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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
Location: here, there, and everywhere
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 Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 13:07 Post subject: |
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QUARTER FINALS
(and my predictions)
Portugal - Germany
( 1 - 1, Germany win 1-2 a.e.t.)
Croatia - Turkey
( 2 - 1 )
Holland - Russia
( 4 - 2 )
Spain - Italy
( 1 - 0 )
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"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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discoRdance
Joined: 20 May 2003
Posts: 1183
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 17:19 Post subject: |
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maybe Sweden vs Russia is more interesting to the average Finn but with Sweden being so poor, I don't know how else you could think it was a contender for game of the tournament
" " |
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 17:39 Post subject: |
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Sweden weren't
that
poor really, and a football match can be entertaining even if the standard of football isn't that great. Liverpool and AC Milan both had a terrible defence in that cup final, but it still turned out to be a pretty good game*. 
And yeah, perhaps that game meant more for me, as both of my neighbours were playing against each other, but I think Russia played some really nice football. It's a shame that they're playing Holland next.
* not as good as a certain FA Cup fifth-round match this year though :p
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
Location: here, there, and everywhere
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 22:17 Post subject: |
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| Tommy BOO wrote: |
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Germany have been quite poor so far as well, but they always improve when the important games begin. |
And they did indeed...
Germany 3 - 2 Portugal
1-0 Schweinsteiger - 22 mins.
2-0 Klose - 26 mins.
2-1 Nuno Gomes - 41 mins.
3-1 Ballack - 62 mins.
3-2 Postiga - 87 mins.
I know I've used almost as many superlatives as Kinkster recently, but this game was
the
best game of the tournament so far. And the opening goal was one of the best goals so far too...
Both teams started the game well, Germany had abandoned their passive tactics and quick Portuguese wingers caused some trouble in the German defence. Germany and Portugal both had some decent chances too, and the opening goal came on the 22nd minute of the game after some awesome passing between Podolski and Ballack on the left wing. Podolski then crossed the ball in for Schweinsteiger who finished with an accurate shot. Great goal.
Germany took control of the game after that, and the second goal came only minutes later. Schweinsteiger curling freekick from the left found Klose unmarked right in front of the goal and Klose headed the ball in.
It was still first half, but I thought that Portugal couldn't recover from that anymore. However, they got an important goal just before half time. Deco found C. Ronaldo on the left wing, Ronaldo got inside the box and shot towards the goal. Lehmann saved the shot but couldn't hold the ball, Nuno Gomes got to the rebound and put the ball in between the goal posts.
Portugal started the second half well too, but Germany were more deadly in front of the goal again, and scored from practically their first attack on the second half. The 3-1 goal was very much like Germany's second, Schweinsteiger's perfect freekick from the left found Ballack's head this time and Ballack (who pushed off the Portuguese defender) couldn't miss from that range.
But Portugal didn't give up, Postiga's header from Nani's beautiful cross went in on the 87th minute, and they were putting a lot of pressure on the German defenders during the last minutes of the game, but the time ran out before they managed to score again.
Germany were quite impressive, and Portugal certainly weren't poor tonight either. The German defence was better and very well organised, I believe that was the reason why they won the game.
Man of the Match
: Bastian Schweinsteiger. One goal + two assists.
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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discoRdance
Joined: 20 May 2003
Posts: 1183
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 14:49 Post subject: |
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| Tommy BOO wrote: |
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Sweden weren't
that
poor really, and a football match can be entertaining even if the standard of football isn't that great. Liverpool and AC Milan both had a terrible defence in that cup final, but it still turned out to be a pretty good game |
Sweden were that poor. They were absolutely hopeless going forward and were all over the place at the back. And how you can compare a 3-3 game with a 2-0 game as regards excitement, I don't know.
Coventry 0-5 West Brom ?
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 21:20 Post subject: |
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| discoRdance wrote: |
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Sweden were that poor. They were absolutely hopeless going forward and were all over the place at the back. And how you can compare a 3-3 game with a 2-0 game as regards excitement, I don't know. |
The amount of goals isn't always the most important thing either. 
I didn't say that Sweden vs Russia was better than the Liverpool CL final, it certainly wasn't that good. But it was still an excellent game, Russia's attacking play is just amazing to watch.
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 22:03 Post subject: |
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Croatia 1 - 1 Turkey
Turkey win 1-3 on penalties!
1-0 Klasnic - 119 mins.
1-1 Senturk - 120+2 mins.
I'm disappointed, I really wanted Croatia to win this, but I gotta admit that Turkey were excellent.
Croatia were the better team during the first 90 minutes, they were extremely unlucky not to score on the first half, but despite of a couple of good chances both teams failed to score.
However, Turkey took control in the extra time, but it was Croatia who scored the first goal on the last minute of the game. The Croatians were already celebrating victory when Senturk scored a dramatic equaliser on the 122nd minute of the game!
Turkey's penalty takers and goalkeeper Rüstü were too much for the Croatians, and Turkey secured their place in the semi-finals...
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
Location: here, there, and everywhere
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 23:00 Post subject: |
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Holland 1 - 3 Russia
0-1 Pavluchenko - 56 mins.
1-1 Van Nistelrooy - 86 mins.
1-2 Torbinsky - 112 mins.
1-3 Arshavin - 116 mins.
Bloody hell, I don't know what to say.
Holland's success and their beautiful attacking play surprised everyone during the group stage, but tonight they were outclassed all over the pitch by the Russians. They made Holland look boring, if only their finishing was a bit better, they would have crushed Holland.
I know I've used a lot of superlatives in my previous match reports, but this tournament seems to be getting better and better all the time. Tonight's match was just fantastic, a pure classic in fact. Both teams played attacking and very entertaining football, there were loads of shots on goal and dangerous chances, and both goalkeepers (especially Van Der Sar, who kept Holland in the game) made some excellent saves. I wish football was always like this.
Holland's weakness, as everyone knew, turned out to be their defence. Italy and France were both very passive, but as soon as Holland faced an opponent that actually wanted to attack, they were in big trouble. Holland controlled the air and managed to create some dangerous chances (RVN's equaliser for example) from set pieces, but apart from that I would say that the Russians were better at pretty much everything else. The big difference between the two sides tonight was that Russia were a lot more imaginative in attack, whereas Holland only tried to score from crosses and desperate long shots.
Russia should have won the game on the normal time, but they still need to work on their finishing if they want to be the champions next weekend. But if Holland still somehow managed to hang on during the normal time, the Russians totally stole the show on the extra time. Some great saves by Van Der Sar, one or two narrow misses, Pavlyuchenko's crossbar shot, a clear penalty turned down by the referee...
The winning goal was a beauty, a real masterpiece by Andrei Arshavin. Another combination of dribbles, and a fantastic chip over Van Der Sar from a very small angle towards the back post... at first it looked like it went straight in, but actually it was Torbinsky who just poked the ball in.
Arshavin scored the 3-1 goal just four minutes later to complete his almost perfect night.
Holland weren't poor of course, but the Russians (and especially Arshavin) were simply too good for them tonight.
Man of the Match
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Andrei Arshavin
- one goal, one assist, he was the heart of the Russian team. Even after 120 minutes he was still running all over the pitch and working his socks off. I'm not kidding here, in my opinion his performance in tonight's match was possibly the best I've ever seen by any player in a single game. Just amazing. Russia were spineless without him in the first two games, but look at them now...
Russia will probably get knocked out by Italy/Spain in the semi-finals, but considering that I hadn't ever even heard of this guy before this year, I'm just so amazed.
I just hope that he won't join some Premier League team (or Real Madrid) for next season. 
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
Last edited by Tommy BOO on Sun Jun 22, 2008 00:50; edited 1 time in total |
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 23:09 Post subject: |
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Is it just me and discoRdance here who are watching Euro 2008? 
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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Tommy Tynans Lovechild
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 854
Location: People's Republic Of BS4 (Though always PL2 4Ever)
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 13:19 Post subject: |
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Yer reports are much appreciated tommy boo!!
A combination of being away with work and gigs has meant that i've missed much of euro2008... personal highlight was watching two people fall off a bus shelter watching sweden v greece on the big screen in stockholm  and i did see most of turkey v czech rep. my money was on the Croats and Russians one one of them i noticed got knocked out when they really shouldn't have... still got to admire the Turkish spirit. Unlike the English spirit it actually gets a team through a quarter final!
Seems to have a been a great tournament though!
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John Mc
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
Posts: 1398
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 13:52 Post subject: |
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| It's been a brilliant competition, definitely the best international tournament since Euro 2000. Every match seems to have had something special about it - crazy goals, heroic comebacks, angry managers, lovely kits etc. If I was Croatian I don't think I'd ever really get over that defeat to Turkey. |
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
Location: here, there, and everywhere
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 19:48 Post subject: |
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Italy 0 - 0 Spain
Spain win 2-4 on penalties!
Half time:
Not much happened during the first half, in fact it's been very boring so far. Italy is trying to get crosses in for Luca Toni all the time, that almost worked once but the Spanish defence blocked his header in front of the goal. Spain has been a bit more attacking, at least they're trying to play more entertaining football, but it's not easy with a team like Italy. Spain were denied a clear(ish) penalty (it was at the edge of the penalty area so it could have been a free kick too), Silva had two decent shots that went narrowly wide, but that's it. Both teams, especially Italy, have been very careful, let's hope that the second half will be more exciting...
90 minutes - end of normal time:
Oh for fuck's sake - not another 30+ minutes of this shit. 
Both teams had one shot on goal, most of the time Italy were defending with 9 men with only Luca Toni staying upfield. This is just as bad as the Greece vs Sweden match, and considering that this is a quarter final game, this is extremely poor. Italy are playing like they've been waiting for the penalty shootout right from the kick off.
Extra time started... Spain almost scored already. And now Italy.
Extra time + penalties:
What a surprise that this match had to be decided by penalties...
But OH YES, ITALY ARE OUT - EURO 2008 IS SAVED! 
After last night's awesome match this game was such a huge disappointment... except the final score of course!
I've never been a big fan of Italy (football team), but this game reminded me again why I don't like them. Boring boring boring, dirty little tricks and time wasting. Why did the referee stop the play every time when someone was "injured" anyway? Di Natale was tackled on the sideline and he was already out of the playing field, but he crawled back on the pitch pretending to be injured, and the referee stopped Spain's counter-attack?! What the hell? Complete joke, I'd had shown him a red card instead
after
Spain's attack. Di Natale was booed for the rest of the game every time he touched the ball... I hope that's why he missed the penalty in the end too.
Not much happened during the extra time either, surprise surprise. Well Italy and Spain both had one good attack at the beginning of the first half, but then the game kind of died again.
So, the only exciting thing about the whole match was the penalty shootout... I was keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that Spain win it, and they did! Casillas saved two penalties, Buffon saved one.
Italy were an utter disgrace; played for pens right from the off, I'm so pleased that they're out. The decisive penalty miss couldn't have happened to a better player (Di Natale) too, perhaps there's some justice in football after all.
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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Kris
Joined: 16 Sep 2002
Posts: 2550
Location: Sheffield
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 13:46 Post subject: |
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I've never seen so many smilies in my life
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"fashioned by the blade of a world that doesn't care,
feeling so removed, drifting thru stealing air then...
pause and think about it, try to move and shift the pain, but it's there you feel it kicking and you scream and feel alive." |
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John Mc
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
Posts: 1398
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 20:24 Post subject: |
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I take it all back about Euro 2008, that game last night was offensively bad. I gouged my eyes out so I didn't have to watch extra time and would have sawed my ears off so I couldn't hear the commentary but I wasn't able find a saw due to the earlier eye removal. Learn from my mistake kids and do the ears first.
That new Calvin Harris/Dizzee Rascal single is horrible. 'Everybody Nose' by NERD is ace though although it seems that Pharrell as about fashionable as Avram Grant these days. I still love him though (Pharrell, not Avram). |
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Tommy BOO
Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3067
Location: here, there, and everywhere
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 00:43 Post subject: |
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Meanwhile, in the world of club football...
Pompey's £9m Crouch bid rejected
Some people clearly have too much money to spend.
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius"
-BC
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