Euro 2012

[JRod]

Holland a team that was in the finals two years ago in South Africa, looked and played like an aging team.

Portugal is not that good. Ronaldo is but he's still no Messi. I think if Messi had the chances Ronaldo in the first two games, Messi would have 6 goals by now.

However this tournament is WIDE open. You can say Germany look the best right now but after watching them, they aren't destroying opponents. One bad day and they will most certainly lose. I don't think they have enough quality to overcome playing bad for one match.

Wide open unless the bigger teams left decide to show up.

[RobVarak]

I don't know much, but I was dead on about Group B. I felt like everyone was overlooking a young Portuguese team and overrating a Dutch team with a lousy defense. 31 entries in my pick 'em tourney and only 3 of us had the group Germany-Portugal. I was begging people not to sleep on them before the tourney, but their bad run-in scared people off.

This Portuguese squad is 180 degrees different from the hacking, negative dive-meisters of the last couple major tournaments. They've coalesced around Ronaldo and are playing good football. Ronaldo's had the yips, but I wouldn't bet against him ending up with the Golden Boot...as much as it pains me to say it. Solid in the back with Alves and Pepe, great overlapping FB's and a solid midfield with Moutinho's technical ability and Mereiles' grit. The only thing they really lack is a good CF, but with Ronaldo picking up the scoring slack it's not a fatal shortcoming.

The Dutch were obviously dreadful. Everyone got so enamored of their high-profile attack, but ignored the fact that the pieces didn't fit, players were out of position and there was no foundation at the back whatsoever. I don't think it was age as much as it was the absence of a system that played to their best players' strengths. Did Huntelaar see a cross in any of the 3 games? Van Persie never touched the ball in the penalty area tonight. He was totally isolated on the flank. They need a coaching change, someone to cull out the dead wood and a new tactical approach.

[RobVarak]

http://espnfc.com/us/en/news/1105460/cr ... acism.html

Really proud of Slaven Bilic's comments today. If you see the video of his delivery, it's clearly more than rote p.c. rhetoric. He got very emotional and very worked up over the entire issue.

"It's a big problem all around Europe and all around the world, and in the name of the whole Croatian nation, and not just our team, we're all really disappointed with this," Bilic said Sunday before the team's final Group C match against Spain. "We are not a racist country and that's why we are so angry with these couple of crazy supporters."

Bilic said that "as a Croatian, as a parent, as a sportsman and as a person who comes from a modern, open-minded and tolerant state," he wanted authorities to do all they can to "stop this kind of supporter forever."

On the pitch, he'll be judged on whether or not they go through tomorrow (although few, including me, had them getting out of a Spain/Italy group). As far as I'm concerned, he capped off a fine career as national team coach with these comments.

[10spro]

Just finished watching the Dutch team losing to Portugal on a re-run. What a colossal disappointment the Orange Crush has been in this tournament. I had them losing to the Germans but all three games? Where were Van Persie and Robben? I am still not sold on Portugal and face a better team with all those missed chances and you'll be a sitting duck. Hear that Nani?

Ronaldo still thinks he's the best in the world and to give him credit, his second goal was brilliant with all that patience. Still, let the crowd chant Messi, Messi, and he'll be a basket case.

And XXXIV, the whole world will be rooting for your team not to lose 5-0.

[FifaInspected]

Now that my dutch have crashed out... I'm going all in on Portugal. To me they look to have the confidence now to flip an opponent on their a$$ very quickly and a defense that can at least hold it's own.

[JRod]

Just finished watching the Dutch team losing to Portugal on a re-run. What a colossal disappointment the Orange Crush has been in this tournament. I had them losing to the Germans but all three games? Where were Van Persie and Robben? I am still not sold on Portugal and face a better team with all those missed chances and you'll be a sitting duck. Hear that Nani?

Ronaldo still thinks he's the best in the world and to give him credit, his second goal was brilliant with all that patience. Still, let the crowd chant Messi, Messi, and he'll be a basket case.

And XXXIV, the whole world will be rooting for your team not to lose 5-0.

Actually the whole world is rooting for Greece not to go two goals down, then have Germany bail them out with two own goals, only to have Greece take austerity measures going a man down finally losing to Germany 3-2.

[FifaInspected]

Jrod... That is some funny stuff!!

[RobVarak]

Someone should have let the useless damn Irish know that you have to bring a football team to this tournament.

[10spro]

De Rossi, what a whiner...

[pigpen81]

I can't wait to see the Italians go out.

They epitomize negative soccer with all their constant whining. UGH!

BTW, that ref was bad both ways.

[RobVarak]

Ugh! Heartbreaking for Croatia. Just didn't have the legs to put up with all that Spain possession and missed the key chance.

Everybody praises tiki-taka for it's beauty and elegance, but it's really ruthless...all about strangling the life out your opponent. This game was a great demonstration of that.

Big picture, the Croats have themselves to blame to a large extent. Their indifferent qualifying campaign helped put them in this horrible group. Typically, they are resolute and tenacious in the Finals...but just a bit short of what it takes.

[rhymes450]

Brave performance by Croatia. They've got good players and they really put it up to Spain. Sorry for being so "useless" Rob, but at least we gave it a go. As for the Croatian supporters, I was beginning to get worried that they might blow themselves up. Obviously, those firecrackers don't come with instructions.

[RobVarak]

Brave performance by Croatia. They've got good players and they really put it up to Spain. Sorry for being so "useless" Rob, but at least we gave it a go. As for the Croatian supporters, I was beginning to get worried that they might blow themselves up. Obviously, those firecrackers don't come with instructions.

Much better in the second half from the Irish. Probably deserved an equalizer before the Balotelli goal.

Nothing personal against the Irish. Hell, my kids are half-Irish, so I'm not unaware of the charms of the people on a wider scale. I just wish they'd brought a gun to the gunfight.

[rhymes450]

Brave performance by Croatia. They've got good players and they really put it up to Spain. Sorry for being so "useless" Rob, but at least we gave it a go. As for the Croatian supporters, I was beginning to get worried that they might blow themselves up. Obviously, those firecrackers don't come with instructions.

Much better in the second half from the Irish. Probably deserved an equalizer before the Balotelli goal.

Nothing personal against the Irish. Hell, my kids are half-Irish, so I'm not unaware of the charms of the people on a wider scale. I just wish they'd brought a gun to the gunfight.

No sweat man. I'd've liked to see Croatia go through and they came agonisingly close. Unfortunately, this Irish team isn't up to doing anybody any favours, much as I'd've liked them to get something out of tonight's match.

[10spro]

Rhymes, as you know Andrews in the 2nd half with a free kick was close to tying it up as Buffon cleared his shot and was fortunate not to land in the foot of a white shirt. They did try the air route but the Italians were too strong. Nothing special for me in this win, they just did enough to advance to the next round. Balotelli's goal was nice though.

[rhymes450]

Rhymes, as you know Andrews in the 2nd half with a free kick was close to tying it up as Buffon cleared his shot and was fortunate not to land in the foot of a white shirt. They did try the air route but the Italians were too strong. Nothing special for me in this win, they just did enough to advance to the next round. Balotelli's goal was nice though.

10s, I was flicking between the two matches and managed to miss the Andrew's free kick and also the Ramos challenge, which could easily have been interpreted as a foul in the box and a penalty to Croatia. I think Croatia have a right to be a little unhappy about some of the refereeing decisions, with a reasonable penalty appeal also being turned down in the final minutes. FIFA have also clearly changed the interpretation of the "interfering with play" aspect of the offside rule (probably years ago and I missed it). In years gone by, I feel that the Spanish goal would have been disallowed, not because either Iniesta or Navas were in offside positions when the respective passes were played to them, but because Navas was clearly in an offside position when the pass to Iniesta was made. Creating a 2 on 1 situation against the keeper and then actually finishing the move by scoring would surely have been seen as interfering with play in the past.

[10spro]

Rhymes, as you know Andrews in the 2nd half with a free kick was close to tying it up as Buffon cleared his shot and was fortunate not to land in the foot of a white shirt. They did try the air route but the Italians were too strong. Nothing special for me in this win, they just did enough to advance to the next round. Balotelli's goal was nice though.

10s, I was flicking between the two matches and managed to miss the Andrew's free kick and also the Ramos challenge, which could easily have been interpreted as a foul in the box and a penalty to Croatia. I think Croatia have a right to be a little unhappy about some of the refereeing decisions, with a reasonable penalty appeal also being turned down in the final minutes. FIFA have also clearly changed the interpretation of the "interfering with play" aspect of the offside rule (probably years ago and I missed it). In years gone by, I feel that the Spanish goal would have been disallowed, not because either Iniesta or Navas were in offside positions when the respective passes were played to them, but because Navas was clearly in an offside position when the pass to Iniesta was made. Creating a 2 on 1 situation against the keeper and then actually finishing the move by scoring would surely have been seen as interfering with play in the past.

I looked at that replay several times. And I am shocked that everyone was mentioning how Iniesta beat the offiside trap and made a beautiful pass to Navas. Sure Iniesta was not the man offside but to me Navas was a foot off when Fabreagas made the pass and the goal shouldn't have counted. Tough break for the Croatians who fought hard.

Andrews kick was the only chance that the Irish had in the 2nd half but he also acted like a spoiled child when he put his team short. In the end Spain did deserve to advance into the next round while the Italians failed to impressed me.

Just look at how Buffon celebrated after he found out that Spain won.

[10spro]

Having been unimpressed by the Italians play so far, I have to say that this team has the perfect mix of veterans and youngsters that could surprise in the second round. If they stop the whining and start playing football they may just gel in time.

[RobVarak]

Iniesta was offside. The Ramos challenge should have been a penalty. It would have been a booking anywhere else on the field. There should have been a penalty on the late corner when Corluka nearly had his arm ripped off by the defender.

But these are not calls that you get when you're Croatia playing against Spain. I've long gotten used to it. As I said, the combination of Croatia's poor qualifying and the idiotic seeding of the hosts left a huge hurdle to overcome in a group with both Spain and Italy.

[10spro]

Bad break for Ukraine as Rooney gets the lead and where is the instant replay? That ball crossed the line, it's a goal. Bad luck continues for the team in blue.

[toonarmy]

Ukraine robbed of a clear goal that crossed the line. Yet another load of bullshit for not allowing any type of goal line technology or instant replay on goals.

[10spro]

The goal line ref is right there too. It wasn't like it was a speedy shot as the ball hit Hart first. Hopefully, there's some magic left in Shevchenko.

[Feanor]

Platini should give himself an uppercut and retire.

http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worl ... qnonsenseq

[toonarmy]

Platini should give himself an uppercut and retire.

http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worl ... qnonsenseq

"It is always better to use humans who can judge a situation, such as handling the ball, than to install complicated technology."

These old farts need to shut the f*** up and make the sport better. It is not "complicated technology" to put a camera on each goal line in a major event. The refs clearly need help at times. Goals in football are just too big to have them botched.

[10spro]

Video replay will erase any doubters and in most cases in footie it's just a goal differential in advanced stages of any tournament. Looking back at the replay now, the zebras screwed up twice on that particular play. As Ukraine builds up that play the moment the long ball is passed, a forward is offside, so that alone wasn't called. But since the play continued ending up eventually in a goal, what use is to have a human eye when he completely blows the call. And again, it's not as if it was a blast that was saved by Terry, that moon ball just went in slow motion and the goal line ref still missed it.

Platini should reverse those comments after seeing the replay. He doesn't care, his team advanced even after losing to the Swedes.