Euro 2008

[The Vulcan]

I love some of the comments and responses from these big events.

Here's a classic from the Italy coach following a hammering by Holland

Our intention was not to start this tournament by conceding a 3-0 defeat

Really! :D

And from from the reporter -

"France lacked the guile to break down an obdurate Romania side as a turgid Group C opener in Zurich finished goalless" <deleted> does that mean?

Sporting Life today

[JetsetBkk]

Can someone explain to me (not much of a football watcher, I must admit) why the first Holland goal (Van Nistelroy?) was not offside?

[The Vulcan]

Can someone explain to me (not much of a football watcher, I must admit) why the first Holland goal (Van Nistelroy?) was not offside?

It was - simple as that. God only knows why it wasn't given. (oh - and the match officials)

[boiledegg]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/i...900432620080609

Austrian referees' commission chairman Gerhard Kapl was quoted on the Austrian Web site www.sportal.at as saying the goal was correctly awarded.

"The injured player behind the goal counts as a player on the field and therefore it was not offside," said Kapl.

[JetsetBkk]

Can someone explain to me (not much of a football watcher, I must admit) why the first Holland goal (Van Nistelroy?) was not offside?

It was - simple as that. God only knows why it wasn't given. (oh - and the match officials)

I'm glad someone else thinks so. I am trying to see a replay of it on the BBC News, but I keep missing it.

That first goal must've been very disheartening for the Eye-ties.

[boiledegg]

Someone else saying it wasnt offside, <deleted> me theyre clutchng at straws he was clearly offside in everyone elses eyes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...008/7445476.stm

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's opening goal in the win over Italy was legitimate, says Premier League referees' chief Keith Hackett.

Van Nistelrooy looked yards offside when he prodded home from close range.

But it appears he was played onside by defender Christian Panucci, who was lying off the pitch.

"The fact is the assistant was correct; the defender who slid off the field is still regarded as active," Hackett told BBC Sport.

"Christian Panucci went off through contact with his own goalkeeper (Gianluigi) Buffon. He is still considered part of the game."

Uefa general secretary David Taylor said at a media briefing on Tuesday that the officials had made the right decision.

He told a news conference: "There is a lack of understanding as to why this particular goal was awarded. In fact some television commentators have insisted the goal was clearly offside, but that is not the case.

"The player was not offside because in addition to the goalkeeper there was another Italian player in front of the goalscorer. Even though he had fallen off the pitch his position was still relevant for the purposes of the offside law."

Van Nistelrooy stuck out a leg to poke home a Wesley Sneijder shot, after Italy had initially cleared the ball.

Italy's players were furious with the decision and even the Dutch delayed their celebrations until they were sure the goal had been given.

Italy striker Luca Toni, who was booked for protesting the goal, said: "I looked at the replay during the match and it looked to me as if it was offside.

After the game Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt admitted he was waiting for the goal to be chalked off for offside.

But Hackett's comments back up the chairman of Austria's refereeing commission Gerhard Kapl, who said the decision was "100% correct".

[tijnebijn]

HUP HOLLAND HUP

Sorry guys , I'm just in a hilarious state ,

understandable I guess .

[LaoPo]

Dutch Masterclass destroys France

Netherlands 4-1 France (after beating Italy -world champions- in the first match with 3-0)

Netherlands reached the last eight of Euro 2008 and topped Group C with a superb win against France, who are now fighting to survive in the tournament.

Dirk Kuyt headed the Dutch in front after only 10 minutes.

Substitute Robin van Persie turned in Arjen Robben's cross on the hour, before Thierry Henry pulled one back from close range with 19 minutes left.

Robben's angled finish seconds later sunk France and Wesley Sneijder added a fourth from 20 yards in injury time.

The Dutch delivered another masterclass in ruthless finishing and the victory was a tactical triumph for coach March van Basten, who saw substitutes Van Persie and Robben emerge to play crucial roles in the win.

France, like Italy before them, had opportunities against the Dutch but were exposed by the brilliant counter-attacking style that has become the trademark of Van Basten's side.

Italy's earlier draw with Romania leaves them both battling with France to reach the quarter-finals.

And the so-called "group of death" will climax with a mouth-watering repeat of the 2006 World Cup final when France and Italy meet in Zurich on Tuesday, with survival in the tournament the potential prize.

The first goal was always going to prove crucial in Berne - and it was the Dutch who struck after only 10 minutes.

Rafael van der Vaart's corner evaded Henry at the near post and Kuyt out-muscled Florent Malouda to head past Gregory Coupet.

And Kuyt could have added a second shortly afterwards when Lilian Thuram made a mess of Giovanni van Bronckhorst's long ball, but the Liverpool striker lofted his finish off target.

France took their time to settle, but once they did they posed a genuine threat, with Sydney Govou twice shooting straight at Edwin van der Sar and Franck Ribery also forcing a save from the Manchester United keeper.

Dutch coach Van Basten made a change at half-time, replacing the ineffective Orlando Engelaar with Robben.

But it was France who picked up where they left off, with Henry's cross almost setting up Ribery a minute after the re-start.

France then had penalty appeals waved away when Henry's goal-bound shot struck Andre Ooijer's arm, but German referee Herbert Fandel ignored the claims.

Henry was then involved in the game's pivotal moment after 53 minutes when he was sent clear by Chelsea winger Malouda's over-head kick. Henry at his peak would surely have finished off the move, but only lobbed well over the bar with Van der Sar stranded.

The Netherlands took advantage of the reprieve to add a second with the sort of lightning counter-attack that destroyed Italy in their first group game.

Robben raced down the left flank and crossed for the incoming Van Persie - who was on for Kuyt - to sweep a finish past Coupet, despite the France keeper getting a hand to the ball.

France were thrown a lifeline with 19 minutes left when Henry beat Van der Sar with the faintest of touches from Willy Sagnol's superb cross - but hope was short-lived.

The Dutch swept downfield immediately and Robben, who had delivered a magnificent cameo, took Sneijder's pass and rifled a finish high past Coupet from a tight angle.

Sneijder then almost created a fourth for Ruud van Nistelrooy with a stunning raking pass that the striker met with a looping header that forced Coupet into a scrambled save.

But Sneijder was not to be denied and rounded off the win with a flourish with a glorious 20-yard finish that flew high past Coupet deep into injury time.

Holland: Van der Sar, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, De Jong, Engelaar (Robben 46), Kuyt (Van Persie 55), Van der Vaart (Bouma 78), Sneijder, van Nistelrooy.

Subs Not Used: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Melchiot, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Booked: Ooijer.

Goals: Kuyt 10, Van Persie 59, Robben 72, Sneijder 90.

France: Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra, Govou (Anelka 75), Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda (Gomis 60), Ribery, Henry.

Subs Not Used: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Abidal, Vieira, Benzema, Nasri, Clerc, Squillaci, Diarra.

Booked: Makelele, Toulalan.

Goals: Henry 71.

Att: 32,000

Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Netherlands' Arjen Robben 8.53 (on 90 minutes).

TRIVIA

Holland have qualified as group winners. The other three teams still have a chance to qualify for the next phase. If Romania beat Holland in the final match, they will earn a quarter-final berth and knock France and Italy out. Theoretically, a team can qualify from group C with just two points (if Holland beat Romania and France and Italy draw). No team has ever survived the group phase of a European Championship tournament without winning a single match.

This result marks the biggest ever defeat for France in European Championship finals. Their previous biggest reverse was a 2-0 loss against Czechoslovakia in 1960.

Holland's 4-1 victory is their second biggest ever at this tournament, following a 6-1 defeat of Yugoslavia in 2000. They have now won 16 European Championship matches, which equals Germany's record.

The Netherlands' second goal was their 50th in the competition, no other team has scored more European Championship goals.

France fielded their oldest starting line-up ever in this competition (average age: 30 years and 133 days).

Thierry Henry has now scored at three different European Championship tournaments and two World Cups. Only Jurgen Klinsmann has scored at more European Championship and World Cup tournaments combined (six).

---BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/e...008/7363369.stm

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Dominant Dutch progress in style

The Netherlands secured their place in the UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals with a game to spare after producing another devastating display against France in Berne, with Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder all scoring in a memorable win.

Clinical counterattacks

Twenty years after his goals led the Netherlands to the European title, Marco van Basten's 2008 crop underlined their case as serious contenders by building on their defeat of Italy to tie up first place in Group C. There may have been less of the flamboyance they had shown in beating the Azzurri – the Dutch riding their luck at times after Kuyt's early breakthrough – but the speed of their counterattacking play was again in rich evidence, never more so than in the second goal scored by Van Persie after a lightning surge by Robben. Even when Thierry Henry halved the deficit, Robben immediately restored the two-goal cushion to leave France, punished further by Sneijder, bottom of the section with a solitary point – and with everything to do against Italy on Tuesday, when the Netherlands play second-placed Romania.

Early setback

France, under pressure to perform following their opening stalemate against Romania, came out with Henry installed as leader of the line in place of Nicolas Anelka and Sidney Govou drafted in on the right, allowing Franck Ribéry to play as second striker. "Time to step up a gear" declared the front page of the morning's L'Equipe newspaper yet within nine minutes they were behind, Kuyt striking from the game's first corner. Rafael van der Vaart swung the ball in and the Liverpool FC forward got in front of Florent Malouda to nod past Grégory Coupet.

France threat

Kuyt then nearly profited from Lilian Thuram's misdirected header but, at full stretch, steered over. Les Bleus gradually found their stride, however, with Govou striding past Joris Mathijsen and sending in a low drive that Edwin van der Sar saved with his legs. The volume of the France supporters began to rise as Florent Malouda, Govou and then the busy Ribéry all tested Van der Sar and Domenech's team picked up where they had left off on the restart as Henry pounced on a deflected centre by Patrice Evra – starting instead of Eric Abidal – and shot goalwards only to be denied by André Ooijer's block.

Substitutes combine

The FC Barcelona striker had an even better chance soon after but put too much weight on his lob after Malouda's acrobatic chip had sent him clear. How he was left to rue that miss when the Netherlands' two substitutes combined for the second goal after 59 minutes. Ruud van Nistelrooy sent Robben speeding down the left and his cross was volleyed in by Van Persie off the hand of Coupet.

Spectacular fourth

The excellent Van der Sar palmed away Ribéry's shot as France sought a way back and it was Ribéry who provided the low ball for Henry to reduce the shortfall with a neat flick after 71 minutes. Yet hopes of a comeback lasted less than a minute. The tannoy music had barely stopped playing when Robben concluded a three-man move by blasting the ball between Coupet and his near post. Things only got worse for France, for whom this defeat was their worst in the UEFA European Championship finals, as Sneijder rounded off a stunning win in suitably spectacular fashion – driving in a fourth off the underside of the bar in added time.

http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/ma...+progress+style

LaoPo

[chavy]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

[wimster]

I just got off the phone with Wesley (Sneijder) and he told me they will have Chivu score a 1-0 for Romania so the frogs and the spagettis are out. No joke....who would have thought that....Poule of Death? Hehehehe.

Anyway, I'm not a big Van Basten fan (as a player yes, as coach NO). He left 2 of the best players home... Van Bommel & Seedorf. But very glad to see they are doing well so far.

Nice to see all these ex-PSV players in the team (van Nistelrooij, Robben, Ooijer, Bouma). And watch PSV midfielder Ibrahim Afellay. Saw that ball on the crossbar 2 minutes after he entered the Italy game?

It's fun to watch, especially with 300 other crazy Dutch men dressed in orange. Enjoy the next games!

[MiG16]

Im a VEWY happy girl

but I see the others have done a great job reporting the result....so I dont need to say much more... except

Hup Holland!!

thanks for a great Bday gift!!

[LaoPo]

Im a VEWY happy girl

but I see the others have done a great job reporting the result....so I dont need to say much more... except

Hup Holland!!

thanks for a great Bday gift!!

Happy Birthday MiG16 !!!

Hope you enjoyed your B'day gift....?.............I did

LaoPo

[MiG16]

thanks LaoPo

Ive been telling friends I wish Holland were playing tonight (would be Sunday morning my time...my bday is actually on Sunday)

thats saying I kinda knew they would win and give me the best gift

but still, its a very good start to my celebrations

go oranjeeeeeeee

[Jockstar]

Im a VEWY happy girl

but I see the others have done a great job reporting the result....so I dont need to say much more... except

Hup Holland!!

thanks for a great Bday gift!!

21 again Mig?

[MiG16]

wouldnt wanna be 21

I like 27

[kayo]

Happy Birthday Mig!

I just got off the phone with Wesley (Sneijder) and he told me they will have Chivu score a 1-0 for Romania so the frogs and the spagettis are out. No joke....who would have thought that....Poule of Death? Hehehehe.

Anyway, I'm not a big Van Basten fan (as a player yes, as coach NO). He left 2 of the best players home... Van Bommel & Seedorf. But very glad to see they are doing well so far.

Nice to see all these ex-PSV players in the team (van Nistelrooij, Robben, Ooijer, Bouma). And watch PSV midfielder Ibrahim Afellay. Saw that ball on the crossbar 2 minutes after he entered the Italy game?

It's fun to watch, especially with 300 other crazy Dutch men dressed in orange. Enjoy the next games!

As funny as it would be to see the Italians and french go home early, I think the Dutch should just maintain their level of play and kick arse.

I first got interested in football and specifically Orange tinted shirts, when my Dutch dad took me to watch holland play dream matches in Euro 1988

I have - over the past twenty years, seen some of the very best players in football wear the orange shirts, but I haven't seen a TEAM effort since the days of v. basten, gullit, koeman *2, rijkaard.

In response to wimster's comments,

Some individually great players may indeed have been left behind, however, I suspect this may have more to do with team harmony.

This squad we have now, is not yet consistent in their brilliance. See yesterday's match, for example. 20 minutes of nearly total football but then they "dropped" the ball - so to speak - for about half an hour.

However, if they can stick together, and carry on the way they've started, I suspect we may see the best dutch team of the past twenty years.

On a side note, when the match started and I saw Robben and v. Persie on the subs bench, I smiled and thought to myself... You cunning man, Mr. Van Basten. You're going to bring them out in the second half and they're going to destroy the french.

I love it when I'm right!

Hup Hup Holland!!!!

[Travel2003]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy).

Sorry for France though.

[nikster]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy).

Sorry for France though.

You know what would happen if Italy was in the same situation with France and Netherlands fighting for survival. Exactly!

Be a professional and field the B-team, Mr. v. Baasten! Tactics is important for big events It's not cheating if you field the B team. It would be cheating if you intentionally let a goal in or something but the Dutch would never do that.

[The Vulcan]

On an aside note; looking at the quality of the football I'm glad we (England) failed to qualify - we'd have got stuffed!

Agreed?

[angiud]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Very honest. This maybe because we lost England somewhere...

"Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy). "

travel 2003, why do you call Italy a cheater? You think to be funny, or you only jealous because Italy won 4 world cup??

[wimster]

"Some individually great players may indeed have been left behind, however, I suspect this may have more to do with team harmony."

Don't think so. Van Basten's tactics did not work at all in the qualifiers. Finally the big players spoke up, and he had to listen to them. In the meantime lost Van Bommel (as Van Basten is totally ANTI PSV and PRO Ajax and selected Ajax players who were not even on Ajax's bench during the NL competition, he called them "talents"). My assssss...Leaving behind real talent like Aisatti and Marcellis (although only 20 yrs old would have been the BEST center defender for the NL team). Not to say that VB will be Ajax's coach next season. Good luck, he won't win a thing!

Did you see NL play against Thailand, or Italy, last year. Awful!

The whole point is that the players formed the team, as a response to VB's "tactics".

So I support the NL team and the players, not the coach. The only coach worth supporting is GUUS HIDDINK, the real mastermind!

[Travel2003]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Very honest. This maybe because we lost England somewhere...

"Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy). "

travel 2003, why do you call Italy a cheater? You think to be funny, or you only jealous because Italy won 4 world cup??

Jealous? Oh yeah, Im jealous on behaf of, mmm lets see, on Luxembourg. I think they should have won a few times.

Come on. it has nothing to do with being jealous.

I believe the cheating we see these days in football started in Italy.

You want to talk about world cups?

Last one. Italy should not even had been in the final. They cheated themself to the final.

I bet our Aussie friends here will never forget that.

[Travel2003]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy).

Sorry for France though.

You know what would happen if Italy was in the same situation with France and Netherlands fighting for survival. Exactly!

Be a professional and field the B-team, Mr. v. Baasten! Tactics is important for big events It's not cheating if you field the B team. It would be cheating if you intentionally let a goal in or something but the Dutch would never do that.

Yeah, I agree. You are right about that.

I think Portugal fielded a 2nd string team last night.

[boiledegg]

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Very honest. This maybe because we lost England somewhere...

"Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy). "

travel 2003, why do you call Italy a cheater? You think to be funny, or you only jealous because Italy won 4 world cup??

Whats the difference between an Italian and a slice of toast?

You can make soldiers out of a slice of toast.

[kayo]

^

Given your user nick, that's a doubly delicious joke!

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Very honest. This maybe because we lost England somewhere...

"Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy). "

travel 2003, why do you call Italy a cheater? You think to be funny, or you only jealous because Italy won 4 world cup??

Jealous? Oh yeah, Im jealous on behaf of, mmm lets see, on Luxembourg. I think they should have won a few times.

Come on. it has nothing to do with being jealous.

I believe the cheating we see these days in football started in Italy.

You want to talk about world cups?

Last one. Italy should not even had been in the final. They cheated themself to the final.

I bet our Aussie friends here will never forget that.

Indeed. And wasn't their first world cup "win" during a world cup held in Italy under Mussolini?

[Jimjim]

Turkey were amazing and Cech made a huge mistake. Fantastic last goal.

[nikster]

Turkey were amazing and Cech made a huge mistake. Fantastic last goal.

This Euro, the exciting teams advance, it's great.

Too bad about the poor coverage, I am about to get a VCR just do I can catch the games. I really can't watch at 2 am and the next day "highlights" is one game only.

[Jimjim]

Poor coverage? Aren't all games shown live? But if they don't replay them then, yes, that's quite inconvenient.

[angiud]

^

Given your user nick, that's a doubly delicious joke!

Hopefully the Duth will let Romania win so sending the Italians & French home early

Very honest. This maybe because we lost England somewhere...

"Agree.

I know it is cheating. But then again, it doesnt count if you cheat a cheater (Italy). "

travel 2003, why do you call Italy a cheater? You think to be funny, or you only jealous because Italy won 4 world cup??

Jealous? Oh yeah, Im jealous on behaf of, mmm lets see, on Luxembourg. I think they should have won a few times.

Come on. it has nothing to do with being jealous.

I believe the cheating we see these days in football started in Italy.

You want to talk about world cups?

Last one. Italy should not even had been in the final. They cheated themself to the final.

I bet our Aussie friends here will never forget that.

Indeed. And wasn't their first world cup "win" during a world cup held in Italy under Mussolini?

Yeah. Tony Soprano bribes the referee. Michael Corleone always dine with Blatter