Euro 2012 Discussion

[Senser81]

Been in and around soccer my entire life and I have to say, this Euro's is one of the most blah tournies I have seen. WC 98 is the last major I can remember when there was such a lack of great/quality goals, flashes of brilliance, nail biting games. I mean, Pirlo has the only free kick goal that was not only a goal, but let alone a quality attempt. Hopefully the remainder of the tourney will pick up as opposed to the 3-4 solid games out of the first 20 or so.

I think many of the games have been close and nail-biting. But I agree that there has not been many flashes of brilliance. I think some of it has to do with the fact that the most talented teams are the most dysfunctional (Spain, Holland, Portugal), while England, Germany, and France aren't really at their peak.

[f16harm]

I think many of the games have been close and nail-biting. But I agree that there has not been many flashes of brilliance. I think some of it has to do with the fact that the most talented teams are the most dysfunctional (Spain, Holland, Portugal), while England, Germany, and France aren't really at their peak.

I guess I have to change my view, games have been close, for the simply reason that scoring has been somewhat meh. Nail-biting IMO only factors in if it was your country deadlocked in one of those bleh games. Sidenote, I friggin LOL'd when Spain rolled out no true striker game 1. Also, really digging Kuba (not even gonna try to spell his proper name) on Poland, guy would fit in great in the EPL. Speed, skill, not afraid of rough contact. IMO he has one of the best goals in the tourney verse Russia

[Senser81]

Russia totally crapped the bed. I thought their game against Greece was going to be a formality.

[1ke]

I think they (Russia) thought it was a formality as well.

I just think that what your seeing is a product of the group stages. It happens.

[f16harm]

Agree on Russia, I thought they had the makings of a team who could go deep. Then again, being an Arsenal fan I should have known better with any team who puts Arshavin as their captain.

[Senser81]

My all-time favorite captain is Mark Van Bommel of Holland. It would be like an NBA team naming Dennis Rodman as their captain.

[DDRGuido]

I think the most thrilling moment for me so far was the Ukraine/Sweden 2nd half.

Netherlands going 0fer displeased me but now I'm rooting for Croatia to advance.

[Champ]

Come on Italy. Its fucking Ireland. Lets do this.

[Fappin Raptor]

I absolutely despise watching that fruitcake Sergio Busquetts play. He is such a diving pansy who grabs his face every time he feels contact.

[f16harm]

Come on Italy. Its fucking Ireland. Lets do this.

Italy will choke, that team has been no better than the USA for the last couple years.

And I forgot to note, as far as US coverage for this tournament: Kasey Keller and Taylor Twellman are just fucking awful. Big Keller fan as I was a goalkeeper my entire time, but his camera/color comm. skills are just awful. Twellman always sounds like he's shouting. I love listening to McManaman though. OK, I'll stop, I feel like the guys here who bitch about NFL commentators.

[Fappin Raptor]

I don't like Macca. He is such a negative Nancy. If a striker messes up it's "unlucky", but if a goalie lets up a goal it's "should have been saved".

[Senser81]

Italy will choke, that team has been no better than the USA for the last couple years.

And I forgot to note, as far as US coverage for this tournament: Kasey Keller and Taylor Twellman are just fucking awful. Big Keller fan as I was a goalkeeper my entire time, but his camera/color comm. skills are just awful. Twellman always sounds like he's shouting. I love listening to McManaman though. OK, I'll stop, I feel like the guys here who bitch about NFL commentators.

Agreed. Twellman is borderline retarded. Michael Ballack is awesome. He cannot speak english, yet they try to ask him these super-complicated question. He did get Lalas to STFU, though, when asked about the guy who had a choice to play for the US or Italy and chose Italy...Ballack: He just wants to play for team that wins.

[Champ]

The girls are forcing me to go to the pool. Going to watch the rest of the game at the pool on my phone.

[DDRGuido]

I like Ballack too. I get the feeling Levy is always putting pressure on him.

[f16harm]

Of course Ballack is awesome, he's German!! I get the sense he doesn't think much of Lalas, either. Seems he's always looking at him, and responding to him with an attitude of "what the fuck do you know, you were average at best." Which if true, I would agree. Lalas came up, and was in his heyday, during my high school and college days and I never thought the guy was as good as promoted. First American in Serie A....big deal, he wasn't there long and wasn't that highly regarded. Lalas is where he is today thanks to marketing his hippy, ginger self really well at an opportune time when the USA was holding the World Cup. Then he scored one good goal where he ran down the field swinging his arm afterward. Marcelo Balboa was the better central defender (and would have had one of the best goals in a WC ever if his bicycle kick off a corner from the edge of the box in WC '94 verse Columbia was a foot or 2 more inside).
2:00 minute mark, some history for the youngin's here