European Championship soccer

[TDMVPDPOY]

that was a nice game by holland....

[Dglue]

It was a nice game, but as Van Basten said in it's press conference they were lucky. IMO France was the better team, but the Dutch were just better in finishing it off. The Netherlands were lucky that Van Der Sar was again brilliant.

@ Alain: Indeed with this defense you won't go far in this tournament, so I'm afraid that when the goalscoring will stop that the Dutch don't have much to rely on. And about the midfield...I really don't understand you're coach. Why leaving Nasri and Benzema on the bench? If you'll play with both those guys behind or around Henry you have a of a squad with a lot of depth and speed. I thought that Makelele played a nice game (though he should've send of, so I don't share you're feeling about the referee. Because he hit people with his hand and elbow like three times in the face. And besides that the goal of Henry was offside...just look closely at the replay) and also Malouda and Ribery were dangerous. They were a handful for the Dutch, though you're defense is aging faster than an overripe tomato...I hope that the Dutch will let Romania win, because I don't want to face an fired up French squad in the semi-finals! IMO the French are at this moment one of the best squads together with Portugal and Spain, they are just not that lucky....

@ terzappi: of course that was a foul! Panucci was choking the guy for crying out loud. I don't think that's legal, is it? You could better blame Panucci for making such a critical error, because the ball wouldn't never gone in from that angle (though Robben proved otherwise, what a horrible job by Coupet btw...) especially not with one of the best keepers in the world as Buffon (IMO together with Van der Sar and Gomes the beste goalkeepers around...)

[TDMVPDPOY]

Dude i watch the game, sure france played ok, but they lacked execution when needed it,

Holland was panickn while playing defense, but when they held the ball, they tried to keep it in possession and execute plays and started to make there run....when you have good wing players, they are deadly on a the run and through balls...thats when the forwards have to be in position to strike, as we have seen numorous times the dutch were in position to score alot....alot of miss chances for them and france....

the france GK, his a midget....dude cant jump for expecially on that last schnieder goal outside the box...

[Dglue]

I agree that they lacked execution, but they were the better team. BTW I watched the game also (I'm Dutch!), so I don't get your point in that...

I don't agree with your opinion regarding the possession thing. They scored out of counter attacks as you mentioned, but not because they kept good possession of the ball. That's the main reason Van Basten subbed Engelaar, because just that was lacking in the Dutch game. De Jong played an excellent game and he was one of the few players who actually held on to the ball to keep it in play for the Dutch. The other midfielders with Engelaar as leading man had to many turnovers and made too much passing errors (mainly because Toualala and Makelele had an excellent defensive position). This was corrected in the second half by van Basten for subbing Engelaar and letting Sneijder play a position more in the centre of the midfield when Robben went in. Now they could finally let the ball do his job, instead of running back because again a Frenchman intercepted a pass at midfield.

And regarding your comment that the Dutch were in position to score a lot, well the Dutch television replayed every chance of the game in chronological order. The Dutch had just 5 (!!!) scoring opportunities vs the French 12. When I watched the game yesterday evening I didn't had the feeling that discrepancy was that big, but it was...

[Texas_Ranger]

Today's firs game should be good. Spain is much better than Sweden, but I'm for Ibra this time, cause he's in Inter.

[TDMVPDPOY]

david villa and david silva = valencia FC

too much for sweden to handle

[Dglue]

Indeed, I don't think that Sweden stand any chance, though Zlatan is a great footballplayer! My pick to win it all is Spain, but their reputation in regard of knock-out games isn't that great. The team has the most depth compared to other teams, if you can leave Fabregas, Xabi Alonso and Joaquin on your bench and you still have such great players on the field, pfff....I am jealous...

[Magic_Johnson]

spain played great against russia but their defense is not very good.

[Dglue]

True, though I like the way Puyol plays, but he already left the game...

[SAtown]

David Villa with the DAGGER.

[SAtown]

david villa and david silva = valencia FC

I have a feeling Villa won't be with Valencia at the start of next season. There's speculation that there's Premiere League teams interested, including Arsenal. I think they will be paying more than the €8 million Valencia paid for him

[resistanze]

David Villa with the DAGGER.

Yeah Sweden really fell off in the second half; passes and movement was very slow allowing Spain to play aggressive defense. Playing for the tie usually gets you burned.

[SAtown]

Come on Greece!

[N.Y. Johnny]

I have a feeling Villa won't be with Valencia at the start of next season. There's speculation that there's Premiere League teams interested, including Arsenal. I think they will be paying more than the €8 million Valencia paid for him

If Villa goes to Arsenal its good, I just pray Villa doesn't sign with the Russian Mafia Gangster Roman Abramovich and his Chelsea team. Ughh. I think Villa will probably remain in Spain with Real Madrid, but money does talk in the end.

Los Galacticos have plenty of that as does that gangster Abramovich.


Greece is probably done as they'll won't recover from that boneheaded move by their goal keeper wandering outside and giving up the empty net. Who the did he think he is Rene Higuita?

[SAtown]

Greece is probably done as they'll won't recover from that boneheaded move by their goal keeper wandering outside and giving up the empty net. Who the did he think he is Rene Higuita?

This one definately is on Nikopolidis. Players can't make innocent mistakes like that at this level

[alamo50]

4-1 -->

IMO France was the better team

I hate to bragg, but damn we good!

You live in Holland dglue?
Which city?

[Dglue]

I indeed live in Holland, namely Hillegom (small place between Haarlem and Leiden). And I really think that France was better and that we were fortunate, but we were much better in finishing. But you really think that we played much better than the French? Even Van Basten admitted that we were lucky. And that doesn't matter, I was glad that they won and the goal of Robben was excellent timing...

[velik_m]

What an interesting game! Croatia has to be pretty happy - they will play Turkey without their first goalkeeper.

[alamo50]

But you really think that we played much better than the French?

No, I just think it's a bull opinion that France played better.

Now on to play Guusje in the quarters!

[Spurtacus]

Turkey-Czech was one of the best soccer matches I've ever seen. What a comeback by Turkey!

[Holt's Cat]

Turkey-Czech was one of the best soccer matches I've ever seen. What a comeback by Turkey!

man I took a nap at about the 70th minute.

[cze1860]

goalkeeper Cech made a mistake and Czech will go home,after the match,i was very sad that i saw Jan Koller was cry,he is 35 years old,this is his last game in national team,i was very very very very sad.

But i believe Czech will be back 4 years later,Go Cech!!

[lefty]

Germany will meet Austria.

Interesting........the last time those 2 met, it was during the 82 World Cup group stage; the famous " shame game:, when they agreed on to eliminate Algeria (which one of the best teams in the tournament)

[JK2]

Germany 3-0 Austria. book it!

[lefty]

Germany will meet Austria.

Interesting........the last time those 2 met, it was during the 82 World Cup group stage; the famous " shame game:, when they agreed on to eliminate Algeria (which one of the best teams in the tournament)