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| Thread: Europe Championship 2008! |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 · NEXT» |
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Azagal
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Smooth Snake
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posted June 07, 2008 04:08 PM |
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Europe Championship 2008!
Sooo I guess the europeans of this forum know that the EU soccer championchips start in about one and a half hour . And everybody else who doesn't does now . Anyways last year the Greeks won (PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRTYYYY!!!) with a little help of Otto Rehakles and this year who knows?
Anyways this topic is for guessing scores, talking about games, etc.
The game plan:
First match is Swiss vs. Czech Republik
I guess it'll be 2:1 for the Czechs... the swiss may have the home advantage but they are sooo going down .
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"All I can see is what's in front of me. And all I can do is keep moving forward" - The Heir Wielder of Names, Seeker of Thrones, King of Swords, Breaker of Infinities, Wheel Smashing Lord
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phoenixreborn
Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
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posted June 07, 2008 04:12 PM |
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I predict Germany to win the whole thing.
I'll be watching Portugal vs. Turkey this afternoon. Thank god they show this thing in the US.
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eugen_cosmarul
Famous Hero
hey
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posted June 07, 2008 05:30 PM |
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Go GO Romania !
even if in the hardest group 
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zamfir
Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
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posted June 10, 2008 09:44 PM |
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Romania can make the surprise. If we beat Italy we knock them out of the competition.
GO Romania!!!!
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5 Times TV
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted June 10, 2008 09:47 PM |
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GO Netherlands!
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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zamfir
Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
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posted June 11, 2008 07:34 AM |
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If Romania wins, I will give everyone on HC a dollar. So you have reasons to like Romania.
WE are much better than you, dutches!
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5 Times TV
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Sargeras
Known Hero
the Fallen
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posted June 11, 2008 08:48 AM |
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 Go Croatia
...we'll win the EURO... (if we beat Germany on thursday  )
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Now they shall be consumed by the very flame they sought to control...
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zamfir
Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
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posted June 11, 2008 09:19 PM |
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Edited by zamfir at 21:22, 11 Jun 2008.
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Would you like to lose your dollar?
Romania has a verry good team, adn wonderful fans.
Theme Song Romania
Why would you like another team. Romania's the best, by far. We are simply unique.
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5 Times TV
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Golemcrafter
Promising
Famous Hero
Unlimited Fantasy Master
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posted June 21, 2008 08:28 PM |
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Short summary about the teams
Group A:
Switzerland:
As the one of the two hosts of the Euro Championship 2008, it wasn't a question that Switzerland is going to compete, too. Their fans were really filled with hope and joy to see their national teem win the final glory, although many sport-critics said, that Switzerland has just tiny chances to go even through the group, since they don't have as good players. The most shocking moment for Switzerland was, as their favourite player, Alexander Frei has injured during the game against the Czech Republic. But the players didn't gave up, many good players as Hakan Yakin or Marco Streller and of course the very talented captain, Ludovic Megnin tried to boost the team fot not to give up and to proove their coach, Jacob Kuhn, that they are hard enough. This was shown during the game against Turkey, Hakan Yakin scoored the leading goal, but because of the bad weather and the huge luck of Turkey, they lost the game and with that, the chance to go to the quarter-final. But as a last present, they were able to defeat Portugal, although they wanted to do everything, just to dfeat Switzerland. Strenght was collected again and the result had spooken for itself. My opinion is, that Switzerland has tried everything on the field to go further. Their passing and running was good enough, but their defense was a bit weak and did not reacted to the attack very well. All in all, I feel sorry for them, because they didn't deserved a loss (which should not be called a a real loss, because of the win against Portugal) but they did not go home without points!
Czech Republic:
The national team of the Czech Republic was always hard and durable, built up with quick-footed strikers and strong midfielders. Everybody said, that moveing to the quarter-final is a must. The oldest and with that the tallest player, Jan Koller could not be missed on any matches, although he played two matches complett through. Coaches and fans mentioned several times, that a Koller-Baros attack would put the team into front in no-time, but that tactic was used only once, thanks to the coach, Karel Brückner. On their first math, they've defeated Switzerland "easily" and everybody was cheerful, filled with hope, that the team will win against Portugal and Turkey. Against Portugal, the czechs weren't quick enough, they didn't have passed the ball enough times and they've got two goals. Victory was a must against Turkey, if they wanted to go further from the group. And there came the horror: after a lead of 2:0, Turkey woke up from his sligh death and turned the match in the final -actually- five minutes... again with some luck thanks to the poor defense at the end of the czechs and the terrible mistake of Petr Cech. The Czech Republic had to sa goodbye, which meant the absolute end for some players: for Tomás Galásek for example. A team, which trusted on the win against Turkey too much...and that was their final mistake...!
Portugal:
No question: Portugal was the only team, where it was almost 100%, that they go through the group to the quarter-final. If I would list the star-players of Portugal, I would have to write down almost every single player. They are very quick-thinking, they can make open chances and runnig easly through the opponents defense. After the "easy" wins against Turkey and the Czech Republic, it was quite simple to think: Portugal and the coach, Luis Felipe Scolari will use the B-team: a team, where several players are included, who didn't have played on the Euro 2008 yet. Although Scolari said on an interview, that his team will play with power and they won't allow the suisse to win, they've lost the match...but not the qualifying fot the quarter-final. In Portugal, the most known player is of course Christiano Ronaldo, who scored a goal against Turkey, but since that he is unable -or almost unable- to reach the target. The two most improoved player in my opinion is Bosingwa and Pepe, the two center defenders: the first player plays really well on both sides of the field, with super ball-insand owerall power. Pepe showed, that even a defender is able to score, although he was a bit lucky before the scooring, because the ball went in from a turkish defender. So we can't say anything bad about Portugal, their first place in Group A was alreay reserved, but of course they had to do the harder things before it.
Turkey:
In the Euro 2008, there are actually two suprise teams, from which the one is definately Turkey. It is amazing, how they football, how they make chances and how they keep the ball during attacks. Most of the players came almost fully unknown to the football-fans, but with time, thoose players become legendary, I mean here for example Arda Turan or Semih Sentürk. The team had a bad start at the baginning, but the loss against Portugal didn't took the mood to play football further and not giving up. For winnig the two last games (against Switzerland and the Czech Republic) they've needed lots of things, including excellent players: luck, because the main goals happened in the extra time, mental strengh, because the turks didn't have lost their heads even then, as they were two goals back and of course the players Nihat Kahveci and Arda Turan. We could see the coach, Fatih Terim, shouting and jumping aroung because of anger of failing chances and missing goals, but at the end, he was alwayst the one, who came smiling on the field. I really think, that if Turkey continues his amazing form, the could beat every team, they will meet in the finals. The only problem is, that the players collect too much yellow cards (and red: just remember the one- sided "fight" between Volkan Demirel and Jan Koller) and some players can miss importanat matches if they don't pay attention! Turkey has become my second favourite team now!
Group B:
Austria:
Due to the rules, Austria had the chance to compete on Euro 2008 just as Switzerland, the second competitor. Sport agencies and newspapers had already their own thoughts about Austria, that hey will be the last team in the overall "team-table". Thease thoughts came almost true as Austria become the last in their group but not the overall last team, because of the number of recived and scoored goals. In fact, Austria is one of the weakest neational team in Europe with rather average players. For me, the team came up as a totally new team, new and unknown players. But there is one thing, which is really impressing by the austrians: During the games against the other stronger and better-known teams, they could reduce the recived goal to 1 per each and 3 overall, once against Poland, they could take one point with a rather unfair penalty kick. But what I wanted to say, that Austria played the whole championship defensive and the players didn't have attacked too much, as they would think, they are not good enough to beat the oppononet or they were "afraid" of the quick counter attacks. Their coach, Josef Hickersberger was quite content with his players, although he had to kno, that his "sons" won't be able to defeat for example Germany. But as we know, wonders can happen in football, but now, Austria has missed that wonder. Player of Austia is -after wathching nearly every games- Emanuel Pogatetz, the center back in my opinion.
Germany:
In contrast with Austria, Germany is the top favourite in Europe, since a lot of sport agencies put the team already into the first place of the championship. The germans have a very long history in football, for example the "Wonder of Bern", where the Germans were able to defeat Hungary in the final: from 0:2, they turned the match into 3:2. And the statistics aren't far from that in the past: the "Nationalelf" is in top form, almost unbeatable, with extraordinaire, quick-feeted, quick-thinking players from all over the world's strongest teams. The "young" players are beeing led by a "young" coach, Joachim Löw, who has the ability the fell with his players perfectly during any matches. Germany has top players everywhere: Jens Lehmann as goalkeeper, who showed his amazing skills during many games, but he can loose his head after a dangerous counter by the opponent. Philipp Lahm, who is I think the quickest polayer, he can steal almost every ball and he can give superb ball-ins to the forwards. Michael Ballack, the capatain, a very talented player, who can take free-kicks like few other players: a result is morely a goal. And of course, the two best forwards, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, who have scoored the most of the german goals together: Klose with his header, Podolski with his feet. All in all, I can't really say any negative things about the germans, but there is one small thing, they should to forget: as they scoore a goal, the mostly "sit on" the game and don't pay attantion to the defense (see the game against Portugal later). This thing can be really harsh later for them, so they should not forget after a scoored goal, that the game is going further, which has not cane to an end yet.
Croatia:
Croatia was one of the teams, who could finish the group games with collecting the maximal points after 3 games. The team has come with many well-known players, who played many years ago in other national championships, for example the Kovac brothers, but there were some "newlings" as well, where the most impressing player was Luka Modric. Newspaper articles wrote long pages about his technique, which called the attantion from many high-level clubs, till he agreed to move to Manchester City. There was a match, where Croatia couldn't win with an action goal against Austria(?) just with a penalty-kick-goal. The other great action was the win against Germany, where the players were able to show to the whole world: they are not just good players, they are excellent, who can beat everybody with power. Ivan Klasnic and Ivica Olic did their job very well and this meant goals to the team. The coach, Slaven Bilic in in my opinion the best picture about how a coach should take care of his players and how to boost the mup. However, the nice start was followed by a horror: at the quarter-final, Croatia had a terrible disluck and they have lost against Turkey. The players were shocked as well as Bilic. The work, thay've put onto the games seemed needless, because they were knocked-out by penalty-kicks. Croatia was always dangerous to opponent targets, players tried to scoore wide from the target and several times, they were able to hit at least the goalkeeper. With the end of Euro 2008, many legendary player retire from playing, which can be hard for the team, but if they find more young talents, like they found it in Modric, they could reach something in the future...
Poland:
At first, I though the same about Poland as by Austria: there are unknown players for me. When I don't know the team's players, it is hard to say, if the can be good enough or just and other "cannonball-team". They've closed the group games with one point and with worse statistics as fourth. For a long time, everybody could hope, that Poland will win at once a match against Austria, as Roger Guerreiro scoored the first goal: Poland stepped backwards and they've concentrated on the defense, even the coach, Leo Beenhakker used the substitution rights to bring defenders in. But in the final minutes, Austria has recived a penalty, because of false referee recignition. They've scoored and with that, Poland has lost two worthy points. The best polish player, Euzebiusz Smolarek did not show his best moves, he wasn't able to reach even one goal, just shooting and heading wide of the posts. Maybe the lot of wide tries to scoore brought the power out of the players, but an other reason can be, that on some matches, they didn't even reach the target, they were stopped not far from the midfield. The players became tired and they couldn't hold the mathches. Perhaps if Lukas Podolski would have played in the polish national team...
Group C:
Netherlands:
Many friend of mine asked be before the championship, who am I going to "support"... A moment later, my answer was clearly Nerherlands. The team has so many super talented players, that even on the substitution bank, there are top-quality players, from which just a few players were changed into the game: I found it really bad, how Marco van Basten organized his team after hearing rumors, that he had arguments with some of his players, so he didn't allowd them to play... Again, in the forward, the game was based almost on Ruud van Nistelrooy, because he was just in the centre, waiting for balls. He is quite old now (32) and I thought that after some games, the second forward will play, named Robin van Persie. He is younger, his powers now in the top, but van Nistelrooy looses his strenght quite quickly. The start of Netherlands were extrordinaire: they have beaten the former gold and silver medal wold-champions with three and four goals, which showed the others, that they can be afraid if they should play against Netherlands. The bigges problem by the netherlanders, that they have a suprisingly weak defense: I don't say the players are bad, but the opponent can -after short passes- move behind the defense and scoore a goal. I saw, that mostly the midfielders had to go back to defend the target. But every opponent had problems with scooring, too, because Edwin van der Saar showed his determination quite often, he was able to catch every ball. And of course, Netherlands was able to gain the maximal nine points and close the group matches in the first place.
Italy:
Well, yes... as we saw the first two games of Italy, we couldn't trust our eyes: as if there wouldn't be the world-cup champions, but something else. But the team was filled up with players, who added their talent and power in the world-cup but in the Euro championship, they were their own shadows. The opponents of Italy (the first two games) could march easily through the defense and scoore goals, although there were many good players, who could have stopped them, I mean here Fabio Grosso or Gianluca Zambrotta. Marco Materazzi has played really bad, until Roberto Donadoni changed him forever and put him onto the subsitution-bank. Italy has made the same mistake as Netherlands, which came up here even worse. The forward, Luca Toni was always standing in front of the enemy target, waiting for ball-ins from his players, but his headers were almost every time a failure: once, he were able to scoore a header, but the goal was wrongly cancelled, because of offside. And as the players had enough, they've started to shoot from wide and of course, they didn't succeed. Luca Toni was quite an actor as well, because he fell almost every time as the ball was taken from him. A huge luck was, as they've played against Romania and the scoore was 1:1, as Romania recived a penalty ans with that, a chance to go to the quarter-final. But thanks to the world's best goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, Romania couldn't turn the match. Italy was at the boarder of feeling sadness, but at the end, they were the one, who smiled. From thease happenings we can say: Italy has lost its talent... but hopefully not for a long time.
Romania:
There were low chances for Romania to pass their exam and go further to the quarter-finals, which -after seeing the "Terrible Two"- wasnn't an unreachable situation: they could have reached at least the second place in their group, if they would habe been played harder in their first match and scoored the penalty against Italy in their second. But it is no use to search in the past, we should keep going further. But we can analyze the team a litle bit. The most famous player in the romanian team was Adrian Mutu, who was able to scoore his and Romania's only goal. Already in the first match against France, it could be seen, that Victor Piturca's "boys" are not runnug after France but France is running after them. I think that a little more hope and fight could make the game good for the romanians. But as France saw, that they can't do anything to scoore, they've started to defend heavily. Against Italy, Romania gained the front in the second peroid, but thanks to a bad defense and not paying attention during a corner, Italy has equaled the scoore. At least, the movealong was in the foot of Mutu, when Romania recived a penalty, but he failed. We can't say, that Romania was weak, but I think that the players didn't wanted to win that much, because of the draw matches. They need more power and fight-willingness, but after watching every game of Romania, I don't think they should wait for it too long...
France:
Let's look at that nationla team, which produced the most shocking things in the history of Euro Championship. I don't mention just that they've been the last in their group with one single goal, but how they came to that is terrible, too. Back is strong, midfield is stronger and forward is the strongest: what was the probelm, then. The answer is: the missing of harmony between the players. There so many bad passes -long and short- which is horrible...and I DON'T exeggerate, because I saw, what I saw. To the question "Is Karim Benzema the answer of France's prayers?" is the answer definately "no", since he did nothing seriouse in any game, except bombing wide near the posts wide and near. The absolute top-quality player, Thierry Henry wasn't able to find his form, he was just shouting at the referee, somitime fairly, but... please, is this the job of a striker? The coach, Raymond Domenech could choose from good and better players from the bench, but still, there wasn't any positive result. And with time plenty of players got injured or -by Eric Abidal- sent-off because of a red card. An example of a player, who was already injured, was Patrick Vieira, who didn't wanted to play, although the doctors said, he is fit again. A second player who got injured was Frank Ribéry, who was injured during the game against Italy. It seemed, that because of following bad happenings and disharmony, France has fallen into a huge pit, from where he was unable to come out...
Group D:
Greece:
The playing-type of Greece was described very well by a hungarian football commentator: "Four years ago, Greece had succedd to reach the top of Olympos, but now, they are at Hades!" This sentence maches perfectly, because Greece had to cloose the group games with zero points. (Sorry for that, Elvin!) I don't really know, what has missing from Otto Rehhagel's team, because there were such players, who were in the winning team four years ago as well. I mean here for example Angelos Christeas, the many times unbeatable "headmaster", or Giorgos Karagounis, the playmaker. Comparing the team with the four years old themselves I can say, that the guys became very slow and they couldn't keep the steps with the opponent. Even at corner-kicks, the players were unable to scoore, although the team has one of the best "headers". The final scoore has always shown low numbers, because the defense could keep their balance, although we could see, that the goalkeeper, Antonis Nikopoidis wasn't always sure at the gate. The hope of Greece was about to return during the game against Spain, where Charisteas was able to scoore a perfect header goal, but at the last few minuted, Spain has turned the match and Greece had to go home without any recived point. The former euro-champion now without any point but at least with one scoored goal. I say for situations like that the sentence: Every wonder lives 3 days long.
Sweeden:
In the sweedish national team were the most oldest players, which meant, that the coach, Lars Lagerbäck believed on talent and rutine instead of fresh and young "beginners". Almost 70% of the overall players were older than 30 years. Sweeden came as probable winner at least of their group, however, the spanish team seemed harder like Greece or Russia. They've had a good start: they've brought the match against Greece and with 3 points, they've waited for the next opponent, Spain. The problem at that game was the same as by Greece: the more talented sweedish player were many times better, that the young spanish. But has ended after the first half: Sweeden has lost their power quite quickly, the players have taken air very heavily, which couldn't be compensed with the substitutions. Although Sweeden was leading the game in the first half, for the second, Spain has collected the rest of their power and rushed at the sweedish players. They had more chances and the possession was higher by Spain as well. Later, Spain was able to scoore the equalizer. Sweeden was so tired, that they've stopped to fight fir a win but for a draw game. But then, David Villa came and decided the match because of an incredible sweedish defense mistake from Petter Hansson. The sweedish star-player, Zlatan Ibrahimovich couldn't help his players as well, however, he scoored the first goal against Spain. Sweeden had to offer everything to their last game against Russia, but the team has run into a sharp blade: they've lost the match and they fell from their group.
Spain: coming soon
Russia: coming soon
The others will come soon! I'm waiting for critics...!
NOTE: Thease mentions are just my single opinions! Everybody has the right to say it's own opinion, but if you do so, plase, do not blame me or use harsh words! I will say my opinion about the finals, too but they will come seperate, after I described the groups!
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Vlaad
Admirable
Legendary Hero
ghost of the past
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posted June 21, 2008 09:06 PM |
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Edited by Vlaad at 21:33, 21 Jun 2008.
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Germany vs Turkey... I must admit I didn't see that coming. LOL
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted June 21, 2008 11:04 PM |
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Russia vs the Netherlands
Russia won ?
@ Russian team maladiyetz ! (or something like that, I mean the word that means "well done"
@ Oranje (Dutch football team): Volgende keer beter Kees!
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted June 21, 2008 11:13 PM |
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Edited by Geny at 23:14, 21 Jun 2008.
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RUSSIA RULES!!!!
Ummm... no offense there, alc.
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DON'T BE A NOOB, JOIN A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E.
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted June 21, 2008 11:22 PM |
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Well everyone has a feeling of Nostalgia and Neighbourism (something that Eurovision suffers from) here... That's why I supported the Netherlands in the first place
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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Lich_King
Honorable
Supreme Hero
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posted June 21, 2008 11:31 PM |
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Not everybody, I was for Netherlands aswell...
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted June 21, 2008 11:33 PM |
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Yaeh, but if I remember it correctly, Lithuanians and Russians don't...<*hesitates*> fancy eachother.
If I'm wrong please excuse me. I don't have you psychic (find-banned-member)-powers
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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VokialBG
Honorable
Legendary Hero
First in line
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posted June 22, 2008 12:03 AM |
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Edited by VokialBG at 00:05, 22 Jun 2008.
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I was for Russia, and they played better, and the referee did not awarded a penalty kick to Russia, so the true result is actually 1:4 Anyway Russia deserve to hold the cup, great football on the Euro
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And for the next match... Go go Spain!
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emilsn
Legendary Hero
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posted June 22, 2008 12:04 AM |
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Everybody had to be thinking this: ohh poor russia, meeting Holland(netherlands) the so far best playing nation - and then what! they get whooped by Russia - I was disappointed but Russia derserved after that game..
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Don't walk behind me; I may not
lead. Don't walk in front of me;
I may not follow. Just walk
beside me and be my friend.
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Minion
Legendary Hero
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posted June 22, 2008 01:25 AM |
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It was a shocker, Holland had played extraordinarily well before this game... But Russia deserved the win.. They were better, and it looked like as if they were more hungry for the victory. Even though it is truly sad not to see Holland making to the semifinals, this game was such a good one! A very good game.
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Dragon_Slayer
Honorable
Supreme Hero
toss toss toss
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posted June 22, 2008 07:04 AM |
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Quote:
Sooo I guess the europeans of this forum know that the EU soccer championchips start in about one and a half hour
FOOTBALL!
Anyway im cheering for Italy, but Germany look in form
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emilsn
Legendary Hero
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posted June 22, 2008 12:18 PM |
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Italy = sucks - You cannot win by playing 90% defensive - and they suck totally.
The rest of the game will go like this:
Italy - spain: 0-2
Turkey - Germany: 1-2 (maybe 1-3!)
Russia - Spain: 2-1
Finale: Russia - Germany: 3-2
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Don't walk behind me; I may not
lead. Don't walk in front of me;
I may not follow. Just walk
beside me and be my friend.
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