Euro 2008 — Running Thread

The little move by RVN to spring the second goal was Zidane-like. The Dutch have really brought the joga here.

And I really like Andy Gray.

 

I really like the announcers for the Euro Cup as well. I think all of them are doing a good job. I actually watch the games on ESPN2 without putting it on mute. What a refreshing concept.

 

Mellberg has been invisible through 20 minutes against the Spanish.
I thought, going in, he had to have a solid game for the Swedes to have a chance.

 

Great equalizer from Zlatan--beats Ramos and then Casillas low to the corner.

 

VILLA!

And that ought to win it for Spain in the 92nd minute.

 

Yep, almost Sweden's first defending mistake and it cost them.

 

Strange as this may sound, but I think Russia will beat Sweden. Russia has had about a dozen good scoring opportunities so far in their two games. They should have won about 4-1 today, and could have hung with Spain with a little more luck and accuracy.

I like Sweden, but they haven't really impressed me.

 

And as if I didn't hate Italy enough, they're already starting to whine about the "system" that will likely have the Dutch resting their best players vs. Romania. A Romania win makes the Italy/France game pointless.

Hey Italy ... try winning one of your first two games and maybe this wouldn't be a problem. I like the head-to-head system. Makes no sense for a team to be eliminated on a goal-difference tiebreaker when that team beat the team that qualified head-to-head.

 

Just back from a week's vacation.

I managed to watch a few matches (mainly the Dutch and Spanish), from scanning the thread those two are the class of the tournament, right?

 

Those two are the popular choices, but I think Portugal (gasp!) and Croatia will have to be accounted for. I hope the Germans heed their wake-up call.

 

Well, certainly. Someone has to lose to the Dutch in the final.

 

The Netherlands have been brilliant. They've bitch-slapped the World Cup finalists. A little iffy on defense, but other than that, have been great.