Group C Euro 2012 General Discussion

[DannyInvincible]

Was following intermittently myself. Italy were a bit of a joke at the back. Things admittedly went pear-shaped after Buffon was replaced at half-time. Russia's finishing in the first-half was similar to their finishing against us in Moscow. Could have won by more had they not been blazing them over and wide. Cassano missed a great chance, but Russia won deservedly.

[boysingreen]

Hungary defeated Czech Republic 2-1. Glad to hear that, should make for a good test for us.

[elroy]

It appears that the weakness in the Italian and Croatian teams is their defence. Ironically that is probably where we are strongest. Not in the individuals employed there but more so the unit and sum of the parts. Plus I think our strikeforce, all five of them are as good a crop we have to choose from as any time in the last 30 years. Of course our greatest weakness is midfield and this is the area where I expect Croatia and Italy to dominate us most.

[Crosby87]

Sometimes Russia looks like they could beat anyone and sometimes they look mediocre at best. I blame Putin.

[Closed Account]

Norway 1-1 Croatia
Elyounoussi(91) Eduardo(80)

Awaiting a report..... but it won't exactly fill the Irish squad with fear.

[boysingreen]

Slaven Bilic: "We couldn't have a better warm-up for the opening match against Ireland. Norway are something like Ireland, they're two teams very similar in their style of play and team ability. The match in Oslo will show us where we are a week before our first match. I believe I will get my answers tomorrow. The result is always important and a victory here would bring a better atmosphere and confidence to the team."

What do you guys make of the comparison?

[geysir]

There are similarities, but Norway don't hoof the ball like we do.
As regards the game as a test for Croatia, they didn't use the opportunity, so Bilic saying Croatia 'couldn't have a better warm-up', doesn't cut the mustard.

Of some relevance, Olic came off with a strain and Modric didn't play due to fitness concerns.

[BonnieShels]

I'm getting more and more confident and giddy as we get nearer.

[Stuttgart88]

Modric was ill I heard, so unless he's got malaria I suspect he'll be OK.

[thischarmingman]

Not sure where to leave this, so putting it here. Maybe there should be a thread for articles published about the team over the next few weeks..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/02/euro-2012-giovanni-trapattoni-republic-ireland

[boysingreen]

nice article. Hail Trap!

[Noelys Guitar]

Its good to hear Trap and Tardelli bigging up Croatia. Stuff like Tardelli's I am scared of Croatia and his 'plan' that we draw with Croatia then beat Spain and Italy. In Italian speak that means beat Croatia and try draw with the other two. Croatia will be Brazil 70 with Cruyff and Maradona playing cameos come next Sunday. Let the games begin.

[TrapAPony]

Spain 1-0 China - David Silva (84)

[tetsujin1979]

Not sure how close that Spain team will be to the one we face. Iniesta was on the bench with Llorente, Mata and Torres. Silva was up front with Busquets and Negredo
Silva scored the winner very late on, despite Spain having 78% possession and nine shots on target (according to Sky Sports)

[bennocelt]

I remember getting the one in the Star for 1990 and 1994.

How many on here have any of this stuff!!!
Get into the mood, not long now,lol


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT3gkmHJa2k

[tetsujin1979]

Report on the Spain - China game last night: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/339207?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5739
Sounds like China had some good chances on the counter attack, and were unfortunate not to be ahead before Spain eventually did score
Unsurprisingly it was Iniesta who made the difference

Video highlights here: http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/06/04/video-david-silva-nets-winner-spain-1-0-china-international-friendly-highlights/
Looks like Torres is trying to play his way out of the team

[tetsujin1979]

Interview with Tardelli with the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18284022

[Bungle]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3284/euro-2012/2012/06/04/3147904/breaking-news-ivica-olic-to-miss-euro-2012-with-injury

Good news if true!!

[geysir]

He got a fair whack on the thigh in the game against Norway

http://www.24sata.hr/image/dr-rakic-kod-olica-nije-nista-puklo-bit-ce-spreman-za-irsku-504x335-20120622-20120602215156-d30160a5fb6355d18bcf84645b199240.jpg

[DeNiro]

Things swinging in our favour a bit! Olic is a loss. Any update on Modric?

[Stuttgart88]

That just elevates Jelavic though, and he's a threat. Olic has more nuisance value from what little I know of him. He strikes me as a very hard working front man, constantly running across the back 4 and chasing the ball. That might allow us a little more time on the ball before we hoof it!

[DeNiro]

Stutts, jelavic's international record is poor, I think. Two goals in 18 apps or so said the World Soccer Euro 2012 preview magazine.

[bennocelt]

That just elevates Jelavic though, and he's a threat. Olic has more nuisance value from what little I know of him. He strikes me as a very hard working front man, constantly running across the back 4 and chasing the ball. That might allow us a little more time on the ball before we hoof it!

Exactly, he is one of those players than you are screaming to be taken off, then he pops up with a goal off his shin. This will surely affect the tactics of Croatia?

[tetsujin1979]

probably means Eduardo and Jelavic up front so?

[French Toasht]

What's the atmosphere like at home lads? Euro fever gripping the country WC 1990 style?

[BonnieShels]

It depends where you are and who you talk to.
Its not quite 1990 yet.

[TrapAPony]

Andrea Barzagli potentially out for Italy with a calf strain - http://www.football-italia.net/19578/barzagli-could-miss-euro-2012


@Ciaran_O (http://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O) - Eduardo da Silva: “I have calculation for how Croatia can get to 1/4 finals with 4 points. Victory against Ireland and a draw against Italy.”

[Stuttgart88]

Can anyone remember what happened the last time we drw 0-0 on Hungary? I think Aldo "ran his legs to stumps" and later we got to a WC Q/F.

[legendz]

Croatia will be massively confident after last night. Though we started with the 11 that are likely to take the field on Sunday, have we showed our hand? We're usually more open in friendlies. Is there a need for a 5th midfielder? It's very late to be changing tact but mixed signals can be good as long as they are planned for within and cause confusion in opposition trenches.

[BonnieShels]

Bilic was at the game and Morning Ireland played a clip from him saying he doesn't believe that that's the first eleven etc...

[geysir]

Croatia are a naturally confident team. Bilic took time off to watch us play in Hungary, whereas which one of our management team went to watch Croatia play in Oslo? Bilic does his preparation and is taking nothing for granted - even our 4-4-2:)
It's clear that both managers are targeting this first game and letting the other games take care of themselves.

[DannyInvincible]

Some comments from Bilic after watching us last night in Budapest: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0605/1224317296827.html

[Stuttgart88]

McGeady quoted on SSN saying that the players were tired going into last night's game as training has been really hard. He says the players will struggle to be 100% fresh for Sunday.

[passinginterest]

Some great mind games coming out of the Irish camp. I hope.

On the formation change thing, I don't think Trap has any intention of changing from a 4-4-2, I think the 2nd half showed something of how he'll deal with being outnumbered in midfield in future games, when we were defending McGeady was tucking in more and Cox in particular, when he was on, was coming right back defending the flank. It actually helped to get McGeady on the ball more too when we won posession back. It converted back to a conventional 4-4-2 immediately when we were building from the back.

[legendz]

It's understandable there'd be possibly heavy training last week, in the lead up to Sunday and the tournament, it'd be normal for that to be lighter this week.

[seanfhear]

Trap might try the 1-10-0 formation or the 1-9-1 formation to stop attackers getting between the two banks of 4 in the 4-4-2 formation.


I can't see Trap changing too much to be honest but he had better have a ploy to stop this weakness in his system.

Walters probably would be ths best option in 1-9-1 formation though as he has a bit of everything. Reasonably big, Reasonably fast, Reasonably good in the air, Reasonably good at holding the ball up, Reasonably good at getting a shot off even if isolated. He is the man for the old 1-9-1. Trap you heard it here first.

[SkStu]

thats a reasonably well made point.

[BonnieShels]

Even if by convention 1-9-1 and 1-10-0 mean we have 12 players on the pitch.

[SkStu]

Paul Green doesnt count as a player though, surely?

http://t1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/09/59/92/400_F_9599223_QfLS38rM2JXutQnF02wPqi7ARno54hbK.jpg

[seanfhear]

Even if by convention 1-9-1 and 1-10-0 mean we have 12 players on the pitch.Trap has got to have something up his sleeve to combat the problem !

[Stuttgart88]

Some great mind games coming out of the Irish camp. I hope.

On the formation change thing, I don't think Trap has any intention of changing from a 4-4-2, I think the 2nd half showed something of how he'll deal with being outnumbered in midfield in future games, when we were defending McGeady was tucking in more and Cox in particular, when he was on, was coming right back defending the flank. It actually helped to get McGeady on the ball more too when we won posession back. It converted back to a conventional 4-4-2 immediately when we were building from the back.Thanks. I was having a few pints and spent half the time texting updates to Crafty Toe Poke (he said something about being locked in a cellar - whatever you're into Crafty...) so couldn't quite figure out how we became better.

[Stuttgart88]

Some great pics here. The lads must be pumped. I like those Polish cheerleaders in pic no. 6.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/

PS: I hope the intelligent advertising thing picks up on that last comment. I hate the way I get bombarded with ads for 50-something singles websites.

[paul_oshea]

PS: I hope the intelligent advertising thing picks up on that last comment. I hate the way I get bombarded with ads for 50-something singles websites.
The great thing about the intelligent advertising and the internet, is it remembers your previous searches and words....

[theworm2345]

http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/e4/fullj.86345ba9eb19002f48a096d4abe36a89/86345ba9eb19002f48a096d4abe36a89-getty-511454652.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/0b/fullj.5ebe0f793dbb22e90b72959275abb0c1/5ebe0f793dbb22e90b72959275abb0c1-getty-511454670.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/80/fullj.f1d29a53c06b6ca3028ee5e5499da82b/f1d29a53c06b6ca3028ee5e5499da82b-getty-511454528.jpg

Spain must be shaking...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Even if by convention 1-9-1 and 1-10-0 mean we have 12 players on the pitch.

Only adds up 11 here...
;)

[BonnieShels]

Only adds up 11 here...
;)

Hmmm...

DO I need to explain... come on lad...

You don't call it 1-4-4-2 now do ya?

[Noelys Guitar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr8Q0yV6OJs Found this gaming simulation of the Ireland v Croatia match. Won't ruin it for anyone by giving away the score. They have one for every game in the first round.

[SkStu]

http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/0b/fullj.5ebe0f793dbb22e90b72959275abb0c1/5ebe0f793dbb22e90b72959275abb0c1-getty-511454670.jpg

the Asian ladies will be creaming themselves... :)

[BonnieShels]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr8Q0yV6OJs Found this gaming simulation of the Ireland v Croatia match. Won't ruin it for anyone by giving away the score. They have one for every game in the first round.

Ah the scorer of important goals eh!

[elroy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr8Q0yV6OJs Found this gaming simulation of the Ireland v Croatia match. Won't ruin it for anyone by giving away the score. They have one for every game in the first round.

Ah FFS I was even feeling nervous flicking through that to see the score. How we would take that on Sunday!!!