Who Will Be In The Final

[YOUNGSTARS87]

Don't worry. They've gone.
:p

I still believe through some way England will win.

You wait and see. :p

[KumarsS]

The only top contenders here are Germany and Italy, and you forget the most balanced team which is France.

Portugal defense is too weak, and Spain nevers makes through the quarter in official competition.

In fact i agree with the list published by lequipe yesterday :

Top contenders
Germany
Italy
France

Pretenders
Spain
Netherlands
Portugal

Possible surprises
Russia
Sweden
Croatia
Romania

Frankly, with France's injury and form problems, I'd rank the chances of any of the so-called "Pretenders" over that of Les Bleus, especially Spain.

[GrosMoulin]

Frankly, with France's injury and form problems, I'd rank the chances of any of the so-called "Pretenders" over that of Les Bleus, especially Spain.

In 2006 in Hannover, everyone in Spain (and on this board too i remember) said they would crush France easily, because Zizou was retiring and the rest of the team was too old.

Our national anthem, la Marseillaise, was whistled whereas we had respected the Spanish one.

At the end of the day Spain discovered Ribéry and we didn't hear any more provocations because France had impressed everyone.

Of course i'm not saying they can't do it : Spain has an amazing team and incredibly talented players... But they should learn to be humble.

Still i don't know what injury you're talking about ? I prefer to see Anelka or Gomis on the pitch than Henry (over-rated player).

And Toulalan can do the job.

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By the way, RIP to Thierry Gilardi the commentator.

[KumarsS]

Still i don't know what injury you're talking about ? I prefer to see Anelka or Gomis on the pitch than Henry (over-rated player).




I was referring to Ribery's injury, which, this morning, I heard was negligible.

[jpAustria]

Me! (thats for sure) ;)

Concerning the teams on the pitch, well I'm rooting for a Germany vs. The Netherlands match - i like their rivalry

[Tony Dellbird]

I'm gonna say Portugal Spain final.

[|--LdC--|]

I'm gonna say Portugal Spain final.

That would be my favourite final, 900 years of rivalry to be decided on a football pitch in 90 minutes :)

Other possibility i would like was Portugal - Nehterlands, just to beat them again, just like we do every time we play them :p

[Tony Dellbird]

That would be my favourite final, 900 years of rivalry to be decided on a football pitch in 90 minutes :)

Other possibility i would like was Portugal - Nehterlands, just to beat them again, just like we do every time we play them :p

and get a million yellows and reds! :p

[Samora]

What about Greece vs Spain?

[Samora]

I would like to see Portugal vs Spain or France vs Italy
Rivalries are always exciting

[Prawn Sandwich]

Germany Holland could be fun (if thats even possible, haven't checked the draw restrictions on that option)

[Tony Dellbird]

Germany Holland could be fun (if thats even possible, haven't checked the draw restrictions on that option)

I think it's A meet B then C meet D, so it's a possibility...

*runs to check on the fridge*

Yeah Holland - Germany and Portugal - Spain are possible. However France - Italy isn't but they'll meet in a week or so.

[Marbur66]

What about Greece vs Spain?
Not possible.

[Kyles9]

My first thought was a Germany-Spain final, but if the Dutch man-handle teams like they did the world champs I think a Germany-Netherlands final could be possible as well.

[fairplay1]

I fell in love with Holland in 70's and 80's, no team has ever produce such beauty since. So, for the sake of those days I like to see them winning it vs Germany. BTW, I am not Dutch so no bias intended.

[Suyuntuy]

I wouldn't discount the Italians just yet. They tend to start slow, and the Dutch tend to lose steam. The Group of Death won't be decided until the last day, IMO.

France, I want Les Bleus to win it but I don't see the enthusiasm. Even without enthusiasm they may get out of that group, based on pure individual ability, but as they are playing I doubt it.

I think the other groups are more or less set in stone. Portugal and the Czech, Germany and Croatia, Spain and Sweden. Then a Portugal - Germany semi is very likely.

On the other bracket, though, it's impossible to tell. You have possible games like Netherlands - Sweden, Spain - France or Spain - Italy. Sweden is a team that, on a good day, can defeat anyone. Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Romania are elite teams right now.

And Group C is so brutal that, by the time the group play is over, whoever gets out of it may have a lot of injuries and be psychologically exhausted. To the point that a semi Spain - Sweden wouldn't surprise me.

[KumarsS]

Right now, if I absolutely had to make a prediction, the ONE most likely match-up to occur in the final would be Germany-Spain.

[FNU]

I think the picture will be clear after day 2, whether the heavy weights like France and Italy can bounce back, and if the performance of some of the winners is the real deal. Holland, Spain, and Germany are the obvious favorites after day 1, followed by Portugal and Sweden(they looked good against a good defense).

[Rainer24]

Spain looked really good, but I could see them having problems if they come up against a team with a couple of good destroyers in the center of midfield. It shouldn't be a problem in their group, but they just seem way too dependent of going through the center of the pitch to me. They aren't really playing any wingers at all and seem to be relying on either Torres to drift out there or Capdevila and Ramos to provide the service from the wings. If they face a team that has strong defensive-minded mids and the sort of wing players that can occupy Capdevila and Ramos defensively, they will be in trouble.

[AFCA]

I wouldn't discount the Italians just yet. They tend to start slow, and the Dutch tend to lose steam.


No we don't. Unless you would pass off elemination after the group stages as 'losing steam', we have displayed no such tendency ever.