ThePhins.com Eurocup Tournament 2nd stage results: Alen1: points 1st stage: 4 points this stage: 0 TOTAL: 4 Whitedolphin54: points 1st stage: 7 points this stage: 2 TOTAL: 9 Tone_E: points 1st stage: 5 points this stage: 1 TOTAL: 6 Paul 13: points 1st stage: 6 points this stage: 1 TOTAL: 7 Giovafin: points 1st stage: 7 points this stage: 0 TOTAL: 7 JCowScot: points 1st stage: 5 points this stage: 2 TOTAL: 7 Quelonio: points 1st stage: 5 points this stage: 1 TOTAL: 6 First&goal: points 1st stage: 6 points this stage: 0 TOTAL: 6 Boomer: points 1st stage: 1 points this stage: 2 TOTAL: 3 Finattic79: points 1st stage: 7 points this stage: 1 TOTAL: 8 Wpgfishfan: points 1st stage: 4 points this stage: 2 TOTAL: 6 ChrisKo: points 1st stage: 4 points this stage: 0 (N/A) TOTAL: 4 Pink_Dove: points 1st stage: 7 points this stage: 2 TOTAL: 9 Unifiedtheory: points 1st stage: 5 points this stage: 0 (N/A) TOTAL: 5
1.- Whitedolphin54 = 9 1.- Pink_Dove = 9 2.- Finattic79 = 8 3.- Paul 13 = 7 Giovafin = 7 JCowScot = 7 4.- Tone_E = 6 Quelonio = 6 First&goal = 6 Wpgfishfan = 6 5.- Unifiedtheory = 5 6.- Alen1 = 4 ChrisKo = 4 7.- Boomer = 3
You might be thinking of '02 instead of '98. Baixinho really ruffled feathers that year, and was excluded, as the popular rumor went, for a transgression with an air hostess in a build-up before a qualifying match. All in all, Big Phil just had had enough of his a la carte meanderings. Then again, Brazil did play Morocco in '98. But I don't remember an Eusebio, apart from the Portuguese legend. Maybe you're referring to Bebeto ? Mustapha Hadji was super wasn't he ? You got my mind jogging by awakening the awesomeness of SaZa, and '98. I do have some mental images of Brohlin, Dahlin, Ravelli, Campos, Meola, Lalas, Finidi George, Amokachi, Okocha, Garcia Aspe, Balakov, Stoichkov, Baggio, and co. from USA '94 in the back of my mind, and it remains much more distinctive than Euro '96 where apart from Poborsky, and Gascoigne, I'm at a loss. Just like you, '98 is much more alive. The Brazil-Scotland opener, Bergkamp's cupcake against Argentina, Dugarry with his tongue out, Thuram's once in a lifetime performance against Croatia in the 1/2, Owen scoring an absolute jewel of a goal, Chilavert's antics, Captain Dunga, Zizou's goals in the final game, Barthez's punch out over Ronaldo. Pure joy, and great tournament.
Check again, pure semantics, but page 73 says I'm at 9 with the Russia, and Spain result. And if I had had the time to give predictions on the Germany and Croatia game, my Leeds brother would be asking for a recount. (; Moving forward, colour me crazy but I'll take the Russians over the Netherlands. I'm in love with Yuri Zherkov down the flank, the one touch football is marvelous, the non stop revolve impressive, and Hiddink will give Van Basten a ride for his money. More importantly, they match-up well with them. Watch the Netherlands destroy them lol. Tomorrow, I can't see Italy going thru with maestro Pirlo out. Simon raised a great point point a few pages back, with Toni's strength falling right in the hands of Marchena, and Puyol's, and the Villa-Torres axis playing right in the heart of that weakness on defense. So Spain goes thru.
No sweat Alen. Just covering my bases in case Offerdhal wins. He'd remind me of it for the next 1324 years.
EDIT: It has been edited. Your count not the post, well the post too. Ah what the hell, you know what I mean.
so we get to pick the semis now... okee Gotta go with German and Spain, even though I don't think I can win it now... should go Turkey vs Russia, but that would just be sick... nope Germs vs Spaniards..
Germany V Turkey Russia V Spain Bold = winner I thought Spain would win it from the start, but the Ruski's have impressed me with their quickness and quality of passing on the break.
Absolutely agree!!! Very well said. Let's face facts: Donadoni was never gonna bring on Boriello in an important match with the game on the line over an out of form Luca Toni, But you can bet your dollar that had Inzaghi been on the bench Toni and his flopping bullcrap would've been subbed out early in the 2nd half of that game and the french game. Inzaghi is clutch and experienced and would've been the perfect option to get Luca Toni's sorry *** out of the game, but instead the striker replacement was Boriello and Donadoni, myself and any other Italian simply didn't have the confidence to bring him in. And yes, Camoranesi was definitely more of an attacking substitute rather than defensive. But with that mentality it doesn't matter
I want to make my final comments on the Italy Spain game as I was not here the past 2 days: Spain absolutely deserved to win that game........ I've been so proud of what Italy has done since 2004 when Trappatoni left, but Sunday they reverted back to their old ways and I'd have to say that Donadoni is to blame. 1. Maybe he thought that Spain was far superior tactically? who knows, but IMO, they are not that far superior tactically or with the ball at their feet. A little better, yes, but not far superior. Italy were playing so defensive and so far behind the ball that not even counter attacks could be dangerous. I couldn't believe the mentality after you destroyed France even when the game was 11v11 by taking it to them. 2. Losing Pirlo is huge because his creativity is needed especially with Toni. Toni without Pirlo well it might as well have been me playing striker. Losing Pirlo also cuts Grosso and Zambrotta's runs down. 3. Toni is a disgrace. His diving and flopping around made me sick. Inzaghi was desperatly needed and it's Donadoni's fault he left him home: See my above post. Taking that open shot away from Grosso, yet not his fault, just seemed typical. 4. Chiellini was remarkable. Boy, am I happy he's Juventino. 23 years old and the next staple in the Italian defense for 7-10 years as I predicted earlier in this thread. Grosso is another great player in big situations. It seems like when it's time to shine he does everything right. 5. Aquilani was there to just take up space on the field. Finally, I'm over the loss because they didn't deserve to win, so I can't be too upset. Italy is also off the hook with me until 2014 because they won the WC 2006, so I can't get too bent if they lose in '08 or '10. Here's to a competitive scudetto this year as I believe it will be one hell of a 4 hourse race at the top. Forza Italia and Forza Juve!
Well said as well. I'm in 100% agreement. EDIT: Agree with your other post as well. But give Aquilani a chance. Him and Montolivo will be the next staples in our midfield. Possibly Rossina and or Rossi as well. We have talent coming up in the midfield. Acquafresca and that young dark skinned striker from Inter (his name escapes me at the moment) are looking like our future up front as well.
Germany v Turkey Russia v Spain I'm going w/ Spain and their ball control for the W...We'll see what happens. I could be wrong, but every fixture so far has produced at least 1 upset over the supposed favorites. Since everyone now seems to be going for Russia, I'm picking Spain, as the Turks are simply too many men down IMO. Should be an interesting two games
No I got the name wrong... again working from pure memory and I get a lot of things mixed up like that. The guy I was referring to was Edmundo. Bebeto actually ended up being the partner for Ronaldo up front. But Edmundo was the one that ended up being called sort of to be the other guy. and ended up sucking i should of known to not try to out smart the Pink Dove. I am going with the two favorites on this one: Spain and Germany for the finals
Not confirmed but.. According to Goal.com Report: Totti & Nesta To Make Italy Return http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=749219 According to Corriere dello Sport: Italia, con Lippi tornano Totti e Nesta http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Euro2008/34400/Italia,+con+Lippi+tornano+Totti+e+Nesta
Yes! Glad to see Nesta. As for Totti, happy to see him but don't care about him too much. Now only if they can get Maldini back.... damn I gotta stop dreaming.
Even at 40 I'll take him. He def should have been on the Italy '06 squad though. If any one of those players deserved a WC, it was him!!!
Yeah, I was just stating his performance against Spain. We could've used Totti and Nesta this tournament. Don't know how big of a help they'll be in '10 though
Now that Italy are done I was looking ahead to 2010 and I wonder who on Earth does these group matchings. For Euro Italy get stuck in a qualifying group with France, Ukraine and Scotland Lucky this time for World Cup Italy has the second easiest group IMO. Greece has a cakewalk Italy Bulgaria Ireland Republic Cyprus Georgia Montenegro England is in tough with Croatia and Ukraine Looking on the Concacaf side we have 12 teams left. 3 groups of 4 with top 2 advancing to next stage Canada is with (Cancacaf rankings) #1 Mexico #3 Honduras #4 Canada #9 Jamaica Why don't they match up the groups to the World Rankings. I just don't get it One group which will have 2 qualify is Costa Rica (6) or 75 World Ranking Haiti (12) or 113 World Ranking El Salvador (13) 120 World Ranking Suriname (18) or 145 World Ranking
Yeah, honestly I don't see us getting in as much as I hate saying that. When we were qualifying for the Euro 2008 tourney, we were doing good and at one point were in the second spot. Then we fell apart after Turkey handed it to us with a 4-0 win. One positive thing that we can say is that we did defeat Turkey once in the qualifying and played Spain tough.
The funny thing about Turkey is they keep on arriving on the scene, and we keep on forgetting they are not an afterthought. Hells I know that if you asked around in Mexico 85% of the people there would Rank Turkey under us in terms of how the game is played. Yet I am pretty sure if we play right now, Turkey murders us (unless its in Azteca... where I honestly think we can beat anyone).
The thing is though that Germany are not the Czech Republic or Croatia. In what will more or less be a home game for the Germans and Turkey is as short handed as they've been all tournament, it will be a miracle if Turkey can even get this game into Extra time. But I'll still be rootin for Turkey as the story would be great.
My dad told me that they were reporting on TV that Turkey would play with 2 goalkeepers on the field. The third team keeper would be a midfielder or defender while the second one replaces Volkan who was banned for two games. That's crazy.
Way I see it, they're going to come out one of two ways tomorrow. With 13 healthy players on the entire squad, you're satisfied that you've reached the Semis, and just out of diesel. The legs aren't fresh, you've maxed out physically and emotionally, and ready to have Erdogan give you the keys to a brand new Benz. Or, you just pull a 300, with Fatih Termin as your 'we are Sparta' wax figure, and leave it all out on the pitch. Considering Germany offensively has created very, very little in terms of actual flow, and most of their goals have come on dead ball situations, if that were to happen, they could come out on top. I'm just banking on the emotional and mental aspect of it all taking its toll.
