It's been fairly good so far. Decent entertaining football, even allowing for the two weakest sides in it, sold out capacities, goals in every match, good atmosphere. Still too early to predict who is going to go all the way.

The most refreshing aspect has been the refereeing. Loads of physical challenges that would routinely get the whistle going in the past are being waved away and the vast majority rightly so, can only add fluency to the game. Also, it is obvious players are staying away from all the dissentful and undignified behaviour, the directive from above is working. It could all go up in smoke as it gets hotter but so far it has been spotless. We've even seen Scolari commanding the bench to sit down and be quiet!

Absolute tragedy for England to miss out on all that. Financial loss impossible to compute too.

Brown was already PM when England lost against the Croats, wasn't he? Cor, everything has been going wrong in this country since the coup.

quote:

Originally posted by zonk:
Absolute tragedy for England to miss out on all that. Financial loss impossible to compute too.

Absolute tragedy?!? - I think you've been watching far too much Sky TV!

England not qualifying for a tournament is only a "tragedy" to the FA, advertising/media agencies and large breweries. And frankly, who cares about them?

As a football fan it's disappointing, but a 'tragedy? Come on!

quote:

Originally posted by estrella25:
England not qualifying for a tournament is only a "tragedy" to the FA, advertising/media agencies and large breweries. And frankly, who cares about them?

And the players, and all the kiddies getting into it and learning about other countries, like mine are as I make the most of the opportunity to educate them. Fair enough, you're not sensitive to any of that and don't give a hoot about those overpaid prima-donnas and all that. I'm sure tragedy wasn't far off their minds after the fateful game against the Croats. You Labourites can be so cold-blooded at times.

Good tournament so far. Some lovely football from Portugal; looking forward to France Romania.

The Germans can spring an off-side trap! Mind you what's with Podolski scoring both goals for Germany against the land of his birth! Giggs will have watched that and wondered what if he had declared for England. Even at his age he and they might be there now!

I see loads of people are moaning to the BBC about this being on because England aren't there..

Well personally I am glad at every match half time is NOT spent listening to some sort of spin from the England camp about how great they are etc or how we were unlucky.

Infact hopefully the tournament will show those overpaid paid pampered lot they aren't really that good at International level.

Anyways its not affected other TV programmes too much.

Wimbledon and the Oylimpics will be much worse for that as that will be every day all hours.

I will be supporting France (Myself)

But I reckon Spain will win it....Torres/Fabregas/Reyes and Castillas...Formidable spine.

France would be good - As they are our closest neighbours, we have an enduring entente cordiale...we have fought and died in our millions on the fields of France and the contribution that France has made to European culture/civilization and the political/philosophical thought processes of Europe has been considerable.

France has provided the best wine/food/style and art on mainland Europe...

I think Ill get my coat....

quote:

Originally posted by concertpianist:
it means english football team is worse at football than all those up on the list

Maybe, but watching Greece win wasn't exactly watching total football lavished with silky smooth samba skills.

Italy....on lordy, come back Jack Charltons Republic of Ireland the most boring football team in football history. Even more woefully unimaginative than England.

I'm rooting for the plucky Croatians, even though they gleefully helped the Grand Mufti and the Nazis murder over 200,000 thousand Serbs during the second world war. But lets not bring up "old" history and enjoy the footballing extravaganzas for the next few weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by Super_horns:
I see loads of people are moaning to the BBC about this being on because England aren't there..

Well personally I am glad at every match half time is NOT spent listening to some sort of spin from the England camp about how great they are etc or how we were unlucky.

Infact hopefully the tournament will show those overpaid paid pampered lot they aren't really that good at International level.

Anyways its not affected other TV programmes too much.

Wimbledon and the Oylimpics will be much worse for that as that will be every day all hours.

If you lived in our house you wouldn't dare say it's not affected other TV progs too much!

Personally I'd be quite happy to see a Match Of The Day with edited highlights, even if there was a British team competing. The boredom of Hansen & Shearer and co. is just ridiculous. At least they got rid of Wright but it is simply the same thing said over and over like a party election broadcast.

The football? What I've seen has been mediocre to average so far. Teams waiting for the other side to over-commit and then trying to beat them on the break. Some very poor defending but also relatively few chances created.

I've got Sweden and Spain in the office sweep, so my head tells me I'll be backing Spain. I actually like the Swedes but their best players are getting on a bit so I think they'll do well to get out the group stage.

quote:

Originally posted by NWK:


France has provided the best wine/food/style and art on mainland Europe...

Nonsense, the Italians are streets ahead in all those areas - and they play better football

gt said - "Jack Charltons Republic of Ireland the most boring football team in football history. Even more woefully unimaginative than England"

Not quite! It was on 12th June 1988 when Jack Charlton's Ireland side played England in the European Championship Finals and thanks to Ray Houghton they proved to be less worfully unimaginative than England.

If I were to vote for the most boring team in international football it would be the Italy side that got to the snorefest that was the World Cup Final in USA 94. They really should have just gone to the penalties without bothering about the 120 minutes of nonsense that preceded it.

quote:

Originally posted by Arneby:
gt said - "Jack Charltons Republic of Ireland the most boring football team in football history. Even more woefully unimaginative than England"

Not quite! It was on 12th June 1988 when Jack Charlton's Ireland side played England in the European Championship Finals and thanks to Ray Houghton they proved to be less worfully unimaginative than England.

If I were to vote for the most boring team in international football it would be the Italy side that got to the snorefest that was the World Cup Final in USA 94. They really should have just gone to the penalties without bothering about the 120 minutes of nonsense that preceded it.

Sorry but the better match was Ireland vs USSR and Ronnie Whelans goals was "imaginative" and the Republics play free flowing. The England Ireland match was painfully dull regardless of you try and tart it up with that win against England. England lost all their matches.

The Republic went on the qualify for two consecutiveworlds cups and scored 5 goals in 9 matches. They were hideous. England had a run in 96 that kinda dwindles the Republic efforts in 88.

Is this something to do with football?

Or something important?

Arneby,
I did mention Ireland being over Italy in competitions, you didn't read the rest of my post, obviously.

quote:

Originally posted by TrevGo:
Is this something to do with football?

Or something important?

No, its something to do with soccer. You shouldn't be ion the thread if you having nothing to contribute, unlike me of course

quote:

Originally posted by Anonimouse:

quote:

.

If you lived in our house you wouldn't dare say it's not affected other TV progs too much!

.

Ofcourse a few might here and there but the soaps all seem to be on and haven't the reality shows finished now anyway?

I do agree maybe some of the matches could just shown in highlights but then somebody would complain about that so really can ITV/BBC win?

The actual coverage is about 2 hours usually with the old chit chat.

The 2 games today should be decent but some of the groups are quite uneven leading to fairly dull matches I guess.

People like football but toe varied degress and ofcourse there are some who don't like it all which is fair enough but no-one probably lieks everything on TV!

Few years ago you would have had the cricket and tennis on BBC as well!

quote:

Originally posted by Super_horns:

quote:

Originally posted by Anonimouse:

quote:

.

If you lived in our house you wouldn't dare say it's not affected other TV progs too much!

.

Ofcourse a few might here and there but the soaps all seem to be on and haven't the reality shows finished now anyway?

I do agree maybe some of the matches could just shown in highlights but then somebody would complain about that so really can ITV/BBC win?

The actual coverage is about 2 hours usually with the old chit chat.

The 2 games today should be decent but some of the groups are quite uneven leading to fairly dull matches I guess.

People like football but toe varied degress and ofcourse there are some who don't like it all which is fair enough but no-one probably lieks everything on TV!

Few years ago you would have had the cricket and tennis on BBC as well!

We have had the cricket on Five and the tennis on Two and the Grand Prix on ITV ..... fine for sports fans but even I get tired of being an armchair fan and would like something a bit different.

The curiosity of the football so far is the refereeing. If you watch you see that some games either start off or become non-contact sports depending on the how the referee feels or interprets the UEFA/FIFA directives. Meanwhile the diving has become an art form and bonus points ought to be awarded for it.

On a footballing theme, wasn't it wonderful to watch Iraq beat Australia in a recent World Cup 2010 Qualifier.

Is the guy managing the french team the same guy that was the father in American pie?

gt - England at Euro 96 were aweful. I was at each match and have the following memories:
Switzerland - very boring can't even remember the score only that it was Switzerland
Scotland - Scots miss a penalty and Gascoigne scores a pretty goal but otherwise a dour affair
Holland - a dreadful Dutch display from a team in turmoil off and on the pitch, many years later it is said that there were serious issues behind the scenes in that Dutch team at the time with black and white players sitting at different tables. I remember at 4-0 England realising that this score would put Scotland through as well so they conceded a goal.
Spain - dreadful match memorable for the ear-drum bursting whistling which swirled around the old cauldron during the Spanish penalties. I thoght at that game that ENgland would not lose in the tournament on penalties.
Germany - amazing penalties, pure perfection. Again no memory of the actual match

quote:

Originally posted by Chairman Al:
Is the guy managing the french team the same guy that was the father in American pie?

PMSL...........bet he wishes he'd used a "french safe".

He prefers running the french national team than giving his son a lesson on the birds and bees.

Come on the the Orange
The Dutch, I hope they do well.

I expect they were never successful at the beginning of their international exploits because of those clumsy wooden clogs.