boots Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Another group decided today. vs. BBC preview... It's the group stage in only but name for the Netherlands, who need to win by two clear goals to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages - and even then they need old foes Germany to beat the Danes. Not quite mission impossible, but certainly mission improbable on the evidence the Dutch have demonstrated so far. No country has ever reached the knockout phase at a Euro after losing their first two matches.Familiar adversaries Portugal stand in their immediate way, a side they have beaten only once in 10 meetings. Another statistic to worry the Dutch is the fact that they stand on the verge of losing three straight matches for the first time since 1990; the country that inflicted that third defeat on them back then - Portugal. Two years ago the Netherlands were 90 minutes from lifting the World Cup, now they are 90 minutes from heading home early as the first major casualties of Euro 2012. Head coach Bert van Marwijk looks set to change the shape of his side as he goes for goals and may even give in to the Dutch press by starting striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The situation for Portugal is a lot brighter following their dramatic midweek 3-2 win over Denmark - they merely need to better the Danes' result to make the last eight. The Portuguese have a proud European Championship pedigree - they are the only side who have never crashed out at the group stage before, and they will be doing everything in their power to keep that record going. vs. Once again, BBC... "Everybody is talking about a Germany-Spain final. But there is a long way to go to get there. We have not achieved anything yet."Mario Gomez Talking about, and quite probably salivating. But three-goal hero Gomez is right to warn against thinking too far ahead. Football can be perverse, and this is one of those situations where - watch out below! - logic will be thrown out of the window should the super-sleek Germans, with two wins out of two so far, not progress. The only way the unthinkable can happen is if they lose to Denmark (by any result other than defeat by a deficit of one goal in which they score at least two i.e. 3-2, 4-3, 5-4, etc.) and Portugal beat the Dutch. It was 20 years ago, in the 1992 European Championship final, that Denmark caused a shock of potentially comparable scale by beating neighbours Germany 2-0. Morten Olsen's side will try to summon that spirit, but whether they possess the required quality is debatable. Young Ajax 'star' Christian Eriksen has not shone as yet and canny winger Dennis Rommedahl is out injured. Their main hope lies with Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who Swansea, Benfica and Galatasaray are reported to be interested in after his two goals against Portugal. But Germany's firepower is daunting. Bastian Schweinsteiger is in sensational form, with piercing passes galore, and his description of the in-form Gomez is illuminating: "The good thing with Mario is that he needs almost zero chances and still scores." Experience on the biggest stage is everywhere in the team: Lukas Podolski is set to win his 100th cap. Die Mannschaft will top the group if they can get a point. The stage is set for some drama… or grinding, admirable, German predictability. I see Germany and Portugal advancing. Group winner will face Greece on Friday, runner-up will take on Czech Republic on Thursday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Cristiano Ronaldoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafuge Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I think Germany will beat Denmark, but I'm really not sure about the other game. I can see Portugal playing for the draw, making sure they avoid the two goal defeat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Germany win, Portugal-Holland draw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leppard Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Germany win, Holland win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Realistically I can see us drawing with Portugal. Hoping for a miraculous turnaround of course. Van Marwijk will keep the same tactics (meh) but is presumably starting with Hunter and vdV instead of van Bommel and Affelay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 'mon the Dutch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootador Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 What qualifying permutations are there tonight? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafuge Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 What qualifying permutations are there tonight? Here they are Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett.spurs Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Germany to draw to spite the Dutch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Germany to draw to spite the Dutch. Can't risk it. Besides, Germans hate losing. Doubly so against close neighbours. No, Löw and his merry men will win. It's all up to us tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Germany to win, even with a different team which they might come out with. I'm sure most teams would love to have players like Klose, Gotze and Reus on the bench I can't see Holland winning by 2 goals but it's not completely beyond them I guess. Will go for Portugal to join Germany though just based on the first two games I've watched of Holland, they need to change up the tactics and stop playing the favourites (Van Bommel for one) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbert_o154 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 'Fun' fact: we've only won 1 of our last 10 games against Portugal. Now would be a good time to improve on that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 The portuguese players visited a Ukrainian orphanage yesterday. The atmosphere was somewhat subdued. "It's sad to see those faces without hope" said Igor, aged 8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 2-1 for us. Ronaldo to score both. Let's kick some dutch ass (again) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Not literally like last time though. That game was a disgrace from both teams. At least let's play football this time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbert_o154 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Let's kick some dutch ass (again) You might wanna try to play some football this time instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Basically the Dutch need to win 2-0 then. Hmmm, don't see it. If Germany take the lead I wonder if they'll cruise a little, Danes could get back into a game and draw, could see that happening and everyone crying 'RIG'!! The incentive is the next round opponents are basically a bye into the semis (OMG, people are soooo under estimating, etc etc .. we know though, don't we ) I think Portugal are gonna make it through as I think the Germans will win and don't see the Dutch winning 2-0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibra8 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Not literally like last time though. That game was a disgrace from both teams. At least let's play football this time... You might wanna try to play some football this time instead. Well, you better focus only on the ball this time then. Trust me, you don't want to awake the beasts(Pepe & Bruno Alves) Seriously, I think it's going to be a good game. Nothing like the last. And I hope that 06 never happens again. That was embarrassing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPlanet Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Come on Nelson, get me some damn FF points! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokedOut420 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 stolen from otf2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lermon Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 which to watch. which to watch. I think I'm going for the Netherlands one. I think Netherlands have some goalscoring fury at their lack of scoring so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lermon Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 ^ lol looks like a bloody periodic table for Euro 2012. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Still fancy the Dutch to be honest, think they can stick a couple of goals past Portugal and can't see the Germans not winning when they are not yet 100% through. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 so Portugal 1-0 Holland and Denmark 1-0 Germany will result in Germany going out? I understand the way UEFA are doing the tournament but that seems a bit harsh to me hopefully Germany get through and rip Greece apart though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokedOut420 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 here are a few stats from the first two games Netherlands has created more chances (37) than Germany and Denmark combined (18 & 12 respectively) Wesley Sneijder has created more chances (16) than Denmark Netherlands have scored just 1 goal out of a group leading 46 total shots, while Denmark have scored 3 out of 18 Denmark have allowed the most chances (36), followed by Germany (22), while Netherlands & Portugal are tied for joint fewest (15) Portugal have the worst pass completion in the attacking third (63.9%), while Netherlands have the best (81.4%) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbert_o154 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I am baffled by this stat, also stolen from otf2 Mario Gomez was in possession of the ball for only 18 seconds against the Netherlands Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DandyDon Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 How many of those Netherlands chances were Robben blootering it over the bar? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokedOut420 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 he's taken 10 shots, with just 2 on target Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPlanet Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 No idea which to watch :/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Blootering So don't hear that phrase often enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I am baffled by this stat, also stolen from otf2 He's had possession of the ball for 22 seconds in the Euros and has scored 3 goals Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Are the matches on the ITV player like the BBC did with their iplayer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Dutch team according to a well informed site: Maarten Stekelenburg Gregory van der Wiel - Ron Vlaar - Joris Mathijsen - Jetro Willems Rafael van der Vaart - Robin van Persie - Nigel de Jong Arjen Robben - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Wesley Sneijder 4-3-3 !! Not sure if they should turn around RvP and NdJ, or maybe they play that way on paper but will swap positions a lot. Them and Sneijder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 No Heitinga? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett.spurs Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 All I'll say is, good luck De Jong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 If Portugal plays on the counter attck they can score 1 or 2. The problem is not conceding too many. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Holland have only beaten Portugal 1 time in 10 meetings; the last time 20 years ago Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nørbæk Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 ^ lol looks like a bloody periodic table for Euro 2012. Ha ha :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 100th cap for Podolski..so much for club form meaning much at the international level Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Philip Rolfe Posted June 17, 2012 Administrators Share Posted June 17, 2012 Think both games might massively underwhelm. Mind, the amount I'm getting wrong they'll end up blinders. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpfc543 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Denmark vs Germany Lineups Denmark: Andersen, Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Simon Poulsen, Kvist Jorgensen, Eriksen, Jakob Poulsen, Zimling, Krohn-Delhi, Bendtner. Subs: Lindegaard, Christian Poulsen, Rommedahl, Bjelland, Okore, Schone, Silberbauer, Pedersen, Wass, Kahlenberg, Mikkelsen, Schmeichel. Germany: Neuer, Bender, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Ozil, Podolski, Gomez. Subs: Wiese, Gundogan, Schmelzer, Howedes, Schurrle, Klose, Mertesacker, Kroos, Gotze, Reus, Zieler. Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Has a team ever lost 2 out of 3 games and still gone through? Either WC or Euros... I know it's possible for a group to finish with one team on nine points and the others all on three points, but don't remember it ever happening... Could be a first for the Dutch? :confused: But as long as Portugal go out, I'm happy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpfc543 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Portugal vs Holland Lineups Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Postiga, Ronaldo. Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Almeida, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Beto. Holland: Stekelenburg, Willems, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Van Der Wiel, Van der Vaart, Nigel De Jong, Sneijder, van Persie, Robben, Huntelaar. Subs: Vorm, Heitinga, Bouma, Van Bommel, Kuyt, Schaars, Strootman, Luuk De Jong, Narsingh, Afellay, Boulahrouz, Krul. Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett.spurs Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Has a team ever lost 2 out of 3 games and still gone through? Either WC or Euros...I know it's possible for a group to finish with one team on nine points and the others all on three points, but don't remember it ever happening... Could be a first for the Dutch? :confused: But as long as Portugal go out, I'm happy. Think SSN have said no side has ever lost their first two games and gone through, I suspect the odd team has gone through with 3 points though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DandyDon Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 100th cap for Podolski..so much for club form meaning much at the international level tbf hasn't his club form for Koln been pretty decent this year? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 tbf hasn't his club form for Koln been pretty decent this year? Yeah but imagine a player leaving Man U for Wigan. Would he likely be considered for England? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Think both games might massively underwhelm. Mind, the amount I'm getting wrong they'll end up blinders. IMO Portugal v Holland will be epic. Holland have to win. They have to attack. There will be chances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E-XVX_5-iI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bababui Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Holland by 3 goals and to go on to play Spain in the semis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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