Group A :
Israel
Holland
Portugal
Belgium
Group B :
Italy
England
Serbia
Czech Republic
Four best teams going to Olimpics games.
Today games:
Netherlands 18:15 Israel
Portugal 20:45 Belgium
Czech Republic 18:15 England
Serbia 20:45 Italy
I'm watching Holland-Israel.
25' 1-0
MVB'll be keeeping his eyes open...current team is cr@p. Mainly coz none of them remember how to play the 4-3-3. Except maybe Robben.
Holland 1-0 Israel FT
Decent start for the hosts, I thought they were a little disappointing though.
Just looked at the line-ups for the Portugal - Belgium games.
I believe I've only heard of a couple of players from either side, they must play club football in their own country or something.
Antunes had better come on for Portugal at some point, I need to see the kid for myself.
I expected the Netherlands to trounce Israel in the first game; I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Israeli U21s played. There are some very good young players on the team. They could easily have gotten an equalizer.
The Portuguese U21s are...wow. A very strong team. A pretty good percentage of the starters are from Sporting (Nani, Moutinho, Veloso at least. I think a couple more?). I'm looking forward to seeing how they do.
misha...I know ur heartbroken...but any dutch bloke u saw, who could be good?
I need to place a call through to Marco...
Ryan Babel is good for the Netherlands, Jack.
Watching the Belgium-Portugal game now (0-0 in the 17th min). The Belgians look like they're trying to foul Nani out of the game.
Ahh yes..Babel the Ajax kid...actually I'd prefer it if we bagged Eto'o and then nailed this kid(on the transfer market...b4 all the dirty minds on the forum go bark! ).
So he's also a wing forward. Right footed kid who plays sublime on the left. Can be exactly like Henry, play outside on the left and cut in and bring players in.
Heck if MVB says, he's got the potential to be better than Henry, who the f@ck are we to argue??!!
I can bet you anything Babel has no future on the left hand side of the Dutch national team.
He only has Robin van Persie, Rafael van Der Vaart and Arjen Robben's superb left foot to contend with.
Well Marco mostly plays RVP on the right...coz he needs someone with brains on the wing forward role. You could see Robben and RVP carry that Dutch side....last WC
Robben gets injured pretty easily, so that's no issue. And as for Van der Vaart, he's like their number 10 isn't he?
He can play down the middle for them...Babel will get his chance...
Er. Robben, Van der Vaart and Van Persie are AMs, correct? Babel is a number 9. No conflict between him and them.
van Der Vaart and van Persie play in their respective positions because Robben has the left wing nailed down.
The World Cup showed this with van Persie on the right and van Der Vaart on the bench. How a player of his quality is on the bench is beyond me, even if you play him out of position, get him on the pitch!
Apart from Babel, Aissati can became a very good player. He played today only 40 min cuz of injury. He's small, fast ,has a very good technique and playing RAM or SS.
Portugal 0-0 Belgium HT
Portugal haven't been that impressive, but they've had their players kicked all over the place. Belgium are alot better than I thought, might make that group a little more interesting.
0-0, bad match, bad result for us. We're not gonna make the semis.
Now, on Wednesday, we'll get r*ped by Holland.
We'd better make it to the Olympics.
How does the tournement work?
Top 2 from each group go through (And qualify for the Olympics) and then it's just a knockout between those 4 for the winner?
Why isn't France in it?
Did I miss anything?
They must not have qualified.
Damn, I won't get to see Gourcuff then
How come Nasri is in the senior squad and he isn't?
HT. England 0 - Czech Republic 0.
2 yellow cards for England (Nugent & Richardson).
Carson just made another outstanding save. Hopefully he leaves Liverpool, he has no future there.
First right decision the referee made all night, clear handball in the area.
England, as usual, miss the penalty ('87).
FT: 0-0.
We're going to really struggle to go through now.
If we weren't so bad at penalties, we'd have won about 3 World Cups by now, easily.
they must take three pts or else all the pressure on them to get results against england and czechs.
Losing penalty shoot-outs is fair enough. But NOBODY should ever miss a penalty, I don't see how you can not be accurate from 12 yards, f*ck even I can score penalties!
Yeah. Just the 2 World Cups then. I forgot '96 was a Euro year.
Italy U21 - Serbia U21
Italy Line-up:
------------------- Curci -------------------
Raggi - Mantovani - Andreolli - Chiellini
----------------- Nocerino -----------------
------------ Aquilani -- Motolivo ---------
Rosina --------------------------- Palladino
------------------- Pazzini ------------------
The Azzurrini are playing in their white (away) kit. Hopefully it'll be lucky for them!
Goalkeeper change for Italy. Curci out (Muscle injury by the looks of things), Viviano in.
Maybe it's because they're opening games, maybe it's the very poor refereeing on show. But this tournement has been pretty awful as of yet, only 1 goal to show for in 300 minutes, let's hope it improves.
*hop* Rossi is warming up.
And....goal Milanovic in the 63rd min. Serbia 1 - Italy 0.
Serbia 1-0 Italy
huge blow
I think it's the worst possible news for England, if Serbia win I think we'll have to beat Italy, which I don't see us doing, or we're out.
Serbia 1-0 Italy FT
This is a very bad result. England - Italy on thursday is HUGE
well terrible result for italy but, hey if they wanna win the comp they'll have to beat teams like england and czechs. so you can't just count on the "easier" like serbia.
Curci is definitely the best goalie of the tournament. He's a great talent and I hope he will be available for the next matches! Too bad he's a Roma product, those lads come out faithful!
The other two I like from the Italian team are Montolivo and Pazzini. Both Fiorentina players. I guess most of you have already heard about Pazzini but Montolivo is something else... we should go for him, no doubt. He's so reminiscent of Pirlo and I'm almost certain that he's going to be his replacement in the Italy NT. I hope he'll replace him in Milan too!
From the other teams I like the following: (I LIKE THEIR FOOTBALL SKILLS!!!)
Portugal: Moutinho, the short one and Machado... the latter will hopefully play in one of the following games.
England: Leroy Lita. Not great but his name is cool!
Serbia. I think they have a very good team. Many of those youngsters will be in the Euro '08 if the senior team go through! Rukavina, Babović and ToÅ¡ić.
Israel: Ben Sahar is good but not that good. He's a Chelsea player isn't he? They know better than me of course...
Now get me Riccardo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like Moutinho too, dst. Even if he IS a Sporting player.
Fiorentina have a very good crop of young players -- Montolivo is one to watch.
The one Israeli player I really like, though he didn't show best form in the first game, is Toto Tamuz.
Be interesting to see what happens in today's big game: Portugal v. Netherlands part three. Hopefully NOT a record number of cards....
Today it's Israel-Belgium at 17:15 (GMT) and Netherlands-Portugal at 19:45.
Man. The Belgians aren't taking any prisoners. Very physical team.
Israel 0-1 Belgium
18' [Red Card] M. Fellaini
82' [0 - 1] K. Mirallas
Great result for Belgium, to play that long with 10 men, and to win, is very impressive.
................................................................................
.............................
Holland - Portugal is ten minutes young, from the start it shows signs of being a top game.
Holland 1-0 Portugal.
Babel penalty. It clearly wasn't, awful decision by the ref in my opinion.
It was a clear penalty. Stupid keeper. Just like our coach.
Anyway... we're sh!t. We don't deserve the Olympics.
On seeing the half time replays I'm uncertain from all angels. As the ref I wouldn't have given it, I wouldn't be 100%.
I really don't think it matters that you lose today. If you beat Israel (Very likely) and Holland beat Belgium (Can you see Holland doing Belgium any favours? ), You have a chance to go through, if it goes on goal difference. So I wouldn't panic yet.
Maybe the wrong choice of words there.
Holland 2-0 Portugal. Game over. '75.
EDIT: Maybe not, superb free-kick from Veloso. 2-1. '77.
Onighted fans must be thinking "We paid 25,5 million euros for Nani. What a robbery. The **** is not worth even half of that."
I've not heard his name all tournement.
Finally getting a chance to watch today's games. Veloso really was rather impressive. But the Portuguese goalie....I believe the right word in Portuguese is 'frango'. Oy. It'd be nice if the youth setups could produce a goalie and striker or two instead of a succession of world-class wingers.
The Dutch looked pretty good, as one would expect.
The Israelis looked good, but just weren't able to put away the chances they had.
The Belgians...man. Bunch of thugs, that lot.
Does anybody know why the Dutch keeper went off, I was listening to music at the time so I didn't hear a reason?
Waterman had a back injury, I think.
Speaking of keepers, it looks like Curci is definitely out of tomorrow's Italy-England game. His injury is 'being evaluated'.
I'll see that as good news for us.
They don't even need a keeper with the way we played in the first game, even the penalty was a complete miss.
I'm not too sure how I want the Serbia - Czech game to go, whichever result will benefit both England and Italy, I wouldn't like to see either miss out on the olympics.
Anybody saw Lita's SUPER MISS?
Italian keeper is sh!t. Pure sh!t.
It's a shame to see Italy go out, but I'm confident we can go all the way on the display we've put in on this first half hour, we've ripped them to shreds.
GOOLLLL! ITALIA! Lucky goal.
2-1. Anyway... England is MUCH BETTER than Italy. Way way better.
Juventus's Chiellini scored.
Me and my big mouth.
Should be 2-2 great header, even better save. Phew.
Ashley Young = England best player.
That Nuggent guy is not bad. Preston player isn't it? Historic team.
The keeper, Carson (Liverpool's right?) is very good too.
Geez. James Milner is 21? I thought he was 26 or something...
He doesn't look good for his age at all. He could become a top player.
2-2. Aquilani, great strike. We're being owned at the moment, we need to make some subs.
If we can hold on for a draw, a win against Serbia will surely put us through. This isn't TOO disasterous for us.
2-2. Nice shot.
England seems really tired.
Give Ashers the ball, let him run at their right back. There's only going to be one winner.
I have to say I've been very disappointed at the referees in this tournement, they've been sh!t. Way too many yellow cards have been shown, Ashley Young's now suspended for the next game.
England 2-2 Italy FT
Italy, on their second half showing, are by far the best team in the World at this level, they had 31 shots in the game, that's unbelievable. We robbed them of two points in my opinion. Thankfully it's still in our hands to go through.
I think we'll beat Serbia to go through, facing the Dutch in the semi's.
I thought Italy would win the group, clearly, what a disaster it's been for them.
I can't say I'm too bothered, if Italy go out it just gives us better chance.
Belgium - Holland
Portugal - Israel
Simultaneous kick-offs.
I think there may be another fixed match in order, between two rivals, to make sure they both go through. Similar to that of Denmark vs Sweden from Euro 2004.
Belgium and Holland to draw. Portugal to win.
Belgium 1-0 Holland. I still think it'll be a draw.
EDIT: Belgium 1-1 Holland.
EDIT 2: Belgium 1-2 Holland. Israel 0-1 Portugal. As it stands Portugal go through with Holland.. I think? Maybe not?
Israel 0-2 Portugal at the HT. 2 great goals.
1st by M.Fernandes... amazing midfielder (he said today that he's probably back in Benfica next season after 2 seasons on-loan in the EPL). The 2nd by Bolton's kid Vaz Te, nice header.
Belgium 1-2 Holland
With this... Portugal gets the 2nd place. We'll see what happens in the 2nd half.
That Vaz Te goal was pretty. Forca Portugal!
Edit: But Veloso's free-kick and Nani's piledriver were nicer.
Portugal 4- Israel 0.
Wow, I only went to get something to eat, I come back and it's 4-0.
Belgium 2-2 Holland. Poor goalkeeping, not that he didn't mean to do it.
Nani injuried.
Belgium 2-2 Holland. We're fvcked. 3rd place... great goalkeeping by Holland.
So predictable... 2-2 in Holland-Belgium. Just like the Denmark-Sweden in the Euro 2004 when they sent Italy out of the tournament.
I guess we've to wait to see if England goes trought and then we might go to the 3rd place playoffs to the Olympics with the 3rd place in England's group.
Don't worry, you'll get that 3rd place play-off.
Italy 1 - Czech Republic 0 (Aquilani) 3d minute
England 1 - Serbia 0 (Lita) 4th minute
Italy 1 - Czech Republic 1 (Papadopulos) 14th minute
Italy 2 - Czech Republic 1 (Chiellini) 29th minute
Italy 3 - Czech Republic 1 (Rossi!) 45th minute
England 1 - Serbia 0 (Derbyshire) 77th minute
Did anybody see the Serbia players after England scored the second goal? They were practically hitting Derbyshire. They had a player down and we didn't kick it out, Derbyshire was through, what did they expect him to do.. Miss on purpose?
Let's hope Serbia and Belgium kill each other in the semi-finals, neither of them know how to play football, just fight.
If I remember rightly their player went down in an earlier attack. Our move broke down and they cleared the ball down field. Why not kick it out of play to get him treatment? They had the chance to kick it out, as did we. They didn't, so why should we?
This is where European football needs to learn from the Premiership. The referee is in charge, nobody else. If a plyer is down and the ref feels he needs to stop the game then he'll blow the whistle, otherwise it's play on.
It stops divers and cheats.
Semifinals are now underway.
England and the Netherlands are goalless in the 30th minute. Lot of fouls by the Dutch, but they've also had 5 shots on goal compared to England's 1.
EDIT: But it's England's Leroy Lita who scores in the 39th.
EDIT 2: And Rigters equalizes for the Netherlands in the 89th minute. Pretty goal.
Looks like it's going to extra time.
I think it's almost pointless England going through now. We've got 4 suspensions and 2 or 3 injured from our first team. We'll just end up with heartbreak in the Final. Unless of course miracles do happen.
FT: Penalties it is.
Whether we lose or win it doesn't matter. We've played with 10 men throughout extra time, against the hosts, holders and the best team. It's simple maths though. England + Penalties = We all know.
Super Ashley Young! 1-0.
Babel 1-1
Milner 2-1!
Drenthe hit the post - 2-1 England!
Noble 3-1!
Janssen - 3-2 England
Hoyte saved 3-2. The keeper was on the penalty spot when he kicked it.
Holland also have a bad history with Penalties
How is the keeper getting away with it?
Derbyshire 4-3. Holland MUST score.
gone to 5-4 England. Carson scored.
7-6 England. Rosenior, sorry I've been messing the numbers up.
7-7
Reo-Coker - Saved. 7-7.
Well we're back to the start. Trust there to be different rules for England though.
Young scores, England lead.
Dutch score. Level.
Milaner scores, back in front!
Level again.
Noble.. England lead.
11-11.
I'm currently watching it on Eurosport....man...that's the most boring PK shootout I've ever seen...seems to me they don't want to win...
I think England should be awarded the Cup right now... they have scored more penalties than they have done in their entire history!!
Hoyte for England.. GOAL!!
They've levelled it up.
Derbyshire has his saved.
SAVED. Justice!
Fvck, we surely can't save again.
F****g hell we lose again on f*****g penalties, can we just not enter anymore, this is seriously getting pointless
There you have it. Cheats do prosper.
The best shoot-out I've ever seen. But their keeper was ridiculous, he was on the 6-yard-line when every penalty was taken.
England players learning from an early age how to lose on penalties
Edit: But I wanted them to win this time
I think it shows we can take penalties. Any other day we'd have won that, it's not very often it goes to 15 penalties each.
Holland can keep their Under-21 Title. But they'll never win a World Cup.
When I saw the PK shootout between Chelsea and Liverpool the german commentator invented one of the silliest terms I ever heard of (or maybe the english press invented it...anyway). After Lampard scored he said that Ballack teached him in the art of the "Mercedes Penalty"
A nice human interest story has come out of the U21s.
During the Italy-England game, Aquilani took a free kick that flew into the stands and the ball broke the arm of a young Dutch fan who'd come with his youth team to watch the game.
The Italian FA heard about this and invited the boy and his parents to meet the team. The boy (who, incidentally is a big fan of Milan) got autographs from the players and coaches, got an Aquilani jersey, and played pingpong with some of the players.
It was a nice thing for the Italian team to do.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2007/06_Giugno/20/aquilani.shtml
Darn...so now he's gonna be a Roma fan.
3rd places Portugal and Italy play for the Olympics at 19:30 (7 minutes).
Italy will beat us easily. Attention on Nocerino: very good. Juventus just signed him
I pick Italy to win 2-1.
They've played pretty well in every game, just been very unlucky. As Porty said, even thuogh they did get 4 last time out, they don't really have a striker.
anyone watching italy v portugal live? porty?
I am, it's not been the greatest game.
I just want to see another huge penalty shoot out.
Pazzini sure didn't have a good tournament. (Am following online and just saw the sub).
I've been impressed with Portugal's Veloso, though.
ROSSI OFF, ****!
Rossi's been sent off for complaining about being fouled by the looks of it.
Oops.
Red card for little Rossi.
EDIT: We clearly need to work on scheduling who gets to use the braincell when.
SENT OFF THAT IS! that retarted american *******, he just cost italy a place at the olympics
a striker has no reason to be sent off. with a midfielder or defender it happens cuz they gotta make tackles but for him to get too yellows.... he should have toned it down after the ifrts yellow... stupid ****!
portugal to win it in a SO
Portugal 0-0 Italy FT
Every referee has been crap in this tournement, I've never seen so many cards fly around before, it's pretty ridiculous.
(Netherlands - Portugal, 2006 world cup. Great kicking match, that. There was even some football too).
Our U21 is so sh!t that can't score against 10 italians...
Geez. Shame. I hope Italy wins.
So, Porty, is the Portuguese U21 keeper as good at penalty saving as Ricardo is? Looks like it may be heading that way....
Portugal just missed an open goal.
EDIT: 0-0 FT. Portugal had two great chances at the end to win it, but it goes to penalties
Portugal vs Italy: Penalties
[1-0] Moutinho: Scores
[1-1] Pelle: Scores (That penalty took balls.)
[2-1] Nani: Scores
[2-2] Montolivo: Scores
[2-2] Fernandez: Saved by Viviano
[2-3] Criscito: Scores
[3-3] Veloso: Scores
[3-4] Palladino: Scores
[3-4] Antunes: Missed
Italy win.
ROTFLOL. You keeper just got humiliated on the first penalty.
AHAHAH. The best young portuguese CM just missed the penalty.
Thank you Italy.
Antunes, kurt's boy, missed the last one.
Antunes has Villa qualities, that penalty was awful.
Nice goal. 1-0 Netherlands in the 16th minute. The Jong Oranje look good.
Holland lead 3-0. Babel just missed a penalty.
EDIT: 3-1, with 10 minutes to go.
EDIT 2: 4-1 Holland.
EDIT 3: Holland win the U21 Championships.
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