Euro 2012

[BWFC_Insane]

Say like Coe, Ovett and Cram?

You can, if you want it enough.

Or were those just exceptionally talented exceptions to a rule?

There is a definite genetic factor in play.

Clearly less so in football.

But I also don't think many truly great players are made purely by coaching.

[TANGODANCER]

Holland totally outplayed by a brilliant, energetic and commited show by Portugal. Van der Vart and D,Jong were Holland's best players for me,with normally ace in-and-around-the-box men like Sneidjer, Roben and Van Persie given not time or space by excellent defending. Top class Oscar-winning acting from Meireles, muscled off the ball by D'Jong, collapses in agony, stretcher on and ten seconds later he's sprinting away. Detest that and the card appeals by the Ports but there was only one team in it with...gulp...Ronaldo MOTM. Holland going home.

[BWFC_Insane]

Holland have been shocking this tournament. Awful.

[William the White]

Holland have been shocking this tournament. Awful.

Errrmmm You rather dissed my praise for Portugal - care to change your mind?

[Hoboh]

Holland have been shocking this tournament. Awful.

Errrmmm You rather dissed my praise for Portugal - care to change your mind?

If Ronaldo decided to buy himself a country so he could fill his wet dream of being a one man team (you do have to defend sometime Ronnie) Then I wouldn't rate Portugal or their chances

[jaffka]

Dont like Portugal because of that former scummer. Just cannot take to him.

[Relentless09]

Don't care who he played for in the past but Ronaldo is outstanding he's my favourite player to watch. He could have had 4 or 5 goals

[Prufrock]

You're both right. BWFCi is right, we need better players. LK is right that the way to get that is a feck load better coaching.

Even if we do do that, we don't just want to be trying to 'copy Spain'. It's not in the way we play, it isn't in our crowds, on our parks in our culture. Much more like is copy this German side. They play like a Premiership team, organised, high tempo, move the ball quickly, but, the crucial difference between them and us, they have supremely talented footballers technically. Sami Khedira is basically Scott Parker with a great first touch, and a really good range of passing.

[Jakerbeef]

What a thrilling group this has turned out to be.

Fear not. UEFA will put a stop to all that 'thrilling group' nonsense when they expand the tournament from 16 to 24 teams next time.

Aye, it'll be grand to be going up against Sicily, Andorra and Outer Mongolia.

When that lot qualify maybe even Scotland will get in.

Well let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Great, we were keeping all low profile and acknowledging how shit we actually are, and using the low profile to good effect, then Rooney comes along and says we could actually win it etc.
Knob.

[Prufrock]

How were we using it?! This whole 'lesser expectation' is balls. Everyone keeps saying 'oh, no-on expects us to win it now, so I think coz there is less pressure, we will win it'. So still the expectation, just backwards. We'll go out in the quarters, unless we win the group and get Croatia. As soon as we come up against a good side we'll be backs to the walls again. So far we've done well, so we might get the 0-0, but that means penalties...

[TANGODANCER]

, we don't just want to be trying to 'copy Spain'. .

Portugal showed last night how to combat and even nullify the passing build up style football. They harrased and closed spaces all over the pitch and never let Holland get near the box. Roben ( normally a superb player at causing havoc coming in) was never allowed to play and even Schneidjer was far less effective given no time on the ball. If we could achieve that sort of fitness and commitment we could learn a valuable lesson there. Ronaldo (I dislike the man as much as anyone) was immense; playing deep, defending and breaking superbly. If the Ports can reproduce that form they'll take some stopping from going all the way. Well impressed.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

How were we using it?! This whole 'lesser expectation' is balls. Everyone keeps saying 'oh, no-on expects us to win it now, so I think coz there is less pressure, we will win it'. So still the expectation, just backwards. We'll go out in the quarters, unless we win the group and get Croatia. As soon as we come up against a good side we'll be backs to the walls again. So far we've done well, so we might get the 0-0, but that means penalties...

Not a fan of tongue in cheek?

[Prufrock]

How were we using it?! This whole 'lesser expectation' is balls. Everyone keeps saying 'oh, no-on expects us to win it now, so I think coz there is less pressure, we will win it'. So still the expectation, just backwards. We'll go out in the quarters, unless we win the group and get Croatia. As soon as we come up against a good side we'll be backs to the walls again. So far we've done well, so we might get the 0-0, but that means penalties...

Not a fan of tongue in cheek?

You attempted subtlety? On the internetz? It's your own fault, my dear man! In fairness I thought it was just using anything you could to have a go at Rooney, which I'm not necessarily against.

There are folk out there genuinely going with the logic I used though.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

I know mate...but Rooney is a prize nice person for even thinking let alone saying we can win it - when at least the other players have managed to accept for once that they arent a bunch of soopastars and aren't gonna win a sausage.
Probably helps that Rio & Lampard arent here, from that point of view !

[Dr.Karl]

What do people make of Bendtner's punishment? 100,000 euros and one game ban for showing some paddy power pants. Seems very excessive to me. I get the impression it would be ok if they were one of their partners though.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Deserves it.
And no doubt Paddy Power will be paying the fine.
A totally pre-meditated and calculated risk.

[Bruce Rioja]

What do people make of Bendtner's punishment? 100,000 euros and one game ban for showing some paddy power pants. Seems very excessive to me. I get the impression it would be ok if they were one of their partners though.

Not nearly enough. Clearly he's an absolute wanker and this, somehow, seems not to have been taken into account. Absolutey inexplicable.

[Little Green Man]

What do people make of Bendtner's punishment?

Redicklas

[Worthy4England]

What do people make of Bendtner's punishment? 100,000 euros and one game ban for showing some paddy power pants. Seems very excessive to me. I get the impression it would be ok if they were one of their partners though.

Well we should probably await Ronaldo's punishment for proudly showing his Nike vest to the cameras after last night's game. Then we can see if they treat partners any differently....I wonder....