Euro 2004 in Portugal

[Pikenoyama]

See ya Danes on Sunday (Applauding...) . I'm glad that we are not facing Italy, but Denmark won't be an easy foe. I hope that the Czech squad would not let them keep the ball as much as Swedish did yesterday, cause the wings play tremendously and J.D. Tomasson and Ebe Sand are always ready to use the passes. As I wrote before we can't really rely on our defense so we have to keep the ball way out from our goal. Rosicky, Baros and Nedved GOOOO!!!! (Hugging...)

[Mark Buckton]

Dont be so quick to jump on the Rooney-wagon either,give him a year and he will be playing just as bad.

Keep your eye on Paul Scholes from now on though-

After scoring his first goal in 3 years monday he was on fire ,firing in shots from all directions,now he has his confidence back he will be unstoppable.

No band wagon for me.

Scholesy is brilliant on form and just very good off form. Watched him as a kid at OT, watched him grow up and and respect him a lot. Rooney - has always been raw (like Norman Whiteside was in the mid 80s before he started hitting Paddy Crerand's pub in Altrincham with McGrath, Robson and co) talent and is starting to shine.

His being a Mickey Mouser is the only drawback but I think you should live for THIS tournament Fuji - in a year's time what is happening? nothing. So his form then won't matter too much - and WC Germany 2006 qualifying won't be too hard now will it? (Hugging...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

I am a big fan of Czech team too. Already enjoyed Poborski's style in 1996 and now also Nedved impresses a lot. Fast, skillful and some brilliant long shots which are not long shots even at 35 metres with his technique. Hopefully their reserve team against Germany won't be in reserve reverse mode. Would be good to see eager subsititute players playing in free spirit against more pressured Germany and beat them.

It was quite very amusing that in Finland 2-2 score in Denmark-Sweden had the lowest odds (5.82) so perhaps a wish to see both Nordic countries through or a hint to Italy that their defensive style is not well appreciated. The game itself was good and 3-1 to Denmark was very close too ruining the yaocho-claims pretty efficiently. Naturally the final scenes of the game left some aftertaste to the conspiracy-believers with 1.5 minutes of waiting for the match to end in thouroughal co-operation and the joined celebration by Danish and Swedish fans with some prophetic sheets in the audience saying "Sweden-Denmark 2-2, bye bye Italy!" (Hugging...)

Oh well, never give the fate of your destiny in the hands of other teams.

Speaking of Swedes, the main reputation Swedish teams have in Finland is that of extremely successful come back team. So many times Swedes have come from behind and won important games at the last seconds. Especially against Finland in hockey but the reputation is overall. Swedish teams may have grown to think that "Swedish teams have done this numerous times before so we can too!" and absorb peak confidence boosts and always believe they can tie the game even at last minute. This was just another example of Swedish tendency to succeed at crucial times.

[Coo-cook]

Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles ,ueber alles auf dem Fussballfeld....oder ?

Schade dass die Beckenbauer, Rummenige und Matteus Zeiten vorbei sind.

Ich glaube diesmal Czechs werden die Meisterschaft nach Hause holen.

Die Czechen sind nicht besonders gut in Weltmeisterschaften aber die haben immer gut in den Europameisterschaften gespielt.

(Hat jemand errinert die Paninka Schuesse ? )

[Coo-cook]

Please, Rijicho, delete my previous post. Somehow I flipped writing "Deutschland.... "etc..

I wanna say,....

I would like to see the Germans win.

But, it seems the Beckenbauer, Rummenige and Mattheus's times are over.

This time Czechs will take the championship home.

They don't play well at World Cups, but they always play dangeriously good at European Championships.

[Fujisan]

I hope Rooney can continue to be this good. I remember another 18 year old Englishman who did a giant breakthrough during the 1998 WC finals. His name was Michael Owen ...

My point exactly Kashu-

They where saying the same things about Michael Owen then as they are Rooney now but as Owens performance this time proves-"One great tournament doesn't make him a superstar except in the headlines."

He is a good,maybe even great player but is he'The next Pele,' like some have been calling him?

No I dont think so. (Hugging...)

[aderechelsea]

well the Netherlands are through with a little help from the Czechs (or the incompetence of the Germans) and now they can go all the way and win the damn trophy.....

too bad a lot of our Swedish members will be disheartened along the way ....

As for Greece i have a good feeling for the game with the French.I think we will lose only 3-0 .... (he he he)

[Elenrian]

Now the 1/4 Finals are:

1/ Today

Portugal vs England => Portugal will win

2/ Tomorrow

France vs Greece => Don't know

3/ On saturday:

Suede vs Netherlands => Don't know

4/ On Sunday:

Czech Republic vs Danmark => Czech Republic will win

[Kashunowaka]

Now the 1/4 Finals are:

1/ Today

Portugal  vs  England  => Portugal will win

2/ Tomorrow

France  vs  Greece => Don't know

3/ On saturday:

Suede  vs  Netherlands => Don't know

4/ On Sunday:

Czech Republic  vs  Danmark  => Czech Republic will win

Portugal vs England => England

France vs Greece => France

Suede vs Netherlands => Netherlands

Czech Republic vs Danmark => Czech Republic

England, Czech and Denmark have been the most impressing teams in my eyes. Czech Republic is the team to beat now of course.

Greece started the tournament well but didn't finish the first phase in a convincing way. The same goes for Sweden. (Protesting...) I would have preferred Germany, but now it is Holland. Our defence is like a sieve, but our strikers are deadly! So if we can just score more goals than we concede, we might stand a chance. :-)

[aderechelsea]

greece will play better than the game against Russia cause that was the only game so far they were the favourites and they were very nervous.

after the goal they scored they played well and could even equalise it.

Against France we are the outsiders and the players know that noone will bash them for losing.No stress for us and all the stress for the French who are playing against the weakest team of the last 8 and they MUST go to the semis.

.

.

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in today's match i see Portugal going through with the help of Costinha who scores usually against English teams ;)

and i also have a gut feeling that the Danes will go to the semis...

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Quite a football match. LIghtning start by England and Owen, then roaming offense by Portugal which bore fruit 7 minutes before the end. At the last minute one disqualified goal for England. Then Rui Costa's brilliant overtime goal to start premature celebrations before England tied the game.

Thriller penalty shoot-out with Beckham's disastrous blundering (3rd penalty failed in a row and quite tragicomic attempt) but Rui Costa saves England for a little while. Portugal's Ricardo shows some of the lousiest penalty saving attempts before saving decisive one and yelling his lungs out before going for the final penalty shot himself and scoring with power and accuracy! Imagine the feeling at that point. Double hero heaven.

Great game. Swede's facial expressions were dramatically shown after both Portuguese goals. Great players. Ashley Cole is rock solid and technical skill by Portuguese players is always a pleasure to look at. Not too much of acting either this time me thinks.

[Kashunowaka]

Great game. Swede's facial expressions were dramatically shown after both Portuguese goals.

Why? (Protesting...)

[amgaa99]

England. Ayayayaya. My prediction is broken out.

[Pikenoyama]

in today's match i see Portugal going through with the help of Costinha who scores usually against English teams ;)

Well Portugese did it even despite the Costinha's help (Oops! ) (Protesting...) :-) :-/ .

I'm glad Portugese made it through although I wouldn't bet on it before the match. I'm wondering if there will be any surprise today or if Zidane with Henry will make it somehow once more.

[Elenrian]

QUOTE (Kaikitsune Makoto @ Jun 24, 2004, 23:39)

Great game. Swede's facial expressions were dramatically shown after both Portuguese goals.

Why?

Because if they win, they'll meet Portugal in 1/2 finals, and Portugese players have an enormous advantage...

I watched the match from 85th minute to the end, and I think Portugal was stronger at this time. I was veeery happy to see them win... And ten minutes after, I could hear many cars which hooted a lot, during half an hour!

(Protesting...) (Blowing horn...) :-) (Sign of approval) :-/

[Doitsuyama]

QUOTE (Kaikitsune Makoto @ Jun 24, 2004, 23:39)

Great game. Swede's facial expressions were dramatically shown after both Portuguese goals.

Why?

Because if they win, they'll meet Portugal in 1/2 finals, and Portugese players have an enormous advantage...

You both are on the wrong track. Kaikitsune meant the face of prominent England coach Sven-G

[QttP]

greece will play better than the game against Russia cause that was the only game so far they were the favourites and they were very nervous.

Anyone who follows Russia's WC/EC performance since 1990 knows that by no means could the Greek team be considered favorites against them. Yes, they actually could equalize and even win, but if anything, I was more surprised they weren't trashed like 4-0. In any case, I was very pleased the Greek team wen't through and not Spain. Just like I'm pleased to see England out, although I have to admit, they have been playing great in this tournament. But losers will be losers. It's the same in soccer as it is in sumo.

And good luck to Greece against France. As long as Greece plays careful, they have all the chances in the world - France is crap and I hope that it will start reflecting on their results as well.

[Kashunowaka]

QUOTE (Kaikitsune Makoto @ Jun 24, 2004, 23:39)

Great game. Swede's facial expressions were dramatically shown after both Portuguese goals.

Why?

Because if they win, they'll meet Portugal in 1/2 finals, and Portugese players have an enormous advantage...

You both are on the wrong track. Kaikitsune meant the face of prominent England coach Sven-G

[aderechelsea]

Anyone who follows Russia's WC/EC performance since 1990 knows that by no means could the Greek team be considered favorites against them.

the Greek team was the favourite in that game not for historical reasons but for recent form.The win against Portugal and the draw with Spain made them look like they are on a streak and a win would give them the first place.

They were the favourites.......

if you don't think my reasoning sounds good, you should look and all the major betting companies (william hill, betandwin, coral, ladbrokes) that had Greece at 1,75 - 1,90 to win.I guess they considered Greece as favourites as well ...

[Doitsuyama]

if you don't think my reasoning sounds good, you should look and all the major betting companies (william hill, betandwin, coral, ladbrokes) that had Greece at 1,75 - 1,90 to win.I guess they considered Greece as favourites as well ...

Not exactly true. In fact, the lines of betting companies are in no way necessarily correlated to their opinion. They want to make profit, so generally they try to make lines where they win either way. So in the end the resulting line is more depending on the opinion of the (possibly gullible) majority of betting people.

And like QttP said, Russia indeed has some history of playing good in the last preliminary game after two bad games. While Greece... well, least I can say is that I'm not yet convinced they are a title candidate.

[Gusoyama]

"Watching" the Greece-France game on ESPN's webcast. Looks like a heck of a first half by Greece. 4 shots to France's 2, and it sounds like France is REALLY flat on their feet.

I'm rooting for the Czech team, because my landlord is from there, and is in Portugal right now for the tourney.

[Gernobono]

As long as Greece plays careful, they have all the chances in the world -

it's halftime in the quarterfinals against france and i think the way greece is playing is more "italian" than the italians play....i thought with 4 defenders playing in a line those days of defencive plays are over....the way coach rehagel (famous for his controlled offence) makes the greece play is a thing of the past, i thought..... but little do i know......

france is helpless up to now, but following the magnificent game of portugal-england yesterday this game is more than disappointing......

greece reaches a good result, but again they make it clear for me why americans do not like a game with ZERO action....

[Kashunowaka]

greece reaches a good result, but again they make it clear for me why americans do not like a game with ZERO action....

Well, it was hardly Greece's fault.

Excellent game by Greece. Perfect even. Sensational result, but even more sensational is that Greece deserved the win! (Neener, neener...) (Showing respect...)

[Gernobono]

Well, it was hardly Greece's fault.

agree.....greece did what is possible for them....and while destroying the (in this case non-existing) game of the opponent scored a goal with their only chance for a goal in the second half...

france would also not have deserved to reach the semis....so greece is the worthy winner although i deeply dislike the way they got there.....

i think it is rather unfair to see one team from portugal - england being expelled from the tourney while one of todays teams advances.....

anyway....my guess for champions portugal still is in the competition (Neener, neener...)

[QttP]

the Greek team was the favourite in that game not for historical reasons but for recent form.The win against Portugal and the draw with Spain made them look like they are on a streak and a win would give them the first place.

In soccer there is more than recent form to consider... In any sport, actually. Take sumo for example. Considering the streak, it would be hard for anyone to consider Chiyotaikai a favorite against Kaio, even if Taikai has 14-0 and Kaio has 8-6. Yes, Greece played two good games while Russia played two bad games. But if evaluated objectively (if it's possible at all), the Russian squad is not weaker than the Greek squad, and in a game of equals, the fact that Greece was coming off two good games while Russia was comming off two unlucky performances could be in favour of the latter. And when you add the history of the Russian performances against surprising teams, when their own chances were down the drain already, you understand my statement. Evidently, they DID win, didn't they?

But that is all behind us now, and today the important thing is that Greece made my day (and I'm sure the day of many people too, not just Greek fans) by kicking crappy France out! I'm not a guy who uses lots of emoticons normally, so I won't, but take it from my words - I am very very happy! Congratulations one more to the excellent Greek team and their coach. Winning against the odds, against a team with more raw talent, and doing it again and again - that's what the game is all about.

Even if Greece doesn't reach the final and doesn't win the tournament - they have fulfilled their duty and earned me as a fan for the nearest future at least.

A separate congratulation to aderechelsea!