[the_egonomist]

Wow Croatia are in full swing.

BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Croatia 2-1 Germany

As for Germany vs Portugal in the quarter finals, I must say I favour the Germans. But that remains to be seen.

Cheers.

[rockball]

Big games tonight for Italy and France.
France don't really look good but they have a chance seeing Holland's defence. Holland's tactic of having two DMs behind the 3 of Sneijder, VDV, Kuyt supporting Ruud worked well. They would follow the same formation since the defence is not too good and Basten will look to the DMs to cover them well.

As for Italy, there has been a furore over Donadoni's selection and I hope he has learnt his lesson. Materazzi might still figure. He played ok in the first game but was exposed since he had to cover for Barzagli's mistakes a lot.
Chiellini surely has to play. He could make mistakes but then he can also rise to the occasion. Del Piero would be given the captaincy here. I hope Cassano too gets a chance here since Italy would need to win by a few goals if possible.
De Rossi above Gattuso and Ambrosini is a must.
It will be a tough game and Romania will bother them a bit but Italy should come out with a 2-0.

[alagati]

France don't really look good but they have a chance seeing Holland's defence. Holland's tactic of having two DMs behind the 3 of Sneijder, VDV, Kuyt supporting Ruud worked well

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, some praise for our man Kuyt....lol..!!

I think France can muster a draw...I can see some of the dutch over-confident while France can be quietly confident...see a 1-1 in the making..!!!

Italy shall find it really tough....but they shall scrap in with a 1-0 win..!!!

[polpot]

Podolski is having a great cup but apparently he isn't the brightest spark in the world. He has been quoted saying
"Fussball ist wie Schach, nur ohne Würfel. (Football is like chess, only without the dice.)"



Chess..... Football..... Dice/...... ummmm..... I think he meant Monopoly.

[polpot]

Originally Posted by rockball

Big games tonight for Italy and France.
France don't really look good but they have a chance seeing Holland's defence. Holland's tactic of having two DMs behind the 3 of Sneijder, VDV, Kuyt supporting Ruud worked well. They would follow the same formation since the defence is not too good and Basten will look to the DMs to cover them well.

France should atack. Whenever a team plays a 4-2-3-1, the best way to take them out is use the wings. Abidal and Sagnol are good crossers and overlap alot. What it'll do is draw the DMs wide making space on the inside. Also, i really think The Dutch are very prone to over confidence. I really want France to win so that the Group actually resembles the group of death.



Domenech sometimes selects players based on STAR SIGNS!!!
BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Domenech looks to the stars for inspiration

[coolroy]

Was ROTFLMAO on Raymond Domenech's comment I read in a newspaper....

"We can score any moment, only the moment has not arrived."

BTW, if you were to read yesterday's Kolkata edition of the TOI, Torres plays at Old Trafford (Dipendu Biswas wrote this in his article) and Deco is a center forward !

Anyways, I think Italy will win today. Its a do or die situation for them. After today's game, there might be a situation where 3 of the top teams in group C might be on 3 points, if Italy and France win their respective games. That will set it up just right for the final group games.

BTW, if the game between the Czech and Turkey ends in a draw, we might see penalties in the group stage.

Regards.

[fire_kris]

Has anyone noted this news.. sorry I didnt scroll through the previous pages

Euro 2008 | Penalties possible for Czech-Turkey clash | eleven-a-side.com

That would be interesting, Czech and Turks have the same GD

Czech 1 - 0 Austria
Czech 1 - 3 Portugal

total 2-3

Turkey 0 - 2 Portugal
Turkey 2 - Austria

total 2-3

So if they draw, their head to head and goal difference is same, so It's penalty time.

Ciao..
Kris

[rockball]

Originally Posted by polpot

Domenech sometimes selects players based on STAR SIGNS!!!
BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Domenech looks to the stars for inspiration

Yes. He even makes the players sit around the dining table based on zodiac.

Anyways, don't have a great feeling about Italy. Romania could draw them. I hope France loses so at least Italy could fight in the last match.
We need some magic tonight

[swagatsinha]

I think both Italy and France will pick out narrow wins out of their kitty today.
Italy 1-0
and France 2-1.
3 teams on 3 points going into the final round...true group of death

[Jok3r]

Actually domenech has said evra might play because he played well against a team comprised of second string swiss players...didnt he play for united & win the EPL & UCL?...perhaps that wasnt enough..

was shocked by germany yesterday especially since i had 1 german player in each position of my fantasy team

hoping for great matches today...france have to attack, & their aged, slow defenders might help the dutch counterattack a lot...with thuram, makelele et all helping the dutch cause...but i've been proved horribly wrong yesterday...

Italy might improve, i think...as romania have said they'll focus on defending...& if de rossi starts, we might have a game on our hands...

just hoping for goals, goals & goals

PS : can someone tell me if portugal is already confirmed of coming 1st in their group?