Euro 2008

That was the best I've seen Austria play in a long long time. After the shock of giving away a peno they really put the Croats under pressure. As someone mentioned above they just didn't have it up front. I say they will get something out of the Polish game. Then Hammer the Germans to get through :eek:

What do you think of Vastic who came on in The 2nd half. At 39 he's still great. When I moved to Austria he was the star of the Sturm Graz Teams that made into the Champions League 3 times. Still a legend.

Vastic first pass when he came on was as sweet as a nut. Not bad for an old man :)

On the weekends games, the Czechs and Croats were extremely lucky to beat the host nations. The Swiss and Austrians just lacked the finishing ability to make their dominance count. I was very disappointed with the Croats lack of control after they scored - I thought they would dominate possession and run the Austrians into the ground but quite the opposite happened.

I think most people (myself included) completely wrote off the Austrians considering the poor standard of players in their ranks. Playing in your home country in a major championship makes such a difference though and I think they could give the Poles and Germans a run for their money.

Portugal were excellent at opening the Turks up and their retention of the ball is top quality. I still think they leave themselves a little too open in the wide areas - a better team would expose the gaps out wide with the Portuguese full backs bombing forward at every opportunity.

Germany also looked very strong. I still don't think much of Podolski though despite his goals yest. And Gomes doesn't look up to much either. Frings and Balllack work very well together in midfield and the full backs look lively.

Vastic has a great engine on him despite his advanced years, he's a good little motor who can certainly do a job for 30 mins or so if thrown on. A bit like Quinny for us in Korea and Japan, limited in terms of stamina but very effective. One thing I would say about Ivica is his penalties are, from what I recall, pretty shoddy. I remember one of his in the champions league where he hit it right down the middle with no pace. I would say the Austrians are missing a striker of the calibre of the great Toni Polster. I remember he was deadly in their qualifiers for France 98.

Poland were a mite unlucky last night, I felt the Brazilian fella (Guerrerio ?) looked to be a tidy player and had a lot of joy against the German full backs on either flank. The Polish goalkeeper (Borac) looked to be on top form and I think the second place in the group will be a hard call.

Croatia went 1-0 and sat back, this was nearly a costly mistake. They should have had the game done and dusted afte about 30 mins, creating chance after chance and keeping the Austrians firmly under the thumb.

Portugal have been the most impressive team for me so far. Their deftness on the ball and sheer pace cut the Turkish flanks to ribbons. Turkey themselves were not too bad and I wouldn't be sure if they or the Czech's will get through. There was a clear paucity of skill in the opening match, the Czechs missed Nedved and Rosicky. Zdneck Grygera (a poor man's Radjek Bejbel for those old enough to remember him) and Tomas Ujfalushi are great players but they lack good creative midfielders. I'm sure they must have been tempted to wheel out Poborsky again. It's worth noting that Koller's presence again caused problems for the Swiss. Koller is devoid of any skill but his physical presence can really put the fear of god into any defence. I remember him tearing the Champions League apart for Anderlecht years ago. It's worth seeing that continental defenders tend to have problems dealing with target men, if only we had a decent tall physical striker I think we'd do very well in the qualifiers for WC 2010. I remember the Doc being our top scorer in Euro 2004 qualifiers with something like 6 or 7 goals. Imagine if we had the likes of Quinny again!

I think that it'll be a France Romania draw and Italy to just edge out the Dutch , should bbe a ggood attacking game as neithers defence looks particularly secure

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Originally Posted by gustavo

I think that it'll be a France Romania draw and Italy to just edge out the Dutch , should bbe a ggood attacking game as neithers defence looks particularly secure

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Surprised that so many are rating Romania. I reckon they'll be the Whipping Boys in that Group

Just got a 0-0 draw not bad.

Romanians are a proud people from a nation forged in steel and fire, that was in evidence this afternoon when they out foxed a technically superior (on paper) French team. Like a great game of chess the Romanians held their line with grit and resolve, fair play to them and I can see big problems for teams that play them. They've a good set of players and Nicolae Dorin Goian, Radoi and Dica would grace many teams.

Italy look very shaky without Cannavaro at the back.

Delighted Romania got a draw as I detest Raymond Domenech and I can't wait to see him fired. It was up to France to break the Romanians down and they just don't have enough about them to do it. They don't work as a team. They rely too much on individuals and when some of them have off days, like Ribery and Benzema today, they're poor.

I don't believe Van Nistelrooy's goal was onside. Panucci was off the pitch and wasn't going to get back on. Van Nistelrooy knew what he was doing, you could see his guilty conscience after he'd scored.

Saying that, the second goal was amazing. Already, I think it'll be goal of the tournament. Great counter-attacking football. Good vision to pick out Van Bronckhorst by Sneijder (?), brilliant run and cross by Van Bronckhorst. A lovely cushioned header by Kuyt and a magnificent finish by Sneijder. A lovely goal all round.

Great 2nd goal by the Dutch. Good save by Van der Sar and then they go on the counter and get the goal, pure class.

Italy beginning to show their age tonight. Don't look like a team to be feared.

Pirlo was brilliant tonight.........only joking. How good was Engelaar? He really impressed me last week against the Welsh but to do it against Gattuso and Pirlo shows he belongs on this stage. Delighted Holland won. Hope they go on to win the thing. That is how you play football.

France looked crap. Malouda, Anelka and Abidal should not be anywhere near the starting 11. No grit, passion or determination. Romania on the other hand fought for their lives.

I was surprised by how easily Holland won tonight. I thought Italy would have a bit more but Holland absorbed what ever Italy through at them and took their chances when they had them.

Holland looked like they were bothered. France just looked like the football was spoiling their holiday.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

Delighted Romania got a draw as I detest Raymond Domenech and I can't wait to see him fired. It was up to France to break the Romanians down and they just don't have enough about them to do it. They don't work as a team. They rely too much on individuals and when some of them have off days, like Ribery and Benzema today, they're poor.

I don't believe Van Nistelrooy's goal was onside. Panucci was off the pitch and wasn't going to get back on. Van Nistelrooy knew what he was doing, you could see his guilty conscience after he'd scored.

Saying that, the second goal was amazing. Already, I think it'll be goal of the tournament. Great counter-attacking football. Good vision to pick out Van Bronckhorst by Sneijder (?), brilliant run and cross by Van Bronckhorst. A lovely cushioned header by Kuyt and a magnificent finish by Sneijder. A lovely goal all round.

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what was van nistelrooy supposed to do kick it wide because he was guilty of being offside put the ball in the net and let the officals decide .. second goal was a classic but it was van der vart who picked out van bronckhorst and their 3rd goal was not to bad either another quick break by van bronckhorst after a great save by van der sar very impressed by the dutch tonight but a long way to go yet :ball:

1st goal was rightly given as those are the rules. Only harsh on the Italians as they did not know the rules. They would not have pushed out and left Van Nistelrooy free if they had of know that Panucci was playing him onside. Fair play to him and great finish as it was flying across the box. Best game of the tournament and it could easily have been 4-2. Dutch still look dodgy at the back but fair play to them and their midfield looked great tonight.

France will do better against teams that come out and attack them. Lots of turns in this group to come. Italy not out of it yet by any means. Still think Portugal best team so far.

Really enjoyed last night's game...fantastic counter attacking football from the Dutch (best way to defend too)...Thought Engelaar was man of the match.

Great to see a team leading by 3 goals and still willing to go forward in the closing stages, rather than the boring norm of holding up play in the corners.

Both teams are technically superb.....but wouldn't have beeen able to live with us had we got there!;)

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Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

France will do better against teams that come out and attack them. Lots of turns in this group to come. Italy not out of it yet by any means. Still think Portugal best team so far.

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I agree :eek: We saw Italy in 1994 recover from a first game loss to us. I don't buy in to this ageing stuff. They were coming on strong late in the game until Holland hit them on the break. They'll probably need to win both games though.

I wonder did van Nettlesoup pick up an injury. Saw him holding his leg gingerly before being substituted. Nice to be able to bring on Van Persie as a sub. We bring on Daryl Murphy.

Also interesting that in the 6 games todate, both sides have failed to score in all the games. 5 teams have scored and 7 have failed to score. First goal seems more important than ever :(