Euro 2008

[Gaede]

this next game should be interesting though

 

[gazmc_06]

Excellent performance from Portugal, they showed why I picked them to win it. Their football was free-flowing, fast, their defense was sound and in attack they can be deadly. They have v=everything needed...Ronaldo played well, hopefully Scolari realises that Quaresma is better than Simao.

 

[Dave the Sicilian]

Yeah...as we already knew Portugal made a good start...but I think it has not been a good opening day, poor first game uke:

 

[Dave the Sicilian]

hopefully Scolari realises that Quaresma is better than Simao.

right...Quaresma is a great great player

 

[gazmc_06]

Indeed he is, leaving Quaresma sitting on the bench is a mistake. I was dissappointed in that, he offers more of a threat than Simao (better on the ball, faster and stronger). I couldn't believe it when he brought Nani on instead of him either.

Not a great first day, but it was decent. I liked the Portugal game.

 

[Ren]

Portugal Turkey kinda made up for the bad opening game, can't wait for Monday Italy Holland should be good

 

[thekavorka]

Turkey was terrible off the wings.

Portugal looks great. It's too bad the one position that's not up to par is their striker. Nuno Gomes was decent in the 2nd half but was completely absent in the first half.

Don't know why Quaresma isnt starting.

 

[gazmc_06]

Turkey lost too many key players after the 2002 world cup and haven't recovered since, they wont be able to hang with the big teams. Portugal should just make the attacking 3: Gomes, Quaresma and Ronaldo. Gomes is a very good player when he has good service, Quaresma and Ronaldo will both provide that.

 

[thekavorka]

Nuno Gomes was a lot better couple of years ago. he's really dropped off in form recently.

but yeah, I think Portugal could play a 4-3-3 with Ronaldo-Gomes-Quaresma

 

[gazmc_06]

Gomes was a top class player in his prime, he still has his touch and reads the game well, he's showing his age a little now and he's lost a step or two. He can still be effective as long as the other players get forward...Quaresma and Ronaldo will do just that.

I'm interested to see the other top teams in the next few days, but I like my Portugal prediction.

 

[thekavorka]

out of all the top teams (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland), Portugal has the weakest striker. Gomes is the best thing they got but that doesn't really say anything. anyone can play well with Ronaldo feeding them the ball.

I think Portugal will lose in the quarters/semis if they keep playing a 4-5-1 against better teams. also, their marking on set pieces wasn't that great. they have to fix that.

 

[Dave the Sicilian]

Today we'll have a great challenge between Germany and Poland
There have been polemics for some stupid titles in the newspapers about historic rivalry

 

[Dave the Sicilian]

Olaaa Alex has been chosen as first Captain...even if he is not in the starting formation

http://www.lastampa.it/sport/cmsSezioni/quiazzurri/200806articoli/15108girata.asp

sorry for the link in italian

 

[gazmc_06]

out of all the top teams (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland), Portugal has the weakest striker. Gomes is the best thing they got but that doesn't really say anything. anyone can play well with Ronaldo feeding them the ball.

I think Portugal will lose in the quarters/semis if they keep playing a 4-5-1 against better teams. also, their marking on set pieces wasn't that great. they have to fix that.

Gomes isn't an out-and-out striker, he never has been. Portugal play 4-3-3 not 4-5-1. They do it the way Jose Mourinho did at Chelsea, when they attack it's 4-3-3 and the midfield players push forward to join in the attack, when they defend it becomes 4-5-1.

Gomes, Simao and Ronaldo is one of the best attacking lines in the tounament, it would be much better with Quaresma in Simao's position though.

I hope Germany absolutely embarrass Poland, I cannot stand them.

 

[Zaxor]

well I called the first 2 games right...today I am going with...

Croatia & Deutschland...er... I mean Germany

 

[Ren]

Gonna say Germany and a draw in the 2nd game

 

[gazmc_06]

Croatia have this game, they are clearly a better team. If they don't make any silly mistakes they will be safe. Germany will pumble Poland though.

 

[Ren]

Germany will outclass them but i doubt they score more then 2. the current game will end 2-2 :

Edit: another sad game don't see anyone scoring anymore in this one, I put 20$ on the draw in this one and i looks like i'm going to lose

 

[gazmc_06]

You put money on Austria (a team that had their own fans asking for them to be kicked out of the tournament because "they are so bad they will embarrass the nation)? lol.

Germany have made a good start, I hate the Germans as well, but I cannot stand Poland. Hopefully the Germans can add a good few more and absolutely trounce them.

 

[Dave the Sicilian]

Edit: another sad game don't see anyone scoring anymore in this one, I put 20$ on the draw in this one and i looks like i'm going to lose

Yeeeah...another poor game
but now I'm seeing Germany-Poland...seems better