Euro 2008

It's tough when other countries steal your best players...a Poland team with Podolski, Klose, and even Radzinski would be in much better shape.

 

They would be better, but they still wouldn't have anything creative wise in midfield. Also They can't complain about that when they steal other countries' players.

 

Quite simply, having a talented team should have no bearing on whether a country is suitable to host a major tournament. Additionally, Poland has qualified for the last two World Cups and now the European Championships. That is impressive for Poland.

While they may not have the talent right now, they play hard and do their best which makes me happy. My belief is that by hosting a major event like Euro 2012, it might help get more players involved and interested in the sport the way World Cup '94 was for the sport here in the US.

I am with you on the Bulgaria's and the Scotland's hosting the tournament, but don't think they are any better than Poland. At least Poland qualified for this tournament.

I respect your argument but I think it is very shortsighted and I do not think it holds any merit.

 

Don't know about anyone else, but it is hard for me to respect arguments that do not hold any merit. Just sayin'.

Otherwise, I think we have a very, very good Euro Tournament going. The only team completely out of it so far is...........Switzerland, that's it. And having a chance to advance in your last match of the group phase, if you are considered a small fry, is one of biggest things you are shooting for when you start this Tourney.

I'd say the Tournament organizers have done alright, and Austria could, COULD (but probably won't...please), move on to the quarterfinals. And let's not forget, Austria was to be the doormat.

Opening ceremonies were very nice and thankfully fairly short, but the stadiums and countryside seem to be very picturesque.

 

Did I say Germany? I totally meant Holland...my bad

"Bandwagonesque" was/ is one of my favorite albums, Nevs...
-T

 

Podolski moved to Germany when he was two years old so all of his footballing was learned in Germany. I wouldnt call that stealing. Klose moved when he was nine so most of his footballing was done in Germany. The real problem here was that Poland was communist when their families moved - that is why they moved.

To me Poland appears to be much worse by granting citizenship to Guerreiro, a Brazilian, who didnt come to Poland until well after he was an adult. They did the same with that Nigerian player who was the highest scorer in the Polish league.

 

I was expecting the Italy/Romania match to be a snoozer, but hell if that game didn't have it all.

It's amazing how gifted athletes seem to have the right pair of 'scissors' to cut through all the red tape when it comes to naturalization.

 

Sweden must be gutted. David Villa is a terrorist.
I did not understand Ibrahimovic coming out so soon. What happened?

Damn, these are good matches!

 

Apparently he re-tweaked his knee (didn't see exactly where it happened). I'm gutted like the Swedes, I changed my pick 30 minutes before the game off of Spain and for the draw (damn that Villa!!)

 

Hey I would have never criticized Poland if it wasnt for the whining about Podolski. I was rooting for them, but the whining kind of ruins it for me. My boys best friends are Polish and they were saying that they "hated" Podolski for playing for Germany. Then I read about how he was stolen on here. Just trying to lend some perspective, and didnt say anything about the US.

 

I agree with Mo.

See, it happens sometimes.

 

I had the draw in my pick 'em also, SoCal.

All in all, picking with my heart instead of my head has ruined my chances of being anywhere near the top of the competition.

I don't care all that much (of course not, I'm losing!), as I am mostly enjoying the ride.

 

here's another way to qualifie to play international football...aka Tony Cascarino

Cascarino was born in England but represented the Republic of Ireland, qualifying through his Irish grandfather. However, he later revealed that his mother told him in 1996 that she was adopted and therefore no blood relative to the grandfather. Cascarino said in his autobiography: "I didn't qualify for Ireland. I was a fraud. A fake Irishman". However, through the adoption his mother gained the right to Irish citizenship and therefore he was indeed eligible.


this would go for me to, German father, Austrian mother, born in London, raised by a English family. Even though i joke about my uncertain roots, im english to the bone ( but do have dr strangelove flinch now and then...click heels aghhh click)

 

Bulgaria and Scotland have 1 thing that Poland doesn't- A player that can turn a game. Having those teams host the tournament would also improve their standing and increase fan support. My point is that instead of letting teams that just battle hard host the tournament, let teams that have the quality AND that are on the brink of becoming somebodies host the tournament. Poland nor Ukraine are on the brink of anything big. There is a whole host of other teams that are on the brink and that deserve it more based on performance and venue for that matter.


Belgium hosted Euro 2000. Where are they now?

 

That Turkey-Czech Republic match I just saw was one of the best matches of football I've ever seen.

What an ending that was.


P.S. Petr Cech bottling the cross for Turkey's second goal :3d laughing: