Euro 2012

[giulio2010]

The web is full of those..

[giulio2010]

And last...

[mugsgame]

very funny......

Italy defiantly deserved to go through, it would have been an injustice if they had lost. I wish them well against the Germans, it will be a great match. But it left me wondering.........................

I wonder if this game was fixed too, like many of the matches that Italians are involved in.


Sorry Giullo, hope you didn't find that remark offensive. We all need some humor in life

[giulio2010]

very funny......

Italy defiantly deserved to go through, it would have been an injustice if they had lost. I wish them well against the Germans, it will be a great match. But it left me wondering.........................

I wonder if this game was fixed too, like many of the matches that Italians are involved in.


Sorry Giullo, hope you didn't find that remark offensive. We all need some humor in life

No offence taken.....

[CaerMyrddin]

With the first semi final being played today, imho we'll see a great match. I expect both teams to show great respect in the initial stages and not taking any risks.

I'm keen on laying Portugal, should we score first, but I'm also keen on laying Spain if they score in the first half, should we display a powerful reaction.

Bear in mind that the referee is turkish.

Good luck to all.

[Euler]

From what I have seen so far Portugal are a little too reliant on Ronaldo. Great player but can't do everything.

I'm finding it difficult to see past a Germany vs Spain final at the moment. Anything can happen though, apart form if you are England that is! Failure is an option in that case.

[Euler]

Just been checking stats and so far in Euro 2012 the market is consistantly getting the supremacy wrong. I.e. winners are clearer than expected. Market has forecasted unders 57% of the time versus an actual of 56%.

Average match has £20m matched with 56% of that occuring in-play.

[CaerMyrddin]

Imho, that's a bit unfair towards the rest of the team, a great player can only show its potencial in a great team.

Take Nani for instance, he hasn't scored a single goal, but has worked hardly defensively, so that CR can play more freely.

Players like Coentrão, Meireles, Moutinho and especially Pepe have also performed really well.

[Euler]

It should be a good match, I'm looking forward to watching it.

[Alpha322]

It should be a good match, I'm looking forward to watching it.

And trading it nothing like a bit of cake cup of tea (or beer if thats your fancy) and making a few buck

[giulio2010]

The strike force of Portuguese are impressive, but Spain using a 2-3-1 will do make run Moutinho, Veloso, Meireles, Nani, unnecessarily. You have all seen when the English midfielders ran unnecessarily against Italy the possession was around 65% for 120 minutes. On the other hand, Portugal has rested 5 days, 2 more days then Spain and with the right mentality' and intelligence will be able to contain the Spanish tiki taka which is less efficient than the Barcelona one. The best way to deal with Spain is the 3-5-2 cause the 5 midfielders give little space to the sides and with 3 defenders the central attacks is less effective. In any case, Portugal has chosen a devastating 4-3-3 with the hope of scoring more than Spain because Spain having lot's of space on both sides of the pitch will definitely score 1 by outrunning continuously Portuguese midfielders, dribbling from one side and the other on the Portuguese half. Obviously this what Spain hopes. Portugal has some players that are used to put pressure on the opponents midfielders, which is what they do in their clubs so the extra help to stop Spain going too forward will come from portoguise strikers. Nobody talks about it cause people are influenced by the team name and consistency of Spain, but Portugal has played some games to a higher level than Spain and only need to replicate the same solidity shown in the last 3 games. Against Germany the woke up call was too late, those few minutes of play at a high level have shown superiority against Germany, and showed a phenomenal football at times against Netherlands, Denmark and Czech Republic. The team has the right mentality and managed to win even when Ronaldo was doing all wrong. When you watch a game you must watch the movements of the players not only when they score and the movements of the Portuguese players are tested and effective in all departments. They have a strategy and if works they will go to the final. Ronaldo is the added luxury to the team and not necessarily the only factor to win.

[CaerMyrddin]

I'm not convinced that the extra days of rest will make much diference, Spain have a way of play that is not very tiring and also a better set of players on the bench.

Enjoyed a lot reading your post

[pdupre1961]

Iniesta rejects boring Spain tag
BBC website

Well he would wouldn't he...

[Euler]

Portugal did very well in the first half. An interesting tactical battle.

[Euler]

Unlucky Portugal, what was Nani doing?