The European Football Thread

[Saya]

Well, yesterday's matches were terrible. Horrible plays by Germany and Austria. Today's matches will be a lot better!

Netherlands - Romania
Italy - France

I'll watch the Netherlands on tv, but want to stream the other match on my computer. If I'll find a decent stream I'll post it.

Edit: Maybe this stream will work

http://video.uefa.com/Video/Live/Com...MatchList.html

[Lasse]

I'll watch the Netherlands on tv

Yeah, that's the one I'm interested in as well.

France and Italy are such boring and frustrating teams to watch individually, I don't know how I'll reach if I had to watch them play each other. :frustrated:

[Saya]

This might help some people with tonight's games. :P

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ly/7457863.stm

The Netherlands have won Group C and will play the Group D runners-up in the quarter-finals.

Romania will qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat the Netherlands, eliminating France and Italy.

If Romania fail to beat the Netherlands, the winner of France v Italy will go through.

If France and Italy draw, a point against the Netherlands would be enough to send Romania through. France must win to have any chance of qualifying.

If France and Italy share a score draw (1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc), Italy will go through if Romania lose (by any score). In this scenario, Italy, Romania and France will be level on two points each but Italy would have scored more goals in games between the 3 teams.

Romania will finish bottom of the group if they lose and France and Italy draw 2-2, 3-3 or 4-4. France will finish bottom if they draw 1-1 unless Romania lose 3-0 or by a four-goal margin.

If France and Italy draw 0-0, Romania can lose by one goal, two goals or by a three-goal margin other than 3-0 but still qualify. In this scenario, Italy and Romania would have identical head-to-head records, but Romania would have better goal difference in ALL group matches or, in the case of the three-goal defeats, goals scored. France would finish bottom, having scored fewer goals head-to-head v Italy and Romania.

If Romania lose 3-0 to the Dutch, Italy would qualify with a 0-0 draw against France because of their superior coefficient points. France would finish bottom as they would have scored fewer goals head-to-head v Italy and Romania.

If Romania lose by four goals or more and the other game ends 0-0, Italy would proceed with a better overall goal difference than Romania. France would finish bottom as they would have scored fewer goals head-to-head v Italy and Romania.

If France and Italy draw AND Romania avoid defeat, then Romania go through.

[origami_mustache]

I know a lot of people here dislike Italy, but I was glad to see them emerge from the group of death. I'd much rather watch them play in the tournament stage than Romania or France, especially considering how embarrassingly bad they played.

[Lasse]

I know a lot of people here dislike Italy, but I was glad to see them emerge from the group of death. I'd much rather watch them play in the tournament stage than Romania or France, especially considering how embarrassingly bad they played.

Romania and France have both been terribly bad, so I guess seeing Italy moving on is the lesser of evils.

[Morris Schæffer]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THAT'S RIGHT COCKSUCKERS!

People keep telling me that it's "just" soccer. Yeah right. This is like drinking from the fountain of youth. I feel energized! Liberated!!!! Unstoppable!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU NETHERLANDS!!!!!!!!

EDIT: Spain will be tough however.
EDIT 2: Toni really needs to start motherfucking scoring dammit!!

[Kurosawa Fan]

Fuck Italy. Seriously.

[origami_mustache]

Can't wait for the Portugal vs. Germany game tomorrow.

[Saya]

Aargh, Italy!!! I think we'll just have to sent them home in the semi-finals! :P

I kinda felt bad for France last night. Their play sucked, horrible decisions by their coach and they had a streak of bad luck. Did you guys see that movie of the player's bus entering the stadium? It's hilarious. :lol:

I think tonights match between Sweden - Russian could be quite entertaining as well.

[Morris Schæffer]

The Russian anthem is the best ever! I love it!!

[Morris Schæffer]

I think tonights match between Sweden - Russian could be quite entertaining as well.

I'm hoping for Russia because I'd like to see coach Hiddink play against his own country. In any case, I'm definitely going to The Netherlands on saturday.

EDIT: Belgian referee tonight!!

[Morris Schæffer]

Fuck Italy. Seriously.

Well, it could always be worse buddy!

[Saya]

:lol:

Wow, Russia is playing great at the moment and Sweden is struggling a bit.

[Morris Schæffer]

Good God!

Hiddink turns everything he touches into gold!!

[Saya]

Russia is up to 2-0 now. Great counterattack by Russia.

[origami_mustache]

Russia looked great...very impressive.

[Lasse]

Wow. Russia deserved to win 5 or 6-0. Impressive.

[lovejuice]

Russia looked great...very impressive.

i used to really like them ten years ago. seem like it's time to start rooting for them again.

[origami_mustache]

I always thought Russia's uniforms looked more outdated than the rest of the world, but they look decent this year. :lol:

[MadMan]

I wish I had ESPN so I could watch. I'm an extremely casual fan of football (or as we ignorant Americans like to call it, soccer ) and I have been somewhat following the tourney during its current run. However I could use something of a crash course in not only European football, as well as world football, especially since while I enjoyed the World Cup two years ago I didn't quite know about any of the rivalries or what the best teams were. I'm sure someone (aka everyone in this thread heh) could give me a basic rundown, if not here than in a pm. Cheers.

[Lasse]

I wish I had ESPN so I could watch. I'm an extremely casual fan of football (or as we ignorant Americans like to call it, soccer ) and I have been somewhat following the tourney during its current run. However I could use something of a crash course in not only European football, as well as world football, especially since while I enjoyed the World Cup two years ago I didn't quite know about any of the rivalries or what the best teams were. I'm sure someone (aka everyone in this thread heh) could give me a basic rundown, if not here than in a pm. Cheers.

The rundown: Fuck Italy!

[Saya]

Terrible news for Khalid Boulahrouz. :sad:

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Netherlands defender Khalid Boulahrouz has lost his prematurely born daughter Anissa, leaving the family and his teammates distraught, the team said Thursday.

"Players and staff of the Dutch team are upset by the death of Anissa, the daughter of Khalid Boulahrouz and his wife Sabia, who was born prematurely," the Dutch soccer federation said in a statement.

The defender was taken away from training Wednesday after his wife was hospitalized with pregnancy complications. She had followed the championships with the other players' partners and girlfriends.

Boulahrouz had started in all three of the Dutch games so far.

The Netherlands plays Russia in the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Saturday.

[Dukefrukem]

go Portugal !

[Morris Schæffer]

I'm definitely for Germany, but they're facing an uphill battle I fear. Still, I guess I won't mind if Portugal wins it.

[ledfloyd]

can't wait. i'm pulling for germany. they're my team. though i've also enjoyed watching spain and holland. as long as italy doesn't win i'll be happy.