Now, let's talk some SOCCER!

Well, Snowbound....

The best thing they can do imho is..... give their prime-minister Berlusconi (multi-millionair from his teleivisioncompany-empire a.o.) a call and beg him to bribe one of the Scandinavian teams....

Tell you why:
It really is not up to the Italians anymore; they might even make 20 goals and still have to pray for a winner in the Sweden-Denmark game...
Italia is in big fear right now:
They are -not surprisingly- afraid the scandinavians will make a deal to draw (this needs to be @least 2-2 btw)....in which case both the Danes and the Swedes will go through to the 1/4finals.
Nothing you can do about that, in case it does happen- no rules can prohibit this, not to mention the difficult fact of "proof".

Only comfort the Azzuri have right now is this:
The Denmark-Sweden battle can be compared to the Dutch-German rivalry.... and Denmarks' coach Morten Olsen honestly stated: WE GO FOR A WIN.
(After making jokes of having already made the deal, yesterday...)

But this EURO2004 is all about surprises and excitement.. so do tune in again!

regards,
slam

 

hmmm... something to think about.

The Italians where i work were having a heated discussion today on this subject.

They called it " The Conspiracy Theory"

Yes, lets hope for this.

I surely will, Thank u once again Slammer!



snowbound

 

hahaha , always sooo passionate in everything, those pasta's

 

GROUP C
SWE 4
DEN 4
ITA 2
BUL 0

The Italians NEED to win with LOTS of goals

Denmark has to LOOSE

in one word: LUCK is what they need

 

Let's hope Lady Luck is on their side tomorrow....

On a sour note from the Italian side,

Totti considers legal action,

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/euro/news_Story.asp?ID=88451

what next.....


snowbound

 

Let's hope not

Both scandinavian teams play a much more attractive (=attacking!) game...

 

and here i thought u were a big fan of the Azzuri!


snowbound

 

Not to keep harping on this but i also would like to know what it will take for Holland to move on.

It would be nice to know before the game what will be necessary for this to happen.

Is it as dire for Holland as it is for Italy?


snowbound

 

Holland HAS TO WIN with MORE THAN 2 GOALS if Germany looses.

Well, if Germany wins ........ hmm..... bye, bye

 

Hmm almost, I would say...

Honestly, not sure what the outcome will be - taking into account all mathematics, history, strength/weaknesses-comparisons, club-interests of the players and other sidestories...
it's still an open game... hey, no one mentions this, but: Even the Latvians still have (theoretical) chances!!!

pfew...

But to come back to your question in the first place-here's what I think is the story on wednesday matches (and please, correct me if I'm wrong folks!) :

Current ranking in group: see below.
1) Germany NEED a WIN over the Czechs to qualify.
2) Holland NEED a WIN against Latvia , providing the Germans lose or draw...

3) eeeh... let's keep it with these 2 for now; lost already LOL

Can anybody elaborate on how the Latvians can still qualify? Slammer is just too tired now, need some rest

Get back on this one - it's the topic of the country tomorrow, so I''d know by then hahaha.

sleep well in Europe - have a nice evening/morning overseas, evrybody

nighty-night zzzzzzzzzzz

slammer

 

I think Totti would have an excellent chance of winning a lawsuit against all of the video guys who caught him spitting in the Swede's face. Even though Totti admitted the dastardly deed he could claim temporary insanity or that the "Devil" made him do it. His lawyers are claiming that because all of the media hype that his reputation has been damaged. Huh! From what I have seen, for him, it is business as usual. I'm rooting for Bulgaria even though I can't pronounce any of their names and both my parents were born in Italy.

If tommorrows matches are anything like today it would be fantastico.

big ed

 

If Latvia wins over Holland and Germany loose or draw from czechs: Latvia qualify.
If Latvia and Holland draw and Czechs and Germany draw: German qualify.

Good night/morning/evening from me as well, cu tomorrow.

Gerard

 

Thank u all for clearing that up for me.

Ed, i agree with u. From what i have heard and seen,Totti's reputation was already suspect before this dispictable act took place.


snowbound

 

Oh and goodnight fine people from the Netherlands, and anywhere else u all might be from.


snowbound

 

Hi People, Knowing that most everyone in the Land of Tulips are fast asleep I thought it would be good to hit you with this one. In a previous post I related how a bunch of fans got together to buy "Dickie" a plane ticket out of Portugal for an unknown destination. Well, here it is folks. According to "reliable sources", Italian fans have decided on the same plan. Dickies plane is headed for Italy and Trap will go to Holland on free transfers. Now everybody will be Happy! I can just see all the smiles in both camps.

big ed

 

Sadly,(for me anyway), they didn't make it.

You're right here Slammer.

Italy's old defensive style is boring and probably what has gotten them where they are in this tournament, out.

But all is not lost.

My favourite, Holland, is still in the running.

Hopefully tomorrow will have better results for the great people of the Netherlands.

We are all cheering for u!


HUP HOLLAND HUP!



snowbound

 

well it was indeed a 2-2 draw, and what a great game it was too, despte the rain.. the danes did really try to win this, so no conspiracy there.. they had chances to win it 6-2

so goodbye italy, next time try to score some goals will 'ya

 

Hi, I was wondering why neither Klivert or Overmars have been used? Too bad one of my all time favorites, Bergkamp, is not available. I am not much of a team backer but I have a lot of favorite players that I enjoy watching.

big ed

 

Hi,

Kluivert is performing not to well this year. In fact in my opinion: rubbish.
Overmars is ok but doesnt fit in todays tactics, lol. Maybe the 2nd half he will play.

Gerard

 

Well, Holland had better better have some secret weapon up their sleeve. Latvia has shown that they can compete. I noticed that the Danish and Swedish Tabloids have been having a field day teasing the Italians. The Toronto Star had an amusing article.
I doubt that there is any other sport where the "Minnows" consistantly take a bite out of the "Sharks".

What a game!

big ed

 

Vanaf kwartfinales 'silver goal'

LISSABON - Vanaf de kwartfinales geldt bij het Europees kampioenschap voetbal in Portugal de zogeheten 'silver goal'-regel. Is de stand na 90 minuten voetballen gelijk, dan volgt een verlenging van 15 minuten. Die wordt altijd uitgespeeld, ook als er een of meer doelpunten vallen.

Levert die eerste verlenging geen winnaar op, dan volgt een tweede verlenging van 15 minuten. Is de strijd na 120 minuten voetbal nog steeds niet beslist, dan volgt de beroemde strafschoppenserie.

De aanvoerders van beide teams tossen om de keuze van het doel te bepalen. De arbiter kan die keuze overrulen en van doel veranderen, bijvoorbeeld uit veiligheidsoverwegingen. (ANP)

Translation ((my best and short)):

At quarter finals after 90 minutes play and it is a draw the two teams will play another 15 minutes. If it is still a draw they will play another 15 minutes and with no goals or equal goals then they will take penalty shots, 5 shots for each team to start with.

 

Curious:

In about one hour from now there is a bus leaving from my village to the village Laubere in Latvia. Every year since 1996 they exchange teenagers and adults, taking there school furniture, computers, toys. So my great support to these volunteer guys and galls who are helping to build a school and orphan house there.
But ofcourse I hope we will win from them in soccer terms.

 

right now:

Holland leads 1-0 against Latvia
Czech and Germany: draw 1-1

 

and now holland leads 2-0

 

half time:

Netherlands-Latvia 2-0
Germany-Czech Rep: 1-1

If nothing change in the 2nd half NL will go to 1/4 finals, but they have to play another 45 minutes, :-0