i think you need to beat the game all the way through before you can unlock Iniesta and he finally becomes playable.
― Fas Ro Duh (Gukbe), Sunday, 10 June 2012 22:56 (twelve years ago) link
even putting aside my hatred of the term, i don't think you can just dole out "unplayable" in a closely fought game like that. He was very good obviously
― Number None, Sunday, 10 June 2012 22:59 (twelve years ago) link
“The pitch is a disaster,” said Fabregas. “It’s lamentable to play on a pitch like that. We deserved a lot more. It’s lamentable that we still have to play on pitches like that.”RELATED ARTICLESEuro 2012: day three action 10 Jun 2012Balotelli fluffs his lines on the big stage 10 Jun 2012England can deliver insists Gerrard 10 Jun 2012Blanc scorns defensive England 10 Jun 2012The Spanish insisted they had been assured the surface would be watered for more than an hour before kick-off, but questioned whether this had happened.Although Spain eventually created enough chances to win the match, they only found a cutting edge when Torres was belatedly introduced.Worryingly for the tournament favourites, Italy found a way to cut them open when they broke with speed, often catching the Spanish with too few defenders to cope with their attackers.However, both Spain’s playmakers, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, also rounded on groundstaff for failing to prepare a playing surface that suited their style of play.“The fact they didn’t water the pitch compromised us and our dynamic and fluid passing game,” said Xavi, who could not get the better of opposite number, Andrea Pirlo, for long periods. Although it rained heavily in Gdansk on Saturday afternoon, Iniesta added: “To see the pitch in this condition was a disaster. It was super dry and that makes passing the ball difficult.”
― Number None, Sunday, 10 June 2012 23:08 (twelve years ago) link
Oh diddums for poor Spain
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Sunday, 10 June 2012 23:11 (twelve years ago) link
hope st ledger tells them to be men
― mookieproof, Sunday, 10 June 2012 23:12 (twelve years ago) link
the pitch was crap tbf, and I think they play all 3 of their group games there so tough luck bros.
― pandemic, Monday, 11 June 2012 09:17 (eleven years ago) link
Love Xavi obviously but every time he opens his mouth it is unintentionally hilarious at the moment.
― Matt DC, Monday, 11 June 2012 09:18 (eleven years ago) link
This fluid passing game sounds like something they should keep to themselves tbh
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Monday, 11 June 2012 09:26 (eleven years ago) link
Spain really impressed me the way they stepped things up hugely after conceding. I've got so used to Barcelona refusing to deviate from the true path that I was expecting Spain to just carry on like they'd been doing, and lose. That said, I don't really know what changed - Torres brought huge (potential) benefits imo but it wasn't that I don't think, and Iniesta was superb but he'd been superb all game.
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 09:29 (eleven years ago) link
I think Navas made a difference when he came on too.
― pandemic, Monday, 11 June 2012 09:47 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/901623-euro-2012-tickets-on-sale-for-just-14-as-england-fans-avoid-ukraine
put off by the high cost of travel and accommodation /racial tensions and political unrest or just don't want to watch a bunch of incompetent thugs led by a weak as piss-water manager?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 09:58 (eleven years ago) link
true, the team's never been like that before
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 10:11 (eleven years ago) link
i recall the team's been favourites to win the tournament every single tournament up until now.
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 10:13 (eleven years ago) link
Best fans in the world so long as they can combine it with a nice pleasant holiday.
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 10:16 (eleven years ago) link
cost of accomodation/travel surely off-set by 59p a pint?
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 10:18 (eleven years ago) link
wldn't piss-water be quite strong?
― Ward Fowler, Monday, 11 June 2012 10:39 (eleven years ago) link
I think there's probably a perception that getting around Ukraine would be a logistical nightmare, which isn't really true.
― Temporarily Famous In The Czech Republic (ShariVari), Monday, 11 June 2012 11:31 (eleven years ago) link
people must have thought it was the UK by mistake.
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:03 (eleven years ago) link
*insert your own terrible UK rain pun here*
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:11 (eleven years ago) link
the reign of spain fell lamely in ukraine
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:34 (eleven years ago) link
“The pitch is a disaster,” said Fabregas. “It’s lamentable to play on a pitch like that. We deserved a lot more. It’s lamentable that we still have to play on pitches like that.”
My heart bleeds
― Tom D (Tom D.), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:35 (eleven years ago) link
next-level
― give me back my 200 dollars (NotEnough), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:37 (eleven years ago) link
Ox to start. Makes things a little more interesting
― Number None, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:37 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, one more Arsenal player to fall flat on his arse
― Tom D (Tom D.), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:39 (eleven years ago) link
Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Young; Welbeck
It's Milner that raises eyebrows there, when did he last play in central midfield?
― Matt DC, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:39 (eleven years ago) link
john terry is losing his influence on the team
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:40 (eleven years ago) link
Milner is playing right wing
― Number None, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:41 (eleven years ago) link
lol
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:42 (eleven years ago) link
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556637_10150837888036886_1969500608_n.jpg
― Michael B Higgins (Michael B), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:42 (eleven years ago) link
Milner will be sitting deep somewhere near Parker, or France could overwhelm that midfield
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:43 (eleven years ago) link
So it's a 4-4-2 rather than a 4-3-3/4-5-1? With Young upfront?
― Matt DC, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:44 (eleven years ago) link
That's what i reckon. I'm assuming Milner is there to protect Glen Johnson
― Number None, Monday, 11 June 2012 12:45 (eleven years ago) link
Have to play Young upfront, gives him the chance to dive in more beneficial areas
― Tom D (Tom D.), Monday, 11 June 2012 12:46 (eleven years ago) link
The trouble with that midfield imo is that Gerrard and The Ox both like to wander; unless they're disciplined, Milner is going to be drawn across, exposing Johnson to Ribery. An alternative of England camping narrow and conceding the wings doesn't seem like a great idea with Benzema up front.
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 13:05 (eleven years ago) link
felt certain woy'd go with carroll to try and beast mexes and rami, mildly impressed though unconvinced
i didnt really watch the friendlies, was it flat four in midfield for those? conceding the wings (of what wings the french even have) seems much preferable to being overrun centrally imo
― r|t|c, Monday, 11 June 2012 13:28 (eleven years ago) link
http://euro-2012.sport24.com/football/euro-2012/journal-de-l-euro/actualites/pourquoi-l-angleterre-est-une-petite-nation-de-football-561341
― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Monday, 11 June 2012 14:29 (eleven years ago) link
in that Given pic, it looks like he's about to give a Rutger Hauer type speech about 'seeing things you people wouldn't believe'
― PSOD (Ste), Monday, 11 June 2012 14:33 (eleven years ago) link
«Calamity» James
haw-haw-haw
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 11 June 2012 14:42 (eleven years ago) link
Opinion on Torres divided in a pub yesterday between "useless cunt who misses chance after chance after chance" and "guy who turned the game by giving Spain a cutting edge and helped create a number of chances" - I was firmly in both camps.
Extended highlights of Brazil vs Argentina was the best thing I watched all day.
― a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace (onimo), Monday, 11 June 2012 14:52 (eleven years ago) link
that's a pretty attacking England line-up, i think Blanc's sledging might've gotten to Woy
― 'Last Moments Robot' Comforts You To Death (Noodle Vague), Monday, 11 June 2012 15:02 (eleven years ago) link
Carra dissapointly not mentioning the exclusion of Carroll from the line-up.
― xyzzzz__, Monday, 11 June 2012 15:12 (eleven years ago) link
Carra's brilliantly positively English here. I expect him to nut Vieira in a bit.
― a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace (onimo), Monday, 11 June 2012 15:12 (eleven years ago) link
'arry should've done commentary on all Eng games. I, for one, am disappointed the arrangements could not be made.
― xyzzzz__, Monday, 11 June 2012 15:13 (eleven years ago) link
What's it going to be Britishers?
I filled in a 1-1 at half-time, 3-1 win for France.
― HO WBEAUTIFUL IS THE GENTLYFALLINGBLOOD? (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 11 June 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link
(so you know, that won't be it)
england get their traditional opening goal early doors, then demoralising outplayed draw or 3-1 slump
― r|t|c, Monday, 11 June 2012 15:33 (eleven years ago) link
a non-regular on the footy threads asks; how comes the England game isn't on the BBC?
― piscesx, Monday, 11 June 2012 15:35 (eleven years ago) link
they take it in turns with ITV
― 'Last Moments Robot' Comforts You To Death (Noodle Vague), Monday, 11 June 2012 15:37 (eleven years ago) link
at least until the quarter fi...no, i can't do that with a straight face
ah right, gotcha. 2nd daft question then; is there an ITV stream online?
― piscesx, Monday, 11 June 2012 15:38 (eleven years ago) link