Euro 2012

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like_that's avatar

like_that

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26,625 posts
May 29, 2012 1:40 PM
Didn't see a thread, figured I woul get this going since the tournament is 9 days away. Can't wait. Any predictions. This is who i see getting out of each group:

Group A: Poland and Russia. The host country typically gets a boost.

Group B: Germany and Netherlands. Tough group with portugal as well, but Germany seems to be an automatic semifinal team in international tournaments lately, and netherlands is the WC runner up.

Group C: Spain and Italy. Italy has some good young talent, and their coach actually isn't too stubborn to play them this time around.

Group D: Ukraine and Sweeden. Ukraine gets the "host boost" and mainly France and England can go fuck themselves.
May 29, 2012 1:40pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
May 29, 2012 1:45 PM
Turkey fights off the fact they didn't qualify, and win the EURO championship
May 29, 2012 1:45pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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10,760 posts
May 29, 2012 1:49 PM
Group A: Czech Republic and Poland
Group B: Germany and Netherlands
Group C: Spain and Italy
Group D: Sweden and England

Group C, I could see Croatia or Ireland making it out in place of Italy. I don't think the Italians have been playing particularly well as of late (maybe they're just not playing the right guys, I don't know).

Also, Group B will be stupendous.

Here's the schedule for the first set of games (all games on ESPN):

Friday, June 8:
Poland v Greece, Noon ET
Russia v Czech Republic, 2:45 ET

Saturday, June 9:
Netherlands v Denmark, Noon ET
Germany v Portugal, 2:45 ET

Sunday, June 10:
Spain v Italy, Noon ET
Ireland v Croatia, 2:45 ET

Monday, June 11:
France v England, Noon ET
Ukraine v Sweden, 2:45 ET
May 29, 2012 1:49pm
Iliketurtles's avatar

Iliketurtles

Senior Member

8,191 posts
May 29, 2012 1:58 PM
Group A: Czech Republic and Poland
Group B: Germany and Netherlands
Group C: Spain and Ireland
Group D: Sweden and England

Group B will be amazing to watch.
May 29, 2012 1:58pm
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
May 29, 2012 1:58 PM
I'll Take Germany or Spain to win it all with a strong lean on Spain winning it all. The Euros always seem crazy though with teams like Greece pulling off some upsets. I cant wait for the best international tourney outside the WC.
May 29, 2012 1:58pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
May 29, 2012 2:00 PM
Iliketurtles;1183861 wrote:Group A: Czech Republic and Poland
Group B: Germany and Netherlands
Group C: Spain and Ireland
Group D: Sweden and England

Group B will be amazing to watch.
Group C will be pretty fun to watch as well. Italy beat Spain in a friendly last time they played, and Italy/Ireland have gone at it with eachother over the past 4 years now.
May 29, 2012 2:00pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
May 29, 2012 2:01 PM
sportchampps;1183862 wrote:I'll Take Germany or Spain to win it all with a strong lean on Spain winning it all. The Euros always seem crazy though with teams like Greece pulling off some upsets. I cant wait for the best international tourney outside the WC.
Def a great summer for sports. You have the Euro Cup, then the Olympics to follow right after.

Some might argue that the Euro Cup is actually a tougher tournament than the World Cup.
May 29, 2012 2:01pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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23,151 posts
May 29, 2012 2:02 PM
I just don't see Italy coming out of group c. My guess is they're upset.
May 29, 2012 2:02pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
May 29, 2012 2:03 PM
Commander of Awesome;1183867 wrote:I just don't see Italy coming out of group c. My guess is they're upset.
It really wouldn't be considered an "upset" as Spain is the returning world/euro champs, and Ireland and Italy have played some tough games.

Who do you see coming out of the other groups and why?
May 29, 2012 2:03pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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10,760 posts
May 29, 2012 2:06 PM
like_that;1183865 wrote:Some might argue that the Euro Cup is actually a tougher tournament than the World Cup.
They'd probably be right. Top-to-bottom, the caliber of teams in Euro is better than the caliber of teams in the WC. Sure, you're missing top CONMEBOL teams like Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina, but you're also missing middle-of-the-pack/lower class teams like any team from CONCACAF, Asia, Africa, Oceania. The worst team in Euro (outside of the host countries this year) is still a top-25 team in the world. The worst in the WC is probably top 75, at best.

That's not to say I prefer Euro over the WC. I think there's something more special about the WC and enjoy watching it more (the US participation notwithstanding).
May 29, 2012 2:06pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
May 29, 2012 2:08 PM
gorocks99;1183872 wrote:They'd probably be right. Top-to-bottom, the caliber of teams in Euro is better than the caliber of teams in the WC. Sure, you're missing top CONMEBOL teams like Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina, but you're also missing middle-of-the-pack/lower class teams like any team from CONCACAF, Asia, Africa, Oceania. The worst team in Euro (outside of the host countries this year) is still a top-25 team in the world. The worst in the WC is probably top 75, at best.

That's not to say I prefer Euro over the WC. I think there's something more special about the WC and enjoy watching it more (the US participation notwithstanding).
Exactly, there really aren't any gimmie games at the Euro Cup.
May 29, 2012 2:08pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
May 29, 2012 2:32 PM
Ill take:

Group Stage
1. Russia
2. Greece

1. Germany
2. Netherlands

1. Spain
2. Ireland

1. England
2. Sweden

Quarterfinals
Netherlands over Russia
Germany over Greece

Spain over Sweden
Ireland over England

Semifinals
Netherlands over Germany (revenge from group stage)
Spain over Ireland

Final
Spain over Netherlands (no revenge this time)

I really dont think Spain will win it again, but in my scenario, I dont see anyone beating them. I think Germany would, but I think they fall before they play. Basically, I dont know who will beat them, so I didnt pick it. But I think someone upsets them.
May 29, 2012 2:32pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

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13,650 posts
May 29, 2012 5:31 PM
90% sure teams in the same group wouldn't meet again until the final.

A: Russia and Poland
B: Germany and Netherlands
C: Spain and Italy
D: France and Ukraine

Quarters:

Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France

Semis:

Netherlands, Germany

Champ:

Germany
May 29, 2012 5:31pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
May 29, 2012 5:40 PM
Mulva;1184091 wrote:90% sure teams in the same group wouldn't meet again until the final.
I believe you are correct.

QF1: Winner A vs. Runner-up B
QF2: Winner B vs. Runner-up A
QF3: Winner C vs. Runner-up D
QF4: Winner D vs. Runner-up C

SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF3
SF2: Winner QF2 vs. Winner QF4
May 29, 2012 5:40pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
May 29, 2012 7:08 PM
Can't wait. The Euro is right there with the WC for me. Two of my favorite sporting events period

Group Play
Group A
Russia
Greece

Group B
Germany
Netherlands

Group C
Spain
Ireland (Complete "homer" pick.. have a lot of Irish blood/roots; I think Italy advances in this spot realistically)

Group D
England
Sweden

Quarters
Netherlands over Russia
Germany over Greece
Spain over Sweden
England over Ireland (revenge win)

Semis
Netherlands over Germany
England over Spain (I think Spain is the best team in the Euros, but for some reason I think they lose before the championship)

Final
Netherlands over England



BTW, anybody with FIFA '12 buy the Euro expansion? I'm glad they decided to release it as DLC instead of a new $60 game.. I may download it tonight. Think it's $20?
May 29, 2012 7:08pm
N

NilesPacMan

Senior Member

452 posts
May 30, 2012 9:33 AM
Group A: Russia and Czech Republic
Group B: Germany and Netherlands
Group C: Spain and Croatia
Group D: England and France

Quarters
Germany over Czech Republic
Netherlands over Russia
Croatia over England
Spain over France

Semis
Germany over Croatia
Netherlands over Spain

Final
Germany over Netherlands


I think that in the previous Euro, the Spain/Russia semi was a re-match from the group stage, so I'm pretty sure they changed it so that a re-match only happens again in the Final.

Also, I do think that Germany/Spain are the most talented here; I just think Spain gets upset en-route to the final. Also, I think that England/France take their array of talent out of Group D, but France gets beat by a superior squad in Spain and England gets upset by the Croats to knock both out in the quarters.
May 30, 2012 9:33am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
May 30, 2012 11:06 AM
Fucking ESPN and their brackets. Made it kinda confusing. But I am an idiot and didnt read close. They have eliminated the re-match for this year, before the final.
May 30, 2012 11:06am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

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14,632 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:40 PM
Can't wait for this!!!

Link to the fixtures in EST.
http://www.beteuro2012.org/fixtures/euro-2012-fixtures-schedules-est-eastern-standard-time.php


3 matches I'm looking forward to this weekend.

Netherlands / Denmark
Germany / Portugal
Spain / Italy

I'd like to see Holland win it all, but I'm pulling for DK in that game. I have a ton of friends in Copenhagen and they are getting fired up despite being put in the 'group of death.' I don't think they have a shot in hell to make it out.....or even win a game. They do have a rising young star...Christian Eriksen. He's 20 and currently playing for Ajax. He's a solid player for his age and former Danish player of the year. I expect him to make a move in the near future to a bigger club.

Spain/Italy.... I hope Spain wins 6-nil. :D
Jun 5, 2012 4:40pm
killer_ewok's avatar

killer_ewok

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11,379 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:46 PM
Looking forward to it. This will be my first time watching/following the Euro.
Jun 5, 2012 4:46pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

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14,632 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:47 PM
The last one was amazing and my first. Some of the craziest finishes/outcomes in a tourney I've ever seen.

I'm not sure it even got much coverage before that? I definitely can't remember ESPN ever covering it.
Jun 5, 2012 4:47pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:53 PM
Automatik;1189445 wrote:The last one was amazing and my first. Some of the craziest finishes/outcomes in a tourney I've ever seen.

I'm not sure it even got much coverage before that? I definitely can't remember ESPN ever covering it.

Last one definitely had a shit ton of crazy outcomes. Turkey alone had 3 games end with last minute goals.
Jun 5, 2012 4:53pm
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Ironman92

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49,363 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:56 PM
like_that;1183830 wrote:Didn't see a thread, figured I woul get this going since the tournament is 9 days away. Can't wait. Any predictions. This is who i see getting out of each group:

Group A: Poland and Russia. The host country typically gets a boost.

Group B: Germany and Netherlands. Tough group with portugal as well, but Germany seems to be an automatic semifinal team in international tournaments lately, and netherlands is the WC runner up.

Group C: Spain and Italy. Italy has some good young talent, and their coach actually isn't too stubborn to play them this time around.

Group D: Ukraine and Sweeden. Ukraine gets the "host boost" and mainly France and England can go fuck themselves.

My grandparents used to listen to German Folk Music. I will root for Germany! That's how I roll! Lol

Seriously....who is the favorite in all this? Don't know crap about soccer other than the basic gym class benchmarks and standards.
Jun 5, 2012 4:56pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Jun 5, 2012 4:56 PM
like_that;1189448 wrote:Last one definitely had a shit ton of crazy outcomes. Turkey alone had 3 games end with last minute goals.
Yep, I remember S&L going ape shit multiple times over the Turkish club and their finishes. They had a great run.
Jun 5, 2012 4:56pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

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14,632 posts
Jun 5, 2012 5:03 PM
Ironman92;1189449 wrote:My grandparents used to listen to German Folk Music. I will root for Germany! That's how I roll! Lol

Seriously....who is the favorite in all this? Don't know crap about soccer other than the basic gym class benchmarks and standards.
I would go with Spain, Germany, Netherlands in that order, but anything can happen. Greece won in '04 and according to my coworker (from Greece) it was one of the luckiest runs ever.

Russia also had a hell of a run in the last one. It was Arshavin's coming out party and the reason I was so stoked when he came to Arsenal. Too bad he's a bum.
Jun 5, 2012 5:03pm
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chicago510

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5,728 posts
Jun 5, 2012 5:28 PM
Hoping the Germans can get over the hump this year. They have a loaded roster, but haven't been able to get by Spain when it counts.
Jun 5, 2012 5:28pm