Euro 2008 - Group A thread

Team - P W D L GF GA Pts
Czech Republic - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Portugal - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Switzerland - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Turkey - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Saturday 7 June 2008
18:00 - Switzerland vs. Czech Republic - Basel
20:45 - Portugal vs. Turkey - Geneva

Wednesday 11 June 2008
18:00 - Czech Republic vs. Portugal - Geneva
20:45 - Switzerland vs. Turkey - Basel

Sunday 15 June 2008
20:45 - Switzerland vs. Portugal - Basel
20:45 - Turkey vs. Czech Republic - Geneva


Mods pls sticky this.

A as in "Any two countries but the Czechs" ?

A for apathy, judging by the lack of posts here..

2nd most interesting group, I'd say

Could be a tight group, if Portugal play like they did in the qualifications.

The Swiss will steal 2nd behind Portugal.

Let's see Saturday friendly, and then we can make some assumptions

lampiao007 wrote:Let's see Saturday friendly, and then we can make some assumptions

How confident does Porugal as a country seem ?

and how confident are yo mate ?

Countries are always confident, it's only natural

Myself, still a bit skeptical. The front man position was and still is a problem. Very young midfield, albeit talented, but can be a problem if things are not going well

Also the lack of a charismatic figure may hinder Portugal as a team

Not so long ago we had Figo, Pauleta, Rui Costa, Jorge Andrade, all players with lots of international experience, and that could calm some youthful exuberance, and had the voice of experience, and that young players could look up to

Now, I really can not see who can do this

This group may depend upon how good are the Czech if they are then it will be a contest.
By the way how good are they and anybody rate the Swiss.

Lampia
Carvalho ?
Magnificent defender and a leader on the pitch.

DS wrote:Lampia
Carvalho ?
Magnificent defender and a leader on the pitch.

Agree. Problem is that are a few egos on the Portugal team. Carvalho is the quiet man. Exceptionally good (albeit extremely underrated by some reason).

We have (IMHO) a lot of young guns trying to make a point, and we loose focus on the main goal. To play as a team. The original line up will be something like this

Ricardo (don't understand why, Quim is been in great form for Benfica)

J Ribeiro - Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa (no complains in here, possibly P Ferreira for J Ribeiro)

Petit - J Moutinho (or at least I would like this to be the case, possibly M Veloso for Petit)

Deco

Ronaldo - Quaresma (can get Nani or Simao)

H Almeida

A 4-3-3, that can also beome a 4-4-2 diamond (w/ J Moutinho on the Right, Quaresma/Simao on the left)

A lot of young people there

DS wrote:This group may depend upon how good are the Czech if they are then it will be a contest.
By the way how good are they and anybody rate the Swiss.

The Czechs are piss poor as they have been ever since 2004 EC ended.

I expect the Czechs to finish bottom in this group.

The Swiss are decent, so with home advantage could be a major surprise.

Axeslammer wrote:

DS wrote:This group may depend upon how good are the Czech if they are then it will be a contest.
By the way how good are they and anybody rate the Swiss.

The Czechs are piss poor as they have been ever since 2004 EC ended.

I expect the Czechs to finish bottom in this group.

The Swiss are decent, so with home advantage could be a major surprise.

Axe i agree the Czech Rep are awful now they haven't got a creating force i.e a Rosicky or Nedved they will struggle.


As for Switzerland they are going to surprise alot of people they didn't concede a goal at WC 2006

lampiao007 wrote:

DS wrote:Lampia
Carvalho ?
Magnificent defender and a leader on the pitch.

Agree. Problem is that are a few egos on the Portugal team. Carvalho is the quiet man. Exceptionally good (albeit extremely underrated by some reason).

We have (IMHO) a lot of young guns trying to make a point, and we loose focus on the main goal. To play as a team. The original line up will be something like this

Ricardo (don't understand why, Quim is been in great form for Benfica)

J Ribeiro - Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa (no complains in here, possibly P Ferreira for J Ribeiro)

Petit - J Moutinho (or at least I would like this to be the case, possibly M Veloso for Petit)

Deco

Ronaldo - Quaresma (can get Nani or Simao)

H Almeida

A 4-3-3, that can also beome a 4-4-2 diamond (w/ J Moutinho on the Right, Quaresma/Simao on the left)

A lot of young people there

Everyone is talking about Ronaldo rightly so but i have this strong feeling Ricardo Quaresma will be one of the stars of this Championships too many coaches will be focused on stopping Cristiano so i think Quaresma will have more freedom on the pitch.

Will ROnaldo be Porugal's top scorer ?

Sgoater1 wrote:Will ROnaldo be Porugal's top scorer ?

Only if the rest of the team let him hog all the set pieces, penalties etc

COTR wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote:Will ROnaldo be Porugal's top scorer ?

Only if the rest of the team let him hog all the set pieces, penalties etc

Unfortunately, that may be the case. And is not if Portugal is shy of free kick takers ....

lampiao007 wrote:

COTR wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote:Will ROnaldo be Porugal's top scorer ?

Only if the rest of the team let him hog all the set pieces, penalties etc

Unfortunately, that may be the case. And is not if Portugal is shy of free kick takers ....

Ronaldo would shoot from the halfway line if they let him to hog the personal glory

He is dangerous from around 30 yards but useless if he is too close to goal. Scolari i'm sure will be able to do this research himself

lampiao007 wrote:Countries are always confident, it's only natural

Myself, still a bit skeptical. The front man position was and still is a problem. Very young midfield, albeit talented, but can be a problem if things are not going well

Also the lack of a charismatic figure may hinder Portugal as a team

Not so long ago we had Figo, Pauleta, Rui Costa, Jorge Andrade, all players with lots of international experience, and that could calm some youthful exuberance, and had the voice of experience, and that young players could look up to

Now, I really can not see who can do this

Wouldn't be Portugal if it wasn't

Ronaldo to suffer burnout, Turkey and Switzerland to progress.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

lampiao007 wrote:Countries are always confident, it's only natural

Myself, still a bit skeptical. The front man position was and still is a problem. Very young midfield, albeit talented, but can be a problem if things are not going well

Also the lack of a charismatic figure may hinder Portugal as a team

Not so long ago we had Figo, Pauleta, Rui Costa, Jorge Andrade, all players with lots of international experience, and that could calm some youthful exuberance, and had the voice of experience, and that young players could look up to

Now, I really can not see who can do this

Wouldn't be Portugal if it wasn't

Ronaldo to suffer burnout, Turkey and Switzerland to progress.

Pierre that would be a dream come true for you!

How much of a grudge match will Turkey - Switzerland be ?

Axeslammer wrote:How much of a grudge match will Turkey - Switzerland be ?

Very much its the last game of the group,I can see Blatter influencing this game

lampiao007 wrote:

COTR wrote:

Sgoater1 wrote:Will ROnaldo be Porugal's top scorer ?

Only if the rest of the team let him hog all the set pieces, penalties etc

Unfortunately, that may be the case. And is not if Portugal is shy of free kick takers ....

Quaresma/Veloso/Deco/Ronaldo/Petit

EMPortuguese wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:How much of a grudge match will Turkey - Switzerland be ?

Very much its the last game of the group,I can see Blatter influencing this game

Ah : I predict Vink will be the referee in that case

Switzerland beat the mighty Leichenstein 3-0 last night.

EMPortuguese wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:How much of a grudge match will Turkey - Switzerland be ?

Very much its the last game of the group,I can see Blatter influencing this game

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=539458&root=euro2008&cc=5739&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1

Possible line ups of the teams.

What will the Portugal back 4 be like the 1st match? Which ones are sure starters?

Looks like Portugal will play: Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira

Don't know how long Miguel will be held back; Bosingwa will have to keep his form up to retain his place.

Thanx & Ricardo for sure in goal?