Two to Top Group C

[ToonUSA]

That's right. You were pro USA and you insisted that Americans must cheer for the USA first and I am sure you wanted Italy to lose bad so that you can come back and rub it in our faces.

Trust me...I don't forget a heated argument of which I had many before WC06.
.........and here you resurface as the biggest Romanian fan after trying to convert Americans to love Team USA.

Well you clearly forgot the argument enough to come in here and accuse me of something I didn't say, and you apparently forgot what we were discussing until it was I who brought up what we were debating.


His argument was who to support...NOT who to support first.

In any case if his first choice is the USA and Romania second....he shouldn't be shooting off his mouth for his 2nd tier team.

I've traveled with the Romanian team and supported them in Europe, and shockingly enough I feel a bit of love towards them. :rolleyes:

I really fail to see what this has to do with the discussion of Group C. You're being petty over a disagreement we had 2 years ago...move on.

[forza_azzurri]

Well you clearly forgot the argument enough to come in here and accuse me of something I didn't say, and you apparently forgot what we were discussing until it was I who brought up what we were debating.


Trust me ....you weren't the only one involved in that long thread, but I did remember those especially with the word "USA" in the name.

[exeprime]

Well, as a romanian, I can attest that Toon's optimism is somewhat of an exception. LOTS of romanians think we'll do awful, sports sites are full of people predicting shameful losses and abysmal performances. While I consider that's also exaggerated, I would in no way consider ourselves a favorite to qualify further.

Chivu is in a somewhat bad shape physically, nobody is sure if he'll be able to play two consecutive games... Our second keeper is also out, so if something happens to Lobont we'll be in somewhat of a ditch...

Marica is playing awful since moving to the Bundesliga, Daniel Niculae also had trouble scoring recently for Auxerre, Marius Niculae... well, he's doing decently, but playing for a rather unknown team in Scotland (Inverness. meh). So besides Mutu (who usually plays a second striker), our attack is somewhat of a question mark.

In the middle we lost to injury a defensive midfielder that played quite alot in the qualifiers (Ov. Petre) but in my opinion that might even be an advantage :D

Unfortunately, of the other defensive midfielders (Chivu, Radoi, Codrea) the first two have health issues, so that might also be a problem.

Defensively, Goian (who scores alot for a stopper, has great aerial play) got injured today, nobody knows how serious yet though...

Anywho, point is, there are PLENTY of things that could go wrong for us. And as I said, most romanians are quite pessimistic, many of them contesting Piturca (the manager) for calling too many players from out-of-shape Steaua, leaving Danciulescu and Bratu home (strikers from Dinamo Bucharest, both played great in the final part of the domestic season), not calling Ogararu (Ajax) to the national team, and generally being unlikable

My personal opinion... well, as everyone says, it's impossible to predict. We have a somewhat solid style of play since Piturca took over the team, strong defense backed up (ideally) by quick attacking plays and lethal finishing. Holland had a hard time creating chances against our team, and generally I expect games involving our team being closed and meticulous.
What I fear most is probably Italy, historically they tend to kick our ass (a bit like our history against England, just in the opposite direction :D)
France... hard to predict, they have IMMENSE amounts of talent in the squad, and considering the problems in our team, it might be hard to keep them at bay.
About Holland... might as well flip a coin. Both games against them were *very* balanced.

So... we're underdogs, that's clear, the public knows it, the manager knows it, the players know it. However, you can't possibly predict who's gonna go on from the groups, and I'm sure our team will do its best.

My predicition? The optimistic version would be France and Romania qualifying. The "likely" one... hm, hard one. France and not-Romania I suppose :o

[johan neeskens]

Well, as a romanian, I can attest that Toon's optimism is somewhat of an exception. LOTS of romanians think we'll do awful, sports sites are full of people predicting shameful losses and abysmal performances. While I consider that's also exaggerated, I would in no way consider ourselves a favorite to qualify further.

Chivu is in a somewhat bad shape physically, nobody is sure if he'll be able to play two consecutive games... Our second keeper is also out, so if something happens to Lobont we'll be in somewhat of a ditch...

Marica is playing awful since moving to the Bundesliga, Daniel Niculae also had trouble scoring recently for Auxerre, Marius Niculae... well, he's doing decently, but playing for a rather unknown team in Scotland (Inverness. meh). So besides Mutu (who usually plays a second striker), our attack is somewhat of a question mark.

In the middle we lost to injury a defensive midfielder that played quite alot in the qualifiers (Ov. Petre) but in my opinion that might even be an advantage :D

Unfortunately, of the other defensive midfielders (Chivu, Radoi, Codrea) the first two have health issues, so that might also be a problem.

Defensively, Goian (who scores alot for a stopper, has great aerial play) got injured today, nobody knows how serious yet though...

Anywho, point is, there are PLENTY of things that could go wrong for us. And as I said, most romanians are quite pessimistic, many of them contesting Piturca (the manager) for calling too many players from out-of-shape Steaua, leaving Danciulescu and Bratu home (strikers from Dinamo Bucharest, both played great in the final part of the domestic season), not calling Ogararu (Ajax) to the national team, and generally being unlikable

My personal opinion... well, as everyone says, it's impossible to predict. We have a somewhat solid style of play since Piturca took over the team, strong defense backed up (ideally) by quick attacking plays and lethal finishing. Holland had a hard time creating chances against our team, and generally I expect games involving our team being closed and meticulous.
What I fear most is probably Italy, historically they tend to kick our ass (a bit like our history against England, just in the opposite direction :D)
France... hard to predict, they have IMMENSE amounts of talent in the squad, and considering the problems in our team, it might be hard to keep them at bay.
About Holland... might as well flip a coin. Both games against them were *very* balanced.

So... we're underdogs, that's clear, the public knows it, the manager knows it, the players know it. However, you can't possibly predict who's gonna go on from the groups, and I'm sure our team will do its best.

My predicition? The optimistic version would be France and Romania qualifying. The "likely" one... hm, hard one. France and not-Romania I suppose :o

A balanced view, rare to find on these boards but welcome all the same thanks!

I think we'll just have to wait and see re: this group, realistically anyone can qualify from it.

On a somewhat different note: the BBC pundits list Huntelaar as the only Dutch footballer in their man to watch at Euro 2008 thing. Yet Van Basten two days ago at a press conference said Ruud is our first striker, i.e. Huntelaar definitely won't start for us. So people outside Europe: please don't take the many English-language prediction and preview things seriously, they're often very badly informed. If even the BBC is full of shite, you know what to make of the rest.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7421737.stm

[jcvf90]

I call Italy and the dutch to go through.
I dont like france too much, kinda young for this tourney, no lack of talent but young.
Romania just got dealt a bad group, none the less they have a punchers chance.

[FNU]

A balanced view, rare to find on these boards but welcome all the same thanks!

I think we'll just have to wait and see re: this group, realistically anyone can qualify from it.

On a somewhat different note: the BBC pundits list Huntelaar as the only Dutch footballer in their man to watch at Euro 2008 thing. Yet Van Basten two days ago at a press conference said Ruud is our first striker, i.e. Huntelaar definitely won't start for us. So people outside Europe: please don't take the many English-language prediction and preview things seriously, they're often very badly informed. If even the BBC is full of shite, you know what to make of the rest.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7421737.stm

Are the English that far up Germany's and Spain's asses? LOL I can understand Germany, but Spain? Spain chokes every tournament; France, Italy, and Holland are better choices. Portugal won't win it either with no solid striker up front.

[ToonUSA]

Defensively, Goian (who scores alot for a stopper, has great aerial play) got injured today, nobody knows how serious yet though...
He's fine.

Anywho, point is, there are PLENTY of things that could go wrong for us. And as I said, most romanians are quite pessimistic, many of them contesting Piturca (the manager) for calling too many players from out-of-shape Steaua, leaving Danciulescu and Bratu home (strikers from Dinamo Bucharest, both played great in the final part of the domestic season), not calling Ogararu (Ajax) to the national team, and generally being unlikable
Out of shape Steaua? :rolleyes: Don't bring your petty hatred into the Tricolorii. I was sad to see Bratu left out but that's what happens when your team qualifies for a tournament. From what I've read Bratu's attitude didn't help him at all. Who has criticized Piti for not calling Ogararu? He couldn't even get a game at Ajax what makes you think he would have been ready for the Euros?

[Mikebsiu]

I respect and watch the bbc crew when im in belgium and i was amazed when i read these predictions! How could Lawro, Lineker and shearer choose spain the perenial underachievers. If i remember correctly, they lost to N. Ire. Im amazed none of the pundits chose Italy.

[grodada]

He's fine.


Out of shape Steaua? :rolleyes: Don't bring your petty hatred into the Tricolorii. I was sad to see Bratu left out but that's what happens when your team qualifies for a tournament. From what I've read Bratu's attitude didn't help him at all. Who has criticized Piti for not calling Ogararu? He couldn't even get a game at Ajax what makes you think he would have been ready for the Euros?

never liked him that much when he played for FC Nantes
he didn't seem to care about the team :(

[exeprime]

About Ogararu - he played a great game against Olanda, and people remember him for that. Also, there's quite a problem with that possition, besides Contra the only true right defender is Sapunaru who's nowhere near as popular as Ogararu out here. In my opinion it was a good choice, but alot of people don't think that way.

About Steaua - Piturca used to be a manager for them, and now uses alot of players from them, which makes most people question his fairness. Also, Steaua had some controversial wins (the scandal after the game with Rapid and the lighter incident, after the CFR Cluj game there were also many comments about the referees, etc) and in the one game that nobody could suspect of being arranged (against Dinamo) they lost. People started comparing performances, and after everyone saw Bratu outplaying Radoi in the direct duel, it was rather strange to see Radoi in the team while not Bratu.

Anywho, the idea was that lots of people out here, in Romania, are rather skeptical about the value of the team. I myself, am a bit more confident, we have a good team and Piturca brought us so far, which is already a progress.

[Buschkauz]

italy and holland will go through.

[ToonUSA]

About Ogararu - he played a great game against Olanda, and people remember him for that. Also, there's quite a problem with that possition, besides Contra the only true right defender is Sapunaru who's nowhere near as popular as Ogararu out here. In my opinion it was a good choice, but alot of people don't think that way.

About Steaua - Piturca used to be a manager for them, and now uses alot of players from them, which makes most people question his fairness. Also, Steaua had some controversial wins (the scandal after the game with Rapid and the lighter incident, after the CFR Cluj game there were also many comments about the referees, etc) and in the one game that nobody could suspect of being arranged (against Dinamo) they lost. People started comparing performances, and after everyone saw Bratu outplaying Radoi in the direct duel, it was rather strange to see Radoi in the team while not Bratu.

Anywho, the idea was that lots of people out here, in Romania, are rather skeptical about the value of the team. I myself, am a bit more confident, we have a good team and Piturca brought us so far, which is already a progress.

We can discuss it all you like in the Romania forum. (It's kinda why we have it.)

Feel free to stop by the Steaua thread. :D

[Campioni_2006]

I wish it was Italy and Romania.

[johan neeskens]

I've done a round of the international media and most of them think Holland will finish bottom of the group, including the BBC and the Guardian. The Germans keep on commenting in their post-friendly comments how average we look etc.

All of this is great. I hope our opponents share the media's opinion.

[tino11]

France top, Holland second

Germany vs. Holland final


You heard it here first.

[!Bob]

France top, Holland second

Germany vs. Holland final


You heard it here first.

That was actually my prediction! Except I put Holland top of the group.

[KumarsS]

I'd be ecstatic if Romania progressed.

[Kyryacos]

Romania will win this group with 2 wins and one loss. The Netherlands will come second.

Romania
Netherlands
Italy
France

[Amsteldam]

Romania will win this group with 2 wins and one loss. The Netherlands will come second.

Romania
Netherlands
Italy
France
I'll have whatever it is you're smoking :D ;)

[ToonUSA]

I'll have whatever it is you're smoking :D ;)

These are the same types of posts that made you look foolish during the qualifying campaign. Not that I think we'll win the group, but your attitude only sets you up for ridicule.