Trips Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I think as far as this tournament goes it's pretty shocking, the front runners right now are the Netherlands and Croatia and the fucking holders are out after 2 games! The Netherlands have played fantastically so far and though they are (with Spain) the biggest bottlers on the planet (bigger than England) they are looking like a team possessed. I'm a huge fan of Rafael Van Der Vaart and have been for some time, I think it's just a matter of time before he ends up at a big club and not wasting his time at Hamburg SV as he has shown his quality in this competition as one of the most underrated attacking midfielder's in football. Also I have been surprised by Sneijder, I thought he was a bit overrated when Madrid snapped him up but he has also shown his quality also. Their game plan is working perfectly for them at the moment, they rely on the quick counter attacking game with Sneijder and Van Der Vaart using their excellent passing to link up with Robben and Kuyt/Van Persie on the flanks thus creating a swift move up-field on the break. However I worry about the Holland defence with the likes of Ooijer, Van Bronckhorst, Boulahrouz and Mathijsen, all of them OK defenders but the first two coming to the end of their career and the latter two just second rate to the quality of other teams defence. Not to mention Van Der Sar who, and I'm speaking as a United fan, has got to go. This I believe will be their downfall in the knockout stages as one mistake can cause the demise of a team at that stage. In fact the only Dutch defender I would have expected to shine is Heitinga and he seems to be lagging on the bench for some reason? Holland play Romania tonight, a team that on paper should be at the bottom of the group but find themselves in prime position for qualification to the quarter finals. Holland have nothing to play for as they are already through in first place and both Italy and France are going all out for the win so Romania have a good chance of surviving the "group of death". I think that Romania may sneak this one and steal a place in the quarter finals, they beat Holland 1-0 at home in the qualifying stage and held them them to a draw away from home as well so they are aware of the tactical approach to get the job done against Holland's all out counter attacking style. They also have one of the best defending players in the world at the moment in Cristian Chivu who is just shining right now and quality up front with Mutu. Holland will not risk players on yellow cards or with niggling injurys tonight either, thus I predict the surprise of the tournament so far in a Romania 2-1 victory and both Italy and France being dumped out despite a meaningless Italy victory. So that's my prediction; a shock Romania advance but they need a win to do it. If they don't win it's Italy to go through. Who's going to win it? I think its got to be Croatia, Germany or Spain. Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Germany, Holland or Italy (if I'm not mistaken they're still in). And holy shit, anyone watched/watching the Croatia/Turkey game? Extra time, 1minute 'till penalty's, Croatia scores, it's over. A minute later Turkey scores, watching the penalty's now, but damn, this is awesome. Quote
Aero Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 penalties where shit, i like seeing the underdogs win, but i dont want a load of shit teams in the semi's... turkey? if they win after greece won it 4 years ago, that'll be shit. dont really wanna see germany lift it either mind you, good team, but english papers will do nothing but moan. italy dont deserve it so that leaves holland, spain or .... erm... that other team... mind drawing a blank... whoever holland are playin 2mw. come on holland or spain! Quote
Smacktalks Posted June 21, 2008 Author Posted June 21, 2008 Russia? The Croatia match was boring as hell, except for the last 2 minutes. I had a feeling they'd miss there penalties as they all looked completley worn out when extra time finished. I'd heard the BBC say neither team had practised penalties before the game, surely thats a lie tho so they can use it as an excuse if they go out. Croatia should've at least managed to hit the target. Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 Ok, Turkey doesn't deserve it, but you can't say that the goal they made in the extra time was amazing. I'm hoping Russia will lose against Holland, because Holland is playing great. Actually hoping for a Holland VS Germany final. Quote
Smacktalks Posted June 21, 2008 Author Posted June 21, 2008 Denied! Russia completley outclassed Holland. I thought Holland would win it comfortably in 90 minutes, but Russia were much better and had tons of chances. Van Der Saar was Hollands best player, if it wasn't for him they would have lost it by a few goals. Holland seemed to have settled for Penalties in ET, well done the Russians though they didn't give up and dominated it. Well done the Ref for reversing the sending off aswell, didn't expect him to change that. Quote
Smacktalks Posted June 22, 2008 Author Posted June 22, 2008 I dunno, Italy just seem to have the luck factor so far. I'd prefer a Spain win, but if Luca Toni can actually convert his chances this time I think Italy might turn them over. Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 I'll call this The Weekend Of Shit. First Holland gets eliminated, then Italy. Those were the only teams I liked. Who do you consider most likely to win this thing after this weekend? Quote
Aero Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 on paper? spain! in reality? germany! however the way this tournament has been going we could easily see a turkey v russia final Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 O god no! And I'm hoping for a Spain/Germany final, that's my last hope. Quote
ALL STAR Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Im wanting Russia to make it through to the final they have played some great football and deserve it after beating Holland Quote
Aero Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 they've improved in leaps and bounds, but i'd still rather spain beat them. Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Just to have a match where most of the people know the players, AND for the sake of beautiful football, Spain/Germany. Not Russia.. Quote
System of a Daan Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Beautiful football doesnt agree with Germany. Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Germany plays wonderful footbal, imo. And if they're playing like in the beginning of the tournament, they won't play beautiful, but affective. Quote
Aero Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 turkey n russia could play "beautiful football" just fine Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 True, but I'd rather see Germany/Spain. Russia is pretty good though, but I don't want to see Turkey getting to the final. Quote
Aero Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 10 mins left, 3-0 spain, looks like a germany spain final tho the way germany played against turkey, spain need to win. germany better get their finger out or it'll be a shitty final. .... altho, if russia can turn this around now, that'd be fucking awesome Quote
bigpoppn Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 It'd be awesome, but it's pretty impossible. And Germany HAVE to play at their best in the final, not like any other game they played. Quote
Aero Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 not really, liverpool scored 3 goals in 6 mins when they where 3-0 down in the 2005 champions league final, went on to win it. robbie fowler once scored a HAT TRICK in 5 mins against arsenal ....its the 90th min now tho, so yeah, now its impossible lol Quote
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