As long as you have Darren Bent and Zokora in your team Butch i'll play

Grandprix wrote:
> I had a quick look at the Euro 2008 fantasy football thing. I won
> my consolation match final by random draw and Nin won his final
> as well. We did Freeola proud! :)
>
> Nin won overall in the Freeola league, although I did better in
> the final stages. Lost too many points in the group stages.

Thank you for not saying how badly I did!

Yeah, I'll organise a Freeola Fantasy Football competition for the new season.

Grandprix wrote:
> I had a quick look at the Euro 2008 fantasy football thing. I won
> my consolation match final by random draw and Nin won his final
> as well. We did Freeola proud! :)
>
> Nin won overall in the Freeola league, although I did better in
> the final stages. Lost too many points in the group stages.

Seeing as your fantasy league for Euro 2008 was quite popular (I missed out due to not paying attention) it may be an idea to look into doing one for the upcoming season.

Could be a laugh...

I normally enter a league with my friends on the Mail of Sunday version (although I can't find any details on that yet) which lets you pick your XI and make 3 subs a week, easy to set up a league also. But I am open to offers if other people have any preferences.

I had a quick look at the Euro 2008 fantasy football thing. I won my consolation match final by random draw and Nin won his final as well. We did Freeola proud! :)

Nin won overall in the Freeola league, although I did better in the final stages. Lost too many points in the group stages.

Not the greatest game ever but the best team won.

Germany take control of the early possession and have a couple of chances, 1 from a mistake from Ramos but Klose's control was poor and another was a long range effort straight at Casillas.

Iniesta gets down the left and his cross is deflected towards goal but Lehmann saves. A cross comes in for Torres and it hits the post. Capdevila hits the rebound wide from distance. Fabregas hits a shot saved down low by Lehmann.

Spain take the lead on 33 minutes when the ball is slid into Torres' path and he outmuscles Lahm and dinks it over the onrushing Lehmann. Spain look to double their lead but Silva, in space, manages to miss a great chance.

The lack of clear cut chances for Germany will be worrying at half time as Spain started cruising towards the end of the first half.

Spain continue with control but Germany create a good chance on the hour when they rob Puyol and it comes to Ballack but it flicks the side netting. Germany starting to fire in the crosses to get back in the game.

A whipped in free kick finds the head of Sergio Ramos and Lehmann saves. The resulting corner is cleared off the line by Frings and Spain keep piling on the pressure with Iniesta with a close range shot saved by Lehmann.

Cazorla crosses it to Guiza, who heads it across goal and Senna just can't get a foot on it and turn it in. Less than 5 minutes to go and Spain are in total control.

SPAIN WIN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008!

Thoroughly deserved throughout the whole tournament and Spain shake the tag of underachievers.

Heh, these sort of things are a lottery because you usually find that different players do well in each match and you can find it hard to pick.

I don't think I can win it now. All I can hope for is a good score. I am in that consolation head to head final which is nice.

Pfft, I caught up to just 9 points behind GP until last nights game.

I'll settle for last place, but I won't be happy if I end the competition on less than 200 points, so that's my aim.

My last team is 100% German players. I think they should find it quite easy against the Spanish defense, there's certainly a height advantage over them anyway. Spain seem to be the favourites, but I need to take a risk to get 200 points+!

Spain go to work early and take the game to Russia. Torres gets a good chance after 5 minutes, he has to retrieve the ball slightly behind him in the box, he turns and shoots but Akinfeev saves.

Villa works the goalkeeper low and he saves comfortably. Pavlyuchenko smashes a free kick over the bar and that was Russia's best and only real chance in the first 15 minutes. Ramos hits a speculative effort and it's comfortably saved.

Villa hits a free kick but it's easy for Akinfeev and Spain are easily the better team in the first 30 minutes. Pavlyuchenko tries to curl one in from distance but it's wide. Pavlyuchenko controls a high ball well on the chest but he's under pressure and pokes it wide.

Torres does well to control the ball and turn the defender but doesn't get a clean shot away. Spain probably just the better side in the first half but they go in all square and Spain lost Villa in the first half to injury.

Iniesta works his way into the box and the Russian defence don't track the run of Xavi and he prods it past Akinfeev for 1-0 to Spain. Torres is found in space and tries to curl it into the far corner but his shot goes over as Russia try to get back in the game.

Spain start showing their dominance and a cross comes in for Torres but his shot is wide. Fabregas hits a shot from long range and Akinfeev tips it over. Alonso hits a shot from the corner but it's punched clear.

Russia in big trouble as the ball is dinked in to Guiza's path and he scores for 2-0 to Spain. Russia creating very little with 15 minutes to go. Russia sink without a trace when Fabregas finds Silva in the box and he slides it past Akinfeev and Russia are well and truly beaten.

Russia get a shot on target after 88 minutes but the header was straight at Casillas. Guiza is one on one with the keeper but can't beat him and complete the humiliation. It ends 3-0 to Spain and rightly so as Russia looked lifeless up front.

England Vs Argentina in the head to head finals for me and GP.

I made my changes a little while ago to give false hope that I'd forget. Anyway, the semi final between Germany V Turkey.

Turkey starting well as Kazim fires a shot at Lehmann. A mistake by Lahm let Turkey in but Lehmann does well to snuff out the chance. The ball is pulled back to Kazim and he smashes it onto the bar. The chance isn't over as Semih tries to turn it in but the defender gets in the way.

Turkey take a deserved lead when the ball is scooped onto the bar and it lands at the feet of Boral and he squeezes it through Lehmann's legs. Germany then surprise everyone by levelling the scores. Podolski down the left crosses in and Schweinsteiger is there to flick the ball into the corner.

Lehmann looks like he's going to easily grab a free kick and then it looks like it's going over him and in so he has to palm it over. Podolski breaks free from the halfway line and his shot goes over.

Lehmann has to react quickly to a curling free kick and punch it away. Turkey have another long range effort go over as they continue to be the better team. Somehow, Germany go in level at half time.

Not much to talk about in the 2nd half and it looks to be heading to a draw but with 10 minutes to go, Klose pops up with a goal. Rustu made a poor decision to come out and try and claim it and Klose heads into an empty net.

Turkey get themselves level when some good work by Sabri down the right finds Semih to flick in and beat Lehmann at his near post. Germany produce some lovely passing and Lahm keeps running, he receives the ball in the box and beats the keeper to give Germany the lead again in the 90th minute. Germany hold on and head to the final!

Right GP/Nin, I've made my changes ready for the semi-finals:

    * Van der Sar replaced by Lehmann
    * Pepe replaced by Lahm
    * Van Bronckhorst replaced by Capdevila
    * Ćorluka replaced by Sergio Ramos
    * Mathijsen replaced by Anyukov
    * Cristiano Ronaldo replaced by Schweinsteiger
    * Sneijder replaced by Zhirkov
    * Klose replaced by Arshavin
    * Klasnić replaced by Podolski

Plus the three I haven't changed:

    * Ballack
    * Torres
    * Fabregas

I think I'll have to pick my captains wisely if I've got any chance of catching either of you two up. Perhaps Lehman? Double points if he gets a goal!!

[Edit] Note the lack of Turkey players in my team? They really can't win again can they, especially against Germany? They're rubbish to watch so they'd better not make it to the final.

Slow, patient build up from the Spanish as the Italians look to shut the door at the back and frustrate them. A cross comes in and Perrotta runs in and beats the defender to the ball but his header is straight at the keeper.

Spain test Buffon with a Villa free kick but he is up to the challenge. A cross comes in for Toni but his free header is straight into Marchena. Spain with plenty of controlled possession but neither keeper has been severely tested yet. In the end, it was a fairly lifeless first half with the Italians trying to hit Spain from wide areas and Spain have had a lot of the ball but can't break the Italian defence, which is almost all the players in the team.

Slow start again to the second half as both teams have efforts that didn't trouble the keepers. Italy get a great chance on the hour when the ball is bouncing round the Spanish box with Casillas racing back into goal and Camoranesi's shot was saved.

Senna's free kick is punched off the line by Buffon and then a minute later Senna strikes another one, Buffon gets behind it, it squirms free, bounces off the post and into the grateful hands of Buffon.

Italy have a great chance when Di Natale crosses, Toni turns and makes contact but if he had left it, Grosso would have scored. Spain have had the better of the 90 minutes but it's extra time again.

Silva fires a shot just wide as Spain continue to be the better side. Di Natale forces Casillas to tip it over from his header. Toni tries to flick it in at the near post but it lands on the roof of the net. The first half of extra time is over and penalties look on the cards.

They play out a dull 0-0 draw and it's penalties.

Villa scores - 1-0 Spain
Grosso scores - 1-1
Cazorla scores - 2-1 Spain
De Rossi saved - 2-1 Spain
Senna scores - 3-1 Spain
Camoranesi scores - 3-2 Spain
Guiza saved - 3-2 Spain
Di Natale saved - 3-2 Spain
Fabregas scores - 4-2 Spain

Spain win the shootout and play Russia in the semi finals!

Vampyr wrote:
> Cmon Italy, you can do it!

What? Kill off the tournament?
The semi's could have been Portugal Vs Croatia and Holland Vs Spain/Italy. Instead it's Germany Vs Turkey and Russia Vs Spain/Italy. It'll be a big disappointment if Italy win tonight.

Cmon Italy, you can do it!

Zhirkov forces a good save out of Van Der Sar early from a free kick. Pavlyuchenko puts a free header over and he'll be kicking himself over that chance I think. Holland struggling to get in the game early.

Engelaar fizzes a shot wide and a ball is fed into the danger area and Van Nistelrooy should have scored as he was free and the ball was in reach. Arshavin twists and turns and gets a shot away and Van Der Sar makes a fine finger tip save. Kolodin hits a shot from distance and another save from Van Der Sar. Kolodin hits another over.

Van Nistelrooy turns and gets free of the defence but Akinfeev saves. A mistake by the defence gives the ball to Van Der Vaart but his shot was straight at the keeper and parried. And that's half time. Keepers in charge so far.

Russia get a cross in and Pavlyuchenko beats the defender to the ball and scores. Things looking bleak for Holland as they struggle to create any meaningful chances with 20 minutes left. Anyakov from a tight angle forces Van Der Sar to stick a hand out and save.

Van Der Sar stops Pavlyuchenko when a defensive mistake gets him free in the box. Sneijder from distance and it flies just over. Sneijder is firing them in from all angles but there is still no way through.

5 minutes to go and Sneijder whips a great ball into the box from a free kick and it finds Van Nistelrooy's head to level it up. Kolodin had already been booked and he had shown him a second yellow card. The ref then reverses the decision and the replay shows it was a good call. Extra time it is.

Sneijder goes on a charge but his shot is tame. Arshavin gets a shot away and Van Der Sar almost bobbles it but gathers it. Van Nistelrooy gives himself a yard but his shot goes over. Pavlyuchenko goes close but it hits the bar.

Torbinskiy is found by Arshavin in acres of space but he fluffs his shot. He could have had a touch. Kolodin smashes a free kick wide as Russia stamp their authority on extra time and we head into the 2nd half of extra time all square.

Russia continue to press as a nice passing move ends with the ball fizzed across the 6 yard box but no one can put it in. Russia down the wing and Arshavin chips the ball over Van Der Sar and it finds Torbinskiy to dink it in for 2-1 with 7 minutes remaining.

A simple throw in and Arshavin latches onto it, he shoots, deflects through the legs of Van Der Sar and it's 3-1 Russia with 3 minutes left. Holland are down and out as the final whistle goes.

Turkey with the early pressure but Croatia are the closest to scoring first as a cross comes in for Olic but he scoops it onto the bar and the rebound is headed over by Kranjcar.

Turkey go close when a shot is fired just wide with the keeper scrambling. Croatia left him a bit too much space. All in all, a combative first half rather than a half full of chances.

Olic latches on to a high bouncing ball in the box not dealt with. The keeper doesn't deal with and Olic can't get it towards goal but the defenders don't deal with it and Olic gets a touch but can't find the goal.

Kranjcar gets between 2 defenders but can only poke it towards goal. Croatia move the ball well and a 1-2 sets Rakatic free but he blazes it over. Olic heads wide as Croatia look the more likely to score with 15 minutes to go.

Srna goes close with a free kick that is well saved and Olic tries to poke one in from close range but it is stopped. Srna has another free kick smothered and Olic goes close again but no joy and it's extra time.

Turkey start extra time better and they go close with a Semih shot and Tuncay, which just goes wide. Extra time pounds on as Modric gets the ball ahead of Rustu, Rustu in no mans land as Modric crosses for Klasnic to head into the corner of the goal with no time left.

With seconds remaining, Rustu lumps a long free kick up the field and the defence don't deal with and Semih swings a foot at it and it flies into the top corner to send the game to penalties.

Modric misses - 0-0
Arda scores - 1-0 Turkey
Srna scores - 1-1
Semih scores - 2-1 Turkey
Rakatic misses - 2-1 Turkey
Altintop scores - 3-1 Turkey
Petric saved - Turkey win 3-1 on penalties!

Oh you've got to be f**king kidding me!

* Weeps *

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah wooooooooooooooooooooo!
Thank god for that. I dont think i could have sat through watching Turkey again.

Didn't get around to watching the match last night so I recorded it and I'm watching through it now.

Germany start with most of the play in the first 15 minutes, attacking with purpose and pace. Portugal a bit more laid back but they get the first shot to test the keeper as Simao fires a shot straight at Lehmann from a tight angle.

Portugal create a good chance as the ball is whipped in and it's met by Moutinho, who doesn't know what to do with the cross and thighs it over from close range. Straight down the other end and Podolski charges down the wing and the ball across is met by Schweinsteiger charging in and he finds the corner to give Germany the lead.

Barely 5 minutes later, Schweinsteiger chips the ball into the box and the defence halfheartedly play offside but Klose is on and it's a free header for 2-0. Portugal get back in the game as a Portuguese break finds Ronaldo, his shot is parried by Lehmann and Nuno Gomes retrieves it and scores, despite the defender's attempted block.

Ballack tries to squeeze a shot past Ricardo at his near post but that's saved and Ronaldo goes close at the other end but it's wide. It's half time and Portugal need a big 2nd half.

The 2nd half starts with a quick stamp on Ronaldo's foot and Portugal begin where they left off in the first half, taking the play to Germany. Pepe heads over from a corner flicked on to him.

On the hour played mark, Schweinsteiger curls a free kick in and Ballack heads it in past Ricardo for 3-1 Germany. Portugal looking increasingly desperate. Petit fires a shot from distance but Lehmann saves it. Portugal with most of the possession but they are playing a shoot on sight policy and that isn't going to get it done.

Podolski absolutely screams a shot just wide and Portugal have only 10 minutes to save themselves. 3 minutes to go and Portugal are back in the game. A cross finds Postiga in acres of space and his header beats Lehmann. 3-2 now and Portugal pressing. Seconds remaining and Podolski breaks but his shot is saved and the final whistle blows to knock Portugal out of Euro 2008.

Gahahahahaha marvellous, bye bye Ronny you arrogant twatbag

Russia V Sweden

It doesn't take long for Russia to extend their lead as Russia break with speed and good passing. Arshavin get the ball from Zhirkov out wide and he slots it in the corner for 2-0.

Russia almost made it 3 but Isakkson charged down well. Ibrahimovic gets a free header but it's tame and easily saved. Zyryanov has a shot, it's deflected and bounces off the post. Russia hitting Sweden on the break as gaps open and Pavlyuchenko has a free header straight at Isakkson. Pavlyuchenko free again but the ball is slightly behind him and his shot poor.

Arshavin can't beat Isakkson one on one. Russia in complete control and they win it to qualify for the Quarter Finals.

Greece V Spain

Alonso shoots from distance and beats the keeper but it bounces off the post and clear. Guiza knocks a header back to De La Red and he smashes it in with some venom to level the scores.

Charisteas down the other end beats Reina to the ball but can only find the side netting from a tight angle. The ball breaks kindly for Spain and Guiva gets in behind but his shot flashes across goal. De La Red shoots after more nice Spanish passing but it's over the bar.

Sergio Garcia hits a shot straight at the Greek keeper as Spain look to win it late. Guiza forces a save as Spain look very comfortable on the ball. Sergio Garcia crosses the ball and Guiza shakes off his defender and heads it in for a 2-1 lead with not many minutes remaining.

Greece look totally defeated and their defence of the Euro Championship ends on the back of 3 straight defeats. Spain win all 3 matches to progress.

Russia V Sweden

Russia doing most of the pressing in the first 10 minutes. Arshavin's shot/cross puts Isakkson under pressure and he has to concede the corner. From the corner, Zhirkov hits a sweet volley but it just goes wide.

Russia move down the right and the ball finds Pavlyuchenko in space in the box and he scores past Isakkson for 1-0. Larsson has a flick header come off the top of the bar as Sweden look to get level.

Pavlyuchenko has another shot from a nice Russian move and that comes off the bar. The ball breaks for Nilsson but he can't beat a charging Nikopolidis. The half time whistle goes and Russia are in the driving seat for the Quarter Finals.

Spain V Greece

Spain with some nice incisive passing early on but only created one good chance but the shot was more of a reaction after it deflected to him. Spain have given a lot of silly fouls but Greece didn't create anything.

Xabi Alonso has a customary effort from his own half and it just goes wide as the Greek keeper stacks it into the post. Fabregas and Alonso link up but Alonso's snap shot is wide. The ball is passed to Alonso in space from a free kick and his side foot shot goes wide.

Greece get a free kick and that is crossed in to Charisteas and he has a free header and he bullets that in for 1-0 Greece. Spain had been starting to impose themselves before the goal. Half time and Spain go in behind in this ultimately meaningless game.

France V Italy

The ball bounces for Benzema but his shot is over. Henry shot is poorly hit and Buffon gathers it easily. A free kick to Italy, it is shifted to De Rossi who strikes it, deflects off Henry in the wall and the keeper is beaten. 2-0 Italy now.

The game has fizzled out a bit after the goal with a lot of fouls being committed and a lot of time wasting. Benzema's curling shot was well saved by Buffon. 5 minutes left and France look deflated.

Toni fires a shot with seconds remaining and it goes agonisingly wide. The whistle goes and the Italians go through.

Romania V Holland

Mutu from the kick off takes the ball a little forward and hits a speculative shot which is easy for the keeper. A long ball for Van Persie, he controls it well, shifts it for a bit of space but his close range shot is well saved.

The ball is crossed in low and beats everyone and Huntelaar strikes it in for 1-0. Boulahrouz strikes a shot just over. Romania struggling to create anything since the goal and things look bleak just under 20 minutes to go.

Van Persie fires over as Holland look in control. A spell of Romanian pressure turns into a bit of scramble. Mutu miskicks and Romania keep the ball in there and it results in Petre's overhead kick going over.

Afellay goes on a long run but can't beat the keeper from an ever tightening angle. A high ball into Van Persie is controlled and then a shot fired past the keeper for 2-0 and Romania finished. De Zeeuw fires a shot/cross and it just misses the striker to turn it in.

Holland take a 100% record and Romania go out.

France V Italy

Toni breaks free but shoots early and wide inside the first 5 minutes. Panucci gets a header from a corner and it goes through a crowd to be cleared by Makalele and Coupet. Benzema shoots wide from distance.

A nice Italian move almost gets Perrotta in but his touch wasn't good. Toni looks like he is in and Abidal is chipping away at the back of Toni's legs, he goes down and it's a penalty for Italy. Abidal is sent off and Pirlo converts the penalty for 1-0.

France brought Nasri on for an injured Ribery earlier and barely 10 minutes had passed before Nasri was taken off for Boumsong due to the red card.

Toni tries to hook the ball towards the goal but it just goes wide and then he is in again but his shoot is shinned wide. Toni gets in again but his shot goes wide. Henry at the other end gets an angle but his shot slides wide.

Grosso hits a low free kick and Coupet gets fingertips to it and it hits the post. Half time and France in huge trouble.

Romania V Holland

Romania with a couple of good chances but nothing to worry the keeper. Engelaar floats a cross in but Van Persie can't get the header on target as it was a little too high for him.

The game has settled down with Romania happy to sit in their own half and when they get good possession. they move forward. They are working hard. Mutu turns and shoots but it's deflected away from danger.

Another headed chance for Holland and Van Persie but it's behind him and misses the target. Mutu sees some space open up but his shot is wide as Romania now have to chase with the Italian goal in the other game.

Holland get in and the ball gets pulled back to Huntelaar but he shoots over but the original move was called offside. Holland display lovely passing and it worked out to Robben on his own but he misses the target.

Romania break and the ball comes back to Codrea, who hits it over. The half time whistle goes and Romania need to score or hope results improve for them in the other game.

You have a point about that but it could have been avoided by changing the order of the games. Having 3rd against 4th seeds for the last game was a stupid idea as it usually leads to a dead rubber anyway. On the whole, the way the tournament has been setup has been retarded, from the venue to the closed groups, the game order and seedings.

I think Group C has worked itself out so even with the whole head to head record thing, it wouldn't matter a lot. Whether Holland throw the game or not, it wouldn't matter if it was goal difference or head to head because a Romania win gives them 1 more point than either Italy or France.

The head to head thing is a bit silly but goal difference has its flaws as well. I don't think there is any way of getting Holland to play a competitive game against Romania in this particular instance.

agreed nin, it scares me that tonight italy could finally turn up,batter the french, and not go through because holland play a 2nd string team of kuytlike proportions and get it handed to them by mutu and co

I dont like how the rule change about head-to-head games has made a mockery of the last group games. Portugal last night was a joke and so was the Croatia game. In the past these games would have been important for winning the group but because Portugal and Croatia had already won the groups, they field weakened teams. Had Austria and Poland won tonight, Austria would have every right to be pi**ed off had Poland qualified ahead of them. It gets worse tomorrow. It's actually in the interest of the Dutch to lose against Romania and send both Italy and France home.

Austria V Germany

Germany win a free kick, they shift it to Ballack who fires it into the top corner for 1-0. Lahm has been on a couple of runs and his shot goes wide but his influence is growing.

Austria needs to push and Kienast heads wide. Austria trying to take the game to Germany with 15 minutes to go. Klose runs into the box and Macho stops his progress. Germany come close from a corner but Macho saves Austria.

Frings fires a shot but it's wide as gaps start appearing at the back as Austria push forward. 3 against 1 and Neuville can only shoot wide but that's the end of Euro 2008 for Austria.

Poland V Croatia

Guerreiro has an early shot but it's easy for the Croatian keeper. Croatia take lead when the ball bounces free down the wing, Klasnic is free and Pranjic finds him and Klasnic hits low and in the corner for 1-0.

Poland are now in a desperate situation with Germany ahead and need results elsewhere to improve. Guerreiro receives the ball in the box, turns and shoots inches wide as Poland go close. Pranjic has a shot but it's caught by Boruc.

Poland have a header saved by the Croat keeper. Poland have a few long range efforts but they are really poor. Rakatic sends a free kick over the bar as this game begins to fizzle out. Smolarek jinks around and shoots but it sails wide. Smolarek now looks lively but his shot goes over.

Zahorski gets the ball in the box, one on one after s defensive missed interception but he can't beat the keeper and that certainly knocks Poland out. And it does as Croatia win.