***OFFICIAL*** UEFA Euro 2004 thread

[joohang]

Official Euro 2004 Website

Remember my World Cup threads? It's already time for the European Championships.

Go France! Go Zidane! And go Arsenal stars: Henry, Pires, Vieira and Wiltord!

I am also rooting for Spain and the Dutchies.

Javier

==========
Group A
----------------
Portugal
Greece
Spain
Russia

==========
Group B
----------------
France
England
Switzerland
Croatia
==========
Group C
----------------
Sweden
Bulgaria
Denmark
Italy

==========
Group D
----------------
Czech Republic
Latvia
Germany
Netherlands
(Group of death, imo)

===========================

Live non-PPV TV Schedule

:thumbsup: denotes highly recommended
The times listed are kick-off times. Most broadcasts should have a pre-match show 15-30 mins earlier.

CANADA

=============
Group phase 1
---------------------

Sat June 12 - Group A
9am: Portugal vs. Greece - TSN, Telelatino :thumbsup:
11:45am: Spain vs. Russia - TSN, TLN, RDS

Sun June 13 - Group B
9am: Switzerland vs. Croatia - FSW Canada
11:45am: France vs. England - TSN, RDS :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Mon June 14 - Group C
9am: Denmark vs. Italy - RDS, TSN, TLN (maybe in Italian commentary?)
11:45am: Sweden vs. Bulgaria - RDS, TSN

Tue June 15 - Group D
9am: Czech Republic vs. Latvia - RDS, TSN
11:45am: Germany vs. Netherlands - RDS, TSN :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

=============
Group Phase 2
----------------------

Wed June 16 - Group A
9am: Greece vs. Spain - RDS, TSN, TLN :thumbsup::thumbsup:
11:45am: Russia vs. Portugal - TSN, TLN

Thurs June 17 - Group B
9am: England vs. Switzerland - RDS, FSW Canada :thumbsup:
11:45am: Croatia vs. France - RDS, TSN, FSW Canada :thumbsup:

Fri June 18 - Group C
9am: Bulgaria vs. Denmark - RDS, FSW Canada
11:45am: Italy vs. Sweden - RDS, TSN, TLN :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Sat June 19 - Group D
9am: Latvia vs. Germany - RDS, FSW Canada
11:45am: Netherlands vs. Czech Republic - FSW Canada (RDS and TSN will show delayed) :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

=============
Group Phase 3
----------------------

Sun June 20 - Group A
11:45am: Greece vs. Russia - FSW Canada (delayed coverage at 1:45pm)
11:45am: Spain vs. Portugal - RDS, FSW Canada :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Mon June 21 - Group B
11:45am: Croatia vs. England - RDS, TSN :thumbsup::thumbsup:
11:45am: Switzerland vs. France - RDS, TSN (both delayed coverage at 1:45pm) :thumbsup::thumbsup:


Tue June 22 - Group C
11:45am: Italy vs. Bulgaria - RDS, TSN, TLN
11:45am: Denmark vs. Sweden - RDS, TSN (both delayed coverage at 1:45pm) :thumbsup:

Wed June 23 - Group D
11:45am: Germany vs. Czech Republic - RDS, TSN :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
11:45am: Netherlands vs. Latvia - RDS, TSN (both delayed coverage at 1:45pm)

===========================

USA
Mon June 14 - Group C
9am: Denmark vs. Italy - FSW US, FS en español

I'll update the rest later.

 

[maddogchen]

The Dutchies?? no they'll choke.

Go England!!! Or Italy!!!

France is good, but I hope England beats them

 

[joohang]

I say the Dutchies got more talent than England. Awesome strikers and they'll rock with Marc Overmars and Andy van der Meyde on the wing.

In England, the only players I like are the two Arsenal defenders and Frank Lampard. But I hope they go through to the knock-out stage.

Italy defense sucks this year but we can never rule them out.

France got so much talent and after the surprise knock-out at the last World Cup, they'll have plenty of motivation this time. France vs. England this weekend will be great! And I predict it could get quite ugly. Henry and Pires trying to break through Cole and Campbell is a great treat to Arsenal fans.

 

[GasX]

IN-GER-LAND!

 

[maddogchen]

The Dutchies have a lot more talent that many teams, possibily even England, but they seem to fall apart way too much. Self-destruct, like WC 2002 Qualifiers. Too many me-me-all-me stars.

France-England will be awesome, I can't wait either. Zidane is in great form, I think he'll be the key, more than Pires or Henry. I'm still going to be cheering for Owen, and a little for Rooney(boooooo).

 

[Ameesh]

GOOOOOOOO LAKERS!

 

[AcidicFury]

France is gonna pwn everything. Hopefully I can get the game in the states.

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
The Dutchies have a lot more talent that many teams, possibily even England, but they seem to fall apart way too much. Self-destruct, like WC 2002 Qualifiers. Too many me-me-all-me stars.

France-England will be awesome, I can't wait either. Zidane is in great form, I think he'll be the key, more than Pires or Henry. I'm still going to be cheering for Owen, and a little for Rooney(boooooo).

Zidane needed no words from me because no words can describe him any way.

He is definitely much more influential than Henry and Pires. The latter two still look a bit out of place in the France squad. They don't quite show the fluidity that they have when they play together at Arsenal. Also, Santini likes to play Pires on the right flank, even though he's accustomed to the left.

I wasn't aware of the Dutchies have a tendency to play too individualistic. To be honest, I didn't watch them play too many times but I just love the individual players.

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: AcidicFury
France is gonna pwn everything. Hopefully I can get the game in the states.

I'll update the TV Schedule on the first post some time soon.

 

[maddogchen]

Some Euro news...Go Owen!

Euro-Totti, Owen and Van Nistelrooy eye perfect 10



By Ed Osmond

LISBON, June 10 (Reuters) - Latvia midfielder Andrejs Rubins is unlikely to join the list of great number 10s but Francesco Totti, Michael Owen and Ruud van Nistelrooy just might.

Playmaker Totti and strikers Owen and Van Nistelrooy head the list of players at Euro 2004 hoping to extend the mystique of the game's most magical number, worn by Pele, Diego Maradona and Michel Platini.

Zinedine Zidane has already booked his place in that elite, the three-times World Footballer of the Year having helped France win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with his superb control and sublime passing.

Although he has not always worn the number 10, Zidane possesses all the qualities associated with the jersey.

"He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he has silk gloves on each foot," former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano said of the Frenchman.

Totti has not fulfilled his huge potential for Italy but has the chance to emulate the feats of Roberto Baggio, the last great player to wear the Azzurri number 10 shirt.

"France won the European Championship thanks to Platini who gave them the added value of a gifted midfielder," Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni said.

"Totti is similar to Platini in that respect. Maybe Italy has never had anyone so strong and decisive as him."

Owen and Van Nistelrooy are prolific goalscorers, lacking the traditional artistry of many great number 10s but making up for that with their ruthless finishing.

Other candidates to shine in the number 10 jersey include Spain striker Fernando Morientes, fresh from a prolific season with Monaco, Tomas Rosicky, the main creative force in the Czech Republic side, and silky Portugal forward Rui Costa.

Among those less likely to make headlines may be Greece midfielder Vassilis Tsartas and Denmark striker Martin Joergensen.

With the famous number 10 on their backs, however, they could just be inspired.

 

[joohang]

Thanks for the nice read.

Did anybody catch the FIFA Centennial Match (France vs. Brazil) a couple of weeks ago? It was the most beautiful 0-0 match I've ever seen.

 

[freegeeks]

France is going to win it

 

[nCred]

The Czechs are always underestimated, I think it between them, France, Italy and Holland.

 

[blakeatwork]

[Sean Connery]

Suck it France! Suck it long and suck it hawd!

[/Sean Connery]

I was bitterly disappointed that we (Ireland) lost out to Switzerland in our last match, in Basel... After our World Cup rogress, I thought Euro would have been a lock...

Not sure who I'll cheer for. My mother's BF is Portugese, so i might lean to them... but they're like the Boston Red Sox... All image and no game...

 

[GreatBarracuda]

I want Portugal to win...even though they are not as strong as France or England or even Netherlands...it was sad to see them lose in the final in Euro 2000. Zidane....yes..marvelous isn't he?

 

[screw3d]

Arrrrsenal!! It's imperative that I'll have to support France, but I always have a soft spot for England.. so it's gonna be hard to choose between England vs. France It's gonna be a good match though

 

[foolish501]

how come the canandians get more games than us in the uk ? I'm a brit, and was going to take time off work to watch the england matches

 

[foolish501]

Next weeks schedules for the US are here


(requires adobe acrobat)

 

[Red Dawn]

Looking forward to new about Hooligans rioting!

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: foolish501
how come the canandians get more games than us in the uk ? I'm a brit, and was going to take time off work to watch the england matches

Somebody big in the Canadian media must be a crazy football fan. Coverage of European football in Canada over the past couple of years has been outstanding.

Looks like we will get a COMPLETE COVERAGE of Euro 2004.

 

[pillage2001]

I'll be getting round the clock soccer actionnnnnnn...........WOHOOOoooo.......Poor fellas in the US.

Ronaldo pwnz Joohang!!!!

 

[maddogchen]

I'm sorta lucky, in China on a business trip. I get a chance to see all the games on tv here, while I couldn't in the States. But too bad its on at midnight or 2:30 AM!!! I guess I'll be watching the highlights of England-France. Can't go to work half asleep.

Too bad the chinese commentators are incredible boring. Or it could be I don't know half what they are saying.

 

[maddogchen]

More Euro News.

Can Portugal's golden generation produce the goods at last?


June 11, 2004
OPORTO, Portugal (AFP) - Portugal open Euro 2004 against outsiders Greece here Saturday with the burden of a nation's expectation weighing heavily on their shoulders.

The so-called golden generation of players from Portugal's all conquering youth team of the early 1990s are only too aware that now is the time to finally convert all that promise into silverware before they and their fans turn grey.

Under Luis Felipe Scolari's command the hosts will be anxious to get off to a flying start at Champions League winners FC Porto's futuristic Stadio do Dragao in an open-looking Group A that also includes Spain and Russia.


Scolari took over with his stock at a premium after guiding Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup where the Brazilian's blend of inner mental strength allied to natural flair proved a winning combination.

He will be counting on the same formula working for a Portugal side that could be the last to feature Luis Figo, who has hinted at retiring from the international stage after the tournament.

The Lion King, as the Real Madrid star is known, lines up in the Greek curtain-raiser only after getting the all-clear for a muscle problem in his left leg which forced him to sit out a training session this week.

Figo and his teammates are still smarting at being denied a place in the Euro 2000 final by a controversial penalty awarded to eventual winners France. Misery was to follow with an early exit from the 2002 World Cup.

"That was a difficult moment for us because we were so close to making the final and then we got the wrong decision against us.

"We then thought, oh well, at least there is the World Cup in two years where we can make things right but now this is the last chance for many of us and I am desperate to win something at this level for myself and my country."

The build-up to Portugal's first competitive match for two years has been slightly soured by a spat between Scolari and his pay master generals at the Portuguese football federation who were irked by a suggestion from the manager's agent that he was all set to get into bed with Benfica after the Euro.

Scolari himself insists that if Portugal don't at least make the semi-finals he will quit - he will be expecting his side to take a significant first step towards that goal against a Greek team that has major defensive concerns.

German coach Otto Rehhagel is waiting to find out whether two key cogs in his back line - Traianos Dellas and Vasilis Lakis - will make it to the pitch after skipping midweek training. Another defensive option, Nikos Dabizas, is also doubtful with a back problem.

This is Greece's first Euro appearance in 24 years, the result of a major change in fortune since 'King Otto' arrived capped by their finishing top of their qualifying group that included Spain.

One member of the well organised Greek squad who will almost feel like home is Panagiotis Fyssas, who plays for Porto's arch rivals, Benfica.

With a posse of players from FC Porto to call on, including the Brazilian-born Deco and Chelsea-bound Paulo Ferreira, and input from the English Premiership in the shape of the precocious pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Helder Postiga, Scolari is not short of star talent.

But the diet of friendlies Portugal has lived off since their ignominious exit from the World Cup has produced a mixed bag of results - wide margin wins against the likes of Kuwait and last weekend Lithuania spoilt by defeats to Italy and a 3-0 defeat to Spain.

Yet Saturday's opener will be an altogether different proposition and swept along by a tide of support from the terraces Portugal will be looking to continue a run of the hosts not losing their Euro opener which stretches back to the 1980s.

link

I don't think they have a chance. Sadly it'll probably be over for Figo.

 

[dudeman007]

AWESOME THREAD. IM A BIG SOCCER BUFF...so yeah this thread rocks. People expect France to do well, but after the last world cup we know anything can happen. Zidane is back which will help a lot. England and Germany should put on good shows, but the German side is getting weaker. I'm English myself, even though I was born in Germany, so I say GO ENGLAND. GO GET EM LADS.

 

[DPG0wnz]

Hey dudeman007, what part of Germany are you from? I was born in Landstuhl, Rheinland-Pfalz, Federal Republic of Germany(West Germany).


What do you all think about the Euro 2004 theme song: Nelly Furtado - Forca ??????

It is the passion flowing right on through your veins
And it's the feeling that you're oh so glad you came
It is the moment you remember you're alive
It is the air you breathe, the element, the fire
It is that flower that you took the time to smell
It is the power that you know you got as well
It is the fear inside that you can overcome
This is the orchestra, the rhythm and the drum

Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma forca que ninguem pode parar
Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma fome que ninguem pode matar

It is the soundtrack of your ever-flowing life
It is the wind beneath your feet that makes you fly
It is the beautiful game that you choose to play
When you step out into the world to start your day
You show your face and take it in and scream and pray
You're gonna win it for yourself and us today
It is the gold, the green, the yellow and the grey
The red and sweat and tears, the love you go. Hey!

Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma forca que ninguem pode parar
Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma fome que ninguem pode matar

forca, forca, forca, forca, forca

Closer to the sky, closer, way up high, mais perto do ceu, mais perto do ceu

Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma forca que ninguem pode parar
Com uma forca, com uma forca
Com uma fome que ninguem pode matar

forca (oh), forca (oh), forca, forca, forca










Germany all the way!!!!!!!