OFFICIAL EURO SOCCER/Football Championship Thread

[ShadowOfMyself]

Well... I dont know what to say

Italy had about 5 blatant chances to kill the game... 2-1 win doesnt even begin to do justice to what really happened

If only they could play like this vs Spain... God Spain cant win again, I cant take their sleep inducing football anymore, its too much

 

[datalink7]

Scheiße

 

[BrokenVisage]

I was explaining the difficulty of rooting for a team in this tournament to some friends:

• Nobody likes Italy
• Nobody likes Germany
• Nobody likes Portugal
• Nobody likes Spain any more
• Nobody likes the Dutch after the World Cup (2010) Final
• Nobody likes England, because they're pathetic
• Nobody likes France
• Nobody likes Greece
• etc

England, Italy and Spain (recently).... these are the teams that need their asses kicked, the rest I hope nothing but the best for.

 

[uhohs]

 

[bigdog1218]

Well, this year's Italian team isn't the same that one the World Cup. Their World Cup winning tournament they played pretty much all defensive and relied on PKs to win but this time around they look very solid in attack.

People don't bitch about Italy because of their defensive game. They aren't playing defensive but entertaining free-flowing football. That's not the issue people have with the Italians.The issue people have with Italy is that they dive more than any other team on the planet and even in this game where they've played very well they're still diving. It's only going to get worse in the second half as they try to keep their 2-0 lead with a more aggressive Germany.

What a complete shit post. People are pissed at Italy because they're goal is to win and not look pretty. Ask Germany how their free flowing unstoppable offense worked today. Without that bullshit gift of a PK they got shutout and outclassed.

And how does one PK shootout in 06 translate to relying on PKs? Just because a team has a great defense doesn't mean they play defensive. Your post has more holes than a German defense.

 

[zinfamous]

RoFLMAO take of your homer shades....Portugal did not outplay them, they only kept up with them for 90 minutes, they had their chances just like Spain but never capitalized...

I don't recall Portugal having a single shot-on-goal the entire game. Every attempt went wide or sailed above the crossbar.

Portugal's goalkeeper played his butt off defending against 2 shots in extra time.

It may be boring to watch, but Spain knows how to spread the field and they know where every one is.

 

[pelov]

What a complete shit post. People are pissed at Italy because they're goal is to win and not look pretty. Ask Germany how their free flowing unstoppable offense worked today. Without that bullshit gift of a PK they got shutout and outclassed.

And how does one PK shootout in 06 translate to relying on PKs? Just because a team has a great defense doesn't mean they play defensive. Your post has more holes than a German defense.

You're aware that you're just reiterating what I'm saying, right? I actually agree with you. Settle down, Suzie, you'll blow an artery. The Italian team of this year is wayyyyy more entertaining to watch than their World Cup winning squad who relied on dirty play, flopping, PKs and defense for 90+ minutes to win the World Cup. This Italian team doesn't play as defensive and counter attacks incredibly well. By the 75th minute the Germans looked flat out tired while the Italians were playing like they were looking to score another 2-3 goals.

The point was that people hate the Italian team because they flop. They flop more than anyone else in the world and by a large margin. When Spain and Argentina are frustrated by the way the Italians tactics then you know it's bad. They'll do anything to waste time and it works for them. Even with their flopping (which wasn't as bad in the Germany game), they've been really entertaining to watch this Euro 2012.

 

[palswim]

The point was that people hate the Italian team because they flop. They flop more than anyone else in the world and by a large margin.

I'd say Portugal flops just as much, if not more. But, they are 1 & 2 by a large margin.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, Portugal and Italy are in a class of their own when it comes to diving/flopping...their shoulders get more of a workout than any other team, since they're always flapping them up and down asking for a foul.

 

[Via]

This is pretty surprising.

I DVRed the game and was going to watch it tonight, but I instinctively turned on the radio when I got into the car to run a work errand just as someone was saying something to the effect of "It sucks to be German today".

I knew then I might as well check the score.

I'm assuming there will be calls now to go back to German tournament-style soccer, but I hope they keep trying to culitvate the offensive style.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Great game, probably best game of the tourney so far.

Germany always looked weak in the back, entire tournament.

I loved how Italy played, they didn't settle/sit back and kept attacking. That's what quality football is all about.

 

[palswim]

I'm assuming there will be calls now to go back to German tournament-style soccer, but I hope they keep trying to culitvate the offensive style.

If Argentina can just avoid Germany in the next World Cup knockout rounds, they'll be golden!

 

[Gintaras]

Pretty soon will become like World Championship in Hockey...
Stanley Cup is most important to hockey players, NBA - for basketball players.
So, will be Champions League vs. World or Euro....
No one really cares, where there are no money involved.
Countries already do not care who play for any particular country-team.
How many actual germans do play for Germany Team?
Where is located France? In Africa? Why then do they play in Euro?

Who's Portuguese national Ronaldo? A man or a woman?

We do need more referees, one behind the net can't see: is it a goal or not. There should be at least 3 referees behind the net...cameras all over stadium...watching not only rogue fans, but players too....

 

[BrokenVisage]

Ugh, the hot counter girls at the pizza place I usually go to all had blue Italian jersey shirts on today, dieeee!

 

[abaez]

GG italy completely dominated. Take your poopy play and attitudes home.

 

[ElFenix]

spain reigns in ukraine

 

[Via]

Sigh......

I think I'm paying back for last year, when the Heat and another of my most hated teams (the Canucks) both slopped out of their finals despite being pre-ordained champions.

How could Germany lose that game? I knew Italy wasn't a great team. Maybe I should have watched it after all instead of deleting it, so I could have seen what happened myself.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

There you go, now tell me again how Portugal sucked? Only team in the last four years to force Spain to penalties and actually have a chance at winning the game, that was a much more worthy final game than this crap

Italy was a complete joke, as expected... No idea how they played so well vs Germany, I guess Germany just dropped the ball (literally)

4-0 is just pathetic for a final, what a disappointment

Since it seems no one in Europe can stop Spain, Im gonna have to put my hopes on Brazil next for the WC 2014

 

[KMFJD]

There you go, now tell me again how Portugal sucked? Only team in the last four years to force Spain to penalties and actually have a chance at winning the game, that was a much more worthy final game than this crap

Italy was a complete joke, as expected... No idea how they played so well vs Germany, I guess Germany just dropped the ball (literally)

4-0 is just pathetic for a final, what a disappointment

Since it seems no one in Europe can stop Spain, Im gonna have to put my hopes on Brazil next for the WC 2014

It was a well played game until Motta was injured

 

[FallenHero]

There you go, now tell me again how Portugal sucked? Only team in the last four years to force Spain to penalties and actually have a chance at winning the game, that was a much more worthy final game than this crap

Italy was a complete joke, as expected... No idea how they played so well vs Germany, I guess Germany just dropped the ball (literally)

4-0 is just pathetic for a final, what a disappointment

Since it seems no one in Europe can stop Spain, Im gonna have to put my hopes on Brazil next for the WC 2014

The problem with the German team was their Defense, that much is plain. They allowed themselves to get split way too often and it created havoc with their playstyle. There was too much disruption and panic in the backfield, which translated to less then smooth transitions attacking and easy counter attack. With the Italy goalie playing very very well and their D stepping up, Germany was in for a very long match. First goal by Italy was just a very pretty move with a perfect cross, and the second was a catastrophic german mistake. I expect that once Germany actually fixes their D, they will make yet another run in 2014.