UEFA EURO 2012

[Dayse]

Where my Lemonsongs at??? Can't wait for Germany v Portugal tomorrow and I can only hope for a match against England down the line

[Thelemonsong]

I just watched the opening 2 games with my housemate. I'm looking forward to the competition. The only problem is it is currently fashionable in world soccer to play defensively, so every team will be going 4-5-1 and hoping to limit mistakes.

England will suck, as usual.

Germany are one of the favourites, you could well win. Portugal aren't very good besides their star Ronaldo so expect a Germany victory.

[Dayse]

Germany beat Portugal huzzah! I was v. proud of my fav player Tomas Muller. I can see what you mean by overly defensive play. Germany really looked sharp taking away the ball at midfield or before but there was that near miss that was a flashback to the Germany v England World Cup game

England is in group C right? They play tomorrow?

[Thelemonsong]

Nah we're in group D so play on monday. I will miss the game because I've got to play stupid golf, which really pisses me off. Italy vs Spain today which should be a great game.

[Pfunk]

As an MLS fan, (RCTID! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTgbUaqAX8) it sure has been a lot more offense than I am used to.
The Euro game is so obviously superior.

They have all been pretty good matches so far i m o.

[Geandily]

RIP Paul the Octopus 2008-2010

[Dayse]

England's game was a bore but I was glad to see them get a point at least. Ukraine v Sweden was awesome! Probably the best game of the tourny so far

[Pfunk]

Schevchenko's brace was pretty sweet in front of the home crowd.
I enjoy seeing "old" people succeed.

I thought France outplayed England in the second half but it's like Lemon said, they just sat back and played defense after they scored.

[Geandily]

I will remember you... Will you remember me?

[Thelemonsong]

Paul the Octopus was the most successful Englishman of this century.

We played pretty well against France. It was a game of very few chances. We managed to limit the French to shooting from long range. Bare in mind England are missing by far their best player, Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for our first 2 games. We should be a little more fun to watch for the third game against Ukraine when he gets back.

Good for Shevchenko, you could see how much that victory meant to the host nation. Both Sweden and Ukraine looked pretty crap though, we better beat them both. No team really stands out after the opening matches. Could be a really open tournament.

[Dayse]

Germany wins again!! SO POWER!! Gomez is amazing. Portugal vs Denmark was the better game today but I'm super happy

[Geandily]

Watched the Germany one... Got nervosa when there were like 15 minutes left and those Denmark fags were so close to tying it up. Paul der Oktopus made sure they won.

[Thelemonsong]

Watched the Germany one... Got nervosa when there were like 15 minutes left and those Denmark fags were so close to tying it up. Paul der Oktopus made sure they won.

Denmark were close to equalising against Portugal, it was the Dutch who were chasing a late leveller against Germany.

Germany look very strong. It may well come down to Germany, Spain and Italy.

[Pfunk]

Italy was looking pretty flaccid against Croatia.

Germany and Spain look like the 2 strongest teams to me so far but maybe Ireland has a stfu in store for spain right now....

[Dayse]

Ireland getting stomped right now Looks like they'll be first out

[Thelemonsong]

It was a great achievement for Ireland to just make the tournament. Italy had a poor second half against Croatia, which was surprising. They should still go through.

England playing tonight! The kickoff is 7:45pm and I'm headed to the pub at 3pm. I doubt I'll remember the game.

[Dayse]

England v Sweden was a great game! I missed the first half and sat down to a 1-0 game. It ended up 3-2 so very exciting. One step closer to Krauts v. Limeys. Sweden looked sharp, I thought, and that reaffirmed my belief that Lemon is an incompetant assessor of football. Both the soccer kind and the real kind

[Geandily]

I watched the England vs. Sweden game with my girlfriend, it was fun!

[Thelemonsong]

England v Sweden was a great game! I missed the first half and sat down to a 1-0 game. It ended up 3-2 so very exciting. One step closer to Krauts v. Limeys. Sweden looked sharp, I thought, and that reaffirmed my belief that Lemon is an incompetant assessor of football. Both the soccer kind and the real kind

Sweden were shit! They were very, very lucky to go 2-1 up and we fully deserved to come back and win the game. Ukraine were pretty crap against France too. There was some storm before that game. I've never seen a game suspended like that before.

Incompetant assessor? I've called every game right so far apart from Denmark v Netherlands! Today Russia and Poland will win.

[Pfunk]

Today Russia and Poland will win.

You, sire, are no octopus.

[Thelemonsong]

Amazing!

Russia losing to Greece was a massive upset. Poland were awful. Generally the home teams always do well in major tournaments, but Poland deserved to lose. Shitty hosts with shitty racist fans.

[Dayse]

i think its dumb that they play this round's games at the same time

[Geandily]

Amazing!

Russia losing to Greece was a massive upset. Poland were awful. Generally the home teams always do well in major tournaments, but Poland deserved to lose. Shitty hosts with shitty racist fans.

Racist fans?

[Thelemonsong]

Racist fans?

There's been a lot of trouble in the build up to the tournament. Black and Asian fans have been advised not to fly over there. Some teams have experienced racist chants towards their black players in training - most notably the Netherlands. During the Italy - Croatia game Italy's only black player, Mario Balotelli, got booed and whistled every time he touched the ball. The commentators tried to brush this off and say it was because he is a dangerous player, which is bullshit. It was because of the colour of his skin. A lot of racism in Eastern Europe.

i think its dumb that they play this round's games at the same time

They have to. The teams playing in the second game would have an unfair advantage otherwise, knowing exactly the result they required to qualify.

[Dayse]

Germany is da best. V. nice game, Denmark's goal was incredible. I'm suprised Netherlands didn't win any games. I await the fan brawls between shitty greece and Germany

[Thelemonsong]

I really enjoyed the Netherlands - Portugal game.

It's the same old story for Holland. They have a team full of very skilled players but seem incapable of playing together. As usual, throughout the game, some of their stars argued with each other. They always have problems with egos. They need a strong coach to pick the best team, rather than the most skilled 11 players.

[Pfunk]

germany > greece financially & football-illy

[Chairman Kaga]

Touchdown!!!!!!

[Pfunk]

Rooney back today!
I am tempted to watch England just for Rooney's return even though I think France/Sweden will be the better game.

[Thelemonsong]

Rooney back today!
I am tempted to watch England just for Rooney's return even though I think France/Sweden will be the better game.

Are you mad?! France - Sweden is a dead rubber! It might be the more attrative game, but the England game will be full of tension and the atmosphere will be incredible. Playing Ukraine in Ukraine won't be easy. Rooney and Walcott start, we'll be a little more attacking.

Croatia fined 80,000 Euros for racist chants towards Mario Balotelli. Nicolas Bendtner fined 100,000 Euros for revealing a sponsers logo on his underwear. That really says a lot about UEFA. The old white men in charge really don't give a shit about racism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18502555

[Chairman Kaga]

[Dayse]

I've been working alot and had to record the game today. Just got through watching it. Germany crushed Greece while sitting all their best players! I have my fingers crossed for England to win on sunday

[Thelemonsong]

Greece were quite possibly the worst team in the tourament. The fact Germany rested 3 of their players against them in a quarter final says a lot. Everyone in England is suddenly optimistic and thinks we'll win tomorrow. I can't see it. We have a 40/60 chance of beating Italy. Whoever goes through will lose to Germany.

Let's hope Spain find some form and beat them in the final.

[Üßøçñääðüæñãôþ]

120 minutes of 0-0.

Teams "penalized" for not scoring.

Italy wins, 0-0, after farcical "penalty" kick exercise to end the game.

This is why soccer sucks giant donkey balls. How the hell can anyone who appreciates this game think that this is somehow better than making them play until someone finally scores? Italy didn't win, they won a de facto coin toss at the end of the game. England didn't win either.

Losers all. Soccer. Italy. England. Fans.

Losers.

[Thelemonsong]

Unlike American sports, soccer actually requires endurance. You can't just roll off when you're feeling tired and roll back on after a nice drink and a massage. The only problem with last nights game was Italy buckling every time they got a chance. They should have won comfortably inside 90 minutes. It was a shame it had to go to penalties, but at least the right team won. It would have been ridiculous if England had won the shootout.

Nobody likes penalties, but what other alternative is there? For decades the men running soccer have complained about penalties and argued there must be another way to resolve a game, but no one can think of a fair way. In days gone past, teams would play each other again if drawing after 90 mins - but that is just not feasible now for players and fans. It would cost fans too much and kill the limited energy reserves the players have.

England were exhausted after about 50 minutes of the game last night. We actually played well up to that point. The English and Scandinavian teams can't win any major international tournament unless it is hosted in a cold country. The only time in history British/Scandinavian teams have won a major tournament? World cup 1966, England won in England. Euro 1992, Denmark won in Sweden.

[Pfunk]

I like the penalty kicks.
Especially after 90 minutes of scoreless ball, then tension gets ratcheted up several thousand notches.

Football is really starting to grow on me. Since I live in a medium to small American city, we only have 2 pro sport franchises. One is an NBA team and one is a Football club. I worked for the NBA team for about 6 years and I have been a season ticket holder for about 10 years, but I am pretty much done with b-ball.

Complaints about the lack of scoring in football are seeming more and more unfounded to me. After 10 years of b-ball where 2 teams can score 200 pts in a single game, scoring is cheap. Unless the scoring comes in the final minute of a close game it is almost totally worthless.

I enjoy the fact that it is damn motherkissing hard to score in football. The ebb and flow of momentum and the mental and emotional state of the entire team become important and play into the drama of the game. 1 soccer goal is worth 50 NBA baskets in my book.

The only change I might make to penalty kicks is to make it a bit more like hockey. Have the kicker dribble the ball a few yards and let the keeper come forward a few steps. Give the keeper a shot at making the save. Make it more skill based and less luck based.

I missed the entire england/italy match because I was at this game -
http://www.portlandtimbers.com/video...cascadia-clash

[Üßøçñääðüæñãôþ]

Unlike American sports, soccer actually requires endurance. You can't just roll off when you're feeling tired and roll back on after a nice drink and a massage ...

I consider soccer to be an "American" sport too -- not in the sense that it was invented here or made famous here, but that almost everyone here has either played it or understands it pretty well whether they like it or not. I spent a summer in Mexico City as a kid and we played soccer about 3/4 the time I was doing anything outdoors. I appreciate how grueling it can be but having also played American football (in the Texas sun) I disagree that one is more grueling than the other. Baseball is not grueling. Basketball is. Tennis is grueling. Golf isn't. Hockey is. This is kind of arbitrary really. The main difference is that soccer stars are most brilliant at faking injuries to get a quick breather.

Nobody likes penalties, but what other alternative is there?

Sudden death overtime. Duh. If they have to play for 3 hours and 45 minutes to get the last goal then so be it. There's pretty much nothing more exciting in sports than sudden death overtime.

Complaints about the lack of scoring in football are seeming more and more unfounded to me. After 10 years of b-ball where 2 teams can score 200 pts in a single game, scoring is cheap. Unless the scoring comes in the final minute of a close game it is almost totally worthless.

I'm okay with a regulation game ending 0-0, but any playoff or championship should have an undisputed win.

[Thelemonsong]

I spent a summer in Mexico City as a kid and we played soccer about 3/4 the time I was doing anything outdoors. I appreciate how grueling it can be but having also played American football (in the Texas sun) I disagree that one is more grueling than the other. Baseball is not grueling. Basketball is. Tennis is grueling. Golf isn't. Hockey is.

Wow, a whole summer?! Here I've only been playing it for 20 years. I imagine you spent your soccer playing time on a small patch of dirt having a laugh with friends. It is impossible to compare kicking (or throwing) a ball around your backyard with professional sports. Of course you found American football more grueling - when you played you didn't stop for replays and ad breaks every 15 seconds. You didn't roll off the field every other play to rest your legs and give a rookie some experience - or watch the defence/offence take over.

For people who actually take soccer seriously, 90% of their training is probably cardio. A friend of mine plays in an amatuer league and his training consists of running, stopping, running, stopping etc... That's why soccer players are smaller than football players... rugby players too for that matter. 330lb blocks of muscle aren't fit.

Also, I don't think tennis is grueling. I play regularly with my friends which always involves a lot of running around after balls (pervert), but you can always catch your breath between points.

The main difference is that soccer stars are most brilliant at faking injuries to get a quick breather.

God I kissing hate it so much. Not just diving to get a breather, diving to try and earn a freekick. All players who dive should be rounded up and shot in the testicles. Diving is the main reason I'm not much of a soccer fan anymore and prefer sports like the NFL.

Sudden death overtime. Duh. If they have to play for 3 hours and 45 minutes to get the last goal then so be it. There's pretty much nothing more exciting in sports than sudden death overtime.

People can't run around for 3 hours 45 minutes playing soccer without seriously hurting their health. The final hour of that overtime game would involve both teams standing still having given up on chasing the ball.


The atmosphere for games in Portland looks great! I also agree with Pfunk's point that it's nice to have a sport where scoring is actually difficult for a change. It's different.

[Üßøçñääðüæñãôþ]

Meh. We worked out until we all puked and died in 97 degree Texas heat. They made us run sprints until we fell down and laps if we kissed up. We had to wear 10 lbs of gear while doing all that. Oh yeah and we had to smash one another too, over and over. And push those kissing sleds with a big fat coach standing on it yelling at you. Oh yeah, and do "build-up" weight exercises for 90 minutes every day. I gracefully acknowledged that soccer players are indeed quite athletic but now that you make me think about it, they're really just sprinters who can kick a ball around.

Easily the worst kissing physical experience I've ever had. We all knew that people who couldn't hack it joined -- soccer.

Don't make fun of those 300 pounders. Good chance they can outrun you.

[Pfunk]

Like I said, the two pro teams we have in town are soccer and basketball. The two dive-happiest sports in the world.
BUTT - three home games ago - the ref actually CALLED A DIVING FOUL on the opposing team and it was possibly the most glorious event I have witnessed in pro sports.

The atmosphere for games in Portland looks great!

The atmosphere is like that for every game but this one was against the hated Seattle Sounders. My wife's brother lives in Seattle and came down for the game wearing his Sounders scarf and security wouldn't let him sit in our section.
It felt so European!

I wish they would do that with Laker fans at Blazer games too.