EURO 2004: General

[Hitro]

I think a thread like this makes sense so that we don't completely spam up the group threads with other discussions.

All teams have played now, what do you think?

Here's my tremendously well thought-out analysis:

Best team so far: Denmark

Good (as expected): Spain

Good (surprisingly): Greece, Sweden, Germany

Disappointment: Portugal, France, Italy, Czech Republic, The Netherlands

Would be a surprise to make it to the quarters: Russia, Latvia

This should be enough for a start.

 

[Marla_Singer]

That's the 22nd thread about the Euro !

[dance] [dance]

 

[Inter4]

C. Rep should be added to the Disappointment group. Even though they won, they still didn't play as expected.

 

[Hitro]

It is rather well organized this time, don't you remember the chaos during the last World Cup, which eventually led to the creation of this forum?

 

[Hitro]

C. Rep should be added to the Disappointment group. Even though they won, they still didn't play as expected.

Very true, I forgot them. Will add it.

 

[Marla_Singer]

About France.

I understand why you've ranked them in the disappointment group because they didn't create as much as we could expect them to. However, they've broken the curse from 2002 world cup.

At the 88th minute of the game, I was already thinking that we hadn't score any goal in both euro and world cup since Trezeguet's golden goal in 2000. No goal during the first game would have been psychologically awful for the team. The surprizing victory have improved their moral a lot ! They were singing again in the dressing room as they did in 98 and 2000.

This being said, they have yet to confirm against Croatia. If they can't score against that team which has been very deceptive against Switzerland, it will be a very bad sign. So, about France, I would say : too soon to tell.


About England now, they've played surprizingly defensive against France. Obviously counters are the best way to put France in difficulty and they've got it (bad tip to give to other teams). England was still very well in place. They've played a real quality football and there was few misunderstandings between players. I would be desappointed if they don't go through their group.

 

[Dell19]

It is rather well organized this time, don't you remember the chaos during the last World Cup, which eventually led to the creation of this forum?

That was fun... I remember for the first time OT was being dominated by another topic...

 

[Hitro]

So, about France, I would say : too soon to tell.

Well, that's true for all teams of course. It's all about "so far". Portugal should improve, they play at home after all. England will have to prove (hopefully) if they are able to create something instead of plain destroying. Italy might well improve, or so I hope at least.
And so on.

But so far I stand by that list. France played awfully uncreative, they never came close to using their potential. And that was disappointing. That they still probably played better than Greece doesn't matter in this list. It is not about the question if Greece is better than France but just if they live up to my expectations of them.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Of course Hitro. However, there were 8 english guys in the penalty area during two thirds of the game. It's not that easy this way. I won't bash them because they've taken 88 minutes to break a concrete wall.

 

[Hitro]

Of course Hitro. However, there were 8 english guys in the penalty area during two thirds of the game. It's not that easy this way. I won't bash them because they've taken 88 minutes to break a concrete wall.

Fair point. But still they could have tried a little more and especially a little more different things. Like the Danes, who had less luck but seemed more creative.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Fair point. But still they could have tried a little more and especially a little more different things. Like the Danes, who had less luck but seemed more creative.

I agree.

How do we get rid of that 10 characters limit !

 

[WS78]

Did any one catch that slomo of Kurinya getting a major boot to the head by Stam?

 

[Hitro]

Did any one catch that slomo of Kurinya getting a major boot to the head by Stam?

Yeah, that was a penalty.

 

[Dell19]

Was it entirely on purpose? I haven't seen a recent replay but I seem to remember the ball having just travelled through the area where Stam's boot was following...