EURO 2012 Poland/Ukraine [OPEN SPOILERS]

[Oakminster]

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but that was a fun game to watch. Denmark was lucky to escape with the win, giving up so many chances like that.

[Sampsiceramos]

@Svejk_1

I don’t know about well-played - I think the Danes got pretty lucky here, it’s not like they were too successful in blocking Dutch play and preventing us from getting to the goal and creating good opportunities to score. The fact that that did not happen is not really due to how well the Danish played but rather to how the Dutch side squandered the opportunities it got.

I also think the Danish got lucky that the Dutch did not get a penalty for that handsball in the 89th minute. The ref could certainly have turned that into a PK without much debate, the Danish defender (was it Agger) had his arms spread-out in a way that was not entirely necessary.

I beg to differ regarding the hand ball - if refs start calling contact as incidental as that, you’d have 3-4 PKs a game. 'twas just as incidental as the multiple face-slappings RVP dealt out in the first half, and he didn’t get so much as a verbal warning for it.

Other than that, I think Holland’s undoing in this tournament will be their shoddy defense. Heitinga is the only real class defender back there, and that just isn’t going to be good enough against the Germans or the Portuguese. You’d do well to have a guy like Mathijsen back, because you’re going to have to knock in at least 2 against both Germany and Portugal to draw as it is, methinks.

[AK84]

Heitinga was sent off in the World Cup final right? Before Spain scored.

[Maserschmidt]

Phew. Portugal played their asses off, but Germany pulled one out of the hat. Gut geschafft!

[asterion]

We started a random draw pool at work. I drew Poland. How likely am I to win or should I just forget Poland? And which is the Polish death group?

[Lochdale]

Portugal just don’t have the grit to win. Show ponies though I wish they would do better at the big tournaments.

Currently in Poznan. Come on the Boys in Green!

[Lochdale]

@asterion

We started a random draw pool at work. I drew Poland. How likely am I to win or should I just forget Poland? And which is the Polish death group?

They’re in a weak group. Good chance to finish second behind Russia.

[Oakminster]

Would someone be kind enough to explain exactly how these groups work? I get that each group plays a round-robin against other group members, and the results of those games somehow determine which two group members advance to whatever the next stage is, but I don’t know the details…a win is worth x points, a tie is worth less, and loss is worth nothing? When to they get to the point of “win or go home”?

[mkecane]

@Svejk_1

I also think the Danish got lucky that the Dutch did not get a penalty for that handsball in the 89th minute. The ref could certainly have turned that into a PK without much debate, the Danish defender (was it Agger) had his arms spread-out in a way that was not entirely necessary.

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?

[madsircool]

@Oakminster

Would someone be kind enough to explain exactly how these groups work? I get that each group plays a round-robin against other group members, and the results of those games somehow determine which two group members advance to whatever the next stage is, but I don’t know the details…a win is worth x points, a tie is worth less, and loss is worth nothing? When to they get to the point of “win or go home”?

Quarters:

A1vB2
B1vA2
C1vD2
D1vC2

Semis:

(A1vB2)v(C1vD2)
(B1vA2)v(D1vC2)

Finals:

[(A1vB2)v(C1vD2)]v[(B1vA2)v(D1vC2)]

Wins are worth 3 points
Ties 1 point

First Tiebreaker is head to head; Second Tiebreaker is Goal Difference

[RedFury]

Spain’s starting eleven:

Casillas; Arbeloa, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets; Silva, Xavi, Iniesta; and Cesc Fábregas.

Note the lack of a true center-forward – Cesc gets the nod over Torres, Negredo & Llorente. Expect even more possession by the Red Fury.

Italy starts with:

Buffon; Maggio, Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini, Giaccherini; Motta, Pirlo, Marchisio; Cassano and Balotelli.

Should be a nail-biter; no different than any other time these teams meet. Though I expect us to prevail at the end.

*Just wish Rafa would hurry up and win his record-setting 7th RG so I don’t have to keep flicking channels. Rain delay as we speak. And then there’s F1 from Montreal. Awesome sports Sunday!

[Oakminster]

Thanks for the scoring explanation,** madsircool**.

I’m enjoying watching this event more than I expected. Saw two games yesterday, about to watch Spain v. Italy, and I think there’s another game after that.

[Ximenean]

@RedFury

Note the lack of a true center-forward – Cesc gets the nod over Torres, Negredo & Llorente. Expect even more possession by the Red Fury.

Yes, something tells me this may be a game for the purists, rather than end-to-end thrills…

[Oakminster]

Scoreless tie at the half. Looks to my uneducated eye like Italy has been a little stronger, with more scoring chances.

What is this tournament about? Some sort of European championship…is it an every year thing, or every four years like the World Cup?

[PaulParkhead]

@Oakminster

Scoreless tie at the half. Looks to my uneducated eye like Italy has been a little stronger, with more scoring chances.

What is this tournament about? Some sort of European championship…is it an every year thing, or every four years like the World Cup?

It’s every 4 years in between World Cups. In the two years preceding the finals, all the European teams play qualifying matches to determine the 16 sides that will contest the finals.

To European teams, winning this would be second only to winning the WC.

[Donnerwetter]

@Oakminster

What is this tournament about? Some sort of European championship…is it an every year thing, or every four years like the World Cup?

It’s the European championship which is played every 4 years. For European nations, it’s the most important soccer tournament after the World Cup.

[PaulParkhead]

@Oakminster

Thanks for the scoring explanation,** madsircool**.

I’m enjoying watching this event more than I expected. Saw two games yesterday, about to watch Spain v. Italy, and I think there’s another game after that.

Republic of Ireland vs Croatia is tonight. Kick off 7.45 UK time.

Full schedule here at the BBC site.

[Oakminster]

@Donnerwetter

It’s the European championship which is played every 4 years. For European nations, it’s the most important soccer tournament after the World Cup.

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…

[Oakminster]

@PaulParkhead

Republic of Ireland vs Croatia is tonight. Kick off 7.45 UK time.

Full schedule here at the BBC site.

I’m watching on ESPN over here. Think the second game will start around 2:00 PM for me.

[RedFury]

Pirlo scores…Boom! Cesc gets it right back!

Great match!