UEFA 2012

[thinskin]

Originally Posted by richief

They do seem to hit and block and grab and shove at the line of scrimmage.

My understanding is that hitting and blocking are OK but grabbing (tackling) is not.

Thinskin

[umpire2]

Originally Posted by thinskin

I am pretty sure one of our more knowledgeable American cousins may correct me but even in Gridiron only the man with the ball may be tackled.

Thinskin

I think they were referring more to blocking, bashing and knocking down.

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer

No, rugby demands both. The plays in grid iron are comparable to a maul in rugby ....

...but five or ten times more intense; which is why you have to break off every few seconds and go and suck on an oxygen tank.

Rugby demands strength over forty minutes without a break. It isn't humanly possible to invest 100% of your strength in one tackle, and have anything left for the next one.

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by umpire2

I think they were referring more to blocking, bashing and knocking down.

Quite so; to the unfamiliars, it all looks like "tackling" in one form or another.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by thinskin

I am pretty sure one of our more knowledgeable American cousins may correct me but even in Gridiron only the man with the ball may be tackled.

Thinskin

In both games the pure aim is to put a man over the line but its done in different ways. In grid iron the receiver tries to find space so he can take the pass while his pals try to block the defenders from getting to him.

In rugby that is called shepherding and is considered cheating at it's vilest level.

But on the hits aspect the top rugby players here are more than capable of dealing with the hit ups from grid iron players they are real hard men.

Its the tactics of the game that would defeat them not the physicality.

Rugby however is a vastly superior game. Why? Because every body shape has a place in the rugby team. As long as a player has some level of fitness and is able to take physical knocks there is a position for which his body shape is perfect. Also there's a lot more to it than grid iron.

[justpassingthru]

Originally Posted by Jamie90

I will go with Jamie on this one for 2 reasons ... I have German ancestry and Jamie is so fucking hot.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Is this going to be their moment?

Will they strike leaving defenders reeling in their wake the ball sizzling into the back of the net past the outreached hands of the despairing goalie?

Millions of fans at 'ome throwing chip butties in air in jubilation as another axis power is crushed by the might of Albion?

Or are they going to beat their postcards home?

[gruzik]

Good issue.Poland-Russia-1:1

[Jamie90]

Originally Posted by justpassingthru

I will go with Jamie on this one for 2 reasons ... I have German ancestry and Jamie is so fucking hot.

In the opposite order of course, right?

Its fun to root for the winners anyway....oh yeah, we´re gonna win!!!

[pervy pete]

I like Rugby
I like Rugby League
I like Grid Iron
I even like Cricket

BUT I love FOOTBALL
So getting back to the original thread I think it's between Russia and Germany

Either of them could come second To ENGLAND

[Jamie90]

Originally Posted by pervy pete

Either of them could come second To ENGLAND

ahhhhh good one

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer

But on the hits aspect the top rugby players here are more than capable of dealing with the hit ups from grid iron players they are real hard men.

What do you think happens to real hard men who are hit by other real hard men weighing nearly twice as much?

That's right - they get flattened.

[justpassingthru]

Russia plays Greece on Saturday and this place is going to be fucking crazy during the match and Greece will be in tough against a team that has 8 wins and 8 draws in it's last 16 matches and the last time they lost was in a friendly to of all places Iran with a 1-0 score, on 90/02/2011. Giorgos Karagounis has won 119 caps for Greece and is poised to equal Theodoros Zagorakis's national record though with a goal on Saturday but have only scored one goal in each of their last 7 games with only one win in that time ... Russia is not the best team to play if you want to change those stats but Greece are no strangers to the Euro Cup, having won it on 2004.

As for England ... good luck with that one.

Btw, Mario Gomez of Germany leads the scoring race with 3 caps in 2 matches followed by Dzagoev of Russia with 2 caps.

[r34skilyne]

When I first clicked on this thread I thought that there would actually be discussion about the matches. Guess I was wrong, I was going to comment on how Ronaldo the "Best player in the world" choked and now the fans rattled him during the Denmark match.

But, I guess we can't be sports fans........

Incase you're wondering I'm an American that loves the NFL (there are 2 sports seasons, football season and waiting for football season. But I recently lived in Germany during the World Cup and nothing beats a crowd ready to riot over a flop.

[Jamie90]

Originally Posted by r34skilyne

Incase you're wondering I'm an American that loves the NFL (there are 2 sports seasons, football season and waiting for football season. But I recently lived in Germany during the World Cup and nothing beats a crowd ready to riot over a flop.

Its the German way!!!

Yehawwww

[pervy pete]

Originally Posted by Jamie90

ahhhhh good one

Nothing wrong with a good day dream

[richief]

For England to win they need the rest of Europe to play down to their standards, Spain are probably the best team around at the moment but I can't see them retaining the trophy, but then again why not. I know it won't be any of the hosts or the Russians, France aren't ready yet but Germany are always there waiting, Denmark and Greece are not strong enough, Portugal could be an outside bet, but not England, we just aren't that good.

[michael saint]

Originally Posted by richief

For England to win they need the rest of Europe to play down to their standards, Spain are probably the best team around at the moment but I can't see them retaining the trophy, but then again why not. I know it won't be any of the hosts or the Russians, France aren't ready yet but Germany are always there waiting, Denmark and Greece are not strong enough, Portugal could be an outside bet, but not England, we just aren't that good.

I pretty much agree with that.

As a natural defender I like how we are trying to play, but i always have found low scoring games most exciting, again I was always told and believe if the opposition don't score it's impossible to lose.

People say that scores of 5-4 etc. are exciting to watch, well I suppose if you want to see fucking shit defenders they are.

[thinskin]

Originally Posted by michael saint

I pretty much agree with that.

As a natural defender I like how we are trying to play, but i always have found low scoring games most exciting, again I was always told and believe if the opposition don't score it's impossible to lose.

People say that scores of 5-4 etc. are exciting to watch, well I suppose if you want to see fucking shit defenders they are.

I too can appreciate defensive tactics but I like to see a will to win rather than an attempt not to lose. I find the Dutch philosophy of keep ball rather boring and they have been found lacking so far.

The Croatians were my outside bet at the start of the tournament.

Thinskin

[michael saint]

Originally Posted by thinskin

I too can appreciate defensive tactics but I like to see a will to win rather than an attempt not to lose. I find the Dutch philosophy of keep ball rather boring and they have been found lacking so far.

The Croatians were my outside bet at the start of the tournament.

Thinskin

I love to see Charlie big time showboaters frustrated by quality, hard defending.

I believe that in any team Sport your first priority is to frustrate your opposition, within the rules obviously, to put them off their performance and destroy their confidence, give them no hope.

Beat them into the ground early on and then pick them off later would always be my preferred tactics.

[richief]

Any decent side will always be built around a good defence, it doesn't matter if you have Ronaldo and Henry up front banging in goal after goal if your defence leaks like a cheap colander. With the defence sorted you can then build a midfield to control the game and add strikers to win the game, it may seem simple but then football is a pretty simple game. And having a mean defence does not equate to boring games, you can have midfield and forward players scoring goals, you just don't leak at the back.

Something England does not do for some reason.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

What do you think happens to real hard men who are hit by other real hard men weighing nearly twice as much?

That's right - they get flattened.

What twice as much are you talking about.

The average linebacker is 6 feet 2 inches and 247 pounds, that's 112 kg.

112 kg is nothing special in the All Black scrum, thanks very much so I stand by what I said.

Anyway on with the bootiful game.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by richief

For England to win they need the rest of Europe to play down to their standards, Spain are probably the best team around at the moment but I can't see them retaining the trophy, but then again why not. I know it won't be any of the hosts or the Russians, France aren't ready yet but Germany are always there waiting, Denmark and Greece are not strong enough, Portugal could be an outside bet, but not England, we just aren't that good.

Maybe God wants them to win; they have to be in the easiest pool of the lot, A looks fairly mild but B and C? Ouch, poor old Ireland.

Three points off Sweden should be gettable and they have to be a favorite to beat Ukraine.

Its top two go through presumably.

I'll just sit waiting with quiet confidence for lads to go through to next round.

[richief]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer

Maybe God wants them to win; they have to be in the easiest pool of the lot, A looks fairly mild but B and C? Ouch, poor old Ireland.

Three points off Sweden should be gettable and they have to be a favorite to beat Ukraine.

Its top two go through presumably.

I'll just sit waiting with quiet confidence for lads to go through to next round.

They will get out of the group stage, but then fail miserably like normal, I have no faith in them at all.

One thing I am confident of is that we will never hear chants of "Scotland" in any major championship, which makes me smile on a daily basis.

[michael saint]

Originally Posted by richief

They will get out of the group stage, but then fail miserably like normal, I have no faith in them at all.

One thing I am confident of is that we will never hear chants of "Scotland" in any major championship, which makes me smile on a daily basis.

I'm not sure if Scotland still has a team, does Ally McCoist stiil play? If not he should do.

I thing we have a nice blend at the moment, if John Terry broke his leg or even better died, our chances would improve.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by richief

They will get out of the group stage, but then fail miserably like normal, I have no faith in them at all.

One thing I am confident of is that we will never hear chants of "Scotland" in any major championship, which makes me smile on a daily basis.

We get the Premier league here in NZ on Sky as you'd expect and England is the go to team for New Zealanders but all the absolute brilliance seems to come from players for whom English is a second language.

Entertaining and great if they play for your team but they can't play for England. Do England have any stunning inside forwards? A man who can carve a defense up and lay the ball on for the centre forward to drill it past the hapless keeper. At UEFA Cup level? Against the like of Italy, Spain or Germany playing seriously?

[meforyou]

Originally Posted by pervy pete

So getting back to the original thread I think it's between Russia and Germany

Either of them could come second To ENGLAND

There will be plenty of these before that happens . . .

[Pandorius999]

Originally Posted by richief

For England to win they need the rest of Europe to play down to their standards, Spain are probably the best team around at the moment but I can't see them retaining the trophy, but then again why not. I know it won't be any of the hosts or the Russians, France aren't ready yet but Germany are always there waiting, Denmark and Greece are not strong enough, Portugal could be an outside bet, but not England, we just aren't that good.

Think England will remain world best in T20 cricket?

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by michael saint

I pretty much agree with that.

As a natural defender I like how we are trying to play, but i always have found low scoring games most exciting, again I was always told and believe if the opposition don't score it's impossible to lose.

That's quite true, but it's also bloody stupid. Three draws sends you home; two wins and a defeat and you go through. Ergo, any strategic plan that involves "must not lose" is a bad one.

Not even God playing at centre-half is going to get you into the quarter finals. You need to try and score goals and win matches.

[jayjaydee]

Originally Posted by Jamie90

Its fun to root for the winners anyway....oh yeah, we´re gonna win!!!

If Germany change their name to Spain, their name will be on the trophy, no doubt!

[Jamie90]

Originally Posted by jayjaydee

If Germany change their name to Spain, their name will be on the trophy, no doubt!

you confused the two there sweetie...but no problem

[Heyesey]

Ukraine v. France suspended due to lightning and heavy rain; it's not yet clear whether they will resume, or abandon the game and play it tomorrow.

[michael saint]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

That's quite true, but it's also bloody stupid. Three draws sends you home; two wins and a defeat and you go through. Ergo, any strategic plan that involves "must not lose" is a bad one.

Not even God playing at centre-half is going to get you into the quarter finals. You need to try and score goals and win matches.

I did preface my post with..............."As a natural defender"

Well, it's quite ok to sit watching sport on TV and read reports in newspapers written by people that have never played to any level and derive your own opinions from this misinformation.

It was always my primary mission to prevent the opposition scoring.

There is a difference between not letting your opponents score and "must not lose"

I'm actually suprised that someone like you doesn't understand that.

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by michael saint

I did preface my post with..............."As a natural defender"

Doesn't make any difference. The argument that "we can't lose if the opposition doesn't score" is true, but stupid, no matter who makes it. Not losing just isn't good enough; you have to win games.

[chris4sylvia]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

Doesn't make any difference. The argument that "we can't lose if the opposition doesn't score" is true, but stupid, no matter who makes it. Not losing just isn't good enough; you have to win games.

But to win games, you first have to deny the opposition any chance of scoring. It is better to build a team around a solid defence, and good strikers, than to have excellent strikers and a really poor defence.

A similar principle applies to any type of motor-racing, "to finish first, first you MUST finish."

[michael saint]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

Doesn't make any difference. The argument that "we can't lose if the opposition doesn't score" is true, but stupid, no matter who makes it. Not losing just isn't good enough; you have to win games.

Absolutely you are correct.

I should keep away from discussions like this on this particular forum.
Lesson learned, thanks.

[meforyou]

Originally Posted by Pandorius999

Think England will remain world best in T20 cricket?

Without KP it will be a massive disadvantage, plus Morgan has gone off the boil; however, young bucks such as Bairstow, Butler and Taylor are looking good. It'll be closer this time, but I'm confident that they can retain the crown.

[chris4sylvia]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

That's quite true, but it's also bloody stupid. Three draws sends you home; two wins and a defeat and you go through. Ergo, any strategic plan that involves "must not lose" is a bad one.

Not even God playing at centre-half is going to get you into the quarter finals. You need to try and score goals and win matches.

Unless you are playing against a team whose strikers could NOT score in a brothel. Take a look at the match statistics for the Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea game, then tell me that Chelsea DID NOT apply the "they must not score" mentality to their overall game plan.

[chris4sylvia]

Originally Posted by michael saint

Absolutely you are correct.

I should keep away from discussions like this on this particular forum.
Lesson learned, thanks.

Did I detect a large note of sarcasm in your post..

[Pandorius999]

Originally Posted by meforyou

Without KP it will be a massive disadvantage, plus Morgan has gone off the boil; however, young bucks such as Bairstow, Butler and Taylor are looking good. It'll be closer this time, but I'm confident that they can retain the crown.

True though the last I saw in the ipl he was playing okay. But yeah Morgan's gone off the boil. Whom do you think the main challenge will be from? South Africa? How's Australia playing?

And what do folks have to say about this?
http://www.thestar.com/iphone/sports...-croatia-match

I thought bananas didn't grow in Poznan.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by Pandorius999

True though the last I saw in the ipl he was playing okay. But yeah Morgan's gone off the boil. Whom do you think the main challenge will be from? South Africa? How's Australia playing?

And what do folks have to say about this?
http://www.thestar.com/iphone/sports...-croatia-match

I thought bananas didn't grow in Poznan.

It will be one of the top six.

In three tournaments so far the host hasn't appeared in the final- quite odd.

Sri Lanka are hosting this time and they are a great scrapping team, they might just get a home win. Especially if Malinga the slinger gets those toecrushers of his on target.

Fancy facing him Pandy- sooner you than me

But Australia just don't have that winning ethos back yet, South Africa always chokes. Oh yes they do; a South African friend of mine told me the South African team was the All Blacks of Cricket.

So maybe India- that'd get your pulse racing wouldn't it?

[richief]

England 3 - 2 Sweden. Looks good but masks a poor first half, but typical England behaviour, make everyone feel good by coming from behind. I look forward to welcoming them home just after the 1/4 finals.

[thinskin]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer

It will be one of the top six.

In three tournaments so far the host hasn't appeared in the final- quite odd.

Sri Lanka are hosting this time and they are a great scrapping team, they might just get a home win. Especially if Malinga the slinger gets those toecrushers of his on target.

Fancy facing him Pandy- sooner you than me

But Australia just don't have that winning ethos back yet, South Africa always chokes. Oh yes they do; a South African friend of mine told me the South African team was the All Blacks of Cricket.

So maybe India- that'd get your pulse racing wouldn't it?

I am a big cricket fan but if you guys do a search you will find a cricket thread.

Just watched the game and I have had a skinful so excuse the spelling. Ashley Young was last, it was like England were playing with ten men. Thank you for Joe Hart (blue half of Manchester) and Danny Welbeck (red half of Manchester).

Why oh why do the BBC keep that Scottish cunt Hansen employed I do not know.

Thinskin

[milltek]

Bye Bye Sweden

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by thinskin

I am a big cricket fan but if you guys do a search you will find a cricket thread.

Just watched the game and I have had a skinful so excuse the spelling. Ashley Young was last, it was like England were playing with ten men. Thank you for Joe Hart (blue half of Manchester) and Danny Welbeck (red half of Manchester).

Why oh why do the BBC keep that Scottish cunt Hansen employed I do not know.

Thinskin

What are you saying? The OP introduced T20 and I have courteously responded to him.

Who knows what topic the OP will introduce to this thread next, he rather likes chess so perhaps soccer chess might be on the cards, its just so hard to keep up with the boy.

So England won and are on four points with France yet to play Sweden- could be interesting.

[EscortDetails]

Being English myself and having watched all the warm up games as well as the group games i'd say i was encouraged by England's performance tonight.

Admittedly we were playing a mediocre Swedish team and we let 2 sloppy goals in, but on the whole, the football we played was much better than i've witnessed of recent times.

Ashley Young, as mentioned above, was woeful. And on his day he can easily be a game changer.

Just a good job we've got a BFG in Andy Carroll who can score a header whenever he likes!!

Prediction: Knocked out in quarter finals.

Any other views on that?

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by EscortDetails

Being English myself and having watched all the warm up games as well as the group games i'd say i was encouraged by England's performance tonight.

Admittedly we were playing a mediocre Swedish team and we let 2 sloppy goals in, but on the whole, the football we played was much better than i've witnessed of recent times.

Ashley Young, as mentioned above, was woeful. And on his day he can easily be a game changer.

Just a good job we've got a BFG in Andy Carroll who can score a header whenever he likes!!

Prediction: Knocked out in quarter finals.

Any other views on that?

Assuming England is runner up behind France then they would most likely play some little hack team called Spain- whoever they might be ( probably play in the Durham North Social League on a Sunday, weather permitting).

Roll on Oh Mighty England, one hand is already on the trophy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EscortDetails]

Haha, yeh who's even heard of Spain anyway?

BUT... if France lose/draw to Sweden, and we beat Ukraine (both possible)

Then we play Croatia/Italy... and that is hardly an momentous task.

fingers crossed!!

We'll never get anywhere anyway!

[Pandorius999]

To everyone, I was just making a side comment coz I don't understand Mich of rugby which was in Vogue then on the thread. Sorry if it seemed like.a derailment. Carry on guys this thread seems finally rooted to football.

[thinskin]

Last chance for the Dutch tonight!

Thinskin