Official Euro 2008 thread

[EST_1892]

2-1 Spain

Alonso has been boss.

I'm converted again now. Keep Alonso, save the money for Villa. Thanks for pratting around MON, you have given us a chance to see what we would be missing. I hope Sidwell can do a job for you.

[Vermilion]

I can't decide whether it's Alonso back on form, & if he stayed would keep playing like that consistently, he played as good a game as iv'e seen from him in a while, or if it's his inner joy at knowing he's off to Italy, i would love to keep him if he recaptured his best form.

[Johnny]

Thursday, June 19, 2008
19:45 Portugal v Germany Quarter-finals St Jakob Park


Friday, June 20, 2008
19:45 Croatia v Turkey Quarter-finals Ernst Happel Stadion


Saturday, June 21, 2008
19:45 Netherlands v Russia Quarter-finals St Jakob Park


Sunday, June 22, 2008
19:45 Spain v Italy Quarter-finals Ernst Happel Stadion

[Johnny]

Problem with Alonso is he didn`t put many performances in like todays last season.

Consistancy...............

[livvy145]

Boulahrouz could miss Russia game


Khalid Boulahrouz could miss the Netherlands' Euro 2008 quarter-final against Russia after the death of his prematurely-born daughter Anissa.

The defender, who played in all three of his side's Group C victories, left training on Wednesday after his wife, Sabia, was hospitalised.

Sabia was at the finals with the other players' partners and girlfriends.

A spokeswoman said a decision over Boulahrouz's participation in Saturday's match had yet to be made.

The spokeswoman for the Dutch Football Federation declined to say whether Boulahrouz would be returning to the squad for the Netherlands' last-eight match in Basel.

The 26-year-old defender, who spent last season on loan from Chelsea at Sevilla, was a surprise inclusion in Marco van Basten's final squad for the tournament but has been among their most consistent performers.

"Players and staff of the Dutch team are upset by the death of Anissa, the daughter of Khalid Boulahrouz and his wife Sabia, who was born prematurely," the Dutch Football Federation said in a statement.

The Netherlands have cancelled a press conference which had been scheduled for this afternoon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/netherlands/7463362.stm

RIP little one.

[Reece]

Sad

[Ballykissdevil]

Horribly sad, that. He was told about her death in training, I heard.

[jonesie]

Horrible for Boulahrouz, he's back with the squad and wants to play Saturday though, good luck to him.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, really looking forward to tonight. Nothing better than knockout football and there's two really contrasting styles tonight.

Got to fancy Portugal for three reasons. One, Germany only played on Monday (and were unconvincing at that), two, Portugal will be well rested (their first team haven't played since last Wednesday afternoon) and three, I think that bloke who seems to stare back at me from every morning paper might be about to show just why Real Madrid want to cough up one hundred million billion quid for him, or whatever it is.

[livvy145]

Portugal:

Ricardo
Pepe
Ferreira
Carvalho
Bosingwa
Simao
Petit
Moutinho
Deco
Ronaldo
Nuno Gomes


Germany:

Lehmann
Metzelder
Mertesacker
Lahm
Friedrich
Schweinsteiger
Rolfes
Hitzlsperger
Ballack
Podolski
Klose

[-V-]

Should be a cracker. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. Im not convinced by Moutinho, Petit and Nuno Gomes in the portuguese team and Germany have interestingly and probably right so left out Mario Gomes. Rolfes and Hitzelsperger play which makes their midfield possibly a tad weaker without Frings

[Joe King]

That pitch looks horrendous.

[Joe King]

I'm sure Clive Tyldesley has mentioned something about Ronaldo staying at the Scum. How bias can you get?

[Joe King]

That Bastian. What a run by Podolski.

1-0 Jerries

[Reece]

Get in. 1-0 Swinestiger

[Vermilion]

Clive gutted now.