EURO 2012

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*goes misty eyed, rubs chin*

gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 12:52 (eleven years ago) link

Gerrard's not been great but by his own poor level of achievement at tournaments he's been a disciplined team player and i think people are greatful for these small mercies

Mexès Coleslaw Massacre (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:02 (eleven years ago) link

Gerrard's deliver of dead balls has probably been his saving grace this tournament, it's been great, and he's created chances. Otherwise he's been poor, England can't hope to control a game from midfield anyway so I'll take him being there for a decent free kick or three.

Matt DC, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:08 (eleven years ago) link

yeah that too, he's devolving into the Poundland Beckham basically

Mexès Coleslaw Massacre (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:25 (eleven years ago) link

with better music taste

Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:25 (eleven years ago) link

david bentley has a skip for all youse heretics

r|t|c, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:43 (eleven years ago) link

Jibe sorry for ignorance but what do you mean he doesn't know, he is France coach and previous coached in the French league... you'd think players from outside would be his hindrance, if only because he'd see the homegrown all the time?

― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, June 20, 2012 1:07 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

You'd think so right? But in an interview in october he couldn't remember gomis' first name and used a wrong one. But ok i'll give him the benefit of doubt and say that maybe bafetimbi was too complicated a name for him to remember... And then he said he'd consider putting him in the side if he got playing time, right when gomis was starting for lyon all the time and being very good. when your only job is to scout players, not knowing that one of your 4-5 best strikers is starting all the games and is not a sub just reeks of incompetence.

Jibe, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:51 (eleven years ago) link

He's notoriously lazy I heard (probably from Philippe Auclair), rarely attends games, etc.

Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 13:53 (eleven years ago) link

yeah, auclair called him a master delegator in the racing post euro betting guide iirc.

second only to popcorn (or something), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 17:48 (eleven years ago) link

STATS

• The Czech Republic have reached the quarter-finals of the Euros for the third time in the past five tournaments.

• Milan Baros spent 217 minutes on the pitch before getting a shot on target at Euro 2012.

• Poland have played more games at European Championships without winning than any other side (six).

• Romania and Switzerland are the only other teams that failed to win any of their first six matches at European Championships.

• Poland are only the second host nation to fail to win a group stage match at the Euros (after Austria in 2008).

• Giorgos Karagounis picked up his eighth yellow card in only 10 appearances at the European Championships.

• The two matches where teams had the most shots (Holland 32 v Denmark, Russia 31 v Greece), saw them both lose 1–0.

• There have already been 17 headed goals at Euro 2012, the joint-most at any single European Championship finals (with 2004).

• Alexander Kerzhakov had 14 shots at Euro 2012, but not a single one was on target.

• Germany won all three of their group games at the Euros for the first time.

• Germany have won their last 14 competitive games – an all-time record in German football history.

• Portugal and Germany equalled Holland as the only sides to have made it through the group stages six times at the Euros.

• Only two of the eight teams to previously win all of their Euro group games have gone on to win the tournament (France 1984 and Spain 2008).

• There has not been a single 0-0 draw at Euro 2012 so far, the longest a competition has gone without one.

• Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Helder Postiga joined Nuno Gomes, Thierry Henry, Vladimir Smicer and Jürgen Klinsmann as players to have scored at three different European Championship finals.

• Portugal have hit the woodwork four times in the 2012 finals, a tournament-high.

• Cristiano Ronaldo attempted a total of 12 shots against Holland, the most by a single player in a single game in Euro finals.

• Holland failed to win a group stage game at the Euros for the first time.

• Portugal have now made it to the knockout stages of the European Championship finals every time they have been present (six times).

• Spain have made the most passes at Euro 2012 so far – 2,289, 662 more than any other side (France).

• Spain have had more possession than their opponents in their last 58 matches — since the 2008 final v Germany (46.2%).

• The only previous time Spain picked up at least seven points in the group stages of the Euros saw them crowned champions (nine points at Euro 2008).

• Ireland ended their group having conceded nine goals, only Yugoslavia in 1984 let in more (10).

• Ireland were the 10th team to end the Euro group stage with zero points (second in 2012 after Holland).

• Ireland's goal difference of minus 8 is the joint-worst in Euro group history.

• Four of the last six winners of the Euros have finished second in their group.

• Wayne Rooney ended a run of 673 minutes without a goal at major tournaments when he scored against Ukraine.

• Euro 96 was the only previous occasion that England topped their group at a European Championship.

• The last four host nations have exited the Euros at the group stage (Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Ukraine).

• England have won six games 1-0 in 2011-12. They had never previously won more than four by this scoreline in a single season.

• Four of England's five goals at Euro 2012 have come from crosses.

• Only Michel Platini (nine) and Alan Shearer (seven) have ever scored more goals than Ibrahimovic (six) at the Euro finals.

• Karim Benzema has now had 17 shots without scoring at Euro 2012 – the most of all players.

Number None, Thursday, 21 June 2012 09:26 (eleven years ago) link

Platini scoring all his nine goals in five games in 1984 is incredible

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 09:32 (eleven years ago) link

I don't remember 1984 Euros AT ALL. It's a complete blank to me, I should really track some of the matches down and give them a go. I'm not sure why I completely missed out on it 'cos I remember 1982 WC really vividly, and every Euro and WC since 1986.

Pat Nevin over on the BBC website saying that Pirlo can only hurt you if you give him time. Lucky that over the last decade no team has ever tried to close him down really or he'd never have made it.

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 09:38 (eleven years ago) link

Quite looking frwd to tonight although part of me suspects Portugal will win quite easily. I hope Gebre Selassie keeps up his attacking movements rather than being solely concerned with Ronaldo.

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 09:40 (eleven years ago) link

pandemic you dont remember Arconada making a complete arse of things?

it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 June 2012 09:59 (eleven years ago) link

No? I remember the Spanish goalie from '82 palming one straight to the feet of Gerry Armstrong. Was that the same keeper?

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:07 (eleven years ago) link

The only clip of Euro 84 that ever gets played is Motty's "Platini! I've not seen a game like this in years!" from the France-Portugal semi

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:33 (eleven years ago) link

I was living in West Germany at the time and remember what a failure they were at that champs considering the likes of Littbarski and Rummenigge on the team. Was cheering for Denmark as plucky outsiders though.

gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:42 (eleven years ago) link

The Guardian's classic youtube piece today has a load of zlatan stuff including a documentary about his time at Malmo. It is hilarious just how much seething resentment there is from the captain? towards him. Even after he's been sold to Ajax the dislike is palpable.

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:45 (eleven years ago) link

I was looking at the qualification for Euro 84 earlier, and it turns out Northern Ireland beat West Germany home-and-away, and would've qualified instead of them had they not lost in Turkey (who were rubbish then)

Wales came even closer, missing out only thanks to a 91st minute Yugoslav winner against (I think) Bulgaria in the final game of the group

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 10:52 (eleven years ago) link

<3

Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 21 June 2012 13:17 (eleven years ago) link

i imagine roy will call alex oxlade-chamberlain into the side to deal with the threat of pirlo, what with him having marked him out of that champions league match at the emirates.

Chris, Thursday, 21 June 2012 15:02 (eleven years ago) link

Best friend: gotze
First Kiss: howedes
Enemy: schmelzer
Gives you his jersey: boateng
Dedicates a goal to you: khedira
Proposes on the field: mertesacker

big merts wishes.

r|t|c, Thursday, 21 June 2012 15:54 (eleven years ago) link

lol @ first kiss: bender

Rosie 47 (ken c), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:16 (eleven years ago) link

I don't remember 1984 Euros AT ALL. It's a complete blank to me, I should really track some of the matches down and give them a go. I'm not sure why I completely missed out on it 'cos I remember 1982 WC really vividly, and every Euro and WC since 1986.

Exactly the same for me. I remember being vaguely aware that it was happening, but I don't recall actually watching any of it. Maybe because England weren't in it, though I don't know how important that would have been - my key memories of 82 are all about that Brazil team, Paolo Rossi, and Schumacher trying to kick a French bloke's head off.

Nessun Biscotto (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:37 (eleven years ago) link

back then if England didn't make a tournament the tv companies weren't interested in showing most games.

it looks like something rupert the bear would wear (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:39 (eleven years ago) link

That would explain it

Nessun Biscotto (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:40 (eleven years ago) link

Czech should pray Ronaldo has a bad day

nostormo, Thursday, 21 June 2012 17:33 (eleven years ago) link

klinsmann and hansen talking nonsense. If portugal don't win ronaldo is still one of the 2 best players of his generation

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:34 (eleven years ago) link

Shearer just bloody loves being in a football stadium

Number None, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:36 (eleven years ago) link

This side-on view makes Shearer look a bit like Putin

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:36 (eleven years ago) link

Cech should not grow a beard.

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:41 (eleven years ago) link

Jurgen Klinsmann just described Ronaldo as a "floater". I know Ronaldo's not the most popular guy, but possibly a bit harsh?

Arvo Pärt Chimp (Neil S), Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:42 (eleven years ago) link

Taking the piss having Martin Atkinson as one of the goal-line refs.

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:44 (eleven years ago) link

i imagine roy will call alex oxlade-chamberlain into the side to deal with the threat of pirlo, what with him having marked him out of that champions league match at the emirates.

― Chris, Thursday, 21 June 2012 16:02 (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

the beckham of ilx -- one trick, exceptionally well executed

dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:50 (eleven years ago) link

i dont really notice referees much but howard webb is always terrible, the worst example of a ref who starts laissez faire, lets the game turn into a scrapfest and then has to spend the last half hour sending players off and shouting and pointing at random ppl like some hideous overgrown robbie keane

dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:53 (eleven years ago) link

keown is such a twat

Number None, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:55 (eleven years ago) link

ah Figo.

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:58 (eleven years ago) link

cameraman picks out pretty girl, then her boyfriend comes into shot CUT

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:00 (eleven years ago) link

How do these people always spot themselves on the big screen? I never look up when I'm at the footy.

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link

Did he say 'like an NFL basketball player'?

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link

an NFL basketball player. Keown you tool. NBA NBA

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link

although Lebron is kinda an NFL basketball player

ooh close

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:03 (eleven years ago) link

that would be a physique-and-a-half

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:03 (eleven years ago) link

such an idiot

dis civilization and its contents (nakhchivan), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:07 (eleven years ago) link

Cech looks so bad

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:08 (eleven years ago) link

That was absolutely beautiful

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:09 (eleven years ago) link

eh not so sure that was a foul

pandemic, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:10 (eleven years ago) link


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