as good as germany has been in the last 2 games they seem to be closer to the dutch's playing style which might not work vs the russians
meaning they're not as fast and they dont move the ball around quick enough
the russians however are very fast and can shoot from outside
so i'm gonna pick the russians unless they meet spain....

i just checked and thats who they're playing, oh well thats to me a 50/50 game
but if it comes to russia vs. germans im going with russia

6/22/2008 10:22:26 PM

^kinda curious to see how it's a 50/50 game in your mind, seeing how they already played each other less than two weeks ago, and spain won 4-1 in convincing fashion. i know russia is playing well and much better than the beginning, but they advanced out of possibly the weakest group of the tournament (albeit, two of the teams have now advanced to the semi's) and were throttled by the team they are going to play again. russia is a team that should be counting their blessings, because even though they played well, they were fortunate to meet up with a dutch team that played uncharacteristically poor and seemed to be a step short on every crossing opportunity they had.

spain, on the other hand should have won handidly today (the italians didn't even test casillas in net today, and he looked amazing in PK's as well), and spain is looking to be in good form. they're the only unbeaten team left in the tournament, and if it wasn't for their notorious history of flaming out of international competitions, spain would be considered the favorite to take it all out of the remaining teams.

6/22/2008 11:52:13 PM

Spain does have the history of choking, but it's usually before this point. On looking it up, apparently they've never lost in the semis of the world cup or euros



[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 12:06 AM. Reason : and I agree, Spain are rightly the favorites]

6/23/2008 12:00:36 AM

russia was missing some players until the dutch game
in that game the dutch played poorly but it doesnt matter cause the russians showed they were very solid
passing, speed, shooting and defense
and i havent seen that total package from any other team besides germany in a few games
even the dutch were suspect on defense where van de sar saved them many times

and spain played poorly today, although the italians had many on defense i think spain didnt do well with the chances they had so we'll see

6/23/2008 12:26:29 AM

of euro teams, germany and italy never seem to lose once they get into the knockout round(obv they do, but these teams are like clockwork). so now that italy is gone, germany has to be a huge favorite imo to win. the only way i can see them losing, is if either lehmann decides hes had enough of being sane this tourney and just throws it into his own net, or spain/russia(yes, i think turkey have no chance, i thought i read they only have 12-13 players to field in that game) decide that they are gonna destroy Lahm and score off crosses from his side.

6/23/2008 12:55:52 AM

Quote :

"the only way i can see them losing, is if either lehmann decides hes had enough of being sane this tourney and just throws it into his own net"

There's probably a better chance of this happening than there is of Germany winning.

6/23/2008 1:19:32 AM

Ziel!!!!!!!!!!

6/23/2008 1:22:06 AM

it's hard to cheer against underdogs like Turkey and Russia but any final that isn't Germany/Spain will be a letdown

I do like the way Russia plays though

6/23/2008 8:18:13 AM

Quote :

"it's hard to cheer against underdogs like Turkey and Russia but any final that isn't Germany/Spain will be a letdown"

i kind of agree. i was really hoping for a germany/netherlands game for some reason.

6/23/2008 8:23:16 AM

germany/turkey game is on wednesday or tomorrow? i've heard conflicting things.

6/23/2008 10:44:21 PM

game is on wednesday.. perhaps you checked a european website where it has been "tuesday" for the last ~5 hours (and hence the game being played tomorrow according to those sources)

6/23/2008 10:59:54 PM

ZIEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turkey is about to get got.

6/25/2008 1:45:20 AM

6/25/2008 8:10:45 AM

GO TURKEY!!!!!!!

6/25/2008 8:57:39 AM

NO TURKEY!!!

6/25/2008 9:01:56 AM

lol. they have surprised me so far. but no freakin way can they beat germany today with practically no subs

6/25/2008 2:34:31 PM

cracking the first beer when the clock starts - i think germany is going to make them look like a highschool team

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 2:43 PM. Reason : heh typing is hard - mind was elsewhere]

6/25/2008 2:37:46 PM

russia?

6/25/2008 2:43:24 PM

^^ that had me confused as well.

6/25/2008 2:45:17 PM

heh - that any producer would throw out because it's too far fetched

6/25/2008 2:48:42 PM

this game has the potential to be the most boring thing ever

6/25/2008 2:52:15 PM

that mistake almost made it be a fun game

6/25/2008 2:56:05 PM

theyre attacking lahm's side...its the only way i thought germany would lose. lahm is not a good left back

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 2:57 PM. Reason : ..]

6/25/2008 2:56:28 PM

i called this wrong - germany is taking a nap

6/25/2008 3:01:10 PM

wow what is germany doing. this is awful german defending

6/25/2008 3:01:18 PM

goooo germany, here we go

6/25/2008 3:05:23 PM

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

6/25/2008 3:09:54 PM

oh my god - germany has really dropped the ball

6/25/2008 3:10:00 PM

WOOOOOO!!!!!!

6/25/2008 3:10:04 PM

Quote :

"the only way i can see them losing, is if either lehmann decides hes had enough of being sane this tourney and just throws it into his own net"

might as well called it, what is lehmann doing there. yea ill just stare at the ball at the crossbar. haha

6/25/2008 3:10:52 PM

Fucking spaz keeping

6/25/2008 3:11:00 PM

hahahaha nice

6/25/2008 3:11:01 PM

TÜRKIYE!!!

6/25/2008 3:11:28 PM

the answer

6/25/2008 3:14:12 PM

lol schweinsteiger, hahaha

6/25/2008 3:14:16 PM

i might have called the lehmann going psycho(he was due for it) but i certainly f'd this up:

Quote :

"this game has the potential to be the most boring thing ever"

6/25/2008 3:15:04 PM

figures...Turkey doesn't know how to play with the lead...

6/25/2008 3:15:18 PM

cheeky finish

6/25/2008 3:15:22 PM

equalizer...

its really hard not to pull for the cinderellas here

6/25/2008 3:15:36 PM

i knew jens lehman would come through.

6/25/2008 3:16:13 PM

count it

6/25/2008 3:16:33 PM

I still can't get enough of the post-goal music.

6/25/2008 3:17:34 PM

turkeys on their heels now

6/25/2008 3:17:40 PM

Goddamn jens is terrible

6/25/2008 3:19:29 PM

ahaha lehmann

6/25/2008 3:19:33 PM

is he drunk

6/25/2008 3:19:57 PM

this is typical arsenal style lehmann...the reason almunia started over him this year. he is absolutely retarded back there in the net


you england fans. dont be shocked to see almunia as their keeper in the next year or two

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 3:21 PM. Reason : f]

6/25/2008 3:20:24 PM

6/25/2008 3:28:34 PM

kazim kazim is so sweet. its awesome seeing turkey play like this. Its also awesome seeing lehmann in classic lehmann form. turkey feels confident shooting anywhere on the field, hopefully lehmann messes up again

6/25/2008 3:35:30 PM

great game so far, can turkey be this years greece

6/25/2008 3:46:33 PM