Heeby Jeeby wrote:Who are people going for between Austria and Poland? I am having difficulty calling it...my gut says Poland though. They got beaten by Germany but I thought they still had their moments and played some nice football.

So how much did Howard Webb cost you?

simmo wrote:

Heeby Jeeby wrote:Who are people going for between Austria and Poland? I am having difficulty calling it...my gut says Poland though. They got beaten by Germany but I thought they still had their moments and played some nice football.

So how much did Howard Webb cost you?

Ten blips down the drain. It wouldn't be so bad but thats TWO injury time goals in 24hours that cost me €45 in total. Gutted.

I can't complain though, the Austrian finishing was a calamitous joy to watch. Unfuckingbelievable.

I thought Howard Webb got it right. Okay, if you gave that every time there would be umpteen penalties a game etc etc, but Martin O'Neill pointed out the way Webb actually handled it (before being talked over by Gary and the Alans). The two players involved were pushing each other before the kick was taken, and Webb delayed the free kick to go forward and tell the defender to cut it out or he'd give a penalty. He didn't cut it out, so Webb gave a penalty. It wasn't just given out of the blue; the defender was told specifically what would happen. I think that's the right way to handle that situation.

Hell of a penalty, mind. No finishing problems there.

daniel robert chapman wrote:No finishing problems there.

He'll probably have all kinds of problems "finishing" once he's drunk his way through that lifetime supply of free beer....

Yeah I thought it was a light penalty but everyone has seen shit like that given before. He gave a warning and the Polish lad should have been extra careful. Still a bit unfair on the Poles.

Seeing as the goals in the Austria vs Poland game were scored by players born in Croatia and Brazil respectively, I just worked this out.

6 of the 12 teams to have scored at E2008 have had scorers either not born in their country or with neither parent born in said country (Austria, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland).

To my reckoning at least Croatia (Klasnic, Hamburg's finest) and France (Viera) could add to the total.

I don't have a problem with this at all. It is probably a positive thing considering European history.

aldofarian wrote:Seeing as the goals in the Austria vs Poland game were scored by players born in Croatia and Brazil respectively, I just worked this out.

6 of the 12 teams to have scored at E2008 have had scorers either not born in their country or with neither parent born in said country (Austria, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland).

To my reckoning at least Croatia (Klasnic, Hamburg's finest) and France (Viera) could add to the total.

I don't have a problem with this at all. It is probably a positive thing considering European history.

For France, as well as Viera don't forget:

Steve Mandanda (Morocco)
Jean-Alain Boumsong (Cameroon)
Patrice Evra (Senegal)
Claude Makélélé (Zaire)


I enjoyed Croatia - Germany yesterday, but as per usual the ITV commentary was near unbearable. Quit with the fucking hyperbole! I'm sick of everyone going on about what an amazing shock it is that the Croats won - IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL. I would have tipped this game for a draw, and given Croatia at least 20% odds on winning. This is about as shocking as, I dunno, Villa beating Arsenal at the Emirates. A good result, no doubt, but not exactly the shock of the century. And the Germans will qualify for the quarter final anyway.

CALM DOWN EVERYONE.

I call bullshit, but I'm biased, obviously.



If the bald guy was fouling, so was the blond dude behind him. This is what happens literally every time there is a corner, that's never a penalty. The warning and repeat of the free kick (which Boruc caught, fuck dammit) was because two other guys nearly got into a fight just before.

simmo wrote:I enjoyed Croatia - Germany yesterday, but as per usual the ITV commentary was near unbearable. Quit with the fucking hyperbole!

I tend to switch between the BBC and RTE (Irish State Broadcaster), never ever go near UTV for match commentary. The Irish one has an excellent mix/balance between crowd sounds and commentary, which adds a lot to atmosphere. Warm & punchy.

In Brussels you have the national channels of most EU countries (except RTE) as a TV basic which means I can ignore ITV and turn over during Shearer's 'analysis' on the BBC.

The worst coverage is on TF1 (French national channel) where the commentary is non stop drivel and you have limited crowd noise.

The best is actually RTBF (Belgium in FR) with good analysis, even sound mix and no national bravado.

Flemish telly is offering an alternate competition featuring ladies from each country taking penalties in their underwear. The Dutch are walking that one.