UEFA Euro 2012

[jomarlushka]

I would have loved Germany - England
Now I hope Germany can win and find a way to beat Spain , but that I can only say in an anonymous blog I would have never thought I wanted somebody beat Spain but they seem like stuck in reverse doing the same all over and boring half the world to death, honestly, no action or excitement, no emotions! give me a game like tonight any day to the one yesterday...Italy have a winning mentality, no doubt! Remember the 2006 World Cup win and boy, did they fight! wasn't there penalties against France in the final?

 

[hedur]

The only good thing I can say about this result is I'm going to greatly enjoy watching Germany pummel Italy into oblivion.

 

[jomarlushka]

Portugal - Spain (I would love to see Portugal win but realistically 98% it will be Spain)
Germany - Italy (Germany are way better than Italy but Italy can put their claws into defence and make it difficult - they were the only team so far that didn't loose against Spain)

prediction for the finalists: Germany - Spain ...

 

[kokobombon]

^I like that final prediction
I´m happy with either of them winning.

 

[FashionPower]

Italy pretty much dominated the whole match so it is a pretty much deserved victory
Congratulations to Hart for saving many balls

 

[Fantomette]

I died when Pirlo did the Panenka. Italy deserved to win. What a game!

 

[iluvjeisa]

It was a great game and the right team won. Honestly, I love England, but the way they played the final 30 minutes they wouldn't stand a chance against Germany....

Germany will probably beat Italy...but I hope not, because I really like the Italian team spirit that I see here.

Obviously, Spain-Germany is the most likely final. But who wins that one is anybody's guess. Hopefully not the team that is the most boring...

 

[japoelflaco]

If Portugal passes over Spain, that's it, they win the whole thing. But if Spain wins over Portugal Im going with Italy to win the Euro. Yes Im already eliminating Germany, it's not a case of italians are superior to the germans, but Italy matches up well to Germany. So far Im happy Italy is still alive in the Euro. 48hrs less of rest, no problem. BTW Thanks UEFA.

 

[kiki09]

For all the Spain haters can you honestly say the England-Italy game was more entertaining?

 

[Filipe]

Final: Portugal vs. Italy

 

[hedur]

I always think it's funny when people talk about who "deserved" to win. In reality, if you have the majority of the possession, outnumbered your opponent in chances, and yet didn't score more goals than your opponent, then you didn't "deserve" to win. (Egregious ref calls notwithstanding.)

In the end, Italy deserved to win because they scored more penalties, not because they dominated in regulation.

For all the Spain haters can you honestly say the England-Italy game was more entertaining?

Personally I found the ENG-ITA match much more entertaining despite the lack of goals. But I don't agree with those that are criticizing Spain. They did what they had to do to win. I'm sure they don't like hearing people think they played a boring game but, in the end, all that matters is the result. If they had played a more open and therefore more entertaining game then France would have had many more chances to counter and they might have made good on them. Spain knew what they had to do and they did it. I can't fault them for that.

 

[alonsoJonathan]

congrats to italy my second fave after Spain

 

[kiki09]

I always think it's funny when people talk about who "deserved" to win. In reality, if you have the majority of the possession, outnumbered your opponent in chances, and yet didn't score more goals than your opponent, then you didn't "deserve" to win. (Egregious ref calls notwithstanding.)

In the end, Italy deserved to win because they scored more penalties, not because they dominated in regulation.



Personally I found the ENG-ITA match much more entertaining despite the lack of goals. But I don't agree with those that are criticizing Spain. They did what they had to do to win. I'm sure they don't like hearing people think they played a boring game but, in the end, all that matters is the result. If they had played a more open and therefore more entertaining game then France would have had many more chances to counter and they might have made good on them. Spain knew what they had to do and they did it.
I can't fault them for that.

Very true. I agree with both your points.

 

[Fantomette]

I always think it's funny when people talk about who "deserved" to win. In reality, if you have the majority of the possession, outnumbered your opponent in chances, and yet didn't score more goals than your opponent, then you didn't "deserve" to win. (Egregious ref calls notwithstanding.)

In the end, Italy deserved to win because they scored more penalties, not because they dominated in regulation.

Your comment made me laugh because it's something I agree with even though I can't help but use this expression. That's the great thing about football: the law of the strongest doesn't equal the law of the field.

 

[japoelflaco]

For all the Spain haters can you honestly say the England-Italy game was more entertaining?

Yes, at least in this game both teams had clear chances, in Spain v France only both goals and stop counting.

I always think it's funny when people talk about who "deserved" to win. In reality, if you have the majority of the possession, outnumbered your opponent in chances, and yet didn't score more goals than your opponent, then you didn't "deserve" to win. (Egregious ref calls notwithstanding.)

In the end, Italy deserved to win because they scored more penalties, not because they dominated in regulation.

Finally someone made sense in this thread. B)

Final: Portugal vs. Italy

Im leaning more towards Spain v Italy, but I don't see Spain as strong so it could very well like you put it.

 

[Kimkhuu]

I always think it's funny when people talk about who "deserved" to win. In reality, if you have the majority of the possession, outnumbered your opponent in chances, and yet didn't score more goals than your opponent, then you didn't "deserve" to win. (Egregious ref calls notwithstanding.)

In the end, Italy deserved to win because they scored more penalties, not because they dominated in regulation.

I would agree and disagree. I agree in the sense that Italy, despite creating so many chances were unable to make a good finish and find the net. On that, they need to sort it out quickly before their game against Germany. At the same time, I tend to judge who deserves to win based on the quality of play. In this game, what England mostly did was focus on the defense and counter-attack. In that sense, I don't think a team that plays like that deserves to win because it's not beautiful to see.

I know many will say football all comes down to the final score but I personally like to put emphasis on the quality of play. But yes hedur you're right on the fact it's not enough to deserve to win.

Seriously, watching this match, my worst fear would have been for England to pass through the next round! It would have been the worse thing ever considering they were really really bad. And boy do I hate this Caroll dude, and he got owned many times by the Italians hihi!



And on a final note, boy did I felt bad for Montelivo when he missed his penalty, I thought it was over for Italy. And when Pirlo went on, he looked so damn nervous! I am glad at least that now the coach knows which players have the nerves and the calm to do penalties.

Having a game sorted out this way is just so awful and it comes down to nerves and luck. I was so damn happy when Buffon managed to stop Cole's penalty!!! Wohooo!

That being said, I simply CANNOT wait for their game against Germany, it will not be as easy this time. But at the same time, Germany are not as intense defensively as England so we'll see what happen. I really hope Thiago Motta feels better and replaces Montelivo who wasn't so awesome in making strategic passes.

 

[jomarlushka]

For all the Spain haters can you honestly say the England-Italy game was more entertaining?

I am not a Spain hater and I live in Spain and I was over the moon when they won in 2008 and 2010 but YES, the England-Italy game was way more interesting than the Spain-France game - of course they only do what they have to do but that doesn't mean it's entertaining

@deserving debate: the team that marks more goals deserves to go through yes - but: sometimes you can see teams trying and fighting so hard and a "lucky goal" decides every now and then or a wrong referee decision that I tend to think in deserving & undeserving - but ultimately it is up to every team: if you can't manage to score more than your opponent you are not deserving to win...simple, unless emotions are involved

 

[dorien]

if it went down to penalties, the italians were going to win

luigi buffon is still tops
but how many chances did balotelli have....the last one
he tripped and fell, all alone.

you waste chances like that....

the germans have been steam rolling teams.
they took it easy on greece and didnt want to score any more.
they have yet to loose a game and yet to tie.
won them all.


when you think about it, the the two teams that reach the Champions league finals. Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid
are basically the two teams that will meet for the EuroCup

Spain vs Germany
with players switched around.


the problem with Spain was best put by this tweet.
"A mi no me engañan, Torres es otro falso nueve"
"you don't fool me, Torres is another false number 9"

del bosque needs to realize he doesnt have messi on his team.
they can pass all they want but they lack someone who will face their opponents and go in to score.

that tactic only work for Pep.
if they at least had villa.
too many midfielders passing the ball around, no scorers.
take out Torres, put in Llorente

the line up should be.
Casillas
Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Javi Martinez
Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi, Busquets
Llorente, Pedro

 

[anlabe32]

Eng-Ita was one of the most exciting matches i've seen so far. I'm rooting for Germany-Italy in the finals, both deserve it but I guess Germany will win it though..

 

[Forrest]

For all the Spain haters can you honestly say the England-Italy game was more entertaining?

YES it was. It wasn't boring at all. I had many oooe aah moments especially by the Italians. BTW, that penalty from Cole was really bad.
I don't hate Spain, but they are playing lazy and not with fire.

That expression "deserve to win" goes both sides. I don't know if you playing a sport, cause I do and it's frustrating when you're the better team but can't put it out in the score and the others make a lucky one for example.
IMO:
If team A create many chances and the others are only defending and wait for the counter and do nothing, then you can say team A deserve to win consedering how they PLAY.
But in the end it doesn't matter who deserves to win by how they PLAY. Cause the one with the MOST GOALS wins and that's the one who did make their chances even if it is with one counter goal. And if you don't score one of your chances then you don't deserve to win and then is team B the one who deserves to win cause they do score.

So imo you can easily say that a team deserves to win by how they play. But like I said the real winner is the one that score the goals and that's in the end the one that deserve to win, cause the other team should have make their goals.

I hope our neighbours win! Germany should not have any problem with Italy.
@anable: they can't be both in the final! Cause they are playing against each other in the semi final!

GO GERMANYYYY!!