Thought I'd start a thread as it's starting in five days.
Although I don't have a Scotland to cheer on (note: I'm not Scottish, I just follow Scottish fitba and I like to support the national team as well), I'm quite excited ahead of the competition. I'll be keeping an eye on Sweden (to see Larsson play again), Netherlands (as I'd like to see them pip either France or Italy out of the tourney and Big Jan's in the squad) and Poland (to witness grand saves from the Holy Goalie B) ). I'll also be looking forward to all the Euro buzz at school :D

Anyone else getting into this? B)

Should be an interesting tournament. I'll be cheering for Spain, and then France after Spain have choked. But as long as Germany or Italy don't win it I'll be happy.

Can't wait for this. I'll be cheering Holland although I have a feeling Spain might well do something this time around.

All right Gav! I'll cheer with you. :hug:
Unfortunately Holland is in the group of death. And the defense is a widely known achilles’ heel for the oranges.
Maybe they can use the sudden exit of Cannavaro to their advantage in their opening match against Italy. Still I pick Italy for the cup, by beating Germany in the final.

Hey GP :hug:

The group of death looks nasty but I think although the Dutch defence can be a problem with Van Nistelrooy and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar backing him up you guys look very very strong up front and with van der Vaart and Robben backing that up in midfield I really do rate their chances of getting out of that group and through to the knock out stages.

Actually saying that... is Van der Vaart regularly in the starting line up these days?

Aye, everyone at my (French) school were excited today by Cannavaro's withdrawal. I'm a bit disappointed, because if he hadn't been injured, then I thought that the Oranje might have fielded my favourite Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink as he can wreck havoc in the air and I would presume that the Wee man Cannavaro would have difficulties in handling him B)

Oh and I do feel that there is a chance that Spain might not choke this time, they look stronger than ever.

That's the big question. Coach van Basten has this unfathomable way of thinking, he's looking for balance all the time even if that means some of the best players will have to sit on the bench. This is a bit un-dutch and explains why he's not very populair since he became coach.
For a similar reason players like Seedorf and van Bommel stated they never want to play for a team coached by van Basten again. And these are big names.. :unsure:
Personally i think if you have 10 Maradonnas, each one should play. Screw balance

Players like Robben and especially van Persie can make the difference so who knows.. Anyway; like yourself i can't wait for the kick off. I i know i can use some divertion coming weekend...Fed..again...no FO :nope:

Well, France is having a certain problem upfront atm - I've noticed a distinct lack of firepower in the last two friendly matches. Only two wonder goals from surprise inclusion Gomis were able to down Ecuador and the French were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay on Saturday, when the latter would no doubt admit that they were ran ragged. France is playing Ecuador right now with about 5 minutes left and Ribery's penalty is the difference so far :hmm:

Trezeguet's uncalled-for omission could prove costly for les Bleus.

It's clear the departure of Zizou is still taking it's toll for the French. And the other great; Henry was totally lost this season. But although France is not a hot favourite for the title, it's hard to imagine they won't make it to the next round. Ribery for one, played a glorious season this year

Watched Portugal v Turkey - very sexy fitba B)

Good luck Croatia :ok:

:phew: 1-0 just!

Sounds like Austria deserved to equalize too.

They're desperately missing Eduardo.

'mon Poland...0-1down so far, where is the defence?

Podolski scores twice against his own country to steer Germany to a convincing 2-0 victory. Boruc made a great save at one point but couldn't do anything about the goals.

no upsets or what so ever till now, hopefully tomorrow Holland can pull the first upset of this tourney

Hope not! Good luck Italia :ok:

France 0-0 Romania

What did I say, what did I say...

Dreadful match, dull dull dull! :yawn:

In contrast Holland were amazing :bow: :bow: :bow:

Absolutely sensational performance from the Dutch! Total fitba is back!

Well, well, well, the bad taste of the RG final is gone; Holland played their best match since Van Basten joined the team. They even could have scored 4 or 5 goals..
I was surprised to see Holland totally outsmarted Italy; time and time again Sneijder and Van de Vaart found space between the Italian defenders and midfielders whereas usually Italy keeps it very compact. Italy never got things under control.
It will be difficult for Van Basten to decide what to do when everyone is fit again (van Persie, Robben). But that’s a luxury problem. :)

Spain :yikes: Some serious contenders already showing their colours.

Greece has just played a shameful first half of football :tsk: :tsk:

Delighted that Holland showed Italy up as the worst team ever to win the World Cup... what a shame no attacking team played them before the final back in 2006. I'd love Holland to win it, but like Spain, they won't. Teams who start off brilliantly always seem to falter, and teams who play crap football often seem to win this tournament in recent years.

Netherlands :bow: :party:

Italy :bleh:



France :yawn:

Spain :shrug: - even worse underachievers than England, don't get excited.

Good to see the teams with a passive attitude didn’t get much these first round matches. You can’t expect non-stop fireworks from teams of Turkey, Romania and Switzerland, but it’s a mystery to me why Greece even bothered to come over to the Alp region, for sure not to play football..
France was disappointing as well, specially since they seemed satisfied with a draw long before the match was done. And what about the defence of Russia? Now that was a plain amateurish, wasn’t it?
Anyway, I agree with Wise; it’s still unlikely Spain or Holland will grab it this time, somehow they always find a way to screw it :banghead:

with no England, it's all about the Dutch Republic :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Hate to disappoint you, but Holland has a Queen.

I wondered why people were talking about the Eurostar from the front of the board until I realised BS's name and the thread title played tricks on my eyes...

Portugal, Spain and Holland definitely the best teams so far. Fortunately, the only average team which will probably undeservedly do well is Germany. I don't fancy Italy and Greece lost to the worst team in their group, playing comically dire football.

A shame that Switzerland are out, I thought that they could qualify from that group, but the Czechs and Turkey are also good teams. I'm interested to see what happens if Turkey and the Czechs draw - they have identical goal differences and goals scored/conceded. The draw is the likely result too, given how evenly matched they seem. Will it come down to fair play?

Believe it ot not but in that case a penalty shootout between the two will be decisive. Could be interesting, i reckon that never happened before, before the knockout stages that is :shrug:

it's a joke, that's what they used to be called :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Croatia 2:1 Germany

You read it here first :jaw: :jaw:

I'm not overly surprised. Croatia are a powerful, strong and organised team. :ok:

Croatia I love you :bow: :bow: :bow: Great result :yahoo:

What a belter of a performance that was frae the Holy Goalie...I'm so proud that he's shown many people what's capable of, but at the same time, it gives me a real heartache, as it's now for sure that Arsenal/another huge club with an auld or pish keeper will go for him. At least this match will have raised his value. Let the transfer war begin :(

I wasn't at all shocked at Germany's defeat to a superior team... then again, Germany's prodigious footballing history is based entirely on undeserved victories over better, more attacking teams through horribly boring efficiency and a complete lack of choking. Portugal should beat them 3 or 4-0, but wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see them still lingering come the final.

Incidentally, for you English on the board - nice to see at least one Englishman choking on the big stage at a major tournament in the absence of the team. Congratulations Howard Webb. :lmaao:

Italy were flukey! Great penalty save :bow:

the Dutch continue to impress. and it's way tooo soon to call it - but Italy and France out would be great :P

Oh yes the Orange Boys are not letting me down!!!! :D :D