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Two games left (Who cares about third place play off- if they're having one)
It's Germany all the way for me from now on. Their strengh and organisation will crush the artistry of Pirlo and cut through the shilly-shallying of Spain in the final.
1400 on Germany.
What a crazy captaincy by Ronaldo last night!
Now 800 on Germany.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
Aye, but Italy have better pasta, salads, fruit and wine. And I'm on a diet.
250 on Italy, please.
If it's down to the chips - go with Germany and the frankfurters, though lasagne and chips are good. General pasta - non.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandis
They played well in the 90 mins, but Spain improved in the extra time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowqueen
The penalties were a farce with Ronaldo not even taking one. The big wuss.
I'm not a fan, but be fair - he was lined up to take the last one, and it never got that far.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
It's a strategy thing, isn't it? Do you put your best and most confident penalty-taker in first, when the pressure's lowest but you need a good start. Or do you put him in last, when the pressure's enormous, but there's a danger he might not even get the chance to contribute?
I think the best idea, from a tactical position instead; of a marketing(lets sell a bunch of shirts with this guy's name on it), is to do it as Italy, and put your best pentaly takers as 2nd and 4th. So that if the one prior misses they can be counted on to score and not let morale slip further down - or if morale is up they can be counted on to keep it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
It seems silly to me to put your best guy last, sure it makes him look good; but from a tactical position it is not to often that the final penalty is the most important, the most important ones are the middle ones.
As for tonight, I acknowledge that overall Germany is the better team. And unlike england they have a tactical finesse and intelligence equal to the Italian team, and that was our main advantage. If we sink into defense mode Germany will overpower us, and if we don't score and it goes to overtime, Germany with a much younger team has a huge advantage as the game goes on. Our best bet is to focus on dominating the midfield, handling the ball and ensuring possession, and scoring in the first half. if we don't score in the first half thing don't look good at all. Pirlo-Balotelli , has the potential to be one of the finest combinations in Football, if they are able to get a good sync going on.
I'm sticking with Italy. And I'm gonna up it and go all in--100 chips, LOOK OUT!
Agree. All or nothing at this stage:
2200 on Germany
Why has he taken Cassano off?
And now Montolivo? That's the two best players tonight, taken off.
And Balotelli !!!! for cramp.
It's like a different team out there. Now for a traditional Italian defensive master class.
Mick - 50
Paul - 50
Snow - 40
Papaya - 154
Scher - OUT
Doc - 500
Neely - 1980
Mark - OUT
Sunday
Spain v Italy
I am upset beyond words. Didn't bother to watch the last 20 minutes of the game. This is the World Cup 2010 all over again with Germany losing it at the last stage.
MM> I am afraid you are too late to take part in the game. It'd be unfair on others for you to join at this stage with a new batch of 100.
In 2014 maybe?
I'll mark my calendar!
In that case, here are the exact details:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandis
Begins on Thursday, 12 June 2014,and ends on Sunday, 13 July 2014.
It is even less than two years to go!
When's the World Cup?Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
It is 715 days from today. Or 1 year, 11 months, 16 days.Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
In other words:
■102 weeks approx.
■17,160 hours
■1,029,600 minutes
■61,776,000 seconds
Who's counting, anyhow?
Crap - I can't believe Germany lost. I just watched the highlights. Italy played well, but it looked as though Germany were disappointing.
Well - I can't bear to back Spain - they've been so so tedious. Italy it is for 50.
So I picked the winning team? Wow. I don't know anything about soccer . . . or football. I'll go with Italy again.
Ha, ha. I was out fishing so I missed the bet but taped it and watched it when I got in. I fancied Germany but forgot to put my Litnet bets on! I think I would have gone for Germany too if I am honest even though I did have a few quid on Italy in real cash at the start of the tournament at 18/1!! So I am happy about that. Really, Italy should never be 18/1. It also makes England look slightly less bad, in a way, which is good. Italy and Spain will be very close. 1 -1 in their opening game.
Wow what an amazing performance by Italy , Baloteli Pirlo Buffon Casano Montolivo - all outstanding. That is how one plays the game.
So I picked the winning team again? I'm amazing.
Italy were too quick and too clever last night. The Germans tried to man mark Pirlo early on, but there were plenty of others who stepped up and ran the game. Baloteli was the perfect target man and ran himself to a stand-still.
Can that cultured midfield operate against Spain ? I hope so.
This tournament has been one of the best. There was the joyfull enthusiasm of the Eastern European teams and their fans (who the British press branded as racist, in a pot and kettle way.) There were a few upsets and there were many good games. The four semi final teams all had different attributes and styles. The Spanish with their passing game, the Portuguese had their individuals, the Germans were irrisitable, Italy clever and incisive.
I hope the final lives up to it.
Germany lost and I’m reduced to 40 Drachmas now imagine my excitement.
I’m not a fan of Ronaldo but I like Portugal as a team. They always try hard but remained the underdogs. They fought well under the captaincy of Luis Figo in Euro 2004 but France defeated them in the final.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
I'm not surprised by Italy's win. They're a good team, and they could have got a result against the run of play, or even in a shoot-out (as they did with England). What I found surprising is the way they dominated. Even in the second half, with Germany coming forward in numbers, Italy were always the more likely side to score another.
Would anyone agree that Pirlo is probably the best player in world football right now? As for Balotelli, when he plays with confidence he can be devastating.
I'll back Italy to win the final, too, even though it's bound to be a completely different affair.
500 on Italy, please.
I don't dislike Portugal on principle - just Ronaldo. As for Figo - have you seen that advert he's in?Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowqueen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rreLf5eqrHc
The big wuss.
Italy's win over Germany does reflect well on England as a defensive force. Ballotelli got away twice during the England match just as he did with Germany, but John Terry covered him well.
I think that's a huge oversimplification. The reason Italy didn't score against us is that we defended with ten men for about eighty minutes. The Germans at least tried to attack. They had more shots against Italy in the first ten minutes than we had in our entire game. And more on target during that game than we had in the entire tournament.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
So I don't think Italy's win over Germany does reflect well on England as a defensive force. I think it accentuates how totally negative we were as a team, and how our hopelessness as an attacking force compelled us to defend in numbers, hoping to get a 0-0 draw.
All on Spain.
All on Italy, not because I think they will win. Because I want them to win.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
I also can't help noticing that after all that punditry about how we must learn to pass and keep the ball like Spain - Germany were undone by a quick ball over the top to a big strong centre forward.
I think we were let down in the attacking arena - the number of times Ashley Young gave the ball away, and Rooney's ineffectiveness negated our threat. Italy's other strikers were often forced to shoot from distance, despite Pirlo's distribution. I maintain we'd have done a lot better with Carroll distributing the ball. We were lucky too, but I think it significant that Ballotelli breaks didn't come off as they did with Germany. Perhaps I've got a half full attitude, but I think the signs for development are encouraging.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
I think the potential for development is encouraging, but I'm not sure about the signs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
Although I was for some reason overlooked for the England manager job, I'm happy to pass my advice on to Roy - and it's this....
From tomorrow, don't select any one who'll be older than 23 by the end of the year. That means no more Rooney, Cole, Terry, Gerard. The objective here is to make a convincing attempt to reach the finals of the Euros in 2016 and the World Cup in 2018. The 2014 World Cup offers a good opportunity to blood that young squad.
I can't see any point at all in persisting with the players that were part of Erickson's squad. They might not be too old right now, but they will be in three or four years, and by then it'll be too late replace them for the next Euros.
The tabloids will get Roy sacked long before then. They do have papers to sell you know.
40 on Spain
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
No, I haven’t seen it before.
I knew it. The big wuss. :biggrin5:Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowqueen
I agree. I don't know why they considered Lampard this time round.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
Funnily enough I was talking to a bloke on the bus today who was saying the selfsame thing. (He's known to my wife and I as n*bhead after we observed an argument he was having with another bloke last winter in the street,and that seemed to be the main name that he was known by. Not knowing him very well, and being unsure of which of the names to use, I go with mate. It's only polite. Anyway, I think the view valid.)
Who are those children that walked out holding hands with the players?
looks like Spain have been keeping a little something in reserve. They are playing as though there is no other team on the pitch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
They're the mascots. Some will have won competitions to be there, and some Mummies and Daddies will have paid alot of money.
For ****s sake, we have as much poise as the Turks at Lepanto....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexander III
:lol::lol: You really ought to get into sports commentry.
Well, folks. This is it!
Neely - 1980
Papaya - 308
Snow - 80
Mick - OUT
Paul - OUT
Scher - OUT
Doc - OUT
Mark - OUT
Congratulations to smerdyakov, who predicted correctly Spain as the winner and Neely , who is 1980 Dr better off - even though he managed to avoid betting again. I think next time we will introduce a rule about that as well ;)
Thank you all for playing and, hopefully, we will do this again in 2014!
Spain definately outclassed Italy there. Some brilliant goals - though through the tournament they were pretty dull to watch.
Well - roll on the premiership in August. Woo Hoo!
Isn't futbol in the Olympics?