# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/81 "2012-06-10T17:22:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Cool beans. Is there something similar for other continents? Something the U.S. team might play in? I saw something about the U.S. winning a game in the qualifying process for the next World Cup… There are similar tournaments for other continents, yes. Perhaps the [CONCACAF Gold Cup](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Gold_Cup) would be the equivalent for North and Central America. WC qualifying is done on a continental basis, so it seems likely that it may already be underway in NA. In Europe it will start later this year. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/82 "2012-06-10T17:26:03Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m watching on ESPN over here. Think the second game will start around 2:00 PM for me. Matches & scores [**automatically adjusted to your local time**](http://espnfc.com/us/en/match/index/league/UEFA.EURO/season/2012/index.html). Ireland vs Croatia @ 2:45 EST. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/83 "2012-06-10T17:32:48Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Cool beans. Is there something similar for other continents? Something the U.S. team might play in? I saw something about the U.S. winning a game in the qualifying process for the next World Cup… There is the Africa Cup of Nations. But that one is played every two years. It’s a big deal in that part of the world. In North America, there’s the CONCACAF Gold Cup which is (at least I assume) not nearly as important and attractive since there are only two strong nations (Mexico and USA). South American soccer is organized in a different confederation, CONMEBOL, which holds the Copa América, which is important too and is actually the oldest of all the soccer competitions for national teams. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/84 "2012-06-10T17:42:50Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > There are similar tournaments for other continents, yes. Perhaps the [CONCACAF Gold Cup](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Gold_Cup) would be the equivalent for North and Central America. > > WC qualifying is done on a continental basis, so it seems likely that it may already be underway in NA. In Europe it will start later this year. Qualifying is well under way in North America: [http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/standings/index.html](http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/standings/index.html) ---
**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 10, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/85 "2012-06-10T17:44:03Z")
How long has it been since “the old Fernando Torres”, as he was just referred to, was actually the Fernando Torres Ian Darke imagines? 2 or 3 years? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/86 "2012-06-10T17:54:42Z")
Hmmm…a 1-1 draw between Italy and Spain. Seemed like a lot of yellow cards handed out in the second half. The Druidess is mildly shocked that I’m watching soccer…but she indulges me. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/87 "2012-06-10T18:00:07Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > How long has it been since “the old Fernando Torres”, as he was just referred to, was actually the Fernando Torres Ian Darke imagines? 2 or 3 years? Sometime early in the '09/10 season with Liverpool, I think. He was great in '08/09, but I remember he was off form by the time the World Cup rolled around. I love watching Chiellini defend. He’s tactically great, but if he has to put his body on the line, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/88 "2012-06-10T18:23:38Z")
I rue Torre’s miss after a great technical maneuver – the kind of goal he would have rutined 3/4 years ago. Oh well – still undefeated in Eurocup finals since 2004. Both squads should go through. ---
**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 10, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/89 "2012-06-10T19:02:35Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > actually the oldest of all the soccer competitions for national teams. Older than 1872? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/90 "2012-06-10T19:35:48Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Older than 1872? Which tournament would that be? (Probably a UK thing). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/91 "2012-06-10T19:38:02Z")
2-1 Croatia at the half. This game seems a little more exciting than the others. More shots and near misses. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/92 "2012-06-10T19:44:37Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Older than 1872? Now I get it. You’re referring to the first international soccer (football) game ever. I was thinking of soccer **tournaments**. The first Copa América was played in 1916 (at least it’s predecessor). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/93 "2012-06-10T19:58:30Z")
Irish eyes are not smiling. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/94 "2012-06-10T20:02:37Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Now I get it. You’re referring to the first international soccer (football) game ever. I was thinking of soccer **tournaments**. The first Copa América was played in 1916 (at least it’s predecessor). Well, the [Home Internationals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_International_Championship) started in 1883. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/95 "2012-06-10T20:03:51Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Irish eyes are not smiling. Shay Given is having an… unfortunate game. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/96 "2012-06-10T20:44:15Z")
Thursday is going to be ugly for the Irish. If they build a wall, maybe they can limit the damage, but I expect Spain to put together about 900 passes to Ireland’s 100, if Ireland is lucky. ---
**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 10, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/97 "2012-06-10T20:47:37Z")
Well that’s six games worth watching (although I didn’t enjoy Denmark), wonder if we will be saying the same after the England game ;). Was surprised by Italy, they really took the game to Spain and deserved their point… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/98 "2012-06-10T21:34:18Z")
I must say Ireland doesn’t seem to have s lot of imagination on attack. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/99 "2012-06-10T22:55:48Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Who will take penalties for the Dutch? Is it Robben or Van Persie? Sneijder? > > I can’t think of any player I dislike more than Mark Van Bommel. I know he’s a player you love if he’s in your side and hate if he’s not, but that just justifies my hate! At least he’s talented, though. I think he’s the very rich man’s Joey Barton. But his reaction to any foul or card he receives is always disbelief. Hey! You just whacked a player across the shin, what do you expect? Kuyt’s taken the most penalties of all the players that are on the team right now, but Van Persie or Huntelaar are also candidates; Van Marwijk has said that Robben can take penalties as well, after he missed one during the CL final. I think a lot of Dutch don’t particularly like Van Bommel - I certainly don’t. Still, you have to recognize that he is a great midfielder with tons of experience and skill, rather than (or perhaps in addition to) being just some goon. ---
**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 10, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883/100 "2012-06-10T23:13:22Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > I think a lot of Dutch don’t particularly like Van Bommel - I certainly don’t. Still, you have to recognize that he is a great midfielder with tons of experience and skill, rather than (or perhaps in addition to) being just some goon. Though many of us still think ‘goon’ first when we hear the name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2012-poland-ukraine-open-spoilers/623883.md?page=6)