Official Euro 2008 thread

[NICKZS]

I'm buzzing about tonight and tomorrow's games. The football Holland have been playing has been wonderful, and Spain are the obvious Liverpool fans' team of the tournament; I've felt prouder watching our Spanish players than I do watching England games.

[Tee]

Agree with the sentiments about this tournament - it has been really great to watch without the media circus that would have focussed on England had we qualified.

It is just nice to watch top quality international football without wanting to smash the tv in bits everytime an established so called world class England player cannot control the ball or just hoofs it forward relentlessly.

[TheStig]

I think a lot of us - during the season-proper - go on about how we hate international football. In reality I think we all mean we hate England and the bull**** that goes with it.

I ****ing love these international tournaments. The last World Cup was **** and maybe I lost some faith in international tournaments, but this has certainly restored it. I've barely missed a kick and found myself screaming involuntarily on my sofa. When Nihat buried that superb winner against the Czechs I roared "HE'S SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRED!".

Just cannot wait for Holland v Russia this evening (fancy Russia, I must say) and I'm even more excited about Spain v Italy.

The last 3 tournaments have been **** (WC02, Euro 04 and WC06); I'd pretty much completely lost 'faith' in International football, and wasn't really going to bother with Euro 2008, but so far it's been great. Really has.

Not as good as Euro 2000 mind.

[dww]

I think a lot of us - during the season-proper - go on about how we hate international football. In reality I think we all mean we hate England and the bull**** that goes with it.

I ****ing love these international tournaments. The last World Cup was **** and maybe I lost some faith in international tournaments, but this has certainly restored it. I've barely missed a kick and found myself screaming involuntarily on my sofa. When Nihat buried that superb winner against the Czechs I roared "HE'S SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRED!".

Just cannot wait for Holland v Russia this evening (fancy Russia, I must say) and I'm even more excited about Spain v Italy.

It has been a splendid tournament. I agree the lack of England has helped in a lot of ways (been to see games with both German and Spanish supporters and as groups they are a lot less ****ish than England fans usually are).

The last few international tournaments have been **** though. Even the officiating at this tournament seems to have been better. In particular the WC seems to suffer from too many games involving disorganised teams and what appears to be blatantly biased referees.

I think it has also exposed the terrible nature of the research and general insight of the BBC and ITV commentary and punditry teams. Unexpected bonus of the tournament - Zenden is an excellent, informed and articulate observer of the game. I have also likes O'Neill's input although he does seem to get talked down by the traditional MOTD puppets around him. Alan Green in particular has been shown to be the tabloid opinion spouting buffoon I always thought he might be.

[jonesie]

Glad you lot have seen the light. Not having your own country in a major tournament is the way forward, mine haven't been in one for 50 years.

Meanwhile...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/spain/7371371.stm

Spain coach Luis Aragones has stoked the fires ahead of the last-eight tie against Italy by claiming Gennaro Gattuso is "not a great player".

Both Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended for Sunday's clash but Aragones believes the loss of Gattuso can be easily compensated.

"To say that Gattuso is a great player, I would not agree," he said.

"Italy have several Gattusos but only one Pirlo. If Gattuso is a great player, then I'm a priest."

Aragones added: "Pirlo is a creator whereas Italy have plenty of more defensive-minded types such as Gattuso.

"But Pirlo can also have a bad day - and the player who replaces him could also have the match of his life against us."

AC Milan star Gattuso opted not to bite back in a similar fashion.

"I hope he doesn't become a priest at his age," he stated. "It would be better for him to see out his remaining years as a normal person.

[Vermilion]

Gattuso managed to insult Priests, & compliment Aragones with his reply. Since when has Aragones been 'normal'.

I hope he doesn't become a priest at his age," he stated. "It would be better for him to see out his remaining years as a normal person.

[Joe King]

I think it has also exposed the terrible nature of the research and general insight of the BBC and ITV commentary and punditry teams. Unexpected bonus of the tournament - Zenden is an excellent, informed and articulate observer of the game. I have also likes O'Neill's input although he does seem to get talked down by the traditional MOTD puppets around him. Alan Green in particular has been shown to be the tabloid opinion spouting buffoon I always thought he might be.

Absolutely. I know we all love Jocky but my God, his knowledge of players and teams outside of the Premiership is appalling. Saying that, that would apply to all of the pundits on both channels. Andy Townsend and his Andy Gray machine doesn't him make more of an expert than.... Andy Gray. Good to see Gavin Peacock crying at the end of MOTD, good luck to him in Canada.

I agree with the Zenden comment. He knows about European football since he has played nearly everywhere. Its also good to hear him speak without making a 'shh' sound Anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to 5 Live whilst watching matches would recognise that Graham Taylor is laughable with his comments and Chris Waddle surprisingly knows something about football. And dww, I think you are mistyped Clive Tyldesley.

[dww]

Anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to 5 Live whilst watching matches would recognise that Graham Taylor is laughable with his comments and Chris Waddle surprisingly knows something about football. And dww, I think you are mistyped Clive Tyldesley.

I actually quite like Graham Taylor. My problem is that he is always on with Alan Green; who seems to feel Ronaldo being skillful is disrespectful to other players, called Henrys lovely finish "a tap in" and Torres' goal "a deflection" he's just a gob****e. I only realised the reason why I was so disliking the 5 Live commentary when the Guardian podcast started pointing out how ludicrously disingenuous "Greeny" was being to people. I've always thought he gets a cartoon idea of a player in his head and then commentates on that basis (his commentary on Traore and Biscan when they played for us was basically a litany of insults which was deeply tedious and helped no one visualise what was actually happening).

I did the radio + TV thing for the Croatia/Turkey match - they appeared to be watching a totally different match to me. Commentary was nearly as bad as the game for the first 70 minutes or so (then the game picked up, rather than the commentary0.

My opinions of Waddle oscillate he annoys me but a times he seems genuinely insightful then he'll say something ludicrously ignorant and I'll be irritated again. In fact maybe my problem is that he like everyone else seems to have spent zero time researching teams they haven't seen often or players they are not familiar with.

[livvy145]

Boulahrouz starts tonight, wow.

Kuyt also starts.


Netherlands

01 Van der Sar
21 Boulahrouz
02 Ooijer
04 Mathijsen
05 Van Bronckhorst
17 De Jong
08 Engelaar
18 Kuyt
23 Van der Vaart
10 Sneijder
09 van Nistelrooy

Russia

01 Akinfeev
22 Aniukov
04 Ignashevich
08 Kolodin
18 Zhirkov
11 Semak
17 Zyryanov
20 Semshov
09 Saenko
10 Arshavin
19 Pavluchenko

[-V-]

Should be a good game. Im expecting a Dutch Victory, 2-1 i say

[JohnDoe]

I'm really looking forward to this game. This should be a cracker.

Interesting that Van Basten is sticking with his line up and not starting Robben or Van Persie, who have been really good when given the chance. Any team that has the luxury to bring them off the bench is a damn good one.

[livvy145]

I agree. They've just said on ITV4 that Robben is injured. Could be risked later on in the game.

[Shaggy]

Boulahrouz starts tonight, wow.

He's had a great tournament.

[livvy145]

He's had a great tournament.

I meant after the loss of his child. There's no way I could play after that.

[Reece]

Kuyt

Looking forward to this