Two host nations

[FNU]

Ignorant, anyone and their mother could see Austria completely outplaying the Croatians.
Why don't you check the time of the post, ignoramus.

[Prawn Sandwich]

Lets keep this civil shall we?

[Sevryn45]

Ignorant, anyone and their mother could see Austria completely outplaying the Croatians.

Austria did not have 1 decent moment in the game, Croatia had plenty and the sad thing is that the Croats are asleep and disinterested. Austria was not a danger, the Croats just gave them the ball for most of the time and defended cause it was easier and less of a hassle.

As for Switzerland, they should have converted their chances.

[Excape Goat]

Austria definitely silenced the critics. They were unlucky not to win.

[leg_breaker]

I didn't watch the second half, did they manage a shot on goal eventually?

[FNU]

I didn't watch the second half, did they manage a shot on goal eventually?
Yes, Austria shifted their shots above and wide of goal in the first half to a few on goal in the second. Croatia is dealing with a Petric bad back...he was terrible and I guess that was the reason.

[Rainer24]

Yes, Austria shifted their shots above and wide of goal in the first half to a few on goal in the second. Croatia is dealing with a Petric bad back...he was terrible and I guess that was the reason.




He probably hurt it on that stupid attempt at a spectacular volley when he had the time and space to control and shoot normally.

[FNU]

He probably hurt it on that stupid attempt at a spectacular volley when he had the time and space to control and shoot normally.
This tourney is plagued by injuries. Kind of sucks.

[Cris 09]

This tourney is plagued by injuries. Kind of sucks.

Tourneys usually all are...but I guess with the big names like Cannavaro, Schneider, Robben, Viera makes it more noticable than before.

[glennaldo_sf]

I think the problem with this Euro cup is that you've got so many unevenly drawn groups because of the seeding system. You had not one, not two, but three 'non-powerhouses' taking up 3 of the 4 top seed spots like Austria, Switzerland and Greece. Not saying they don't deserve it. Of course you have to seed the hosts and holders but this strange mixture of teams has given the tournament grouping an imbalance. You have groups A & D whose best teams are Portugal & Spain respectively - two sides who have never made a world cup final and only have one Euro final runners up place between them within the last two decades. And then you have group C - which contains 3 former Euro cup winners all in one group and three teams who have won either the Euro cup, the world cup or both within the last two decades.

I think it's a combination of the two weak host nations + the unfamiliar champions that have made this Euro first round such an akward mismatch of teams.

[M]

I think UEFA's hosting policy has been very imaginative and is giving countries that otherwise wouldn't have had an opportunity to host a major event the ability to do so. This applies not only to the joint hosts (Bel/Ned/Swi/Aus/Pol/Ukr) but to Portugal as well. UEFA's remit is not only to host a successful major tournament but to develop the game across UEFA as a whole. Hosting in "smaller" countries contributes to that.

As to two relatively weak hosts, that's certainly a problem, but as the prior post points out this has been exacerbated this time around by UEFA's poor seeding system and the fact that Greece won last time around.

[glennaldo_sf]

At least UEFA doesn't do what AFC did... which was give the Asian Cup to FOUR host nations... some that don't even share borders with each other... Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia! :eek:

[Marbur66]

Two hosts give smaller nations like Switzerland and Austria the chance to hold these events, which would otherwise go to larger, more populous countries. I don't have a problem with it, as long as they don't start going overboard (ie: 3 hosts).