Euro 2012: Match Thread (Group Stage, Quarters, Semis, Final)

[Maysun]

Originally Posted by Ajfar
Where did Greece find this goal keeper?

I predict Portugal vs. Germany final. I think Portugal will pull off an upset win against Spain.

First let them win against France!

[Equinox]

First of the big two QFs today. Hoping to see a good game.

[Rabz]

Should be a great encounter tonight.
The Spanish should win it though.

[Naimul_Hd]

Big match tonight.

Spain vs France.

[zinatf]

Come on ESPANA

Casillas/Villa/Torres/Fabregas et al

[Sohel]

Allez Les Bleus!

[Hasan2k8]

'Vamos! Derortar que Francia el equipo. La Espana ganar ..

Deberia ser Bueno partido..

[F6_Turbo]

Just a bit of friendly banter...can't believe that got deleted.

ESPAÑA: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Piqué, Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi; Iniesta, Silva y Cesc

Torres dropped to the bench.

[Kohli_Sox]

I've a feeling France 1- 0 Spain

[Ajfar]

And spain takes the lead. That didn't take too long. What a cross, right on the money.

[Jadukor]

Painful game to watch... Hundred pass that leads to no where...

[Maysun]

Xabi Alonso, the man!

[Hasan2k8]

Spain beat France and won 2 - 0 Comfortably won without even playing their best! France were poor!, didn't play well at all, didn't create any clear cut chances, never looked threatening to score.

[Hasan2k8]

Gotta a feeling Spain will retain the crown beating England in the final

[Hasan2k8]

England vs Italy, today.
I fancy England to win it, Italy ain't great going forward, quite defensive side. I think England has it what it takes to beat Italy.

C'MON ENGLAND..

[Sohel]

Spain is extremely tough to beat on account of their mid-fielders' ability to play keep away until the cows come home. You have to have the ball the first before putting together a move and trying to score, but Spain doesn't allow you to do that. I doubt anyone can stop them from lifting the Cup.

[F6_Turbo]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
Painful game to watch... Hundred pass that leads to no where...

Spain are the worst advert for football for casual fans, worse than England.

They keep hold of possession for 70% of the time, but do very little with it, but hey it works...very successful.

It makes for such ugly viewing, for all their possession, they don't score much

1 against croatia
1 against Italy
2 against France(including that last minute penalty)

4 against Ireland doesn't count, they were atrocious.

They did the same at the world cup....hate their style of play, I much prefer the German style. It is also possession based, but slightly more direct, so more goal mouth action

[Jadukor]

Spain France match was definitely one of the worst match i have seen in a major competition. I can tolerate bad football from weaker teams.... But this was torture.... Its like watching an extended practice session without the concept of goal scoring

[zinatf]

2 GOALS!! Te amo Espana

[Banglatiger84]

There was a moment in the 88th or 89th minute which exemplified Spains approach.

Pedro gets the ball 25 yards out and then starts running angularly at the goal, and suddenly turns back 180 degrees and passes the ball 20 yards back to Xavi or Iniesta !

[patriot]

The first time in my life I dozed off during a game.Should have rather watched the paint in my kitchen dry . It brought back all the horrible memories of Spain in the world cup. I know I might be in the minority, but I find Spain incredibly boring to watch. Hope Portugal at least make it uncomfortable for them.

[Equinox]

Predictions for tonight's match?

I can see it going to penalties.

[Naimul_Hd]

England couldn’t make the semi's of any major soccer tournament for last 16 years.

[Ajfar]

Originally Posted by Naimul_Hd
England couldn’t make the semi's of any major soccer tournament for last 16 years.

I want England to make the semis, so Germany can score 'ek hali' goal on them

[AsifTheManRahman]

Why are people complaining about Spain's style of play? It's a game where you're supposed to try to have position of the ball for most of the time and score more goals than your opposition. They do both, so check and check. Yes, they do pass the ball around too much for their own good at times, so much that you see them getting into a tangle in the opposition's penalty box too often rather than taking the damn shot already, but every team has one thing or the other to work on. You can't deny the individual skills of the players though, which can and does often result in anything from a deft touch to an accurate cross to a defender-bisecting pass to a freak goal by David Villa (too bad he's having to sit out this time). What's the point of attacking to the tune of the Samba if you can't even finish, or perform an aesthetically pleasing Denilson dribble only to run out of gas when it comes to shooting at goal?