Euro 2008

[Martin]

Come on! Someone! Samir?

Just watched the opening match between Switzerland and the Czechs, which the Czechs won 1-0. The Swiss were unlucky, should've gotten a penalty. Poor Sebastian Frey...

Oh who am I kidding

[Sarah]

I believe Mr. Leo is a fan; you might find some company there.

[chrisfoll577]

I'm normally a fan of England whenever a major tournament rolls around (a vestige of this American's adolescent fascination with Britpop, 'Cool Britannia' and the 'Three Lions' team of Euro '96)... Unfortunately, England and the rest of the UK and Ireland forgot to show up for the qualifiers.  So I guess I'm pulling for the other Euro teams I enjoy watching like The Netherlands and Portugal.

[Gilly]

I always root for England and Sweden and of course the USA but they obviously aren't involved in this one. I guess in Euro 08 I only have Sweden but I don't know much about the national team this year. It's really tough to pay attention to non-World Cup soccer here in America. You really have to put effort into it and find the places that show it. You can't really sit down and watch it on your TV with out paying an arm and a leg for it.

[Clint]

I'm kind of glad that England didn't qualify this year. They're getting a bit overconfident thinking they have a god given right to win everything just because they invented the game. I also don't have to listen to their analysts whine when they get knocked out. Because Ireland didn't qualify either, I can take solace in the fact that we're not the only embarassingly underachieving team around.

If they can gain the momentum they did in the world cup, my money's on Germany.

[cutout]

I saw the first half of Swiss vs. Czech today, then had to go out and play a three-game soccer tournament myself in 98 degree heat. Absolute murder. Glad to hear the Czechs came out on top. Looking forward to watching Germany tomorrow (also very happy to know the FoTs started a Euro 2008 thread).

[chrisfoll577]

the admin of nhl torrents, a hockey torrent site i frequent, just started a soccer torrent tracker footytorrents.co.uk.  which is great news for me, since i don't have to shell out any cash or head out to a bar to see the games now.  the site has a ratio setup that rewards time seeded, not just total uploads.

[bobby.]

Ireland didn't get in, and my next choice would be England.

I chose Holland for something in the mid-90s because Pierre Van Hooijdonk played for them and I thought he was cool.
Then it was France for some reason cos I love France, but I'm against them now cos they got to the World Cup final without playing very well.
I supported South Korea for the South Korea/Japan World Cup after Ireland were knocked out. But Korea's not in Europe.

So it's Sweden for me this year, you may be pleased to hear! Partly cos I like Sweden a lot, and partly cos if they do really well, I'll be in Stockholm when the semi-finals are on, which would be exciting.

[bobby.]

Actually, the only football I enjoy watching are European championships and World Cups. So this is a once-in-a-two-years thing for me, but I hadn't even realised!

[samir]

Watched both matches today, plus the typically mindblowing opening ceremony.
Here's a tip: the team that has fewer players singing along to the national anthem, will win the match.
As an Arsenal fan, I'm partial to France, although they're in the group of death, and I like Holland pulling an upset in that one, despite the last minute loss of Ryan Babel. Germany are supposed to be the team to beat, but once they walk through the first round, I don't know how much to expect from them. I'd like to see Croatia do well, since they beat us so humiliatingly, but without Eduardo it's hard to see where the goals will come from. That said, even without him, they should stomp all over Austria tomorrow.
Martin, I saw that Sweden picked Henrik Larsson again - sorry to say this but that's a strike against them. I remember the Champions League final in 2005.
Watching it in the States means we have to put up with the commentary and insight of Andy Gray, who is a c-word.
Thought Switzerland were unlucky today, but Turkey weren't. I cheered for Big Phil Senderos out of loyalty, but he really is rubbish, isn't he?
Without Milan Baros or Queresma starting today, my fantasy league team is already fucked.

Edit: the Guardian's brilliant football team is doing a daily podcast - check out episode one: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/06/08/euro_2008_football_daily.html

[Sarah]

Happy now, crimestick?

[bobby.]

I bet he's never been happier.

[Sarah]

Now I'm sad.

[samir]

Happy now, crimestick?

...well, he asked.
this is my specialist subject!

[Sarah]

I was only sad at the thought that his joy at finally getting responses would be the biggest happiness he's had thus far in life.  (This after just getting funding for the documentary, no less.)  I'm absolutely ecstatic about this thread otherwise.