Euro 2012

[Whiskeyjack]

A lot of these guys are also going to be coming off of a Champions League victory when Bayern crushes Chelsea. That will be a confidence builder.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[irishrecruiting]

Germany should take it. Even if they don't have the best team (I think Holland does with Spain's question marks...Villa fully fit? Torres seems to be finally finding form, but Puyol out, so Ramo/Pique in central defence?), Germany ALWAYS finds ways to play well in tournaments. They get it done, and unfortunately that's what matters.

As an England fan, I don't think England's too over rated because they should be rated very lowly. Manager has been there for a month, no captain yet, should be new players playing together -- some for the first time -- and it should be a trial period for England. If Hodgson is smart (and I'm not sure he's the brightest star in the sky) he'll bring young players and try them out in the tournament, getting a base for WC 2014.

If he brings the older ones...e.g. Terry, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry (who shouldn't be in the midfield) etc., then he's not prepping well for his real test in 2014 Brazil.

Barry hasn't proven much to me re: why he should play over Carrick (or Parker, if he's fit -- would be the clear choice). Shame Wilshere and Cleverly have been hurt for so long. Real shame.

 

[notredomer23]

I went with holland but that group is nuts. I want Italy to win it but can't see anyway that happens. I could see any team from Spain, holland, Germany, Italy, and like mentioned earlier, a darkhorse in Croatia taking it

 

[rock_knutne]

**** that. He's been injured all year and he's a shadow of his former self. Terry is a wife ****er, racist, and general douche. Uncle Roy has no method to his madness though, so you may very well be correct. I don't even know why Rio would be in the team. We'll see.

He's Captain Fantastic, who else would you want captaining your side?!


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vphtjh__TgI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I just think Hodgson will be sympathetic to the entire racial abuse thing surrounding Rio's brother. JMHO.....

 

[rock_knutne]

There's always a dark hourse or an unexpected squad in this tournament that makes a run. I think Croatia have that ability as do the Czech's. Any others........???

 

[irishrecruiting]

Ireland could make a surge reminiscent of WC 2002? I believe they got to the quarterfinals that year.

 

[Cackalacky]

Pulling for Ireland but Germany takes it.

 

[rock_knutne]

Pulling for Ireland but Germany takes it.

As long as they're not out all night in the pubs before a match they could make a run.

 

[Cackalacky]

As long as they're not out all night in the pubs before a match they could make a run.

Yeah, I know what you mean....

 

[DSully1995]

If germany makes it to the finals, ill be there for the game, :O

 

[irishrecruiting]

As for the EURO squad, it's an affront to football that Downing is in the squad, and then you have Henderson on the waiting list with Carrick nowhere to be found. Unbelievable.

This ^^^^ multiplied by a million. Downing in, Henderson on-call? No Carrick is ridiculous.

 

[rock_knutne]

Yowza........by the looks of that poll, not many are giving the Italians a chance. Beware of the Azzurri, Prandelli has them playing to win and making them accountable for simulation. IMO, the new "diving" champions of World football are the Spanish........they fall over from a slight gust of wind.

 

[rock_knutne]

David Villa is out for Spain, will not recover in time from the fractured leg he sustained this year for Barca.

 

[irishrecruiting]

Funny video for any other England fans out there. If only...

England: It’s Good To Dream – Brilliant Euro 2012 Trailer From ITV [VIDEO] | Premier League blog, soccer news and football shirts from EPL Talk

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yna4kd4KUMQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[rock_knutne]

Italy rocked by yet another match fixing scandal. Luckily this one involves minor clubs and only Lazio of the top tier clubs may be involved:

Euro 2012: Italy rocked by latest match-fixing investigation as defender Domenico Criscito is left out of squad - Telegraph

 

[NDty9]

Last time italy was involved in a match fixing scandal... things turned out quite nicely for us ! WORLD CUP CHAMPS!.. lets hope for more of the same!

 

[rock_knutne]

Last time italy was involved in a match fixing scandal... things turned out quite nicely for us ! WORLD CUP CHAMPS!.. lets hope for more of the same!

I hope so........they haven't won the European title since 68 when they hosted. I wonder if Prandelli will use the "us against the world" mentality that Lippi employed at the 2006 World Cup?

 

[rock_knutne]

FYI.......I beleve this scandal surrounds players more so than a team official, ala Juventus in 2006.

 

[NDty9]

Ya this scandal is deff a bit different, but i do love that prandellie (unlike Lippi in the last world cup) is not afraid to play the young talent!.... a nice mix of youth and experience should be good!.... ( still wish Guiseppi Rossi was healthy :-(

 

[Cackalacky]

( still wish Guiseppi Rossi was healthy :-(

Rossi and Subotic are dead to me.......

the USMNT needs to recoup their money from those two.

 

[rock_knutne]

Ya this scandal is deff a bit different, but i do love that prandellie (unlike Lippi in the last world cup) is not afraid to play the young talent!.... a nice mix of youth and experience should be good!.... ( still wish Guiseppi Rossi was healthy :-(

Prandelli isn't afraid to go forward either, he likes to attack so it should be interesting. Opening game against Spain on June 10th can't get here quick enough!!

 

[Cackalacky]

This ^^^^ multiplied by a million. Downing in, Henderson on-call? No Carrick is ridiculous.

Carroll was given the #9. Hopefully he can show us how a big CF is supposed to play. Downing cant get him the ball though (hasn't all year for Liverpool). Ol' Roy is hanging his dogs out on those two.....

 

[irishrecruiting]

Carroll was given the #9. Hopefully he can show us how a big CF is supposed to play. Downing cant get him the ball though (hasn't all year for Liverpool). Ol' Roy is hanging his dogs out on those two.....

I don't mind Carroll as much, because he had a few solid games at the end of the season and looked alright with Ashley Young in the Norway game last Saturday.

Downing shouldn't play. I don't care who they put on the left (or right) wing, as long as it's not Downing. There's no excuse for someone with 0 assists and 0 goals during a club season to be in the national team's starting XI.

On the other hand, England should look good when Rooney gets back, but that's probably going to be too late.

Walcott (RM); Parker (Central) Lampard (Central) Gerrard (central, ahead of Lamps and Parker); Young (LM); Rooney playing off Carroll. That doesn't sound too bad to me, minus Walcott, who hasn't improved since he was 17 years old.

 

[Cackalacky]

I don't mind Carroll as much, because he had a few solid games at the end of the season and looked alright with Ashley Young in the Norway game last Saturday.

Downing shouldn't play. I don't care who they put on the left (or right) wing, as long as it's not Downing. There's no excuse for someone with 0 assists and 0 goals during a club season to be in the national team's starting XI.

On the other hand, England should look good when Rooney gets back, but that's probably going to be too late.

Walcott (RM); Parker (Central) Lampard (Central) Gerrard (central, ahead of Lamps and Parker); Young (LM); Rooney playing off Carroll. That doesn't sound too bad to me, minus Walcott, who hasn't improved since he was 17 years old.

Agreed on Carroll and Downing. England's problem is that Gerrard and Lampard have never played well together and are essentially the same player. They both play best when they orchestrate and make late runs into the box, but you cant have both orchestrate..... one will have to play a different role. Wiht Gerrard being the captain, methinks Lampard will need to assume another role and/or see limited playing time behind the captain.

Re: Rooney, I believe Welbeck is on the team, correct?. He sould fill in nicely till then. I really like his skills, (young though he is) and should play off Carroll nicely. Not a fan of Walcott at all and not totally sold on Scott Parker.

One scenario I see is with Gerrard playing behind Carroll and England in a 4-4-1-1. That could work if Stevie G is up to it since Rooney is not ready...

 

[rock_knutne]

Agreed on Carroll and Downing. England's problem is that Gerrard and Lampard have never played well together and are essentially the same player. They both play best when they orchestrate and make late runs into the box, but you cant have both orchestrate..... one will have to play a different role. Wiht Gerrard being the captain, methinks Lampard will need to assume another role and/or see limited playing time behind the captain.

Re: Rooney, I believe Welbeck is on the team, correct?. He sould fill in nicely till then. I really like his skills, (young though he is) and should play off Carroll nicely. Not a fan of Walcott at all and not totally sold on Scott Parker.

One scenario I see is with Gerrard playing behind Carroll and England in a 4-4-1-1. That could work if Stevie G is up to it since Rooney is not ready...

IMO, Rooney's two game ban kills what Uncle "Woy" would do, which is pair up Rooney and Welbeck, England's best chance to win. Carroll is overrated IMO but is good off the bench adding air supremacy late in a game for a great change of pace.

 

[NDty9]

Rossi and Subotic are dead to me.......

the USMNT needs to recoup their money from those two.

hahaha i agree that Rossi would hvae been a STUD for US, but i cant blame him for following his heart and playing for Italia! ... Despite all of the Immature A-holes that sent him death threats and curse his name... he is a great player who doesnt deserve that Bullshit, and i wish the best for him IF he can recover

 

[Cackalacky]

hahaha i agree that Rossi would hvae been a STUD for US, but i cant blame him for following his heart and playing for Italia! ... Despite all of the Immature A-holes that sent him death threats and curse his name... he is a great player who doesnt deserve that Bullshit, and i wish the best for him IF he can recover

Yeah me neither and I also wish him a speedy recovery. That screamer he had against us in the Confederations Cup was ridiculous.

Giuseppe Rossi Goal Vs USA - Confederations Cup - YouTube

 

[pumpdog20]

Going to be real difficult for La Roja to repeat with David Villa out. Going to need Torres to get out of his funk in order to beat the Germans.

 

[rock_knutne]

Anyone watch USA vs Brasil last night?

I admire the US federation for hiring a guy like Klinsman but the crop of talent in this country has a long way to go. Brasil just toyed with the USA and it's not even their top side.

 

[rock_knutne]

Frank Lampard ruled out for England with an injury:

Euro 2012: Frank Lampard ruled out of England squad by thigh injury | Football | The Guardian

This may actually be a blessing in disguise for England. Lampard and Gerrard have never geled together in the same side.