Euro 2008 discussion thread

[Diadem]

Originally posted by McMeadows

please do use "van der Sar". My last name starts with "van der" as well and it annoys me when it is spelled "Van der" or "Van Der". Even more when abroad I have to look for my name categorised under the "V".

Well it's the Dutch rules. You can of course spell it however you like. It's your name, after all

If The Netherlands really would have been such a great soccer nation, it would have had the results to prove it. Pointing at 2nd places and "bad luck" is exactly what is wrong in the Ducth spirit; no natural winners. I'm happy with yesterday's play. Most of all with the displayed passion. If that drive is maintained, the next 2 weeks can be joyfull. Fortunately the Dutch players were the first to step back on earth, right after the game.

I never said anything about luck. Luck usually plays a pretty small part. I pointed at bad team spirit. Team spirit always plays a major part at any team sport.

It's the reason you sometimes see amateur clubs defeat giants. It's why South-Korea reached the semi-finals of the world cup 6 years ago. I can name a few more examples.

The Dutch national team usually seems to be at the other side of the spectrum. They are often too busy with petty squabbles amongst eachother to be an effective team.

Individual talent has never been a problem for the Dutch. Look at how many succesful players we've had throughout the years.

Look at how ridiculously often we loose at penalty shootouts. During euro 2000 we managed to miss 6 penalties in a single game. That has to be a world record. That has nothing to do with skill though. Any half-decent football player can shoot penalties.

It's just an utter lack of... well... how to put it... an utter lack of cool. Killer instincts.

But I don't believe killer instincts are born, or that they are some national trait. It's team spirit.

[falcon41]

we never were a big power in football... the 2004 was an outstanding experience but it didnt create the full blown interest and quality in the game as it happened with the 1987 eurobasket win. the latter begun a whole period of small kids training and in basket that shows.
but in football there was not a boom like basketball.

[BeBMan]

Portugal not that convincing overall IMO, despite the result

[germanos]

Originally posted by BeBro
Portugal not that convincing overall IMO, despite the result

QFT

[Asmodean]

Well the Czhechs are a good side, and that had something to do with it.

Also, the Portuguese, despite the quality of their attack, were up against one of the best defenses in the world. That had a lot to do with it.

Also, Ronaldo looked uninspired most of the time, and allthough that shouldn't really affect the performance of the team as a whole, it did, because much of their play is centered around him.

Asmodean

[Hercules]

The game was also marred with a lot of petty fouls.

I thought the Czechs would equalise but there you go.

[Cort Haus]

I thought Portugal were good enough. For 2-1 maybe, not 3-1.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Diadem
It's why South-Korea reached the semi-finals of the world cup 6 years ago.

That and blatant match-fixing by the officials.

[germanos]

It's a game of waterpolo

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Wow... Spain looked pretty good. Look at that, you put David Villa up there with Torres and... instant offense!

Spain started the World Cup with two 5-0 victories and then faded. I hope they continue the good play against the harder teams. Although it's hard to see who other than Netherlands or Germany I would class as harder.

[Diadem]

Well because of the retarded matching system they are using this tournament, it is basically two independent tournaments.

The teams from poule A and B can not meet teams from poule C and D before the final.

So what do we have? in A and B we basically only have Germany and Portugal. So they will reach the semi-finals and one of them (Germany) will reach the finals.

The C&D side is a lot harder. We have France, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain as serious contenders. With some dangerous underdogs as well.

[Asmodean]

Not as bad as World Cup 2002.

One half of the tournament was ridiculously hard, and the other half basically had only Germany.

Germany would never have reached the final in 2002, if they had been in the other half.

Asmodean

[BeBMan]

Oh my, that was absolutely nothing. Hopefully they play better in the second half. Croatia did well though

[Maquiladora]

lol @ Lehman's old man dive!

[BeBMan]

I can't see it anymore. It's as if they were exchanged secretly by doubles from the Greek team.