Euro 2012 - Official Discussion Thread

[argentarius]

Come on Spain. We'll let you top the group.

[argentarius]

Now for the game we've all been waiting for. Never underestimate Ireland. We have a history of upsets in football, rugby (Australia last year) and even cricket (England last year, Pakistan a few years ago).

[argentarius]

Ireland's gonna make it out of the group.

Real possibility we won't concede more than one goal in the pool, but then again we mightn't score a goal.

[argentarius]

This sucks. Looks like we'll have to at the very least beat Italy.

[argentarius]

An Irish commentator seems to think a foul was committed for the second Croatian goal. Mandzukic hooked Ward's (the guy who inexplicably cleared it backwards) leg.

[argentarius]

Jeez, our football team is not what it used to be. You'd think out of 4 million people we would be able to find one quality player.

[argentarius]

Should've been a penalty there for the tackle on Keane.

[argentarius]

Hopefully we make a good spoiler for the rest of the tournament.

[argentarius]

Well, our football team's not getting through, our rugby team is sucking too, this is typically when the cricket team comes out of nowhere to make a big upset but unfortunately I don't think there's a tournament coming up soon.

[argentarius]

Already mentioned a couple refereeing decisions I felt went against us but we deserved to lose that one. No plan against an opposition that can score. Usually it's just park the bus but that went out the window when they scored.

[argentarius]

"Intakte Moral" - is there an English equivalent to that phrase?

Moral victory?

Ireland should have had 1-2 penalties though.

Meh. I think referees see us going down very easily all over the field and while they'll give the free kicks, they won't give the penalties, nor cards.

[argentarius]

Well, our football team's not getting through, our rugby team is sucking too, this is typically when the cricket team comes out of nowhere to make a big upset but unfortunately I don't think there's a tournament coming up soon.

Just insist they make hurling an Olympic sport, that should do it...

Oh no. Don't remind me. It's gaelic and hurling season. I'm depressed now. We're really quite awesome at the rugby at club level, but the national team stinks. As for the football, it's all bad and we have no new talent coming down the line. IIRC, Duff, Given and Keane started the world cup 2002 and they're still 3 of our best players. We're beginning to resemble a league 1 (england) side.

[argentarius]

Poor crowd for such a big game. Come on England.

[argentarius]

Decent first round of soccer, only way I can possibly see us getting through now is beating the Italians and every other game in the pool being a draw. But we really are a toothless team.

[argentarius]

Is it just me or has there been an insane amount of headed goals relative to total goals?

[argentarius]

I don't think either team are a "force", but to act like Portugal is any more of a historical force than Denmark because they've been successful a few times in the last decade but have otherwise not won anything is silly.

Also I think the Dutch might be the worst team in the tournament.

That'd be Ireland. Well, we'll see tomorrow.

[argentarius]

Let's remember one thing, folks. If Germany beats Denmark in the last game (which is obviously very likely) Holland only has to beat Portugal by 2 goals to go through. So they're not totally done  yet.

Imagine if Germany was leading by 1 against Denmark, and Holland was beating Portugal, and they let Denmark score just to keep Holland or Portugal out.

[argentarius]

Tomorrow's do or die for Ireland, and there's a 90% chance it's die. Hopefully Italy can beat Croatia, 50/50 imo, which means a draw keeps us in it. We'll probably lose 3-0 though.

[argentarius]

Despite having not one, but two satellite packages (one for France, another for Italy) I found no channel broadcasting the mathc.

How is it going ?

1-0 to Italy, Croatia having a strong second half.

[argentarius]

Well, this means we need to win twice to stay in, but it gives us a great chance at being spoilers.

[argentarius]

Wow it's only 1-0.

[argentarius]

This must be the worst Irish team since we nearly drew with San Marino (in a competitive match).

[argentarius]

This is so much better to watch when Ireland aren't playing.

[argentarius]

1 spanish guy against 7 Irish guys and he still scores. Terrible.

[argentarius]

Well I've seen nothing in our last 2 matches to suggest we can get a result against Italy. The bottom has completely fallen out of this Irish side. No defensive concentration, and Shay Given is all of a sudden a below average keeper. Of course the attack is gone too. I still think we could pull it off against the Italians though. In 2004 Italy screwed up their last game because they were useless in attack when they needed a ton of goals (I remember I just happened to be in Portugal for that tournament) against Bulgaria. It's hard to see anyone not scoring at least 3 against Ireland.