1000 replies to this topic

[faster]

Its less than a month to Euro (and in reality the world's) best footballing tournament.

The groups we all know,

Group A
Czech Republic
Portugal
Switzerland
Turkey

Group B
Austria
Croatia
Germany
Poland

Group C
France
Italy
Netherlands
Romania

Group D
Greece
Russia
Spain
Sweden

I have no idea how this is gonna go down because Group A and C are incredibly hard to pick.

I am not gonna make any silly full predictions but my dark-horse winner is Turkey, by preferred final is Germany vs. Spain and if Germany doesn't win, I want Spain to. I would fancy Croatia more if they weren't missing their leading scorer Eduardo da Silva.

Like always my nightmare is Czech Republic or Italy victory

Edited by Faster, 17 May 2008 - 09:33 PM.

[BTHarner]

I love the Euros. At least the US can't choke during this tournament. I'm thrilled that the ESPN family of networks will be showing every match of the tournament.

GO DEUTSCHLAND!!!!!!!!!!!

[faster]

BTHarner, on May 17 2008, 11:03 PM, said:

I love the Euros. At least the US can't choke during this tournament. I'm thrilled that the ESPN family of networks will be showing every match of the tournament.

GO DEUTSCHLAND!!!!!!!!!!!

For the US to choke they would have to be a good team, which they aren't, most people I know picked the Americans to finish 4th in that group.

Edited by Faster, 17 May 2008 - 10:52 PM.

[Olympian2004]

I think that Spain will once again not withstand the expectations. There are always one of the favourites, and actually they have lots of potential indeed. But they have notoriously bad nerves after the group stage is over and so I'd already consider it a surprise if they reached the semifinal.

But there's a lot at stake for my own team, too. Although my signature tells what our aim is at this tournament -- this will we a hell of a ride for Germany and everything is possible: From yet another knock-out in the group stage (Poland and Croatia and, to some degree, host Austria will be extremely tough opponents) to a narrowly-won final.

The only good thing is that teams like Italy and France won't meet us earlier than in the final. I think that both teams are the top favourites for the title. The surprise of the tournament could be Switzerland. I see a lot of parallels between this and the German team two years ago (the youthfulness of the team, its modern, offensive playing philosophy, the role as host nation), so that they could also excel themselves at the tournament despite a bad performance at the test match in March. But probably, just like at the World Cup, we'll have a final between two classic football "superpowers".

By the way, on Friday Jogi Löw announced the extended German EURO squad, currently consisting of the following 26 players:

Goal
Jens Lehmann (Arsenal London)
Robert Enke (Hannover 96)
René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

Defence
Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid)
Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen)
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Marcell Jansen (FC Bayern München)
Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen)
Heiko Westermann (FC Schalke 04)

Midfield
Michael Ballack (FC Chelsea London)
Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart)
Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)
Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke 04)
David Odonkor (Betis Sevilla)
Marko Marin (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Attack
Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München)
Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München)
Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart)
Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04)
Oliver Neuville (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Patrick Helmes (1. FC Köln)

The main surprises were that former second goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand wasn't nominated again (although it was understandable after his often mediocre performance) and the nomination of David Odonkor (actually an overrated player whose only feat is his high pace) and 19-year-old U-21 player Marko Marin. After the training camp on Majorca, on May 28, the squad will be reduced to its final size of 23. I suppose that Trochowski, Odonkor and Helmes will have to go then.

[zenica]

Geneva 2018

[Rei]

On tuesday 20 Donadoni will officialize the list. It should be moslty like that with some last doubts on attack:

Goal keepers: Buffon, Amelia, De Sanctis(?)

Defenders: Cannavaro, Panucci, Materazzi, Barzagli, Grosso, Oddo, Zambrotta.

Midfielders: Ambrosini, Gattuso, Perrotta, De Rossi, Pirlo, Camoranesi, Aquilani.

Attackers:* Quagliarella(?), Toni, Di Natale(?), Del Piero(?), Iaquinta(?), Cassano(?), Borriello(?)

*Aside Toni, the nominees are still open.


btw, Del Piero in nazionale!

[zenica]

[color="#FF8C00"]Geneva 2018
Dubai 2020
Kopenhagen 2024[/ color]

[faster]

Olympian2004, on May 18 2008, 04:59 AM, said:

I think that Spain will once again not withstand the expectations. There are always one of the favourites, and actually they have lots of potential indeed. But they have notoriously bad nerves after the group stage is over and so I'd already consider it a surprise if they reached the semifinal.

But there's a lot at stake for my own team, too. Although my signature tells what our aim is at this tournament -- this will we a hell of a ride for Germany and everything is possible: From yet another knock-out in the group stage (Poland and Croatia and, to some degree, host Austria will be extremely tough opponents) to a narrowly-won final.

The only good thing is that teams like Italy and France won't meet us earlier than in the final. I think that both teams are the top favourites for the title. The surprise of the tournament could be Switzerland. I see a lot of parallels between this and the German team two years ago (the youthfulness of the team, its modern, offensive playing philosophy, the role as host nation), so that they could also excel themselves at the tournament despite a bad performance at the test match in March. But probably, just like at the World Cup, we'll have a final between two classic football "superpowers".

By the way, on Friday Jogi Löw announced the extended German EURO squad, currently consisting of the following 26 players:

Goal
Jens Lehmann (Arsenal London)
Robert Enke (Hannover 96)
René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

Defence
Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid)
Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen)
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Marcell Jansen (FC Bayern München)
Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen)
Heiko Westermann (FC Schalke 04)

Midfield
Michael Ballack (FC Chelsea London)
Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart)
Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)
Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke 04)
David Odonkor (Betis Sevilla)
Marko Marin (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Attack
Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München)
Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München)
Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart)
Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04)
Oliver Neuville (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Patrick Helmes (1. FC Köln)

The main surprises were that former second goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand wasn't nominated again (although it was understandable after his often mediocre performance) and the nomination of David Odonkor (actually an overrated player whose only feat is his high pace) and 19-year-old U-21 player Marko Marin. After the training camp on Majorca, on May 28, the squad will be reduced to its final size of 23. I suppose that Trochowski, Odonkor and Helmes will have to go then.

Odonkor played well in 2006 and I would be surprised if he was cut. I would say that Helmes, Marin and Westerman would be the ones to be cut.

I am a bit surprised that Bernd Schneider hasn't been put into the national team. He is the only one missing from the starting 11 in 2006.

How would your starting 11 be Olympian?

I would be surprised if Switzerland did well, they are in a tough group and could realistically go 0-3.

[arwebb]

I'm really looking forward to this tournament, mainly because we're not in it and I can enjoy it as a neutral viewer without having all this gumph about how England are going to beat everyone in sight before painfully flattering to deceive yet again. And I certainly wouldn't like to pick a winner.

[Olympian2004]

Faster, on May 18 2008, 05:14 PM, said:

Odonkor played well in 2006 and I would be surprised if he was cut.

He was quick and played the decisive pass for Neuville's 1-0 against Poland, yes. But apart from that, he is simply not thus talented as a footballer that I'd consider him a "natural candidate" for the national team.

Quote

I would say that Helmes, Marin and Westerman would be the ones to be cut.

Westermann will certainly not be cut since Löw has only nominated seven defenders in total, just as many as for the World Cup. He won't go to the EURO with only six defenders available.

Quote

I am a bit surprised that Bernd Schneider hasn't been put into the national team. He is the only one missing from the starting 11 in 2006.

Bernd Schneider is injured. He had a surgery on the cervical spine on April 25 and couldn't recover in time. He'll be sorely missed, that's for sure.

Quote

How would your starting 11 be Olympian?

Lehmann
Lahm - Metzelder - Mertesacker - Jansen
Borowski - Frings - Ballack - Hitzlsperger
Klose - Gomez

Quote

I would be surprised if Switzerland did well, they are in a tough group and could realistically go 0-3.

Turkey should be beatable, and also Portugal and the Czech Republic can have a bad day, especially against the strong support of the Swiss fans. It could be sufficient for Switzerland to win against Turkey and draw against (let's say) Portugal.