Euro 2004

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Mr. Scully wrote: [/QUOTENAME]If it wasn't for Bierhoff, our team would have been European champions in 1996...[/QUOTE]

*remembers, and smiles*

:)

It was disappointing but some positives can be taken Rooney's performance, the solid defence and er thats it. We'll still go through.

Everybody talks about a poor Jamer. But it was just an incredible free kick. Over the wall, James had no sight at all. His last action (tackle on Henry) was indeed a very bad one.

By the way, Denmark plays very well at the moment.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]The Mir@cle wrote: [/QUOTENAME]You surprisec me with your football-knowledge Sonja. Surely an interesting game Holland - Germany. Don't you mind if I do support my own country then?? (-: [/QUOTE]

You know what? I support your country as well!!
:-)
Go ORANJE!! hehe

My football knowledge isn't as good as it seems. I just always follow World Cup and Euro, that's all really.

Oh, Martin, sorry for having brought this sensitive topic back up again.
Did I mention the name Bierhoff??? ;-)

Although Argentina had an excellent team 1986, I doubt they would have won that World Cup without Maradona.
In 1990 Maradona wasn't at his best shape but his presence somehow gave a boost to his team. Let's not forget that Argentina only qualified to that final thanks to Goicochea and a lot of sheer dumb luck. Caniggia and the others were OK players, but they sure didn't have the level of a World Cup finalist.

Zidane and the boys are another story. I don't want to diminish the French because they have one hell of a great team (Makalele, Desaily, Henry... just to name a few great players). But even with their great talent they still seem too dependent on Zidane. Last World Cup Zidane missed 2 games and the French gave an awful performance that was the complete opossite of what happened in 1998.

My point is that a team could have Pele, Cruyff, Maradona, or Zidane on their squad, but it's a bad thing for a team to be dependable on only one player regardless of how good it is.

And about England...Let's not forget that this is not the first time that a British team loses such an important game by easily allowing 2 goals after having a lead through the whole game (Remember Manchester Vs. Bayern in 1999?) Someone perhaps should remind them that matches don't end after 90' minutes but after the whistle blows.

Ah Sweden - Bulgaria | 5-0 Good to hear this :) As I predicted that Sweden will be the suprise of the tournament. :)

As far as I can remember Sweden are pretty strong anyway. It actually wouldn't surprise me at all.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]The Mir@cle wrote: [/QUOTENAME]4-3-3 with Rafael v.d. Vaart as left winger is the same as 4-4-2, believe me. He's a real "10 player" and that will be the position where he plays most of the time tomorrow.

But I must say, you're well informed Lawyeris. Dutch roots?[/QUOTE]
No, I'm pure Lithuanian, we have special internet webpage about news of Euro 2004 and I've read it there:)
It's pretty sad that duo of Ruud van Nistelroy and Patrick Kluivert didnt do well and they cant play together, they could be the most dangerous forwards duo of Euro2004.

"Let's not forget that this is not the first time that a British team loses such an important game by easily allowing 2 goals after having a lead through the whole game (Remember Manchester Vs. Bayern in 1999?)"

Ehmmm...Wasn't it Man U who won this game in the last minute...?

I'm sure Man U did!!!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=#CC0000>hangman wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Sweden are not so bad but maybe they're not better than Denmark. I know that sounds fool, but football is not only "the more you score the stronger you are". Is Bulgaria a football team anyway? I really appreciate Sweden's attackers, Larsson is one of the most underrated striker in the recent history (he also had a terrible injury).

We'll see what happens on friday,my guess is that Italy's gonna play far better (can't do any worse??) and Sweden won't score 5 goals.

cheeeeeeers!![/QUOTE]
Of couse Sweden wont score 5 goals, but 3-4 for sure:):):)
You just calming yourself before Italy vs Sweden, 'cause you afraid them:) I think Sweden is stronger team than Denmark, so it wouldnt be easy for Italy even tied with Sweden.

Don't underestimate Sweden Hangman... They have Ibrahimovic and Larsson, two cultured strikers. They are in a better shape then the Italian forwards.

And Lawyeris, Advocaat is gonna play with a 4-4-2 system with Senden as left mitfielder... unbelievable. Cruijff said yesterday why we have to play 4-3-3 (because it's the safest way to attack), and the whole nation wants 4-3-3. But Advocaat does always his own thing.

I haven't seen any matches of this euro cos i'm working almost all day but ......italy is not as strong as people of the earth believe. Players think they are the best around and tv and newspapers ALWAYS have great expectations on the italian team, just like football is more important than other social problems, so there is a high pressure on them.
After the 0-0 with Denmark there were lots of polemics...everybody said "i knew that"...ridiculous!

let's see what happens in the next matches
GO italy gooooooooooooo!!!!!

Well, the players must think that they're the best and that they'll make it to get the motivation to fight.
I also think that the italian team isn't as strong as they were a few years ago.
But we'll see.
At least no one in Germany expect too much from the German team. THAT would be ridiculous! ;-)
I actually believe they're gonna get their arses kicked by the dutch guys tonite...

"Last World Cup Zidane missed 2 games and the French gave an awful performance that was the complete opossite of what happened in 1998."

And what exactly happened during World Cup'98? Zidane had terrible tournament, he got a red card in one of the games if I remember well and actually his first great game during France'98 was... FINAL!!!
My point is that that's true leader... When everything goes wrong, when everyone else is down and don't believe in success the leader does an incredible effort and wins the game... Like Zidane agains England, like many great players before him, in far more important games... Thhose are the ones we remember- who could change the whole situation on the field, switch the balance and... win the game! Yes, of course- Argentina wouldn't win Mexico'86 without Maradona... But having him and not having Burruchaga and the rest- they wouldn't win it either... Look at Romania during USA'94... They had excellent Hagi and... only quarter finals, because thay didn't have anyone else as talented... Argentina in 80ies and France now are different- I don't think they depend on only one player...