Soccer Euro 2004

Alright people. The competition is closing in, and the question lies... who will win it?

Here are the teams if you don't already know:

Group A

Portugal
Spain
Greece
Russia

Group B

France
England
Croatia
Switzerland

Group C

Sweden
Bulgaria
Denmark
Italy

Group D

Czech Republic
Latvia
Germany
Holland

My money is in for France. After a disappointing World cup campaign without a single goal, I know and they know that they are going all out. However I'm supporting Holland.

Player to keep an eye for:

Thierry Henry (12) - France. No doubt the best striker in the world at the moment. With a fantastic season at Arsenal and scoring 48 goals... He can be tipped to be the highest goalscorer for his country and this tournament.

- Shen

 

Don't forget that Czech Republic can go all the way. Nedved, Koller, Rosicky and Baros to name a few. The team have potienal to go all the way.

My money is on France too, with either Holland, Italy or Czech Republic coming to the finals.

Go Sweden!

 

So what's the "group of death" this time around? Looks decently balanced to me, maybe there isn't one

France will score a goal. No idea who will win. At least this time I'll be able to watch (staying up late to do it) instead of begging a friend to tape a couple Germany games for me (no TV hehe)..

 

God. There all so good. hard too choose. I really hope that Portugal pulls through b/c they really are my team. Im putting my moolah also on Holland.

 

Only 16 days left for the tournament!

Speaking of the tournament....anyone know the opening game ?

 

12th June: Portugal vs Greece at 17:00 GMT followed by Spain vs Russia at 19:45 GMT that same day

- Shen

 

Im going for italy all the way!!!!

Who is gonna stop Totti, Inzaghi, del Piero, or Vieri. Im a big fan of Italy....but Mexico is always first.


ITALY WILL WIN EURO 2004.......


Lets spice this up though....
predictions anyone?

The final match, who will it be.

 

Italy are good and I do like them, but they are an unstable team. 2/3rds of the time they are brilliant, but for the other 1/3rd of the time they can't even kick the ball properly. I would say they will get into the quarters and maybe the semis, however I don't think they are capable of winning it. Just my assumption. I'm voting Holland or Portugal vs France in the finals.

- Shen

 

i don't think france can do it. i'd like to see portugal do it too. ^_^

 

Pre-Euro friendly match results (1st June 2004)

England vs Japan

1 - 1

Scorers: Owen (ENG), Ono (JPN)


Holland vs Faroe Islands

3 - 0

Scorers: Van der Vaart, Makaay, Overmars

Looking good for Holland, but England continue their recent poor form without a win in their past 5 games including Sweden's 1-0 defeat, Denmark's 3-2 defeat and Portugal's 1-1 draw. Believe it or not... but Sven is still doing his rotating job with the England players. However, today's match was pretty much his first 11, and they failed to impress. This week's friendly against Iceland is their last chance to give their last shot... otherwise we'll have to really doubt their ability to mount a serious campaign in Portugal in less than 2 weeks time.

- Shen

 

England's 6-1 victory over Iceland is the perfect way to start their Euro championship campaign. After their disappointing draw against Japan, they made up for it as they hit 3 goals on both of the 45-minute intervals.

HIGHLIGHTS (ENG: 6 ICE: 1)

Lampard's 35 yarder sent England underway on the 25th minute. Followed by a clever pass by G. Neville for Rooney to slot home at close range 2 minutes later. Rooney then later hit a swerving volley at 25 yards out to beat Icelandic keeper Arason before Helguson headed in one after a mix-up just before half time.

At half-time England made 9 changes with only Robinson and Carragher being remaining from the 1st half. Owen Hargreaves fired a low one on the 54th minute which went between the legs of a Icelandic defender before getting a slight deflection from Vassell to send it past the line. Vassel claims it. Wayne Bridge's pace and bouncing volley was too much for Iceland's right back and keeper as he drove it into the bottom right with 15 minuts left and Vassel scored a low banana shot after good link up play with Heskey late on.

Holland had a miserable night after loosing 1-0 to Republic of Ireland thanks to Keane's goal.

- Shen

 

Only 1 day left!

The first match that's gonna be played is Greece - Portugal! Now than, we can start a tipping round, like ladbrokes. Now than, let's see who score the first goal of Euro 2004 in Portugal.

My guess: 3-1 to Portugal.

Goals: Figo, Deco, Pauleta (Portugal)
Karagounis (Greece)

 

lol, that's an ambitous scoreline and choice of scorers, but they are all quite capable. I am predicting 2-0 to Portugal and Pauleta scoring both.

As for the later match that day, which is Spain vs Russia. I predict a 2-0 score to Spain as well. With Raul and Morientes being the likely scorers.

Well.. we shall see tomorrow.

- Shen

 

Well. Euro 2004 kicked off at 17.00 GMT today with the Portugal and Greece encounter. The host nation started off poorly and paid the price on the 7th minute when future Chelski player Paulo Ferreira mis-passed a ball which came to the legs of Karagounis who struck a low shot to the bottom left corner. 1-0 Greece.

Second half began with two substitutions for Portugal. Christiano Ronaldo of Machester United replaces Simao and F.C Porto's Deco comes on for Rui Costa both making slight impacts on the attack part. But on the 51st Ronaldo concedes a penalty when he stumbled with Seitaridis. Basinas converts.

Portugal were on the whole the better side in the second half but Greece held out and defended stubbornly. Substitute Nuno Gomes saw his shot saved in the last 10 minutes as Portugal continued to pour down on the Greek goal. Ronaldo gets a face-saving consolation header from a Figo corner on 90+3 minutes.

Disappointing performance from the host nation, they need to pick up wins against Spain and Russia if they are to go through successfully. However, well done to underdogs Greece! Who gets their first major competition win.

On the other encounter in Group A. Spain face Russia in a closely fought contest. The sole close range goal from substitute Valeron after being put on after just 36 seconds on the 60th minute was enough to see off Russia's engaging side who failed to produce anything special. That match also ended with 5 yellow cards and 1 red for the Russians and 3 yellows for the Spaniards.

Tomorrow is the big one... France vs England

[/End highlights]

- Shen

 

As always, let's tip for the upcoming results!

France - England

Henry scores for France, and Campbell scores with the header during a Beckham curled cornerkick.
1 - 1

Croatia - Switzerland

David Prso scores a hattrick and Croatia dominates throughout the entire game.
3 - 0

 

The French are the favorites, but Im rooting for the Italians =D
About todays match, Im sure France will win. Probably 2 - 1.

 

HOW COULD PORTUGAL LOOSE TO GREECE???
what the HeLL?!?!?!
anyways france better win i have 20 bux riding on the game...

heres the chart anyways:
http://www.euro2004.com/tournament/index.html

 

Well well well... we have a very interesting day in Group B today. Teddz will comment on England's breathtaking 2-1 defeat... more from his highliughts later.

I'll sum up Croatia's 0-0 draw with Switzerland. Croatia was the better side threatening Swiss keeper Stiel including a close range headed bouncing off the bar in the first half by Zickovic. Much of the game remained a midfield battle with the occassional Swiss counter attack and Croatian long shots. Vogel of Switzerland and PSV Eindhoven was sent off after a second offense early in the second half but Croatia did not make the best of their 1 man extra advantage. Final score... 0-0

ENG vs FRA to follow

- Shen

 

France - England

What a game! What a game!

First Half.

It was a game between two players, two attackers that had the grip to seal games. Frances Thierry Henry and Englands Micheal Owen

The game started with big domination by France, who played with Pires as the right flank crosser, did several good crosses, one that skimmed over the defence and almost on the feets of David Trezeguet.

Neverless, the game was totally dominated by France who pushed it's players to the max. However, England were aggressive too. A foul was made on the French side, and Englands Captain, David Beckham curled the freekick onto Frank Lampards head and goal for England.

France was stunned by the goal, and they started to show the same type of work rate as Portugal. They left the first half with lots of thoughts on their mind.

Second Half

England started with the most pace, and the top priority is to either score a second one, or just take it slow and defend the lead. However, France played for an equalizer. Henry started show the world, why he was the worlds best attacker. He rounded up chances by chances but David James in the goal was a stonebrick wall. Although France played good, You could say that France was playing into Englands hands, cause England were prepared for a counter attack, and so was the case when Vieira lost the ball in midfield, and Gerrard passed a wonderful long range cut-pass to Rooney, who ran with full speed with Makelelé and Vieria behind him. He ran, Silvestre couldn't keep up the pace, hesitated, and tripped Rooney inside the penalty box. Penalty for England, and this was their chance to seal the game.

On came Captain Beckham, looked at the goal, and he shot....and it was saved by ex-Man Utd Keeper Fabien Barthez.

This was a wakeup call for France, and they started to attack. On came Wiltord for Pires, and Silvestre had to go off for Sagnol due to the inpact with Rooney. Changes on the English side too, Owen for Vassell, who showed instant impact and Scholes for Owen Hargereves.

France was pushing forward with everything they had, but the game was too slow. There weren't alot of French players that wanted to run, that had the will to leap forward, when suddenly, a ball flew over the English defence, Wiltord nodded the ball, nodded down by Campbell , the ball was than later shot by Makelele and King blocked it.

Time was ticking away, during the last minutes of the game, France did one last attack. Vieira was running towards the goal, when suddenly, "new-subbed" Emile Heskey, tripped him. It was a perfect freekick opportunity for France, and Zidane took the shot. It skimmed over the wall, and down to the left side of the Goal. Amazing goal all round. 1-1, and french joy was a fact.

2 mins later, Gerrard failed with a defence job, and the ball was now infront of the fast Henry. He ran towards the goal, but than a late tackle by goalie David James caused the loss of England. Penalty was given, and Zidane made no mistakes. 1-2 for France and seconds later, the game was finished.

Results:

France 2 - 1 England
Goal: Lampard 36', Zidane 90+1', Zidane 90+2'
Warnings: Frank Lampard (England), Paul Scholes(England), Robert Pires(France)

Line ups:
France: (4-4-2) Barthez - Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu - Pires, Vieria, Makelele, Zidane - Trezeguet, Henry
England: (4-4-2) James - G.Neville, Campbell, King, A.Cole - Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes - Rooney, Owen

Games for tomarrow:
Italy - Denmark
And...the team we all should be rooting for
SWEDEN - Bulgaria

 

I was up and down for the whole Eng vs Fra match. One of the most exciting games I've seen for some time. England were just too unlucky. Goals on the 90+1 minute and 90+3 minutes... literally both on injury time by all time hailed frenchstar Zinedine Zidane, who truely lives up to his name.

For me... when Beckham missed that penalty, England won't win. They are quite famous for these scenarios... Good play at first, then lose the plot later. Well, good luck for them with the Swiss and Croatians.

Tomorrow's Group C encounter. 2-0 for Sweden (Larsson and Ibrahimovic to score) and 2-0 for Italy (Vieri x2)

- Shen