Euro 2012

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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.

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Thanks, I was cruising on Lake Windermere and then sampling the local ales, that's why I didn't bet. I would have had Spain anyway. 5 on Spain. :ihih:

I taped it and have just watched it. Spain were outstanding and clever throughout the tournament. They also had two key players out with injury as well. Best team ever?

I will always go with the 1970 Brazilian team as the best ever, but I'm an old codger.

I’m glad Spain won and now can’t wait for the world cup.

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Originally Posted by Snowqueen

I’m glad Spain won and now can’t wait for the world cup.

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:nod:

What a game Spain had. It's almost like they flipped a switch and became this unstoppable force. Disappointing for Italy, who looked very tired.

Ah well, that's it, then. What a great Euro. It was fun watching it with you guys. Thanks, Sche, for organizing this, and congratz on your newly-acquired wealth of 1920 drachmae, Neely :)

Best regards to all,
DH

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Originally Posted by prendrelemick

I will always go with the 1970 Brazilian team as the best ever, but I'm an old codger.

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Me too. It's not exactly being old now that does it. It's being young then. No team will ever evoke in us quite the sense of awe that you're capable of when you're young. Even the quality of the 1970 footage - that blurry smear of colour, and the crackly satellite commentary - is thrilling to me.

I don't know I never saw the team of 1970, only the goals and some of the play in recordings, so it is difficult to compare, but this Spanish side have now won three major tournaments on the trot and are perfect in every department. OK, they didn't play with attacking flair throughout, like perhaps the Brazil side of old, but they did enough in third gear before turning it up and destroying Italy in the final.

I can't imagine that Brazil had a better defence than this Spanish side either, which conceded just one goal throughout. The goalkeeper is solid and of course the midfield dominates completely and hell even Torres got the golden boot! We shall see, but if Spain win in Brazil or go very close, then maybe that would seal the argument? Spain might be even stronger then too as many of these players are still relatively young and they will have Villa and Puyol back to strengthen the side!

Aside edit: what is funny is that someone at work mentioned a 'team of the tournament' that was in one of the papers, featuring both Gerrard and Johnson! What a joke. As if either of those could get in the Spanish or German or even the Dutch or Italian side - well which Spanish players would you drop for Johnson and Gerrard? Some of these pundits just don't get how far behind we are.

Like Mark said I was young and impressionable in 1970 so statistics and facts mean very little. I remember the joie de vivre and freedom those Brazilians played with, they were a team of individual gods, they were doing stuff we'd never seen before, the absolute antithesis of todays Spain.


Gerard and Johnson wouldn't get a look-in . I thought our best player was Lescott, and my man of the tournement was the German Ozil.