Official Euro 2012 Thread

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

Spain is f-king serious!
They are too powerful.

[garoweboy]

Forza Spain!

One Madristas needs to score and its over for Talayaniga.

[Jam Street]

You can call the dogs in, wet the fire and leave the house the hunt is over here.

I have heard people say Barcelona have been boring all through out this competition and I don't know if that is true because before this game I haven't watched a single minute but tonight Barcelona are showing their class here.

The pass by Xavi in that second goal is legendary! Absolutely legendary!

[Jam Street]

How stupid is the Italian coach to use all his subs so early in the game. Now if they lose a player they are forced to play with less men.

[Mondey]

bad formation, bad calls, bad luck.

the game could have ended only 2-1 if Brandelli calculated it right.

[Keyblade]

That's what happens when teams try to go toe to toe against Spain. Ripped apart. Pirlo still player of the tournament for me, not sure who one the official award...probably Iniesta who's been excellent as well.

[InvisibleHand]

Very predictable match. Congrats to Spain nonetheless.

[Shirib]

Italia had some bad luck, but Spain was the better team. The score was inflated since Motta went down with about half an hour left to go, and after that point it was pretty clear Italy couldn't get back into it.

3 major tourney's in a row, these guys are the real deal.

[AhmedBoqor]

8 of the 11 starters on Spain's team are guaranteed to play in 2014. Xavi just said he wants to play in Brazil, Alonso and Casillas, regardless of their decicion then, are replaceable. At this point the only team that would be standing in their way of a 4th straight major title will be the host, and as much as Neymar and Ganso look promising, they are going to need a full team of studs to beat Spain.

Congrats to Spain, I hope Xavi at 34 is still good enough to play top football, but playing as a midfielder requires a lot of energy. The good thing for Spain is that Iniesta and Busquests will be there. And Capdivilla's replacement at left back Jordi Alba has proven to be the real deal and playing at Barca next season will only make him better in the future, he's the Spanish Dani Alves.

[Mondey]

Brandelli shoulda playd 5-3-2
Just like previous game with spain. We needed more midfield pressing, also Chilleini shoudnt startd in that position he was aweful even against Germany. And I dont understand taking montolivo off for Motta. Marchisio and cassano shoulda gone out and diamente and notcerino in.
Very bad tactic mr brandelli.

Never the less brandelli produced a great attack minded team from nothing. He takes credit for all that and i think they wil be major challenge in 2014 well maybe pirlo wont catch up but stil majority of their promissing players are young. Looking forward for 2014.

[Keyblade]

Alba, what a promising player. 11.2M is peanuts for such a player. Apparently Valencia bought him for only 6k...huge profit In my team of the tournament for sure.

[Jam Street]

There are lessons to be learnt from Barcelona's (i refuse to call them Spain but instead will call them what they are) overall philosophy and their success in this competition and the last four years. The lesson here for the rest of the world (and especially the newspaper champions England) is that the way to success in this beautiful game that we all love is total domination. By total domination I mean cherishing the ball and keeping it to yourself. You can only create chances and score when you have the ball. And when you have the ball the other team is forced to defend so that means less risk and more opportunity. We have seen how total domination of ball possession has re- paid Brazil in the 90s and what happened when they ditched it for bugle philosophy that has its roots in Europe.

Keep the ball and befriend the ball when on the field. There is no need to for kicking up the field unless you have 90% chance of it ending up in your teammate's feet. No need to run and use up a lot of energy because the ball can do all the running. Europeans and specially English coaches think a player if he doesn't Usain Bolt 90 minutes. You'd be surprised if I tell you Carlos Valderama was one of the greatest midfielders I have ever seen and I have never ever seen Valderama running without the ball.

And finally how about that pass by Xavi to set up the second. It is one for the ages!
I mean the intelligence to collect the ball and keep it and know the millisecond to release it is something only someone who has been brought up in the surroundings of Rivaldo and Pep can have.

[Jam Street]

There are lessons to be learnt from Barcelona's (i refuse to call them Spain but instead will call them what they are) overall philosophy and their success in this competition and the last four years. The lesson here for the rest of the world (and especially the newspaper champions England) is that the way to success in this beautiful game that we all love is total domination. By total domination I mean cherishing the ball and keeping it to yourself. You can only create chances and score when you have the ball. And when you have the ball the other team is forced to defend so that means less risk and more opportunity. We have seen how total domination of ball possession has re- paid Brazil in the 90s and what happened when they ditched it for bugle philosophy that has its roots in Europe.

Keep the ball and befriend the ball when on the field. There is no need to for kicking up the field unless you have 90% chance of it ending up in your teammate's feet. No need to run and use up a lot of energy because the ball can do all the running. Europeans and specially English coaches think a player if he doesn't Usain Bolt 90 minutes. You'd be surprised if I tell you Carlos Valderama was one of the greatest midfielders I have ever seen and I have never ever seen Valderama running without the ball.

And finally how about that pass by Xavi to set up the second. It is one for the ages!
I mean the intelligence to collect the ball and keep it and know the millisecond to release it is something only someone who has been brought up in the surroundings of Rivaldo and Pep can have.

[waryaa]

last nite, I picked Spain just because everyone else around me was rooting for Italy. Not a bad choice walahi, within a few minutes I was the one laughing! After 1st goal they go like u dnt know sht about soccer and italy, just sit and watch. The second goal, the total command of the game... still they were arguing don't you know Italians are notorious for coming back from behind (cayar wa geln danbe). Italy and their fans were really ripped apart and eaten alive. Spain is no joke

[LiquidHYDROGEN]