Who Will Be In The Final

[Cris 09]

Okay, okay... I get what you're saying, I just couldn't resist :p BTW, in case anyone hasn't noticed, this Euro has shattered a lot of records, so all this pre-game banter about contrasting pedigrees is pretty useless IMO.

What kind of records were you lookin at?? It's been a fantastic Euro, IMO!

[Dutch Treat]

Got to love the comments about the Dutch having ZERO chance against Italy if they both are to meet again. Just like there was ZERO chance we'd make it out of the group. It didn't matter what we would have chosen to do against Romania, we would have been slapped in the face no matter what. Throw the game : unfair, manipulative and not done. Win and let the Italians go through : Fools, you'll never win twice against Italy.

Back to reality : Let's see if both teams even make it there. Spain scared of Italy? Sure, but you can bet it's the other way around as well. It almost looks as if Spain is automatically written off before the game because of their past tournaments. Like being said earlier : A lot of records are being broken at Euro2008.

Our game against Russia tonight is the same thing. A lot of people aren't even talking about it, it's a no brainer, of course it's a Dutch win, right? :rolleyes:
Anyone underestimating the Russians are in for a BIG surprise.

On the other side of the bracket it looks as if Germany is the big contender to make it to the finals. As always, they do it again, after a somewhat shaky group stage they seem to have found their momentum. But, I've written the Turks off twice now but they've sure proved me wrong. Why can't they do it again?

Bottom line is, there's no such thing as ZERO chance.

[Borussia]

why is everybody looking forward to a Germany - Italy final? They both played only one decent game this tournament.


You're wrong! Both played 2 decent games so far...


Btw: Italy and Germany aren't in the final yet. Teams like Spain, Holland (top favs), Russia and Turkey surely have the same ambitions and chances...

[Johannes]

You're wrong! Both played 2 decent games so far...


I guess that depends on what your standards are of course ;)

[VCFan]

I guess that depends on what your standards are of course ;)

Well, better to play decently in the knockout rounds than in the group stages only ;)

[Neuwerld]

My preference for the final: Turkey - Spain
History says: Germany - Italy
Would like to see anything but: Germany - Italy
Wouldn't mind seeing any combination of: Spain, Turkey, Russia

[Borussia]

Well, better to play decently in the knockout rounds than in the group stages only ;)

Indeed. :-)

Somehow I have the feeling that Russia (very impressive!) could take the role of Greece...

[VCFan]

Indeed. :-)

Somehow I have the feeling that Russia (very impressive!) could take the role of Greece...

I agree that Russia was very impressive, but if Aragones or Donadoni can manage to take Arshavin out of the game tactically (REALLY long shot here, those two are as incompetent as it gets) then Russia IMO isn't really one to fear.

But after the performance they put in today, they could beat Italy on pace alone and they would likely make short work of Mertesacker and Metzelder... Russia could go on to win it all.

[KumarsS]

As a Germany supporter, I'd love to see Germany and Italy in the final. A win avenging the 2006 WC semi would be the icing on the cake.

[FNU]

As a Germany supporter, I'd love to see Germany and Italy in the final. A win avenging the 2006 WC semi would be the icing on the cake.
You need a cake first. :p A win for Italy would be the icing.

[Cris 09]

You need a cake first. :p A win for Italy would be the icing.

LOL...good point. :D

[FNU]

LOL...good point. :D
I'm with you on this one, but we have to beat Spain first. Spain might be a little hungrier...only time will tell. Italy Germany final would be epic though.

[Diora Maria]

Which two teams do you think will be in the final.

Just a quick question. Is it really important to win the Euros this year? WC qualifying starts this summer. Championships League just ended. Confederation's Cup is next year. Shouldn't teams put more emphasis on qualifying. Did any Eurpeam country ever wom evrything.

Euros Champiohship Leauge, Confed Cup and WC?

[FNU]

Just a quick question. Is it really important to win the Euros this year? WC qualifying starts this summer. Championships League just ended. Confederation's Cup is next year. Shouldn't teams put more emphasis on qualifying. Did any Eurpeam country ever wom evrything.

Euros Champiohship Leauge, Confed Cup and WC?
WC Quals. don't start yet in Europe, they start in the fall. Yes, the EURO is REALLY important, or else it wouldn't exist. The Confed. Cup doesn't even rank above the Copa America IMO, it's just a money cup as its origin shows. I believe France won all three, but I'm not sure if it was one after the other. They did win the Euro and WC back to back.

[Cris 09]

Is it really important to win the Euros this year?
Oh Yeah!
Did any Eurpeam country ever won everything.
Euros Champiohship Leauge, Confed Cup and WC?
France!

[Diora Maria]

Did a French team ever win the Championships Leauge trophy?


Russia in the Final would be interesting.

[FNU]

Did a French team ever win the Championships Leauge trophy?


Russia in the Final would be interesting.
Marseille did if I'm not mistaken.

[Roland25]

Just a quick question. Is it really important to win the Euros this year? WC qualifying starts this summer. Championships League just ended. Confederation's Cup is next year. Shouldn't teams put more emphasis on qualifying. Did any Eurpeam country ever wom evrything.

Euros Champiohship Leauge, Confed Cup and WC?

Yes, Euro is the most important tournement after WC (in EU). It is a WC without the stong Brazil and Argentina, but also without many weak teams outside EU and Brazil and Argentina. Some people even believe that wining a EC is more difficult than wining a WC.

[ztnjv]

Yes, Euro is the most important tournement after WC (in EU). It is a WC without the stong Brazil and Argentina, but also without many weak teams outside EU and Brazil and Argentina. Some people even believe that wining a EC is more difficult than wining a WC.

Indeed. Yet, I really think the EC should be expanded to at least 20 teams. I read that they already shot down the idea of expansion for 2012. That's unfortunate. I think tournament would be a little better with a few more teams. As it stands, too many teams miss out who would be capable challengers in the final tournament...like England and Norway and possibly Denmark and Scotland. This is especially true when joint hosting bids are accepted...thereby shrinking the qualifying pool.

It is without exception that qualifying groups are always arranged in way that some groups are overloaded with strong teams while others are left a little light on strength or even with fewer teams.

With at least an expansion to 20 teams (24 would be even better), the third place teams could have a playoff for 2 to 3 spots in the final tournament (depending on if there's one host nation or two), which would give strong third place teams who finished just barley behind 2 other teams (like Scotland vs. ITA and FRA) a chance at redemption. It also allows the groups to be spread out and avoid having too many top tier teams in one group.

Believe it or not, there's something to be said about dilluting things in a group play just a bit and then widening the knock to a round of 16. When there is practically NO margin for error, it may seem like a more rigorous and challenging tournament but it also more likely to cause premature exits. Some may like it this way, I think it takes away from it a bit.

Since we're talking about Italy right now, consider that in 1996 and 2004, Italy missed the knock out round from a very tough groups on tie-breakers involving goals scored and/or goal differential. Were Italy unworthy of the knock out round? Not at all. In fact in 96, their group members, GER and CZE, made it to the final.

If we want the best teams to win/progress further and not simply the luckiest or most consistent, I think we need to give a little bit of slack in the rope and allow for some flatness and mistakes.

Imagine baseball with one strike or two outs instead of three...

[Borussia]

So who predicted a "Spain vs Germany" final before the tournament had started? ;)