Holland have won the group.
Italy or France play each other hoping to prgress only if they beat the other and then Romania get a result against Holland.
Do Holland fancy meeting Italy or France later inthe tournament? No!

So with the group sewn up they can assure a better chance of winning the tournament by LOSING their next match!

Surely a flaw in the structure of the tounrment! Mind you the same logic has returned a very tidy profit on Switzerland beating Portugal tonight so don't tell the bookies!

quote:

Originally posted by Arneby:
Do Holland fancy meeting Italy or France later inthe tournament? No!

Why not? They've already tonked them both .

Holland will have to play Spain probably in the semis anyway if France/Italy did not get through so will have a tough match whatever.

If I was Marco van Basten, I would be playing all the YTS kids!!!!

It's in their interests in that Italy & France are eliminated, because I can see them, specifically Italy, coming back to haunt them in the knockout stages: Italy are that kind of side.

I know that Holland have been playing superb football so far, but the knock-outs are a different game tactically, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Italy are notorious for not doing so well in the groups but getting stronger in the knock-out rounds. I'm going to reserve judgement on that until it happens, but don't be surprised to see Italy in at least the semis, if not v Germany in the final

If Holland did so, they would probably get punished in some way.

Romania are look all right. A few decent shots.

Well done Holand. It was the B side and I was worried but they proved an old cynic wrong.

Mind you if they lose to Italy later in the tournament they will ask themselves what if they had lost tonight and evicted Italy.

Funny old game. One more time - Well done Holland

I have a funny feeling that Italy will knock Holland out if they play each other in the semis

What we may well end up with of course is Hiddinck trying to k/o his countrymen .

quote:

Originally posted by AndyCardiff:
I have a funny feeling that Italy will knock Holland out if they play each other in the semis

I agree.

This is typical Italy; sluggish start, then when they get to the knock-out stages, they just grind everyone down & win 1-0.

The Italians might win this whole competition!!

quote:

Originally posted by Syntax Error:
The Italians might win this whole competition!!

Germany v Italy for me in the final. The Germans to win in extra time

quote:

Originally posted by AndyCardiff:

quote:

Originally posted by Syntax Error:
The Italians might win this whole competition!!

Germany v Italy for me in the final. The Germans to win in extra time

Hope you are right Andy
There seems to be trouble iin the German camp though.

quote:

Originally posted by Garage Joe:

quote:

Originally posted by AndyCardiff:

quote:

Originally posted by Syntax Error:
The Italians might win this whole competition!!

Germany v Italy for me in the final. The Germans to win in extra time

Hope you are right Andy
There seems to be trouble iin the German camp though.

As I said on another thread Joe, out of adversity and all that. Don't give up, mate, or is that the Boro fan in you coming out?

quote:

Originally posted by AndyCardiff:

quote:

Originally posted by Garage Joe:

quote:

Originally posted by AndyCardiff:

quote:

Originally posted by Syntax Error:
The Italians might win this whole competition!!

Germany v Italy for me in the final. The Germans to win in extra time

Hope you are right Andy
There seems to be trouble iin the German camp though.

As I said on another thread Joe, out of adversity and all that. Don't give up, mate, or is that the Boro fan in you coming out?

I'm taking part in a German competition. I'm second in it at the moment. I received a severe telling off for choosing Kroatien to beat The Fatherland.
I'm still trying to work out if we can beat the Portuguese, I suppose if we go the aerial route and stick the big men around their goalkeeper.
Don't forget, I'm there for the final and it will be a big disappointment if Germany aren't in it.

Don't go putting your ticket on ebay just yet mate!

Actually let's stop it there and let me re-phrase all that.
I will not be at the final.
I will be in Germany and we always have a huge party during important games.

Even bigger when Germany are in the final then