EKE BBB Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 A very disappointing game from Spain, to say the least. We always have to suffer these kinds of games from this team. Just like against Russia, this game should have been put away. Instead we now face the distinct possibility of going home. Greece should have an easy game against Russia, putting them through, while Spain face what will be not an easy game against Portugal. A tie is all that is needed but with a desperate host team it will not be easy. If they get through, it will only lead to more disappointment. Ditto, Brad. This team is the most boring Spain I remember from the last ten or fifteen years (and we had some "hard years" with Clemente). Anyway, Spain usually offers a better entertainment in sucessive matches... and that´s when we lose: the better we play, the more possibilities we have to lose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Spain never seems able to assemble a firstrate team for the big soccer competitions. The Greek team played with gusto and deserved to score the equalizer. Noz all of France will be waiting for tonight's match against Croatia. All French soccer fans still remember the France vs. Croatia semifinal match of the 1998 World Cup when the French team was being led 0-1 with good reasons by the Croats until French defender Lilian Thuram scored an equaliser and then the decisive 2-1 goal which enabled the French team to go to the final to beat the favorite Brazilian team. Thuram will be playing again tonight. Nobody expect him to score this time. The forwards (Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet) should take care of that job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKE BBB Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 There are two only obstacles for France, who still is my favorite (I even made a bet for them in a draw among a bunch of friends): -the basis of the team is very old (Barthez, Lizarazu, Thuram, Zidane, Makelele, Pires...) -Zidane needs another creative player in the midfield: Pires plays too stuck to the side line and both Vieira and Makelele are only-destructive players (the infamous "double-pivot" tactic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 -the basis of the team is very old (Barthez, Lizarazu, Thuram, Zidane, Makelele, Pires...) I resent that! But you're right! The lineup for tonights match has still to be announced. Pires may be left out of the match and Sylvain Wiltord might be called in. Makelele who is injured should be replaced by Olivier Dacourt. Will see what the French coach Jacques Santini has up his sleeves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 (edited) What is your forecast for this evening? I think the English team is going to sweat a lot. The Swiss team will fight. Edited June 17, 2004 by B. Goren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 The English have to sweat a lot. They cannot afford to lose. They're going to be very tough on the Swiss. Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 (edited) relive it all again from any angle: http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualreplay/euro2004/ will not work in Opera somehow... ah, needed new version of that shockwave thingy. all's well now. Edited June 17, 2004 by couw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Totti gets the sentence. He is suspended for 3 games. From AP: Totti suspended for three games for spitting at opponent By ANDREW DAMPF LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Italy's star playmaker Francesco Totti received a three-match suspension from UEFA on Thursday for spitting at a Danish opponent in the team's Euro 2004 opener. Italy has 24 hours to appeal the decision. UEFA will then let Italy know the final verdict within 48 hours. "We're fairly satisfied. Now we will see if we will make an appeal. We have to now read the decision," said Giulia Bongiorno, who has represented ex-Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti in criminal cases and leads Totti's legal team. The Italian Soccer Federation's chief lawyer, Mario Gallavotti, and federation vice president Giancarlo Abete were also present at the hearing at a downtown Lisbon hotel. If the suspension is upheld, Totti will miss Italy's remaining Group C games against Sweden and Bulgaria _ as well as the quarterfinals, if the Italians qualify. A Danish TV station showed footage Wednesday of Totti spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in Monday's 0-0 tie between the two teams. Italy argued that Totti was provoked by Poulsen and used several different angles of TV footage to support its claims. The suspension is a major blow to Italy. Totti is widely considered the team's best player, and coach Giovanni Trapattoni has built his entire offense around him. Trapattoni declared last week that Totti was the one player his team "really counts on." Totti is coming off a spectacular season at AS Roma in which he scored a career-high 20 goals for the Serie A team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Totti gets the sentence. He is suspended for 3 games. From AP: Totti suspended for three games for spitting at opponent By ANDREW DAMPF LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Italy's star playmaker Francesco Totti received a three-match suspension from UEFA on Thursday for spitting at a Danish opponent in the team's Euro 2004 opener. Italy has 24 hours to appeal the decision. UEFA will then let Italy know the final verdict within 48 hours. "We're fairly satisfied. Now we will see if we will make an appeal. We have to now read the decision," said Giulia Bongiorno, who has represented ex-Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti in criminal cases and leads Totti's legal team. The Italian Soccer Federation's chief lawyer, Mario Gallavotti, and federation vice president Giancarlo Abete were also present at the hearing at a downtown Lisbon hotel. If the suspension is upheld, Totti will miss Italy's remaining Group C games against Sweden and Bulgaria _ as well as the quarterfinals, if the Italians qualify. A Danish TV station showed footage Wednesday of Totti spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in Monday's 0-0 tie between the two teams. Italy argued that Totti was provoked by Poulsen and used several different angles of TV footage to support its claims. The suspension is a major blow to Italy. Totti is widely considered the team's best player, and coach Giovanni Trapattoni has built his entire offense around him. Trapattoni declared last week that Totti was the one player his team "really counts on." Totti is coming off a spectacular season at AS Roma in which he scored a career-high 20 goals for the Serie A team. Excellent, he got what he deserved. Let's hope the suspension will be upheld in an appeal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... I agree, the English were having lots of problems with the Swiss, at least in the game I was watching... The 3 - 0 result was exaggerated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 my o my are those french messing around! save some of the cocky arrogance and play some football will you all! and throw in some gusto, no one is going to give it away even if you guys is the big important french guys. incredible. The penalty goal of Croatia will stir them up I hope. They will need to create some chances though, which I haven't seen them doing until now (not even against England really...) AND NOW IT'S 2 to 1 for Croatia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 (edited) Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... I agree, the English were having lots of problems with the Swiss, at least in the game I was watching... The 3 - 0 result was exaggerated. Then again it cannot it be all that bad if you play poorly & win 3-0. We can play alot better than that. Edited June 17, 2004 by Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... I agree, the English were having lots of problems with the Swiss, at least in the game I was watching... The 3 - 0 result was exaggerated. Then again it cannot it be all that bad if you play poorly & win 3-0. We can play alot better than that. Don't want to offend you, but I haven't seen any of that yet, not against the French and certainly not tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 (edited) my o my are those french messing around! save some of the cocky arrogance and play some football will you all! and throw in some gusto, no one is going to give it away even if you guys is the big important french guys. incredible. The penalty goal of Croatia will stir them up I hope. They will need to create some chances though, which I haven't seen them doing until now (not even against England really...) AND NOW IT'S 2 to 1 for Croatia! France just equalized, very poor defending by Croatia. The second half is much more entertaining than the first half was. Edited June 17, 2004 by J.A.W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 ooo boy, France got away there with the Croatians missing that last chance. a friggin exciting match in the end, but not for the quality of the playing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 ooo boy, France got away there with the Croatians missing that last chance. a friggin exciting match in the end, but not for the quality of the playing... I agree (again...) In my opinion the Danes played the best football so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Well, the French will have to play better if they want to get further. The whole team seemed disorganised at the start of the second half and Croatiaq did not miss their opportunity to take the lead. Just too bad that Gallas missed scoring at the 42nd minute on a brilliant pass from Henry following a kick by Zidane. That should have gone into the goalmouth! But the second half of the match was really exciting. Not brilliant but exciting! French coach Jacques Santini has some serious thinking to do for the next matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Well, the French will have to play better if they want to get further. The whole team seemed disorganised at the start of the second half and Croatiaq did not miss their opportunity to take the lead. Just too bad that Gallas missed scoring at the 42nd minute on a brilliant pass from Henry following a kick by Zidane. That should have gone into the goalmouth! But the second half of the match was really exciting. Not brilliant but exciting! As soon as Croatia equalized at 1-1 with the penalty, that stadium became electric- and so did the action on the field for the next ten minutes. Quite enjoyable to watch, even if some blunders continued to be made (what's with all of the back pass gifts for the French? ). Wow, Trezuguet nearly missed that wide open net!! Croatia's second goal was very fine, despite Desailly's goof in allowing the space. A half volley like that almost always sails over the bar. Anyway, Croatia played with tremendous energy, but the French must be commended for pressuring them all over the field. Quite a match! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... I agree, the English were having lots of problems with the Swiss, at least in the game I was watching... The 3 - 0 result was exaggerated. Then again it cannot it be all that bad if you play poorly & win 3-0. We can play alot better than that. Don't want to offend you, but I haven't seen any of that yet, not against the French and certainly not tonight. No offence taken , but I didnt think we did too badly against the French (not for 90 mins !!!!). I'm not suggesting we will the competition , not with our goalkeeper & Michael Owen's current form, but I think we are are much better team than tonights display. I do think what happened in the last 3 minutes against France added to the pressure on England tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Well, the French will have to play better if they want to get further. Thank heaven for dodgy back passes - thats 2 in 2 games !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.L.M Posted June 18, 2004 Report Share Posted June 18, 2004 I'm confident that the FRENCH will go further. I think than, like most of the well prepared team, they will reach their pick form for the quater/semis. But there is a problem in this team: nobody plays on the left flank. ZIDANE is all over the field (what is ok). But that must oblige HENRY to play on that side much more that what he does now. And as the left back are concern, like LIZARAZU against the english team and SYLVESTER tonight, they are only defending... The consequence is that the team is much unbalance and very predictable when attacking. It's seems than SANTINI has understand tonight the problem when he has replaced WILTORD by PIRES and ask him to play on the left flank (and not the right one like against ENGLAND) what is the way he plays (well) at ARSENAL. The other problem I see in this team and who had serious consequence tonight, it's that you can't build a defense with only former CENTER BACK. You must have specialist on the flank. I think this defense will be more balance and effective if they choose to put back THURAM on the right side with GALLAS/ DESAILLY or GALLAS/ SYLVESTRE on the center and LIZARAZU on the left. Against the CROATIAN, GALLAS, DESSALLY, THURAM and SYLVESTER was all the time on each other and lost much of their defencive efficacy. I think also than ENGLAND is slowly recovering (from the defeat against the FRENCH.) With a striker like ROONEY, they can go far. But it's a pity to see OWEN plays. The guy is absolutely out of tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted June 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2004 (edited) Bet the Swiss team will be out of the championship this evening. You were right Brownie. It was not too comlicated for the English. you must have watched an other game than I did then.... I agree, the English were having lots of problems with the Swiss, at least in the game I was watching... The 3 - 0 result was exaggerated. Then again it cannot it be all that bad if you play poorly & win 3-0. We can play alot better than that. Don't want to offend you, but I haven't seen any of that yet, not against the French and certainly not tonight. No offence taken , but I didnt think we did too badly against the French (not for 90 mins !!!!). I'm not suggesting we will the competition , not with our goalkeeper & Michael Owen's current form, but I think we are are much better team than tonights display. I do think what happened in the last 3 minutes against France added to the pressure on England tonight. I believe in the English team and their potential. Yesterday they played in a very low gear but against the Swiss it was enough. The 3 - 0 result reflects the level difference between the English and the Swiss. They must play better against Croatia and there is no doubt in my mind that the Croatians will give them a fight. I hope they will qualify because Croatia has nothing to look for at the quarter final. Owen is a riddle also for me. Edited June 18, 2004 by B. Goren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted June 18, 2004 Report Share Posted June 18, 2004 I think we may play for the required draw against Croatia , we were in a similar position in the group stages of the last World Cup when playing Nigeria in the last game & we played for the draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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