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#41 |
Dirty Sanchez Below
Posts: 16,149
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Italy or France
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#42 |
Part time poster
Posts: 22,963
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If you can make the quarter finals then it's anyone's to win really. Look at Denmark in 1992, they weren't even meant to be there and they won it.
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#43 |
Smashing Blouse
Posts: 7,800
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Everytime I have seen them play (the Czechs) they've played as a team, everyone works for everyone else.
They have 2 of the most creative players in World football in Rosicky and Nedved, and with a guy like Koller (ok, he's not amazing, but his presence is) they've got a target man, and in Baros, they've got a player who has an amazing scoring record at international level. Maybe a bit suspect at the back, but they have enough creativity to be contenders. I think they'll win the group. Germany are nothing special, and Holland are way to inconsistent. By doing this, they should have either Sweden or Denmark in the Quarter Finals, and I'd fancy them against either of them. If they were to get Portugal or England in the Semi's I think they'd beat either of them. So I honestly believe they have a chance |
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#44 |
Smashing Blouse
Posts: 7,800
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#45 |
Smashing Blouse
Posts: 7,800
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Gonna look at form guides etc... and decide the most plausible outcomes
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#46 | |
World Class Raconteur
Posts: 29,478
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Quote:
The Czechs are a good side, but they're not tournament winners. We (Ireland) beat them in a friendly not too long ago. They were missing Nedved, I think, but still, we didn't have our best side out either. Class counts at the top, and while I can see the Czechs causing an upset, I can't see them upsetting their way to the final. Again. Germany's side is better than the Czech's, also. I fancy Germany and Holland to beat them, but it's certainly possible the Czech's could topple them. |
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#47 |
Smashing Blouse
Posts: 7,800
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I think Portugal are hugely overhyped
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#48 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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So do I, but they repackaged their team a lot from the World Cup I think. They don't want to be embarassed again, especially on thier home turf. Figo really needs to play top class as well.
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#49 |
Posts: 2,018
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At the moment I’d put money on the Dutch and French…
France would seem to have the trophy for the taking but they’ll have to get past the hurdle of their appalling world cup. If Henry is on top of his game and the rest of the players are half up for the thing then I can’t see past them. The Dutch I’d go for purely in hope that they finally get their act together and the tournament performance they’ve threatened to give for so long finally comes off. The squad they have surely rivals just about anyone in the tournament but as most will point out and history has shown they just seem to lack the mental side that all winning teams need…shocking when you consider the club honours that the majority of the players could put on the table. |
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#50 |
Smashing Blouse
Posts: 7,800
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Having looked at the Portugese squad, I am not overly impressed at all.
They have a few players who have a lot of quality, they are top-class players, and that is what the midfield is all about. The problem with that is that they really lack someone who is gonna mop everything up. They have in some respects are similar back 5 to the Czech's because its nothing special, but it gets the job done, although, I'm not overly sure about them. They also don't exactly have a lot of firepower up front. Pauleta and Nuno Gomes are not exactly the kind of players who will strike fear into defences. Maybe if Ronaldo and Figo are on top form, sure, but to be honest, I can't see how the Portugese are supposed to be world beaters with a team like they have |
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#51 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Yeah, I've followed the Portuguese pretty closely the past four years cause my freind has the satelite thing where he gets thier games. Pauleta can be very good and I think he is proboably there best all around player going into this for Portugual. Simao is starting to play really well and Costa is still a threat. As for Figo, I really don't know. Injuries and age have caught up to him and he really isn't the same as he used to be anymore. Ronanldo is going to be great someday, i think, but he still needs to learn a lot more. He could very well be that "key" player they need out there though.
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#52 |
World Class Raconteur
Posts: 29,478
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I don't rate Pauleta at all.
Deco, Figo, Ronaldo, Costinha, Maniche, Paulo Ferreira, Jorge Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Petit, Simao Sabrosa and Rui Costa are all quality players. |
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#53 |
Theo Zagorakis
Posts: 7,148
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They should choose Deco over Rui Costa.
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#54 |
World Class Raconteur
Posts: 29,478
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I'd play Deco in the hole, with Figo and Ronaldo swapping flanks with each other. That would be amazing.
Have Maniche and Costinha holding in midfield, and Paulo Ferreira bombing on at right back. |
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#55 |
Dirty Sanchez Below
Posts: 16,149
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WHAT
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#56 |
World Class Raconteur
Posts: 29,478
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Allow me to lick your elbows.
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#57 |
That Entenbrot, The Mask
Posts: 56,852
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As Robbie Savage said to the ref.
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#58 |
IRREPLACEABLE
Posts: 11,608
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LOL
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#59 |
Posts: 3,460
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France should win it if everyone plays to their potential.
I hope Spain do better. I reckon England can get to the Semis at best probs only Quarters. |
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#60 |
Idiot In Training
Posts: 353
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I just have a nasty feeling the German's will nick it, i hate it, but I feel it
Englands progress depends on the form of Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard IMO, if they perform, we may go semi's if not final |
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#61 |
Theo Zagorakis
Posts: 7,148
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Well Eriksson has said today that the diamond formation looks likely to be used (at least against France),which will probably mean Butt ahead of Lampard.
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#62 |
Idiot In Training
Posts: 353
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If Heskey is in his "Strongest Side" tomorrow, we can all give up now!!
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#63 | |
IRREPLACEABLE
Posts: 11,608
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Quote:
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#64 | |
Idiot In Training
Posts: 353
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Quote:
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#65 | |
Theo Zagorakis
Posts: 7,148
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Quote:
If Heskey's picked in the midfield,i heard him say earlier that he wouldn't mind the left sided spot,then,as much as i like Emile,to have him and Butt ahead of Lampard is a joke. |
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#66 |
Posts: 14,008
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After my calling just about everything that happened this year in the world of football, I'm on somewhat of a roll. In any case, I'm going with Italy for this one. If they don't win it, France will. They're the two teams that really have it all in their team, top to bottom. Italy are the only team I just cannot see us beating in this, which nudges things in their favour.
England are decent outsiders and it wouldn't be absurd to think they could win it, but I can't see them getting past the semis. Actually I could just as easily see them losing to Croatia as I could seeing them beat France, it's a tough one. Portugal are good bets being hosts, but I dunno, I can't see them going all the way. Spain are good too, but until they start gelling as a team (which they can do great in the qualifiers against the dregs of European football, but not against anyone remotely good) I can't see them getting by on talented players alone. Holland? Inconsistent right now - capable of winning the whole thing or crashing out in the first round. The tie against Scotland demonstrated that nicely. In one leg they were utter crap, losing to a team they shouldn't be losing to (no offence Rob) and in the second they were gloriously magnificent. How they do depends on which Holland turns up in Portugal. Speaking of Holland, me and a whole gang of Dutch and German folks are making a night out of the Holland Germany match, with me (and most of the others it seems) solidly behind the Germans. Speaking of Germany, NEVER count them out. What they lack in raw talent they make up for in workrate, discipline and teamwork. And for the record, the Czech Republic are overated in my opinion. They never qualify for the world cup, but everyone still trips up over themselves to say how brilliant they are. A bit like Wales. Except the bit about everyone saying how brilliant they are. And Sweden? Most underated team in the tournament, maybe the world. Don't be surprised to see them do well. But they won't win the tourny. Probably. |
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#67 |
Posts: 14,008
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On the other hand, would I be the first person to do the "I think Latvia will win it" joke if I did it now?
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#68 |
IRREPLACEABLE
Posts: 11,608
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The Czech's got to the Euro 96 final so everyone thinks that they can do it again
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#69 |
D-Unit Founda
Posts: 944
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I'm going with Italy. Defensively they SHOULD be fantastic, which is what the likes of France could be lacking going into the competition. They've got the proven fire-power of Vieri and if Totti is on-song and finally reaches his potential at International level then I really can't see past them.
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#70 |
Tîm Defaid
Posts: 6,646
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My Predictions
Group A Winners: Portugal Runners-up: Spain Group B Winners: France Runners-up: England Group C Winners: Italy Runners-up: Sweden Group D Winners: Germany Runners-up: Czech Republic Quarter Finals Portugal vs England Spain vs France Italy vs Czech Republic Sweden vs Germany Semi Finals Portugal vs Italy Sweden vs France Final France vs Italy European Champions: ITALIA |
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#71 | |
Part time poster
Posts: 22,963
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Quote:
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#72 |
Tîm Defaid
Posts: 6,646
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When you said Scotland are a bogey team for Holland, does that mean that Scotland beat Holland on a regular basis?
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#73 |
Part time poster
Posts: 22,963
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Not at all. It means when we have had to, we usually get a decent result against them. Their win record is still better than ours.
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#74 |
Tîm Defaid
Posts: 6,646
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By the way, my new euro 2004 website address is www.euro-portugal2004.com if you wanna take a look. All aboard the showboat
![]() Last edited by Team Sheep; 06-02-2004 at 11:58 AM. |
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#75 |
adjective noun
Posts: 30,417
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Can someone settle a bet?
When France won Euro 2000, who scored the winning goal? I'm pretty sure it was Wiltord, but my mate reckons it was Trez. |
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#76 |
adjective noun
Posts: 30,417
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Oh that's right, Wiltord got the equaliser, Trez got the winner.
My bad. |
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#77 |
World Class Raconteur
Posts: 29,478
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Seedorf has refused to line out for Holland if he isn't picked in his favoured positon - behind the striker(s).
What a fucking dickhead. The Dutch are a group of bastards. Van Der Vaart should be in there, behind Van Nistelpuff. |
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#78 |
It's Clobbering Time!
Posts: 5,337
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I think either France, Italy or Portugal will win. Holland are a team of individuals and so I don't see them winning.
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#79 |
IRREPLACEABLE
Posts: 11,608
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It's out of Italy and Germany.
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#80 |
Part time poster
Posts: 22,963
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Holland were great today
![]() ![]() Last edited by Rob; 06-06-2004 at 09:37 AM. |
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