Euro2004 support thread

[PaulUK]

Oh, I know this feeling... if I lose England and Spain over the next phase, I'll be bulk-buying Greeks...

I think that they wipe all previous bookings at the end of the group phase - they certainly did this at the last world cup. It's a stupid idea that renders any booking in the third game meaningless, but the fear is that you get to the QFs and SFs with teams having to field six reserves... Does anyone know if there is this amnesty thing again this time?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

They wipe all previous bookings at the end of the group phase, but it's not as stupid an idea as you might think. If a player didn't get any yellow cards on the first two matches, then yes, he'll be able to get one card and not worry about it. But if he had had one before, he'll still get the automatic one match suspension.

So, this measure only benefits players who received one single yellow card on the three matches, really.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Absolutely, that is what this group thing is all about. It's rare that things get settled quite so comprehensively as Group A... Portugal vs Spain, loser goes home... or stays home, or whatever.

Well, technically Greece isn't qualified yet. If Portugal beats Spain and Russia beats Greece by 1 goal more than the other match's result, Portugal will go 1st in the group and Spain will be 2nd on goal difference.

 

[PaulUK]

That yellow card thing is a much better system. I can live with that, though I suspect Croatia and other heavily-carded teams might be a tad nervous if they can see their way into the QFs and five guys are having a day off.

Point taken about Greece, though I think you have to say that the odds are that they pinched a place in the QFs. Can you see Russia giving them a game?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Stranger things have happened. Russia isn't a bad team, as you saw against Spain. They had plenty of opportunities to score first on that one. Against Portugal they looked weak and beaten, but that's because Portugal outplayed them completely in the first half.

Greece is basically a defencive team. If they ease their guard and Russia scores one, they'll have a hard time pushing forward, because that's simply something they don't do. Personally, I doubt Russia will score twice against them, but a 1-0 victory wouldn't be too far-fetched a result, I think.

 

[PaulUK]

You gotta love football. I watched a completely different Spain vs Russia to you, I think Laur *g* What I saw was a Russian team with no real flair, overrun by Spain when your neighbours could be bothered to play. They should have been finished off by Raul, but escaped. Greece may not be the best side in the tournament, but they are way too good for that lot.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

My predictions for today are Denmark to beat Bulgaria and Sweden to beat Italy. That would leave Sweden qualified with 6 points, Denmark with 4, Italy with 1, Bulgaria with 0. Depending on today's score lines, that could mean Denmark could even afford to lose the last match against Sweden and still go through.

Let me add one thing, as an architect. If you can, try to watch today's game between Denmark and Bulgaria. That stadium is a masterpiece.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You gotta love football. I watched a completely different Spain vs Russia to you, I think Laur *g* What I saw was a Russian team with no real flair, overrun by Spain when your neighbours could be bothered to play.

Most of the time, yes. But in the last 15 minutes of the first part, for example, Russia could have scored 2 or 3 times. Again in the second, before the goal. I remember at least one appalling miss from Alenitchev in a situation where he would have scored 9 out of 10 times.

 

[PaulUK]

My son is backing Italy to win, so if your predictions are correct I may have family mourning problems later today. It's not impossible, either. I think Italy need to start Gatuso to survive, because that Swedish midfield works so hard, and Italy's starting line-up was very lethargic. Losing Totti may not be too bad, since it means del Piero can come off off the wing... but I think this game really does get won or lost in central midfield.

Bulgaria should get beat bad by Denmark. They didn't seem to have any great idea coming forward, though Laur will undoubtedly tell me that they should have scored *g* Denmark's threats on both flanks ought to make this a done deal.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

They didn't seem to have any great idea coming forward, though Laur will undoubtedly tell me that they should have scored *g*

Nah, they had the ass-whopping coming their way

 

[Black Tulip]

Bulgaria-Denmark: draw
Italy-Sweden: go Sweden, go

I don't think I can sink any lower right now, so I'll start praying in a little while. Some two hours to go.

http://e4u.deltait.com.au/sport/sport06.gif

 

[PaulUK]

Praying is no good. You need to follow the example of Lou's AV...

 

[Black Tulip]

Are you saying my AV is not inspiring?

 

[Guest]

Praying is no good. You need to follow the example of Lou's AV...

LOL!

Yep, I put that one up out of a sense of national duty.

BT, you don't need any scantily clad pics of yourself to be an inspiration.

Lou

 

[PaulUK]

Are you saying my AV is not inspiring?

Oh, oh... How do I get into these things?

Lou, naked pictures of me aren't going to help England, though I suppose I could send a few to www.croatiafootie.com.

Is it going to get me into (more) trouble to say that a little inspiration wouldn't be a bad thing here today?

 

[Guest]

Oh, oh... How do I get into these things?

Lou, naked pictures of me aren't going to help England, though I suppose I could send a few to www.croatiafootie.com.

Is it going to get me into (more) trouble to say that a little inspiration wouldn't be a bad thing here today?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Good one!

And, nope, it would take an AWFUL lot of effort on someone's part to get into trouble with me. Hardly worth the effort.

Lou

 

[PaulUK]

Please, please don't make it into a challenge. You have no idea how good I am at making a complete prat of myself trying...

Anyway... footie time... let's hope they are better games than yesterday...

 

[SnoopDog]

Praying is no good. You need to follow the example of Lou's AV...

But Katie's changing her AV faster than Latvia will be out of the tournament.

Snoopy

 

[SnoopDog]

Please, please don't make it into a challenge. You have no idea how good I am at making a complete prat of myself trying...

Anyway... footie time... let's hope they are better games than yesterday...

I haven't seen yesterdays games but I hope you're being ironic. Because 3-0 and 2-2 sounds pretty promising.
I can only hope now that I can watch the games again, they will do some scoring. *keeping paws crossed*
Ok, the anthems are on, time for some fussi (as we say here in germany, i.e. football = fußball)

Snoopy

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Take a good look at the stadium.

 

[neonlyte]

Great stadium Lauren!
Wouldn't like to be top row outer left - in a strong breeze

Thanks by the way for your kind comments on the atmosphere thread.

NL

 

[CrazyyAngel]

Sheesh what a game ... That goal from Ibrahimovic got me 5 points in the predictor game ... and what a goal that was. Now I hope Italy will fail to qualify for the quarter finals. Denmark and Sweden deserve it more to advance.

CA

 

[neonlyte]

Best game so far CA, I think. Got 5 points too that makes it sweeter.

 

[Liar]

1. p h e w!
2. Weirdest goal ever.
3. Did I mention p h e w?
4. Guess what? I had money on 0-2 and 1-1 today. Damn I'm on a roll!

 

[CrazyyAngel]

Best game so far CA, I think. Got 5 points too that makes it sweeter.

And guess what ... I only predicted the france - croatia game wrong, with the rest I was right .

CA