The International Football Thread

[The Big Drog 1,110]

I dont know if anybody saw it last night but Germany entered a masterclass in their 3-0 destruction of The Netherlands. It was absolutely sublime, at times jaw dropping football from the Germans, their 3 goals were of the highest quality (the first two in particular are as good as it gets), everything they did was crisp, quick and stylish. Not only that but they did it without the heartbeat of their team, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and their captain, Philip Lahm, not to mention they didn't even find a need to use arguably the best striker in Europe this season, Mario Gomez. With the vast quality in depth they have, the incredible players at their disposal (Muller, Ozil, Klose, Khedira and Kroos were all standouts last night) and their style of playing combined with the expcted German team ethic, they are, and have been for a couple of years, my pick to win the Euros.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Seeds for Euro 2012 draw -

[Ollie 4,400]

so just because poland and ukraine are hosting, they are suddenly the best in the world? lol

how about this group:

Spain, Germany, Portugal, France

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Have a feeling England will get drawn with Spain or Netherlands.

Either way, I hold no hope we'll even progress past the GS with Crapello leading us..

[francozola 2,040]

so just because poland and ukraine are hosting, they are suddenly the best in the world? lol

how about this group:

Spain, Germany, Portugal, France

Hosts are always in the first pot

[DYC. 7,542]

I dont know if anybody saw it last night but Germany entered a masterclass in their 3-0 destruction of The Netherlands. It was absolutely sublime, at times jaw dropping football from the Germans, their 3 goals were of the highest quality (the first two in particular are as good as it gets), everything they did was crisp, quick and stylish. Not only that but they did it without the heartbeat of their team, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and their captain, Philip Lahm, not to mention they didn't even find a need to use arguably the best striker in Europe this season, Mario Gomez. With the vast quality in depth they have, the incredible players at their disposal (Muller, Ozil, Klose, Khedira and Kroos were all standouts last night) and their style of playing combined with the expcted German team ethic, they are, and have been for a couple of years, my pick to win the Euros.

They were indeed great yesterday, very deadly on the break. And last night highlighted that while Gomez, who's the best pure number 9 around imo, is of a higher class than Klose as a striker, Klose's mobility, link-up play and his great eye for a free team mate still makes him the better choice for the starting CF spot. Simply because with him, they make a better team. And it's not like he's less of a goal-scorer than Gomez for the German NT.. the opposite even.

Van Marwijk should be getting a lot more out of this team, his choices still baffle me. Dirk Kuyt is still a starter when he never should've been one in the first place.. he keeps playing two defensive midfielders who seriously lack mobility and never track the players their supposed to mark (it's like having two Mikel's) and it's not like they don't make up for it by doing something else really well.. Sneijder is untouchable for the number 10 spot yet he's always to be found very near to the two DMs which always leaves the lone striker isolated.. while it would all be so much easier with one pure DM (Nigel de Jong) with someone in a deep play-maker role next to him (Sneijder would be ideal for that role).

I know he led the team to the finals but everything went right that tournament while the competition was poor except for Spain and Germany, who met in the semi-final.

Spain is still my pick for victory. The amount of world-class and class players they posses is unheard of, their only problem is Del Bosque's weird choices as he forgets you can't pass your way into the goal. While he can get so much out of his team by playing with one DM instead of two. They're just the right line-up away from glory imo.

Germany a close second for me but their defence is still too weak while their build-up from the back is terrible. Pressure their back-line and the team falls into pieces. Though their effenciency is terrifying..

[manpe 10,857]

The Republic of Ireland beat Estonia 4-0 away in the Euro 2012 play-off first leg. Keith Andrews scored early enough in the first half with a header. Jonathan Walters headed in too about mid way through the second half after a sloppy save attempt from Pareiko, the Estonian 'keeper. Robbie Keane soon followed with a goal and scored again from the penalty spot in the 88th minute. Damien Duff took a bit of a knock, but they say he should be fit for Tuesday's second leg in the Aviva.

Not a good night for Estonia at all and while they probably could have had some chances of their own, as the second half went on, it just seemed to get worse. Along with that scoreline, they were reduced to nine men while three others got yellow cards as well.

Viktor Kassai is a bitch

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

so just because poland and ukraine are hosting, they are suddenly the best in the world? lol

how about this group:

Spain, Germany, Portugal, France

That would be a little satisfaction to us, seeing Portugal and France in this group.

[Ollie 4,400]

I think hosts being in the first pot is stupid tho, especially when there's 2. We should be in pot 3.

[francozola 2,040]

I think hosts being in the first pot is stupid tho, especially when there's 2.

Completely agree, but I guess it's there to make them happy as they have an easier chance of making it through to the knockout rounds

[Krypt 241]

Completely agree, but I guess it's there to make them happy as they have an easier chance of making it through to the knockout rounds

Sometimes benefits to host a tournament shame that wont be the case for us after our failed world cup bid. Whoever we get there will be the hype and disappointment as always. if there was less pressure/expectation i think we would get much further in tournaments.

[Aussiedan 154]

• International Friendly Matches
  Tuesday, 28 February 2012
  Serbia v Armenia
  Brazil v Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Wednesday, 29 February 2012
  Chile v Ghana
  El Salvador v Estonia
  New Zealand v Jamaica
  Ecuador v Honduras
  El Salvador v Estonia
  Cyprus v Serbia
  Georgia v Albania
  Latvia v Kazakhstan
  Moldova v Belarus
  Armenia v Canada
  Hungary v Bulgaria
  Montenegro v Iceland
  Italy v USA
  Luxembourg v FYR Macedonia
  Tunisia v Peru
  Malta v Liechtenstein
  Denmark v Russia
  Romania v Uruguay
  Wales v Costa Rica
  Greece v Belgium
  England v Netherlands
  Turkey v Slovakia
  South Africa v Senegal
  Austria v Finland
  Croatia v Sweden
  Switzerland v Argentina
  Poland v Portugal
  Mexico v Colombia
  Germany v France
  Ireland v Czech Rep.
  Northern Ireland v Norway
  Thursday, 1 March 2012
  Paraguay v Panama
  Ecuador v Honduras
  

[Laylabelle 9,304]

Friendlies...oh the joy...fingers crossed for no injuries!!!

[Madmax 9,219]

Where's the logic in scheduling international FRIENDLIES in the middle of the season.

[termninja 5,290]

Where's the logic in scheduling international FRIENDLIES in the middle of the season.

Absolutely nowhere. I didn't even know Serbia was scheduled to play Armenia. That's how popular it is here...

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Gonna kick some Brazilian arses tomorrow.

[Mr. Ziggles 110]

We're gonna get our sorry asses handed on a washed plate by RVP.

[Laylabelle 9,304]

Where's the logic in scheduling international FRIENDLIES in the middle of the season.

God knows..they always seem to do them at the most stupid times in the season