EuroCup 2008

[NhomerS]

Finally (for some of us) our summer of blissful football viewing has arrived. My mom tells me the games will be viewable in the States on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Classic (they are the times given minus seven hours). What are everyone's predictions? I am not sure who will win, but I am of course rooting for Holland again. If they get knocked out, I want an underdog to win; a country that really has the drive to win.
The match schedule is as follows:

Final tournament schedule
Saturday 7 June 2008
1 Grp A Switzerland 18:00 Czech Republic Basel - St. Jakob-Park
2 Grp A Portugal 20:45 Turkey Geneva - Stade de Genève
Sunday 8 June 2008
3 Grp B Austria 18:00 Croatia Vienna - Ernst Happel
4 Grp B Germany 20:45 Poland Klagenfurt - Wörthersee
Monday 9 June 2008
5 Grp C Romania 18:00 France Zurich - Letzigrund
6 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 Italy Berne - Stade de Suisse
Tuesday 10 June 2008
7 Grp D Spain 18:00 Russia Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
8 Grp D Greece 20:45 Sweden Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
Wednesday 11 June 2008
9 Grp A Czech Republic 18:00 Portugal Geneva - Stade de Genève
10 Grp A Switzerland 20:45 Turkey Basel - St. Jakob-Park
Thursday 12 June 2008
11 Grp B Croatia 18:00 Germany Klagenfurt - Wörthersee
12 Grp B Austria 20:45 Poland Vienna - Ernst Happel
Friday 13 June 2008
13 Grp C Italy 18:00 Romania Zurich - Letzigrund
14 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 France Berne - Stade de Suisse
Saturday 14 June 2008
15 Grp D Sweden 18:00 Spain Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
16 Grp D Greece 20:45 Russia Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
Sunday 15 June 2008
17 Grp A Switzerland 20:45 Portugal Basel - St. Jakob-Park
18 Grp A Turkey 20:45 Czech Republic Geneva - Stade de Genève
Monday 16 June 2008
19 Grp B Poland 20:45 Croatia Klagenfurt - Wörthersee
20 Grp B Austria 20:45 Germany Vienna - Ernst Happel
Tuesday 17 June 2008
21 Grp C Netherlands 20:45 Romania Berne - Stade de Suisse
22 Grp C France 20:45 Italy Zurich - Letzigrund
Wednesday 18 June 2008
23 Grp D Greece 20:45 Spain Salzburg - EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim
24 Grp D Russia 20:45 Sweden Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
Thursday 19 June 2008
25 QF Winner Grp A 20:45 Runner-up Grp B Basel - St. Jakob-Park
Friday 20 June 2008
26 QF Winner Grp B 20:45 Runner-up Grp A Vienna - Ernst Happel
Saturday 21 June 2008
27 QF Winner Grp C 20:45 Runner-up Grp D Basel - St. Jakob-Park
Sunday 22 June 2008
28 QF Winner Grp D 20:45 Runner-up Grp C Vienna - Ernst Happel
Wednesday 25 June 2008
29 SF Winner #25 20:45 Winner #26 Basel - St. Jakob-Park
Thursday 26 June 2008
30 SF Winner #27 20:45 Winner #28 Vienna - Ernst Happel
Sunday 29 June 2008
31 F Winner #29 20:45 Winner #30 Vienna - Ernst Happel

Enjoy!

[Musco]

Italy :-D Gotta love the heritage!

[Stealth]

Italy :-D Gotta love the heritage!

Aye, Germany for me. BTW that would be 9 hours, not 7.

And look here for the TV schedule: Euro Cup 2008

[Ghost]

GERMANY & ITALY TO MEET IN THE FINAL @ +1000

GERMANY TO WIN THE 2008 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS OUTRIGHT @ +400

PORTUGAL TO WIN GROUP A @ +120

GERMANY TO WIN GROUP B @ -150

FRANCE TO WIN GROUP C @ +200

RUSSIA TO WIN GROUP D @ +450

Those were my bets on Monday. Russia for the darkhorse, they have a good side and being coached by Guus Hiddink is going to show for them I think. Their match vs Spain on tuesday I can see ending in a draw, Spain does well in qualifiers but they always seem to disappoint on the big stage. However, Arshavin being out for the first couple games will be a huge loss, probably their best midfielder. Pogrebnyak might be out for their first game too, he's a real good up and coming striker.

I think the "experts" really underrate Hollands back end just because the Dutch attack is fairly strong on paper and the defense can only look poor in comparison. They don't have a wolf like Frings, a finesse dynamo like Hargreaves or a battler like De Rossi, but I think there is more then enough to get the job done at that position. If I were the coach I'd probably put Van Bronckhorst or de Zeeuw at defensive mid. I kind of like De Jong at a right fullback position. I think Engelaar would be better used in an offensive role.

I think their weakness is at centerback, like Germany, and are stronger at Fullback (again, like Germany.) Part of the defensive shortcomings may stem simply from the Dutch style play, where sometimes it seems like everybody but Van Der Sar has pushed forward. They only did give up 5 goals against in qualifying.. but it's kinda hard to judge a team based on qualifying.

Van Basten is going with a 4-2-3-1 formation last I saw? That will allow for 2 players to play the holding role, so we'll see how that works out.

Here's to a good tournament!

[cephas]

i think Italy or Spain both have a shot at it. otherwise it would be nice if Portugal won it though its such a pity that Luis Figo has retired from the team.

[NhomerS]

If the Dutch make it through the group, they will get far I think. I think any team that will get out of Group C has the potential to make it far for that matter. The Dutch arguably have the best attacking line in Europe on paper, however they haven't really capitalized it during qualifying. However, the final three friendlies were promising, as Robben looked good again after being injured for so long, and Sneijder is looking better than ever. I haven't really seen De Jong play at HSV, but I would prefer to have him at the controlling midfield over De Zeeuw. The wingbacks are not so bad, I mean Van Bronkhorst is a good player, and on the right side we can have a couple that are decent. It's really the center backs that are weak, especially Mathijsen, which pretty much everyone here wants out of the first 11, but for some reason Van Basten is keeping in. It's a shame Boulahrouz has been injured pretty much all year. If he was fit, he would be exactly what we would need in the back. A big tough guy like Stam. Although I must say that I am happy with the addition of Engelaar, who I think is good for the controlling midfield since he is an imposing figure (1.96 m) and gives a good through-pass, something you don't necessarily need to be on the attacking line for. I don't know who would be good next to Boulahrouz on the defensive center, in any case not Mathijsen. Maybe Bouma since he is also the physical type but he's too clumsy. I think they're all too clumsy. We just don't have defenders with the quality of Stam and Frank de Boer. Maybe in a couple of years we will. I'm in any case very happy with how much our offensive line has improved in the last 3-4 years ever since this team was put together. Just hoping Van Persie can get 100% fit, if not in time for the Italy game, at least for the last 2 group games.

As for the other teams: any team coached by Hiddink is a team to watch. The Russians proved their a forced to be reckoned with again when Zenit won the UEFA. Beenhakker has done some amazing things with the Polish team (beat Portugal both times in qualifications at least), but I don't think it will be enough to oust the Germans or Croatia. Croatia is another team I'd like to see win, because they have been playing very well and got England removed from the cup. Austria and Switzerland I both see no hope for. Switzerland might make it to the second round if Turkey doesn't...I don't think Czech Republic will make it through simply because I don't know what to expect from them anymore. They were good in 2004, but they spiraled downwards ever since, and now they don't have Nedved anymore, so that's quite a blow as well.
Turkey I don't know how to gauge either except they're always a hard team to play, and I think the Portugal Turkey game will be a very very rough game.
I really hope Spain does well, but they always do well in the group phase and then get knocked out. They have once again the ability to do it...but yeah.
I hope Portugal doesn't get far. I am guessing they'll make it through the first round, but then?

[Stealth]

Thats how Germany does it. Podolski ftw.

And Croatia got lucky that Austria gave them a PK.

[NhomerS]

not really...if croatia hadn't gotten the 1-0 I think they would have continued the rampage you saw there in the first half hour. they are a really good team, I guess they were saving themselves for the all important second match. And it was an obvious PK.

Gotta say I was not impressed with Germany at all either for their second half...btw Podolski is Polish :P.

Holland-Italy tonight, I do not expect a win from this one. I think if Holland is going to go all the way, they will need to grow throughout the tournament (and need Robben!).

[Stealth]

And it was an obvious PK.

Gotta say I was not impressed with Germany at all either for their second half...btw Podolski is Polish :P.

Holland-Italy tonight, I do not expect a win from this one.

It was obvious, yes, but Austria's player gave it to them by being stupid. No need to rush the guy.

And Germany was pretty strong, they controlled the game, and yes I know Podolski is Polish.

Based on Romania/France tie, would make for an interesting group if they Holland/Italy did tie as well.

[BigAznDaddy]

haha the dutch up 3-0 i bet homer's real happy now

[Stealth]

Yea, awesome match by the Netherlands.

[NhomerS]

omg not in my wildest dreams did i imagine this. i could barely take it the second half, the dirnking just had to start. wow. i was hoping for a tie, this is just amazing. for the first time we seem to have a dutch team that is not obsessed with itself and does what it is supposed to do, play football. however, i still think it will be holland italy to the next round, based on how france romania played. also, holland should not get ahead of itself, france has henry again next game. anything can happen still. but seriously, unbelievable.

[Thongpre]

if you ant dutch you ant much! WOOOT go holland

[NhomerS]

In response to Stealth, for my parents in Texas it is 7 hours . Perhaps I should have clarified central time. sorry for that. So anyone have any predictions for the second round matches? I'd say the Greece - Sweden game was the worst game so far. God awful football. I hope Czech Republic and Turkey win today...but I think the opposite sides on both matchups have the advantage. Although maybe Switzerland is really screwed without Frei?

Anyone else got any thoughts?

[(HF)Sarge]

Viva Espana!

[Stealth]

You knew Portugal would win. And Switz/Turkey will be a toss up, both are heavily injured teams, so they are down players.

Holy hell this rain is makin this game crazy. That was a crazy goal.. the ball slowed down right in line for him lol... and that 2nd shot omg.. I want Switzerland to win.

[Stealth]

Ahhhhhhh horrible game by Germany. Holy hell what the fuck were they doing.

Incomplete passes
Passing to the wrong team
Whole team is playing individually
Croatia is just taking them apart and defeating them 1 on 1

And wow.. so many cards in the last minutes.

[(HF)Sarge]

Friggin stoppage time. What three yellows and a red card? Jeeze. Well that's one way to show your frustration.

...Way to tie it up in the end Austria.

[NhomerS]

yeah but germany had already played like crap the first game. I had a feeling Croatia would win if they played like they did in the qualifiers. I'm happy for them though (Croatia fan :P). Interesting to see how that group unfolds though I guess it will be Croatia and Germany. Portugal vs Germany in quarter-finals...gonna be one hell of a rough game. You thought you saw a lot of cards today...just wait till you play portugal.

[(HF)Sarge]

Pfft, friggin Portugese, they gonna pull out that same crap from the World Cup?

[BigAznDaddy]

wow what a game from italy and romania, action packed and some controversial calls. i really hope soccer takes a look at video replay. toni totally got robbed of his goal and from all the other bad/tough calls replay would be nice. just have someone upstairs mic in the correct call, i don't think it would be too hard to implement. i hope france v netherlands is as great a game. man i love soccer/futbol.

[Musco]

Come on italy! Your letting me down :-(

Drew with Romania? come on now!

[BigAznDaddy]

the mighty orange do it again, wow they are soo fun to watch when they get going. awesome display of their offensive prowess. can't wait till they play portugual or spain, goals galore

[Stealth]

Wow, the French got their ass beat hard.

The Dutch definitely deserve to take it all.

[NhomerS]

the first half after the dutch goal was very disappointing and i had several near heart attacks (i really take this shit way too seriously...). when robben and van persie came on...wow, can you say best subs ever by van basten? that last 35 minutes of the game we showed the same quality football as in the italy match. I am convinced that if Holland plays with this quality they will make it far into the tournament. however, if they stop looking for the footballing solution as in the first half it will go wrong. I am glad that you are all enjoying this as well. For the Netherlands this has been a very historic week in football, people here are going insane and even drawing analogies with the Dutch team of 1974. Could Sneijder (he's really dominating...he's gotten so good this last year at Madrid) lead the Dutch to the finals just as Cruijff and van Basten have done before him? Time will tell. I don't want to get ahead of myself (although it is very persuasive to do so). Before the tournament I was joking with my gf with a Holland-Croatia final (she's from croatia), and i say joking because i told her that there was a large chance we wouldnt make it through the group phase. However, this is becoming to look more like a realistic option. What a match would that be, two small countries vying for the sweetest prize of all...

And I say sweetest because I think the Eurocup is more prestigious than the world cup, in the sense that the tournament is more competitive than the world cup. Of course the world cup has more attached to its name :P (haha what a pun).

My predictions for today:

Russia - Greece: 2-0
Spain - Sweden: 2-0

I expect to play Russia in the quarter finals.

[NhomerS]

Wow I had predicted Czech republic - Turkey at 2-0....I guess I forgot a football game is 90 minutes long and not 80 haha. Anyone see it? insane.

[Stealth]

Yea, I saw that game, amazing game back and forth. Sucks that Turkey lost their keeper for the next game. Will play well for Croatia.

[NhomerS]

Ghost what are those bets by the way? Did you actually put money down on the tournament or are just doing predictions for fun (which I am doing with my family)?

[NhomerS]

I am glad Russia won, I think Netherlands vs Russia will be a much nicer match to watch than vs Sweden, who defends a lot and waits for the Ibrahimovic solo goal. Also, kudos to Hiddink. Let the quarter finals begin!

[Stealth]

Germany beats Portugal 2-1

Croatia beats Turkey 3-1

Netherlands beat Russia 2-0

Spain beats Italy 1-0

[Ghost]

Yeah those are actual bets that I made on the tournament, I don't play with nearly as much money as I do with hockey but its a past time for me.. sorry I didn't respond earlier I was redoing my watercooling and just finished it now.

Holland has been an offensive machine!! Awesome to see you must be pumped

[NhomerS]

yeah the whole country is. it's going insane here, but people are getting a bit ahead of themselves. ive been around during 1998 and 2000 when such a streak was also followed by utter disappointment. I'm a bit older now though, and I realize even if we don't win, we've played a hell of a tournament.

Stealth: I hope your predictions are right. I would hate to play Portugal (reason = 2 years ago...wouldn't make for good football....and Holland Germany is a classic). And if we progress I would prefer to play Spain. It's really lame you can face group opponents in the semi's instead of finals, don't know why they did that this time....

oh, and go hrvatska

[Ghost]

I've been doing OK on single bets for Euro 2008, Germany winning today gave me $550. I think I'm going to play the over 2.5 goals in the Netherlands/Russia game.. I can see it being a 2-1 game. It's at +103 right now too, decent odds. Not going to go as big on it as I did Germany today though.

[Stealth]

Wow, what a game between Croatia and Turkey, the two last minute goals and then Turkey wins via Penalties!

Plays well for my team, Germany now gets to play a Turkey that is down 4 players from cards.

[NhomerS]

I have to say I'm really disappointed. I felt the Turks neither deserved to win against Czech Republic nor Croatia today, who was being exceptionally sloppy today in finish soooo many chances. They didn't pay attention at the last part of the game, however the ref should have blown the whistle sooner ;\. That's the way the game goes I guess, but I hate it when it does. Penalty kicks are the worst part of the knockout rounds..they really need to think of something else for that. Oh well, let's hope Holland does better tomorrow.

[Ghost]

I suggest you both go to your local lotto store and buy a sports betting ticket, and bet a shitload of Germany to beat the Turks.

Croatia got screwed, Germany will beat the Turks easily, especially with all the suspension/injuries. EASY $$.

Germany +400 to win is looking good. I got quite a load on Germany for next game, and Germany to win outright.

[Stealth]

Sad times for the Dutch, they did a great job till this game.

Awesome job on Russia's part.

[NhomerS]

once again believing in the dutch only leads to disappointment. my heart gets broken every two years by one poorly played game.

[Ghost]

It's a huge difference in offense when Arshavin is playing.

On the bright side the game went over 2.5 goals :D $$ Dumping it all into Germany to beat those lousy turks!

[NhomerS]

shame for you that Italy lost ghost. I know you had money (and your support) riding on it. Just like Russia yesterday though, Spain was just better and I was surprised they didn't win earlier. Well I want either Russia or Spain to win now, and I know at least one of them will be in the finals. I'm assuming the other will be Germany...how Turkey beat Croatia I will never understand. Two out of three of my favorites got knocked out this round .

[NhomerS]

Just out of curiosity ghost...how much money do you spend on these bets? and have you made a lot of profit so far? I'm always wary of making sports bets...

[Ghost]

Blah I hate penalties..

On single bets I play anywhere from $100-$500, futures since the odds are a lot better I play a lot less. The Germany to meet Italy in the finals at +1000 for example I only put 10 bucks on it, but it would have paid out $1000 (100:1 odds).

In the Euro's so far I'm up only $600 with 500 riding on Germany to beat the Turks, which is OK, but nothing compared to the NHL season/playoffs. After the NHL playoffs ended I withdrew $20,000 and left $2,000 in there to play with in the Euros. After you win a few games and are up a few hundred, the important thing is to keep consistent with your bets so if you do lose chances are you are losing money that you have won, so there is no net loss for yourself. So if Germany somehow loses to Turkey I will still be up $600, but I cannot see how Germany will lose with what is it 9 players injured or suspended on Turkey, and it was just announced an hour or so ago that Nihat is gone for the entire tournament.

A lot of people I know just play for fun and put 20 bucks on a game or whatever because if it loses then it's not a big deal, but I treat it like a second income. If you know the sport and follow it really closely, then you should be able to get a good read on games and how the outcome will be. Trends, previous matchups, the starting lineups.. etc etc.

[NhomerS]

so far ive been almost right on the mark with my "for fun" poules, in fact im near the top of over 50000 people playing in the one im currently in. however, i of course have holland winning the thing (more bias than real betting there ), so maybe i should look into it....the group matches i had about 90% of who wins right, with about 20%-30% the scores completely right as well. after group phase it has not gone too well.

[Ghost]

That game was stressful o.O

[NhomerS]

I felt Turkey deserved to win that game. They put in a much better performance than the Germans, and with practically their B team.

[Stealth]

Germany vs Spain on Sunday... too back I'll be towing my U-haul trailer goin 55 mph down I-5 to Seattle.

[Ghost]

well, I've done well so far in the tournament.. but I have futures riding on Germany to win it so.. LETS GO GERMANY!!!

[NhomerS]

Viva Espana, my backup team won. I am happy, and they deserved it. This final was boring though, I only watched half cuz I was studying for my exam that I have in 9 hours ;\.

[Beefy]

Go Espana!! I'm Spanish and was just in Spain recently watching the semi-finals. Was very exciting.

[(HF)Sarge]

Hooray, my team won :P. Hopefully they can pull this off at South Africa *fingers crossed*