I'm excited. I'll be pulling for Germany as I do in all International tournaments (except if against the US), then England.
Any reason why you cheer for Germany in International tournaments? I always like knowing why people cheer for certain teams. Do you have German ethnicity?
On the German topic, I hope Schweinsteiger will be in full form saturday. Keep hearing hes having trouble battling back from the calf injury and the devastating CL final loss.
Our England even considered a soccer power anymore? Their resume in the past 50 years hasnt exactly been impressive: a World Cup in 1960, semi-finals of the WC in 1990...and what? Particularly pathetic when you consider they have one the best professional leagues in the world.
Spain and Germany appear to be heavy favorites. Any dark horses we Americans who intend to follow the tournament should know about it?
Well the other big guns always have to be considered favorites.
2 other teams I think that can do well are France (Ribery and Benzema on fire) and host Poland who do have talented team.
Englands has not really functioned as team the last few years and than there is the goalie problem. This year preparation has been desaster and England has lost 3 key players (Lampard Cahill Dafoe) in the last few days. Then there is the Rio Ferdinand controversy does not help the team spirit.
Spain and Germany appear to be heavy favorites. Any dark horses we Americans who intend to follow the tournament should know about it?
Well Group A is a joke so the Russians should easily come out of that. But they would get the Group B runner up in the quarters so that may be it for them.
Group B is a nightmare and any of those 4 teams could come out of there. Depending on who comes out the Germans, Dutch, or Portuguese could all win the whole thing as they get the Group A teams in the next round.
Group C isn't an easy one either. Spain obviously are the favorites but with Villa out, Torres not exactly firing on all cylinders, and Llorente's game not exactly fitting the style of most of the rest of the team I could see them struggle to score and slip up. Any of the other 3 have a decent shot of getting out IMO as I expect to see a lot of draws in their matches.
France and England shouldn't have too much of a problem getting out of group D but not having Rooney for the first 2 games will make it a decent amount tougher for England.
Any reason why you cheer for Germany in International tournaments? I always like knowing why people cheer for certain teams. Do you have German ethnicity?
On the German topic, I hope Schweinsteiger will be in full form saturday. Keep hearing hes having trouble battling back from the calf injury and the devastating CL final loss.
As a kid in the US, I grew up watching Bundesliga on PBS (public tv). In the 80s, that was the only exposure I could ever find to European football. Lothar Matthaus was my favorite player growing up and I've been a Germany fan ever since.
I'm wondering if Schweiny will be mentally recovered. Quite the heartbreaker in the UCL. Wish it hadn't been him on that last miss.
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Our England even considered a soccer power anymore? Their resume in the past 50 years hasnt exactly been impressive: a World Cup in 1960, semi-finals of the WC in 1990...and what? Particularly pathetic when you consider they have one the best professional leagues in the world.
I think so. I think they have the best pro league. Talent wise they're right there. I think they're just too defensive in international play. I suspect we'll see the same style Chelsea used to defeat Barca....defend defend defend and try to make good on a few counter attack opportunities...
As a kid in the US, I grew up watching Bundesliga on PBS (public tv). In the 80s, that was the only exposure I could ever find to European football. Lothar Matthaus was my favorite player growing up and I've been a Germany fan ever since.
I'm wondering if Schweiny will be mentally recovered. Quite the heartbreaker in the UCL. Wish it hadn't been him on that last miss.
Get what you mean. My back round is German. In 02 watching the world cup Oliver Kahn was my favorite to watch. Just so happened to play for Munich and they get the most exposure over here in canada so I became a Munich fan. Schweiny is my favorite player as of right now.
Very solid first game by Russia.
This Russian futbol NT kinda resembles me Russian Hockey NT: a lot of gifted attacking players, but most of them doesn't want to play defense..
I think so. I think they have the best pro league. Talent wise they're right there. I think they're just too defensive in international play. I suspect we'll see the same style Chelsea used to defeat Barca....defend defend defend and try to make good on a few counter attack opportunities...
Uh, no.
The EPL is the best pro league because they get the most TV revenues, and now with sugar daddies owning the top teams they just go out and outspend everyone else and buy up the best players they can, most of whom are not English. The current generation are probably happier about losing than having to play with their club rivals.
Hodgson is gonna run his 4-4-2 against everyone regardless of talent, which England doesn't have a whole lot of. English football culture is so backasswards that they can't develop a lot of players with technical skills worth a damn given their resources. It might all magically click for them but no one takes them seriously as a contender. The only time they have done anything off the island was Italy '90 and that was the tournament where every team was making the Greece '04 team look like Total Football.
The referee in the Poland Greece game was a disgrace. Ridiculous red card and a blatant penalty non-call. I hope he doesn't get to ref another game in the Euros.
The EPL is the best pro league because they get the most TV revenues, and now with sugar daddies owning the top teams they just go out and outspend everyone else and buy up the best players they can, most of whom are not English. The current generation are probably happier about losing than having to play with their club rivals.
Hodgson is gonna run his 4-4-2 against everyone regardless of talent, which England doesn't have a whole lot of. English football culture is so backasswards that they can't develop a lot of players with technical skills worth a damn given their resources. It might all magically click for them but no one takes them seriously as a contender. The only time they have done anything off the island was Italy '90 and that was the tournament where every team was making the Greece '04 team look like Total Football.
England hater, got it. I enjoy the EPL not because of the TV revenues, but because they have the best overall collection of talent IMO (a few other teams worldwide aside). I don't think they're a World Cup contender no...but still a team not to be taken lightly. It's a shame they're so banged up.
So nervous for the Germany/Portugal game. Germany needs the full 3 points this game. Tie or loss is unacceptable. If they don't win I doubt they get out of the group.
