DON LEO DAY 8/6: Austria v Croatia & Germany v Poland

Lothar Matthaus predicts: Austria 1:2 Croatia

"A win for the Croatians, but co-hosts Austria will be able to take some confidence from the result.

If you look at the Croatian team, especially in their last qualifying game against England, you can see how far they have come. They take the game seriously and have blended youth and experience together well. I remember some of the younger players from the Under-21 side three or four years ago and it's good to see them making progress through the ranks.

For them, Euro 2008 will be their first major tournament, and their presence in the camp could benefit some of the older players who may have lost a little ambition with their advancing years.

New Tottenham midfielder Luca Modric will be the key against Austria and could prove to be a star of the tournament. He has shown during his time with Dinamo Zagreb, as well as while with the national side, that he is one to watch.

I was at the friendly game between Croatia and Austria and believe me, the co-hosts will not play as badly again, but even so, and despite home advantage, Austria are a far weaker side and should be beaten."

I just cant see anything other than Croatia and Germany winning tonight.

Poland are no pushovers. They gave us a hell of a time in the qualifiers. Whether that was because they are actually decent or we were just shite I don't know.

Having said that I can't see Poland coming away with a win. Germany seem very strong and I'd be surprised even if Poland manage to get a draw. Still it's a grudge match for them so anything can happen.

Austria seem like the poorest team in the tournament and Croatia are coming from a superb qualifying campaign. Losing Eduardo is a huge blow but I fully expect them to win this game.

Zizinhohakker wrote:We're going to use some some defensive formation. 4-5-1 or something like 4-2-3-1.

----------Boruc---------

Wasilewski-Bąk-Żewłakow-Golański/Wawrzyniak
------------Dudka-Lewandowski------------
Łobodziński ----------------------Smolarek
--------------Krzynówek----------------
--------------Żurawski -------------------

Zewlakow pulled out of the tournement. Hopefully we'll play Golanski at right-back to deal with the threat of Podolski. Dudka can shift to left-back although he's better suited to the DMF role, depends really how much faith we have in Wawrzyniak. Lobodzinski isn't that bad, but I would think that if we go with the 4-5-1 then Krzynowek will go on the left, Zurawski will drop deeper and Ebi will go furthest forward.

No, Poland just sucks big time. But Leo just made a real team out of it, although they had the luck on their side against the Portuguese.

Epic battle between the car thieves and bicycle thieves tonight!!!

Zizinhohakker wrote:We're going to use some some defensive formation. 4-5-1 or something like 4-2-3-1.

----------Boruc---------

Wasilewski-Bąk-Żewłakow-Golański/Wawrzyniak
------------Dudka-Lewandowski------------
Łobodziński ----------------------Smolarek
--------------Krzynówek----------------
--------------Żurawski -------------------

Smolarek on the wing?!? Are you sure?

I expect you to play rather defensively also, win the ball in the midfield and try to kill us on the counter.

What kind of players are those two fullbacks? Rather defensive minded, or do they join the attack also. Sorry for my ignorance, but I don't know them.

In the qualifiers we had Bronowicki at LB and Błaszczykowski as a winger. Very good players but both injured , although there's a rumour that the latter had a fall out with Leo and was left out of the squad in last minute.

I have no faith in this team of European leagues benchwarmers and our laughing stock Orange Ekstraklasa footballers. You think you watched bad football? Nope, wait, we're coming soon

blutgraetsche wrote:

Zizinhohakker wrote:We're going to use some some defensive formation. 4-5-1 or something like 4-2-3-1.

----------Boruc---------

Wasilewski-Bąk-Żewłakow-Golański/Wawrzyniak
------------Dudka-Lewandowski------------
Łobodziński ----------------------Smolarek
--------------Krzynówek----------------
--------------Żurawski -------------------

Smolarek on the wing?!? Are you sure?

I expect you play rather defensively also, win the ball in the midfield and try to kill us on the counter.

What kind of players are those two fullbacks? Rather defensive minded, or do they join the attack also. Sorry for my ignorance, but I don't know them.

He was a winger for Feyenoord, at least thats what we teached him to be. I hope he scores, he is a real Rotterdam lad! Could have played for Holland but decided to do the right thing!

Fey wrote:
Epic battle between the car thieves and bicycle thieves tonight!!!

*brilliant* !

blutgraetsche wrote:

Zizinhohakker wrote:We're going to use some some defensive formation. 4-5-1 or something like 4-2-3-1.

----------Boruc---------

Wasilewski-Bąk-Żewłakow-Golański/Wawrzyniak
------------Dudka-Lewandowski------------
Łobodziński ----------------------Smolarek
--------------Krzynówek----------------
--------------Żurawski -------------------

Smolarek on the wing?!? Are you sure?

I expect you to play rather defensively also, win the ball in the midfield and try to kill us on the counter.

What kind of players are those two fullbacks? Rather defensive minded, or do they join the attack also. Sorry for my ignorance, but I don't know them.

Not sure at all but he may start there on paper as a false winger

Axeslammer wrote:

Fey wrote:
Epic battle between the car thieves and bicycle thieves tonight!!!

*brilliant* !

Now I should start a rant about stereotypes of Poles and make an insight into our economic situation due to 2 World Wars, Big Brother from the East and being forced not to accept reparations and Marshall plan. Are you sure you want this?

Should Podolski start as LM tonight, our left flank will be vulnerable defensively, because Podolski is a (second) striker foremost, and Jansen is a rather attacking minded fullback also. But on the other hand, I expect most of our attacks to be initiated from the left also, so it all depends on how Beenhakker intends to play: Try to exploit this weak spot with fast wing players on the right, or strenghten the right flank with more defensive minded players. This could become a key battle tonight.

I expect your team to 'fight for their lives' tonight, play pressing and make it difficult for us to move forward. I expect a close match actually, and a heated atmosphere. Hopefully, the idiots on both sides don't ruin things off the pitch. Those articles / covers in the Polish media didn't really help in this respect.

blutgraetsche wrote:Should Podolski start as LM tonight, our left flank will be vulnerable defensively, because Podolski is a (second) striker foremost, and Jansen is a rather attacking minded fullback also. But on the other hand, I expect most of our attacks to be initiated from the left also, so it all depends on how Beenhakker intends to play: Try to exploit this weak spot with fast wing players on the right, or strenghten the right flank with more defensive minded players. This could become a key battle tonight.

I expect your team to 'fight for their lives' tonight, play pressing and make it difficult for us to move forward. I expect a close match actually, and a heated atmosphere. Hopefully, the idiots on both sides don't ruin things off the pitch.

Blut they have already started the battle of Klagenfurt yesterday night. They were throwing plastic cups of beer at each other. Brave people on both sides

Idiots, all of them. Why can't they just die? Put them in a cage and let them kill each other, without ruining it for the rest of us, problem solved.

Zizinhohakker wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:

Fey wrote:
Epic battle between the car thieves and bicycle thieves tonight!!!

*brilliant* !

Now I should start a rant about stereotypes of Poles and make an insight into our economic situation due to 2 World Wars, Big Brother from the East and being forced not to accept reparations and Marshall plan. Are you sure you want this?

It would be easier to remind me that the Poles we encounter over here are not to be compared to average Poles you'll meet in Poland itself...

I've only been to Poland once but that's my impression.

The only thing that scared the hell out of my in Poland was the average booze consumption I witnessed over there : it would even put the British to shame

blutgraetsche wrote:Idiots, all of them. Why can't they just die? Put them in a cage and let them kill each other, without ruining it for the rest of us, problem solved.

Jarmans

RicardoJol wrote:
Jarmans

You have a good share of those idiots yourself. Put them in the cage also.

You could organise a tournament really. If people are willing to pay for stuff like UFC, they should be willing to pay for that also. Donate the revenues to the needy, e.g. football projects in Third World countires.

Tuga wrote:Poland are no pushovers. They gave us a hell of a time in the qualifiers. Whether that was because they are actually decent or we were just shite I don't know.

Having said that I can't see Poland coming away with a win. Germany seem very strong and I'd be surprised even if Poland manage to get a draw. Still it's a grudge match for them so anything can happen.

Austria seem like the poorest team in the tournament and Croatia are coming from a superb qualifying campaign. Losing Eduardo is a huge blow but I fully expect them to win this game.

They are excellent in qualification but they just don't seem to turn up at the finals

Austria Vs Croatia



Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)




Line-ups:

[ 3-3-3-1 ]---------------[ 4-1-3-2 ]

Jürgen Macho----------Stipe Pletikosa
Sebastian Prödl----------Vedran Corluka
Martin Stranzl---------- Robert Kovac
Emanuel Pogatetz---------- Josip Simunic
Christoph Leitgeb---------- Danijel Pranjic
Rene Aufhauser---------- Niko Kovac
Jürgen Säumel---------- Darijo Srna
Martin Harnik---------- Luka Modric
Andreas Ivanschitz---------- Niko Kranjcar
Christian Fuchs---------- Ivica Olic
Roland Linz---------- Mladen Petric

Coaches:

Josef Hickersberger----------Slaven Bilic

BM's big Tip, we'll see the first penalty in Euro 2008 today.

Pieter Vink refereeing Croatia - Austria : I'd like to apologize in advance in the name of all Dutchies

The Austrians are much more enthusiastic in the stadium than the Swiss, despite having the worse team (on paper).

Pieter Vink ... Dirk Kuyt's best mate.

Cesc Soler wrote:Pieter Vink ... Dirk Kuyt's best mate.

Who are you supporting in the Championships btw, France?

Harnik will be a striker BM. Hope the Werder youngster has a good match!

Imagine if Modric did his knee ligaments or something. It could happen. Where are 0trick and sweet cheeks?

Would be much funnier if Vink would be the ref for the Germany-Poland match.

blutgraetsche wrote:Harnik will be a striker BM. Hope the Werder youngster has a good match!

Don't shoot the messenger, I just copy and paste - Blame BBC.

Looking forward to Prödl also (CB). He'll join us next season, and is quite talented.

BMKB wrote:Who are you supporting in the Championships btw, France?

Trying to remain impartial and just enjoy it tbh. But France will be one of the teams that I will look out for the most, due to the obvious reasons really.

BMKB wrote:Don't shoot the messenger, I just copy and paste - Blame BBC.

Use UEFA.com. It is quicker and MUCH more reliable.