Viewing Thread:
"Euro 2008"

This is the place to discuss Euro 2008 starting June 7th. I, as ever, will be watching as much as I possibly can and I'll try to keep this up to date with match results, goalscorers and possibly a review of each match.

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Here are the upcoming matches and the channels you can catch them:

Group Stages

Switzerland 0 V 1 Czech Republic (A) - June 7th
Sverkos 70'
Portugal 2 V 0 Turkey (A) - June 7th
Pepe 61'
Raul Meireles 90+3'
Austria 0 V 1 Croatia (B) - June 8th
Modric Pen 4'
Germany 2 V 0 Poland (B) - June 8th
Podolski (2) 20' + 72'
Romania 0 V 0 France (C) - June 9th
Netherlands 3 V 0 Italy (C) - June 9th
Van Nistelrooy 26'
Sneijder 31'
Van Bronckhorst 79'
Spain 4 V 1 Russia (D) - June 10th
Villa (3) 20', 44' + 75'
Fabregas 90+1'
Pavlyuchenko 86'
Greece 0 V 2 Sweden (D) - June 10th
Ibrahimovic 67'
Hanssen 72'
Czech Republic 1 V 3 Portugal (A) - June 11th
Deco 8'
Sionko 17'
Ronaldo 63'
Quaresma 90+1'
Switzerland 1 V 2 Turkey (A) - June 11th
Yakin 32'
Semih 57'
Arda 90+2'
Croatia 2 V 1 Germany (B) - June 12th
Srna 24'
Olic 62'
Podolski 79'
Schweinsteiger sent off
Austria 1 V 1 Poland (B) - June 12th
Guerreiro 30' (Poland)
Vastic Pen 90+3' (Austria)
Italy 1 V 1 Romania (C) - June 13th
Mutu 55' (Romania)
Panucci 56' (Italy)
Netherlands 4 V 1 France (C) - June 13th
Kuyt 9'
Van Persie 59'
Henry 71'
Robben 72'
Sneijder 90+2'
Sweden 1 V 2 Spain (D) - June 14th
Torres 15'
Ibrahimovic 34'
Villa 90+2'
Greece 0 V 1 Russia (D) - June 14th
Zyryanov 33'
Switzerland 2 V 0 Portugal (A) - June 15th
Yakin 71' + Pen 83'
Turkey 3 V 2 Czech Republic (A) - June 15th
Koller 34'
Plasil 62'
Arda 75'
Nihat 87' + 89'
Volkan sent off
Austria 0 V 1 Germany (B) - June 16th
Ballack 49'
Poland 0 V 1 Croatia (B) - June 16th
Klasnic 53'
France 0 V 2 Italy (C) - June 17th
Abidal sent off
Pirlo pen 25'
De Rossi 62'
Netherlands 2 V 0 Romania (C) - June 17th
Huntelaar 54'
Van Persie 87'
Greece 1 V 2 Spain (D) - June 18th
Charisteas 42'
De La Red 61'
Guiza 88'
Russia 2 V 0 Sweden (D) - June 18th
Pavlyuchenko 24'
Arshavin 50'

Quarter Finals

Portugal 2 V 3 Germany - June 19th
Schweinsteiger 22'
Klose 26'
Nuno Gomes 40'
Ballack 61'
Postiga 87'
Croatia 1 V 1 Turkey AET - June 20th
Turkey win 3-1 on penalties
Klasnic 119' (Croatia)
Semih 120+2' (Turkey)
Holland 1 V 3 Russia AET - June 21st
Pavlyuchenko 56'
Van Nistelrooy 86'
Torbinskiy 112'
Arshavin 116'
Spain 0 V 0 Italy AET - June 22nd
Spain win 4-2 on penalties

Semi Finals

Germany 3 V 2 Turkey - June 25th
Boral 22'
Schweinsteiger 26'
Klose 79'
Semih 86'
Lahm 90'
Russia 0 V 3 Spain - June 26th
Xavi 50'
Guiza 73'
Silva 82'

Final

Germany 0 V 1 Spain - June 29th
Torres 33'

SPAIN WIN EURO 2008!

Going forward Spain looked excellent, defending they looked overly-relaxed though. Russia werent that bad to be honest but their defence got ripped apart.

Russia set to the task in the 2nd half with a lot of early possession and they created a headed chance but it was tamely directed to Casillas.

A Spanish break led to space for Villa but his shot was comfortably saved. Space opened for Russia but their shot went wide, although the keeper was scrambling.

Silva got through and was denied by a late challenge, a corner led to Senna's header punched clear and it dropped for Silva who smashed it straight at the Russian keeper.

Fabregas passes it behind the centre backs and finds Villa who turns the defender inside out before getting a bit of space to slot home Spain's third goal and his hattrick.

Pavlyuchenko had a long range shot sail past the post but Spain had slowly and systematically destroyed Russia. Pavlyuchenko gets a consolation goal for Russia when a corner gets flicked on into his direction and he reacts quickest to head it in. Semak gets a chance for Russia but it dribbles to Casillas.

Spain then get a break and Villa delays and delays for support. He chips it into Xavi, has his volley saved and Fabregas, looking in an offside position, heads it in from the rebound.

Spain look very good and if they can keep that up, they will be contenders.

The first 15 minutes were cagey as both teams try to work each other out. Spain had most of the ball during that spell. Torres got in a race with the defender and got the ball past him, the goalkeeper rushed out and Torres slid the ball for Villa to tap in.

Russia came close to equalizing soon after when the ball across went past everyone and the shot hit the post and bounced to safety. Russia also broke free but was offside and they hit the bar but the play had been stopped for a foul.

Iniesta received the ball and Villa timed his run perfectly as Iniesta passed and Villa finished by putting it through the keepers legs. The Russians have it all to do in the second half.

It seems that because Panucci was knocked off the pitch by his own goalkeeper, he is still active and therefore Van Nistelrooy was onside. I suppose, if you think about it, it makes sense.

my poor beloved italy :(


whats this not being able to defend nonsense? I want lippi back.

Italy huffing and puffing in the second half looking for a goal and not having much joy. They tried to catch Van Der Sar out with a tricky free kick but missed. Holland continued to look dangerous on the break.

Toni beats the offside trap but the ball was still high in the air and the attempted chip went over the bar with only the keeper to beat. Grosso then gets free and Van Der Sar saves only for the Dutch defenders to scramble clear.

Pirlo's freekick was well saved by Van Der Sar and the resulting break led to Kuyt's attempt being saved and then chipped in to Van Bronckhorst and his header gave Holland a 3-0 lead. Zambrotta couldn't clear the header as it headed towards the line.

Afellay's shot skims the top of the bar as Holland go on the rampage with 10 minutes to go. Van Persie jinks around in the box but his shot was well wide.

Easily the best game of the tournament and Holland have to be one of the favourites after this result and with players still to come back from injury.

The 2nd half can be abysmal and this would still be the best game so far.
Holland are well worth the 2 goal lead, regardless of how blatantly offside that first goal was. As for Italy, they look noticably un-italian. They've not been able to close Holland down at all. Considering this is one of the oldest teams in the tournament against one of the youngest, the Italians are in a bad position of having to chase the game against Holland.

Early chances for both with a long range effort saved by Buffon, Di Natale unable to find Toni in the box and Toni trying to flick a header in and it going wide. A decent pace to the game with both teams looking dangerous, Italy more willing to soak up pressure.

Van Nistelrooy managed to break free and round the keeper but couldn't get a shot away. Van Nistelrooy then taps in a Wesley Sneijder shot and Holland take the lead, despite being offside.

A Holland break led to Kuyt heading back into the box for Sneijder to volley the ball past an oncoming Buffon. Di Natale at the other stings a volley but it was saved by Van Der Sar.

Van Nistelrooy had a chance before half time when the ball was slid into his path but Buffon made the crucial save with his legs. Di Natale smashed a shot over the bar and that was the best first half of the tournament.

That is a big blow for France but they brought it on themselves. They showed no urgency and were pretty lifeless. Benzema had a shot which the keeper saved but that was it.

I can't see, on this performance, France getting out of their group. The French will have to hope that the bigger games drag something out of them.

5 games in and so far this is by far the worst tournament i've ever seen.
France were completely lacking in ideas and didnt deserve to win. No suprise, their coach widely regarded as an idiot.