Euro 2012 - Official Discussion Thread

[Franzl]

Hoping that France continue their unbeaten run again today. Should be a good match to watch; a confident France at the start of the game will put England off their stride. England don't create opportunities, they have to wait for their opponents to miss them.

I was in Scotland shortly before England-Germany in the 2010 World Cup. I think everyone I talked to wished us luck.

Do Scots hate anyone more than England in football? Seems like real hatred

[afleitch]

Hoping that France continue their unbeaten run again today. Should be a good match to watch; a confident France at the start of the game will put England off their stride. England don't create opportunities, they have to wait for their opponents to miss them.

I was in Scotland shortly before England-Germany in the 2010 World Cup. I think everyone I talked to wished us luck.

Do Scots hate anyone more than England in football? Seems like real hatred

It’s less of a hatred more of a dislike   It’s not a ‘nationalistic’ thing; the home nations are independent football bodies. The idea that Scots should support England makes no sense. For the record I also dislike some Scots backing Ireland (or bizarrely, the Netherlands) over some sectarian nonsense. I’m Scottish; I won’t be supporting England.

There are several issues. Although Scotland hasn’t qualified for a tournament since 1998, then as now England coverage is saturated by the media. From news to entertainment shows they always took precedent (the same is true in the Commonwealth Games). The ‘We Are Going To Win’ attitude (which has died down this year actually given how sh-t England were in 2010) is also nauseating. Secondly we have the fans. The ‘Eng-er-lund’ fan on a foreign jolly smashing plastic furniture over opposing fans is as far removed from the behaviour of the ‘Tartan Army’ as you can get and doesn’t enamour the team to the nation. I’ll support Scotland or a good team. I enjoy international football without being invested in it.

It’s English fans, not the English team or the nation that put Scots off from supporting England. We may be ‘Anyone but England’, but why should that be considered suspect in comparison to the ‘No-one but England’ attitude of English fans?

[argentarius]

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

[Keystone Phil]

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

That's what having the game in Ukraine gets you...

[Tender Branson]

ENGLAND !!!

[afleitch]

$hit

[Tender Branson]

Woohoo

FRANCE !!!

please 1 more goal for each of them, so I can collect the full points ...

[afleitch]

Yes!

[minionofmidas]

In hilarious slightly related news, Tahiti (or French Polynesia) has defeated New Caledonia (who defeated New Zealand) to win the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, and will now be playing such teams as Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and whoever wins the Euro (France) at the 2013 Confederations Cup as a result.

Let's hope someone repeats that performance for the World Cup. I really want to see Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands there.

The Spanish-Italian rivalry is always interesting to hear about since it's taken quite seriously by those concerned and very little known or cared about in more northerly parts of Europe.

[Franzl]

Boring game really.

[minionofmidas]

Not as boring as I thought, though. Well the first half wasn't apparently - which I haven't seen.

[Lief 🗽]

"Parking three buses in front of the goal is not football." - Michael Ballack on ESPN after the game

[Keystone Phil]

Same old Dutch story? Van Marwijk apparently "facing a revolt" within his camp.

[Franzl]

Same old Dutch story? Van Marwijk apparently "facing a revolt" within his camp.

Very good

[politicus]

In hilarious slightly related news, Tahiti (or French Polynesia) has defeated New Caledonia (who defeated New Zealand) to win the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, and will now be playing such teams as Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and whoever wins the Euro (France) at the 2013 Confederations Cup as a result.

Let's hope someone repeats that performance for the World Cup. I really want to see Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands there.

The Spanish-Italian rivalry is always interesting to hear about since it's taken quite seriously by those concerned and very little known or cared about in more northerly parts of Europe.

Lets hope so. I am a Big Vanuatu fan. Lived there for 6 months a couple of years ago. There should be a chance next time.

[Lief 🗽]

Ukraine is playing well.

[Franzl]

Ukraine is playing well.

Slightly better than Sweden, I guess. But it's really another boring match. Unfortunately. I'd be happy for Sweden if they got their act together...

[Keystone Phil]

Does Ukraine really have 67% of the possession?

[Keystone Phil]

Well, few of us saw this one coming.

[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.

[Gustaf]

I think it's safe to say that Sweden and Ireland are out of it. I'd also be very surprised to see the Czechs go anywhere, to be honest.

[King]

I stand by my prediction.  Viva Espana.

Spain gonna win it all.  That's all I gotta say.

[afleitch]

England fans living up to their repuation again I see...



Inflatable Spitfires?

[Keystone Phil]

I stand by my prediction.  Viva Espana.

Spain gonna win it all.  That's all I gotta say.

Oh, I see what this is...

[Keystone Phil]

So did that goal beat Croatia's for the quickest of the tournament?