Board 8 > The 2012 European Championship Group Stage Topic. LIVE! [football][soccer]

(+) Yeah! (+)

THIS SPORT

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NO

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Warning_Crazy Winner of Board 8 Big Brother!
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What a match.

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I have never seen that before that was amusing

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
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this is a fantastic game, i was not expecting that

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great call by linesman

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
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Comedy Option Poland scores in stoppage time

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

Man Greece just can't get a break right now.

This really is one of those sports though where teams can be tied for ages no matter how much better one is than the other though.

Its hard to manufacture offense, and much harder to break a turtle especially.

Its like hockey, its just harder to produce offense most of the time.


The diving hasn't been terrible so far in the second half at least! Its a relief.


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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

Poland looks ripe for a slaughter atm.

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Bospsychopaat posted...

Poland looks ripe for a slaughter atm.

Yet it wouldn't be shocking if they were the ones to score a late goal.

I think having most of my exposure to the sport being World Cup related seriously hampered my opinion of it. I watched some of the late EPL stuff and I had no problem with it.

Its just that the World Cup is just as much diving as it is skill. Everyone does it so blatantly that it's made me turn matches of it off before. Usually I watch most of them though unless it just hits that point with me.

I didn't see the first half of this game though.

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

There wasn't much diving actually (I shouldn't have played blood bowl before watching this, got me al excited).

And oh yeah, Poland scoring wouldn't surprise me at all.

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I'm but a simple companion in the pack of gurus whereof SuperNiceDog is the pack leader!

This isn't world cup! European soccer is probably the only professional soccer I actually respect, though. (lol MLS aka US Soccer never watch it).

I really think it damaged my opinion of the sport though to have it be most of my exposure. This is perfectly watchable compared to some of those games I remember.

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

It didn't help that outside USA there wasn't much exciting about the last World Cup really.

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
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An opening match turns into a draw. WTH happened to Szczesny man?

(didn't watch. checked the score.)

SZCZ made a bad mistake for the equalizer and then was really hung out to dry when he got sent off, but seriously could have done a lot better.

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
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I'm talking about more than just the last one

But I think I'm going to watch the second game of this grouping.

But really though lol US Soccer league. We barely have enough people to make a single national team that can put up a fight. The US is *slowly* becoming more accepting of the sport, but its still going to take more time.

The worst EPL team would most likely demolish the MLS champion with ease.

African teams are probably the most annoying just because from my world cup experience, dear lord these people do not stop diving ever.

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

Yeah, the red card was as much the fault of the defence as his.

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I'm but a simple companion in the pack of gurus whereof SuperNiceDog is the pack leader!

Russia vs Czech

Russia player to watch: Alan Dzagoev.
Tipped by many to sparkle at Euro 2012, the pressure is on the 21-year-old to fulfil his undoubted potential. An attacking midfielder, Dzagoev's creative eye will likely be key to Russia's hopes, having demonstrated as much for his club CSKA Moscow - where he has already tallied over 100 appearances. He struck four goals in eight qualifying matches for the Russians, reiterating his importance.

Czech Republic player to watch: Tomas Rosicky.
Czech manager Michal Bilek may well be sweating on the fitness of Rosicky, such is the captain's worth to the team. The midfielder, whose excellent form earned him a new Arsenal contract last season, has been struggling with a calf problem but did return to full training this week. "He had no problems, no troubles," said Bilek, although there are question marks over match sharpness as Rosicky has not represented his country since November.

Key battle: Aleksandr Kerzhakov v Petr Cech.
Kerzhakov faces competition for a starting berth up front for the Russians, but a late run of goalscoring form has potentially propelled him up the pecking order after two goals in his last three friendly match appearances. A sharp striker, Kerzhakov's off-the-ball movement could be troublesome, and, ultimately, Cech will need to be wary. After prolonged question marks over the Chelsea goalkeeper's form, amid suggestions he was on the wane, Cech enjoyed a fine end to the 2011-12 campaign - momentum he will look to carry into this summer's international competition.

Taken from soccernet.


2-2 draw.

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raytan. The Cream of Terra Branford Fanboyism.
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Dr voltchball - best in the world.

meow please stop having soccer opinions

you clearly do not understand the sport

anyways lets go russia!

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Somehow, I doubt a team that's fronted by Robbie Keane, David Beckham and Landon Donovan will be beaten by a team that's manned by the likes of Kevin Doyle, Matthew Jarvis, Steven Fletcher and Wayne Hennessey.

What time does the next match kick-off?
I may have to miss it =(

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40 minutes.

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Dr voltchball - best in the world.

Good first game, thought it'd be dull but had a lot going on. Could have swung either way. The offside ruling and first half red card probably saved Poland who were in capitulation mode in the second half.

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Smurf, the cream of Sonic fanboyism

It's a roller coaster match, but full of drama. Great start to the tournament.

Pity that Poland couldn't win it. Greece did well with this squad. Salute to Karagounis spirit even though he missed penalty.

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GaryOak151 posted...

meow please stop having soccer opinions

you clearly do not understand the sport

anyways lets go russia!

I know the MLS is a joke that Europeans laugh at is there any more I need to know?

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

From: Meow1000 | #126
I know the MLS is a joke that Europeans laugh at is there any more I need to know?
The Galaxy would massacre Wolves lol

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
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From: Meow1000 | #126
GaryOak151 posted...

meow please stop having soccer opinions

you clearly do not understand the sport

anyways lets go russia!

I know the MLS is a joke that Europeans laugh at is there any more I need to know?
mls improving every year

LAG would probably finish 15th or so, although accounting for travel makes it impossible to really predict.

We aren't EPL level yet and never will be. But we now match up with many of the second tier leagues in Europe.
mls

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So basically what you're saying is I should stop considering the MLS to be a "Meaningless circus of American futility"

I'm quoting a European friend of mine with that one.

Though really the MLS is actually competent? I've never been given that impression outside of this topic, though I did once know an avid fan of whatever team plays in Philadelphia.

The name that's coming to mind is I think their arena football team.

Then again I don't really know any US-based soccer fans off of this board, so you probably know most what you're talking about to begin with.

...What time of year does the MLS season run anyway?

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

The Union is Philadelphia's MLS team, I've been to over 10 games, always a blast.

and like march-october

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Meow1000 posted...

I'm talking about more than just the last one

But I think I'm going to watch the second game of this grouping.

But really though lol US Soccer league. We barely have enough people to make a single national team that can put up a fight. The US is *slowly* becoming more accepting of the sport, but its still going to take more time.

The worst EPL team would most likely demolish the MLS champion with ease.

African teams are probably the most annoying just because from my world cup experience, dear lord these people do not stop diving ever.

MLS has little money and no prestige. They've done a great job growing the league, as the sport becomes more popular, more Americans will put money into it, and it will be more profitable to play here.

MLS games aren't that bad, obviously a step down in talent overall and like 3 steps down in offensive genius. I imagine the ball spends roughly the same amount of time being possessed and dispossessed in the middle chunk of the field in either league, it's just that the scoring chances aren't as nifty (and they don't need to be to score in MLS) and the stakes are low. If you only watch the most prestigious games and teams in the world, MLS probably won't be as intense as you are used to. Superliga can be pretty nifty, I feel like that is when MLS teams seem to be at their best.

I don't think the Galaxy would be the worst team in the EPL.

The MLS schedule is kinda crappy.

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An on form Galaxy and the Red Bulls definitely would not be the worst teams in the EPL.

GaryOak151 posted...

The Union is Philadelphia's MLS team, I've been to over 10 games, always a blast.

and like march-october

Ok I wasn't going to guess that

The season is going on RIGHT NOW? I didn't even know. Its almost never marketed to any degree (that I've seen) except the finals.

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

and yeah Superliga is sadly over and I don't think the CONCACAFCL gets televised quite as well (maybe it's only for me, because the Revs suck lately and were good during the Superliga years I donno)

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Donny: Are they gonna hurt us, Walter?
Walter: No, Donny. These men are cowards.

Predix:

Russia 2 - 0 Czech Republic

it is on a break right now, there is only cup games but yeah.

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Russia struggling to get on the offensive

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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

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Aw, was starting to root for the Czechs!

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THEN THEY SCORE GOOAAALALALALALA

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Well that was quick

Now all Czech has to do is get a red card, then score a goal!

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

Russians playing some real good football.

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
Brace for the G's, and fast heel-toe work.

RUSSSSSSSSSSSSSIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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Warning_Crazy Winner of Board 8 Big Brother!
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GOALLLLLL

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Also consider that the path to professional soccer for promising young Americans was a disaster in country, and only recently did Americans start instituting something that would resemble academies. Even though our best athletes end up wanting to play other sports, we should still have better developed soccer players than we have. I think in another decade this will start showing up, and the next Freddy Adu won't spend years not being able to practice and develop. And once we do have the one international class star develop and sign a big contract, that's going to get a lot of people playing soccer.

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Donny: Are they gonna hurt us, Walter?
Walter: No, Donny. These men are cowards.

Russians favourite (if they weren't already) to win the group.

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I'm but a simple companion in the pack of gurus whereof SuperNiceDog is the pack leader!

Welp.

2-0 might've been too little.

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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104
Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.

God damnit Arshavin why couldn't you do this for us.

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
Brace for the G's, and fast heel-toe work.

Waiting on replay but that looked a pretty obvious pen that Webb missed, which is unsurprising as Man United aren't playing.

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We can't stop here. This is bat country.
Brace for the G's, and fast heel-toe work.

Yep, obvious penalty.

--
We can't stop here. This is bat country.
Brace for the G's, and fast heel-toe work.