Euro 2008: Who Will Take It All?

[Merrick]

Originally I was thinking Portugal, but the way Holland has been playing, they could be the semi-Cinderella. Pretty surprising how crappy France and Italy have been.

Though I guess I'm rooting for Croatia since my girlfriend's from there as well as Sweden since I'm half Swedish. As for the other half being English, well, best not to talk about that. Not that I put that much weight into that heritage stuff, I'm just glad when there's a big enough tournament that warrants American TV to televise great football on a channel I actually get.

[many a good man]

1. This is Spain's year

If Puyols come back. Any word on his injury?

[Merrick]

3. haven't heard. and those guys cost me $15 today

had $5 on a draw with sweden - only to have Villa ruin it in the last minute of injury time. Oh well, the opposite occurred the other way around earlier in the week as I had Turkey to win over Switzerland and Austria to tie Poland - both of which came to be with goals in overtime.

[many a good man]

8. That was one helluva beautiful goal by Villa

Dude has four goals already!

[Merrick]

10. Enabled by a shit job of defense

how that ball found its way through Hansen's two legs and feet is a mystery.

[sasquatch]

2. It will be either Spain, Netherlands or Germany.

The Germans are UBER pissed about their loss to Croatia and can't wait to show everybody up.

[BlueStateGirl]

4. Spain or the Netherlands. Although, I was hoping to see Sweden do

well this time around.

[Merrick]

6. there's still hope

they should advance into the QFs assuming they can at least tie the Russkies. Should've had a draw with Spain today if it wasn't for that defensive gaffe in the last minute of injury time.

[Sultana]

5. I am thinking

Portugal, Holland or Germany

Spain "could" pipe it but I am hoping they continue with their status as great underachievers :P

It's really anyone's game, we'll see how the teams fair out in the quarterfinals.

[PermanentRevolution]

7. My predictions

Group A: Portugal, Czech
Group B: Croatia, Germany
Group C: Netherlands, Romania
Group D: Spain, Russia

Quarters:
Portugal v Germany - Germany wins, Cronaldo cries like a little baby
Czech v Croatia - Croatia wins
Netherlands v Russia - Netherlands wins
Spain v Romania - Spain wins

Semis:
Germany v Croatia - Germany wins, in a brutal rematch proving conclusively that the group stage was a fluke
Netherlands v Spain - Spain wins, but this is really a coin-flip. Both are playing really well.

Final:
Germany v Spain

WINNER: GERMANY

But I may be a wee bit biased, as Germany's "my" team...

[Merrick]

9. hmmm... quite plausible, except for one thing

I really don't see Russia beating Sweden to advance over them out of group D. Sweden is the better team on paper, and they played both Spain and Greece better than the Russians.

[PermanentRevolution]

11. Maybe...

That one could easily go the other way. I confess, I'm not a big fan of the Swedes. I think Russia's got a better overall game (though it hasn't really shown so far) and I'm interested to see how they shape up with Arshavin back from suspension.

[Ava]

12. Spain

[T_i_B]

13. If Holland keep playing the way they have been

...then they will be pretty hard to beat.

As to Spain, they always underachieve at tournaments so I can't back them. They have the talent to go all the way but then again that's usually the case and they usually cock things up before too long anyway.

[insanity]

14. Hup Holland Hup

I'm a big Netherlands supporter. I still have close family that lives in the Netherlands, and my Dutch heritage is very important to me. Also, when I visit the Netherlands everyone looks a lot like me and I can see how Dutch I was raised, so I feel kinda like its my second home.

Italy is always a slow starter, but I fancy them to beat France and Holland to draw with Romania.

My gut says Holland-Portugal in the final but the quarter and semifinals could have a few intriguing matches with a lot of surprises.

I'm fairly stoked that I get to be in Europe during the Euro so I can watch the games at night in the pub.

[Karenina]

15. Dunno, but Turkei won tonight.

Car horns are blasting EVERYWHERE!

On edit: First the horns, now the SIRENS trying to chase the kids home! :rofl: