Official Euro 2008 thread

[livvy145]

Italy rocked by Cannavaro injury

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro will miss Euro 2008 after tearing ligaments in his left ankle during training.

The Real Madrid defender collided with Giorgio Chiellini in a practice match at Italy's base in Austria on Monday.

After the incident, Cannavaro laid on the pitch for about 20 minutes before being stretchered off.

Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini has been called up as his replacement, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon likely to take over the captaincy.

Italy had been in Austria for just six hours when Cannavaro suffered his injury.

A statement issued by the Italian Football Federation said: "The news we feared was confirmed in Baden late on Monday evening.

"Fabio Cannavaro will say goodbye to our European adventure, before it has even begun.

"The captain has suffered torn ligaments, which happened the moment his foot made contact with the ground. His ankle twisted awkwardly."

Cannavaro, 34, capped 116 times, skippered Italy to 2006 World Cup glory in Germany, winning the World Player of the Year award.

His absence is a serious blow for Italy, who are in Euro 2008's 'Group of Death' with France, the Netherlands and dark horses Romania.

They open their campaign against the Dutch on Monday 9 June in Berne.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/italy/7432512.stm

[meffin]

massive blow for them

[livvy145]

Torres missed training yesterday with an ankle injury. He should be OK though.

[Nic83]

Cannavaro out of the Euros.

my bets are all going tits up before ball is even kicked!

[jonesie]

My Euro 2008 predictions.

Germany will be 'organised.'
Gary Lineker will only last about about seven seconds into his intro to the first game before he mentions England.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be pictured crying at least once.
There will be approximatlely 1,432 shots of fit blondes in the crowd at every Sweden game.
Someone will say 'don't mention the war' when Germany play Poland, but everyone will.
We'll be told that England would have won it if they were there.
John Motson will confuse Per Mertesacker with Cristoph Metzelder. A lot.
Any tabloid newspaper will use the headlines: "The Russians are coming", "The Italian Job", "Dutch Courage", "Czech it out" etc etc yawn.
Milan Baros will inexplicably become good.
Turkey will, at some point. get 'stuffed.'
And the Swiss will 'roll over.'
Any penalty shootout defeat will be 'a cruel way to go out.'
Should any player at the tournament have featured in the 1999 Champions League Final, have played for Manchester United or Bayern Munich, have played at the Nou Camp or just gone to Spain on their holidays, Clive Tyldsley will use it as an excuse to mention 'that night in Barcelona.'
Italy will have 'passion', Spain 'flair' and the Dutch will be 'laid back.'
A large hole in the Russian defence will be 'the size of Red Square.'
Holes in the Swiss defence will be compared to their cheese.

[Shaggy]

My Euro 2008 predictions.

Germany will be 'organised.'
Gary Lineker will only last about about seven seconds into his intro to the first game before he mentions England.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be pictured crying at least once.
There will be approximatlely 1,432 shots of fit blondes in the crowd at every Sweden game.
Someone will say 'don't mention the war' when Germany play Poland, but everyone will.
We'll be told that England would have won it if they were there.
John Motson will confuse Per Mertesacker with Cristoph Metzelder. A lot.
Any tabloid newspaper will use the headlines: "The Russians are coming", "The Italian Job", "Dutch Courage", "Czech it out" etc etc yawn.
Milan Baros will inexplicably become good.
Turkey will, at some point. get 'stuffed.'
And the Swiss will 'roll over.'
Any penalty shootout defeat will be 'a cruel way to go out.'
Should any player at the tournament have featured in the 1999 Champions League Final, have played for Manchester United or Bayern Munich, have played at the Nou Camp or just gone to Spain on their holidays, Clive Tyldsley will use it as an excuse to mention 'that night in Barcelona.'
Italy will have 'passion', Spain 'flair' and the Dutch will be 'laid back.'
A large hole in the Russian defence will be 'the size of Red Square.'
Holes in the Swiss defence will be compared to their cheese.

Funny because it's true.

[Joe King]

My Euro 2008 predictions.

Germany will be 'organised.'
Gary Lineker will only last about about seven seconds into his intro to the first game before he mentions England.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be pictured crying at least once.
There will be approximatlely 1,432 shots of fit blondes in the crowd at every Sweden game.
Someone will say 'don't mention the war' when Germany play Poland, but everyone will.
We'll be told that England would have won it if they were there.
John Motson will confuse Per Mertesacker with Cristoph Metzelder. A lot.
Any tabloid newspaper will use the headlines: "The Russians are coming", "The Italian Job", "Dutch Courage", "Czech it out" etc etc yawn.
Milan Baros will inexplicably become good.
Turkey will, at some point. get 'stuffed.'
And the Swiss will 'roll over.'
Any penalty shootout defeat will be 'a cruel way to go out.'
Should any player at the tournament have featured in the 1999 Champions League Final, have played for Manchester United or Bayern Munich, have played at the Nou Camp or just gone to Spain on their holidays, Clive Tyldsley will use it as an excuse to mention 'that night in Barcelona.'
Italy will have 'passion', Spain 'flair' and the Dutch will be 'laid back.'
A large hole in the Russian defence will be 'the size of Red Square.'
Holes in the Swiss defence will be compared to their cheese.

****ing brilliant. Where did you copy and paste that from?

[jonesie]

****ing brilliant. Where did you copy and paste that from?

[Nic83]

There will be 70-75 goals scored.

The player of the tourney will be a midfielder and portugal will create and miss bagfulls of chances.#

Someone will pick up a sewious injury and someone not so well known will be one of the superstars.

The final will be a borefest

[Harv]

My Euro 2008 predictions.

Germany will be 'organised.'
Gary Lineker will only last about about seven seconds into his intro to the first game before he mentions England.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be pictured crying at least once.
There will be approximatlely 1,432 shots of fit blondes in the crowd at every Sweden game.
Someone will say 'don't mention the war' when Germany play Poland, but everyone will.
We'll be told that England would have won it if they were there.
John Motson will confuse Per Mertesacker with Cristoph Metzelder. A lot.
Any tabloid newspaper will use the headlines: "The Russians are coming", "The Italian Job", "Dutch Courage", "Czech it out" etc etc yawn.
Milan Baros will inexplicably become good.
Turkey will, at some point. get 'stuffed.'
And the Swiss will 'roll over.'
Any penalty shootout defeat will be 'a cruel way to go out.'
Should any player at the tournament have featured in the 1999 Champions League Final, have played for Manchester United or Bayern Munich, have played at the Nou Camp or just gone to Spain on their holidays, Clive Tyldsley will use it as an excuse to mention 'that night in Barcelona.'
Italy will have 'passion', Spain 'flair' and the Dutch will be 'laid back.'
A large hole in the Russian defence will be 'the size of Red Square.'
Holes in the Swiss defence will be compared to their cheese.

[livvy145]

Spanish injuries

Villa sustained a blow to his right thigh and is not expected to play any part against the US, with the Valencia CF forward due to undergo further tests to determine the full extent of the problem. Sergio García also took a bang – to his ankle – while Liverpool FC forward Torres is another to have an ankle problem in the shape of a minor sprain. Midfielder Andrés Iniesta stayed behind as the team travelled to Santander as he continues to recover from a virus.

[Nic83]

Joy, just as I've had abet on them I find out they have no strikers

[Nic83]

Watch out for Russia lads, real dark horses. On fire at the minute with their Zenit players and have a new hard edge to them these days and with their strikers firing there's some value in them

5/1 to win their group

5/4 to qualify

11/4 to qualify with spain

Or how about a bold EW @ 30's

Currently battering lithuania on a neutral venue

[Shaggy]

Watch out for Russia lads, real dark horses. On fire at the minute with their Zenit players and have a new hard edge to them these days and with their strikers firing there's some value in them

5/1 to win their group

5/4 to qualify

11/4 to qualify with spain

Or how about a bold EW @ 30's

Currently battering lithuania on a neutral venue

I think they've a real chance of reaching the semis.

11/2 is a great price for the Group straight forecast of Spain/Russia.

[Nic83]

I've had a spin on them winning the group, only a small one for value.

If pogrebnyiak is fit I'm going to lay spain against them and back them against Sweden and Greece (both almost 2/1 - value there)