Official General FIFA Thread

[maven]

Originally Posted by Mightysmurf

Upset with the Oranje...

The look like **** and they are bounced

[maven]

Originally Posted by OrangeSe7en

That's unfortunate. They really only had one game that you might consider bad and even that's debateable. This was one of the hardest groups I can remember. When they lost to Denmark, they were really up against it. Germany looks like one of the strogest teams in the tournament, so losing that game was a respsectable loss. And then today, against Portugal, what Lalas said about pushing forward and leaving themselves open in the back was true. Basically, today's game was a function of losing to Denmark. They should have won that game and left themselves open to Portugal out of necessity because they didn't.

The Denmark loss affected them, but no excuse. They sucked

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by OrangeSe7en

That's unfortunate. They really only had one game that you might consider bad and even that's debateable. This was one of the hardest groups I can remember. When they lost to Denmark, they were really up against it. Germany looks like one of the strogest teams in the tournament, so losing that game was a respsectable loss. And then today, against Portugal, what Lalas said about pushing forward and leaving themselves open in the back was true. Basically, today's game was a function of losing to Denmark. They should have won that game and left themselves open to Portugal out of necessity because they didn't.

Agreed. Robben aside (if he's half the petulant child he comes across as on tv...), it seems harsh how international soccer can play out - a few games against 3 of the top 10 teams in the world leading to a total house cleaning? I mean, if it's a situation like 4 years ago with England failing to ****ing qualify for the Euros, yeah, time to reevaluate things. Or even France in the last WC, bowing out early and making total a-holes of themselves off the field.

But 2 years off a trip to the WC final for the Dutch, I think the fan and media sensationalism can make out a couple mediocre performances to equal some deep, systemic problem. That's why they had a qualifying system to even make it to this point - these are the best teams in toughest continent the sport has. You'll go out early occasionally. Unless you're Germany.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Agreed. Robben aside (if he's half the petulant child he comes across as on tv...), it seems harsh how international soccer can play out - a few games against 3 of the top 10 teams in the world leading to a total house cleaning? I mean, if it's a situation like 4 years ago with England failing to ****ing qualify for the Euros, yeah, time to reevaluate things. Or even France in the last WC, bowing out early and making total a-holes of themselves off the field.

But 2 years off a trip to the WC final for the Dutch, I think the fan and media sensationalism can make out a couple mediocre performances to equal some deep, systemic problem. That's why they had a qualifying system to even make it to this point - these are the best teams in toughest continent the sport has. You'll go out early occasionally. Unless you're Germany.

They have two years to figure it out. But, to not make it out of the group stage is pretty bad.

[Vulcano]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

All on the same side of the bracket

All but Germany.

HF could be Germany vs Portugal and Spain(England) vs France

[OrangeSe7en]

Originally Posted by maven

They have two years to figure it out. But, to not make it out of the group stage is pretty bad.

Not when you look at who was in the group.

[eddie mac]

The Dutch have no excuses, shameful exit, Manager should resign.

[canadianbroncosfan]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

All on the same side of the bracket

Germany is completely opposite right now and once all the quarter finals teams are determined, teams from the same groups end up getting moved over so they couldn't play each other again until the finals, like in France and England's case

[ludo21]

What are Czech's chances against Portugal

rooting for my boys over there, but not lookin good for round 2

[Smiling Assassin27]

Portugal's looking pretty strong. If Ronaldo plays to his potential, it may be tough sledding for anyone they play. But it's just one game, and Czech has the players to get it done, for sure.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by ludo21

What are Czech's chances against Portugal

rooting for my boys over there, but not lookin good for round 2

Really depends on the Cech - Ronaldo matchup, if Ronaldo has a good day and the backs can't limit his space the way Denmark did you are going to need Peter Cech to play out of his mind.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Agreed. Robben aside (if he's half the petulant child he comes across as on tv...), it seems harsh how international soccer can play out - a few games against 3 of the top 10 teams in the world leading to a total house cleaning? I mean, if it's a situation like 4 years ago with England failing to ****ing qualify for the Euros, yeah, time to reevaluate things. Or even France in the last WC, bowing out early and making total a-holes of themselves off the field.

But 2 years off a trip to the WC final for the Dutch, I think the fan and media sensationalism can make out a couple mediocre performances to equal some deep, systemic problem. That's why they had a qualifying system to even make it to this point - these are the best teams in toughest continent the sport has. You'll go out early occasionally. Unless you're Germany.

I agree, the Dutch played a good tournament but just didn't get the results against 3 of the world top 10 teams.

The one thing I would say is that it does appear that there is a rift between the coach and the players, of course the situation was undoubtedly exacerbated by early loss to Denmark in a game the Dutch controlled.

The Dutch do need to find some defensive quality, their backline outside of Heitinga is pretty pourous and I am not sold on a midfield with Robben, Sneijder and Van der Vaart, I think both Robben and Sneijder are best when they play in a central position behind the forward(s). Their current midfield reminds me a bit of the Sven Goran Erikson mess that was the Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard midfield.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by theAPAOps5

Man more and more you see soccer players tattooed up, not a complaint just a trend I have seen. It's interesting, seeing full double sleeve tattoo collections on more than a few players

I can live with that. But I would really wish they would get rid of the long hair and thin hair-band bull****, it started in Italy but now so many players are doing it.

[canadianbroncosfan]

Originally Posted by theAPAOps5

Man more and more you see soccer players tattooed up, not a complaint just a trend I have seen. It's interesting, seeing full double sleeve tattoo collections on more than a few players

The tattoos would seem a lot more manly if they didn't fall down and act like they've been shot every time someone is within 4 feet of them.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by canadianbroncosfan

The tattoos would seem a lot more manly if they didn't fall down and act like they've been shot every time someone is within 4 feet of them.

I don't think the dives have been so bad in this tourney.

[Smiling Assassin27]

How in the hell are people able to bring in fireworks and rockets?

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

How in the hell are people able to bring in fireworks and rockets?

Same way they bring drugs into prisons - if you are determined enough there are ways.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

How in the hell are people able to bring in fireworks and rockets?

Lube.....lot's of lube.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Spain looks like they're having practice out there. Look like keep away drills. Croatia's gonna be tired before long. Still, i think they'll counter-attack spain and throw bodies around to get their chances. That spanish back line is good but makes me nervous without puyol back there.

[Beantown Bronco]

Wow. I didn't think we were going to see a goal in regulation.

[Beantown Bronco]

ESPN Stats and Info: Spain owns the top three passing days of the tournament. La Furia Roja completed 810 passes against Ireland, 675 against Italy and 649 today against Croatia.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Props to Croatia, who played a good game and really should've scored at least a couple.

[eddie mac]

Not Euro Champs related at all but Didier Drogba has apparently become one of the highest paid footballers in the world, signing for a Chinese club on a 12m euro per year deal at the grand old age of 34.

[maven]

Originally Posted by eddie mac

Not Euro Champs related at all but Didier Drogba has apparently become one of the highest paid footballers in the world, signing for a Chinese club on a 12m euro per year deal at the grand old age of 34.

Nice to see him get paid. Anelka is over there to. What do they plan to accomplish over in China? Who knows, but they will be getting paid. Seems like a better retirement pay playing in china versus the us.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

Spain looks like they're having practice out there. Look like keep away drills. Croatia's gonna be tired before long. Still, i think they'll counter-attack spain and throw bodies around to get their chances. That spanish back line is good but makes me nervous without puyol back there.

they definitely had chances to score goals and Spain could have lost.