Euro 2016

[Semper Fidelis]

Re:

Let's go!

Should be a good match. Or at least I hope so.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Yesssss....Italy leads.

 

[The Hitch]

How on earth did the Netherlands not qualify for this lol. They have every nation with a football federation in here.

 

[hrotha]

How on earth did the Netherlands not qualify for this lol. They have every nation with a football federation in here.

Many Dutch fans were adamant that betraying their style and playing crap football was great news, because you see, they never won anything before, but ha!, results would surely come now.

 

[Cannibal72]

And on the subject of those Dutch teams, let's just take a minute to appreciate Italy; unbelievably cynical, dirty, disgraceful. Belgium may be my second team (sack Wilmots!) but I don't think I'm being biased to say that this Italy team is playing like a bunch of cheating bastards. I suppose it's all they can do, given their sheer lack of talent at the moment, but still: shame.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Doesn't really matter if they're left or right wing. In the end, all hooligans have the brain of a peacock.

In Gezi Park protests Besiktas fan group Çarşı was awesome.Yes I am a fan of Besiktas

 

[Red Rick]

How on earth did the Netherlands not qualify for this lol. They have every nation with a football federation in here.

That hurts man.

That hurts deep.

Ask Danny mtf Blind.

Also, the great generation is past it. They're all 30+ now, they've missed their shots in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. Look at what we have now, guys like Memphis Depay, who cares more about a hat than playing well.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

And on the subject of those Dutch teams, let's just take a minute to appreciate Italy; unbelievably cynical, dirty, disgraceful. Belgium may be my second team (sack Wilmots!) but I don't think I'm being biased to say that this Italy team is playing like a bunch of cheating bastards. I suppose it's all they can do, given their sheer lack of talent at the moment, but still: shame.

Oh come on. Italy played the perfect match. I'm so happy they won. Not a fan of the belgians at all. They seemed clueless on what to do all match, and Lukaku and De Bruyne both performed absolutely terribly. Italy, on the other hand, played like a collective team, while only Mertens and Courtois played a decent game for Belgium.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

And on the subject of those Dutch teams, let's just take a minute to appreciate Italy; unbelievably cynical, dirty, disgraceful. Belgium may be my second team (sack Wilmots!) but I don't think I'm being biased to say that this Italy team is playing like a bunch of cheating bastards. I suppose it's all they can do, given their sheer lack of talent at the moment, but still: shame.

Please, that was one of the most vintage Italy performances I've seen in a while.

 

[hrotha]

Belgium could do very well if they had, dunno, like a real coach or something. As it is, they barely look like a team. Massively overrated team.

People nowadays are too harsh on Italy because of their history, but they've been playing rather well for years, for the most part.

 

[Cannibal72]

Italy were decent, but the fact that they were a cohesive team doesn't really excuse the fact that their second half was mostly professional fouls, mixed with a little light strangulation.

 

[Laplaz]

Italy likes to play against the big teams. Against Sweden and Ireland it will be more difficult, because they have to do the game.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re:

And on the subject of those Dutch teams, let's just take a minute to appreciate Italy; unbelievably cynical, dirty, disgraceful. Belgium may be my second team (sack Wilmots!) but I don't think I'm being biased to say that this Italy team is playing like a bunch of cheating bastards. I suppose it's all they can do, given their sheer lack of talent at the moment, but still: shame.

Were you expecting anything different from Italy? Talent or not, they often play this type of football. Sometimes more than usual, sometimes not much, but their bread and butter is solid play, good, stable defending and counterattacking. When they play well, once they grab a lead, it's hard to penetrate through them. Tonight was a classic Italy game. Yes, they play dirty, flop a lot, but it's not the first time they've done this. Their opponents need to score first for the game to take a different route and be more open, rather than the slow pace and where the field gets condensed. Now that the most dangerous opponent in their group has been beaten, they may play a different type of game against Sweden and Ireland, teams with less quality than Belgium. It's funny, watching the German TV, they announcer said that Italy can either go all the way to the final or not even get out of the group. They are a team that once they have rhythm and get into their game, they are tough to beat. You often have to play on their terms, unless you have the skill of a Germany or Spain or perhaps France now. This is a dangerous team. I think it will still be Italy and Belgium getting out of this group. It would be a massive disappointment if Belgium failed to get out of this group, no disrespect to Sweden and Ireland. Belgium's problem is also their strength, they have a lot of individual talent, but can they play good team football? Kompany not being there is a big loss to them, IMO.

 

[gooner]

I don't rate Wilmots as a coach either. All he did against Argentina in the last WC, was resort to long balls to Fellaini to try and get an equaliser. That goes for watching them a lot in the qualifiers, particularly the two games against Wales. And Hazard as captain!

I was impressed with us today and a bit disappointed we didn't win the game. Credit to O'Neill for the team he picked, playing Clark instead of Keogh, happy he played Brady at left-back when I thought he would go with Ward to push Brady into midfield. Many times in the past, I have been critical of Whelan and Hendricks, but both played well today and got on the ball and didn't let the game by pass in the process. That has happened too often in the past. Their performances was in total contrast to McCarthy who has never really played well for us at international level. I would say drop him but the alternatives don't stand out either. That's why Harry Arter's injury was a big loss pre-tournament. He was our best player in the friendly against the Dutch and I think he was very much in O'Neill's plans to play a significant part in the tournament. Could have done with him coming on when the Swedes were pressing for an equaliser and we retreated.

Must say Wes Hoolahan was outstanding at times once again. Walters has an injury, he could struggle to play a part in the rest of the tournament. A big loss as he was our best player in qualifying but it was clear that he wasn't fit today as he hasn't played for sometime. I would think McLean will likely come in.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

Italy were decent, but the fact that they were a cohesive team doesn't really excuse the fact that their second half was mostly professional fouls, mixed with a little light strangulation.

What do you mean it doesn't excuse it? If an Italian defender isn't wrestling the shirt off, holding, shoving, niggling, ankle-tapping, riling, insulting or shoulder-charging the guy he's marking, but throwing both arms out to the side theatrically and feigning innocence when the attacker goes down, then he's not doing his job as an Italian defender. The classic Italian defender is a dying breed in the modern form of the game that is too obsessed with protecting the stars as if nobody is going to go watch Barcelona if Messi gets hurt because he took one too many liberties against the wrong centre-back.

 

[jsem94]

I didn't view Italy as a threat, but Conte is a tactical genius... And Bonucci, well, who needs Pirlo when you have someone at the back who can ping it like that?

Iniesta pulled the strings for Spain. Morata, Fabregas and Silva all looked below their best.

Lukaku should be dropped to the bench and the wide players need to actually stay wide. Sweden and Belgium both lethargic. Horrible.

 

[sniper]

How on earth did the Netherlands not qualify for this lol. They have every nation with a football federation in here.

thats below the belt hitch.


seriously though, the real surprise is that we came 2nd and 3rd in the past two WCs, with rather mediocre players, and Robben of course.
Robben wasnt there for this qualifying round, so thats part of the amswer.
We,ve been a highly overrated team for the past 8 years or so.

i did see some good things and decent new players in the friendly we playd against poland, but not overwhelming either.

btw, what happened to depay? I still think he,s a fantastic talent. I hope mourinho is gonna use him.

 

[The Hitch]

How on earth did the Netherlands not qualify for this lol. They have every nation with a football federation in here.

thats below the belt hitch.


seriously though, the real surprise is that we came 2nd and 3rd in the past two WCs, with rather mediocre players, and Robben of course.
Robben wasnt there for this qualifying round, so thats part of the amswer.
We,ve been a highly overrated team for the past 8 years or so.

i did see some good things and decent new players in the friendly we playd against poland, but not overwhelming either.

btw, what happened to depay? I still think he,s a fantastic talent. I hope mourinho is gonna use him.

Its more a comment on the low quality of football here. I want to see good games between good teams. Can't get excited for teams that have never even qualified, and are only here because pretty much everyone is allowed in.

Its obvious what UEFA is doing though. Just letting everyone in because 24 countries getting excited about Euros makes more money than 16 countries. All the sponsorships and ads and everything that comes with it.

 

[SeriousSam]

Following the travails of Ingerlund at major competitions is always fun, can't wait for the Wales game. I'm hoping for a last minute Bale screamer

 

[gooner]

It was a political move by Platini to expand to 24 teams to get the votes to be elected UEFA president.

For the lesser quality countries like ourselves, it was a massive achievement to qualify in the past. I don't see it now in this format. That's why O'Neill took the job in the first place. There is no way he would have taken the job in a group with Germany and Poland when only second would have got a play-off in previous qualifying campaigns.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

The game by Belgium yesterday was amazingly bad by the way. Great defending by Italy, they still have an amazing defense, but really it's almost impressive for Belgium to have such a talented team playing so terribly. Why on earth did Wilmots put Fellaini as a CAM and De Bruyne as a RW when they have wingers like Mertens and Carrasco on the bench? Just put De Bruyne on midfield and put a real winger on the wing. And please please get rid of Witsel. Why does Wilmots want to play with two defensive players on the midfield when he has such a great squad for aggressive playing?

Now that the Netherlands didn't qualify I'm cheering for Belgium, but they really have to get their *** together. They have a great team, great enough to potentially go very far in this tournament, but they're not going anywhere like this.

 

[sniper]

If Carrasco isn't injured, putting him on the bench is a joke.
For me he was the big revelation of the Champions league. Was awesome against Bayern and Real.

 

[BigMac]

Russia fined 150.000 euros, threatened to be DQ'd in case more fan violence happens.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re:

If Carrasco isn't injured, putting him on the bench is a joke.
For me he was the big revelation of the Champions league. Was awesome against Bayern and Real.

He isn't injured AFAIK, in fact he even came in as a substitute during the match with Italy. Hazard - Lukaku - Carrasco, with De Bruyne as CAM. That would be an amazing attack. But now it's Hazard - Lukaku - De Bruyne with Fellaini as a CAM and two DM's behind who don't have much to contribute when in possession, who in fact just slow the Belgian game down in possession (i.e. Witsel and Nainggolan). The attack is still good, but he actually put three midfielders on the pitch who slow down the passing and have no creativity. How on earth did he expect to break down the great Italian wall like that?

 

[Brullnux]

Lukaku had a very poor match though. I hope he can do better in the upcoming ones, for his sake at least. We all know he has the ability. And also Wilmots is a decidedly average manager. I'm no fan of Conte (at all) but he totally outsmarted Wilmots in every single department.