Predictions Quarterfinals Euro 2008

The Game Room
1

Ok, now we know the eight teams through. What are your predictions for the quarterfinals?

  1. Portugal v Germany

I predict Portugal here. But not by much. Some teams (Spain anyone? :smiley: ) flatter to deceive. The Germans are the complete opposite. They can look quite uninteresting, and unable, and in the end, they are the ones standing. But they really don’t have an attack that is clicking right now, and the Portugese do. Even the stubborn German defense won’t be able to shut it down entirely. I’m betting on either 1 - 0 or 2 - 1 here.

  1. Croatia v Turkey

This is VERY hard to predict. The Croats are impressively efficient, but the Turks are obviously full of heart and able to claw their way back into a match. Still, I’m thinking that the Croats aren’t the sort of team to allow Turkey two goals from behind. I think it will be 2 - 0 Croatia.

  1. Netherlands v Russia

I think this will be the cracker game of the tournament. Russia are kamikazes in attack, throwing themselves forward in wave after wave. The Netherlands know how to counter-attack better than anyone. Both teams creative, both teams skilled. But the Dutch are more disciplined in the back; they never would have let Spain score 4. So in the end run, the Netherlands will go through, 4 - 2.

  1. Spain v Italy

Folks, get out the extra chairs and invite everyone over for this one. I am wondering if they will have girls in swimsuits carrying round cards around the pitch; this is gonna be a slugfest. I guarantee a red card out of this match, maybe even two. Spain has some really bad memories of Italian defense from 1994, and the Italians certainly aren’t any less cynical now than they were then. Sad to say, this is where the Spanish manage to crash out. Their blood will get in the way, shooting themselves in the foot; again, Italy manage to squeak through, 1 - 1 on penalties.

Gonna be fun. :cool:

2

No predictions?

3

  1. Germany. Possibly my heart ruling my head, there. 1-0.

  2. Croatia 2-0. Outside that amazing last 30 minutes against the Czech Republic, Turkey haven’t been up to much.

  3. Should be Netherlands 2-0 or 2-1. Depends which Russia turns up.

  4. I’m going to say that Spain will beat Italy. I don’t buy the idea that they are big game bottlers, and that’s why they haven’t won anything since 1964. I think it’s that (a) often, they simply haven’t been that good and (b) probabilistically, it’s not unlikely that there be one or two major countries that never quite make it. Spain just happens to be one of them.
    (A) doesn’t apply this year, so I think they really could go all the way this time. Score… 2-0?

4

  1. Portugal v Germany
    I would go with a close Portugal victory here. But I can see this being a draw 1-1 with Portugal getting a second in extra time.

  2. Croatia v Turkey
    I can’t see Turkey winning this one. Croatia to keep it tight 1-0

  3. Netherlands v Russia
    I think the Dutch are on a roll and I think they will ease through this one. 3-1 to Holland.

  4. Spain v Italy
    I can see Spain crumbling and the Italians being more cyncial as the match goes on. Either 0-0 with Italy on penalties or 2-0 with one of them a late counterattack just to show off. I think getting rid of France will give the Italians the boost they needed.

5

Not if you’re gonna have fun watching us lose to the much-despised Azzurri because one again we loose our heads…though, damn it, I fear that just might be the case! :frowning:

So here goes nothing:

1-Portugal/Germany: How times have changed is evidenced by this very match. 10-15 years ago and for what seems an eternity before that, you’d be insane to bet against the Germans. They were almost automatic in the KO stages and it seemed as if only the other two dynasties, Brazil and Italy, could stop them. I mean, eighteen tournaments played and between the three of they hold twelve of them…and the Gemans three wins and four seconds for a total of seven Finals! As it stands today, I very much doubt the Portuguese will go out on the pitch impressed by the three little stars on the German shirts as it appears Scolari has infused them with the same competitive spirit he brought from Brazil.

Besides, and simply put, they have the better squad and likely the best player in the world today in Cristiano Ronaldo. Should be a cracker anyway, for we know Germany lays down for no one.

Final whistle comes, Portugal wins 2-1.

2-Croatia/Turkey: On paper, this one looks easy, Croatia is the better team. Period. But Turks are fighters, no doubt about that either. Could get ugly and rough out there but if logic prevails so will Croatia. 2-0 final score.

3-Holland/Russia. Bit morbid this match, what with both coaches being Dutch and having similar tactical styles. Holland has no doubt been flying high this tournament, making as they did, the infamous “Group Of Death” look like a stroll in the park. Don’t see how the Russians can stop the Oranje Machine, but if they play as they did vs Sweden they could certainly make this one entertaining. 3-1 for the Oranje. They deserve it.

4-Spain/Italy: I could probably write a scroll on this one, but I doubt it’d be very coherent – if at all. Such is the frenzy that The Azzurri provokes in most of La Furia Roja’s fans. Unfortunately, it appears that seeing the Blue Shirts has the same effect in our players – outside of friendlies, where we usually beat them (hell, we might be the unofficial Friendlies World Champs), we haven’t been able to do so in an official match, well…since forever.

Sunday? Aaaargh but this is hard! With Cannavaro out and Pirlo and Gatusso suspended, I submit that logic would dictate we have the much better team – from midfield on up. Will that be enough? I surely hope so. 'bout time we get the monkey off our backs and get some well-deserved payback. Have to go with the heart on this one: Spain rumps 3-1 in style. Iker outplays Buffoon and also settles that dispute.

Tortilla Española over Pizza!

6

Portugal/Germany - 1-0
Croatia/Turkey - 2-0
Holland/Russia - 3-1
Spain/Italy - 1-1 (Spain wins in penalties)

7
  1. Portugal v Germany

-I’ve always been a German fan and they have some real talent on this team. I smell a good game by Podolski, Germany 2-1

  1. Croatia v Turkey

-Unless Croatia literally fails to show up, I don’t see how Turkey wins this one. Croatia 3-0

  1. Netherlands v Russia

-Have long been my favorite team (I’m not of Dutch descent, incidentally, I just love their orange jerseys. I love DSYoungEsq’s 4-2 score so I’ll go with that.

  1. Spain v Italy

-Spain scores on a penalty kick and wins 1-0

8

Germany-Portugal

2-2. Germany equalizes late against the run of play on a Ballack header. It goes to penalties and Germany advances.

Croatia-Turkey

2-0. Meh.

Holland-Russia

3-1. The Dutch will just outclass Russia. This will be a very fun game.

Spain-Italy

God I hate Italy. Diving, hacking, whining bastards. I’m going to hate them even more after they win this one.

0-1

9

1. Portugal v Germany

I think this will finish 1-1 going to penalties which Germany will win.

2. Croatia v Turkey

Croatia have really impressed me, I predict a 2-0 comfortable win.

3. Netherlands v Russia

A hard one to call. I expect Netherlands to score but Russia have looked pretty good. Still, owning France and Italy cannot be ignored… 4-2 with Russia camping the Dutch half for the last 20mins (and getting caught with a 4th goal).

4. Spain v Italy

1-1 at full time, with Spain down to 10 men. Spain to win, the world to cheer.

I don’t have much faith in my predictions. However, I do think the Holland v Russia match will be the game of the tournament.

I hope we don’t get an Italy v Germany final… … …

10

Round one to drm, I think. Props to Snarky_Kong for foreseeing a Ballack header and getting closest to the actual score, if not the actual result.

11

Well, I see that NO one got that result. I’m no longer betting against the Turks. Allah is on their side, apparently.

I’m 0 - 2. Good thing I’m not betting. :smiley:

12

Well, 0-3 with just tonight’s game to get the clean sweep of failures.

Who would have expected those three in the semi finals. :eek:

13

With four out on cards and SIX injured players, they are down to 2 keepers and 11 field players. Thus if they can’t recover some of their hurt players by matchday, Allah Himself is going to have to suit-up.

Basically, they’ll be playing 23 on 12 vs Germany. Honestly, I can’t see how in the world they can get through.