Soccer thread 07/08

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:29 pm

Now that was a scary ending...Talk about a team that wont die.

Too bad it ends in penalties...but ...WOW....what a freaking tournament.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:32 pm

Wow. Just...wow.

Anyway, I'm happy for Germany. They get to play Turkey's B-side.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:33 pm

Ugh.

That image of Bilic comforting the disconsolate Srna was something. That about sums it up.

Just sick. So, so gutted.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:39 pm

One of the best tournaments I've seen for a while - as usual the Euros pisses all over the WC for quality.

Only one winner once went to penners, and I could tell by their faces who was going to miss. Couple of the Croats were just inconsolable at the end, but Bilic looks like a top notch manager to me.

Surprised Corluka was blabbing his eyes out though - you'd have thought that a season with City would have got him used to getting beat.

Two places I really would not want to be on semi-final night...Berlin and Cologne.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:42 pm

What a tournament. In my limited years as a footie fan this is unmatched for me.

Glad to see Rob posted already. I was getting ready to ask a DSP chicago-native to go check on him.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:47 pm

Turkey have played 4 games and are in the semi.

Total amount of time they have been in the lead in those 4 games....

2 minutes

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:56 pm

And as overwhelming favourites, I predict a struggling German team barely squeezing by also in ET. Go Turkey

.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:00 pm

davet010 wrote:Turkey have played 4 games and are in the semi.

Total amount of time they have been in the lead in those 4 games....

2 minutes

LOL

What an ending to a match, I almost spat out my coffee when Semih scored the equalizer - absolutely shocking! Poor Srna was going all John Terry at the final whistle (though unlike Terry I actually felt sorry for him).

Do Turkey have 11 players not suspended or injured for the Semis? I'd say Germany are going to batter them but like someone else said Germany seem to play better when they're underdogs.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:01 pm

Reminds me in some ways of Euro 92, where Denmark were drafted in as a last minute replacement for Yugoslavia, and ended up ducking and diving all the way to the final and winning.

It was so close to the tournament when Yugoslavia were dumped that some of the Danish players had already gone on holiday.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:11 pm

Kim Vilfort with a handball for that second goal....and John Jensen who went to Arsenal. LOL He was crap for them.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:28 pm

Naples39 wrote:Glad to see Rob posted already. I was getting ready to ask a DSP chicago-native to go check on him.

Yeah, it's going to be one of those nights where I keep telling myself, "It's only sports..."

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:42 pm

RobVarak wrote:
Naples39 wrote:Glad to see Rob posted already. I was getting ready to ask a DSP chicago-native to go check on him.
Yeah, it's going to be one of those nights where I keep telling myself, "It's only sports..."

I know the nights of which you speak of...and they do suck ass. I know it doesnt help but these kinds of losses make the victories so much sweeter.

Besides you can take some consolation in the Cubs beating the Sox.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:03 pm

One of the best tournaments I've seen for a while - as usual the Euros pisses all over the WC for quality.

Usually happens when the Brits aren't invited.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:15 pm

fsquid wrote:
One of the best tournaments I've seen for a while - as usual the Euros pisses all over the WC for quality.
Usually happens when the Brits aren't invited.

Cold...I like it

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:53 pm

Do the Turks have a dude named Rasputin on their roster? Holy sh*t -- what a finish.

Nice that Rustu redeemed himself with the winning save in the shootout after he was so out to lunch on the Croats' goal in extra time.

Fat chance penalty-riddled Turkey has against Germany, but anything is possible with this team. Who the hell would have predicted that comeback against the Czechs or today?

OK, footie sages with much more experience than me: Did Bilic have a gripe that the ref added an extra minute to the end of extra time?

P.S.: I watch all these matches in the evening on the DVR, hence my very delayed reactions!

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:02 am

fsquid wrote:
One of the best tournaments I've seen for a while - as usual the Euros pisses all over the WC for quality.
Usually happens when the Brits aren't invited.

It's not like Germany have covered themselves in glory, apart from the last game

And who was it who had gone 12 years between victories at the Euros before this tourney ?

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:06 am

pk500 wrote:Do the Turks have a dude named Rasputin on their roster? Holy sh*t -- what a finish.

Nice that Rustu redeemed himself with the winning save in the shootout after he was so out to lunch on the Croats' goal in extra time.

Fat chance penalty-riddled Turkey has against Germany, but anything is possible with this team. Who the hell would have predicted that comeback against the Czechs or today?

OK, footie sages with much more experience than me: Did Bilic have a gripe that the ref added an extra minute to the end of extra time?

P.S.: I watch all these matches in the evening on the DVR, hence my very delayed reactions!

Take care,
PK

Re Bilic's complaint about extra time - there were at least 2 substitutions during extra time, and the ruling is that each one should add 30 secs to the game -- I don't remember there being much additional time at the turn around in ET.

I can see why he might be upset, but i thought it had more to do with his attempted substitution after the goal. Fair to say though that there will be a number of big clubs looking closely at him as a potential manager.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:11 am

Even I, sitting here still totally devastated, don't think Bilic had a beef about the extra minute. They spent at least that much time celebrating their goal...albeit understandably.

I think he was really pissed that the ref didn't let him get that 3rd sub in, which he had been trying since prior to the Croatian goal. I think the frenzied finish may have gotten to the otherwise impeccable Italian ref, and he just never let the sub happen.

I keep going back to that missed chance by Olic in the early going and the amazing save on Srna's FK in the second half. Oh what a different game that might've been!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:11 am

One thing about Bilic, he's certainly not boring.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:14 am

RobVarak wrote: I keep going back to that missed chance by Olic in the early going and the amazing save on Srna's FK in the second half. Oh what a different game that might've been!

That save was unbelievable, and with 10 minutes to go, it may have been the winning goal.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:57 am

davet010 wrote:
fsquid wrote:
One of the best tournaments I've seen for a while - as usual the Euros pisses all over the WC for quality.
Usually happens when the Brits aren't invited.
It's not like Germany have covered themselves in glory, apart from the last game

And who was it who had gone 12 years between victories at the Euros before this tourney ?

When did England last win the Euros?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:02 am

Yep, that was one rippin' save by Rustu late in regular time. Full stretch!

The guy looked wretched at times, but he sure delivered when it counted.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:11 pm

Russia takes charge.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:14 pm

A well deserved result by the Russians! Guus does it AGAIN (again)!

Surely Ashavin, Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov, and a few other Russian players will be moving to Western European clubs after the tournament?

The Dutch were totally flat and some strange substitutions by MvB - Affalay on instead of Robben? Was Robben injured?

How crazy would it be to see a EURO 2008 final with Turkey and Russia....two Asian teams?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:17 pm

How could Guus Hiddink celebrate? Orange Crush. Russia defended very well. Turkey-Russia would be awesome...