Euro 2008

[old git]

Sorry I was trying to imply that he has a LB (Abidal) plus he has Evra as cover. I'd have Evra as first choice every day of the week but Abidal seems to be number 1 at this moment in time.

Good result for Holland the other night - would like to see them reach a final.


football wise holland are long overdue a final apperance but they always seem to have to many ego's / problems of field and every major final they promise so much and yet never produce it on the pitch when it comes to the big pressure games :ball:

[Angus]

Must be the most open champs in donkeys - anybody could win this - even Engerlund if they were there...

[old git]

But they're not... :D

it's a pity always love to see them getting beat in big tournaments :D:D

[jmurphyc]

France have made a few massive omissions so I can't see them winning it. Trezeguet, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Mexes and Flamini all miss out. I'm particularly surprised by Mexes; Boumsong got in ahead of him.

[old git]

France have made a few massive omissions so I can't see them winning it. Trezeguet, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Mexes and Flamini all miss out. I'm particularly surprised by Mexes; Boumsong got in ahead of him.

would not let boumsong play for my local team :D:D

[stojkovic]

My favourite player so far is the Austrian #5.

[Closed Account 2]

Not Russian #18 ?

[Armando]

I'm particularly surprised by Mexes; Boumsong got in ahead of him.


Mexes is a hot topic. He's either really liked and rated by people or totally despised. I personally don't rate him. Then again I don't rate Boumsong, but France really don't need either. Even though he made the cut, Boumsong won't kick a ball in anger. Thuram, Gallas with Squillachi are the first 3 choices.

Mexes misses out through a knee injury he got in Coppa Italia final as far as I know?

[old git]

Not Russian #18 ?


lads be serious it has to be the portugal no 12 :D:D

[colster]

http://www.the-onion-bag.com/euro2008/100yards.php

Czech Republic :)

[gustavo]

Romania beat Turkey in my final :D

[jmurphyc]

Spain beat Turkey in mine. :D

[Armando]

France Squad (30 man provisional)

Goalkeepers Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Mickael Landreau (Paris St Germain), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), William Gallas (Arsenal), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders Alou Diarra (Girondins Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan).

Forwards Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Its hard to pick 7 to drop but I would guess at the ones underlined


Nope. He wasn't selected for preliminary squad even. He's just out. Domenech doesn't rate him.

He was according to above preliminary squad in post #93?

[redtildead]

Poland beat Romania in my final:D
Group D is of very high standard

They should take off the names of the countries to get rid of bias

[Noelys Guitar]

If Wenger was manager of France I would put my house on them winning. Domenech is a bit of a looper and I have seen him make some really poor substitutions.

[bennocelt]

i had germany to win that thing


as for the real deal
i predict a germany-spain final with spain to win, and torres to be top scorer (or villa)

[GavinZac]

http://www.the-onion-bag.com/euro2008/100yards.php

Czech Republic :)

Christ, Group C is the group of death!

[stojkovic]

Does anyone else think that the Germans (once again) have a potentially easy route to the Final.

[cartman]

great betting to be done during the euros...
my nap of the whole tournament would be czech republic not to qualify out of there group... its evens in the bookies.. its free money lads - double up whatever ye have on ye at the mo!! ye heard it here first!!!

[gilberto_eire]

See the papers are telling us to get behind Poland again like with WC2006 :rolleyes:

I'd take more pleasure seeing them lose then England personally,

[bennocelt]

great betting to be done during the euros...
my nap of the whole tournament would be czech republic not to qualify out of there group... its evens in the bookies.. its free money lads - double up whatever ye have on ye at the mo!! ye heard it here first!!!

thats not much of a tip man, at evens:eek:
i think the will get out of their group, why wouldnt they, swizterland and turkey arent much, but then we will see

i think germany are certs to get to the final

[shakermaker1982]

Looks like Cannavaro misses the tournament if reports are true.....huge loss.

[GavinZac]

See the papers are telling us to get behind Poland again like with WC2006 :rolleyes:

I'd take more pleasure seeing them lose then England personally,

Why's that?

[rambler14]

My bets are Holland @ 12/1 and a Holland vs Germany final @ 16/1.
I'll have a bet on the group winners aswell. If Holland come through their group of Italy, France and Romania then I think there will be no stopping them.

[gilberto_eire]

Why's that?

Personally anyway i have no time for them in general anyway, they as a whole make no effort to intragate into society here and generally keep to themselves, i only know off 1 Polish who plays Junior football here, they tend to stick to making teams for the 6-a-sides(theres a number in those leagues) and 11-a-side Nighowls(inter-firm) had one team too!.

I just personally don't think we should have to support them in tournaments when they don't make an effort as whole to get involved in Irish society, so much so most of them have terrible English from there personal lives been spent entirely with fellow Poles.

I hope someone does'nt come back with the old ''your classing them all the same'' i'm not but a massive proportion have the same traits in that they keep to themselves. I don't know ONE person who has a Polish friend, but have 2 friends who have ''work'' friends from Poland but this generally would'nt go beyond work affairs!

At any rate i have nothing against them and don't care that they stick to themselves but it's creating a very dangerous problem in Ireland where we could have a class excluded from society, the amount of Anti-Polish resentment you hear around the town is ever growing. Personally though u just don't like the way we're told we should throw our weight behind them in tournaments when they to a large extent chose to live here in segregation, at least i have family in England etc....

[GavinZac]

Personally anyway i have no time for them in general anyway, they as a whole make no effort to intragate into society here and generally keep to themselves, i only know off 1 Polish who plays Junior football here, they tend to stick to making teams for the 6-a-sides(theres a number in those leagues) and 11-a-side Nighowls(inter-firm) had one team too!.Wouldn't most people play Junior for the schoolboys team they'd come from? Bit different stepping into something completely unknown.


I just personally don't think we should have to support them in tournaments when they don't make an effort as whole to get involved in Irish society, so much so most of them have terrible English from there personal lives been spent entirely with fellow Poles.Right, so because some of them haven't got a good standard of English*, you'd take pleasure in seeing them lose?


I hope someone does'nt come back with the old ''your classing them all the same'' i'm not but a massive proportion have the same traits in that they keep to themselves. I don't know ONE person who has a Polish friend, but have 2 friends who have ''work'' friends from Poland but this generally would'nt go beyond work affairs!I would wager the distinction is in fact, that the fault lies either with your friends or the type of acquaintances you have...

... You see, we're both offering the same useless, baseless suppositions. You also differentiate "friends" and "work friends" which is a bit ridiculous as you're hardly likely to grow up next door to a future Polish migrant and just as unlikely to be best of chums from ****ing about college together. What are they supposed to do? Knock on your door and hope you're not some Libertas nutter about to accuse them of stealing your job?

Regardless, if you think a generalised kind of "keeping to themselves" over the last 3 or 4 years is a reason to dislike the national team more so than a local rival representative of an oppressive empire which kept us under their thumb for 800 years, then I guess you are a... well, no. I won't go on. There's another thread for that sort of thing, isn't there?

* (Which is hilarious, given the number of basic English language mistakes you've made in this post. I've taken the liberty of emboldening your mistakes, should you like to reflect upon your statement. I've also underlined a few things to think about. As chair of the MAB I feel it my duty.)

[gilberto_eire]

Wouldn't most people play Junior for the schoolboys team they'd come from? Bit different stepping into something completely unknown.

Right, so because some of them haven't got a good standard of English*, you'd take pleasure in seeing them lose?

I would wager the distinction is in fact, that the fault lies either with your friends or the type of acquaintances you have...

... You see, we're both offering the same useless, baseless suppositions. You also differentiate "friends" and "work friends" which is a bit ridiculous as you're hardly likely to grow up next door to a future Polish migrant and just as unlikely to be best of chums from ****ing about college together. What are they supposed to do? Knock on your door and hope you're not some Libertas nutter about to accuse them of stealing your job?

Regardless, if you think a generalised kind of "keeping to themselves" over the last 3 or 4 years is a reason to dislike the national team more so than a local rival representative of an oppressive empire which kept us under their thumb for 800 years, then I guess you are a... well, no. I won't go on. There's another thread for that sort of thing, isn't there?

* (Which is hilarious, given the number of basic English language mistakes you've made in this post. I've taken the liberty of emboldening your mistakes, should you like to reflect upon your statement. I've also underlined a few things to think about. As chair of the MAB I feel it my duty.)


Well firstly the Englsih who oppressed us for ''800 years'' were'nt actaully here for 800 years so off back to history class with ya, or maybe they were here until the 1970's without my knowledge??!!:confused:

You don't know much about Under-age/Junior football do you?, unless you come from a rural area it's unlikely that you would have played for the same club throughout your life, firstly because the club might'nt have both an under-age and junior structure and secondly because, well some of us don't live in the same area our whole lives, ormight'nt get along with the current manager.
I never noticed a sign on the door of a junior club sayinng that unless you played there your whole life that you were'nt welcome. I know of Spanish, Italian, English(etc...) lads who joined clubs but not any Polish bar a Salthill Devon player

You also state that because they kept to themselves for 3/4 years it's a bad excuse not to support their national team but point to the fact it's ok to oppose the English team for events long passing most of our life times:rolleyes:, grow up!!.

Also i think most would agree that a ''work friend'' and a ''friend'' are two VERY differant things, a work friend would be someone you get on well with in work but would'nt socialise with outside of work because you generally don't have much in common, that is why they remain a ''work friend'' and don't become a ''friend''

You also try to point out about how else would you become friends bar work, there are many other ways you can get to know people bar just work, clubs or organistaions, places you may frequent etc....

Also there's a differance between been able to communicate within the country you live and making common spelling mistakes!!

Anyone who lives in a city would agree the Poles have been the least reluctant to intergate into society here, and for that i don't think it should always come up in the media that we should support them on the basis of there been a large contingent here, i'd rather support a country where millions of Irish have moved too and worked and found for themselves a new home!

Quite sad that you have to try get your point across by pointing out spelling mistakes :rolleyes:

[GavinZac]

You don't know much about Under-age/Junior football do you?, unless you come from a rural area it's unlikely that you would have played for the same club throughout your life, firstly because the club might'nt have both an under-age and junior structure and secondly because, well some of us don't live in the same area our whole lives, ormight'nt get along with the current manager.Oh you're having me on Gill, surely no manager could find fault with yourself? You march right back to them and say "hey! well, at least I intergated!".


You also state that because they kept to themselves for 3/4 years it's a bad excuse not to support their national team but point to the fact it's ok to oppose the English team for events long passing most of our life times:rolleyes:, grow up!!. I never suggested opposing the English team was a good idea. Its quite daft, and for most people, quite hypocritical. However, the "local rival" factor would surely be a better reason than whatever twaddle you've concocted?


Also i think most would agree that a ''work friend'' and a ''friend'' are two VERY differant things, a work friend would be someone you get on well with in work but would'nt socialise with outside of work because you generally don't have much in common, that is why they remain a ''work friend'' and don't become a ''friend''So Polish people don't become friends with Irish people because they don't have much in common? Or is it vice versa? Do you regularly become friends with Irish people who you don't have much in common with? Why not? What's your problem? Intragate, gilberto. It's rude not to.

You also try to point out about how else would you become friends bar work, there are many other ways you can get to know people bar just work, clubs or organistaions, places you may frequent etc....Any specifics there? Apart from the apparent lack of Slavs on your junior club team, do you notice a distinct lack of Polski at your local Curves? Perhaps there are very few of them down the local GAA club. Who knows, maybe there's some down the shop waiting to make friends with people who frequent there?

Anyone who lives in a cityDo you live in a city? I do. I was under the impression that you're from Galway.

would agree the Poles have been the least reluctant to intergateOoooh you nearly had the word there that time, give it one more go!
into society hereNaturally, of course, I would disagree. It depends on what you mean by integrate. My Polish neighbours say hello, close the door if I leave it open, give a hand with the fire alarm if its gone off... and I only live here 4 days! They shop in the same shops I do, they seem to listen to the same music I do, and generally dress at the upper end of the scale in terms of Irish fashions. If you mean do they come in town with me and get ****ed, no, not yet anyway. Granted that is probably more to do with our own little closed circle with all its in jokes and mannerisms, and I haven't exactly gone next door to invite them but you're right. Damn foreigners!

Also there's a differance between been able to communicate within the country you live and making common spelling mistakes!!Yes. One's reasonably understandable, the other's reasonably inexcusable. You also have to perhaps consider that if you (ironically) can't spell the word which is the entire point of your post, you may be better off making the effort to integrate with the rest of us by running your post through a spell checker.

Quite sad that you have to try get your point across by pointing out spelling mistakes :rolleyes:Yes it is quite sad that I have to try to get my point across by pointing our your spelling mistakes. I wish there were an easier way but a long winded description of how, if you speak as you write, I would have a pretty difficult time intergating with you too would probably be lost on you and perhaps cause offence to my western brethren of more transparent fluency.

[osarusan]

I wish there were an easier way but a long winded description of how...
You need a hyphen there. ;)

[GavinZac]

You need a hyphen there. ;)

"long, winding" would also have been acceptable :o :D

[mypost]

Personally anyway i have no time for them in general anyway, they as a whole make no effort to intragate into society here and generally keep to themselves, I just personally don't think we should have to support them in tournaments when they don't make an effort as whole to get involved in Irish society, so much so most of them have terrible English from there personal lives been spent entirely with fellow Poles.

Agreed. That would be my general view of them as well. It's not just restricted to them though. It was our electorate which allowed them to come here, via Nice, where in many countries they were shown the door, and they are very reluctant to integrate with locals.

I will be strictly neutral regarding the tournament. With England already out, we here can watch it in peace. :D


Any specifics there? Apart from the apparent lack of Slavs on your junior club team, do you notice a distinct lack of Polski at your local Curves? Perhaps there are very few of them down the local GAA club.

In fairness, that's not their fault. It's a parochial sport, the selectors want Paddy's and Micheal's instead of Pavel's and Mikhail's in the team.


I would have a pretty difficult time intergating with you too would probably be lost on you and perhaps cause offence to my western brethren of more transparent fluency.

:confused:

[GavinZac]

Agreed. That would be my general view of them as well. It's not just restricted to them though. It was our electorate which allowed them to come here, via Nice, where in many countries they were shown the door:confused: Nice ensured that our country had the right to place restrictions on the influx of EU nationals from newly admitted states, the way several other states did. Ireland, or rather, the government elected by the Irish people, chose not to impose these restrictions in order to fill skill (or often, just manpower) shortages within the workforce, so that the economy could sustain itself. Nice had nothing to do with us allowing these workers to come here.
and they are very reluctant to integrate with locals.Fancy qualifying that at all?

[Hibs4Ever]

Not long to go now. Prediction for opening game
Swiss 1-1 Czech
Frei Koller



2-1 Czechs. Koller & Fenin

[superfrank]

Bad news for Italy (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/italy/7432512.stm)

That's going to shake up their defence a bit.

[Hibs4Ever]

I'm hearing great things about Fenin. Could be the star for the Czechs.


Could well be. If Bruckner plays him. He's under a lot of media pressure over here to drop Baros and start Fenin. Baros was benched for recent Scotland friendly, hopefully he stays there

[shakermaker1982]

Without Rosicky I'm tipping Switzerland to pip the Czech's and get out of group A at their expense.

How good are Romania? They got 4 points against the Dutch but I've seen little of them except highlights. Could they surprise the other 3 teams in the group of death?

[lionelhutz]

Without Cannavaro Italy's defence doesnt look nearly as assured. The back four will now probable be Pannucci Matterazi Barzagli Zambrotta which isn't very strong at all. It'll be a big ask of Gattuso to protect the frailty of that back four. I've a feeling Italy could collapse. Romania and Holland to progress

[Sesp]

Not long to go now. Prediction for opening game
Swiss 1-1 Czech
Frei Koller

A cagey one most likely.

1-0 to the Czechs (though I don't expect either team will impress much).

[lionelhutz]

Hmm, I seem to remember people panicking in 06 when a certain Alessandro Nesta got injured. How did that World Cup go for Italy again???? ;)

I certainly didn't panic in 06 as they still had Cannavaro to marshall the defence

[joe_barry80]

Say the Swiss will win 2-0. They'll be pumped up with home crowd behind them. The Czechs where woeful during WC 2006 and only got through our group because we where crap.

Kuhn the managers wife also had a stroke yesterday but he will be there for the game on Saturday http://sport.orf.at/euro2008/ (German Only)

[Hibs4Ever]

Say the Swiss will win 2-0. They'll be pumped up with home crowd behind them. The Czechs where woeful during WC 2006 and only got through our group because we where crap.




Germany are most peoples, and the bookies, clear favourites to win the tournament yeah?

You say the Czechs only qualified because we were crap! The Germans were worse against us than the Czechs. The Czechs also topped the group, winning 3-0 in Germany.

The Czechs are better than you think. Plus Bruckner retires after this tournament so the players will be well up for it ;)

[superfrank]

Write the Czechs off at your peril. They strolled through their group in Euro 2004, beating Germany 3-2 with their fringe players.

And as mentioned, they easily qualified for this year's comp.

[joe_barry80]

Germany are most peoples, and the bookies, clear favourites to win the tournament yeah?

You say the Czechs only qualified because we were crap! The Germans were worse against us than the Czechs. The Czechs also topped the group, winning 3-0 in Germany.

The Czechs are better than you think. Plus Bruckner retires after this tournament so the players will be well up for it ;)

They won 3-0 because Germany had already got through. Do really think if they had to get a result that they would play so bad. I watched the game myself and good few of the 1st teamers were not playing.

[Hibs4Ever]

They won 3-0 because Germany had already got through. Do really think if they had to get a result that they would play so bad. I watched the game myself and good few of the 1st teamers were not playing.




Nonsense, germany still wanted to top the group because of seedings in the actual tournament. I wastched the game too and Germany had a very strong team out

[shakermaker1982]

Nonsense, germany still wanted to top the group because of seedings in the actual tournament. I wastched the game too and Germany had a very strong team out

Holland lost to Belarus that same weekend in the hope that falling down the seedings would mean they'd end up with Austria or Switzerland at the Euro's. Unfortunately Germany had the same idea, got beat by the Czech's 3 nil and it's now Holland in the group of death.

[bennocelt]

here are my predictions................

Five Euro on Torres at 8/1
(villa is 16/1)

germany to score the most penos at 11/2.....what a bet!!!!!!!!!!

and spain to win at 7/1

czech and portugal to win easy on sat

PP for my odds

[old git]

here are my predictions................

Five Euro on Torres at 8/1
(villa is 16/1)

germany to score the most penos at 11/2.....what a bet!!!!!!!!!!

and spain to win at 7/1

czech and portugal to win easy on sat

PP for my odds

paddy powers offical euro 2008 specials

bet of the tournamet first player to be subbed in mondays holland v italy clash or the first player to be pulled off at the wankdorf stadium :D:D another classic by paddy power

[bholg]

The swiss may well bore them into submission.

Couldnt resist 2.72 on the czechs though

[gaiscíoch]

Just came across this article in the "indo" it's excellent. Gives you a true feel for how the professional footballer still hurts when things don't go right for him as a player. I can't wait to see the film....
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2008/news/dhorasoos-lonely-tale-of-life-as-a-tournament-bit-player-1399943.html

[superfrank]

I read about Dhorasoo's film a while ago. It sounds very interesting. Hope it opens here somewhere, probably the IFC.