Friendlies/Preparations leading up to Euro2008 [R]

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

There are so many countries playing friendlies, I simply can't keep up. Yes, I know there are probably threads in each country's forum, but some of the (clubs and) countries' fans are often so territorial and trepidatious about new or visiting posters, it's simply not worth it sometimes.

So, I thought we could use this thread to post about the various matches involving the 16 countries that'll be participating in Euro2008.

Wasn't able to stream the Nederland-Denmark friendly, but just read up on it today. It was a 1-1 draw, and RVN scored for the hosts.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080529...pt7_1_EoHHOrgF

I may also miss the Portugal match happening tomorrow, I think. Post here if you follow up on it.

Please post your thoughts, news, etc. on as many of the matches as you can, before Saturday, June 7.

Thanks for participating.

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Czech Republic beat Scotland 3-1 in today's friendly
match. That's surprising; thought the scores would be closer. Not sure what happened there. Will have to read up on it, and maybe get a torrent of the game.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080530/sp_soccer_afp/fbleuro2008czesco_080530193357;_ylt=AqARosdmSc7cnQOn0yO9pvTHOrgF

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Austria beat Malta 5-1.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL3057289320080530

Switzerland won 3-0 over Liechtenstein.
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=703540.html#frei+record+boosts+hosts+morale

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Germany defeat Serbia 2-1.
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=703687.html#ballack+completes+germany+comeback

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Portugal wins 2-0 against Georgia.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/31/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Portugal-Georgia.php

"Croatia held in dull draw. Nico Kovac was both hero and villain for Croatia as he scored both goals in a dull 1-1 friendly draw with Hungary on Saturday."
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/report/0,16379,3033_3634604,00.html

"Romanians coast, French struggle in Euro warm-ups
PARIS (AFP) — Four-goal Romania were the most impressive of a slew of Euro 2008 qualifiers Saturday as many of the top sides qualified for next month's finals went through their paces in warm-up games.
While 2000 champions France laboured to a goalless home draw with Paraguay the Romanians blasted four goals without reply against hapless Montenegro."
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hPduGobL7lsP8Mm0qWKZcVlRBudA

[Hrvat]

"Croatia held in dull draw. Nico Kovac was both hero and villain for Croatia as he scored both goals in a dull 1-1 friendly draw with Hungary on Saturday."
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/report/0,16379,3033_3634604,00.html


Kovač also did something I've seen for the first time I think. His header hit the crossbar and was deflected into the post and out.

[Monica 08]

Portugal 2 - 0 Georgia Saturday, May 31st, Viseu-
- Long 3 page discussion in the 'Portugal, national team' thread, section of the forum.
- Highlight was who Scolari would put as striker in front of Cristiano Ronaldo and the other winger Simao. Nuno Gomes like always or Manchester United forward Nani. It was obvious to everyone that Nuno Gomes needs to go to the bench. Nani was convincing with many shots on target.
- Quaresma as one of the wingers or Simao. Quaresma proved himself.
- Penalty was awarded to Portugal and the Scolari's 1st option taker, Simao Sabrosa scored.

On Internat'l Herald Tribune: Portugal beats Georgia 2-0 in Euro 2008 warmup (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/31/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Portugal-Georgia.php)
Opinion on my blog: Moutinho, Nani and Quaresma proved they belong in the starting 11- after the Portugal- Georgia friendly. Midfielders score, not forwards. (http://fanoffutebol.blogspot.com/2008/05/ricardo-moutinho-gomes-nani-and.html)

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Kovač also did something I've seen for the first time I think. His header hit the crossbar and was deflected into the post and out.

By the way, will Da Silva, the Premier League player whose leg was broken not long ago, be able to participate in the Euro? Last I heard he was recovering nicely.

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Highlight was who Scolari would put as striker in front of Cristiano Ronaldo and the other winger Simao.

Penalty was awarded to Portugal and the Scolari's 1st option taker, Simao Sabrosa scored.


Did you watch it? Did Cristiano seem exhausted? The two pictures I saw he didn't look too happy. Didn't want to draw any conclusions from that, of course.

I always found Simao to be very competent, and he seems to rise to every occasion where he's been given a chance. He, Cris (most of all), Ricardo the goalkeeper and Carvalho are my favorites on the Portugal team.

[Smoga]

Poland ties Denmark today 1:1. Goals: 29 min Vingaard, 43 min Krzynowek. Missed penalty Zurawski 38 mn.


Polish starting squad from today will probably start against the Germans, other than the injured players (Zewlakow, Blaszczykowski) who were watching the game from the stands.

Poland: Artur Boruc - Marcin Wasilewski, Jacek Bąk, Mariusz Jop, Jakub Wawrzyniak (46. Paweł Golański) - Dariusz Dudka, Mariusz Lewandowski, Jacek Krzynówek (77. Łukasz Garguła), Euzebiusz Smolarek (77. Marek Saganowski) - Tomasz Zahorski (46. Wojciech Łobodziński), Maciej Żurawski (46. Roger Guerreiro)

Denmark: Thomas Sorensen - Lars Jacobsen, Per Kroldrup, Anders Moller Christensen, Martin Jorgensen (46. Thomas Rasmussen), Dennis Rommedah, Christian Poulsen (78. Thomas Augustinussen), Martin Retov (64. Jesper Christiansen), Martin Vingaard (68. William Kvist), Nicklas Bendtner (90. Dennis Soerensen), Morten Nordstrand (46. Kenneth Perez)

[Anna Italia]

Talking about friendlies preparation towards EURO 2008,
Romana 4 - 0 Montenegro (http://italiansoccerseriea.com/2008/06/01/results-international-friendly-romania-4--0-montenegro-4-players-from-the-serie-a-with-romania-and-with-montenegro-mirko-vucinic.aspx)

As I am cheering for Italy, I am following closely the teams in GROUP C and Romania with 4 Serie A players Mutu, Chivu, Radu, and Codrea beat Montenegro easily. I think Romania is one of the teams to be fearful more than France that did not show a big deal with Paraguay ending in a goalless score. Of course, that might change, but right now based on these preparatories Romania is the real challenger.

Which one will be most difficult to beat Romania or France and why?

[cromagnum]

By the way, will Da Silva, the Premier League player whose leg was broken not long ago, be able to participate in the Euro? Last I heard he was recovering nicely.

no he wont be back for euros but might be back for the start of worldcup qualifying

[AFCA]

Oranje-blanje--bleu played Wales yesterday.

Hardly anything special, save a great free kick from Sneijder. With Sneijder and V Persie (the latter likely to see action as a sub against Italy) aboard, we should be able to capitalize on free kicks. Both are specialists at scoring precise screamers.

The game ended 2-0.

Really all I can say about it.

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Some more results from Sunday Friendlies:

Sweden lost to Ukraine, 0-1.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL0143462620080601

Euro 2004 winners Greece were held to a 0-0 draw by non-qualifiers Armenia.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/08/06/01/SOCCER_Gre-Greece_Nightlead.html

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

I'm watching the Russia-Lithuania match. Lithuania leading 1-0.

Edited to add: Russia just equalized. Their number 17-Zirianov(sp?) scored a nice one. Stream is in arabic.

[WorldCup_Fanatic]

Russia won the match 4-1 against Lithuania. Watched up to where Pavluchenko scored. Below is the match report.
http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=705670.html

And, Spain won 1-0 against the USA. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080604/sp_soccer_afp/fbleuroespusafriendly;_ylt=Atm.VbbIdcBOWZuZ7mAY5Bd2yLQF