[Habitant]

So, let's make some final comments and replys:

About the final

The final was mainly decided by the coaches - the 70-year old Aragones won with his order, routine and knowledge. Jogi Löw was a bit incompetent. He had 2/3 factors Klinsmann had - he prepared his squad for the tournament both phisically and mentally, but he lacked of tacticall skill. His awfull subs - one after another turned Germany at the end into an impotent and crippled giant. As if he was blind - he took away strenght from the flanks and gave space for Kuraniy and Gomez - two tall strikers who didn't do any good till the final. He forced Germany to play even less through the wings or midfield, even more with the unprecise Metze and Merte, and the long passes. Very incompetent subs by Löw!

I was against Spain with all my heart, but they deserved the victory! They did amazingly well, and their game-building process is nice to watch. So, in a way, football did win. Torres, Iniesta and Ramos still stay the arrogant-antipatic guys but they did it and deserved it! The Marchena-Puyol-Ramos line was brilliant, with the addition of Casillas. No goal conceeded after one Ibrahimovic scored!!! (Not counting the B-side match)
Not every but yes.
Hope not. He'll get his moment.
Looser-kusen mentality. Poor Balle.
(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)   (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Wrong. Tactically acute? You think Jogi Löws tactic's were acute? Pihhhh,.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)   (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

The Turkey-Germany was entertaining but it was very confusing. This isn't a real "Finale match" that was good football but not world-class.
About EURO 2008

My ideal XI+:

-----------------------Casillas---------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
-- Ramos -- Puyol - Kolodin (Å imunić) -- Zhirkov --
-----------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Deco (Senna)------------------------
---------------------------Xavi---------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
--Schweinsteiger---------------Sneijder (Arshavin)---
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------Torres---Pavlyuchenko----------------

coach: Hiddink

Not that entertaining. The Euro 2000 was the very best of the recent 3. We saw some good teams, not many new discoverys, which means nowdays noone can pull up a surprise player. Like Germany did in 2004, with Poldi.

Actually, not many really beautiful goals, agreed? The Sneijder one, 2 German and 2 Russian goals, the Villa and the Henry one...that's about it (sure, I forgot one or two). Not many volley-goals or long distance goals like in 2002 for ex. (Forlan), not a single free-kick goal (!!), and yes, Ballack scored but that wasn't a direct FK goal, not many "curiosity" goals or funny goals, not many akward situations.

Also, just 3 red cards, 5 penalties, about 20-30 ref mistakes,...all in all a decent tournament. Many matches in rain - which didn't happen for a long while (help, anyone recall a WC or Euro with that many rain in recent time!!!).

Ricardo - sure! Lehman...a bit harsh but could be. Nah, Chech will be remembered as the king of Euro 2008  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)   (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

i thought 06 produced lots of beautiful goals, especially lots of long range ones

[Zed.D]

Torres, Iniesta and Ramos still stay the arrogant-antipatic guys but they did it and deserved it!

Iniesta is arrogant and antipathic? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) can you tell me why? has he talked BS? does he spit on other players? or because you don't like his baby face? exactly why he is so loathsome? I don't get it...


Anyway, the fact of this tournament: Xavi > Pirlo. I mean, had Pirlo played like this over the tournament people would have killed themselves pouring praise on him... Xavi deserves more applaud.

Anyway... I too think this was a very entertaining tournament with a lot of 'surprises'. that's what makes football a pleasure to watch. no team deserved it more than Spain, they justly won it. can't wait for the Olympics to begin now!

[KillerMax]

Torres. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

I actually thought Torres had a really poor tournement myself.. Yes, he scored in the final, but alot of credit must surely go to the comedy duo of Lahm and Lehmann for that one!

Anyways, my team for the tournement.

Casillas

Sergio Ramos - Boulahrouz - Puyol - van Bronkhorst

Senna

Xavi - Fabregas - Sneijder

Pavlyuchenko - Villa

A few players slightly out of position, I know, but I just felt these were the best players. Villa was great, looked threatening all the time. Pavlyuchenko was also very good, just frustrating to watch, he could score so many more. Fabregas and Sneijder lead the tournement with assists, Cesc came on as sub most games, but they looked a better team with him. Cavi was possibly player of the tournement. Senna was a key part of the Spain team, without him staying back and let the pacey youngsters venture forward, they could have been beaten easily. Holland were great at the back for the most part, they took Boulahrouz off gainst Russia and then fell apart! Puyol and Ramos were superb in the knockout stages (3 clean sheets in a row) and Casillas.. didn't have much to do in the final, but always looked great when necessary.

[Jack Sparrow]

I like kurt's team, I was so convinced he'd put in Arshavin for some reason. Now that I've said it, kurtie pie will come out and say he hates Arshavin (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'd probably put Zhirkov instead of Bronkhorst. Play Xavi a little more withdrawn. But yeah, it's a good formation.

Nice one kurtie- I see being around me so long, has worked out in your favour. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) There's hope for England yet! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

I like kurt's team, I was so convinced he'd put in Arshavin for some reason. Now that I've said it, kurtie pie will come out and say he hates Arshavin (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'd probably put Zhirkov instead of Bronkhorst.  Play Xavi a little more withdrawn. But yeah, it's a good formation.

Nice one kurtie- I see being around me so long, has worked out in your favour. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) There's hope for England yet! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

My anti-Russa/Croatia thing is over, for now. Seeing them eliminated at such a late stage was good enough for me. But Arshavin didn't play enough to warrant a pick, and he was invisible in the Spain game. Though I was tempted to go with a Craot defender, they did well at the back all tournement.

Zhirkov/GvB was a close call. I was tempted to go with Zhirkov as Russia won the head-to-head game.. but Holland did so well defensively in such a tough group, I just had to go with him.

England are just giving the rest of the World a false sense of security. We'll scrape into the World Cup and everybody will be "England din't qualify for the Euro's and barely qualified for this, they aint all that." Then BAM! World Champions!.. It's about then that I'll wake up. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[dst]

I'm not happy to say this but they deserved it. They are not a good team but then no team in this tournament were better than them... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Ah! It sucks!

Anyway...

Kurt... Ramos in the best XI of the tournament? Well I know this is just going to initiate a pointless argument that will end with such comments as "we have to agree to disagree" or "well, who cares anyway?" (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but here's what I think of your choice: (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

By the way... Greece, Spain... this should give you hope that even England might win it! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

*runs away*

This post has been edited by dst: Jun 30 2008, 03:08 PM

[kurtsimonw]

I must admit, the Euro's is won by average teams alot, I'm surprised we've never won it. And yes, Ramos is awesome!

(IMG:http://fotos.subefotos.com/a35f3f85de0eee117e0b29d5e32001c7o.gif)

I could watch it again, and again, and again, and again. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[dst]

Just a note, that's Torres, not Ramos... the latter is that guy at RB who was average throughout the whole tournament.

Or is it that you dislike Lahm so much!? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Jako19]

My team of the Euro2008

----------------------------------Casillas--------------------------------------------------

----------------Ramos-----Chiellini-----R Kovac-----Zhirkov-----------------------------

---------------------------Senna or Aurelio(couldnt decide)------------------------

---------------------------Xavi-----------Deco-----------------------------------------

--------------Schweinsteiger--------------------------Snijder-----------------------
---------------------------------------Villa--------------------------------------------

This post has been edited by Jako19: Jun 30 2008, 04:50 PM

[kurtsimonw]

Just a note, that's Torres, not Ramos... the latter is that guy at RB who was average throughout the whole tournament.

Or is it that you dislike Lahm so much!? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Yes I know that's Torres! I don't dislike Lahm, I think he's very over-rated. I thought he was very average in the group stages, and was really terrible vs Turkey and Spain.

My team of the Euro2008                           
               
                Ramos 

Is that every single team of the tournement that's been posted to include a Mr. Sergio Ramos? Oh I think it is, no surprises there, eh, dst? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tennie]

I'm with dst on this one. Ramos is good, but he's far from being the world-beater he's made out to be. He can make some kaladzity-level mistakes too.

In all honesty, the defending in the entire tournament was...eh. Not all that great overall.

[dst]

Is that every single team of the tournement that's been posted to include a Mr. Sergio Ramos? Oh I think it is, no surprises there, eh, dst? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

You all know ****! I'm right and you are all wrong. It makes sense! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Honestly now, I think Ramos was awful in the group stage and against Italy and average in the semi and final. Most RB's in the tournament were better than him but he's getting credit because his team won the cup.

But... we have to agree to disagree and... who cares anyway? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Most RB's in the tournament were better than him

Yet the RB in this tournement that plays for Milan was useless. Figures. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[dst]

Yet the RB in this tournement that plays for Milan was useless. Figures. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Oh yeah Ramos was better than Zambrotta! Well done!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)