UEFA EURO 2012 - Poland/Ukraine

[ShiftyPowers]

Yeah, would have been a 3 team minigroup decided by goal difference between the 3 teams (even), then goals scored between the 3 teams (Italy 2, Spain 1, Croatia 1).

 

[kp41]

So why Buffon and everyone else say thanks to Spain, they could top the group and get a better draw, the only result which could eliminate them was 2-2 draw.

I guess even the players are a bit confused with these rules.

 

[Waldo1639]

He was perfect today, but utterly exhausted by the end.

It was a little surreal seeing Iniesta passing to Jesus Navas to win the match for Spain. It could have been two Sevilla players on the scoreboard if Rakitic had gotten his header right.

In the interview after the match Rakitić was so desperate cause of that miss. He said: "When I saw Casillas saved my header, first what went through my head was to kick Casillas in the ass, slap myself and go to the locker room... I think somebody will need to carry me out of the stadium cause im dead inside..." Poor fella...

I think Croatia showed great performance during the tournament. Too bad Bilić ended his international duty with a loss, may he have more luck at Lokomotiv Moskva.

 

[fender]

With the built up optimism for England the stage is setup for an epic failure.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Haha thats what I was thinking as well. They are even calling Rooney the English Pele. WTF? They are taking for granted that they are going through.

 

[mogolos]

 

[poet11]

In the interview after the match Rakitić was so desperate cause of that miss. He said: "When I saw Casillas saved my header, first what went through my head was to kick Casillas in the ass, slap myself and go to the locker room... I think somebody will need to carry me out of the stadium cause im dead inside..." Poor fella...

I think Croatia showed great performance during the tournament. Too bad Bilić ended his international duty with a loss, may he have more luck at Lokomotiv Moskva.

Yeah, Croatia were B E A S T S and Spain are C H E A T S

On a serious note...since Xavi can't live with Modric who couldn't live with Rosicky...would Barca let us have him as Rosicky sacrificed himself for his country?

Nah didn't think so.

BDW, Any chance for France crashing out?

 

[4ndr3i]

What?

 

[Xifio]

Spain sure helped Italy.

wait, what happened? coz 0s in the other game would have been better for Italy ... did something happen after the Spain goal?

Had Spain not won Italy wouldn't have qualified.

Not true. At 0-0, Italy would have topped the group with Spain coming second.

Yeah, would have been a 3 team minigroup decided by goal difference between the 3 teams (even), then goals scored between the 3 teams (Italy 2, Spain 1, Croatia 1).

yup, exactly ...

So why Buffon and everyone else say thanks to Spain, they could top the group and get a better draw, the only result which could eliminate them was 2-2 draw.

I guess even the players are a bit confused with these rules.

they thanked Spain because in the lead up to the matches, Italian players and press were talking about asking Spain (the stronger team in the other tie) for a favour of not arranging the result ... Spain's players and press responded by assuring Italy that they would go for the win, which they did, and delivered ... thanks were obviously in order ...

as for results: 2-2 would have eliminated Italy no matter what ... 1-1 would have needed Italy to score at least 3 goals, AND win by a minimum margin of 2 goals ... 0-0 would mean any Italian win would allow them to top the group ...

while it was 0-0, there were no worries ... but once news came through to the players that Spain made it 1-0, then it meant that just one late goal from Croatia (as happened with Denmark in 2004) would mean elimination ... Italy were frantically looking for the crucial third goal when the ref blew the final whistle; meanwhile, the other match hadn't yet ended ... when it did, thanks were once again owed to Spain for holding on to their 1 goal lead -- hence the outpouring of hearty thanks from Buffon et al towards the Spanish ...

 

[Waldo1639]

Great Ukraine so far!

 

[Arnau]

Rakitskiy!

 

[Pogba4Now]

The English Pele scores from half a yard. WTF was the keeper doing?

 

[Pogba4Now]

Haha. That was in. Even with the 5 officials they couldn't figure this one. Shows again that technology is needed in the game.

 

[Xifio]

equal opportunity is well and good, but a blind goal-line official?

I expect England will make a u-turn on goal-line technology: "we don't see any need to rush implementation" ...

 

[1966+2006]

Relax...It was offside anyway

I was worried in the first 20 mins, but we were more in the game afterwards. Good to see Rooney score.
I think this has been Gerrard's best tournament, so far. We were also helped by Shevchenko coming on in the end because they just focused their attacks on him after a while. We were under pressure before that.
I'm not expecting much against Italy but we've come further than I initially expected.

 

[Back Door Skip]

So quarterfinals are set:

Czech Rep. vs. Portugal
Greece vs. Germany
Spain vs. France
England vs. Italy



Two possibly great games, but I can already see England - Italy as a snooze-fest going to penalties.

 

[RobbieD_PL]

I predict an England - Portugal final. Neither team has won the EUROs before and England will beat Germany on penalties in the semis.

 

[Arnau]

The only diference between England and Levante is that british doesn't have Koné.

 

[Sir Calumn]

In a way it's a shame we won our group spectacularly..... Spain would have been a much easier game.......

 

[Waldo1639]

I would like to see Czech's scoring 2 early goals, then Ronaldo to unleash his wrath by scoring 3 goals, and Portugal wins. Drama!