Two to Top Group C

[ToonUSA]

That's called "selling newspapers"...

I don't think I've seen a single dutch, italian, or french fan here on BS say that the Romanians weren't a quality team.

I would say predicting a 3-0 win is kind of saying that...

[tomwilhelm]

I would say predicting a 3-0 win is kind of saying that...
Predicting a resounding win and disrespecting the opposition's quality are two different things.

And frankly, you've talked 1000x more smack.



Given the standings, I expect Italy will come after Romania pretty hard tomorrow. So that scoreline is certainly possible. So is the reverse score due to strong defense and effective counters for Romania.

Oh, and only 1 person in the entire BS Euro prediction competition guessed a 3-0 scoreline to Italy.

[jerrito]

That's called "selling newspapers"...

I don't think I've seen a single dutch, italian, or french fan here on BS say that the Romanians weren't a quality team.

At the moment I doubt anyone in Italy is underestimating Romania or anyone else. What the press is saying is basically that we have put ourselves in a difficult position and now must win. Not will, but must.

[Amsteldam]

Oh, and only 1 person in the entire BS Euro prediction competition guessed a 3-0 scoreline to Italy.
And I dont think he was being serious.

If he were then he should become a pro Vegas gambler :D

[ToonUSA]

Predicting a resounding win and disrespecting the opposition's quality are two different things.

And frankly, you've talked 1000x more smack.
I've talked no smack about Romania's opponents to the effect that Romania would resoundingly beat any of them. Most of my posts have been defending Romania from ignorance or arrogance.

Wouldn't predicting a resounding win after the opponent has proven their quality be disrespectful? I'm just saying.

Given the standings, I expect Italy will come after Romania pretty hard tomorrow. So that scoreline is certainly possible. So is the reverse score due to strong defense and effective counters for Romania.

Oh, and only 1 person in the entire BS Euro prediction competition guessed a 3-0 scoreline to Italy.
There's been a few in the Italy forum and even 1 or 2 in the Romania vs. Italy thread in this very forum. I'm not too bothered by it but just thought it needed to be pointed out.

[Pit-182]

well in the french press there was an avalanche of critics. i mean it was like France drew 0-0 with Malta not with a powerful team. the italian press thinks Italy will almost certainly beat with 3-0. and the dutch think that if they scored 3 to the italians they can score 4-5 against the romanians. i just stated what most people think about us even if some may say: "yes you are a good team".


The fact is this:
In the last few years (and this is a point where you have to agree) Romania football wasn't one of the best (infact Romania didn't even qualified for Germany 2006). Now, according to what you romanians say, a "revolution" has happened and Romania really has become one of the best team in this Euro 2008. But the problem is this: how can you demonstrate that the revolution has really happened? I watched some threads here and there on BS, and you romanians always said "you great teams always overrate us, but you don't know that we defeated the dutch during the qualifications"

And Imho, you can't say that an average team has become great just because of a victory against a great team, or because you made a 0-0 against France in a pathetic boring game.

So the fact is: we still somehow "overrate" (that's a word I don't like but let's use it) Romania because Romania still hasn't do anything big, because beating one time a great time like the dutch or have a pathetic draw with France obteened with an obsessive catenaccio doesn't mean nothing.

PS
Ecuador defeated Brasil in the qualifications of WC 2006 (or WC 2002, I don't remember) and Senegal defeated France in WC 2002... but Senegal and Ecuador aren't great team
PPS
This isn't an offence to anyone, I hope :D
PPPs
This kind of threads are funny but ********ing useless... let's see tomorrow what will happen

[tomwilhelm]

Well this is Italy we're talking about. Humility is a trait generally associated with the team, media and fans (in descending order...). ;)

But seriously, I think most people that aren't spouting opinion for $ have been very careful not to give the utmost respect to all opponents in this group. It's just brutal. If anything, a 3-0 prediction is more indicative of the dire circumstances Italy face than any disrespect for Romania. You'd probably see that with just about any opponent. The argument is basically that because they are desperate, Italy is far more likely to come out hungry, mean, and looking to score big in their current position at the bottom of the group than if they were on 1 or 3 points right now.

[Amsteldam]

Wouldn't predicting a resounding win after the opponent has proven their quality be disrespectful? I'm just saying.

The fact you have to ask that says a lot

When I predict 3-0 over another team, that just means position by position I think my team is better to warrant a "high" score.

Now if I said Holland will beat Romania 15-0, and then added 3 smileys :p :p :p
Then, and only then could you make a case somebody is being disrespectful, because the score is absurdly high to the point where you're mocking the opponent.

[tomwilhelm]

I predict...

Italy: 2 goals, 3 yellows
Romania: 1 goal, 4 yellows
And about 50 fouls between the two.

This has the makings of the kind of game where guys just collapse on the field after the final whistle. It'll be hard fought, chippy, and close to boiling over much of the time.

I pity the refs.

[ToonUSA]

I predict...

Italy: 2 goals, 3 yellows
Romania: 1 goal, 4 yellows
And about 50 fouls between the two.

This has the makings of the kind of game where guys just collapse on the field after the final whistle. It'll be hard fought, chippy, and close to boiling over much of the time.

I pity the refs.

Hopefully it doesn't rain as the Italians will have to change their kits a few times since they will no doubt be all over the ground the whole match with their "mama mia" faces and hand gestures.

[VCFan]

Hopefully it doesn't rain as the Italians will have to change their kits a few times since they will no doubt be all over the ground the whole match with their "mama mia" faces and hand gestures.

And you have the nerve to harp on about disrespecting opponents? See you out on the pitch, which is where you should be doing your talking.

[ToonUSA]

And you have the nerve to harp on about disrespecting opponents? See you out on the pitch, which is where you should be doing your talking.

That's not disrespect so much as common knowledge. Just watch the ESPN Euro commercial featuring Italy for confirmation.

[VCFan]

That's not disrespect so much as common knowledge. Just watch the ESPN Euro commercial featuring Italy for confirmation.

Common knowledge to who, pray tell? The jealous or just the misinformed?

And if ESPN says it, it must be true :rolleyes: Look, I'm not trying to attack Romania or imply that they're not a good team. I would just ask that you keep the decision civil and not use this topic as an opportunity to perpetuate the same old stereotypes we've had thrown at us since (maybe) the dawn of time.

[ToonUSA]

Common knowledge to who, pray tell? The jealous or just the misinformed?

And if ESPN says it, it must be true Look, I'm not trying to attack Romania or imply that they're not a good team. I would just ask that you keep the decision civil and not use this topic as an opportunity to perpetuate the same old stereotypes we've had thrown at us since (maybe) the dawn of time.

Geeez, ever heard of some good ol' Banter? You could have at least made a communist or gypsy reference to even things out.

However, here is kinda what I was talking about:

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/_photos/2006-07-04-ref.jpg

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1044326.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19390335F8FA9CA92A6024867905653D6009930FDCFC4C15FBB

http://www.refblog.com/rb_images/2nd-20-korea-italy-red-card.jpg

[VCFan]

Oh boy, players are complaining when their teammate gets a red card... who doesn't do that? And some, like the Germans with Schweinsteiger's red card today, even go to the extent of getting yellows.

If you were just being lighthearted, that's okay by me (I guess)... it's just that so many people say these things that we become a little too sensitive to the goading. Cheers :)

[AFCA]

I predict...

Italy: 2 goals, 3 yellows
Romania: 1 goal, 4 yellows
And about 50 fouls between the two.

This has the makings of the kind of game where guys just collapse on the field after the final whistle. It'll be hard fought, chippy, and close to boiling over much of the time.

I pity the refs.

It will be one hell of a match indeed. As will the NL-France game. A real treat today :)

[AFCA]

Oh boy, players are complaining when their teammate gets a red card... who doesn't do that? And some, like the Germans with Schweinsteiger's red card today, even go to the extent of getting yellows.

If you were just being lighthearted, that's okay by me (I guess)... it's just that so many people say these things that we become a little too sensitive to the goading. Cheers :)

Italy and Italians will always face these kinds of stereotypes. Not in the last place because of the extravagant nature of almost everything Italian.

Can't have it all ;)

[squidward123]

It's like how everyone expects the dutch swim team to...choke ;);)

[tomwilhelm]

It will be one hell of a match indeed. As will the NL-France game. A real treat today :)

And here I am... stuck at work. Curse you, stupid job thing... :mad:

[AFCA]

Get sick soon! ;)