Match #31 :: The Final :: Sunday 29 June [R]

[footyfan1]

he didn't headbutt him though; silva did

Silva barely touched him and was provoked. No call or a double yellow.

Podolski was the clear aggressor on that play, yet the desperate Germany fans call for the red.

How classy.

[ratdog]

Do you realise how germany played in the last WC and in the 2 years after that?!

No, I realize how they played THIS tournament. I don't care what they did in 1964 or whatever. I wasn't talking about that. I'm all about the Church of what's Happening Now and now they plodded along and didn't show me much after smacking down Poland. Give them credit for mental toughness in overcoming a last-minute goal by a vastly depleted Turkey side but you can't say Germany played with attacking flair like Spain or even the Netherlands did.

They didn't play that way consistently in this tournament for a couple of reasons. Injury to key players being one of them.

Oh quit crying. The Turks can rightly claim injury problems. You got nothing there.

Instead, try blaming unimaginative midfield play, overeliance on size and set pieces, and failure to finish the chances that came their way.

Oh, and Spain played very well and finally showed the grit and the discipline they've been lacking for many years to go along with individual attacking flair.

I completely disagree. Today's German national team is one of the most exciting and attacking-minded squads in all of UEFA.

They have been in the past but not this past month. I mean, yeah, as I said before they're not Greece or Italy, but you can't compare them to Spain, Portugal, Croatia or the Netherlands. Both the Croatia group game and the 1-0 win against lowly Austria (the lone goal coming from... wait for it... a set piece) aren't arguments for attacking flair. Their win over Portugal was all set pieces and they barely squeaked past the depleted Turks. Take away the goals from set pieces and what have they got? Low has to do something with that midfield.

Question for you: Do you think Germany was te better team today? If not, what was the difference?

[squidward123]

except your defeat as a man does.

That's exactly what I did.

I don't think anybody besides you here thinks spain outplayed germany by the margin you're saying.


the fact you dont mention the torres header and the iniesta deflected shot in the FIRST half makes you look foolish.

iniesta deflected shot? That came off a german and it was saved. You could say spain was lucky to turn that into a shot on goal in the first place?

Anyway, no use arguing with you.

[+Gooner+]

He ;)
No i dont blame lahm, Lahm doesnt do mistakes :D:o

He was rubbish. Get over it.

[squidward123]

Silva barely touched him and was provoked. No call or a double yellow.

Podolski was the clear aggressor on that play, yet the desperate Germany fans call for the red.

How classy.

I ain't desperate. I thought the rules were so strict these days that little things like raising your hand to the other guy's face, or headbutting even if it was provoked and barely touching was a red card. Remember drogba in the CL final? Or schweinsteiger's red - he shoved the guy mainly in the chest there and got sent off.

[Neuwerld]

Great job Spain. Well-deserved win and championship; can certainly be proud of their display throughout the whole tournament. They didn't have to rely on "just enough".

[Sevryn45]

The field of 16 teams will be expanded for Euro 2016. The quality of the tournament will therefore diminish.

No not really, there are quite a few teams in Europe who could compete in the Euro's now a days.

Teams that missed 2008 but have enough quality to make the Turnament more interesting.

England, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Wales, Finland.

Increasing the Turnament to 24 teams is a good idea, the competition will not be dilluted when you have teams like Turkey and Russia suprising bigger and more experianced sides. Quite a few of those teams on their day can knock out and send home sides considered to be the favorite.

Can't wait for the expansion, it will make the turnament even bigger and more popular.

[squidward123]

Oh quit crying. The Turks can rightly claim injury problems. You got nothing there.

Oh quit assuming. I am not crying, I am just commenting. Aren't I allowed to say why germany perhaps did not play that way in this tournament?

Why must people have the "they lost so they must be crying" assumption-mode on about comments the losing team's fans make?


Instead, try blaming unimaginative midfield play, overeliance on size and set pieces, and failure to finish the chances that came their way.

And I was giving what I thought was a reason for this.




They have been in the past but not this past month. I mean, yeah, as I said before they're not Greece or Italy, but you can't compare them to Spain, Portugal, Croatia or the Netherlands.

LOL

Croatia attacking flair in this tournament??

[Lahmfan]

He was rubbish. Get over it.
yes mam!

[Oscar]

To help Lahmfan, I saw that as a mistake of the goalie as well. I got the feeling from seeing the replay that Lahm held back from removing the ball because Lehman came to it. If the goalie had stayed in the goal, he would have probably shot the ball out which he had ample time to do, instead he counted on keeping possesion because the goalie would have gotten it.

You named 4 teams. They want to add 8.

I am more concerned over the format with 24 teams. How will they structure who makes it out of the first round.

You can add Bulgaria, Norway, Wales, Ukraine and Belgium. Not the best of the best, but then neither are all the teams at the world cup. Basically we have a much larger number of UEFA countries now than we did before, it only makes sense to make the EC bigger.

24 teams still means the top 2 teams go through in each group doesn't it? :confused: Did I miscount?

[Gandalf The Red]

That's exactly what I did.

I don't think anybody besides you here thinks spain outplayed germany by the margin you're saying.


I have seen plenty say spain deserved to win by more, now please stop crying:rolleyes:

[Abebe]

I am just watching a SWEET recap of Euro 2008 (lots of music and slow motion) on ESPNNEWS. Hats off to you ESPN.

[footyfan1]

I ain't desperate. I thought the rules were so strict these days that little things like raising your hand to the other guy's face, or headbutting even if it was provoked and barely touching was a red card. Remember drogba in the CL final? Or schweinsteiger's red - he shoved the guy mainly in the chest there and got sent off.

And kudos to Podolski for not acting like he caught a square headbutt. He did not. Silva barely touched him and again, Podolski leaned in first. If one had gone, both would have gone. You write like Podolski did nothing.

He was the aggressor and was clearly trying to draw the card. Had a Spanish player done the same, you'd be here crying about what kind of scumbag he was for provoking Podolski.

Even the Germans here shut up about it after seeing the replay.

[-Fifth CharM-]

That's exactly what I did.

I don't think anybody besides you here thinks spain outplayed germany by the margin you're saying..

In all honesty Spain deserved to win this match at least 3-0. They completely outplayed their opponent for most part of the match and despite being 1 goal up they were the team attacking,

[GringoTex]

Felicidades, Espana!

[squidward123]

And kudos to Podolski for not acting like he caught a square headbutt. He did not. Silva barely touched him and again, Podolski leaned in first. If one had gone, both would have gone. You write like Podolski did nothing.

He was the aggressor and was clearly trying to draw the card. Had a Spanish player done the same, you'd be here crying about what kind of scumbag he was for provoking Podolski.

Even the Germans here shut up about it after seeing the replay.

Look :

1) I was under the impression that what podolski did by leaning in was not an offence punishable by a red card. He leant in, but is that a card offence?

2) I thought that a headbutt, no matter how hard or soft it is, was a red card. Just like raising your hand to a guy's face is a red card. Or like frings' punch against cruz in the fight in 06.

I am not complaining so don't put a spin on what I'm saying. I'm wanting to just clarify the rules.

[Roland25]

From all finals which Germany has lost in history, this one did upset me at least. Spain truly deserved this win. Congratulations!


However I think we did a great job too. This was the 13th final in a major tournament in 54 years. With this defence simply we didn't desreve more. Of course I am sorry for Ballack, but we have now many young stars which can challenge several tournaments until 2014.

[footyfan1]

To help Lahmfan, I saw that as a mistake of the goalie as well. I got the feeling from seeing the replay that Lahm held back from removing the ball because Lehman came to it. If the goalie had stayed in the goal, he would have probably shot the ball out which he had ample time to do, instead he counted on keeping possesion because the goalie would have gotten it.


You're nuts. That play was near the top of the box. That's Lahm's play all the way and he got his ass kicked on the play. I was amazed Lehmann got there as quickly as he did.

Torres kicked Lahm's ass and beat Lehmann, who should have never been called upon to even save that play.

[squidward123]

In all honesty Spain deserved to win this match at least 3-0. They completely outplayed their opponent for most part of the match and despite being 1 goal up they were the team attacking,

No I don't agree. The game had some periods of neutrality and in the first 20-25 mins of the 2nd half spain were defending. After that they started to control possession more and also had some good chances on the counterattack.

Spain deserved to win without a doubt, but did not outplay germany by as much as you say.

As for the goals, yes it could have easily been 3-0, but the best of those chances were on the counter in the last quarter of the game, so for me that "could have been" doesn't carry as much weight. Spain had some good chances earlier in the game too, but Germany had enough to cancel those "could have been"s out.

[squidward123]

You're nuts. That play was near the top of the box. That's Lahm's play all the way and he got his ass kicked on the play. I was amazed Lehmann got there as quickly as he did.

Torres kicked Lahm's ass and beat Lehmann, who should have never been called upon to even save that play.

yup, lahm got owned on that play. When it first happened I thought "ok, he's got it covered" and looked away momentarily to get my water or something, and then suddenly the commentator is raising his voice