I've heard that it happened in Italy and Czech Republic IIRC.

The opening two games were 1000% better than I expected. This tournament is already better than the last World Cup,

My beloved Dutch nationals will win and everyone else may as well go home now.

We'll see what kind of halftime adjustments they make, down 1-0 to Denmark(!)

they've had more chances the first 5 minutes of this half than the first 45 min..

They could be out on Wednesday. A loss to Germany and a draw between Portugal and Denmark would see the Germans on 6 points, the Danes on 4 and Holland on 0.

Holland's Achilles' heel is their defence. Individually and collectively, they're not brilliant. The Germans will put a lot more pressure on them than the Danes did. Holland should have beaten Denmark and may rue not having done so.

No team can leave points on the table in that group...

Now they need a win-draw or win-win against Germany and Portugal to have a chance...

Postiga takes out Neuer and only gets a yellow? wow

up until the 70th minute this was easily the worst game of the Euros so far; but after the first goal it was nothing but wall-to-wall action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18139099

I saw the first half and went to bed at halftime. The announcers were complaining about the game being boring, but it wasn't that boring.
The guy on the Italy side, with the crazy hair-do; he kept getting called for ticky-tack fouls and got a yellow and the announcers were all "The betters have odds on favorite that he would get a yellow card in this game".

um...yeah..

If anyone had a good feed for this, I'd appreciate it, because:

1. ESPN is shit
2. my office firewall doesn't like ESPN, either

I'm meant to support England (what with being English & all) but as a Newcastle supporter first and foremost I'm also supporting Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa whilst they play for France.

I guess a draw suits both teams (but I won't be too disappointed if Ben Arfa scores the winner).

And you were right in your prediction, ENG-FRA seemed content to split the points...

RECAP: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/11/euro-2012-france-england-group-d

The last World Cup campaign was an absolute disaster, he failed to prepare the players well enough, he failed to motivate them, he failed to scout players (there were a few Premiership grounds he never visited) and he failed to learn more than the most basic English. He was far too conservative, favouring older players for their experience over younger players who might have been fitter and could have played with more desire.

He was looking for an excuse to leave and the English FA was looking for a reason to replace him. The John Terry captaincy debacle (he's pending criminal prosecution for racially abusing the brother of fellow England player Rio Ferdinand, personally I don't think he should be in the squad) gave him the excuse to leave citing interference in team selection and the FA weren't about to attempt to keep hold of him.

Even in a tournament where we are expected to be crap it's still quite tiresome to have the other games glossed over and loads of useless gumph aired about England. ITV being especially culpable on this front.

Usually we're told that we have the greatest team of since 1966 and we're sure to win it, leading to the inevitable disappointment when we fail to get past the quarter-finals.

This time everyone is aware that the squad is pretty shit. Old, over-hyped or injured. We have a new manager who half of Fleet Street would have us believe is a usurper, having taken Redknapp's rightful job (ignoring Hodgson's CV which pisses all over 'Arry's), completely out of his depth, dour, boring, etc. As such we're sure to crash out at the group stage.

Yet here's the weirdness. Because we know we're crap, because the team isn't the best available, because the manager is boring, there's less pressure on the team to do well. According to many, that means we're sure to win it.

ITV should be banned from having anything to do with football, they're dire. Their commentary can make the most exciting game sound like a state funeral, their analysis is laughable and their co-commentators are a joke (Andy 'who did you play for again?' Townsend demanding that Franck Ribéry get up and stop play acting whilst replays were clearly showing that he'd fallen awkwardly before an England player had accidentally stepped on his ankle, he was clearly in pain and clearly not faking it but Townsend had made his mind up, based on Ribéry being French probably). It's demonstrated by viewing figures for World Cup and Euro finals where the games are shown by both the BBC and ITV, the BBC will get 10 times the viewers as ITV.

But the absolute worst thing about their coverage is their basic assumption that the only team anybody wants to hear about is sodding England.

They only improve if & when England get knocked out.

Shevchenko is going off...2 goals in the 61st min

That's what defenders are for.

As a former defender, I used to dread having the forwards in our defensive penalty area.

If things don't go their way, they could be the first team eliminated.

Lots of houses around here have orange bunting and Dutch flags. My neighbour is a rabid Feyenoord fan (as am I) but he's also a rabid Oranje-fan. Me, I'm Australian.

But tonight, I'm Dutch!!!!!!

Portugal is leading 1:0

that is a good game

All of that in the first half

Ronaldo misses a sure goal and now Denmark got its 2:2.

3:2 for Portugal

and not the $25 million stars(!), Nani and CR7

I mean come on, alone in front of the goal and not getting the ball in?

You watching the next game at home, or are you going out to the 'fan mile'?

no "fan mile" in Frankfurt this time around

Bloody good player, but not quite there.

All teams still in touch.

Go Holland!!!!

You know it's going to happen!!

I think your prediction is slightly off .....

Gomez for Germany in the 22nd

.

Many Thanks. I will however confess that Im just getting my post count up so that I can post an introduction in the relevant section. Got loads of Q`s to ask and a few rants

I'd expect them to be very aggressive in the second half, and take a lot of risky shots...

as they did against Spain two years ago. That was ugly. So far it is a very fair game, I hope the Netherlands keep it that way

I'm trying to dig up the last German hat-trick...

I will give you one thing, MissCH...

German commentators!!!! They get excited by good play by either side and you can't tell they are German except by their language..

Also, they keep the crowd noise up. The Dutch commentators seem to be living at home and the crowd sounds like there's about 50 people there.

Has it ever occured to him that it's not all about Arjen Robben and nobody else?

Last edited Thu Jun 14, 2012, 10:22 AM - Edit history (1)

If Holland were to beat Portugal, Denmark - Germany will be a draw, advancing both teams. You know it;ll happen, and frankly, who could blame them?

Portugal i.e. that they must genuinely play against Denmark. I say that is BS. Germany has no obligation to any other team than Germany. If they want to rest players, they should do so.

Just BTW, I'm supporting Holland.

Germany haven't definitely qualified from the group yet. If Portugal and Denmark were to both win then Germany could go out on goal difference. Wins for Germany and the Netherlands could see the Netherlands going through on goal difference too.

I suspect that Germany will come out all-guns-blazing in the first half against Denmark but sit back once they've taken the lead. They won't be too disappointed with a draw and, with the Netherlands needing to win, a draw might suit Denmark too.

I was referring to the Dutch commentators' statements that Germany should play the game in a way so as to give Holland and Portugal a maximal chance to qualify, even if that might damage Germany's chances. I don't agree with them but you pointed out my words are a bit clunky. So, thank you.

I agree with your suggestion that Germany will try and bury the game early. The may rest one or two players at the start (they've got strength in depth) and then pull off one or two more in the second half.

Torres double helps Spain send Ireland out of Euro 2012
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2012/match-reports/torres-double-helps-spain-send-ireland-out-of-euro-2012-3139124.html

FRA 1-0 UKR

now down 2-1 to the Swedes in the 59th

no points for style...

They are just warming up..

It'll be interesting to see what Rooney adds to the team. He and Carroll could be a useful combination.

That anti-football was amusing once in 2004, especially against Portugal, but the joke's long over.

Greece advancing instead of Russia is a loss for football and for this tournament which had been so good up till now.

And the anti-football isn't easy on the eyes, but from the Greek point of view it gives them the best chance of winning with the roster they have...

Apart from the first 20 minutes of the first half and maybe the first 10 minutes of the second, Holland were woeful. The defence was terrible, the distance between the defence and the attack was so great, they had to communicate using semaphore, none of the stars even looked reasonable (Rafael at least tried).

I wonder if all the bunting will disappear or will it be left for a couple of weeks.

Guess I'll have to go for the Germans.

Portugal 2 - 1 Netherlands
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/matches/round=15172/match=2003337/index.html

Denmark 1 - 2 Germany
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/matches/round=15172/match=2003338/index.html

Greece 1 - 0 Russia
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/matches/round=15172/match=2003335/index.html

Czech Republic 1 - 0 Poland
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/matches/round=15172/match=2003336/index.html

Hasselbaink: Van Bommel & Sneijder have been over-protected for Netherlands
http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2012/06/18/3182359/hasselbaink-van-bommel-sneijder-have-been-over-protected-for

Ronnie Whelan: Trapattoni hasn't handled Euro 2012 properly
http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2012/06/18/3179846/ronnie-whelan-trapattoni-hasnt-handled-euro-2012-properly

Resurrection Man: Alou Diarra is back from the brink to dominate for France
http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2012/06/18/3182894/resurrection-man-alou-diarra-is-back-from-the-brink-to

Euro 2012 paper review: 'A black page in the history of Holland'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/18/euro-2012-paper-review-holland

Euro 2012: Holland were too arrogant, says Denmark's Christian Eriksen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/18/euro-2012-holland-arrogant-eriksen

Euro 2012: Spain scoff at Italian fears of Croatian score draw pact
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/16/spain-italy-croatia-euro-2012

Euro 2012: Trapattoni wants Ireland to cut through conspiracy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/17/euro-2012-giovanni-trapattoni-republic-of-ireland

Will Poland fans now lend their support to England?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/18/euro-2012-poland-england-ukraine

Euro 2012: Ireland not just there for the sing-song says Shay Given
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/15/euro-2012-ireland-shay-given-roy-keane

Euro 2012 special, part two: when did Holland last play without a 'van'?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/13/the-knowledge-holland-no-van

Euro 2012 special, part one: club and country success without a league title
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/06/success-club-country-without-league-title

I am so glad that Germany managed the 2 : 1. They deserved the win. Germany had a lot of chances and Denmark was mostly blocking their own goal, a similar version of playing like Greece.

These Euros have been really good from the start. Usually you get some dire games in the groups but this has been different. Everything except I dropped Christiano Ronaldo and Andy Carroll in fantasy league STUPID! Picked Germany to win it though so I am still in with a chance. Half German 1/2 Spanish fantasy squad should prove to be good in the end.

How many Eurozone jokes will the newspapers make over the upcoming Greece match??

While Ireland is down 1-0 to Italy...

nobody really understands it.

I am not quite sure the people who determine it know what they are determining

as opposed to, say, 38 as in the EPL.That means that teams are going to be close to each other in terms of points gained, goals scored and goal difference. So, the criteria are going to be fairly complicated.

I think they should have gone with goal difference and goals scored over all games as the second and third criteria (after points gained) before getting into the mini-league within a mini-league stuff. They only come into play after the 3-teams-on-the-same-number-of-points-mini-mini-league and the 2-teams-on-the-same-number-of-points-mini-mini-mini-league.

It's going to be worse in 2016. Then we'll have the "best 3rd placed" teams. Gawd.

He's going to create headaches for opposing defenses for a lot of years to come...

Does anybody really enjoy watching this Spanish team anymore? Crikey, that was boring -- the first truly dull match of the tournament. Spain - England, Spain - France, Spain - Ukraine are all possibilities for the quarter finals.

At least that way you won't have one team having all the posession and trying to walk the ball in. Spain are outrageously good but for a team who pass better then anyone else around right now (and it's difficult to think of any previous great teams who pass as well as Spain) they are not good to watch.

Free, unmarked header from the six yard box...straight to the keeper. Should have been in. Best chance of the match apart from the Spanish goal.

The Spanish defence looks suspect to me. A couple of times the Croats had them at sixes and sevens.

Easier said then done at the moment.

Croatia could absolutely have pinched it. Shortly before the Spanish goal, Corluca was pulled down by his arm in front of the Spanish goal, which looked like a nailed-on penalty to me. There was an incident in the first half also, which wasn't a penalty in my opinion, but I've seen them given.

To me, the Spanish goal looked offside as well. Navas was in an offside position when the ball was passed to Iniesta who was not. Iniesta than passed to Navas who was then in front of goal, but NOT then offside. I know the interpretations have changed a bit but for me, Navas gained an advantage from his offside position during the same phase of play. Had Iniesta scored directly, it would not have been offside, of course. On the other hand, had Iniesta attempted to score, hit the post, and Navas scored off the rebound, it WOULD have been offside because of his having gained an advantage from his offside position. I know that for a fact, because I remember referees explaining that to tv commentators after it happened some time ago. So I don't understand why Navas wasn't deemed offside. If he wasn't, what's the definition of "phase of play"?

In Croatia - Ireland game (I think?), Croatia scored from a blatant off-side position, but the goal was valid because the Croatian received the ball from a mis-hit Irish clearance, and thus a "new phase" was deemed to have begun. I can understand that one, but I can't understand the Navas goal.

It makes your head spin.

You could have a player "40 yards offside but not interfering" when the ball is played who subsequently gets a tap in and the goal counts. A certain Mr Shankly quote comes to mind.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/06/19/ukraine-england-euro-2012.ap/index.html#ixzz1yKvvnSvc

Shevchenko wants to play 1 last Ukraine match
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/06/19/andriy.shevchenko.ap/index.html#ixzz1yKw3ND7d

France backs into Euro 2012 quarterfinals after loss to Sweden
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/06/19/france-sweden-euro-2012.ap/index.html#ixzz1yKwDNp1Z

Joachim Löw plays down politics ahead of Germany v Greece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/19/euro-2012-germany-greece-politics

Referee was biased towards Spain, says Croatia captain
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/20/euro-2012-croatia-spain-referee

Fight broils over officials, goal-line technology on Terry's too-late save
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/georgina_turner/06/19/euro.wrap/index.html#ixzz1yKwdfany

Italy staff take 13-mile walk after Ireland victory
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/20/euro-2012-italy-walk-monastery

Sepp Blatter says goalline technology is 'a necessity'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/20/euro-2012-sepp-blatter-goalline-technology

Ukraine's Oleh Blokhin asks journalist to 'go one on one'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/20/euro-2012-oleh-blokhin-ukraine-outburst

England v Ukraine – five talking points
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/19/euro-2012-england-ukraine-talking-points

How much freedom should you give your star player?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/19/euro-2012-freedom-star-player

They deserved better today...

Hey UEFA, how about you abandon the experiment with the extra linesmen? They have one job to do and they can't seem to be able to do it right. In fact, I've never noticed one making a call, ever. Of course it was really offside anyway, but still...

England avoid Spain and play Italy instead. Spain play France.

Still no scoreless draws!

But it was an unlucky break, because Ukraine played their hearts out, just like Sweden (much respect to a nothing-to-play-for Sweden going out shooting -- Makes Ireland's docile exit look all the worse)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: It's pronounced "ZLA-tin"

In the past 12 hours, SportsCenter has called him both "zal-uh-TAN" and "ZOLL-tun"

I can see it now: Merkel slips the Greek team an anonymous message saying "pay up now or take a dive for us."

J/K!!!!

This has really gotten serious over here. My normally sane younger daughter, living as a hotshot lawyer in Frankfurt, got offered a deal for 200 euros each for her and her boyfriend to fly from Düsseldorf to Lviv (Ukraine) and back last Sunday. It included two tickets to the Germany-Denmark game. She took a train up with her boyfriend, had brunch at our house, and I drove them to the airport in the afternoon for their special flight to Lviv. They got there in the late afternoon, went to the game at night, stayed up all night in bars or wherever (we think) and caught a 5 AM flight back to Düsseldorf, and then a train back down to Frankfurt, where she had to be in the office at 9 AM Monday morning.

We THINK they got back OK, but haven't heard from either of them since. Must have been all that vodka consumed after the game.

Last edited Thu Jun 21, 2012, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)

One of the understated beauties of international soccer its long history of matches being intertwined with politics...

Sure enough, she came back from the Ukraine with a miserable head cold, and she has reduced her working hours to just 12 hours a day for the rest of this week.

Like I said, she is not entirely sane.

I haven't had to do 12 regularly for a long time...

It's sometimes shorter when she is sent out on assignment. She is sometimes sent to other parts of the country, and sometimes to other countries, like England, Ireland, USA, Hungary, and probably a few others I have forgotten. But when she is at her home office, it's not unusual for her to work from ten to twenty hours straight.

Like I said, insane.

Last edited Thu Jun 21, 2012, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

Portugal impressed me today. I thought they (and by extension Ronaldo) only looked good against Holland because the Dutch defence was so wide open and rubbish, but I think this team will be more than a match for, well, Spain and then Germany.

I confess to not liking Ronaldo much, but if they go on to win the whole thing you won't find me too upset. I'll back them against Spain in any case.

Germany leads 1-0

now 4-1 in the 76th

And I am not quite sure the 11 meter was called for. Oh well, Germany made it to the Semi finals. Going to play either against Italy or England. I'd prefer England ....

I'm excited to see which France team shows up on Saturday against Spain, and which England team shows up on Sunday against Italy...

There will be NO middle ground, I think...France and England will either play the games of their lives or be embarrassed off the field...

and I honestly doubt that England will be able to win against Italy. Both England and France suck since a few years. So their chances are slim.
And Spain is still the best team out there. Beside Germany that is

but, as we say, that's why we play the games -- Never know what could happen...

I know we're all supposed to worship at the altar of Spain and Barcelona these days for fear appearing a lout, but Christ this Spanish tiki-taka is about as exciting as watching flies copulate on drying paint.

A lout maybe, but a shrewd, level-headed lout.

90 minutes of my life I won't be able to get back.

at the game Italy England

Still, you can't deny justice was done and the better team went through tonight. This is a likeable Italian side.

Pirlo with that cool little Panenka for the 3d penalty... Wow!

Don't really care for any other remaining teams...