12-06-2004 01:35									#91
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They (Czechs) are sitting on quite a few writer's lists for the “surprise” team. But they are also in a group with Germany and the Netherlands. I know the over all performances of European teams in WC 2002 are considered an aberration, meaning the better competition was eliminated early, but people seem to have forgotten exactly how well Germany did. They always seem to find a way to slog through.

And this is the Netherlands year to quit choking. As much as I hate the diving cheat Van Nistelroy (he actually tried to hand ball in a goal during Holland’s friendly against the “much lesser” competition of Team USA) he is an outstanding goal poacher. I just feel the Netherlands are going to live up to all that potential they regularly squander.

	12-06-2004 02:08									#92
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I would find it highly amusing if Advocaat managed to keep a straight face about lining up RvN and then filled in Makaay on the game form to surprise ze Germans.

He's too boring to do that though

	12-06-2004 02:53									#93
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Dispite my optimism for this game, I would be surprised if Holland really would make it champion: we have a lousy defense which will seriously trouble the 'feed' to our forwards.

Goalgetters we have plenty, and the midfield should be sound as well with Davids and Cocu at the heart of it.

Stam is the only good defender we have, as de Boer is too old to be of any good use. Bouma sucks royal, and getting Bosvelt to replace the mediocre van Bommel just really shows the lack of good defenders (or the incompetence of Advocaat). Reiziger will do, but just that. I'm not convinced of Heitinga, but he'll play on the same position as Reiziger, so we still have the left side vacant. Van Bronckhorst would be my man, but we're doomed if he can't play for whatever reason.

Makaay should definitely play: he has done well in Germany this year.
I do have good hopes on van Nistelrooy, but for some reason he doesn't play very well in the national team.

For the rest of the positions, I think Advocaat should put a lot of energy in the young players, as it is really up to them to make the difference: Overmars and Zenden have had their best, and they should be kept in reserve if van der Vaart, van der Meyde or Sneijder fall through in a game.

Seedorf is hurt, and he might as well. It really sucks how he always falls through in the national team.
Robben is promising, but hurt as well.

Kluivert must be dropped in favor of Makaay, and if it were up to me (which it is not, thank god ), he won't play a minute. But that has more to do with the brilliance of van Hooijdonk, who should be the first pick if Makaay or van Nistelrooy will have to be substituded.

Van der Sar will obviously defend the goal, and he will do so very well. I hope his injury is alittle one

	12-06-2004 03:16									#94
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quote: Originally posted by germanos Van Bronckhorst would be my man, but we're doomed if he can't play for whatever reason.

You may still have problems. Van Bronkhorst has played a great deal of left back at club level, but is really a midfielder. His positioning is still suspect.

	12-06-2004 03:23									#95
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quote: They (Czechs) are sitting on quite a few writer's lists for the “surprise” team. But they are also in a group with Germany and the Netherlands.

A lot like back in 2000 when they got in the same group as Netherlands and the champions to be (and ruling world champions), France. The czechs had completely dominated their qualification group, winning all the matches (10) and ending up 12 points(!!!) ahead of runner ups Scotland. They aslo had a 26-5 goaldifference. I think it'll be the same story again. To bad, as I really like their kind of football. Furthermore, Nedved is my favorite active midfielder. Sure, the guy falls as a ton of bricks when he sees an opportunity but the tears when they go out after three games will be real.

quote: I know the over all performances of European teams in WC 2002 are considered an aberration, meaning the better competition was eliminated early, but people seem to have forgotten exactly how well Germany did. They always seem to find a way to slog through.

Didn't you know? The germans are evil. They've had a pact with the devil since the final of '54.

	12-06-2004 12:18									#96
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quote: Originally posted by TheArsenal You may still have problems. Van Bronkhorst has played a great deal of left back at club level, but is really a midfielder. His positioning is still suspect.

I fully agree.
I stated our defense is in bad shape

	12-06-2004 15:03									#97
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If things look bad in the 70th minute, Advocaat should really bring van Hooijdonk in as soon as a free kick is given to the Dutch.

That's a good change for a goal.
In fact I even believe that if van Hooijdonk would get the change to prove himself, he would make more goals than van Nistelrooy and Kluivert would.....

	12-06-2004 17:19									#98
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Is it too late to start predicting yet?

	12-06-2004 17:28									#99
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Still a few hours till the opening, so I think you can.

	12-06-2004 17:38									#100
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My predictions:

Group A:

Spain
Portugal

Group B:

France
England

Group C:

Italy
Sweden

Group D:

Germany
Czech Republic

	12-06-2004 17:44									#101
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quote: Kluivert must be dropped in favor of Makaay, and if it were up to me (which it is not, thank god ), he won't play a minute. But that has more to do with the brilliance of van Hooijdonk, who should be the first pick if Makaay or van Nistelrooy will have to be substituded.

Neither would I select; Davids, Seedorf, De Boer, and Van De Sar....
The latter one because he's much overrated, the rest because of the atmosphere/attitude they bring with them.

	12-06-2004 18:14									#102
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code:
EURO 2004 winner: Italy
EURO 2004 top-scorer:   Koller (Czech Rep.)

12-06-2004, Group A:
Portugal - Greece    1 - 0
Spain - Russia       4 - 1
Group A winner:      Portugal
Group A runner-up:   Spain

	12-06-2004 18:56									#103
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New and (hopefully) improved predictions are as follows:

European champion: The Germans
Top scorer: Van Nistelrooy

Finally a reason to root for the Germans

I have scarce time, so I hope it's allright if I only predict the first set of matches at this time:

12-06-2004, Group A:
Portugal - Greece 1-1
Spain - Russia 2-2

13-06-2004, Group B:
Switzerland - Croatia 0-3
France - England 1-2

14-06-2004, Group C:
Denmark - Italy 1-1
Sweden - Bulgaria 2-1

15-06-2004, Group D:
Germany - Netherlands 1-2
Czech Republic - Latvia 3-0

Group A: Portugal, Russia
Group B: England, Croatia
Group C: Italy, Denmark
Group D: Netherlands, Germany

	12-06-2004 19:04									#104
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quote: European champion: The Germans

	12-06-2004 19:08									#105
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quote: Originally posted by Solver quote: European champion: The Germans

What's so funny? The Germans usually have the skills and luck needed in the major tournaments, and they did reach the final two years ago.

It's too bad I won't win any points predicting that Germany and England will meet up in a semi-final which Germany will eventually win following a penalty shootout.

	12-06-2004 19:14									#106
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OK, Germans have the determination and everything, but the team is Old! Kahn is great, but already starting to make mistakes. Ziege... he's 32 years old. Midfield with Ballack, Jeremies and Sneider isn't exactly young either. And they don't have uber-forwards this time around. Klose is fine, but I'm not sure he will perform well. And - Bo*****? The man's 33 years of age!

The team is, IMO, just too old to compete against the youngsters physically, and they don't this time around have players as brilliant as Effenberg, Scholl, Matthaus, etc.,

	12-06-2004 19:28									#107
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Never underestimate ze Germans, whadda mistaike to maike..

30 something isn't old anymore, look how many 33 year olds still perform on top level.
How old is Zidane?

	12-06-2004 19:45									#108
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quote: Originally posted by Solver The team is, IMO, just too old to compete against the youngsters physically, and they don't this time around have players as brilliant as Effenberg, Scholl, Matthaus, etc.,

Point taken, although I'll agree with alva that someboti should nefer undor-estimaite zat Mannschaft of Germany. I was actually very close to picking Klose as my top scorer. Time will tell if this would have been a wise decision.

Oh, and with the Euro Champs starting in 30 minutes or so, I suggest a thread designed especially for general football chatter. This might make Paul's task easier as well.

	12-06-2004 19:49									#109
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European Champion: France
Top Goal Scorer: Theirry Henry

12-06-2004, Group A:
Portugal - Greece 2-1
Spain - Russia 1-1

13-06-2004, Group B:
Switzerland - Croatia 2-1
France - England 2-0

14-06-2004, Group C:
Denmark - Italy 0-2
Sweden - Bulgaria 1-0

15-06-2004, Group D:
Germany - Netherlands 1-3
Czech Republic - Latvia 3-2 - it is possible, Pahars magic

16-06-2004, Group A:
Greece - Spain 0-2
Russia - Portugal 1-2

17-06-2004, Group B:
England - Switzerland 3-1
Croatia - France 0-3

18-06-2004, Group C:
Bulgaria - Denmark 0-2
Italy - Sweden 2-1

19-06-2004, Group D:
Latvia - Germany 2-0 -Verpakovsis magic
Netherlands - Czech Republic 0-1

20-06-2004, Group A:
Spain - Portugal 1-2
Russia - Greece 1-0

21-06-2004, Group B:
Croatia - England 0-2
Switzerland - France 0-2

22-06-2004, Group C:
Italy - Bulgaria 2-0
Denmark - Sweden 1-2

23-06-2004, Group D:
Netherlands - Latvia 2-2 -Kolinko Ghost, Verpakovsis and Pahars Magic plus Zemlinskis, Zirnis and more
Germany - Czech Republic 1-3

A1: Portugal
A2: Spain

B1: England
B2: France

C1: Italy
C2: Sweeden

D1: Czech Republic
D2: Latvia

	12-06-2004 20:29									#110
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England fever is taking hold - on my way to work this morning i passed a few groups of supporters that looked like they had started celebrating victory over france yesterday!

maybe beckhams fashion sense will dazzle the french?

i'm just sad Wales didn't qualify ........so common england

	12-06-2004 20:33									#111
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quote: Originally posted by child of Thor England fever is taking hold

Only now? Our city has been orange all week



(That's not me, BTW )

	12-06-2004 20:43									#112
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus Only now? Our city has been orange all week (That's not me, BTW )

nothing like that! still we're a reserved bunch and maybe the fact we play france as our opener has made us more so!

edit: are you sure its not you? after a bit of hormone therapy

I'll secretly be supporting Portugal, it would be great to see them do well on home soil

	12-06-2004 20:50									#113
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12-06-2004, Group A:
Portugal - Greece 1-1
Spain - Russia 2-1

Champions: Italy
Top scorer: Christian Vieri

A1: Spain
A2: Portugal

B1: France
B2: England

C1: Sweden
C2: Italy

D1: Netherlands
D2: Czech republic

	12-06-2004 21:53									#114
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My 1-1 prediction looking more likely at half time, the portuguese having a hard time against Rehagels disciplined team. Wonder how the heat will affect the game in the second half.

	12-06-2004 21:54									#115
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Karagouuuuuuuuuuuunis!

	12-06-2004 21:56									#116
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Markos, you coward, why don't you play the predictions game ?

And don't worry, Portugal will score two in the next 45 mins...

	12-06-2004 22:11									#117
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Penalty, 2-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

	12-06-2004 22:58									#118
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Congratulations Markos and all of Hellas.

Final score: 2-1.

	12-06-2004 23:04									#119
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Very impressed by the greek team, disciplined and strong. Portugal lacked edge when going forward.

	12-06-2004 23:07									#120
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quote: Originally posted by Solver Congratulations Markos and all of Hellas. Final score: 2-1.

If there are two words that sum up Greece it's 'German efficiency'. Congratulations on an unpretty yet well-deserved victory. I had anticipated that the Portuguese wouldn't meet the expectations, but I did regard a Greek win as too much to hope for. Well done.