Football: The 2008 UEFA Euro Cup!

Perhaps you don't know, but Spain had not got past quarter-finals for more than twenty years (maybe even thirty). So imagine the hullabaloo that there's just now in Madrid...

Ah, yes, that IS actually a nice thought to go by. For some reason I had assumed that Spain was one of THE big football nations with more trophies than can be counted and all. Thinking they're being a bit underdoggy compared to Italy makes me happier for their win, indeed :tu:

Spain has a good national league and one of the few watched world wide, but a big portion of that can be attributed to the big ammount of foreign players they have on their teams. As a national team they haven't been as consistent. They usually qualify for World Cups and international tournaments, but rarely make it too far.

For some reason I had assumed that Spain was one of THE big football nations with more trophies than can be counted and all. *

Last time Spain won against Italy in an official championship was in *drumroll* 1920. 88 years ago.

Until today. :D :D :D :clap: :clap: :clap:

*

Last time Spain won against Italy in an official championship was in *drumroll* 1920. 88 years ago.

Until today. :D :D :D :clap: :clap: :clap:

Every unlucky spell needs to wear off at SOME point, right? :D

does italy always flop when their players are touched?

I can see why you Brits can get into soccer, the atmosphere for Euro 2008 has been amazing. I'm going to try and get tickets to the World Cup in 2010 now.

does italy always flop when their players are touched?

I can see why you Brits can get into soccer, the atmosphere for Euro 2008 has been amazing. I'm going to try and get tickets to the World Cup in 2010 now.
Yes, they're famous for it.

Okay, so Holland lost. Holland is Portugal. No, just kidding, but Portugal was also said to be one of the finalists. That's what our paper says anyway. But whatever, Russia was much better, so the best team really won :agree:

After that match I decided to start supporting Spain, as I think they are... well, awesome. And they play great games :agree: Yesterday was a great match again, and it all got very exciting when they had to do penalties; I wanted Spain to win :) I mean, they played better the whole match...

And they won! Yes! :D

*

Last time Spain won against Italy in an official championship was in *drumroll* 1920. 88 years ago.

Until today. :D :D :D :clap: :clap: :clap:

Congratulations to Spain! :clap: I like how they played. They have good offensive players. :tu:

None of the teams I voted for in the quarterfinal poll has won. :blush: I must be bringing bad luck to them.

Spain has a good national league and one of the few watched world wide, but a big portion of that can be attributed to the big ammount of foreign players they have on their teams. As a national team they haven't been as consistent. They usually qualify for World Cups and international tournaments, but rarely make it too far.

The funny thing about the Spanish National Team is that the youngsters (the under-21 team, for instance) usually win everything they play, or almost, but when they turn 23 and get into the "serious" National Team, it looks like they forget how to play in international championships, no matter how greatly they do in their teams.

By the way, I sincerely think (no national pride involved) that Spain was better than Italy last night, though it disappointed me that they wouldn't score (one would think that shooting once every three minutes, they should manage to get a goal). At the end, we had to go to the penalties, which is like the lottery.

Fortunately we had Casillas...

Spain deserved to pass because Italy yesterday didn't attack.I was worried about the defence but they played well.At least we won against France :p

It seems that the german journalists are very happy.Well,I don't care what they say,we are still the champions of the world.

It seems that the german journalists are very happy.Well,I don't care what they say,we are still the champions of the world.Yay, I'm afraid almost all journalists here didn't like the passive game Italy showed and are still bitter about World Cup for a bit. Just don't take them serious; as always in football such stuff is kidding mostly. :)

Yay, I'm afraid almost all journalists here didn't like the passive game Italy showed and are still bitter about World Cup for a bit. Just don't take them serious; as always in football such stuff is kidding mostly. :)

And to think that I was worried about possible pettiness in my missing enthusiasm over Italy's win or not :whistle:



EDIT: I'm still not past the headlines I saw after the Poland match, that all involved 'Poldi', 'Polski' and - no kidding - 'Tollski!'

Yay, I'm afraid almost all journalists here didn't like the passive game Italy showed and are still bitter about World Cup for a bit. Just don't take them serious; as always in football such stuff is kidding mostly. :)


Of course,it's just football :)But it's the first time that I realize how almost everyone in Europe feels about us.They are all happy when we lose and when we win we don't deserve it.
Anyway I didn't like Italy's game yesterday (if there was a game) and I still don't understand what happened to Toni.I'm happy about Chiellini,Cannavaro is getting older.

Of course,it's just football :)But it's the first time that I realize how almost everyone in Europe feels about us.They are all happy when we lose and when we win we don't deserve it.


No, dear, seriously, I think this is really only about football. Everyone loves Italy, the Italian, Italian food, Italian architecture, Italian weather, Italian wine, the sound of the Italian language... It's really just the football team that some are slightly unsympathetic about :)

I know,I was talking about the team.Maybe what I wrote wasn't very clear but I wasn't ironic when I said "of course,It's just football".

I still don't understand what happened to Toni.
Psst. Spanish TV commentators did voodoo. Siriusly :scared: :rotfl:

HERE (http://otto.cuatro.com/) is a link to an online game where you can do online voodoo to the opponent team. These spanish people are insane :lol:



But it's the first time that I realize how almost everyone in Europe feels about us.They are all happy when we lose and when we win we don't deserve it.*

Well I second Fleur_Du_Mal, it's only with football. I won't deny my dislike of italian football, but it's mainly based on the teams I support: Germany (you kicked them out in the last WC), France (you kicked them out in the last WC, plus Materazzi insulting Zidane), Spain (people haven't forgotten Luis Enriques broken nose in the penalty area, which was not penalized and gave Italy the semifinals and Spain the elimination). Plus what de Rossi did to that american player in the WC and well a general tendency to not play very clean :p


But it's just football really :lol: No offence and you still are the World Cup Champions...till 2010. :elaugh:

I really wanted the Netherlands to beat Russia, but Russia played a good game so congrats to them.

Any thoughts on Germany's semi final game?

Posted by guad:

These spanish people are insane

Of course we are! Did you doubt it? :lol::lol::lol:

However, I give more credit to the King's presence than to the voodoo doll. The Royal Family usually brings us luck.

Anyway, let's see what happens with Russia. My friends are arranging the plans for the weekend thinking that Spain will play the final on Sunday, but I don't want to be so optimistic yet.

Any thoughts on Germany's semi final game?They seem to be pretty confident to beat Turkey, but also are full of respect. If Turkey gets a run (and Germany does not find into the game) - all is possible. We saw enough surprises during this and other tournaments. Still I think for this match Germany is in favourite role. But Euros weren't exactly their biggest advantage the recent years. :lol:
Germany also might have some kind of home advantage while being so close to Austria and Switzerland.

The thing is, the Czech team and Crotia were confident about beating Turkey, too. :lol: However, I think Germany will learn from the mistakes of these two teams and will know that they must not stop playing even wen they're winning 2:0. I'd rather see Spain and Germany in the final than Turkey and Russia.:)

I'm worried about that too. :lol: Although I think Turkey really deserves it when they come up with the same appearance. They'll do hard, though. Many players are out in that game, and guad just told me the Turkish coach needs to put the third goalkeeper in as middlefield player. Poor guys. But then this all might get them the right energy they need to win!

Yeah, I heard that the coach has only 14 players available for the match. Not good for Turkey. It's partly their fault, though, as some of the players can't play because of having two yellow cards. They should have been more carefull about that. As you said, though, it might give them another incentive to win. :)

Definitly. That would be awesome, a Germany/Spain game.

I wouldn't be surprised if Turkey beats Germany. Not that that is going to happen or that I support this thought, but I definitely wouldn't be that much surprised. Looks like the tournament of underdogs again. In that case I support Russia for winning it.

The funny thing about the Spanish National Team is that the youngsters (the under-21 team, for instance) usually win everything they play, or almost, but when they turn 23 and get into the "serious" National Team, it looks like they forget how to play in international championships, no matter how greatly they do in their teams.
It's funny how that happens. We get the same with our teams, everyone's a promise until they get past the 20 barrier and then they begin making all the same mistakes. I think the roughness and competitiveness of fully professional football makes them give in eventually. Not saying that under-21 matches aren't competitive, but since there isn't as much as stake they seem to be able to focus more on the game than on the actual result. It's a pity really.

Of course,it's just football :)But it's the first time that I realize how almost everyone in Europe feels about us.They are all happy when we lose and when we win we don't deserve it.
I think that's what most teams get when winning too often. No one likes Brazil or Argentina in Southamerica, and I'm sure if Uruguay were still the amazing team they once where they'd be up in the same spot with us. Just like we dislike European countries for winning world cups, etc, etc, etc.

Football is about discussion and putting things in black and white. It can be fun and might make things interesting when taken lightly enough. It ends up killing people when things get out of hand. I think sometimes we take football too seriously.

I wouldn't be surprised if Turkey beats Germany. Not that that is going to happen or that I support this thought, but I definitely wouldn't be that much surprised. Looks like the tournament of underdogs again. In that case I support Russia for winning it.

Well, the Russians sure aren't playing like underdogs :lol:

I would be a little surprised if Turkey beats Germany, for the simple reason that half of their A-team can't play on Wednesday, and even if nobody anywhere gets on any National team if they can't play seriously good football, I think it does have a psychological effect on anyone else.

I mean, the coach's decision 'Hey, let's take the third goalie as a midfield player, just in case - '... My jaw dropped. I really, REALLY love that spirit :tu:

And to have a fangirl moment here - I want to see my dear, dear Altintop play like a Brazilian. Okay, admittedly, for all I care, he can just stand there on the field, as long as the camera captures him very often.


It's funny how that happens. We get the same with our teams, everyone's a promise until they get past the 20 barrier ...

Let's face it - when they're getting old :evil:

No one likes Brazil or Argentina in Southamerica,

Well, they surely are very popular in Europe. For the World Cup last time, people painted the sides of their houses with twenty-foot-tall Ronaldinos and the Brazilian colours. Though, making myself very unpopular here, I must say that I was pretty scornful of that attitude. It's like what Ron accuses Cho of, when she has that Tutshill Tornadoes pin. Nobody needs to support their own National Team, that's fine. But simply root for the likeliest winner is somewhat... opportunistic, methinks. Support South Korea, or Trinidad and Tobago, or in case of this tournament, Romania and Turkey! The big ones win every second tournament anyhow :)

Let's go with some fun statistics for the upcoming semifinals :D

Russia is the youngest team in the Eurocup, Spain the third youngest. :D It's the semifinals of the babies! :lol:

Germany is the tallest team, while Turkey is the second smallest (after Spain :lol: ) It's like lots of Grawps against lots of Goblins :lol:

Villa (Spain) is still in lead of most goals scored (4) followed closely by Pavlyuchenko (Russia) and Podolski (Germany) (both 3)

Tomorrow is the birthday of Fernando Navarro (Spain)

So far, Turkey is the team with most fouls committed, closely followed by Spain and in fourth place Russia. Germany is pretty low on the list. :D

A Russia fan has made a statue of Guus Hiddink :lol:

Hickersberger (Coach of Austrian national team) rejoined from his position today, partly reasoning it with the behaviour UEFA showed against him and Jogi Löw during Euro.

I saw an interview with him just recently. Hickersberger voiced it very carefully, but actually stated that the fourth referee who sent Löw and him off, lied in his match report when he stated that both trainers argued with each other. He did not when he stated both have been 'nervous' though while their teams had a match in Euro Cup. :lol: Respect emotions.
I guess in this case TV cameras actually showed two coaches, who did argue with the referee but not each other and also clapped hands, quite clearly. Löw stated he tried to explain the referee to let Hickersberger do his job (referee seems to have been annoyed that he coached his team screaming from coaching zone) in four languages, but he seemed to have not understand. I'm quite happy we're understanding each other better here.

Where do you get these from, guad???


I'm gratified to hear that the German team is low on foul-play. I find Jogi is a bit of a gentleman (and the 'gentle' is properly applied in that phrase); I should be affronted if his team wouldn't play accordingly. They needn't win - but they must play fair, in my opinion. I was shocked by Schweinsteiger's foul in the first round :( and so was Jogi if I got that right in the news

And should anyone dare smashing Hamit Altintop's Johnny-Depp-like cheekbones... They're a work of art. Touch the man, and I will become a roaring lioness!

The next weekend is going to be so exciting! No matter what comes, on Saturday they'll play for the third place, and either Germany or Turkey will be there, and the other team will play for the cup on Sunday, and I can only hope that I'll survive the Saturday sober enough to be capable of celebrating no matter who on Sunday as well!!! :clap:

I saw an interview with him just recently. Hickersberger voiced it very carefully, but actually stated that the fourth referee who sent Löw and him off, lied in his match report when he stated that both trainers argued with each other

Yes, I saw that interview, too. Even without that - when they were sent off, they shook hands quite cordially, and in that moment, too, I did not get the impression they were doing that with gritted teeth, or only because they had suddenly bonded against their mutual enemy.

Does Jogi speak four languages? I am impressed.

Where do you get these from, guad???
Most of them here (http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/index.html) and here (http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/statistics/teams/index.html) :D

The news with the statue of Guus Hiddink I heard in the radio but I found also news here (http://russiatoday.com/features/news/26579)

And a pic :lol:

http://russiatoday.com/media/news/7/4860af68454bc.jpg

Weehee, tonight is the first semi-final :D:D:D
I already started to miss watching football every evening :p
No, just kidding, it wasn't that bad...

Anyway, I hope Germany wins. I think they play in a much nicer way than Turkey. And Germany is good :agree:
I heard Turkey almost hasn't got any players of its A-team left as they have all had two yellow cards - is that really true? That's... not so nice for them :)

Turkey has bad luck because some players are yellow-card-banned, and many others seem to be injured. At any rate I heard there are only 14 more left to pick from, which, given that this is a semi-final, really not much. But the Turkish coach is a shrewd man, I think, he'll make something out of it. You know, difficulties being a chance in disguise and everything.

I just heard on the news that the big German companies like BMW (with many Turkish employees) are going to stop working early tonight so that all their workers can go and watch the match. The workers were really sweet; they had self-sown flags, one side the Turkish, one side the German colours, and grinned into the cameras 'We can't lose!'

Posted by Fleur du mal:

I just heard on the news that the big German companies like BMW (with many Turkish employees) are going to stop working early tonight so that all their workers can go and watch the match. The workers were really sweet; they had self-sown flags, one side the Turkish, one side the German colours, and grinned into the cameras 'We can't lose!'

In the last World Cup, when Spain played the quarter finals (and lost, of course, as always till last Sunday), some of my friends were taking at exam at college, and the teachers made a break to listen to the penalties!

I just heard on the news that the big German companies like BMW (with many Turkish employees) are going to stop working early tonight so that all their workers can go and watch the match. The workers were really sweet; they had self-sown flags, one side the Turkish, one side the German colours, and grinned into the cameras 'We can't lose!'
:lol: Here that's a big topic of discussion because every World Cup (never for the South American Cup) schools and workplaces close, or give breaks, in accordance to the matches. Many people complain if this is not done, but at the same time people who don't like football complaint because this isn't done for other sports (such as basketball, tennis, hockey or rugby where we do well too) and because it takes time that could be put to a better use.

It shows the level of fanatism that here football could almost be considered as a state issue. :rolleyes:

In the last World Cup, when Spain played the quarter finals (and lost, of course, as always till last Sunday), some of my friends were taking at exam at college, and the teachers made a break to listen to the penalties!Football is insane. :lol: But that's one reason why I love it.

Go Germany!! It won't be easy, but I think they will manage to beat Turkey. I can't wait for the match!! :clap:

Go Germany!! It won't be easy, but I think they will manage to beat Turkey. I can't wait for the match!! :clap:
It's starting right now, so I'm off to watch it.

I'm rooting for Germany too! :rockon:

Yes! Great match!

But utterly annoying that the connection wasn't that good... I'm glad Germany won :agree: That's all I can say :)

It's over - GERMANY BEATS TURKEY 3-2.

The final 3 goals were scored in the last 5 minutes of the game after being tied 1-1 for quite awhile.

They're (the commentators) saying that Turkey got robbed.

I wonder what the streets look like in both Turkey and Germany right now.

F I N A L E Ohhoooo!!!



Arrrrg bad game from Germany, they really played for Turkey. But I am glad the did it. All hail Lahm!

And stupid power outtakes. Arrrrg

Aww I can't believe Turkey lost!:sigh:
I was rooting for them!

Should of gone to extra time ... But fairplay to Germany getting 2 goals in the last 10 mins

Come on Russia! ...(No offence to Spain)

Turkey winning would be well deserved. They did a much better game than us.

I can't believe how aweful we played. Lehman, hellooooo? And what were all those horrible failed passes?

Gosh, with the power outage, the suspense was killing me. But the connection came back just in time to see Germany's winning goal. Hey, I was rooting for them, I'm very happy! :rockon:

Yes, Turkey was superior for great parts of the game. It was sheer luck for Germany that they didn't get more goals in, though the three goals they did score were brilliant in themselves. But they were a bit like islands in a sea of missing passes :hmm:

Anyway, I'm really happy that the match went so well, so few fouls, and even though Turkey lost in the end, they did so in real dignity. Well done, Türkiye!!! :clap: You'd have deserved to get to the finals. And didn't my darling play BRILLIANTLY :love: I got a real bad crush on Altintop, I can't (and won't) deny it

We watched it with friends and are not even properly happy right now. :lol: Sure, it's awesome to be in the finals, but Turkey really did way better. Kudos to an awesome team!

Kudos to an awesome team! Word. It didn't feel like a proper victory. Turkey were awesome and for me they are made of win. :)

This time we definitely lacked luck.:no:It would also have been nicer had the Swiss referee strained himself to be unbiased.I am proud of my country's team.They played brilliantly in the match.Our hopes of the final are high now for the coming world cup.I'd also love to say that Türkiye went down in history with the match played against Cheq Republic.By the way,FYI Fleur du mal Altıntop didnt play that brilliantly at all according to our critics.Don't let your infatuation blind your eyes:lol: How u could find him so attractive is also weird.Arda Turan and Volkan the goalie are the ones deserving to be gone for.That's my veery personal thought anyway:lol:

I couldn't bare the mega tie of doom and turned off the tv before the end, so I missed the last three goals. But honestly I wasn't too impressed. Germany was playing bad and Turkey didn't know how to take advantage of that, although in their case they had a good excuse. Too bad they had to lose, they had an amazing tournament and it would have been well deserved. Germany you better lose the final or I'm starting another World War! You don't deserve it! :p *Ducks and runs away before guad, Tenshi, deichrodler and any other German in the thread comes after her with knives and other sharp objects*

Oh and another thing, am I the only one who thinks those referees were high with something? :huh: I didn't see them mark one foul right... :shrug:

By the way,FYI Fleur du mal Altıntop didnt play that brilliantly at all according to our critics.

I should tell you that I know NOTHING about football. I recognise an off-side when I see it, but that's about it. So when the running commentary says "Altinstop...blabla...Altintop...blabla...Altintop" in five minutes in a really complimentary manner, I get the impression to see a really good player. (Only the other way round doesn't work; when the reporter keeps on nagging about a player and I can't see why, I dislike the reporter, not the player). What is more - during the long stretches of nothingness on the screen, Altintop was mentioned approximately twice as often as any other member of the Turkish Team. Plus - hey, I got a vivid imagination :)

Don't let your infatuation blind your eyes How u could find him so attractive is also weird.Arda Turan and Volkan the goalie are the ones deserving to be gone for.

Ah, no. You can't argue about taste. From your profile I see you're a guy, so maybe that's just the big difference, but from where I stand, I find that both Altintop brothers are THE most handsome men in football. Cheekbones of the young Johnny Depp, they have. And lovely, lovely Hamit says that, if he hadn't become a football pro, he should have liked to study philosophies and pedagogics at university, which as a statement propels him into my own personal Panteon of Desirable, where no other football player ever got. I did have a bad crush on Jürgen Klinsmann when I was twelve, but hey, even then Johnny Depp's cheekbones would have trumped him any time.

Now this was an embarrassing excursion off-topic, I suppose. I am grieved to hear that apparently, the Euro Championship doesn't play for the Third Place (why? WHY???), because I had been staunchly convinced to see the losers of this match playing again on Saturday. I had thought it'd be like for the World Cup last time, only that this time either Germany or Turkey might win big time on Saturday and celebrate #3 accordingly, and on Sunday the other team would get the cup (or at least the Vice-master title) and celebrate that, too, so that no matter what would come, Germany would be celebrating the whole weekend.

I really liked the pictures from the after-match parties; the fair sportsmanship spirit of everybody, with the Germans admitting how great the Turkish Team played, and the Turkish fans not begrudging the German last-second win. In this respect, I think it really went as well as it could possibly have. The losing team lost SO good that they could all pat their shoulders and say 'Ok, this was simply bad luck in the end' and the Germans didn't win due to unfair foul-playing or so. In the pictures directly after the match was over, you could see the team mates of Bayern München (Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Altintop, Lahm) celebrating/consoling together/each other; I really liked this.

When the intermission was interrupted for the first time, everybody around seemed to get the same phone calls from friends who watched the game somewhere else - 'Do YOU have no picture TOO?!?!?!' But it seems we were comparatively lucky still; in the news I heard that elsewhere, even some goals weren't shown. The German stations tapped the Swiss lines, so they got back to the game comparatively quickly. Bravo to Switzerland at this point, by the way - your chocolates, your watches, your football airing - all are exemplary. You've saved the evening for MANY people :clap: (this is giving me images of Switzerland, small, gentle, fair-minded Switzerland, changing into the costume of some almighty super-hero, to save millions of shocked fans from football deprivation).

AND yesterday, I also learnt a lot about my neighbours. The guys from the Pizza place down the street are NOT Italian, as I had taken for granted for two years, I realised when spotting the sons of the proprietor having their hair dyed red, with the white half moon painted on top.

Germany you better lose the final or I'm starting another World War! You don't deserve it!*
Well depends. If they play like against Portugal, then they deserve it.

Actually yesterday I thought that Germany won the italian way. Playing badly and just about. :evil:

I am proud of my country's team.They played brilliantly in the match.*
And you can be, I was very impressed by the Turkish team. Also the comments in radio and TV today (in Spain) were all talking very positively about Turkey. :)I am grieved to hear that apparently, the Euro Championship doesn't play for the Third Place (why? WHY???),* Yeah that's sad. I would have loved another Turkey - Russia / Spain game.

German TV commentators talked very positively about Turkish team as well and also post match interviews looked better than the German once. I'm still not properly happy, but guess I am when they do a good finals on Sunday. In the end there actually was none team which had good matches only (although I admit Germany's amount raised a bit too much with three... :p).

The team oscilates between good and bad, so one can only hope they hit a good wave again on Sunday :lol:


My question, by the way, was quite serious, so if someone knows the answer, please enlighten me. With all the massive advertising done around the matches and the whole tournament, and given the fact that it's not unheard of either, WHY do they let the chance slip to have another match (for the third place), where they could make even more money with sold television time, advertisment rights etc? It's be a good bargain, AND would delight the fans. Well, it'd delight me at any rate.

I don't recall the reasons why they put it off actually, but the last match for Third Place during a Euro happened 1980. Guess we're just very aware of it this year, because WC 2006 offered some exceptional match in this category.

It might be that some teams of Euro let only B-teams fight around Third Place, while the clubs got their hands on their top players again. So enthusiasm around this match was pretty low. Additionally Euro has only sixteen teams fighting around the title, WC has 32, what might make clear ratings more interesting. I wouldn't mind to get this match, but I'm a football nerd anyway. :lol:

Thanks, gertie!!! :tu:

Half time Spain-Russia

I really like how Spain is playing, much better than against Italy. Just SUCH A PITY that Villa is injured. But I like Cesc too. :D

VAMOS ESPAÑA!!!

The match isn't over yet, but with 3:0 I guess we have our finals already... not even Russia (at least not the one we see today), will change the result that much: Germany - Spain on Sunday! Woot!

Still kudos to Russia, who still reached a lot in this Euro!

I tip my hat to both teams. For all I can say, Spain has won deservedly, but Russia played very well throughout the whole tournament. :clap:

The stats read almost funny (while not for Russia I assume): Russia got 8 goals against them in the whole tournament - 7 of those scored by Spain.

I don't thin Russia was gotten by surprise like in their first match against Spain. Here I actually agree with what a commentator in TV just said: it was all they could manage right now. Looking forward Euro 2012, though, since Higgins already announced Russia as aspirant for the title. This team likely will be impressing then again.

I must confess it: Spain has surprised me. They began playing a bit disorganizedly, but once they found their place, they've played wonderfully. The second half was great! It's curious how they've improved since a couple of them play in England...

:lol::lol::lol: The TV is interviewing Casillas (Spain's goalkeeper) and he's complaining (joking, of course) because the journalists are eating his grandma's pastries (I've seen them on TV, they had a full plate of them). That boy is so nice.

See you on SUnday, Germany!!!

ESPAÑA!!!!!!!!!!!!

New poll is up: Euro 2008: Who will win the FINALS? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=117084)

Wow, we were good in our votes:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/gertiekeddle/poll.jpg

Gosh, I'm torn - between wishful thinking/superstition, and the wish to be right in my guesses (I tipped correctly in 5 out of 6 so far!)... ah, damn it. I can live easily with a wrong tip

New poll is up: Euro 2008: Who will win the FINALS?*
I CAN NOT vote for this. May the best team win. :D :D :D

I'm rooting for Spain again. They haven't won in a long time, and they played very well this year.

And Felipe, the Crown Prince will be there to cheer them on **swoon**

They won in the quarter-finals in the presence of the King and Queen, maybe they'll win in the finals with Felipe in the audience. I know that's not a very "sporting" reason but hey... To each their own reasons for supporting this team or that. ;)

Anyway, whoever beat the Italians have my support. :cool:

P.S. Sorry Gertie and other Germany supporters. But Germany has won the World Cup recently, and this last time they didn't play only moderately well (except for one spectacular goal) yet they beat the Turks. :)

But Germany has won the World Cup recently, and this last time they didn't play only moderately well (except for one spectacular goal) yet they beat the Turks.Last time was 1990 actually. But as said above I'm not too happy when Germany wins this Euro either with three not so good appearances - still, that's football, though, and for particular tournaments in there run this way. They already did three times, although it was twelve years ago that they won a single match in Euro Cups actually, that's still leading the board. Spain would be a nice winner. Then I'll still cheer for Germany since the party will be nicer around here if they win. :lol:

I'm rooting for Spain again. They haven't won in a long time, and they played very well this year.

And Felipe, the Crown Prince will be there to cheer them on **swoon**

They won in the quarter-finals in the presence of the King and Queen, maybe they'll win in the finals with Felipe in the audience. I know that's not a very "sporting" reason but hey... To each their own reasons for supporting this team or that. ;)

Anyway, whoever beat the Italians have my support. :cool:


It is a truth universally acknowledged that when the Royal Family attends a sporting evenet the Spanish teams/players usually win. So, for us, it's a very good reason to be optimistic.

Besides, our kids came to *** Cup with the burden of doom on their shoulders (defeat at quarter finals), and they not only broke the curse (against Italy and by penalties, their two black beasts!), but have found that they can play well together and even have fun. They'll be playing the final in the highest possible spirits, and that's an advantage. Of course, we mustn't forget that Germany is Germany, but I think we can dream a little.

Yay! Spain won!

Bit of a late reaction, but I only watched the match this morning :)
I'm very happy Spain won, since I was rooting for them :agree: I was surprised by Russia's performance, though... They weren't bad or anything, but I just thought they would be a little better - at least as good as in the Quarter Finals. Too bad for Guus, but he has done a good job :agree:

I'm very glad the final has become Germany - Spain; that's gonna be a great match, I think :D

Then I'll still cheer for Germany since the party will be nicer around here if they win. :lol:

I'm cheering for Germany too, allthough I might be very alone having a party if they win around here :rotfl:


Of course, we mustn't forget that Germany is Germany, but I think we can dream a little.

For what my (german) family has told me, they are seeing Spain as a favourite. And seeing how they played against Russia and Germany against Turkey, it's no wonder. But Germany has capacity of doing great stuff too!

Spain was AWESOME yesterday! I had SO MUCH FUN watching the game! :D

It is a truth universally acknowledged that when the Royal Family attends a sporting evenet the Spanish teams/players usually win. So, for us, it's a very good reason to be optimistic.


So I take it the Royal Family didn't turn up for any important tournament since 1980 or so...? :evil:

Well, previous performances don't matter when it comes to the finals...Spain may have played better than Germany in the semis but anything can happen! (I know, you don't need me to tell you that!)

Both sides have young teams so fatigue shouldn't be a problem though Spain has a one day less for preparation...It shouldn't matter as the players can propably can last by adrenaline alone...

Spain though have a setback with the injury to David Villa...Not only have they lost their top scorer, a penalty taker but they will have to change their formation from a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1...Though considering the fact that the same formation did damge with Russia might be encouraging for Spain...

Germany really will have to pull up their socks if they have to win...A performance like the one against Turkey might see them losing heavily...

Hope for a free-flowing, carefree football with loads of goals in it!:tu:

Congrats to Spain! :clap: A very deserved victory. :) And finally one of my vote in the polls was correct. The curse's broken. :lol:

As for the finals, I'll probably root for Spain. Their was of playing is impressive. Plus they haven't won anything for quite a long time. :)

Go Spain!!!

The Royal Family usually go to finals, but in football Spain always fell before that. This time the King and Queen decided to go to the quarter finals and you see...

Besides, note that I said they usually win, not they always win. It doesn't work always, of course, but it happens quite often. Anyway, I prefer this theory than the voodoo of the TV channels.

Guad: if you can go to Majorca for the match, I think you won't feel lonely at all supporting Germany.

Guad: if you can go to Majorca for the match, I think you won't feel lonely at all supporting Germany.
As a matter of fact, I will be in Majorca (OMG are you Trelawney? :wow: ) but I'll be watching with spanish people :D

I feel sorry for Villa though. He looked so sad when he got injured and he won't be playing. He can still be the pichichi of the tournament though, as long Podolski doesn't score more than one goal :) I would like both options. BUt for sure, we WILL have a german OR a spanish goalscoring king :D

As a matter of fact, I will be in Majorca (OMG are you Trelawney? ) but I'll be watching with spanish people

Yes, I'm Trelawney and my crystal ball tells me that Germany is going to suffer a severe defeat this Sunday :lol::lol::lol:

No, it's a matter of probabilities, since Majorca is full of Germans. But hey, if your Spanish friends get too noisy when Spain begins scoring :p, you only have to cross the street to meet some of your fellow countrymen :lol:

Anyway, let's hope a good match, fair play, a lot of goals, and the best team winning.

Anyway, let's hope a good match, fair play, a lot of goals, and the best team winning.Yes, second that. I'm really looking forward this, but still haven't decided where I watch it actually. My friends will attend a public viewing, what's actually perfect since we have a big international festival in my town right now and party will be gorgeous no matter which team will win (although likely a bit longer if it's Germany) - still I never could see anything during public viewings yet when I attended some. Hmpf! I've to decide if I want a great party or want to actually watch that match. :lol:

As for chances Spain for sure made the better tournament yet. Then Germany often gets a good grip on matches like this, when they're not under this pressure of 'loosing against an underdog' any more (they really seem to be unable to cope with that). I think we'll see a pretty good match with two good teams, where I couldn't predict who will win yet. Or maybe that's what I hope for at least!

There is exactly ONE thing I can say for sure, regarding the location tomorrow. I will NOT watch the match at the Fan Meile in Berlin. I went there exactly once during the World Cup, for a match that wasn't even that hugely-attended (early afternoon Switzerland versus France, first round), and it was AWFUL! I got squeezed to bits, and while I'm not exactly tiny, I couldn't see the greater part of the screen. I prefer watching the matches in a beer garden (or a pub if the weather stays like this); there are enough people for good atmosphere, but not so many as to become a nuisance.

Since moving to Italy last year, we've acquired flags from all the countries we've visited - the lastest one being Spain's.

My dilemma now is which flag do we fly from our balcony tomorrow - Germany's or Spain's or both?

Since moving to Italy last year, we've acquired flags from all the countries we've visited - the lastest one being Spain's.

My dilemma now is which flag do we fly from our balcony tomorrow - Germany's or Spain's or both?
I don't want to influence you or force you or that and it doesn't matter much.

...

No wait. It does!!!


CHOOSE GERMANY!!! :evil:

There is exactly ONE thing I can say for sure, regarding the location tomorrow. I will NOT watch the match at the Fan Meile in Berlin. I went there exactly once during the World Cup, for a match that wasn't even that hugely-attended (early afternoon Switzerland versus France, first round), and it was AWFUL! I got squeezed to bits, and while I'm not exactly tiny, I couldn't see the greater part of the screen. I prefer watching the matches in a beer garden (or a pub if the weather stays like this); there are enough people for good atmosphere, but not so many as to become a nuisance.

In 2006 I saw the Germany-Poland in the pedestrian zone in Düsseldorf and it was an amazing experience. There were tons of polish fans but everything went smoothly.

Any way... I'm warming up my voice for the game:

Oh wie is das schön, Oh wie ist das schön
So was hat man lange nicht gesehen
so schön, so schön...

I cannot wait for the match tomorow! It should be good.

Good luck Germany!

In 2006 I saw the Germany-Poland in the pedestrian zone in Düsseldorf and it was an amazing experience. There were tons of polish fans but everything went smoothly.

Yes, I think many people enjoy the experience (or these places wouldn't be so crowded). It's just not my kind of thing. Huge masses of people make me feel very uncomfortable anyway, and when they start pushing and squeezing me, I get really panicky. Mind you, the match I saw was very friendly, there WAS a good atmosphere among the people on the Fan Meile. There were just ten times too many for me to enjoy myself.


Any way... I'm warming up my voice for the game:

Oh wie is das schön, Oh wie ist das schön
So was hat man lange nicht gesehen
so schön, so schön...

:lol: Is that the hymn for today?

Yay! Tonight's the match!
It's going to be so great, mostly because I have absolutely no idea who's going to win. If you look at the semi-finals, I think Spain played better, but Germany is marvellous too...
I think I'm rooting for Spain :agree:
But I hope they don't have to do penalties... I always hate it when a final ends with penalties. That's why I didn't really like last World Cup's final :)

I can't wait for the match, too. I'd rather Spain won, but it doesn't matter much to me if Germany wins. Let the best team win! :clap:

I can't wait for the match, too. I'd rather Spain won, but it doesn't matter much to me if Germany wins. Let the best team win! :clap:That's really what I think too. Sure, I'll rather like to see Germany win when we sit here with our black-red-gold banners all later, still Spain is a team which just would highly deserve it. Will be fun, I'm sure.


Latest news say Ballack probably won't play in German team since he's injured. His appearance didn't really convince me speaking of the effort he put in. However, he seems to be one of those who just have to be 'there' in the team to calm the whole group down (and likely does more still than the usual fan recognized). So we'll see how German team will cope with him being out, if it's like that.

Latest news say Ballack probably won't play in German team since he's injured. His appearance didn't really convince me speaking of the effort he put in. However, he seems to be one of those who just have to be 'there' in the team to calm the whole group down (and likely does more still than the usual fan recognized). So we'll see how German team will cope with him being out, if it's like that.

I'm sure Ballack is going to play no matter what, the same way I'm sure Frings will play even if he breaks all his other ribs. It's their first championship game with Germany.

I'm actually not much of a Ballack fan. I think the key player for Germany is going to be Schweinsteiger who can be brilliant at times and then just disappear from the game. I'm hoping he is brilliant today.:p

I'm no big Ballack fan either, that's why I'm probably quite OK with the possibility that he's out. :lol: But you're right, likely both will play.

Podolksi and Klose also can be very important, even if they do not play very brilliant over the whole match. Schweinsteiger is back to WC 2006 level, what's great.

Come on Spain! Me and my family have supported them from Day 1, because we love Real Madrid and the whole concept of Spanish football (plus I fancy half the Spanish team including Villa and Casillas! Y VIVA ESPANA!

Oh no!!! I wanted TOOOOR, but we got TOOORRES..

Vivaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Espana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

SPAIN Wins 1-0 !!!!!!

I'm so happy happy!!

Spain won!!! :D:D:D:D

Weehee!!!
They really deserved it, I mean: They haven't lost a single match the whole tournament :D:D (and they were much better than Germany :) )

Great match, just thought it was horrible with Silva's coupe de boule (no idea how to say it English-wise)...

Anyway, I'm so happy happy :D

Schweinsteiger was the key and he was terrible today. Ballack, again as always in the big games, disappointing... but hey... we made it all the way to the final...again. Poor Lahm looked like he wanted to cry, but I still like that kid.

Congratulations Spain - Felicidades España!!!

Es fantástico cuando tus dos equipos estan es la final.:p
It's great when both your teams make it to the final.:p

Schweinsteiger was the key and he was terrible today. Ballack, again as always in the big games, disappointing... but hey... we made it all the way to the final...again. Poor Lahm looked like he wanted to cry, but I still like that kid.That's right. Except Lehmann, who really did an awesome job today, the whole team more or less didn't exist. I'm not unhappy - Germany didn't play a good tournament, although I had wished (and expected) to see a better final. Spain did a great job, the title went to the right team. Congrats, Spain! :D

We had a blast watching the game with only the Italians on the base. We first had dinner in the only restaurant on base, thinking they'd be showing the game on TV - wrong, they don't get that channel.:grumble:

After dinner, my daughter and I walked over to the bar on the base. We were each wearing a flag around our shoulders, I had Germany's and she had Spain's. Fortunately, they were showing the game there. She loved having the only Spanish flag anywhere in sight. :D

The only bad part was we missed the only goal somewhere between dinner and the pub. :grumble: The best part was they kept the game on even past their 2200 closing time.:)

I guess she loved the Spanish flag there more! :lol:

We had some fun by watching actually. Sure, mood gets better when you're team win, but actually none of us wanted to see Germany score the last ten minutes anymore. They just really didn't deserve it as much as the Spanish team did. It was overcute when they threw their coach up and down!

Olé! Viva España! Congratulations to all Spaniards and Spain supporters. After 44 years - and several really good games this tournament - Spain deserved to win the EuroCup.

I don't feel too sorry for the Germans, they won last time. They also played well, honor is safe. (Gertie, I didn't think they were as bad as you imply.) :)

Yes, it was cute when they threw the coach up and down - He must have thought "Mercy for my old bones!" :lol:

MmeBergerac, you were right, the presence of the Royal Family brought luck to the team. I saw that Zapatero was there too, handing out the awards next to Angela Merkel.

Aaah... Now we wait two years for the World Cup in South Africa! :)

I can't believe that I just discovered this thread! I'm studying in Spain for the summer, and you wouldn't believe how excited everyone is that Spain finally won. It's been quite a riot out here...

I watched the Euro Cup with my host family, and though I don't know too much about football, I think that the match was well-played on both sides. I'm glad Spain won though; they really played well these past few games, and it's been forever since Spain has even advanced past the quarter finals. It was a really great final game though, definitely keeping everyone on their toes.

CONGRATULATIONS, SPAIN!!! :clap:

Marvellous match, great, more than well-deserved win!!!

SPAIN win...Attractive football wins at last! :lol:

I can't believe that I just discovered this thread! I'm studying in Spain for the summer, and you wouldn't believe how excited everyone is that Spain finally won. It's been quite a riot out here...
Reminds me of 1998 (World Cup, France won) and 2000 (Euro Cup, France won) - It was more than a riot, there were literally a million people celebrating on the Champs Elysées.

Actually, watching France play and win the World Cup in France was what got me hooked on football. I was indifferent at first, but my brother (with whom we were staying) and my husband were glued to the tv, and finally I got caught up in the spirit and the general enthusiasm.

Now I always watch the World and Euro Cups, even though the French didn't do so well at all this time.

I was rooting for Spain, and am so very happy that they won! :clap:

Well done, Spain! Congratulations!!! :tu: :tu: :tu:
Germany was awesome too, but Spain... they absolutely rocked in this championship. :wow: :tu:

I don't feel too sorry for the Germans, they won last time. They also played well, honor is safe. (Gertie, I didn't think they were as bad as you imply.) Do you think? I don't want to make them worse than they might have been, but really didn't "see" some actually gorgeous players (like Frings, Podolski) acting very much on the field. They're better when they just act as team where everyone runs for the other, but they let the Spanish team much spaces actually and didn't move to much. (That's unfair, though: of course they moved a lot through this 90 minutes, just it didn't look very good set). It's OK, just their appearance through whole tournament wasn't very impressive I think, so it's even more deserved I think that Spain really was the better team in this final match as well! :D

But I've to correct one single thing, actually Germany didn't win the last time either. They didn't manage to win a single match in Euro Cups since 1996, so this tournament should at leats have broken the vow. :lol:

Germans had an ok game...They didn't use setpieces to their advantage at all...Schweinsteiger's delivery was ridiculous...He overhit the freekicks almost every time...The match could have had a different result if the delivery of the setpieces had been better...

Spain too were guilty of missing many an opportuinity and were lucky that Germany didn't punish them...

Congratulations to Spain!! :clap: A very well-deserved victory. Their style of playing football is really impressive and so enjoyable for the fans to watch. The majority of their players are still so young, it's so incredible they all play so well. I think this team has a big future ahead.

Congrats to Germany on the second place. :clap: It's also a success. I think they played quite well in the match, it just wasn't enought to beat Spain. :)

The greatest news of this tournament is, though, the victory of an attractive football! :clap:

To be quite honest - the way Germany played in average over the tournament, we don't deserve the second place. There were other, better teams, who had like one unlucky moment. Our team seemed to hangle from stroke of luck to stroke of luck. I mean, I like the team and adore Jogi, so I'm happy for them getting so far. But they WERE damn lucky to get the second place, really :)

Spain too were guilty of missing many an opportuinity and were lucky that Germany didn't punish them...
That's true. When Senna fell down instead of making the incredibly open goal, I wanted to throw something at the TV. We were exceedingly lucky that we were able to hold Germany off throughout the match.

To be quite honest - the way Germany played in average over the tournament, we don't deserve the second place. There were other, better teams, who had like one unlucky moment. Our team seemed to hangle from stroke of luck to stroke of luck. I mean, I like the team and adore Jogi, so I'm happy for them getting so far. But they WERE damn lucky to get the second place, really I agree with this actually. Sure, it's cool they won matches in Euro again after such a long period of no won match, still teams like the Netherlands just have been really unlucky in the wrong moment after a rather amazing group phase. Russia impressed as well, although I would say they came exactly to where they belonged just now - but I'm sure this rather young team will impressive us again coming WC and Euro 2012.

Posted by FleurduJardin:

MmeBergerac, you were right, the presence of the Royal Family brought luck to the team. I saw that Zapatero was there too, handing out the awards next to Angela Merkel.

Yes, and he was the cause that we only could score once!! Many people here think he's a bit of a jinx for sports; I personally would have thnaked that someone convinced him to stay in Madrid... Fortunately, the King's luck was stronger than the Prime Minister's jinx :lol:

Anyway, I must say I never had seen nothing like Madrid yesterday: in the Prado Museum, at 17:00, one in every five people was wearing a red t-shirt; there were people with Spanish flags everywhere, crowding at Columbus Square since mid afternoon (the match began at 20:45), with the sun falling like lead and 38ºC in the shadow, though that place isn't exactly plenty of shadowy spots; the priest made the 20:00 Mass ten minutes shorter than usual to get out at the beginning of the match; after 20:30, there weren't left cars or people on the street; the 30% of the theatres closed last night...

And then Torres scores! I thought people had got mad. And when Casillas raised the Cup, I almost cried... And I'm supposed not to like football!!!!!

That's true. When Senna fell down instead of making the incredibly open goal, I wanted to throw something at the TV. We were exceedingly lucky that we were able to hold Germany off throughout the match.
I wouldn't say it was a luck that held the German players away from the Spanish goal area, but a very good defense. It's impressive that the Spanish was good both in the offensive part as well as in defense.:)

Yes, and he was the cause that we only could score once!! Many people here think he's a bit of a jinx for sports; I personally would have thnaked that someone convinced him to stay in Madrid... Fortunately, the King's luck was stronger than the Prime Minister's jinx :lol:

Anyway, I must say I never had seen nothing like Madrid yesterday: in the Prado Museum, at 17:00, one in every five people was wearing a red t-shirt; there were people with Spanish flags everywhere, crowding at Columbus Square since mid afternoon (the match began at 20:45), with the sun falling like lead and 38ºC in the shadow, though that place isn't exactly plenty of shadowy spots; the priest made the 20:00 Mass ten minutes shorter than usual to get out at the beginning of the match; after 20:30, there weren't left cars or people on the street; the 30% of the theatres closed last night...

And then Torres scores! I thought people had got mad. And when Casillas raised the Cup, I almost cried... And I'm supposed not to like football!!!!!
People always tend to get very proud of their country when such sport achievement happens, even though they don't understand that particular sport much. I like that about sport, actually, how it can unite people of the country. :)

To be quite honest - the way Germany played in average over the tournament, we don't deserve the second place. There were other, better teams, who had like one unlucky moment. Our team seemed to hangle from stroke of luck to stroke of luck. I mean, I like the team and adore Jogi, so I'm happy for them getting so far. But they WERE damn lucky to get the second place, really :)


:agree: We were lucky to get second place and I am very happy for them. I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting and waiting for Germany to get the equalizer but it never came. Good try guys!

Congrats to Spain on a well won game. I have to say their monarchs being there must have really inspired them! :lol:

CONGRATULATIONS, SPAIAN- EUROPEAN CHAMPION!!! And LOVE LOVE LOVE to Casillas, wooow...I am crazy about the guy! :love::drool::love:

A very well deserved vicotry it was, too.. I wasn't even sorry for the Germans after seeing them play..Well, they were considerably older then the Spanish team as well...So, I'll be looking out for a couple of changes there soon ;)

All in all, it was a very good Championship- a lot of surprises and interesting matches! I couldn't say I am sorry it finished though...:p but I'll be looking forward to the next World Championship!

Cheers, Harrieta :)

I'm kind of sad this is all over now :(
Can't wait till the world cup!

When's the world cup again, I completely forgot!

When's the world cup again, I completely forgot!2010

The World Cup is played every four years. :cool:

Congratulations Spain! It was a deserved victory. And that doesn't happen all the time in football. I went to Spain the day after the final. I should have left a day early!:P
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!