EURO 2012

Ooh, MLS on ESPN!

Wait, since when were you over here? I miss these things sometimes.

(the UK variant of ESPN)

Clarity.

i hope nigel de jong told raul meireles to go get his trucker cap after he flattened him that time

Two journalists asked the Dutch coach the same question after the match:

TV guy Jack (who didn't ask the previous coach after a lost game this question and then that coach announced he quit to another journalist, minutes later) : "and now, can you stay on as coach?"

Van Marwijk: "jack, don't ask me that, ten minutes after a game like this"

Press conference, half an hour later, other Dutch dude: "can you stay on as the coach of this team now?"

Van Marwijk: "your friend Jack already asked me that - or isn't he your friend? Oh yeah, you don't have a lot of those, do you"

(ok, it's sad and painful and stuff, but this was funny)

the previous dutch coach was marco van basten, though

a previous coach, then. That wasn't the detail I remembered, sorry

(It was probably a player who quit, even. The point is, that was his justification: last time I didn't ask this question and the scoop went to another journalist, minutes after my interview)

raul meireles just doesn't have the legs to pull off the baggy shorts look.

What I thought was more interesting about the post-match interviews of Holland was:

- The same Jack StanM mentions (a dinosaur Dutch footy presenter) had declared on "reliable sources" that the Dutch medical staff member got into a fight with one of the players, as in a fist-fight. Said doctos rushed to the studio in a fury to deny it. So it's probably true.
- Robben admitting "things happened that should remain untold and secret" in the squad
- Sneijder and Van Persie wanting to kill each other again.

I for one can't wait for the documentary in ten years.

so if i have this right, for group C:

Italy need to win to get even a place
If Croatia and Spain draw, Italy need to win by 3 goals?

If Croatia win, Italy need to win by 5 goals?

If Spain win, Italy just need a win

Yes?

ugh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012#Group_stage

if croatia draw 0-0 and italy win 2-0 then they are level on GD and goals scored, which means italy go through because they have a higher uefa ranking. same if croatia draw 1-1 and italy win 3-1, croatia draw 2-2, italy win 4-2, etc.

i think.

No xp, an Italy win puts them through unless Spain and Croatia draw 2-2 or higher

am i reading those rules right: the game between the two teams is the first tie-breaker, then GD. and isn't it usually the other way around?

Yeah the game between the two is the tie-breaker. It's how Greece went through.

Can someone explain the 2-2 draw thing though? Would Spain and Croatia go through on goals scored? What happens if Italy put seven or eight past Ireland?

No matter how big a win against the Irish, a 2-2 draw (or higher score draw) in the other group game between Spain and Croatia will ensure the Italians head home early - this because head-to-head records come into play when two or more countries finish level on points. Italy's 1-1 draw with both nations would therefore be seen as the weaker result.

special rules for 3-way tie

there is a table here http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2012/06/18/3177953/euro-2012-group-c-permutations-italy-must-avoid-the-curse-of-2-2-

It'd be a three-way head-to-head is the way to look at it. Italy currently have two 1-1s, Spain and Croatia have one each. That's why a 2-2 tonight puts them both through.

Would like Italy to go through but would also like Ireland to win the game. Hmmm.

You could always cheer loudly for Spain & Croatia to field ineligible players.

can't wait for germany vs greece. batter of the euro, 2012

battle

euro in batter

platini wieners in blatter batter

batter the neville you know

croatia and spain are my favourite sides

hopefully they draw 2-2 and italy lose to ireland

FIRST

http://www.newmusicmonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011-primus-naugahyde-preorder-300x199.jpghttp://www.bar-kulan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lucio.jpghttp://www.rochellesychua.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Pares-Mami-House.jpg

Italy to beat Ireland 3-0, Spain to draw 2-2 with Croatia (two goals coming in the last five minutes).

Anyway.

which game should I watch?

Right now I'm watching Spain-Croatia.

HRAVSTKA

that was my pick too. Just because Spain can be sublime.

xpost

Spain-Croatia because there's elimination definitely at stake there, unless there isn't in which case switch over for the laughs.

Del Bosque just described as 'avuncular.' Um.

croatia to win, italy draw for maximum lols

italy to lose

don't think spain 2012 will be able to crank out the 1-0's like spain 2010

italy have been v v underwhelming so far. no balotelli - as good as di natale is in the 6 yard box, he doesn't exactly add any creativity. more of a trad back 4 too, which is rubb considering they are playing a p inneffective attacking team.

DON'T FUCKING KICK IT OUT UNLESS THE REF TELLS YOU TO

how hard is that? seriously

ha i was just going to say how great closeups of xavis raptor eyes at fks are

he is just an incredible player, tempted to say the best general football intelligence i have ever seen (assuming there is such a thing and noting that messi and iniesta have sharper instincts in the final quarter of the pitch)

Spain could do with Cesc on so that they have someone other than just Nando prepared to get in the box imo.

Great break for Ireland but how the hell can mcgeady make that mistake?

is that a trick question?