The EURO 2012 Thread

[VictorCharlie]

Do the top two teams from qualifying make it in? I dont see Bosnia in the 16 but they were second in the qualifying group.

[Mark TKO]

can't remember how many qualifying groups they were but the best eight second placed teams playd off against one another in knockout games to fill the last four places


this is the first time since 1982 I haven't got excited about a major tournament. its all low key in the media too and even the supermarkets arent plugging all the england flags and england beer promotions to the crazy extent they normally do. Most people feel exactly the same as I do.

I hope those lazy arsed multi millionaire egos finally realise the damage they did in South Africa 2010 with their can't be arsed attitude.

I see this tournament as the England team having to win back the nation by giving it their all - thats all I want to see.

On top of it all I feel sorry for Roy - a nice decent bloke who could come out of this badly. Then again they could surprise us all....

[OumaFan]

I didn't realized Greece had a very good national team.

They somehow won it in 2004. I don't think they're expected to do much this year.

I don't know much about the qualifying though, how the groups are selected, etc. I just googled bosnia euros and it turns out they were in one of the playoff games, so I guess they have the qualifying rounds and then maybe some of the second place teams have to have play-in games. Somebody on here should be able to explain it.

[Kirkland Laing]

I'm fancying Spain or Germany for this one. Italy are embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. Again. The last time they were involved in one they won the World Cup. So Spain, Germany or the Italians as my dark horses.

[OumaFan]

After those two yellows I'm thinking Poland might win this whole thing.

[Fenster]

Yeah those cards were a joke (I backed Poland in a double with Russia though so not complaining).

[OumaFan]

The great thing about ESPN hiring Michael Ballack to talk about the games is that he has a difficult time talking.

[El Kabong]

I'm fancying Spain or Germany for this one. Italy are embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. Again. The last time they were involved in one they won the World Cup. So Spain, Germany or the Italians as my dark horses.

Dark Horse:
1.A person about whom little is known, esp. someone whose abilities and potential for success are concealed: "a dark-horse candidate".
2.A competitor or candidate who has little chance of winning, or who wins against expectations.




Yeah, I think the Harlem Globetrotters are the real underdogs vs the Washington Generals

[OumaFan]

To be fair the guy's made OK decisions since then and the penalty was right. Just turns out the guy gave out 16 red cards in 19 matches in La Liga this year.

[Beanz]

Looking at the qualifying groups, they sure seem stacked to favor the traditional powers. They sure aren't setup regionally and why does Northern Ireland have it's own national team?

Northern Ireland whilst not a country, is a region (sometimes reffered to as a province) of the United Kingdom. So just as England,Wales and Scotland field separate teams to represent each individual country in team sports whilst remaining part of the Union so do Northern Ireland. They are a distinct area who do not consider themselves to be part of the Republic of Ireland and as such have their own football team. George Best, someone many think was the greatest British football player ever, played for Northern Ireland.

[Beanz]

I'm fancying Spain or Germany for this one. Italy are embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. Again. The last time they were involved in one they won the World Cup. So Spain, Germany, or the Italians as my dark horses.

Dark Horse:
1.A person about whom little is known, esp. someone whose abilities and potential for success are concealed: "a dark-horse candidate".
2.A competitor or candidate who has little chance of winning, or who wins against expectations.




Yeah, I think the Harlem Globetrotters are the real underdogs vs the Washington Generals

Italy based on the Euro club index have just a 5.8% chance of winning Euro 2012 just .5%better chance than England at 5.3%. In contrast Germany are quoted at 15.4% the Netherlands at 16.3% and the favourites Spain are given a generous 27.6% of winning. So I think Italy more than fulfil the criteria needed to be considered a dark horse candidate. Sorry Lyle, looks like your flogging a dead one again

[Saddo]

they took corrie off for this

[Beanz]

I can not help but feel that omitting Ferdinand and taking Terry is a bit of an own goal already. The Dutch have the players but could implode or just kick the krap out of everyone as in the World Cup. The French will probably get a lucky run and make it to the semis where Denmark may join them. Spain could get complacent and go out early. Germany will probably make the final. The Ukraine will go further than Poland. England will accidentally win the thing, beating the Jerries in a penalty shoot out whilst everyone is looking the other way.

[El Kabong]

Italy based on the Euro club index have just a 5.8% chance of winning Euro 2012 just .5%better chance than England at 5.3%. In contrast Germany are quoted at 15.4% the Netherlands at 16.3% and the favourites Spain are given a generous 27.6% of winning. So I think Italy more than fulfil the criteria needed to be considered a dark horse candidate. Sorry Lyle, looks like your flogging a dead one again

Italy doesn't have a poor side, sure Serie A has match fixing issues (again), but the players they have are extremely good and their style of play puts them at the advantage in such competitions. I say for now they are a middle of the pack side along with the likes of France....calling them an underdog/darkhorse is too much of a discredit to the side they have. Now had he said Sweeden or Poland or Ukraine or Croatia, yeah under dogs, dark horses the lot of them....but Italy?!?!?! Come on man

[roberto duran legend]

I have got Spain in sweep stake down the pub, but i fancy the Krauts to win it .