tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post3120515514892568708..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Euro OverloadMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-37105611343384391252008-06-21T00:13:00.000-05:002008-06-21T00:13:00.000-05:00Well we've got Germany-Turkey. I hope there are n...Well we've got Germany-Turkey. I hope there are no disturbances in Germany (seriously).<BR/><BR/>Yeah, the CONCACAF isn't that interesting. Aside from the U.S. and Mexico, basically all the teams are from countries that either 1) don't play soccer (e.g., Canada, Cuba, Dominican Rep.); 2) are really, really small (e.g., all the Lesser Antilles) or 3) are desperately poor and have little to no sports infrastructure (e.g. Haiti, much of Central America). <BR/><BR/>Haiti seems like it could be a sports sleeping giant. If it could even reach the level of economic development of say, Jamaica, its 8 million people could make a splash in the sports world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-80461570621662871372008-06-19T00:55:00.000-05:002008-06-19T00:55:00.000-05:00M-At least Greece2004 scored goals, we all have to...M-<BR/><BR/>At least Greece2004 scored goals, we all have to give them that although they didn't create much they seized their limited opportunities and scored goals on their way to the title.<BR/><BR/>Romania 2008 scored 1 goal in 3 matches, and that single goal was due in no small part to a massive defensive blunder by Zambrotta.<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'.<BR/><BR/>Keep it up, I always enjoy your opinion.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-36561247198716982562008-06-17T16:11:00.000-05:002008-06-17T16:11:00.000-05:00They did create more in the first half today than ...They did create more in the first half today than they did in the prior two matches, but like Rocco against Tiger they didn't seize the opportunities when they presented themselves {middle of fairway, 100 yards out on easiest hole on course both Sunday & Monday and made 2 pars, when a birdie in either situation would have knocked TW out} and it came back to bite then in the ass.<BR/><BR/>Italy were great today, and France is officially dead now. Fire Domenech and rebuild with the kids.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-27694129096315804492008-06-17T12:41:00.000-05:002008-06-17T12:41:00.000-05:00I don't see Romania as being quite as defensive as...I don't see Romania as being quite as defensive as you do. They created a lot of chances against Italy and Mutu is far better offensively than anyone on '04 Greece. They did play defensively against France, but it took two to tango in that game and France wasn't exactly adventurous either.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-58942958138923215522008-06-17T11:39:00.000-05:002008-06-17T11:39:00.000-05:00The ultimate sign of progress will be if doddering...<I>The ultimate sign of progress will be if doddering former powers Italy and France play out a meaningless game tomorrow because Romania are beating the Dutch</I><BR/><BR/>Romania are tricky, because on the one hand I'd love to see the never given a chance underdog get out of the group, but on the other hand Romania2008=Greece2004, so it's hard on general principle to really get behind a team that plays that way.<BR/><BR/>Always thought Ramos was one of those defenders whose strength is going forward and playing offensively rather than actually defending, but I'm sure that you see him play for RM much more than I do.<BR/><BR/>Everyone is going to cream their pants over Portugal-Germany and Spain-2C potentially, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Croatia-Turkey is the best game of the 4 quarters- really looking forward to that one.<BR/><BR/>Agreed that the Sweden no-call penalty was the worst of the tournament... thusfar. That was as clear cut a penalty as you will ever see.<BR/><BR/>I wish all of the Caribbean islands could band together like they do in cricket and play as the West Indies- would make things much more interesting in CONCACAF.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-20082594030692431832008-06-16T15:22:00.000-05:002008-06-16T15:22:00.000-05:00I wouldn't blame anyone but us hard-core U.S. fans...I wouldn't blame anyone but us hard-core U.S. fans who wonder things like "Hey, is Heath Pearce going to be able to deliver crosses for us or not?" or "Is Beasley's fitness still progressing on schedule?" for skipping the Barbados slaughter. "Rump roast" is actually kind of generous ... more like "McDonald's 99-cent hamburger with extra onions when you asked for no onions."<BR/><BR/>As much as I enjoyed the Dutch's first two games, it's hard to get too excited about their chances when you remember that the horrific Euro 2000 loss was preceded by that 6-1 thrashing of Yugoslavia that had everyone saying the exact same kind things they're saying about them now.Jerry Hinnenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097537044668238939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-21376001171860268522008-06-16T13:01:00.000-05:002008-06-16T13:01:00.000-05:00I couldn't watch the Barbados game. After eating ...I couldn't watch the Barbados game. After eating filet mignon for a week, I can't go back to rump roast.<BR/><BR/>I'm hopeful that ESPN will have Andy Gray in two years, but I suspect that Gray was available because England didn't qualify and the English media therefore needed less of a media presence. Gray is outstanding. He combined good tactical analysis with a passion for the game. His call of the end of the Turkey match was perfect.<BR/><BR/>I generally agree that Portugal and Croatia will have advantages in the quarters, but they could also go stale, a fear that I have about the Dutch.<BR/><BR/>The missed PK call in the Spain match was dreadful. It reminded me of John Terry running over Leo Messi in the first leg of Barca-Chelsea in '06, only Terry tacked on a handball at the end of his steamroller imitation for good measure. For me, the worst call so far was the offside decision against Italy on Friday.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-24817970659645682462008-06-16T10:51:00.000-05:002008-06-16T10:51:00.000-05:00Turkey will have trouble making the semifinal with...Turkey will have trouble making the semifinal without Volkan or Mehmet Aurelio. Croatia will likely not play anyone who runs the risk of missing the next stage because of cards. Similarly, Portugal will have a full complement of players (and well rested in a quick-turnaround tournament). Germany, having to play all their best players today, might end up with a few starters suspended because of cards. What I'm saying is that Germany-Turkey might not be a likely semi. Though I'd be cool with it.<BR/><BR/>I was happy for the late winner in the Spain match, because the non-call for a penalty at the end of the first half was the single worst call in a tournament of suspect refereeing.LDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416468186977171781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-26525281635491245422008-06-16T10:29:00.000-05:002008-06-16T10:29:00.000-05:00Not to mention having Andy Gray on the mic for bot...Not to mention having Andy Gray on the mic for both the France-Holland and Turkey-Czech matches. Going from Healey/Gray to Dellacamera/Harkes for Sunday afternoon's U.S. WC qualifier felt like crashing into a lamppost. I'm hoping that the universal rave reviews for ESPN's (non-Julie Foudy-related) coverage will give them the excuse they need to not subject us to the likes of Dave O'Brien in 2010, but I'm not optimistic.<BR/><BR/>Hup Holland Hup!Jerry Hinnenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097537044668238939noreply@blogger.com