UEFA European Championships

[Armanen]

Re: UEFA European Championships

If it is Russia vs. Germany in the finals, which team will you guys be cheering for?

[RM_sako]

Re: UEFA European Championships

I've been rooting for Russia since the beginning... I mapped out Russia to win it all. If the backup Turkey squad can trouble Germany like they did, I'm sure Russia will rip them apart.

[Armanen]

Re: UEFA European Championships

I'm also rooting for Russia, but before they can face Germay they must get past a very strong Spainish team. Do they have a good chance of winning?

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: UEFA European Championships

Russia vs Spain is going to be THE BEST game of the entire tournament. Both teams are going to play fast, attacking and free flowing game with lots of goals. Russia will win, no doubt. But its not just going to win, Russia is going to avenge the earlier defeat by smashing the Spaniards.

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: UEFA European Championships

Russia vs Spain: The heavy rain is spoiling the tempo of the game, which is very shame, but it's only half time and Russia is going to come back big time.

[Kanki]

Re: UEFA European Championships

Well, I am glad the Turks are out, but I have to admit they did well. Very hardworking and determined. We will have to work hard to beat them in September.

I never excepted such kind of comment from you! Finally I see You can be objective!


hmmm.... I think Spain will be champion... Germens won yesterday but Turks played well.

[skhara]

Re: UEFA European Championships

Spain is pure class. I can't say I really wanted Russia to win. I want teams with fantastic technical abilities to win.

By the way, Spain effectively plugged up the midfield not allowing Russia to get passed them with speed. What Spain did shows Van Basten for the fool that he is.

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: UEFA European Championships

Spain is pure class. I can't say I really wanted Russia to win. I want teams with fantastic technical abilities to win.

By the way, Spain effectively plugged up the midfield not allowing Russia to get passed them with speed. What Spain did shows Van Basten for the fool that he is.

Agree about the class comment. Indeed they have outclassed the Russians big time. But I was suprised because it was Russia that outclassed one of the best European teams, the Dutch. BTW Van Basten is no fool, it's just Hiddink is a better coach. Anyway, during the Spain game Arshavin looked like as if he had his fuken periods. His shocking performance contributed to Russia's pain.

Even though in the past I made mistakes in my predictions I still believe very strongly that Germany will beat Spain. Don't judge Germans by their Turkey game because Turks had an enormous confidence against them and Germans let things go the way Turks wanted. This will definitely not happen during the Spain game. Germany will win.

[skhara]

Re: UEFA European Championships

BTW Van Basten is no fool, it's just Hiddink is a better coach.

Hiddink is a better coach and lived up to his reputation. I say Van Basten is a fool because he failed to adjust the game plan. In fact, it may be that he didn't manage the match at all. Russia's greatest strengths at the tournament has been their speed. Holland lined up with their 4-3-3 formation and left their central midfielders hanging all by himself against the Russian sprinters through the midfield. They ran freely through the middle and then made easy grounded passes to either the left wing or the right wing. Arshavin was usually at the end of these passes as he was switching sides between the wings. And the Arshavin would send across centering balls. The first half it was obvious that Russia was getting through the midfield easily keeping constant pressure against the Dutch back four. He should have plugged up the midfield and taken those sprints through the midfield away from the Russians just like Spain did.

Anyway, during the Spain game Arshavin looked like as if he had his fuken periods. His shocking performance contributed to Russia's pain.

I am not sure Arshavin played poorly. Arshavin hardly played even though he was on the field. But its hard to play as a forward when you don't get any balls coming your way.

Even though in the past I made mistakes in my predictions I still believe very strongly that Germany will beat Spain. Don't judge Germans by their Turkey game because Turks had an enormous confidence against them and Germans let things go the way Turks wanted. This will definitely not happen during the Spain game. Germany will win.

I think Spain should be brimming with confidence after their advancement against the Italians. Technically, the Spaniards are head and shoulders above the Germans.

I want Spain to win this competition, I think Spain should and will win. However, there a certain question of a winning mentality. I hope Spain bring that. If Germans are able to defend against Spain effectively, they will be perfectly happy to take it to penalties.

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: UEFA European Championships

I am not sure Arshavin played poorly. Arshavin hardly played even though he was on the field. But its hard to play as a forward when you don't get any balls coming your way.

The thing with Arshavin is that he is not just a forward waiting for balls, he is also a playmaker creating the balls. But during the game he was not making a play and creating any balls. He failed not as much because the Spaniards shadowed him well but mainly because it just wasn't his day.

Technically, the Spaniards are head and shoulders above the Germans.

I strongly disagree with that.
FIFA's Technical Study Group, which is the ultimate authority on everything technical, in its 23 player "all star team" has 4 Germans and ZERO Spaniards.
Germany's Jens Lehmann, Philipp Lahm, Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose are all world class players and technical masters, Spain has not a single player of their class. Full stop.

If Germans are able to defend against Spain effectively, they will be perfectly happy to take it to penalties

Sorry but you are wrong, again. I have to admit that I have been following Germans and a huge fan of Germany since my childhood. That's why I think I know a thing or two about the team and the country I love. German football has changed forever in 1954 World Cup when yesterday's enemy of the world (Germany) became the kings of the football world by beating the superb Hungarian team against the all odds and becoming the World Champions for the first time. The world called it "The Miracle of Berne" (as in Berne, Switzerland where that Championship was). Since then the German football has worked very hard to strive higher and higher. They took the Crwon again in 1974 and 1990 and they were so close of taking it in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002 where they were the second best on all of these occasions. I believe apart from Brazil, where football comes with mother's milk, no one plays football as good as Germans do. Forget about penalties, this German team under Joachim Löw is an attacking team and they will attack and they will win!