EURO 2008 - Austria & Switzerland June 07-29th

[Dirko]

germany 1-0 austria this morning

Ballacks free kick was a fairly useful strike.

Indeed it was....here it is BALLACK !!

The wall was not set well at all, he just blasted past it....

[Dirko]

OK final group wound up overnight, and Guus pulled the cat out of the hat...

Russia 2 def Sweden 0
Spain 2 def Greece 1

SO it's bye bye Sweden & Greece !!

OK...I didn't tip the Turks nor the Dutch to get through, but they are in !!

The French were truly terrible...Not winning a group game is a joke for such a talented side.
The Czechs, well I blame Cech...complete howlers against Turkey....

So the Quarter Finals are;

Portugal v Germany.
Well the Portuguese will be hoping every one jumps on the their bus and gives them the nod over Germany. I could see the Germans knocking them off here, with Ballack finding some touch, their defence is reasonable and Klose & Podolski giving them headaches, BUT, DA's love child Ronaldo needs to show his class, and along with Pepe, Deco & Carvalho they have some very talented footballers.
My Tip...PORTUGAL 2 - GERMANY 1



Croatia v Turkey
Well the Croats had a very good group stage coming through unscathed and only conceding one goal. They have some terrific playmakers in Kranjcar, Modric & Srna. The defence held up well with "Aussie" Simunic back there. The Turks scraped through courtesy of Cech's blunders and some dogged determination. They have key playmakers in Kahveci, Turan & Sanli. The Croats suprised by topping Germany in that group and if they keep gelling, they should see off Turkey
My Tip...CROATIA 1 - TURKEY 0



Netherlands v Russia
The Netherlands are THE form side in the tournament ATM. Playing classy attacking football, in a typical Dutch style. Total football. The Dutch have apparently put the ego's aside and are actually bonding as a team, going as far as eating meals as a team, training as a team, and all staying in the same hotel...They have a weakness in defence but with Sneijder, Robben, van Persie, van Nistlerooy, Kuyt & van Bronkhurst knocking in goals and causing havoc who needs a defence ! van der Saar is having a good tournament in goal, and should continue on his merry way against, Russia, who surprised many (not me) in making it through. Guus is the key. So good at getting teams past the group stages, he's again done it. The Russians will need to be on their toes, Pavlyuchenko & Arshavin will need to knock at least two in, as I can see the Dutch putting 4 past them.
My tip...NETHERLANDS 4 - RUSSIA 1



Spain v Italy
The Spaniards would have been hoping like hell, that, the Netherlands let Romania through, as either France or Italy are a big ask. They get the Azzuri, who have spluttered into the quarters. The Spaniards IMO, the second best team behind the Dutch (Portugal are my third), should on form get past the Italians, but as we know they choke at the worst possible time. With Torres & Villa up front, along with Fabregas, Alonso & Puyol the have talent to burn. The Italians have the Bufoon in goal, who along with Panucci & Grosso need to hold the back together. Scoring goals with the diving machine of Toni & Del Piero is the key.
My tip...SPAIN 2 - ITALY 1

[mighty_tiger_79]

can anyon tell me when the last time a defending Euro champion didnt get past the group stage???

I know greece became the only side to win EURO and then not qualify for the world cup.

The Dutch are on fire

Guus certainly did pull something out of the bag because Russia hadnt beaten Sweden in an international for 20 odd years i believe Martin tylor said.

Portugal tend to be like Spain in being great under-achievers in major tournaments.

[Dirko]

Can anyon tell me when the last time a defending Euro champion didn't get past the group stage???

Germany won in 1996, then finished bottom of Group A.
Denmark won in 1992, but finished third in the group stage in 96.
France won in 1984 but failed to qualify for 1988.
Germany won in 1980, but failed at group level in 84.

[RoosterMarty]

Hiddink ! What a star!

BELTED in their first game by Spain, they then bounce back to win their last two games and qualify for the knockout rounds in a major tournament for the first time since the Soviet split I think, fantastic effort!

Also, as to the above... this is the first time Germany have made the KO rounds since winning it and they have only won 3 games in the Euro since then, pretty amazing for a team which has had so much talent and even made the 02 World Cup Final!

[devilsadvocate]

Bloody Chermans!!!





Better side won on the night. Good luck to the classic German bloke from Frankfurt I watched the game with in an Irish bar in Tarifa. Absolute legend. Gave grief to Ronaldo all night about wanting his mama and wearing a blouse. He had the last laugh after biting all his fingernails off for the last 8 minutes!!!!!

[Dirko]

Well MT 79 posted that Portugal are pretenders in major tournaments, and he was right !!

Der Deutsch got up and it was the Schweinsteiger show, with Ballack and Klose chipping in as well !!

The Portuguese had Gomes & Postiga score, but it was a case of too little too late !!

The Germans move into the semi's where they will meet either Croatia or Turkey...A HUGE CHANCE
of my pre-prediction of the tournament and winning it !!

Heil der Deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft !!

Onto the Deutsche bus people !!

[Dirko]

Well I've got over my disappointment of the Dutch losing to the Russians.

The only thing that helped was the coach in Guus !!

The Netherlands 1 lost Russia 3

In the other game Spain beat Italy on penalties 4-2. The Italians were
as boring as bat shit and didn't deserve the chance to go through.

The semi finals are here

Germany v Turkey
Russia v Spain

Ohh to have a Turkey v Russia final please !!

[devilsadvocate]

Bad luck Jab.

Soooo good to see the Azzuri gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree that it would be great to see Turkey in the final, but Russia can get Forked after my debacle with a visa to their stupid country for the UCL Final .

Seriously though, the Spanish should so win it from here.

[johntheclaret]

Bad luck Jab.

Soooo good to see the Azzuri gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree that it would be great to see Turkey in the final, but Russia can get Forked after my debacle with a visa to their stupid country for the UCL Final .

Seriously though, the Spanish should so win it from here.

Not so sure myself DA. Germany have that knack of winning finals and Spain have that knack of flattering to decieve. My money would be on Germany from here.

[johntheclaret]

F$%k. I promised myself I wouldn't post again in the waste of time thread. If I thought I could get away with it I would delete this topic.

[Dirko]

F$%k. I promised myself I wouldn't post again in the waste of time thread. If I thought I could get away with it I would delete this topic.

You just love all the work and effort I've put into it

You'd like my new avatar too hey JTC !!

Go the Guus (well he is a Dutchman!)....

[JK]

Go the Guus (well he is a Dutchman!)....

Surprised he's made it this far then

[johntheclaret]

F$%k. I promised myself I wouldn't post again in the waste of time thread. If I thought I could get away with it I would delete this topic.

You just love all the work and effort I've put into it

You'd like my new avatar too hey JTC !!

Go the Guus (well he is a Dutchman!)....

Yeah mate. Gotta admit, you've done a great job............keeping this sh1thouse thread going. Now just let it die and slip of the page FFS

[Wedgie]

Go Germany!!!!

[johntheclaret]

Go Germany!!!!

Put your house on em Wedgie. Way too much finals experience to let the Spanish pretenders steal it imo.

[Dirko]

Go the Guus (well he is a Dutchman!)....

Surprised he's made it this far then

So where do your Euro allegiance lay smarty pants ?

[Wedgie]

Go Germany!!!!

Put your house on em Wedgie. Way too much finals experience to let the Spanish pretenders steal it imo.

Got on 'em before the tourney thanks to my mate LEH, mind you even then they were only paying $4.75.

[Dirko]

Germany 3 def Turkey 2

The Turks luck ran out in the semi's after outplaying Germany for the majority of the game.
Lahm struck the winner in the 90th to send the Krauts through.

Turkey took the lead through Boral in the 22nd, only to see Germany equalise through a
Schweinsteiger goal 4 minutes later.

Afther the break Klose put one in on the 79th, only to once again see the Turks put in a
late goal through Senturk in the 85th.

Most thought it'd go inton extra time, but someone forgot to tell Lahm who sent the Germans
through in the 90th.

Onward for the Germans and seeya Turkey...

[JK]

Go the Guus (well he is a Dutchman!)....

Surprised he's made it this far then

So where do your Euro allegiance lay smarty pants ?

My Euro allegiances lay with the convicts, although I did tip the Spanish to win it