World Cup and European leagues

[cawcdad]

I just finished watching the replay of the Netherlands - France game. The French looked good and had some bad luck, but the Dutch look unstoppable. Van Basten's 2nd half subs were pure genius.

[WLCALUM83]

A question:  Italy and France each have a loss and a tie, and are each -3 on GD.  Romania has two ties.  IF Italy and France tie, and the Dutch beat Romania by 3 (neither outcome seems particularly unlikely), the Italians, French, and Romanians would all have 2 points and be -3!   Who the heck goes through?!

(I say if the three of them can't muster a single win amongst them, send 'em all home! )

I say go the "coin flip" route!

[ScotsFan]

Is it just me or does it look like Holland can score everytime they have the ball?

Dear Holland, please let Romania win.

Hey sac, are you rooting for these Dutch as well? 

Seeing as how Holland have already sealed the Group of Death with their dismantling of France today, I would guess you aren't going to see their strongest side against Romania.  Much to the chagrin of both Italy and France, I could see Romania at least getting a point out of that one.  Plus, if I were Holland, I would rather see Romania advance as opposed to either France or Italy.  I doubt too many would have predicted Romania being one of the two teams advancing from this group...

I'm just amazed by the Dutch form so far!  They dominated the defending World Cup champs to open the tournament and then they follow that up with an even more impressive thumping of the other finalist from that WC!  I'd have to say that Holland are the class of the Euros with Portugal close behind.

[Greek Tragedy]

Last Round of Group Stage Games

Sun:  Turkey v Czech Republic
Sun:  Switzerland v Portugal

Mon:  Poland v Croatia
Mon:  Austria v Germany

Tues:  France v Italy
Tues:  Netherlands v Romania

Wed:  Russia v Sweden
Wed:  Greece v Spain

[WLCALUM83]

My last round of Group Stage picks:

Sunday winners:  Czech Republic and Portugal.

Monday:  Croatia and Germany

Tuesday:  Italy (only because France is banged up) and Netherlands

Wednesday:  Sweden:  Spain and Greece play to a draw.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is it just me or does it look like Holland can score everytime they have the ball?

Dear Holland, please let Romania win.

Does anyone besides me think it weird for sac to be asking the Dutch to tank?

What's next - sac is actually a closeted Calvin grad?

[Mr. Ypsi]

A simpler situation in group A than in group C: Portugal is already in; Switzerland is already eliminated.  The Czech Republic and Turkey each have 3 points and are both at -1 GD.  They meet on Sunday.  Since the scenario is already known (unlike Italy-France, where a tie would be irrelevant unless Romania loses by at least 3 goals), if they are tied at the end of regulation, would they go to OT (and PKs, if necessary), or is there some other tie-breaking procedure?

[Stinger]

A simpler situation in group A than in group C: Portugal is already in; Switzerland is already eliminated.  The Czech Republic and Turkey each have 3 points and are both at -1 GD.  They meet on Sunday.  Since the scenario is already known (unlike Italy-France, where a tie would be irrelevant unless Romania loses by at least 3 goals), if they are tied at the end of regulation, would they go to OT (and PKs, if necessary), or is there some other tie-breaking procedure?

From Wiki:

Tie-breaking criteria
According to the official UEFA rules for the tournament[13], the following tie-breaking criteria will apply, in this order, should two or more teams from the same group finish with an equal number of points. In keeping with previous European championships, the head to head record between the tied teams takes precedence over goal difference.

1. Number of points earned in matches between the teams in question;
2. Goal difference in matches between the teams in question;
3. Goals scored in matches between the teams in question;
4. Goal difference in all group matches;
5. Goals scored in all group matches;
6. In cases where exactly two teams are equal in all previously listed critera and play one another to a draw in their final group match, kicks from the penalty mark will be conducted in lieu of the remaining criteria;
7. Coefficient from the qualifying competitions for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2006/08 UEFA European Football Championship (points obtained divided by the number of matches played);
8.F air play conduct of the teams in the group stage;
9. Drawing of lots.

[Greek Tragedy]

Last Round of Group Stage Games

Sun:  Turkey v Czech Republic...Czech Republic
Sun:  Switzerland v Portugal...Draw

Mon:  Poland v Croatia...Croatia
Mon:  Austria v Germany...Draw

Tues:  France v Italy...Italy
Tues:  Netherlands v Romania...Draw

Wed:  Russia v Sweden...I'll wait until after today's results
Wed:  Greece v Spain...ditto

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks, Stinger.  So the Turks and Czechs might go to PKs (OT first, or straight to PKs? the rule was unclear), but not Italy-France.

1-1 at halftime of Spain-Sweden.  The lousy officiating continues, as Sweden was cheated out of a PK just before the half.  The defender body-slammed the Swede going for a header right in front of the goal; since the defender hit him from behind and seemingly made no attempt at the ball, it probably should have been a card as well, but no call at all.  Unbelievable!

[Greek Tragedy]

Spain pulls out the win.  Yeah, should've been a PK at the end of the 1st half. 

Since I'm marrying a Greek, I have to cheer for the holders in the next game even though they looked horrible and boring in their 1st group one.

[Greek Tragedy]

Thanks, Stinger.  So the Turks and Czechs might go to PKs (OT first, or straight to PKs? the rule was unclear), but not Italy-France.

Straight to PKs, accoding to announcer on Greek v Russia game.  No extra time.

[sac]

Hey sac, are you rooting for these Dutch as well? 

Not really.  When it comes to soccer, I really have no favorites.  Maybe a team I full for here or there.  The whole thing seems less interesting to me without England.

I really haven't been able to watch most of this tournament.  I caught Portugal's first game and parts of Holland's two games.............by the way I took a sandwhich break at 2-0, fill me in on how it got to 3-1 .

[ScotsFan]

The whole thing seems less interesting to me without England.

I hear you.  Outside of the US National team, England is by far my favorite squad to pull for.  I just can't believe they couldn't get into this tournament with all of their talent.  Hopefully, Fabio Capello can get England pointed in the right direction as WC qualifying begins.

[Hoosier Titan]

Thanks, Stinger.  So the Turks and Czechs might go to PKs (OT first, or straight to PKs? the rule was unclear), but not Italy-France.

1-1 at halftime of Spain-Sweden.  The lousy officiating continues, as Sweden was cheated out of a PK just before the half.  The defender body-slammed the Swede going for a header right in front of the goal; since the defender hit him from behind and seemingly made no attempt at the ball, it probably should have been a card as well, but no call at all.  Unbelievable!

Check the tape--you're right that it was definitely a PK, but it was a Swedish defender going over the back of Spain's David Villa. Spain should have had the penalty.