Euro 2008

[matt]

Originally Posted by Jan

source: Italy would progress, having an average of 2.36 points per game in qualification for 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 against Romania's 2.25. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_EU...8#cite_note-13

that's a lot closer than i thought it would be. and having just looked at the qualifying tables, if they'd have just used Euro 2008 qualifying they'd have tied again as they both got 29 points from 12 games...

[m.g.]

Originally Posted by matt

actually, that's not right is it. forgot uefa are doing that stupid results between the teams thing rather than goal difference if teams are tied on the same points, so:

if italy & france have a score draw, then italy are through if romania lose

if italy & france have a goal-less draw, italy need romania to lose by at least 3 to progress

and it italy-france is 0-0, and holland-romania 3-0 to the dutch, anyone knows what happens then as by my reckoning the italians and romanians would have identical results. would they have to quickly meet up for a penalty shoot out or would it be the flip of a coin..?

Apparently, everything is explained here & being myself French but from Italian origin (my parents were both born in Italy...) I'll have a dinner with friends somewhere & I won't even watch the match... just to avoid any schizophrenic emotions

Anyway... after what I've seen before, imo France and Italy don't deserve to qualify...

[matt]

Originally Posted by m.g.

Anyway... after what I've seen before, imo France and Italy don't deserve to qualify...

yeah, i get the feeling that lots of people are thinking the Italy France game is a winner takes all match and forgetting that Romania actually topped their qualifying group. beating the Dutch into second place in the progress.

Add the fact that Van Basten has made 9 changes for tonight's game and I wouldn't be at all surprised it Romania make the Italy France match an irrelevance...

[m.g.]

Well... erm... the only word appearing in my mind is : pathetic.

I'm very happy that, instead of staying in front of a tv, I had an excellent dinner with friends nearby les Champs Élysées... which remained very quiet tonight... indeed

[Camiel]

It never looked as if Romania had the intention, capability or will to reach the quarterfinals.

[sanblaster]

If The Netherlands play with 2 defending midfielders and no wings anymore why can't Spain defeat Italy on quarter finals? Bring it on!!

[stimpee]

Of course, Spain have never beaten Italy in a competition match, unless you count a 1-0 win in the 1920 Olympics.

[Jan]

Whoa! Even I didn't expect that!
3-2 against the Portuguese... What a great match!

[matt]

Portugal didn't really get going tonight and their defending at set pieces cost them dear. Well played Germany though and that first goal was fabulous. Can see Germany reaching the final now and then who knows what will happen.

Never, ever, write off the Germans...

[Winston]

football last 120 minutes, in the end,the germans win

i don't think they will make the same mistake against croatia, germany - italy for the fiinal