killing me.

by **Garm** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:34 pm UTC

I'd as soon blame everything wrong with the Dutch on Nigel DeJong. Such a thug. But seriously: Why you no play Van de Vaart?

by **Negated** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:44 pm UTC

Van Der Vaart is terrible in a deep MF role. In a more advanced role he occupies the same space as Sneijder. Throwing him on will probably do more harm than good.

Having De Jong and MVB together is fine...but you got to push the fullbacks forward to support the front four. Where are the overlapping runs from Willem and Van Der Wiel?

by **Garm** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:53 pm UTC

Negated wrote:Van Der Vaart is terrible in a deep MF role. In a more advanced role he occupies the same space as Sneijder. Throwing him on will probably do more harm than good.

Having De Jong and MVB together is fine...but you got to push the fullbacks forward to support the front four. Where are the overlapping runs from Willem and Van Der Wiel?

Good point. He's no holding middie.

by **Chuff** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:19 pm UTC

Well, NDJ and RVP both did a little to make up for the first half.

by **Cathode Ray Sunshine** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:39 pm UTC

Well, fuck my life.

by **Negated** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:44 pm UTC

Netherlands could not even press properly in midfield for much of the second half. Germany just kept the ball and ran the clock down expertly.

The double sub effectively conceded the ball to the Germans. VDV and Huntelaar did absolutely nothing.

by **raike** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:43 pm UTC

So... if the Dutch absolutely slaughter the Portuguese by at least 3-0 or something, and if the Germans beat the Danes, it's not over for them. While that display had it its moments, I can't quite fully say that it shouldn't be over.

by **roband** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:57 pm UTC

ElWanderer wrote:I may eventually drum up the courage to attempt pronouncing Błaszczykowski's name out loud.

I've always said "bla-shu-cow-ski".

I am currently very excited about the tournament. Depending on how Spain play tonight, Germany are currently my favourites to win the tournament. Both of Gomez's goals last night (especially the first) were wonderful.

Negated wrote:Having De Jong and MVB together is fine...but you got to push the fullbacks forward to support the front four. Where are the overlapping runs from Willem and Van Der Wiel?

There is zero point in VdW trying to overlap Robben. He's so greedy (over confident?) that he never passes. He ALWAYS cuts in on his left foot, I've never seen a player be so predictable in my life.

by **Dream** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:01 pm UTC

So, who's predicting tonight's score? 3-0 to Ireland? 4-0? It's hard to predict how many goals Ireland will score against this kind of opposition, it really depends on whether our world class striking talent feels the need to save a little for the Italy match. Man, I wouldn't want to be Casillas right now. He must be shitting himself. We can probably rest Given, he deserves it after the performance he put in against Croatia, and it's not like he'll have anything to do. Now that I think more about it, maybe 5-0? There'll be a Keane hat trick, of course, but we can't rule out some long range efforts from John O'Shea finding the target.

Right, I'm off to the bookies. The round's on me when the result comes in!

by **Sytri** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:14 pm UTC

Dream wrote:So, who's predicting tonight's score? 3-0 to Ireland? 4-0? It's hard to predict how many goals Ireland will score against this kind of opposition, it really depends on whether our world class striking talent feels the need to save a little for the Italy match. Man, I wouldn't want to be Casillas right now. He must be shitting himself. We can probably rest Given, he deserves it after the performance he put in against Croatia, and it's not like he'll have anything to do. Now that I think more about it, maybe 5-0? There'll be a Keane hat trick, of course, but we can't rule out some long range efforts from John O'Shea finding the target.

Right, I'm off to the bookies. The round's on me when the result comes in!

I can't help but read this in a Flashheart voice. Infact all your posts I read like that. Nothing more to say apart from that

by **Diadem** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:27 pm UTC

I can't help but blame the coach for the Dutch performance. If you look at the individual players we really have a pretty good team. But the coaching is just terrible.

Interestingly it's still not over for us. I fully expect Germany to beat Denmark. They can't go for pre arranged draw because that would put Denmark in jeopardy, so it'll be a real match, and Germany is the stronger team. So all we have to do is beat Portugal by 2-0. That won't happen if we play like we did for the last two matches. But if we play like we did 2 years ago, and I don't see why we wouldn't be capable of playing like that again, we certainly have a shot.

by **ElWanderer** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:58 pm UTC

roband wrote:
ElWanderer wrote:I may eventually drum up the courage to attempt pronouncing Błaszczykowski's name out loud.

I've always said "bla-shu-cow-ski".

The problem with me having a (limited) Polish heritage is that I have a rough idea of how it should sound (bwa-?sthchi?-koff-ski... wikipedia suggests bwaʂt͡ʂɨˈkɔfskʲi), but know I'd still get it quite wrong if I said anything! I trip over just thinking about the szcz construction (the BBC recommends saying it like the shch in 'pushchair', for what it's worth).

Diadem wrote:I can't help but blame the coach for the Dutch performance. If you look at the individual players we really have a pretty good team. But the coaching is just terrible.

I agree it's his job to meld the players into a team. Should you tolerate a skilled, but me-me-me, player like Robben or look for someone who fits into the team better but isn't as good? In England, there's usually an outcry if we try to include a workshy, flair player ("luxury") in the national side... but my goodness are some of our performances dull when there's no one with the individual skill to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Almost time for Croatia to play the "how much can you wind up Balotelli?" game.

by **roband** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:07 pm UTC

ElWanderer wrote:
roband wrote:
ElWanderer wrote:I may eventually drum up the courage to attempt pronouncing Błaszczykowski's name out loud.

I've always said "bla-shu-cow-ski".
The problem with me having a (limited) Polish heritage is that I have a rough idea of how it should sound (bwa-?sthchi?-koff-ski... wikipedia suggests bwaʂt͡ʂɨˈkɔfskʲi), but know I'd still get it quite wrong if I said anything! I trip over just thinking about the szcz construction (the BBC recommends saying it like the shch in 'pushchair', for what it's worth).

I make the same noise for the start of the Arsenal GKs name - Szczesny? Shu-chez-knee.

In short, my guesses at foreign pronunciation are terrible

by **roband** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:09 pm UTC

Oh hey - http://www.fundeu.es/eurocopa-2012/polonia.html

by **Negated** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:09 pm UTC

Italy play like Juventus and get the Juventus-like results. They are hard to beat but also get plenty of draws.

I don't quite understand the logic of taking off Balotelli and Cassano for Di Natale and Giovinco (the shortest player in Euro) when Italy play so many long balls. I know Cassano does not have the legs to play 90 minutes, but I thought Balo had a decent game other than his finishing.

by **ElWanderer** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:13 pm UTC

Oh Ballacks, I put Fabregas as captain and now he's not starting....

by **Garm** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:21 pm UTC

ElWanderer wrote:Oh Ballacks, I put Fabregas as captain and now he's not starting....

I hate when that happens.

by **Negated** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:30 pm UTC

Spain glaringly lacked penetration when they played that strikerless formation with Fabregas as the "striker". It should not be a surprise that he is the one benched to bring a real striker on.

I have Casillas, Ramos, and Alba on my team. Clean sheet please.

by **charliepanayi** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:29 pm UTC

Italy trying to sit back and protect a single goal lead and realising again they're not as good at doing that as Germany are.

No idea how this game is still 1-0.

by **raike** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:35 pm UTC

Dream wrote:So, who's predicting tonight's score? 3-0 to Ireland? 4-0? It's hard to predict how many goals Ireland will score against this kind of opposition, it really depends on whether our world class striking talent feels the need to save a little for the Italy match. Man, I wouldn't want to be Casillas right now. He must be shitting himself. We can probably rest Given, he deserves it after the performance he put in against Croatia, and it's not like he'll have anything to do. Now that I think more about it, maybe 5-0? There'll be a Keane hat trick, of course, but we can't rule out some long range efforts from John O'Shea finding the target.

Right, I'm off to the bookies. The round's on me when the result comes in!

In my tired state during my mid-morning skim of the fora, I read those scores backwards (favouring Spain). Then I saw the game, remembered this post and thought you were psychic. Then I realised that I need more sleep.

The Italians are probably readying every possible striking option so that they can get a ton of goals whenever they play next.

by **Dream** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:23 pm UTC

Well, Torres would rediscover his form just in time for Ireland. Though he got a lot of help from Ward in particular. Our whole display was appalling, we could hardly string three touches together, and actually lost possession in our own box more times than we won it. We were lucky it wasn't six or seven nil, and we never, ever looked threatening. I don't blame Trappatoni, it's just that our players are not of the right standard to be playing at this level.

by **Garm** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:49 pm UTC

Dream wrote:Well, Torres would rediscover his form just in time for Ireland. Though he got a lot of help from Ward in particular. Our whole display was appalling, we could hardly string three touches together, and actually lost possession in our own box more times than we won it. We were lucky it wasn't six or seven nil, and we never, ever looked threatening. I don't blame Trappatoni, it's just that our players are not of the right standard to be playing at this level.

Cmon, Robbie Keane is a top notch striker in the MLS. /snark

by **roband** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:19 pm UTC

Oooh rain and thunder!

edit: INGERLAND INGERLAND INGERLAND!

by **Antimon** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:20 pm UTC

Congratulations to England.

/A sulking swede

by **ElWanderer** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:23 pm UTC

I had Mellberg in my team for the first round of matches, but transfered him out because I didn't want him against England. In retrospect, not my best move!

I'm kinda expecting us to be drawing comfortably against Ukraine, concede a late penalty and go out... it's the England way.

by **ahammel** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:14 pm UTC

Garm wrote:Cmon, Robbie Keane is a top notch striker in the MLS. /snark

No.

Granted, he'd probably score a bit more often if he didn't play for the Los Angeles Retirement Home For Washed-Up EPL Stars ("Galaxy", for short).

by **Negated** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:35 am UTC

England v Sweden was the first game in this Euro that I think both teams deserved to lose.

by **raike** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:05 pm UTC

The Greeks made it, and the Russians didn't? That's a WTF moment for sure... I'm quite pleased that the Czechs came through.

by **charliepanayi** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:14 pm UTC

Crazy stuff - seems like Russia just didn't play with enough urgency. People will slate Greece and they have been fortunate to be in this weak group, but they haven't been THAT bad (and they keep getting screwed over by refereeing decisions - now Karagounis suspended when he should have had a penalty).

Germany v Greece (as seems very likely) might well be rather er...interesting.

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