[Tiara]

Originally posted by mitac
It's really astounding that Holland won a game through penalties.

Uhuh, the curse is finally broken

Hasn't happened often lately, has it? Just three world cups and two more european cups, and they're on par with Germany.

Seriously, at this moment, Holland is so far beyond the reach of Germany they could only wish to be like Holland Holland actually became a team in this tournament. They grew quite fast. They become better every game.

Anyway, next round's against Portugal, which I hope will end in a better mood for me. Still very nice that a german coach is still in the tournament with Greece. Would be weird, yet very nice if they won the title.

Heh, yeah, Portugal will be a tough one. But I have fate in our team's ability to cope with them. Their style of play combined with the sheer amount of arrogance from certain players (*cough*Figo*cough*), would make it a tad bit easier for Holland. They aren't the tough ass or hard working teams like the Chzechs or even Sweden. And that's the kind of team we Dutchies hate to play against.

As for Greece: . I just love it when a tiny country makes it far. Ofcourse I'm still hoping for a Holland-Chzech Republik final to settle the score once and for all.

[Ghostavo]

Portugal is a tiny country too...

Although I'd love to see Greece win the tournment

[GT-Keravnos]

Originally posted by GT-Keravnos
Karajorma, no problem man!

I just like to see the fact as they are. I believe Greece has 1%-5% chance of making it through to the semi-finals, but that is exponentially more than the 0% that I thought possible.

Yesterday there were celebrations in Athens the likes of which I couldn't believe! 10.000 raving bluwhite maniacs in Omonoia sq. (Athen's most central square). IT WAS WILD.

And now comes the butchers' bill!

Ok, if you think I should print out my words and eat them, I will.

Just that, would you think in the beginning that Greece would win France and advance through in the semis? I wouldn't. I said as much.

After beating France, Police estimats that 300.000 people went out on the Streets in Athens alone. No-one believed what was happening. I still don't...

Our favorite chant goes like... "Pick up/lift the f**king thing, can't wait for it already", so yours truly, ouzoed up to the gills along with some ouzoed up friends, would approach his bike to mini-wearing girls and chanted it to them too...   Too bad I was too drunk to be able to exploit the situation fully.

As for the Butcher's bill, I really can't tell you. Seems that our favorite dish became baked rooster and not just that, but we ate all poultry related products. So, no butcher's bill 'cause no rooster to be found. All in all, I think that the best team advanced.  France wanted but couldn't. Greece got lucky, but still, luck IS IN THE GAME, and undoubtedly, Greece was the better team.

As for the celebrations, if we win it, I will probably be dead from exhaustion, ouzo-drinking, and heart-attack. I can't speak, and got a bruised left hand due to the fact that I fell of my bike during the celebrations with france.  

Yes, final Holland-Greece. Portugal may still go through, but I have this gut feeling, and I have to spell it out. Before you say that Greece shouldn't make it so far and that I should stop speaking already, I refer you to my quote...


As for the game with Sweden...


Both sides could win it, but God owes Holland something penalty-wise. V. der sar is the only keeper that is toasted in Holland. Drink a Beer for him Guys, (and Girl )

HE EARNED IT!!!

[GT-Keravnos]

Originally posted by Rictor
in other news, the Greeks are the awesomest people on the planet. I wasn't watching/listening to the game, but I freaked out when I was the result. Apparently, there was quite a party/riot going on in Toronto's Greek area. They might actually pull it off...

Thank you Rictor. Seems like King Leonidas using 300 troops to stop a million Persians long ago, wasn't just a one-hit-wonder!

"SIKOSE TO TO GAMIMENO DEN MPORO NA PERIMENO!"

[Nico]

I'll say only one thing:
told you

[Stunaep]

Originally posted by GT-Keravnos


.  

Yes, final Holland-Greece. Portugal may still go through, but I have this gut feeling, and I have to spell it out. Before you say that Greece shouldn't make it so far and that I should stop speaking already, I refer you to my quote...

 

Someone seems to have completely forgotten about the chechzs, who need I remind you aced the group that had Holland and Germany in it. I'm betting them for the finals.

[wojta]

Czech, not Chzech !  

Ok, but i don't care much about football. I would rather be playing Freespace 2.

[Tiara]

Holland-Czech Republik, that's my type of final. To settle the score once and for all

[kasperl]

Really, that was unexpected.....

And what a rough match too (Holland-Sweden). Lots of fouls, 4 yellow cards total, and some really ugly tackles. And Ibrahimovich's "penalty" was a joke, good thing this ref had eyes and a brain. The best thing of the match was Van der Sar's face after he saved that penalty.

[Tiara]

Originally posted by kasperl
The best thing of the match was Van der Sar's face after he saved that penalty.

That was awesome!

Ofcourse this is an awesome sight as well:



:D:D:D:D

[01010]

Since Englands departure (the game should never have even gone to extra time, some truly awful refereeing in that match) I'd really love to see either Greece or the Czech Republic pull something off. I was really happy for Greece when they knocked France out.

[Stunaep]

Originally posted by wojta
Czech, not Chzech !  

Hmf, sorry, point taken. Interesting though, that that's the second match that's gotten to penalties this year. Teh czechs will beat the danes, no problem (unfortunately), but I wouldn't be surprised if one of the semifinals got to penalties as well.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by 01010
Since Englands departure (the game should never have even gone to extra time, some truly awful refereeing in that match)

Truely awful playing from England too.

Let me put it this way. There were three points in that match when England needed a goal.

At the start, when Portugal scored the equaliser and when they scored the first goal in extra time. Each of those time England needed a goal and each time they scored in under 5 minutes.

Everyone is blaming the ref or the penalty spot but the fact is that we should have pissed all over them. Had England played up to their potential a single disallowed goal wouldn't have changed the outcome.

That said the refereeing was abysmal. Am I the only one who noticed a time when play continued despite the ball having crossed the goal line by more than a foot?

[GT-Keravnos]

Originally posted by Stunaep


Someone seems to have completely forgotten about the chechzs, who need I remind you aced the group that had Holland and Germany in it. I'm betting them for the finals.

I haven't forgotten about the Czech, and I am not discounting them, no sir. I am just not afraid of them, and I feel we can take them.

Of course, my hometeam is Panathinaikos, and Henriksen (Danish defender) is my ALL TIME DEFENSIVE HERO, and one of the more unknown heros there are.

I repeat the name Henriksen


I think he is the most solid defensive player I have ever seen. I wish him and his team all the luck in the world.

Go Denmark!

** And to all those concerned. Both teams, either Czechs or Danes could easily throw Greece out. However like NEO, I feel in a foolhardly way, that after France, Greece can take on any team.

Must be too much ouzo!!  

[01010]

Originally posted by karajorma


Truely awful playing from England too.

Let me put it this way. There were three points in that match when England needed a goal.

At the start, when Portugal scored the equaliser and when they scored the first goal in extra time. Each of those time England needed a goal and each time they scored in under 5 minutes.

Everyone is blaming the ref or the penalty spot but the fact is that we should have pissed all over them. Had England played up to their potential a single disallowed goal wouldn't have changed the outcome.

That said the refereeing was abysmal. Am I the only one who noticed a time when play continued despite the ball having crossed the goal line by more than a foot?

I noticed that, I'm not sure the ball crossed but it happened so fast it was hard to tell and I've not seen it since.

England were poor, no doubt (though the defence was top notch for the most part, a lot of people have been ignoring that) but it was robbery, at the end of it all it's not the team that plays best or has the most posession (if that were the case games would have a panel of judges) it's about the amount of goals in 90 minutes. Had that perfectly valid goal been allowed we wouldn't be having this discussion.

I just wish we'd have played the attacking game that we are capable of, we proved we could go out and score when Portugal equalised and when they went ahead, why can't we prove it when we're ahead rather than sit on a 1-0 lead?

[karajorma]

Originally posted by 01010
England were poor, no doubt (though the defence was top notch for the most part, a lot of people have been ignoring that) but it was robbery, at the end of it all it's not the team that plays best or has the most posession (if that were the case games would have a panel of judges) it's about the amount of goals in 90 minutes. Had that perfectly valid goal been allowed we wouldn't be having this discussion.

The defense was good but was far too deep. With players the quailty England have it's not hard to defend the last quarter of the pitch by simply sticking all your players there. I do wholeheartedly agree that England were robbed but it's the kind of robbery you get if you walk through the roughest area of town with hands tied together and a wad of cash sticking out of your top pocket.

Originally posted by 01010
I just wish we'd have played the attacking game that we are capable of, we proved we could go out and score when Portugal equalised and when they went ahead, why can't we prove it when we're ahead rather than sit on a 1-0 lead?

That's the reason why I stopped cheering the Owen goal very early on.

1. England play better when they are behind.
2. England had scored from a long ball forward. The stupid strategy of doing so had worked so I knew that they'd keep doing it. In fact I knew they'd do it more often because they'd keep most of their men in defence.

[Tiara]

That's why I like Dutch strategy. Pressure all the way and not sitting on a lead   Offensive football owns

Though they do have a tendency to get cocky when they're up frotn. But they haven't really shown that this tournament besides in the game against the Czechs. And obviously they learned from it.

[01010]

Originally posted by karajorma


The defense was good but was far too deep. With players the quailty England have it's not hard to defend the last quarter of the pitch by simply sticking all your players there. I do wholeheartedly agree that England were robbed but it's the kind of robbery you get if you walk through the roughest area of town with hands tied together and a wad of cash sticking out of your top pocket.



That's the reason why I stopped cheering the Owen goal very early on.

1. England play better when they are behind.
2. England had scored from a long ball forward. The stupid strategy of doing so had worked so I knew that they'd keep doing it. In fact I knew they'd do it more often because they'd keep most of their men in defence.

I completely agree on all those points. James was not dong his job properly in keeping the defence up the field, I hate defend in the box. Scary stuff. I also hate the long ball, we dominate games when we keep short passes and close posession, why we insist on a stupid ****ing long ball strategy when it NEVER works is beyond me.

I liked the robbery analogy, spot on.

It's just horrible when you know that the team has great potential but just can't perform as a team the second we lose an 18 year old kid (I think Rooney's injury killed our game).

[karajorma]

I know. It's a much better strategy. The only reason we held out so long against Portugal was that ever Portuguese midfielder or striker seemed determined to win man of the match and kept taking shots from 25-30 yards out

Had we been playing against a team like Brazil we would have been crucified for trying it.

[kasperl]

Originally posted by Tiara
That's why I like Dutch strategy. Pressure all the way and not sitting on a lead   Offensive football owns

Though they do have a tendency to get cocky when they're up frotn. But they haven't really shown that this tournament besides in the game against the Czechs. And obviously they learned from it.

Yeah, they didn't do it this tournament, but they lost plenty of games that way.

And the fact only Cocu missed a penalty this tournament is pretty amazing, compared to Holland-Italy 4 years ago.