# EURO 2012 Poland/Ukraine \[OPEN SPOILERS\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 2, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883 "2012-06-02T18:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/521 "2012-06-24T21:22:16Z")
Holy shit! Pirlo! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/522 "2012-06-24T21:22:40Z")
LOL. I’ve always wanted to see a PK like that. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/523 "2012-06-24T21:25:06Z")
Well at least justice has been done this time… ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/524 "2012-06-24T21:28:39Z")
First decision by penalties of the tournament. I am pleasantly surprised that there has been only one so far. Sorry England. I must say that I would have liked to see a Germany-England semifinal! ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/525 "2012-06-24T21:30:05Z")
Hard lines there - England did well to take it that far. Good job by Roy IMHO, couldn’t have asked for much more with what he had to work with. Italy looked effective at controlling play - Germany will be a different story but I think they will contest things. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/526 "2012-06-24T21:30:24Z")
Would have been a grave injustice if England had gone through. Italy were better throughout the game and deserved the win. Well done to them. We’re obdurate but little more. Can’t help but feel a side with a bit more about them would have put two or three away tonight. Italy were very wasteful. They’ll need to take their chances better than tonight, if they are to beat Germany. Good luck to them though. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/527 "2012-06-24T21:31:14Z")
Yeah I don’t think there is any question that Italy was the better team in this game though they will have to improve their finishing to have any chance against Germany. Incidentally it would be rather amusing if Germany ends up beating Greece, Italy and Portugal/Spain, each of them part of the infamous PIGS club of European deadbeats, with Merkel cheering in the stands all the way.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/528 "2012-06-24T21:31:15Z")
Not having a rooting interest in the game, I was happy to see the team I thought played better for 2 hours win in the end. > [@Snarky Kong](#): > > They’re often close to dropping anyway. I think the level of play would drop very quickly and perhaps you’d just have each team packing their own box. Then make the depth of your team matter more than penalty kicks. My very limited understanding is that the substitution rules are quite stringent, but it seems to me that the game would be better served if you had more substitutes and let the team with better depth win playing soccer rather than penalty kicks. Although I must admit penalty kicks have a huge amount of tension with each kick, which is damn exciting. Maybe I should check out that thread Maserschmidt linked… ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/529 "2012-06-24T21:31:17Z")
For the neutrals, probably the best result…England would have had to play similarly against all other sides left in the tournament; Italy-Germany has the chance to be a great game. Still, I feel for all England fans. Hard way to be kicked out (although losing all group games isn’t everything either); Pirlo man of the match! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/530 "2012-06-24T21:34:52Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Holy shit! Pirlo! He should have just plucked out a cigar, and lit it, after that. Fair play to England - that was a par performance - but there are better teams in this competition, Italy being one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/531 "2012-06-24T21:37:03Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Not having a rooting interest in the game, I was happy to see the team I thought played better for 2 hours win in the end. > > Then make the depth of your team matter more than penalty kicks. My very limited understanding is that the substitution rules are quite stringent, but it seems to me that the game would be better served if you had more substitutes and let the team with better depth win playing soccer rather than penalty kicks. > > Although I must admit penalty kicks have a huge amount of tension with each kick, which is damn exciting. Maybe I should check out that thread Maserschmidt linked… If you have more substitutions then you’re trading tactics of the regular game for something that only happens in tournaments. I suppose they could allow more subs only at extra time? Hmm. **Hamlet** , is this your first foray into soccer? Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/532 "2012-06-24T21:47:08Z")
I would like to think that Pirlo had noted that for the first two penalties, Joe Hart had really flung himself into the corners, he was really launching himself. Thus he could have been confident that Hart would again pick a side and leap. It makes a sweet penalty even sweeter to think that he wasn’t just taking a chance, but exploiting the keepers actions. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/533 "2012-06-24T21:50:31Z")
Definitely the least tense I’ve been during a penalty shootout involving England. After the first half there was a gulf in quality between the two sides, can’t complain. Even if we had snuck through somehow, playing Germany after a two hour match would have been grim. Classy penalty from Pirlo, to cap a classy performance. I’m not downcast. As I said at the start of the tournament to lose a quarter-final on penalties is a bit of a result for us. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/534 "2012-06-24T21:57:19Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > **Hamlet** , is this your first foray into soccer? Thoughts? Not first, but very rarely. Every 4 years I kinda/sorta get into the World Cup. I have three girls, a couple who play, so, as a family, we really got into the Women’s World Cup in 2011. But I don’t think I’ve watched more than a few games all the way through even then. But we’re in Spain for this part of the summer, and, with Spain doing so well, it’s a massive event. Every game, even the non-Spain games, are draws at our local restaurants/bars/tapas places, and I’ve seen more soccer this last few weeks than I have in my entire life. My thoughts? It’s like a lot of sports, when it’s good, it’s amazing fun, but when it’s not, it’s painful. I think it’s flawed as a sport (there are just too few scoring opportunities for as much time is spent playing it) and there are things I hate (the constant “oh my god I just broke my leg… Wait, I’m alright now!!” flopping. I say they should eject/take out as injured anyone who is on the ground for more than 5 seconds), but there are things that I really like too (some of the goals and saves I’ve seen have been amazing and these guys must be incredible athletes to expend that much energy). And there is really something incredibly cool about the energy and vibe of watching Spain play in a bar in Madrid. By and large, I’m enjoying it, but I also find myself being not all that engaged for long periods of time because of poor/tired/sloppy play. The France v. Spain game was painful to watch, and even though there were amazing moments in tonights game, I found the latter part of the game to be tedious. Still, I can see why it might be the world’s biggest participant sport, and I’ll be glued to my barstool/television for the rest of the tournament. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/535 "2012-06-24T22:17:23Z")
> [@polar\_bear](#): > > The lines (two nowadays) play very close together; that is the reason Spain can pressure and win back the ball so quickly when they lose it. Some pundits showed (with some awesome technology:)) how all 10 players were often on no more than 30 meters of the pitch; whenever they are attacking, this means the last line will be in the middle of the pitch. > > Don’t get me wrong, this is exactly why the team is so strong and wins back the ball so quickly. But the few times the opposition has the chance to play a ball forward after winnig it… there is a lot of space between defenders and the goal (think about the two times Robben got one-on-one in Joburg for instance). Portugal has a couple of very quick wingers, while the Spanish defenders aren’t particularly quick (Ramos maybe)… especially if you think about Spain losing the ball in one of those moments when the fullbacks are moving up and you are effectively playing with 7 or 8 midfielders. > > Spain still big favorites to win, but if you play far up the pitch, you’re gonna have space in your back;). Not bad, not bad at all – good overview. Robben’s two breakaways in SA help illustrate what you speak of perfectly. Thing is, you still have to execute right then and there, Iker notwithstanding (tall order), not getting many/any of those in a match vs us. But thank you, very good analysis, break/down. * * * Even though I made clear I was rooting for England, other than the first 10/15 minutes or so – which turned out to be an illusion – if there was one team playing “catenaccio” twas’ The Lions. In fact, Italy should have won the match in regular time fair & square. And as much as I hate to admit it, I liked the balls they showed today. Don’t think Germany has it it easy in their semi’s. Oh well. Screw The Azurri, but congrats at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/536 "2012-06-24T22:24:34Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Even though I made clear I was rooting for England, other than the first 10/15 minutes or so – which turned out to be an illusion – if there was one team playing “catenaccio” twas’ The Lions. In fact, Italy should have won the match in regular time fair & square. And as much as I hate to admit it, I liked the balls they showed today. I started out indifferent, but after only a few minutes found myself - for the first time in my life - rooting for Italy, since the roles were so clearly reversed. Of course, as a lifelong Germany fan that was a one-time dalliance. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/537 "2012-06-24T22:32:31Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > If you have more substitutions then you’re trading tactics of the regular game for something that only happens in tournaments. I suppose they could allow more subs only at extra time? Hmm… That’s always been my favorite solution. Allow an extra 3 subs in overtime – added to any you haven’t used already; which could potentially be six altogether. Gives the match much needed vitality. Really don’t see the downside. All else remains the same. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/538 "2012-06-25T00:19:10Z")
Neither Italy nor Germany has been finishing well. This semifinal will probably be exciting and utterly maddening. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/539 "2012-06-25T01:00:42Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Don’t think Germany has it it easy in their semi’s. Of course they won’t have it easy per se, but Pirlo just went 120 minutes and will have 2 less days of rest against a very, very good German midfield. Germany had lots and lots of chances early to put the game away before it even started against Greece. Schweinsteiger is apparently questionable to play on Thursday, but if he does and Chiellini is out again, I’ll guess Germany 2-0 Italy. I think Buffon is going to be a busy man. Early prediction for Wed: Spain 1-1 Portugal, Portugal win on pens. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/540 "2012-06-25T03:40:33Z")
Can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Glen Johnson’s point blank shot had gone in at the beginning. Still, the Italians were clearly the better team except during the first 20 minutes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=28)