Soccer/Football

[Edmond Dantès]

Yup.


Meanwhile, Michael Ballack is now an ESPN commentator. He speaks about 5 words per minute, but that's ok, because that means they show him longer.

Never Mind the Ballacks. We're not just sex pistols, put here for your delectation



Had Portugal actually attacked Germany from the beginning then they probably would have got something out of tonight's game. I don't know why they persist with the negative strategy - didn't work at the World Cup and they struggled in qualifying for this. You'd think a team with Ronaldo in it might see there's more benefit to be had in getting him on the ball more often.

[suliso]

My bet is on Russia getting overconfident by the time they get out of group.

I guess you now a thing or two about Russian football except that they didn't even manage to get out of the group...


Seriously, in three games their level regressed from fabulous to mediocre at best.

[morct]

Hard to believe Russia is gone.

[Edmond Dantès]

If group B is the group of death, then group A is the group of life. I doubt that either the Czechs or the Greeks would have qualified from any other group. An epic balls up by the Russians in getting themselves eliminated.

Find myself wondering if (at some point early this century) the Greeks entered into some kind of faustian pact where they accepted fiscal bankruptcy in exchange for a series of unlikely results in football.

Now sets them up with a probable QF tie against Germany. Not very interesting from a footballing point of view, but I'm sure the off the field tensions will be much publicized.

Some images below from the Ukraine vs France match that took place on Friday. There was a rather grand thunderstorm which caused the players to be taken off, then a delay of around an hour until conditions improved.





The French crowd still managed to have some fun...

[mmmm8]

I guess you now a thing or two about Russian football except that they didn't even manage to get out of the group...


Seriously, in three games their level regressed from fabulous to mediocre at best.

Yeah.. hard to believe my statement was me giving them way too much credit. The hilarious part is that if the Czechs didn't win today, Russia would have been through.

[ptmcmahon]

All the more appropriate I say.

Anyone like the Dutch's chances of coming back from 0-2? They still may be favored to make semifinals...although pre tournament I had a Portugal "upset" so I'll stick with my original pick.

[Edmond Dantès]

All the more appropriate I say.

Anyone like the Dutch's chances of coming back from 0-2? They still may be favored to make semifinals...although pre tournament I had a Portugal "upset" so I'll stick with my original pick.

I think the Portuguese are the better balanced overall - they could do with a midfield playmaker and top striker, but they do have good players in each part of the team. Whereas the Dutch are top heavy with attacking midfielders and forwards, with an average defense.

Could see it going either way. Might be the night for Mr Ronaldo to bring some of his Real Madrid form to international football.

I hope one of them makes it through as I'd rather we don't have the Czechs and Danes playing for a place in the semifinals.

Should be another fun night in any case. The tournament has been very good so far.

[tinamarie]

Denmark is playing this very clever... Most of the time it feels like have an additional field player.

[suliso]

I think you care about the result too much. From where I sit Germans are dominating this game and likely to score again soon.

Really disappointed in Dutch team this tournament...

[tinamarie]

I think you care about the result too much. From where I sit Germans are dominating this game and likely to score again soon.

Really disappointed in Dutch team this tournament...

No way! I am a very objective observer. I agree about the first part of your analysis, not so sure about the second one, though. Plenty of good chances wasted thus far and the Danes are getting better. Bendtner has been really difficult to defend in standard situations, another one might be all they need.

Or, to put this into a slightly more objective prediction: Stupid Germans will squander plenty more chances and the stupid Danes will have a single one that will lead to their victory, all while the hot, but stupid Portugueses will beat the Netherlands and Germany will be out.

[suliso]

My favorite outcome would be Denmark and Germany going through - not particularly fond of Portuguese football and not at all interested in their hotness


I forgot when was the last time my favorite outcome came to pass...

[tinamarie]

Portugal up 2:1. I am suddenly less fun and relaxed .

[tinamarie]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

[ptmcmahon]

Who knew Ronaldo had it in him still?

Meanwhile, with Italy leading, Spain is a goal away from elimination here...going to be a tense finish! Lots of chances for Croatia.

[tinamarie]

Who knew Ronaldo had it in him still?

Meanwhile, with Italy leading, Spain is a goal away from elimination here...going to be a tense finish! Lots of chances for Croatia.

A bit of a lucky win for Spain. Croatia should have gotten a penalty in the first half and that header in the second was almost a freebie.