Euro 2012 - Post Tournament Thread

[Gibbo]

Well, International tournament football involving European teams is over for another two years, I'm a bit gutted to be honest, I'm not looking forward to the Olympic football at all really.

Was a good Euro's IMO, both host teams had their good games and there was a couple of decent enough shocks, the most so Italy knocking out Ze Germans.

I'm happy that I don't have to watch a Roy Hodgson team for at least a few months, Englands performances where absolutely terrible, I am also certain that Capello would have beaten that Italian side.

I'm eager to know Est's player and young player of the tournement, Im going with;

Player: Gerrard - Because I'm bias, and to be fair without him that England team would have got close to nowhere (Iniesta just missed out)

Young Player: Jordi Alba - Was brilliant throughout for Spain and looks like Barca have another class footballer on their hands (Again Ballotelli just missed out)

Anyone seen any players they think will move onto 'bigger' clubs before long Dzagoev(sp?) is one I can see moving soon.

Also, was good to see after all the build-up there was next to no racism.

Bring on World Cup 2014!

[danperkins]

Player of tournament: Pirlo without a shadow of a doubt, Iniesta was fantastic too but Pirlo was majestic. Ramos i'm not a fan of but he has a super tournament too IMO.

Young Player: Alba for sure, looked some talent. Reminds me of Lizarazu small but fiery and has some engine. Barca picked up yet another potential superstar.

[Reece]

Pirlo got schooled yesterday though

[danperkins]

Wouldn't say schooled and sure only so much one man can do, & Italy got beaten by one of the best teams of all time. Regardless for me he was the stand out performer in the competition.

[Trippendicular]

Wouldn't say schooled and sure only so much one man can do, & Italy got beaten by one of the best teams of all time. Regardless for me he was the stand out performer in the competition.

I don't understand this revisionism. He himself admitted he underperformed in the group stages, and his supposed "standout" performance against England yielded zero goals/assists over 120 minutes against a team that played right into his hands. He was anonymous in the final (through no real fault of his own), so to call him player of the tournament is laughable.

And he's one of my favourite players of the last decade so it's not down to bias.

[danperkins]

I don't understand this revisionism. He himself admitted he underperformed in the group stages, and his supposed "standout" performance against England yielded zero goals/assists over 120 minutes against a team that played right into his hands. He was anonymous in the final (through no real fault of his own), so to call him player of the tournament is laughable.

And he's one of my favourite players of the last decade so it's not down to bias.

He got 3 man of the match awards in the tournament. Laughable? That's just a silly comment mate.

Who cares if he got no goals or assists against England he absolutely bossed the game and got MOM, he was fantastic against Spain in the first match, MOM vs Croatia too & was a master class vs Germany in which he got MOM. I was at the Ireland game when he was quiet but still superb. Couldn't do much in the final but as you said through no fault of his own, just didn't happen against such a great side. Injury to Cheilini and 10 men killed the game off, not there was any chance of them coming back.

Nobody will begrudge Iniesta the award as he is an absolute genius, but to be so dismissive Pirlo's performances and contribution is just plan ridiculous. I highly doubt i'd be alone in this assessment.

[Buzzo]

Iniesta played through passes for the first 2 goals that were

I'd had Pirlo as player of the tournament last night, but Iniesta owned the game whilst he was playing.

[danperkins]

Iniesta played through passes for the first 2 goals that were

I'd had Pirlo as player of the tournament last night, but Iniesta owned the game whilst he was playing.

same as myself but yes Iniesta was incredible, as were Spain. And with that performance and Spain winning he might have edged it. He really is a genius.

As for Pirlo i was reading ESPN top 40 players of the tournament, they published it before the tournament, Pirlo was at number 30!!! The guy showed that he is still world class.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/02/euro-2012-review-guardian

Guardian writers have Iniesta just edging it over Pirlo. Clearly they don't think that Pirlo for player of the tournament was laughable either

[Buzzo]

I should have said, I'd had Pirlo as player of the tournament until last night, but Iniesta edged it.

Pirlo was class though until then though.

Last night Spain really upped their game (they did not play that well against Portugal or the French, efficient without being outstanding) and gave about as complete a performance as you could hope to see (esp in the 1st half).

Iniesta was sublime, Xavi was back to his best - and Fabregas seemed to finally suss out his role in the midfield 6.

I'd go as far as to say last night was about as good as I've ever seen Iniesta play.

[danperkins]

I should have said, I'd had Pirlo as player of the tournament until last night, but Iniesta edged it.

Pirlo was class though until then though.

Last night Spain really upped their game (they did not play that well against Portugal or the French, efficient without being outstanding) and gave about as complete a performance as you could hope to see (esp in the 1st half).

Iniesta was sublime, Xavi was back to his best - and Fabregas seemed to finally suss out his role in the midfield 6.

I'd go as far as to say last night was about as good as I've ever seen Iniesta play.

spot on completely agree.

Was great to See Spain up their game to what we all know they can play like. As you said efficient against France which was enough, seems Portugal gave them their biggest scare of the tournament.

Best game i've seen Cesc play in quite some time too & yes you won't see many performances better than Iniesta's last night, ghosting by players and picking out impossible passes. If Messi wasn't around IMO Iniesta would be considered the best player in the world. I know Ronaldo is incredible too but for me Iniesta is a genius.

[Gibbo]

@OptaFranz: 81% - Mats Hummels won 81% of his duels at EURO 2012, the best record of all players with at least 20 duels. Wall.

Would love it if we signed that lad.

[danperkins]

He was absolutely superb apart from vs italy. Looks some player but not a hope in the world of us attracting him

[Shaggy]

Spain were obviously better last night but the main factor was Italy being themselves, playing two up front and not strangling the life out of the game. Paid the price like but that for me was the biggest factor.

[danperkins]

Spain were obviously better last night but the main factor was Italy being themselves, playing two up front and not strangling the life out of the game. Paid the price like but that for me was the biggest factor.

Italy did need that extra man in midfield, Balotelli and Cassano are so unpredictable, both have had great tournaments but their either on or their off, unfortunately for Italy they were very much off last night.

Terrible the score finished 4-0, Cheilini off was a massive blow to Italy & sure any chances or them making a game out of it were destryoed when Motta got injured. Great game though and sure fair play to Italy nobody (myself included) gave them a chance in hell at start of this competition but hey showed guts and great team spirit which was like the Italy of old.

[cream]

Player of tourno - Iniesta, he's ****ig sublime.

Young'un - Alba.

Overall, started off really good with the group games then fizzled out from QFs. Not the best tournament and not the worst either.