All Euro 2008 Results and Analysis

[TranceFusion]

Refereeing in WC 2006 was horrible too.

Alain, wasn't it an involuntary hand? I also read on F365.fr that Henry's goal was offside... well anyway, it still doesn't change the fact that Holland atomized France

[Raneem]

Now the Netherlands should leave the Romania win the next match, and Italy & France will be out!

[TranceFusion]

^ Exactly!
This is how Van Basten thinks right now, and that makes a lot of sense in the interest of Holland:
No matter what happens, they are sure to finish first of the group (which is better than second for the second round). Romania needs a victory to qualify. France & Italy have to win and hope that Romania doesn't win, cuz otherwise France's or Italy's victory would have no purpose at all. For Holland's objective (to win the Euro), it's in the interest of the team to kick two favorites out at the same time. It would be later on easier! What's better for them? Face the runner-up of group D (Spain/Sweden) and then the winner of #2C - #1D (Romania/Spain/Sweden) or again Italy or France? They would want revenge!
Who among the favorites would be left if Romania wins? Holland, Portugal, Germany if they play better than against Croatia, Spain if they get lucky this time (the Spaniards are always unlucky). I don't see Sweden, Turkey/Czech Republic and Croatia reaching the final although Croatia has the talent to do so. So Holland would have a maximum of 3 favorites and a minimum of 1 (Portugal for me).
To make it simple, Holland can take advantage of this outcome

[A-Cube]

Sorry rob...I totally forgot that Toni's header wasn't an off-side...and I don't know about the hand in the area whether it is voluntary or not...it's like the off-side situation sometimes it happens so fast you can't judge it the right way and just follow your instinct...

And about Holland losing on purpose against Romania...I think that's an idiot move...yeah right let's give the game to the team that knows how to keep up with us...the Dutch should be smarter than letting the Romanians get the game...as I said I'd prefer facing teams that I won against rather easily than a team that plays the same way I do which isn't always a positive match-up(they failed to defeat the Romanians twice in the qualifiers)...let's just hope the Dutch will deliver a good game and if they lose I hope they will lose cleanly...

[TranceFusion]

I also prefer seeing an interesting game with goals by the Oranje just like the 2 previous ones.
But Van Basten faces this kind of choice that many teams face in tournaments: play fairly or not play fairly despite the achieved goal.

[TranceFusion]

End of the first half of Spain 1-1 Sweden:
Penalty for the Spaniards! Elmander came like a bulldozer on Villa and no reaction from the ref!
Then a few seconds later, right in the middle of a Spanish occasion, the ref whistles... first time i see this in a long long long time!

I'll repeat it again: i support video assistance 500%! Or at least there should be another referee next to the goal! (but he can be "blind" as well)
You wanna truly enjoy football? Let there be justice at last! It's unacceptable how one man (the referee, who only supervises the game) can destroy the dream of a team and its millions of fans because of a wrong decision! (refering here to Poland - Austria)

[TNT]

GO NETHERLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNDSSSSSSSSS

[M&R]

[tareknaj]

[lebanese_raver]

[tareknaj]

[TranceFusion]

[lebanese_raver]

If the match between Turkey - Czech Rep ends in a draw... they will go straight to penalties... since both teams are tied in everything. Go Czech

[TranceFusion]

^ Looks like Italy has more chances than France!

[TranceFusion]

Spain 2-1 Sweden
Torres 15'
Villa 92'
---------
Ibrahimovic 34'

It was to some point a 50-50 first half where both teams attacked. It was an entertaining game. The Spaniards were more collective and technical whereas the Swedes played the kick'n'rush english style. Torres scored a nice goal and Ibrahimovic made a perfect ball control then got rid of a defender. It gave him space to score a goal. The second half belonged to Spain but it looked like the game was heading towards a 1-1. I had this feeling anyway. It's never easy to face the athletic Swedish defence. Eventually a long ball was gone towards Villa as a last attempt to win the game and it worked! Villa managed to score with 2 defenders on him. Spain is qualified!

Russia 1-0 Greece
Zyrianov 33'

WHAT A GAME!! Especially by the Russians! They showed the quality of their offense and it paid off with some luck too. I always cross fingers for the Slavian nations and i'm so happy that the Euro 2008, which is about attacking and goals, got rid of the boring Greeks. Yes they did show some attacking skill but it's not enough. The Greek defence had a lot of trouble with the fast Russian strikers and midfielders. Pavlyuchenko was the most active, but also the most unlucky and the one with the most personal style. There were a few scoring chances when he could have passed the ball to a teammate who was in a better position to score. Greece's goal was indeed offside and Russia could finish the game with at least a 4-0 or 4-1.
Greece is out and Russia will face Sweden in a very entertaining game! Guus Hiddink has a chance to be successful with yet another team after South Korea and Australia. We will see how the athletic Swedish defence will deal with the fast Russian offense.


GROUP D - Standings
1- Spain: 6 points, +4
2- Sweden: 3 points, +1
3- Russia: 3 points, -2
4- Greece: 0 point, -3

-----------------------------------------------

Switzerland 2-0 Portugal
Yakin 71', 83'

I didn't watch the game because of the schedule in the last games of the group phase. That's the negative thing about it, i hate missing games in tournaments but the point behind this is not to affect the result of the other game. What i can say though is that Switzerland got a victory for honor with Yakin scoring all the 3 goals of the Swiss team. I was checking the game from time to time. Portugal played with the reserves mainly. I'm glad that the co-hosts ended with a victory and i'm sure that they could have passed if not the defeat against the Turks. Switzerland has more potential and skill than Austria.

Czech Republic 2-3 Turkey
Koller 34'
Plasil 62'
-------------
Arda 74'
Nihat 87', 89'

Well... what can i say? Personally i'm sad and disappointed. I love Czech Republic a lot and this is the second time after World Cup 2006 that they begin and finish the same way (first game a victory and then 2 defeats, the exact opposite of Poland). With 2-0 the Czechs were certain of qualifying for the second round. They also controlled the game quite well. What happened afterwards? Most of the time in such situations, it's losing concentration and being naive. The Czechs let the game go completely and gave the Turks everything they needed, not only the draw which would have led to penalty shootouts, but also the victory goal following a terrible mistake by one of the very best goalies in the world. Since it was raining, the ball was not easy to catch and i think that Cech should have punched it away from the box. It was a safer move to make. As for the Turkish goalie? What an idiot. What. An. IDIOT. His team is winning, qualified and will face a talented and dangerous Croatia. And he does the most immature and childish thing anyone would do in such a situation. I'm glad that he did it though since i have so many proofs about the unbelievable temper of Turks. My favorite example: World Cup Play-off Turkey 4-2 Switzerland after Full Time. Another one: Turkish fans killing a couple of English fans in 2000 and then in 2003 i think.
What i'll never understand though (going off-topic for a short moment) is why Turks play in the European competitions? Geographically they belong to Asia as much as the countries in this region. I have never agreed with this whether politically, geographically, sportively, socially or culturally.
Anyway, i'm sad today for the Czechs
GO CROATIA NOW!!!


GROUP A - Standings
1- Portugal: 6 points, +2
2- Turkey: 6 points, 0
3- Switzerland: 3 points, 0
4- Czech Republic: 3 points, -2