UEFA Euro 2008 Cup

[Cavalry]

Spain 4
Russia 1

Although, I thought a Spanish defender slide tackled Russia's #8 from behind, but saw no call made.
anyway-Sweden-Greece 1-0

 

[The Monkey]

italy sucked and so did france. Im thinking it's gonna go to Netherlands vs Spain for the final

The Netherlands and Spain can't possibly meet in a finale, they will meet in either quarter-finals or semi-finals.

 

[Shift]

Aye.

Looks like it will be either Holland, Spain or Germany for this one at the moment.

 

[Seppo]

Spain and Germany, those are my favourites

 

[Azner]

Loz Germany

 

[The Monkey]

GG Sweden. The first half wasn't very entertaining, but who cares, we won!

 

[StardogChampion]

What a goal from Ibrahimovic though - http://www.dailymotion.com/search/ibrahimovic/video/x5qobs_suedegrece_sport

Damn copyright claims on youtube.

 

[The Monkey]

What a goal from Ibrahimovic though - http://www.dailymotion.com/search/ibrahimovic/video/x5qobs_suedegrece_sport

Damn copyright claims on youtube.

It's been three years since he scored for Sweden the last time, so it was about time (he's supposed to be out best player).

Nice goal, but it doesn't beat the one he had at the last Euro Cup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjnSvpEBOLo

 

[Cavalry]

The Portugal-Czech game was great!
Portugal 3
Czech 1

Though the Portuguese goalie (Ricardo) was very hesitant.

Switzerland Turkey now.

 

[Shift]

Yeh the portugal game was good, this one should prove interesting, as both teams cant afford to loose.

 

[Cavalry]

Switzerland just got quite a lucky goal, what the hell was Turkey doing???

 

[Absinthe]

Switzerland is fucked. First Frei in the first half of the first game. Now they lose to Turkey. And then they're up against Portugal next?

Oh well. Hopp Schwiiz!

 

[Cavalry]

Portugal is gonna tear them a new one, especially since Ronaldo will be be playing.


byebye Switz!

 

[Absinthe]

Holy ****.

I've just been seeing an assload of ambulances and police vans drive by here downtown. Shit's going on in Basel. :|

 

[Laivasse]

German's are getting an arsekicking atm..! They should have had Schwiensteiger on from the start, he always plays great for his country. Bringing him on now could be the same as the Czechs with Koller yesterday; too little, too late.

Impressed with the Croatians though. Generally set pieces and crosses into the box have been woeful from a lot of teams so far, but nearly all of Croatia's look lethal.

Edit: Shit, I missed a German goal while I was typing that!

 

[sharp]

Croatia 2 - 1 Germany :E

 

[sharp]

Schweinsteiger red card

 

[Laivasse]

Referee went insane towards the end. Red card for Schweinsteiger after falling for the Croatian player's acting, then a beautiful tackle from Modric which would have led to another Croatian goal gets him a yellow card.

Better team won on the day, but I won't be rooting for Croatia after that BS face-clutching shite.

 

[Seppo]

****ing germany played like crap. i lost a bet.

 

[jimbo118]

Croatia were awesome, I support any team that plays decent football.

 

[AKIRA]

i just really hate all the ****ing acting in soccer, it really gives the sport a bad name. FFS MAN UP AND STOP BEING HUGE PUSSIES!!!!

 

[The Monkey]

i just really hate all the ****ing acting in soccer, it really gives the sport a bad name. FFS MAN UP AND STOP BEING HUGE PUSSIES!!!!

QTF.

It's the same deal in all the teams, though, so there's no escaping it.

 

[Laivasse]

The reality is that it wins games. That scumbag clutching his face meant that Germany had one of their best players sent off and that 2 minutes of Germany's precious remaining time were wasted. Germany were putting on a lot of pressure towards the end and may have scored, but not after that.

The players who abuse the system should be criticised, but it's really FIFA and UEFA who should man up and start taking responsibility for their shitty officials. Remember the ref in the last World Cup who gave a player 3 yellow cards in a single match? You wouldn't see that in a non-league Sunday amateur game ffs, yet these are the biggest sporting tournaments IN THE WORLD.

 

[Seppo]

i hate the acting too. and it happens all the time, the players can barely touch each other without someone falling down and acting like he was hurt badly.

classic example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHOO4k3zsY&feature=related

 

[Laivasse]

There was a period a while back when the FA's were trying to crack down on all this, and they instructed their officials to be very strict with people they suspected of diving. That directive is still in place as far as I know, but either the emphasis has been removed or referees just don't bother with it, because I hardly see anyone penalised for showboating any more.

For example, if a forward collapses in the area and there is a defender on his case who hasn't got the ball then there can only be 2 conclusions:
a) penalty
b) yellow card for diving

Yet I see players go down all the time like that and then roll over to look at the referee, and the ref just waves play on - basically saying 'hhaaaa...! I know you dived but I'm not fooled! lol, better luck next time though.' If you're not PUNISHING the acting you're encouraging it.

 

[The Monkey]

I agree. I both hate and love Ronaldo. He does some amazing things with the ball sometimes, but also deserves an oscar for best male actor in every match he's in.

 

[Rizzo]

Fotbol sucks.

This is what real men watch and practice.

Spoiler

 

[Laivasse]

Screw your Ultimate Armbar Championship. If I want to see two jocks cluelessly flail at eachother I'll go to a seedy pub.

Austria 1 - 1 Poland

Not a bad match. The Polish goal was offside, and the Austrian penalty came against the run of play since their possession and passing had been terrible. But if neither team really deserves their goal then I guess it balances out. Good refereeing with that penalty decision - it's ridiculous the shit that players think they can get away with when competing to get on the end end of a cross or set piece. It makes me laugh when they genuinely get angry at the referee for penalising them after they've got a player by his shirt and pulled him to the ground. Talk about deluded.

 

[Shift]

You came on to this topic, just to say that. Ladies and Gentleman we have an idiot. Gtfo.

And what a match between Crotia and Germany, Crotia played like an entirely new team, and Germany have serious flaws with their left and right back, sure they are exellent attackers but they were more like left and right wingers, because they cannot defend for shit.

And what drama in the Poland vs. Austria match, penalty in the dieing minutes D:

 

[Unfocused]

Good refereeing with that penalty decision - it's ridiculous the shit that players think they can get away with when competing to get on the end end of a cross or set piece.

What? I saw that part a few times in slomo during match analysis and there was nothing exceptional there - this happens in matches and nobody gives penalties for that.

People are pissed here. I'm not a big football fan, but what the hell, seriously. Someone was looking for an excuse.

 

[Jimmeh]

And what a match between Crotia and Germany, Crotia played like an entirely new team, and Germany have serious flaws with their left and right back, sure they are exellent attackers but they were more like left and right wingers, because they cannot defend for shit.

Buh?

Philipp Lahm is pure class, both defensively and going forward. He played RB for the first half, but got shifted over to the left at half-time. Quality player, and I can't recall any mistakes on his part from memory. Jansen on the other hand...

Good game though, Croatia were pretty damn impressive for the most part.

Looking forward to tommorow's later game too - Netherlands take on the French. Should be a cracker.

 

[Laivasse]

What? I saw that part a few times in slomo during match analysis and there was nothing exceptional there - this happens in matches and nobody gives penalties for that.

People are ****ing pissed here. I'm not a big football fan, but what the ****, seriously. Someone was looking for an excuse.

Lewandowski had a handful of the guy's shirt and basically pulled him to the ground, preventing him responding to the incoming free kick. I have seen those awarded as penalties a couple of times, but no, they're not often awarded, which makes players think they should be able to get away with it. But it's bullshit - a shirtpull is a foul in the area as much as it is anywhere else on the pitch, there's no higher threshold for fouling just because you're on the defensive.

 

[Shift]

Buh?

Philipp Lahm is pure class, both defensively and going forward. He played RB for the first half, but got shifted over to the left at half-time. Quality player, and I can't recall any mistakes on his part from memory. Jansen on the other hand...

Good game though, Croatia were pretty damn impressive for the most part.

Looking forward to tommorow's later game too - Netherlands take on the French. Should be a cracker.

Jansen definately needs replacing but Lahm, well dunno tbh, he is great as an attacking player, but seemed he let quite a few attacks come from the right, probably being harsh, great player though. And by cracker I suppose you mean France getting absolutely hammered?

 

[Jimmeh]

And by cracker I suppose you mean France getting absolutely hammered?

That's the plan!

:cheers:

 

[Unfocused]

Lewandowski had a handful of the guy's shirt and basically pulled him to the ground, preventing him responding to the incoming free kick. I have seen those awarded as penalties a couple of times, but no, they're not often awarded, which makes players think they should be able to get away with it. But it's bullshit - a shirtpull is a foul in the area as much as it is anywhere else on the pitch, there's no higher threshold for fouling just because you're on the defensive.

If I'm not mistaken, a few minutes before that, an Austrian player did something similar to a Polish player and it was ignored...

I'll have to see that again somewhere.

 

[Laivasse]

Well stuff like that can go back and forth forever: I saw a blatant foul by a defender on Vastic ( think it was) about 20 minutes beforehand, but it was denied because the Austrian didn't go down quick enough. Of course, by that point it's a dive, but it doesn't change the fact that he was fouled seconds before - players shouldn't have to make a meal of everything to get awarded stuff.

 

[jimbo118]

1-1? Wtf, guess I switched off too early D:

 

[Laivasse]

Having looked at it again the Austrian player may have gone down a bit too easily, but that doesn't change the fact that if you're pulling shirts in the box you're asking for a world of trouble. Foul's a foul no matter where it is.

 

[Evo]

Having looked at it again the Austrian player may have gone down a bit too easily, but that doesn't change the fact that if you're pulling shirts in the box you're asking for a world of trouble. Foul's a foul no matter where it is.

Take that literally and every match would be full of stoppages here there and everywhere. Loads of free kicks and penalties. Wouldn't work.

 

[Laivasse]

There couldn't possibly be any more stoppages than there already are. The problem is that referees are hypersensitive when it comes to tolerating physical contact anywhere else on the pitch, with the slightest thing getting a whistle blown - but they're usually too pussy to say anything about the stupidity that goes on in the box when players are contesting an incoming set piece.

Webb made sure the free kick was retaken because the players were being retards what with shoving eachother and stuff. Once it was taken, they didn't heed the warning and there was shirtpulling right in front of his eyes. Good refereeing to call a penalty IMO, because otherwise it's just letting the players take the piss. You might have less than a minute left to play, but it doesn't give you carte blanche to do whatever the hell you want. If I was Lewerdowski I'd be furious with myself and no one else.