World Cup and European leagues

[Greek Tragedy]

I know it's short notice, but I figured we could have a pick em league for the Euros.  No big deal. 

Even if you miss a day, still feel free to pick games.

I'll list them round by round...

[Greek Tragedy]

Two points for a win, one point for a tie:  If you pick Switzerland to win and they do, you get 2 points.  If they tie, you get 1 point.  Fair enough.  Of course, if you pick them to tie and they tie, then you get the full 2 points.  0 for a loss, of course.  I suppose if you pick them to tie and they win, you only get 1 point.

Does that sound good?

Make sure you state your picks clearly, especially if you are picking a tie.

First Round Games:

Sat:  Group A:  Switzerland v Czech Republic
Sat:  Group A:  Portugal v Turkey

Sun:  Group B:  Austria v Croatia
Sun:  Group B:  Germany v Poland

Mon:  Group C:  Romania v France
Mon:  Group C:  Netherlands v Italy

Tues:  Group D:  Spain v Russia
Tues:  Group D:  Greece v Sweden

[Greek Tragedy]

First Round Games:

Sat:  Group A:  Switzerland v Czech Republic:  TIE
Sat:  Group A:  Portugal v Turkey:  Portugal

Sun:  Group B:  Austria v Croatia:  TIE
Sun:  Group B:  Germany v Poland:  Germany

Mon:  Group C:  Romania v France:  TIE
Mon:  Group C:  Netherlands v Italy:  TIE

Tues:  Group D:  Spain v Russia:  Spain
Tues:  Group D:  Greece v Sweden:  TIE

[WLCALUM83]

Two points for a win, one point for a tie:  If you pick Switzerland to win and they do, you get 2 points.  If they tie, you get 1 point.  Fair enough.  Of course, if you pick them to tie and they tie, then you get the full 2 points.  0 for a loss, of course.  I suppose if you pick them to tie and they win, you only get 1 point.

Does that sound good?

Make sure you state your picks clearly, especially if you are picking a tie.

First Round Games:

Sat:  Group A:  Switzerland v Czech Republic
Sat:  Group A:  Portugal v Turkey

Sun:  Group B:  Austria v Croatia
Sun:  Group B:  Germany v Poland

Mon:  Group C:  Romania v France
Mon:  Group C:  Netherlands v Italy

Tues:  Group D:  Spain v Russia
Tues:  Group D:  Greece v Sweden

I'll go with the following:

Group A Winners:  Czech Republic and Portugal
Group B Winners:  Croatia and Germany
Group C Winners:  France and Italy
Group D Winners:  Spain and Sweden

(If I eat crow, I eat crow). 

[Greek Tragedy]

Gee, hope we get more than 2 posters to play! lol :-) 

It's early with only four games being played this weekend.  So, maybe we'll have more join later on.  It's not too late!

After Day 1, I'm getting smoked!

WLCALUM83 has 4 pts
Old School has 2 pts

I was hoping the co-host nation would pull out a tie in front of their home fans.  Apparently not.

[sac]

Italy, France

Spain, Sweden

[Browneagle64]

Outstanding job by Team USA today against the Top ranked team in the world.
In addition, what a historic night for current L.A. galaxy player and team USA capt. Landon D. for reaching 100 cap.

From the M.N.T website:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (June 8, 2008) – With the beginning of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying just one week away, the U.S. Men's National Team showed its mettle with a impressive 0-0 draw with No. 1-ranked Argentina this evening in front of a record sell-out crowd of 78,682 fans at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The crowd was the largest for a U.S. Men's National Team match at Giants Stadium and the fourth largest ever held at the stadium.

During a night when Kasey Keller, one of the best goalkeepers in the history of U.S. Soccer, was honored before the game for earning his 100th cap last year, Tim Howard displayed the skills that have made him the heir apparent to Keller as the USA's number-one 'keeper with Sierra Mist Man of the Match honors. Howard made a total of seven saves on the night – all in the first half – to earn a shutout in one of his most imposing performances in net for the United States. In the second half, Argentina was held to zero shots on goal – and just one total – as the U.S. backline closed down the lanes that allowed the South American's dangerous playmakers to sneak behind for dangerous chances on goal.

Landon Donovan also shined during a special occasion that saw him become the 11th player to earn 100 caps for the U.S. Men's National Team, the youngest ever for the U.S. and fourth youngest in the world to join the century club. Up top with Eddie Johnson, Donovan led helped the U.S. attack was able to find ways through and over the Argentina backline to whip in dangerous crosses and pepper shots on Roberto Abbondanzieri's goal

[Superfoot Wallace]

El Figo!!!!

On just after Nascar Craftsman series...

Where's Freddy Adu?

signed,
Graham Rahal, Fuiste and Fueron

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Um, if Bradley's going to use Donovan up top, who is going to run the middle of the field?  I missed the match, so I don't know how it went, but Ricardo Clark is about as far from the answer as you can get.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Ok, I just looked at the box score.  Mastroeni in the middle could work.  I always wondered why they left him on the back line, when he's such a good passer.

WC qualifying should be fun.

[Stinger]

Howard was the only reason the US stayed in the game. He kept it from easily being 3-0.  He was lucky to not have a penalty called on him early in the 2nd half. Outstanding performance by the Keeper.  The US was dominated in the first half with Messi leading the charge. It definitely helped that he was subbed at half.   The US did create a a couple chances, but still not finishing. 3 straight shut outs. I guess it was a step in the right direction though.

[Mr. Ypsi]

WOW - did Italy ever get spanked by The Netherlands!  3-0, and it could have been worse.  According to the announcers, it was the first time Italy had ever given up 3 goals in the Euros.

[Superfoot Wallace]

For what it's worth, the first Neddy Nederlander goal was offsides.  Not to say this decides the match, but scoring can be analagous to levies.

The post game announcers were rather split on their interpretation.  Both recognizing the offsides, point in fact.  One, however, felt the onus was on the defensemen for not clearing the player from in front of net, that more is required than the defensemen raising their hands to signal the official for potential offsides.

There was an era wherein could initiate contact with the goalie, but the futbol rules deviated from that track long ago and attendantly defensemen clearing players from the front of goal became the purview of hockey.

signed,
the Green Tree

[Mr. Ypsi]

True that the first goal should have been disallowed.  But my son (the soccer coach and HUGE Italy fan - why, I don't know since we are British Isles on my side and German on his mom's ) felt it didn't matter.  I only caught the game after it was 2-0, but he thought Italy was totally outplayed the whole game and deserved to lose 4-0 (or 3-0 if the first goal didn't count).  From the 50+ minutes I observed, I'd agree.

Based on past performance, he predicts that France will tie all three games, in which case Italy can advance if they beat Romania.  With such a goal deficit, I'd suggest Italy win out to be sure!

[Superfoot Wallace]

Well Mr. Ypsi, between the two of us we watched the whole match.  I tuned out, though didn't turn off after the second goal.  Around the 38th minute?

Might have been the announcer's criticism of being a little more physical in front of net was foreshadowing or evidencing the defensive efficiency on the second goal.  The highlights showed the second goal first, a nice goalie on strike jab deep in the box.  Then came the offsides goal in the highlight, chronologically incorrect but made the point for analysis.

As for your son's fanship, Macleod's Scot relatives are Juventus fans, so go figure.

signed,
Dario Franchitti