# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![matteo\_moku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@matteo\_moku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matteo_moku)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/621 "2012-06-29T15:11:40Z")
Germany defeated for the eighth time by Italy in World or Europe Cup.Italy never defeated by Germany in official matches.We Italians are weaker than Germans in a lot of matters(i don’t know if this last piece of sentence is correct): economy, army(i believe),international importance.But a thing is sure: we are stronger in the football.Don’t you believe? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/622 "2012-06-29T15:49:11Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I’m well aware of him and think his is a magnificent player. I’m not suggesting that Torres is the best ever but Villa is unavailable through serious injury and now over 30 he may find that road back to fitness a little rocky. Spain are missing that clinical edge though and a back-on-form Torres would be a real bonus. Certainly on the evidence of last night Spain are going to need to take their chances as Italy don’t seem to be refusing theirs, indeed seeing Mario B. collect the ball, breeze into the box and hammer it home without thinking about it is precisely what Torres used to do and needs to do. Again, I don’t disagree with your overall take. I mean, who wouldn’t want an in-form Torres on their side? That said, Spain is an excellent 8 & 1 in the goals for/against column, while Italy is 6 & 3. So the stats don’t seem to back you there. After all, Ballotelli could have had a one of match vs Germany just as Torres did vs Ireland – though I’ll certainly concede the quality of the opponents. Guess my point is, we’re doing the best we can with what we have & that has us in the Final with at the very least a 50/50 change to take the whole thing yet again. Sure, I’d rather we went with a true forward and I said as much prior to the Portugal match – that didn’t go very well. Still, if need be, Torres, Llorente & Negredo are all match fit and there for the asking. BUT if our “boring” tiki-taka is enough to control the match and give us a lead…well, I guess that’s that. After all, it is the same style that hasn’t lost us a single official match since the first WC game vs the Swiss. Hard to argue against success. Criticism we can take…for as long as wins and titles come with it. And they have. In bunches. I mean, if I don’t have faith in this team after all they’ve done, I’ll never have faith in _any_ team. BTW, you know who hasn’t played a complete match yet? Xavi, that’s who – the '08 MVP. Should he wake-up vs Italy… PS-You’re right about Villa. I too think it’ll be hard for him to come back to his old self. Besides, I don’t think he did himself any favors by moving to Barça to become second (third really, Messi prefers Alexis by his side. And what Messi says…) fiddle to Leo. But I was simply saying that if there’s one player we’re missing, it has to be him – Puyol’s absence, surprisingly, has been very well covered by the Pique/Ramos pairing, likely the best defensive duo at the Euros. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/623 "2012-06-29T16:16:53Z")
I heard a stat on ESPN that Spain has not allowed a single goal in the knockout phase of any “important” tournament in over 6 years. I’m guessing that just means the last World Cup and prior and current Euro Championships. I think that means 9 games, if my math is right. Pretty impressive. Is it time for predictions yet? Here’s mine. Spain will maintain their opponent scoreless streak, but still lose in penalties as Buffon outguesses Iker: **Spain 0 (2) - Italy 0 (3)** ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/624 "2012-06-29T16:31:00Z")
No worries RedFury, and I don’t think Spain are boring. My point about Italy being clinical was more about about the game last night than in general but if they repeat that performance you will have your hands full. Heck, it’ll be a close game anyway as both teams are well organised. I don’t know which way to call it. The one real positive of Italy getting through is that we get to see Pirlo strutting the stage again. He must be high on the list for “player of the tournament” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/625 "2012-06-29T16:36:43Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Puyol’s absence, surprisingly, has been very well covered by the Pique/Ramos pairing, likely the best defensive duo at the Euros. Yes, just re-read your post and only now realised he was missing! That will be interesting, potentially the best defensive pair against potentially the most destructive striker. I suspect they will not give him as much room as the Germans did. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/626 "2012-06-29T19:04:04Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I think Loew has spent too much time on ironing his shirt and getting those sleeve turn-ups just right. > The defending practice has obviously suffered as a result but wow, he looked sharp. He made the \*Italians \*look scruffy by comparison. He has to have some place to hide the boogers. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I am with Loew. Not enough to want him canned, but definitely irritated. He changed the structure and plan too much to react and contain the Italians rather than playing Germany’s own game which got them there. They got obsessed with monitoring Pirlo to the detriment of other facets of their game and he shouldn’t have monkeyed with the lineup so much in a semifinal. The DFB’s party line today seems to be “everybody played well, we are just young and inexperienced and made some mistakes yesterday.” I know Germany were on average the youngest team in the tournament, but the really inexperienced guys (Goetze, Reus, Schurrle, etc.) barely played or didn’t play at all. The whole starting lineup yesterday was there for WC 2010 with the exception of Mats Hummels, and Klose, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and Podolski have been around the block a number of times even though Klose is the only one of them over 30. Inexperienced? Compared to guys like Steven Gerrard and John Terry, yes, but I don’t think that was the issue. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/627 "2012-07-01T17:51:21Z")
Starting squads for today’s Eurocup Final: \*\*Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Piqué, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Xabi Alonso, Busquets; Xavi, Iniesta, Silva and Cesc Fábregas Italy: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pirlo, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo; Cassano and Balotelli\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/628 "2012-07-01T19:01:13Z")
Spain 1- Italy 0 Header by Silva 14th minute. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/629 "2012-07-01T19:02:15Z")
Spain scores! Silva drives the ball home with a nice header. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/630 "2012-07-01T19:06:29Z")
My feed just froze. Sounds like its happening to everybody. Edit: back up. Missed about 3 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/631 "2012-07-01T19:29:04Z")
Great goal. Game over. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/632 "2012-07-01T19:29:19Z")
2-0 for Spain! Beautiful goal by Jordi Alba. And we’re still in the first half…! ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/633 "2012-07-01T19:29:25Z")
Spain2-Itali 0 Alba scores 41’ ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/634 "2012-07-01T19:39:13Z")
Likely in bad taste, but allow me to quote myself from yesterday (I think): > [@RedFury](#): > > …Criticism we can take…for as long as wins and titles come with it. And they have. In bunches. I mean, if I don’t have faith in this team after all they’ve done, I’ll never have faith in _any_ team. > > BTW, you know who hasn’t played a complete match yet? **Xavi, that’s who – the '08 MVP. Should he wake-up vs Italy…** > > the **Pique/Ramos pairing, likely the best defensive duo at the Euros**. So there you have it – in nutshell, the keys to this match so far. Or even simpler: we are the better team. Vamos! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/635 "2012-07-01T19:42:33Z")
Spain are looking mighty here. Italy aren’t bad by any stretch but Spain are being clinical in the way that Germany weren’t. This isn’t over though. Italy are certainly good enough to nick one. From a neutral point of view it’d be good to see but in any case it is a privilege to see Spain on this type of form. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/636 "2012-07-01T19:56:01Z")
Good thing that wasn’t a textbook PK on Ramos header, because it would have been game over. And who wants that, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/637 "2012-07-01T20:27:29Z")
Spain beats Italy to win Euro-2012 by 3-0. Good night! ---
**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:** [July 1, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/638 "2012-07-01T20:29:07Z")
3-0. Torres scores! Nice to see him get a goal in his trademark style! E.T.A: 4-0!!! When was the last time a final in a soccer championship had such a result??? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/639 "2012-07-01T20:30:38Z")
I wouldn’t bet against a fourth goal:D But yeah a great win. That injury was a pity because Italy created some decent chances early in the second half but it was always going to be an uphill task. I think Spain has officially joined the ranks of the all-time great teams in football history. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/640 "2012-07-01T20:32:18Z")
I sit corrected. Spain wins 4-0. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=33)