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| Euro 2008 Qualifying | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 22 2007, 08:27 AM (2,000 Views) | |
| Simon | Jun 1 2007, 02:12 PM Post #31 |
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I agree, but then we've been saying that about Portugal since Euro 96. Or, to be honest, since Eusebio. Pauleta never really cut it against top opposition or at tournaments. Portugal are an interesting case as they've never been able to sustain a place at the top table in the way that Brazil, Germany, England, Italy, Argentina etc are almost always at each big tournament and almost always make it out of the group at those tournaments. Portugal have always come and gone in 20 year cycles. They've only ever appeared at 4 World Cups, but 2002 and 2006 are the first World Cups they've appeared in consecutively, so maybe they can break that previous pattern? France are another example of a country like that. Good in 1958, Good in the 1980s and good since the late 1990s but with many barren patches in between. Now that Zidane and co have gone, it will be interesting to see if there's another lean spell. I wouldn't expect there to be as they have some good young players, but maybe I should reserve judgement until after the Ukraine game in Paris! |
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| Pepe | Jun 2 2007, 09:57 AM Post #32 |
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How true Simon, a center forward has been what Portugal has lacked for eyars. Pauleta promised a lot but delivered little. The same with Nuno Gomes. But the rest of Portugal's team is as good as anyones in the world as they proved in beating Brasil. Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended today against Belgium so Nani, the new Manchester United signing will get a chance to play. Say what you want about Portugal but in the last 4 major finals (World and Euro Cups) they've made the semifinals 3 times! No other country not even Brasil can claim that. |
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| Merengue | Jun 2 2007, 01:15 PM Post #33 |
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Here are today's results across Europe: Euro 2008 - Group A (qualifiers) June 2 FT Kazakhstan 1 - 2 Armenia FT Azerbaijan 1 - 3 Poland FT Finland 0 - 2 Serbia FT Belgium 1 - 2 Portugal Euro 2008 - Group B (qualifiers) June 2 FT Lithuania 1 - 0 Georgia FT Faroe Islands 1 - 2 Italy FT France 2 - 0 Ukraine Euro 2008 - Group C (qualifiers) June 2 FT Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 - 2 Turkey FT Norway 4 - 0 Malta FT Greece 2 - 0 Hungary Euro 2008 - Group D (qualifiers) June 2 FT Wales 0 - 0 Czech Republic FT Germany 6 - 0 San Marino Euro 2008 - Group E (qualifiers) June 2 FT Russia 4 - 0 Andorra FT Rep. of Macedonia 1 - 2 Israel FT Estonia 0 - 1 Croatia Euro 2008 - Group F (qualifiers) June 2 FT Iceland 1 - 1 Liechtenstein Susp. Denmark 3 - 3 Sweden FT Latvia 0 - 2 Spain Euro 2008 - Group G (qualifiers) June 2 FT Belarus 0 - 2 Bulgaria FT Albania 2 - 0 Luxembourg FT Slovenia 1 - 2 Romania There is a lot to discuss about these games. Let's start with the controversy first, Sweden jumped out 3-0 in front of Denmark behind 2 goals by Johan Elmander when the home team Denmark came from behind and tied the game up. In the last minute of the game Poulsen of Denmark was sent off and a Danish fan ran on to the field to attack the ref, Herbert Fandel. The game was then suspended with the score 3-3. But now the big question is what will UEFA do? Will they let the score remain at 3-3 or, as is more likely, award Sweden a 3-0 win due to the match being abandoned? That decision will be extremely important to the outcome of the group. I'm content with Spain's 2-0 road win at Latvia, as I explain more fully in the Spain thread. Not a great demonstration but a key road win. France moved in front of the group of death with a 2-0 win over Ukraine, goals by Ribery and Anelka. Italy got 2 Inzaghi goals to beat the amatuers of Faroe Islands by only 2-1. Poland remains in front in their group but Serbia and Portugal both recorded big road wins to stay on their tails and with a game in hand. Portugal were missing both Ronaldo and Simao Sabrosa but still had enough to beat Belgium. Man U fans will note their new signing Nani scored. By the way I'll agree with some of the others here, right now Portugal are as good as any team in the world even without a legitimate center forward. But Javier Clemente seems to be doing well with Serbia and this group, despite Poland's current lead, looks like it will go down to the wire. Bosnia scored a late goal to upset Turkey and Euro champs Greece keep on winning to stay in front of that group. Russia, Israel and Croatia all put the pressure on England, who play on Wednesday, by winning today. |
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| Pique | Jun 2 2007, 11:57 PM Post #34 |
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What a wild game in Copenhagen! Until the end it seemed like an incredible game with Denmark coming from 0-3 down to tie it up. I saw replays of the play in question and the ball wasn't even in the penalty area when Poulsen punched a Swede in the stomach! The ref awarded a penalty then an obviously drunk fan ran out onto the field to go after the ref. I was a little surprised though that the ref called the game off because of one person coming after him as that person was stopped by Danish players from laying his hands on the ref. Stop the game temporarily, make an announcement to the crowd and allow the security to ring the field to prevent any more invasions. But to call the game off sounds like a pretty meek thing to do by the referee. And in places other than Scandinavia, calling a game off like that probably would cause more problems than those which led the ref to halt the match. |
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Esas son las leyendas de futbol mexicano, En todo Mexico hay un Chiva hermano! | |
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| Manzanares | Jun 3 2007, 11:45 AM Post #35 |
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I can see your point Pique that the ref probably could have halted the game temporarily to put up more security in place but maybe it was that very lack of security which is why he stopped the game in the first place? He could have waited all day and it wouldn't have been available. Tough luck for Denmark who staged a remarkable comeback only for first Poulsen, with his stupid punch of Sweden's Rosenberg, then the drunk fan ruined. Good win for France over Ukraine. Nasri had a good match for France as their playmaker but it was Makelele with a pass over the opposing defense which set up Ribery for the game's opener. As Merengue remarked both Serbia and Portugal achieved valuable away wins yesterday and they are setting up a good finish to that group. I'm wondering, without looking at the schedule, if Poland will be able to keep up their fast pace in that group? |
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| Sergio | Jun 3 2007, 11:48 PM Post #36 |
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I don't think the ref had any choice but to call off the game after he was attacked by a fan. If one guy got on the field to get near to him, how many others could do the same? Germany were the only team to really blow out an opponent this weekend. They seem to have the killer instinct some other teams are lacking. Klose isn't scoring for them anymore but Gomez and Kuranyi are. With Ribery and now apparently Nasri developing into good players I think France will be able to maintain their level of play even with the passing of the generation of Zidane, Thuram, Vieira and Makelele. |
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| Pepe | Jun 4 2007, 01:13 PM Post #37 |
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Denmark is one of the last countries in the world where you'd expect a fan to come out of the stadium and attack a referee. What happened with the "Roligans," Denmark's fun loving and peaceful fans? I guess they are a vestige of the last century! Javier Clemente does seem to be doing a good job with Serbia. Too bad he couldn't do the same when he was Spain's coach. But he's such an arrogant and prickly character I don't want to see him do well! Portugal, Serbia and Poland look to have a good battle down the stretch in this group. I just wouldn't bet against Portugal now. |
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| cafetero | Jun 4 2007, 02:38 PM Post #38 |
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Yes it would seem like France are starting to rejuvenate their aging team and although he isn't young, he still has a lot of good years ahead of him, Nicolas Anelka seems to be playing well and giving France an alternative goalscorer to Henry and Trezeguet. Does Roma's Philippe Mexes now play for the national team? He's another youngish player who deserves a chance as Gallas and Thuram get up there in years. |
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| valenciano | Jun 4 2007, 03:48 PM Post #39 |
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I thin the ref was too wimpy in calling off Sweden-Denmark with only a couple of minutes left. The one fan had been contained and the problem over. As others said, take a break, get more security in place and finish the game! cafetero, as far as I know Mexes is a reserve for France. Thuram and galals played in central defense last wekend against Ukraine. Portugal may need a center forward but with the goalscoring ability of Ronaldo, Quaresma, Simao and now apparently Nani plus Deco in midfield they have other ways to score goals. I wish Spain had as many options outside of it's center forwards, as goalscoring possibilities. |
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| Winslow | Jun 5 2007, 12:17 PM Post #40 |
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Granted, but it's only fair to point out that Helder Postiga won the game at Belgium Saturday with a pretty darn good strike from 25 yards. So it's not a total loss up front there. |
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| futbol4 | Jun 5 2007, 03:24 PM Post #41 |
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I think the ref was absolutely right. A player punches an opponent, a fan jumps in the field and hits the ref? I think at that point you have idea what happens next. It wil ultimately send a loud message to player conduct, which is what started the whole thing. |
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| Merengue | Jun 6 2007, 12:03 AM Post #42 |
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How does the ref ending the game act as a preventitive to one player punching another? I can see where it will act as a deterrent to lax crowd control and should encourage more active crowd control measures and may even eventually lead to the return of fencing around the fields (hopefully not) but I don't see how you can come to the conclusion that it will prevent future player violence. Like some others here I actually question why the ref ended the game early too (although as a Spain fan I am obviously happy he did and raised the possibility that Denmark will forfeit the game). But this wasn't a situation like that Milan-Inter Champions League match a few years ago where multiple Inter fans were throwing flairs and other debris onto the field behind Dida's goal and prevented play from safely continuing. This was one fan running onto the field trying to take a swing at the ref. So if the game does get awarded to Sweden as a forfeit then that one drunk Dane could be the deciding factor in whether his country qualifies or not for Euro 2008. |
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| futbol4 | Jun 6 2007, 08:58 AM Post #43 |
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It may be naive of me, but ending the game was extreme, Denmark should get a loss and like I said, it will send a loud message (hopefully, IMHO). Call me Pollyanna... |
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Four hundred years ago, English-speaking illegal immigrants slipped into Jamestown, Va. When will America start getting serious about protecting its borders? - L Powers U S A! MEXICO! BARCA, BARCA, BARCA! MILAN! | |
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| hobbes | Jun 6 2007, 09:28 AM Post #44 |
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I thought calling off the game was extreme too, but in that situation I wouldn't blame the ref for calling it. Personally I would have thought it's Denmark, it's the 88th min, let security and the police set up and carry on. But if you don't feel comfortable, I would say it's warranted to call it off. Do you think the ire of the Danes will go to the player or the fan if they drop the points? I would think all of the blame would go to the fan. cheers, hobbes |
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| Winslow | Jun 6 2007, 01:22 PM Post #45 |
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On to Wednesday's results... . . . . . . Group A: Armenia 1, Poland 0; Finland 2, Belgium 0; Kazakhstan 1, Azerbaijan 1. Group B: Faeroe Islands 0, Scotland 2; France 1, Georgia 0; Lithuania 0, Italy 2. Group C: Bosnia-Herzegovina 1, Malta 0; Greece 2, Moldova 1; Norway 4, Hungary 0. Group D: Germany 2, Slovakia 1. Group E: Andorra 0, Israel 2; Croatia 0, Russia 0; Estonia 0, England 3. Group F: Latvia 0, Denmark 2; Liechtenstein 0, Spain 2, Sweden 5, Iceland 0. Group G: Bulgaria 2, Belarus 1; Luxembourg 0, Albania 3; Romania 2, Slovenia 0. So the only upset was Poland falling in Yerevan, which opens the door for Portugal and Serbia to catch up in Group A. Both have 14 points, five behind Poland with two games in hand; Finland also has 14 points with one game in hand. In Group B, France leads with 18 points; Italy has 16 and Scotland 15, and they've all played seven games. Ukraine has 12 points after six games. In Group C, Greece leads with 18 points, five ahead of Turkey, Norway, and Bosnia. Turkey has one game in hand. In Group D, Germany leads with 19 points; the Czechs have 14, the Irish 13, and they've all played seven games. In Group E, Croatia and Israel have 17 points, Russia has 15, and England 14. Israel has played one extra game. In Group F, Sweden and Spain have 15 points (though Sweden is still waiting for a final decision on the abandoned match), Northern Ireland has 13 and Denmark 10. Sweden and Spain have played seven games, No. Ireland and Denmark six. In Group G, Romania has 17 points, Bulgaria 15, and Holland 14; the Dutch have one game in hand. |
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