Euro 2008 discussion thread

[Hercules]

Asmodean:

And with the utterly disappointing performance by Romania and France

What a comparison. France were so unimpressive I wanted Romania to win in the end.

[germanos]

Anyway, I had feared for the Dutch defence, but it was better then expected. (Not in the least through a good midfield.)
After this game I get the idea that Italy was a bit overhyped. They're still a good team, but they'll have difficulties against the Rumanians unless they change something. Del Piero was a dangerous man though, so he's the logical pick.

[Hercules]

Also from what I saw van der Sar made some excellent saves.

[germanos]

Originally posted by Hercules
Also from what I saw van der Sar made some excellent saves.

That's a given

[Hueij]

Oh man, I thought we would be playing only three games in this tournament, but now...?

3-0 against the world champions.

I can only say this:

Hup Holland, hup,
Laat de leeuw niet in zijn hempie staan
Hup Holland, hup,
Trek het beestje geen pantoffels aan.
Want een leeuw op voetbalschoenen
Kan de hele wereld verslaan.

[Cort Haus]

It was like watching Arsenal v AC Milan again.

[Hueij]

You know, it's funny. Over here we believe, after '74 and '78, that we play the best football in the world and every time when there is a major tournament we think we will end up as the champions.

Well, we did once but that was twenty years ago (man, was I drunk )

But this year all of Holland thinks (knows) that we won't even survive the first round and look what happens. We gave a lesson in how to play football to the world champions and the world championship runner-up plays like ****.

Maybe good times are ahead... But my money is still on Germany

[Imran Siddiqui]

Netherlands

Great match by them, and as the US commentators (well, British commentators hired by the US based ESPN ) pointed out, one of the reasons we love the Dutch is even though they are up 2-0, they are still attacking and not going into an Italy like defensive shell (I think it was Andy Grey who kept pointing that out).

Unfortunately Holland is known for playing very well in the opening matches, but not being so great later on. Hopefully they can continue this.

And Donadoni not starting Del Piero

[Hercules]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Netherlands

Great match by them, and as the US commentators (well, British commentators hired by the US based ESPN ) pointed out, one of the reasons we love the Dutch is even though they are up 2-0, they are still attacking and not going into an Italy like defensive shell (I think it was Andy Grey who kept pointing that out).

Unfortunately Holland is known for playing very well in the opening matches, but not being so great later on. Hopefully they can continue this.

And Donadoni not starting Del Piero

Correct. That's a known Dutch trait. Management issues?

[Diadem]

Originally posted by Dauphin
If the rules of the game are that a player isn't offside if he isn't interfering with play, then it's a bit rich to justify an offside goal because of a defender who is off the pitch, injured and not interfering with play.

Technically a goal, but it isn't in the spirit of the game.

I would agree with you if the guy had actually been injured. But he clearly was not. And don't forget that it wasn't a Dutch foul that got him there, but his own goal keeper.

The rule that 'a player isn't offside if he's not interfering with play' are only about attackers. If the attacking team has a man on the far right, way past all the defenders, but for the one guy on the far left, that's still not offside.

TBH I was totally amazed as well that it was allowed, and at first I too thought it was an error. But it was clearly allowed.

[Diadem]

Originally posted by Hercules
Also from what I saw van der Sar made some excellent saves.

He's Van Der Sar (Dutch spelling rules: The first parts of the name are capitalized if the first-name is omitted: Edwin van der Sar vs. Van Der Sar). Of course he makes excellent saves

Obviously I'm biased as heck, but I think he's one of the best keepers in history. He won the Champion's League in 1995 and 2008. How many players have such a LONG succesful career?

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Unfortunately Holland is known for playing very well in the opening matches, but not being so great later on. Hopefully they can continue this.

It is said that in any group phase The Netherlands always face 4 opponents. 3 other countries, and themselves. It seems to be entirely true. Too often have we had great teams that saw an early demise because they kept fighting eachother. Again, I'm obviously biased, but I think it's fair to say that we would have had some world championship titles by now, if not for that unfortunate habit.

Obviously we're hardly the only country to commit that kind of suicide, but we really do it on a regular basis.

I think we've finally got a coach though, we doesn't put up with that kind of nonsense. So maybe this time ...

[McMeadows]

Originally posted by Diadem
He's Van Der Sar (Dutch spelling rules: The first parts of the name are capitalized if the first-name is omitted: Edwin van der Sar vs. Van Der Sar). Of course he makes excellent saves

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".

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.

[Zopperoni]

That might just mean that they had better media training

[Maquiladora]

Although we've yet to see Spain, a Holland v Portugal final would do nicely

[LordShiva]

Who is this Diadem fellow?