Euro 2008

[Martin]

I have never been happier.

I though the Turks were a bit unlucky last night. Before the deciding 2-0, they put the Portugese under severe pressure. You never know what you gonna get with the Turks, but on a good day they can win against anyone.

Portugal plays some good football, but I don't think they will win the whole thing, I don't see the depth of the squad. Plus, I tend to judge a lot of teams on the basis on sportsmanship (call me old-fashioned), and in the last few tournaments, the Portugese have often come across as whiny, cocky and downright ugly - from manager down to the players. Still, they are media darlings and probably one of the most popular team to support for neutrals - I noted several exaggerated newspaper headlines today claiming they "breezed" past Turkey last night.

The aforementioned Guardian Euro daily podcast is indeed great. I've been a faithful subscriber to their regular podcast since the start. As a Swede, then, I was a bit disappointed with their casual dismissal of Sweden in their pre-tournament episode. True, the Swedes are sporting a pretty shakey side with lots of injuries and a few over-the-hill players who will steal positions from younger talents (I could go on and on about our Mr Lagerbäck and his selection and tactics), and no-one expects them to win it all, but have some respect, please? They were basically dismissed by the Guardian team in half a sentence. Of course, I'm hoping for a few upsets, I think we can finish second in the group behind Spain. (Good to see some support for Sweden in this thread, btw!)

And of course, I'm hoping that this young man delivers:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x57ef_un-but-de-fou-de-zlatan_sport

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/HOnh2CNuLWU&hl[/youtube]

[Sarah]

I have never been happier.

I'm sorry, crimestick.  But glad you're happy.

[Spoony]

No Ireland means it's a free-for-all with me.

Because of my roommates, I'll usually route for Germany. Or against Germany... I'll know when I see if my new carton of OJ has been opened or not.

[Martin]

Oh, and Samir: I feel you re Larsson, but come on - how about Ljungberg? Seb Larsson? They're no longer with the Gunners, sure, but still...

[samir]

in the last few tournaments, the Portugese have often come across as whiny, cocky and downright ugly - from manager down to the players.

Tell me about it. World Cup 2006: why I can never support Ronaldo, however good he may be.

Also, to answer your other question, I was cool with Freddie Ljungberg, but his recent rants do not do him any favours.

[Martin]

in the last few tournaments, the Portugese have often come across as whiny, cocky and downright ugly - from manager down to the players.

Tell me about it. World Cup 2006: why I can never support Ronaldo, however good he may be.

Also, to answer your other question, I was cool with Freddie Ljungberg, but his recent rants do not do him any favours.

Those quotes were completely fabricated by a Russian newspaper, as has been confirmed by both Ljungberg and Wenger this week. So, you can still be cool with Freddie.

Re: the Portugese. Wouldn't it be very fitting if Big Phil was made manager of Chelsea after the Euros? Match made in heaven.

[cutout]

whiny, cocky and downright ugly

Also a reason not to support Italian football, no?

[samir]

Those quotes were completely fabricated by a Russian newspaper, as has been confirmed by both Ljungberg and Wenger this week. So, you can still be cool with Freddie.
Re: the Portugese. Wouldn't it be very fitting if Big Phil was made manager of Chelsea after the Euros? Match made in heaven.

I'm glad to hear the first part. Now I can sing it again: (to the tune of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You') "We love you Freddy / Because you've got red hair / We love you Freddy / You're Arsenal through and through!"

And Big Phil would work it at Chelski - I think Grant's main problem was that he didn't have a big personality and was Abramovich's stooge. It'll be nice to see someone fierce back in charge over there - and just maybe they'll play football with some flair for once.

[Martin]

whiny, cocky and downright ugly

Also a reason not to support Italian football, no?

Yes and no. I can't stand furbo, that catch-all word the Italians cherish which basically means "anything goes" (in football). Diving, cheating, interfering, etc is all part of the game and should be respected, as much as a beautiful tackle or a well-taken free kick. That kind of attitude - and the tendency by some to legitimize it as something profound and inherent - sickens me. (It's much more complicated than that, obviously, but it goes deep and it's messy and cultural, and I don't wanna go there.)

On the other hand, Italy have some great players. I like Luca Toni, Pirlo, even Gattuso some days. The elegant Cannavaro is injured, which is too bad. We'll see how they play their first game tomorrow, then I'll make my judgment.

[cutout]

For me, the former always cancels out the latter, great players or no

[So Cow]

Watching all this from NYC...which is a pity. How and ever...

Portugal the only team to look in any way impressive so far. Mind you, considering the other teams that have played, that's no surprise.
Germany vs. Poland will definately be the start proper for me, interest wise. 17 people already arrested before the game for acting the ginnet. I see Germany winning the thing, which saddens me, but there you go. They love the big time.
My 'Denmark in 92' choice would be Romania. My 'Greece in 04' choice would be...again. Romania.

If anyone in the NYC area wants to meet up and watch the rather exciting group C games tomorrow, let me know.

[buffcoat]

I thought Your Arsenal was Morrissey.

I love the World Cup because everyone out there really, really cares.  And while I don't find watching soccer per se exciting, I do like watching a solid month of it every four years.

The only annoying thing is that the same teams win it every time.  I wish one of the upstart nations that come along every time would actually WIN the damn thing, or even finish second, so that I wouldn't have to sit through another Italy-Brazil-France final.  Do you realize that every final game since 198-freaking-2 has featured one of these five teams: Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Argentina?  And no team other than those five has won since 1966.  And if you add in England (1966) and Uruguay (last win 1950), you have the ENTIRE ROSTER of the seven teams that have ever won the World Cup.  For shame, 180-odd countries that make up the rest of the world.

Seriously.  Just a 2010 final featuring none of those five teams would be a great start.

[Spoony]

Watching all this from NYC...which is a pity. How and ever...

Portugal the only team to look in any way impressive so far. Mind you, considering the other teams that have played, that's no surprise.
Germany vs. Poland will definately be the start proper for me, interest wise. 17 people already arrested before the game for acting the ginnet. I see Germany winning the thing, which saddens me, but there you go. They love the big time.
My 'Denmark in 92' choice would be Romania. My 'Greece in 04' choice would be...again. Romania.

If anyone in the NYC area wants to meet up and watch the rather exciting group C games tomorrow, let me know.

You know what, this fellow is.

Send me an email or reply to this if you want to finalize these plans for global destruction.

C

[Clint]

I thought Your Arsenal was Morrissey.

I love the World Cup because everyone out there really, really cares.  And while I don't find watching soccer per se exciting, I do like watching a solid month of it every four years.

The only annoying thing is that the same teams win it every time.  I wish one of the upstart nations that come along every time would actually WIN the damn thing, or even finish second, so that I wouldn't have to sit through another Italy-Brazil-France final.  Do you realize that every final game since 198-freaking-2 has featured one of these five teams: Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Argentina?  And no team other than those five has won since 1966.  And if you add in England (1966) and Uruguay (last win 1950), you have the ENTIRE ROSTER of the seven teams that have ever won the World Cup.  For shame, 180-odd countries that make up the rest of the world.

Seriously.  Just a 2010 final featuring none of those five teams would be a great start.

Greece won the last European Cup. It wasn't exciting though. They didn't score one goal from open play.

[Martin]

The Euros are more exciting that way - there's fewer teams, and it's arguably harder to win than the WC, plus there's been many more upsets historically: Greece in 2004, Denmark in 1992, even France in 2000 (even though they were the world champs at the time). On the other hand, you just can't beat the World Cup for excitement. I just love it.