Euro 2012: The Thread

[El Pibe]

There's just over a week to go now before Euro 2012 kicks off in Poland and Ukraine and so I thought I'd make a thread in which we can all get excited about the build-up to the tournament and then the tournament itself.

A nice Fixtures and Standings page on the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk...groups-schedule

Don't forget the Guardian Football Weekly Euro 2012 preview show is out and available below;

http://www.guardian....podcast-preview

[Daley]

Would it be naughty of me to post a link to the BBC's Panaroma documentary about racist gangs in Poland and Ukraine?

[El Pibe]

Anyone seen any good previews online?

I bought 4-4-2 for the preview but it's not very good with lots of incorrect information and, at the time of writing/printing, England didn't have a manager!

Would it be naughty of me to post a link to the BBC's Panaroma documentary about racist gangs in Poland and Ukraine?

I don't think so. Post it up!

[Daley]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jk4vr/Panorama_Euro_2012_Stadiums_of_Hate/

Was a decent watch.

[fat flatulent git]

For some reason, not excited at all. Least inspired that I have ever been by an England team.

[Smoothy]

Lets hope it's more Euro 96 and less Euro 92 for England.

[El Pibe]

Anyone having a flutter prior to it all kicking off?

Tempted to drop a few quid on someone like the Czech Republic (66/1) or Russia (22/1).

My first ever bet was on the Czech Republic to win Euro '96 and they came very close.

[tyler]

Here's The Edge's post from the other thread on this, which I've now locked.

Seeing as there was a bit of discussion in the football thread, I figured I'd start this one. So who's starting to get excited? Anyone heading over for any of the matches? I'm heading over to Poznan for 2 weeks in a camper van and I CANNOT FREAKIN WAIT! Ireland's group is obviously really tough but the way Trap has us playing so defensively I'm actually fairly optimistic, even if we're probably one of the most boring teams to watch. Obviously need a good result against Croatia to have any kind of hope for the rest of the tournament though. It's a shame for England that you guys are in Ukraine though, seems to be a bit of a logistic nightmare to get over there though, and I think it's meant to be a fairly rough spot.

Only a week to go!

[El Pibe]

For some reason, not excited at all. Least inspired that I have ever been by an England team.

I'm not excited about England, particularly, but I LOVE the Euros as every game is between decent teams and the quality is pretty high these days.

2008 was superb, even without England. That Russia v The Netherlands game

This is one to enjoy as the tournament will, IMHO, be ruined by the expansion to 24 teams with third place teams getting through to the second round. Why can't they just leave it at 16? it's perfect!

[tyler]

I was surprised at the quality when I looked across the groups. There shouldn't be too many dud games. Hadn't heard about expanding to 24. Ugh. Another Europa League-like farce.

I'm warming to the tournament as it approaches. No real expectations, just hope to see some entertaining matches along the way.

[Timmo]

I was going to do a thread with previews of each of the teams, star players, formations, quotes etc. Now this has been done though I've put in all in the recycle bin.

[cerseis eyebrows]

7 days!

I couldn't go any longer without football.

[Fry Crayola]

The move to 24 teams annoys me because, in addition to the inclusion of weaker sides diluting the tournament and the horrible third-placed sides getting through system, it means qualification for Ireland is much less of an achievement. It threatens to render an awful lot of qualification games boring for fans of similarly ranked nations - that group of teams who usually challenge for the playoffs if not the luck of an automatic berth, now likely to proceed straight in.

Meh-fucking-tastic.

[El Pibe]

Completely agree. Almost half of all teams entering will qualify. Rubbish!

I guess it means there's more chance of the likes of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland making it but, like you say, the achievement is diminished greatly.

That's why we need to make the most of Euro 2012!

[dayte]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UTXY_puvf0

[redbloodcell]

Excited to see the Dutch and Germans play, interested in seeing how the Italians play in light of the betting scandal, if the French can cobble together a defence and if the Spanish can win it again or if tiredness and absent players will cost them.

Might watch England if I want to have a nap too.

[futureshock]

Aren't the Italians considering pulling out?

[Sirloin]

Anyone having a flutter prior to it all kicking off?

Tempted to drop a few quid on someone like the Czech Republic (66/1) or Russia (22/1).

My first ever bet was on the Czech Republic to win Euro '96 and they came very close.

Russia are the one I am going for, and probably Italy as well.

[Smoothy]

Aren't the Italians considering pulling out?

Nah, the coach said that he wouldn't complain if they did. No one has suggested it though, just the coach offering his own opinion on the match-fixing scandal.

[El Pibe]

The Football Ramble preview is up now, as well.

[gizmo1990]

Really looking forward to the Euros too. Agree with Carlos about there being so many decent teams.

England have zero chance. Can't remember a time when we've had as shit a team. At least in the past 10 years or so we've actually had decent'ish players but couldn't play as a team for toffee. Now we don't even have any decent players!

[Pants McSkill]

I had a little flutter last week on Lewandowski being top scorer - 27/1 seemed like a great price. Poland have the easiest group and home advantage, plus he's banged in 30 goals this season for Dortmund. If he grabs a couple vs Greece, he's in with a great shout.

Then I heard all the boys on football weekly plump for him too, which made me feel quite good about picking him.

[redbloodcell]

I'd go for Podolski, got a great scoring record for Germany and they're likely to go far.

[Gringo]

I'm gonna have a flutter on Italy. Have a good qualifying record, a decent squad/coach and not as burnt out as Germany or Spain.

I'll also copy the Guardian guys/Pants Mc Skill and go for Lewandowski to bag the golden boot.

[SF-02]

For some reason, not excited at all. Least inspired that I have ever been by an England team.

But has anyone really been bothered about England since 2002? The first tournaments I watched England in were euro 96 and world cup 98. England showed real class in both and could've gone all the way. Then 2000 was a shambles. I still half hoped in 2002 but England failed badly (then again was that when England matched Brazil and Seamen was lobbed from a free kick?) and from then on there's never been any class to match the middling teams let alone the best. It's another tournament where I will view mostly as an impartial observer to watch the skill and enjoy the spirit of the thing. I find most England players tossers who aren't good enough or are too arrogant and believe they are better than they are.

A good idea to do is try to find a national bar in a big city to watch games - eg Spanish place when Spain are on etc to experience it with passion

[El Pibe]

England looked decent in 2004 in patches, as well. Since then it's been dire!

[Stig]

Really looking forward to the Euros too. Agree with Carlos about there being so many decent teams.

England have zero chance. Can't remember a time when we've had as shit a team. At least in the past 10 years or so we've actually had decent'ish players but couldn't play as a team for toffee. Now we don't even have any decent players!

Joe Hart, Ashely Cole, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney (mainly for United though) are all very good players. Joe Harts one of the best keepers in the world.

But you know what, I think our low expectations will benefit us. How many times have we gone into tournaments saying "we've got a great team, we should do great" only for them to be ubber shit. Maybe the all of that will be in their favour, less pressure and the likes.

[gizmo1990]

Joe Hart, Ashely Cole, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney (mainly for United though) are all very good players. Joe Harts one of the best keepers in the world.

But you know what, I think our low expectations will benefit us. How many times have we gone into tournents saying "we've got a great team, we should do great" only for them to be ubber shit. Maybe the all of that will be in their favour, less pressure and the likes.

I'm sorry but out of that lot I'd only rate Cole currently (obnoxious tho he is) as genuinely 'very good' Hey ho though maybe we'll do a Greece. Isn't it a shame though when you look back at the teams we had in 1990 and '96?

[cavalcade]

Joe Hart, Ashely Cole, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney (mainly for United though) are all very good players. Joe Harts one of the best keepers in the world.

But you know what, I think our low expectations will benefit us. How many times have we gone into tournents saying "we've got a great team, we should do great" only for them to be ubber shit. Maybe the all of that will be in their favour, less pressure and the likes.

I'm Welsh, but I want England to do well. You just fear that one good game and the media will just heap the pressure right back on again. It might be best if they start out shit, creep through the group stages, and then the expectation gets loaded on so late that they've won it before anyone notices.

[fat flatulent git]

I'm sorry but out of that lot I'd only rate Cole currently (obnoxious tho he is) as genuinely 'very good' Hey ho though maybe we'll do a Greece. Isn't it a shame though when you look back at the teams we had in 1990 and '96?

I absolutely hate the man and his club, but I am amazed that anyone wouldn't rate Rooney as even "very good".