If you have seen a game from another NT and you feel compelled to talk about it, go ahead and use this thread to post it in. It's not a rigid thing, just general other games that you like to mention and talk about. Cheers
Russian rant about Advocaat Oh boy, I feel for this guy. This was me in 2004 before and during Euro 2004. It's the only time my thinking was conflicted about winning the next game. On the one hand I wanted Netherlands to advance. On the other hand I wanted Netherlands to bomb out, because I hated Advocaat. Well Advocaat did go away in weird fashion and have the feeling he never really understood why everybody disliked him. Must have left some scars with him. Anyway, looks like he hasn't chanced. I'm also worried for the Dutch talents at PSV. We will see what he does next season in the competition.
Denmark lost no. 1 GK Thomas Sorensen. And it appears that his back-up Lindegaard is not yet fully fit. Oranje has to capitalize on this.
Wow, that really sucks for them. Good goalkeepers are vital in a tournament. So that will mean they will play with choice nr 3. I remember we scored a goal against Denmark a bit lucky in the WC, with the help of Poulsen. Such a scenario can happen again with a bad goal keeper and a Wesley Sneijder that tries some distance shots to build pressure. Japan conceded that way at the WC against us. Often people look at the awesome players they have, but gloss over their weakest link and how that can effect the team in a negative way. A bad goal keeper is the worst spot to have a weak link maybe.
Sigthorsson had a beautiful header in this match, 2nd goal in two friendlies for Iceland. But the true boss was Zlatan. Beautiful volley on the first goal and then smokes a defender with an elastico before setting up the 2nd goal.
England just lost Cahill to injury.. all because Dries Mertens took a cheap shot in a friendly match by pushing Cahill from behind, colliding with GK Hart and boom! His jaws were broken, both sides. Ouch.
This is bad. Now English fans will say that lampard & cahill not being around is the reason for their group stage elimination & playing garbage football which will be supported by the British Media. Cahill will be potrayed as the illegitimate son on Nesta & Lampard as demi-god & saviour of English Football. English fans are probably pinning all their hopes of winning the cup on Jordan Henderson being the Main Man in Mid-field alongside an old & injure prone Gerrard.
England just became a better team without Cahill, Lampard and whoever else is out. They won't be taken serious but it also makes them more dangerous as an underdog. I mean, if Oranje faced England, we'd be all 100% confident we'd beat them right?
Seems like Roy Hodgson is desperately trying to get into the good books of the Liverpudlians. He dropped in form midfielder Michael Carrick and defenders Rio Ferdinand, Micah Richards and now has called up Jordan Henderson (19 English midfielders had better passing stats compared to Henderson last season) to replace injured Barry and called up Martin Kelly (who started 12 league games out of 38 for a team which finished 8th) to replace Gary Cahill. 6 Liverpool players in the squad. Expect England to finish 8th in their group
Ferdinand did not deserve to be called anyway. And I am split among Walker & Richards. Neither can defend anyways so they are like Glen Johnson Part 2 & 3. 1 of them should have been called though. And Carrick is not a big step up from Barry though. Both average players. Carrick made himself unavaible so Henderson would be selected anyways. Henderson,Downing,Caroll are all rubbish players anyway
Ferdinand: He played 38 games last season and hasn't missed a game due to injury since Jan, 2012. He was involved in the title run-in which saw Man Utd narrowly miss the title on goal difference. So, the injuries excuse from Roy doesn't work with me. The only reason he is missing out is because John Terry is accused of racially abusing his brother Anton Ferdinand and with majority of the England camp behind Rio, Roy is scared that Rio's inclusion may divide the squad. Carrick: A bit unfair to call him similar to Barry. Carrick is the only consistent performer for Man Utd this season. In all respects (tackles, interceptions, pass completion, etc), Carrick had a better season compared to Barry. He's been Man United's only midfield player who was constant part of a team that won 4 League titles and reached CL finals 3 times in last 6 years. The only 2 yrs they missed out on title was once by a single point and once by goal difference. Walker was injured and couldn't be included. Micah Richards and Carrick always got the raw deal from Capello. England played 22 competitive games under Capello and Carrick played just one. And Micah Richards is currently lot better than Martin Kelly. It's not as if Micah is old, as well. He is only 24-25 if I'm not wrong. Anyway, it's England. They won zilch with Golden Generation and they will win zilch with this Golden Shower of Shite.
Richards and Carrick didn't want to go unless they were starters. Why should the manager deal with that sense of entitlement? Neither of them are that good. Huntelaar just had one of Europe's best seasons by a centre forward and he dealt with being relegated to the bench just fine. He wasn't happy and he told people but he stuck around and accepted his role. By Richards and Carrick's logic, he would have walked out of camp. As for the fans, anybody who thinks English fans believe they can win the tournament is an idiot. Expectations are truly rock-bottom here. I think many people expect them to go out in the first round.
Walker is the shittiest, most overrated right back I've ever seen. He's got speed and he can dribble, but that's it. He can't make even a simple pass if his life depended on it and like 80% of his crosses sail out of play. IMO England are far better off without him. Anyways, My prediction for who makes it out of the group stage Group A: Poland and Russia advance Group B: Netherlands and Germany Group C: Spain and Croatia (I really don't think Italy will be going anywhere this year either.) Group D: Sweden and France.
To DRB - thanks for the link, I missed it! Too bad Portugal couldn't get the goal that would have tied the match as they were deserving. Some strange calls by the match official against Portugal in this one but that's life as we found out in our match from earlier today. I don't think Germany is all that good as they really have problems in the back and if Ozil is kept in check their offense is not big shakes either. Podolski's skills have deserted him and Muller may be a one trick wonder who lit up the WC but can't do much these days. Oranje will have difficult matches against both of these opponents.
...and CR7 up against van der Wiel. Maybe Grandpa van Bommel will get a second yellow against Germany and won't have to run his creaky body trying to catch him.
It seems that there are a lot of people looking forward to Spain vs Italy. I think they are in for an unpleasant shock when Italy sit back and defend while Spain sit back and don't attack but hold onto the ball.
I am a bit impressed by Portugal & not so impressed by Germany. The back of Germany looks slightly weak especially at the sides. Lahm is bad at defending as a LB,he is a RB for me. Schweinsteiger does not have 100% fitness & he is playing safe. Muller Podolski are very average as wingers. What we have to do is to stop Ozil. I would play De Jong like Gustavo was played in the leg against Madrid. Use De Jong to man mark Ozil & continously harass him & not allow link-ups. If Ozil flops their whole team loses its mojo
Germany haven't found it's true shape, I'd say. Khedira better than Schweinsteiger at pulling the strings; Müller only there for crosses, not coming in the box; full backs not coming forward. The thing is: they don't have the need to change, with the win. Holland will change, Germany can wait and see if their WC counter attacks might still be there. Özil is key. If Holland fields Van Bommel, then please not close to Özil.
Germany had a great start. You want tournaments to start slow. Early flaming is early exit. The 1-0 was the best thing they could have done, with the goal to win it all in the back of their mind.
To be fair every Bayern fan who watches Lahm knows he is not very good at defending as a LB & he has 2-3 errors which have resulted in goals. Lahm is an awesome RB & he himself feels he is more comfortable at RB because he can defend with his stronger foot. Other than good work from Nani,but Purtugal's finishing is Not Up to The Mark.
Ozil is also VERY quick for a No.10. Mark can nowhere near keep up with him which is why I mentioned Nigel. Germany in general,guys like Ozil & Muller play quick football & Mark will be badly exposed.
Spain versus Italy is 0:0. I hope Italy scores a goal because I cannot withstand them. Balotelli has already a stupid & unnecessary yellow card while Fabregas - when he eliminated a potential counter attack - and Busquets - with a late & dirty tackle on the ankle - were 'lucky' to escape a booking.