Any soccer fans?

[ski9]

Euro 2008 now in the semis...my Germans took down Portugal yesterday (goodbye Ronaldo!!!!). Great match in the second half between Croatia/Turkey, 0-0. Haven't missed seeing at least a half of every match, so far.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

At the local bar they've had soccer on alot...it's O.K. but nowhere near exciting as televised golf...especially the Senior Players on the Champions tour..

 

[dmc]

Was in Berlin last week when Germany lost to Croatia...
It was insane... Cops were arresting people for smashing bottles in the streets..

Watched Greece and Sweden.... Bummed Russia beat Sweden..

 

[ski9]

At the local bar they've had soccer on alot...it's O.K. but nowhere near exciting as televised golf...especially the Senior Players on the Champions tour..[/QUOTE

It would be fun to watch the PGA Senior Players play soccer. They'd have to line the sidelines with defibrillators and kegs.

 

[dmc]

At the local bar they've had soccer on alot...it's O.K. but nowhere near exciting as televised golf...especially the Senior Players on the Champions tour..[/QUOTE

It would be fun to watch the PGA Senior Players play soccer. They'd have to line the sidelines with defibrillators and kegs.

Does Pelé golf?

 

[ski9]

Was in Berlin last week when Germany lost to Croatia...
It was insane... Cops were arresting people for smashing bottles in the streets..

Watched Greece and Sweden.... Bummed Russia beat Sweden..

Well, the Netherlands will avenge that loss tomorrow. Russia/Netherlands will be an awesome game. Netherlands was amazing in it's game against France---the #1 team I root against (The Italy/France World Cup Final in '06 was the greatest game I've ever watched that didn't have a side I cared about).

An ESPN article on the game:


VIENNA, June 20 (Reuters) - Netherlands lit up the group stages but Russia were not far behind with their classy win over Sweden and the two teams now face a battle in Basel on Saturday to decide who reaches the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

A week ago the Dutch looked odds-on to advance to the last four but, though they remain favourites, Russia's sparkling 2-0 victory over Sweden in Innsbruck on Wednesday has altered the balance.

While the Dutch have Ruud van Nistelrooy in attack, Russia can call on the revitalised Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Wesley Sneijder will be up against the equally skilful Andrei Arshavin in the middle of the field while on the wing the Dutch have Arjen Robben and Russia counter with versatile midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov.

But Dutch coach Marco van Basten is keen to learn the lessons from Spain's 4-1 rout of Russia early in the tournament.

'We have to see what the Spanish did against them and take our lessons from that,' he said.

Many of the Dutch first choice players have had a week to rest and prepare after Van Basten used mostly reserves in the final group game against Romania.

He is likely to start with the team that came out of the dressing room for the second half of the 4-1 romp over France last Friday, with Robben starting and Orlando Engelaar dropping to the bench.

Robben, who missed the opening match against Italy through injury, did well after coming on for Engelaar against Les Bleus and was a starter against Romania.

However, while Robben's attacking talents are undoubted he and Dirk Kuyt must show they can cope defensively with the free-running Yuri Zhirkov and Alexander Anyukov.

Russia's players will have had less than three full days to recover from the Sweden game and that could prove a key factor.

They have no major injury worries and Arshavin should be fresh having played only 90 minutes in the tournament.

His return from suspension was the catalyst in transforming Russia into a slick-passing team that could have been modelled on the Dutch.

With Dutchman Guus Hiddink in charge that should not come as too much of a surprise.

The well-travelled coach has forged his reputation from building hard-working sides where players perform above their ability but in this group of Russians he recognises he has some top quality raw material.

'The players have proved at this tournament they can keep playing this type of football,' he said.

'The way we play we get respect, we like to play the way football should be played and I think the Netherlands do the same.

 

[Paul]

 

[JimG.]

Sitting here in Mt. Holly, NJ reading AZ and watching my 14 year old in a tournament as I type.

They won the USClub soccer regional last season then got pasted in the nationals. So the kids told the parents they would win the regional again this season and win at the nationals. I figured the win last season was a fluke.

I'll be damned if they didn't win it again this season. So now I get to go to Virginia Beach for nationals. And they're undefeated in the MAPS league this season. I think they have a legit shot at winning.

 

[ski9]

Sitting here in Mt. Holly, NJ reading AZ and watching my 14 year old in a tournament as I type.

They won the USClub soccer regional last season then got pasted in the nationals. So the kids told the parents they would win the regional again this season and win at the nationals. I figured the win last season was a fluke.

I'll be damned if they didn't win it again this season. So now I get to go to Virginia Beach for nationals. And they're undefeated in the MAPS league this season. I think they have a legit shot at winning.

Congrats!

This summer/fall I'll be coaching my 21st team. I have a U10 squad, which is a fun age because they are ready to learn fancy stuff like roll and scissors and Cruyff turns...a big jump in skill level at U10 over U8.

Good luck in Virginia.

 

[JimG.]

Congrats!

This summer/fall I'll be coaching my 21st team. I have a U10 squad, which is a fun age because they are ready to learn fancy stuff like roll and scissors and Cruyff turns...a big jump in skill level at U10 over U8.

Good luck in Virginia.

Yeah, they start to mature a bit at 10.

They played poorly yesterday and lost twice, the second to a team they beat before. They were winning 2-1 and had numerous blown chances to blow it open. And it bit them and they lost. No chance for the semis.

At 14-15 they develop resolve. They were pissed last night. All of them. In bed early. They wanted to win today. And they did 2-0 and played extremely well against a team they had lost to twice before. And knocked them out of the semis. And got out of last place in the bracket.

And they were happy. And I'm proud of them.