Now, let's talk some SOCCER!

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3 days left, and counting...

aargh: I just received a tape of the latest secret trainingsession of the German team!
This isn't looking very promising for the Dutch!

click here to see the training

 

Good one !!!

 

For the Canadian Soccer fans - turn on TSN !!!! (9 am PDT) it just starts

 

EURO 2004
Opening match:

Portugal vs. Greece 0-1 (Half time)

Surprising.

 

Yeah - I watch it - WHAT is wrong with Portugal

 

WOW! What a tragedy... penalty for Greece...0-2!!! (51")
They really need to get rid of their nerves now; the homecountry...

 

Portugal > Greece: 1:2 oh, oh

 

Looks like the hosts might not be around long.



snowbound

 

Heh heh

Spain - Russia is the next game they will show on TSN

Again a "surprise" in petto??

 

For a soccer-newbie, this may be quite a bold statement, snowbound!
But I happen to agree; for Greece was the underdog(!) in this poule; the Portuguese have a lot of work to do against their neighbours, the strong Spanish and the unpredictable Russians....

ooh oh.... guess they weren't expecting to have to play the fado (sort of blues) on the first day eh?

 

Luckily i can always plead ignorance if i'm wrong.


snowbound

 

Yep! And I can't! So, I am pleased and releaved - to say the least- to give you the result of :

Spain vs. Russia 1-0
(Valeron)

pfew... a win for Spain (I was one goal too optimistic...)

 

Greece spoil hosts' party

Assured display
It was the first time the hosts had lost the opening match of a UEFA European Championship, but in truth it was a disappointing display from Portugal, who gave away possession far too easily. Greece, on the other hand, played with great freedom and assurance, none more so than Angelos Charisteas.

http://www.euro2004.com/Tournament/Matches/Round=1581/Match=1059164/index.html

Valerón sparks Spain success

Valerón for victory
With Greece having unexpectedly defeated hosts Portugal earlier in the day, both sides knew that a victory would make qualification for the quarter-finals a distinct possibility. However, in the event Valerón's cool finish on the hour proved enough, while Russia ended with ten men as Roman Sharonov was dismissed for a second yellow card having brought down substitute Fernando Torres.

http://www.euro2004.com/Tournament/Matches/Round=1581/Match=1059165/index.html

 

Predictions for the next 2 please,

Switzerland vs Croatia

France vs England



snowbound

 

England ready for France
England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson says that he will not need to remind his players that they are capable of beating France in their first UEFA EURO 2004™ Group B game on Sunday – because they already know it.

My vote: 1:2

Switzerland lose Borer
Switzerland’s third choice goalkeeper Fabrice Borer has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2004 ™ after breaking his arm. Borer becomes Switzerland's fourth casualty in the run-up to the finals after Marco Streller, Leonard Thurre and Johann Lonfat all had to withdraw from the tournament due to injuries.

Croatia confidence
The Croatians are guided by much-travelled coach Otto Baric, who has replaced the gifted generation of the mid-1990s with a talented new set of players that are high on confidence after successive wins against Denmark, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Slovakia.

Switzerland : Croatia
My vote: 0:2

 

Aye-aye sir
Do I still dare to give you my predictions after the first upset of the cup?
YES I DO
Prepare for some more to come:

EURO 2004 day 2
Predictions:

Switzerland vs. Croatia 0-1

A small apetizer for the diehards to begin with; this may well become a very dull game (but I've been wrong today as well, so who knows?)
To be honest I have lost interest in, and track of both teams the last 4 years; because of retiring stars and boring play.
So, I can't go into much detail for these two - anyone else?
Imho the tournament-experience and -succes in the past (1998: 3rd at Worldcup) will balance the scale in favor of the Croats in the end: 0-1


But then beware:

France vs. England 2-3 (!!!)


One of the classics we all have been waiting for- they don't come much bigger than this one! (well, actually they do, next Tuesday...hehehe)
The clash between the brilliance and genius of defending Champions France, versus the toughness and character of the Tommies: it's gonna be dynamite, fireworks and a feast for the eyes.
The ancient rivalry will get a new chapter, with protagonists a.o.: magnificent Thierry Henry & Zinedine Zidane on the French side, and Michael Owen & youngster Wayne Rooney on the English front.
YUM YUM ! (Phone off the hook: "No! I am not at home!!!" .
Better yet: I'll be in the pub-where else?)

While the whole world and all connaisseurs are betting on France to crash good ol' England....... I DON'T!
I expect a major upset, with goals scored back and forth and Britannia ruling the waves at final whistle.

Mark my words... (and please be gentle with me if I got it all wrong after all...)

Regards,
Slam (not quite impartial- Lions across the Channel unite! )


P.S. What's that? Why I didn't mention David Beckham? Obviously: Has anyone seen a certain Rebbeca Loos lately, in Portugal? There you go : how could that spoiled brat -Becks, I mean!- retain any form or interest in other games, while lackin a good f***? (censored)

 

Sunday 13th June 2004

Greece's night of celebration

It was meant to be Portugal's day of celebration, as they opened UEFA's EURO 2004 on their home turf. But the party was in Greece as Otto Rehhagel's squad shocked the host 2-1 in Porto.

Club loyalties put aside
Omonia square, in the heart of Athens, is usually the focus for Panathinaikos FC celebrations, but club-loyalties were replaced by national pride as for the first time a Greece triumph was hailed. Indeed, Greek fans have never had a finals tournament win to wallow in before saturday!

Breaking news
Even television stations not following the game, broke into their regular programmes to hail the Group A victory.


Taken from UEFA EURO 2004tm - News
click above for the entire article

 

Desktop Sven

For all England fans: you can download this funny desktop cartoon of England manager Sven Goran Eriksson here!

Get the latest news, stats, and gossip directly from the Swedish chef himself!



Rule Britannia!
slammer

 

Nice desktop image Slammer!

I wonder if Beckham has it on his PC.

I don't paticularly like either England or France but i do hope for a favourable result for England because i think France has been bragging to much and think they are unstoppable.

Sometimes this type of over confidence will come back and bite u in the a*s.

Just my 2 cents worth.


snowbound

 

I agree! And don't we Dutch know about that too? Alas, we do....
I DO like the English.
If/when? Holland should get kicked out, the Tommies are my adopted team!


grtz 2u, dragon
slam

 

I will go with Italy if Holland is eliminated.

What do u think Italy's chances are realistically? Some of my italian friends say if Maldini was to play they would be in positon to win it all.


snowbound

 

Si.... the Squadra Azzuri... sigh...yeah, what to expect from those pasta's this year... I honestly can't tell you. I just don't know.
They always raise high expectations, but hardly ever fulfill them when the going gets tough... besides that, I really don't like their Catenaccio (= defensive cunning hitman-like) system, though they're not playing it that defensive as they used to do in the old days...
Maldini was really one of my favourites though: one of the last loyal clubplayers (I believe he's now for the 20th consecutive year with Milan)
An example professional and technician for all young players all over the world, with great skills and an outstanding discipline. And a nice chap as well.

Other nice thing about the Italians -especially for the female fans- is their dress and looks: love the blue outfit.

Italy will earn my blessing if playing attractive;
if not..... arrivederci: e PRONTO !!!!



ciao
Slam

 

Eventually I am back home.. Enjoyed very much the blues festival in Utrecht. So we get free Ouzo's after Greece victory, cause we were dining in a Greece restaurant, lol
For tonight I am looking forward to France-England: 2-3
And Switzerland-Croatia, I expect 0-3.
So lot of goals and wonderfull matches I hope.

 

Croatia and Switzerland are going to draw the match unless last minute strike.. hmmm this cup is going to be something miraculous.. But heh... I dont know.. really whom to support in France / England..!!!! Man.. Becks/ Zidane , Owen/ Henry, and.. then there are others.. gonna love it...

Regards

 

``It's normal to fear the French team,'' France and Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane said. ``We have the players to win this tournament.''



With France as the tournament favourite, England is a capable outsider desperate to end its 38-year wait for another major soccer trophy.



``It will be a very physical match, against a formidable midfield,'' Zidane said. ``They have a lot of experience and are a physical team.''


Well let's wait and see