Day 5 - Round 2: Group A: Czech-Portugal; Swiss-Turkey

Volkan is a pimp of a goalkeeper

that match was one of my favourites thus far...bordering on farsical...

Volkan is a pimp of a goalkeeper

that match was one of my favourites thus far...bordering on farsical...

Arda Turan (Turkey)

Turkey gave themselves a chance of moving into the quarter-finals as they defeated co-hosts Switzerland 2-1 in Basel and it was Arda Turan, the scorer of their late winner, who was voted Carlsberg Man of the Match.

Stunning strike
After finding themselves behind at half-time Turkey were a different side in the second period and nobody made more of an impact on that change than 21-year-old Galatasaray AS midfielder Arda Turan. With time running out he found himself with possession just outside the penalty area before hitting a stunning strike that flew past Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and eliminated Switzerland.

onurgs1905 wrote:Arda Turan (Turkey)

Turkey gave themselves a chance of moving into the quarter-finals as they defeated co-hosts Switzerland 2-1 in Basel and it was Arda Turan, the scorer of their late winner, who was voted Carlsberg Man of the Match.

Stunning strike
After finding themselves behind at half-time Turkey were a different side in the second period and nobody made more of an impact on that change than 21-year-old Galatasaray AS midfielder Arda Turan. With time running out he found himself with possession just outside the penalty area before hitting a stunning strike that flew past Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and eliminated Switzerland.

He was in my fantasy team last week, but didn't play. So I took him out this week and he scores

Looks a talented player. I don't think he was helped by the weather though. Will look forward to seeing him against the Czechs

Was a great game: Swiss -Turkey... Loads of fight for the win and the rain was outstanding to watch in the first half! I really enjoyed it! It's a pity the co host are out but on the other hand the Turkey- Czechia game will be a cracker right now....

Well done Turkey, as I expected. I also predicted them to go through (with Portugal) before the Tourney....

If I were Swiss i would have played for the 1-1 instead of trying to win it because with that score Portugal were automatically number 1 so the Swiss had a great chance to beat them. While Turkey and Czechia both still had a chance by winning the game... A draw or a loss from Czechia would have been enough for the Swiss then to progress...

lampiao007 wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

BM Knows Best wrote:

L.r.d wrote:In terms of entertainment this is the best tourney since 98.

*Waits for Kimbo*

Not at all, it's livened up in the last 2 or 3 days. But i'm not going to pretend a turd is gold like you, some of the games have been BAD.

The usual suspects. France, Germany, Poland......

With the quality players they have they should at least bother to entertain if they have no ambition. I'm still nursing a grudge against them because of WC 2006 group stages where they awoke at last minute and doomed me to watching nightmarish Switzerland vs Ukraine. Unforgiven says I

Protheus wrote:

Fey wrote:

Protheus wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Ricardo is a joke, one of the worst keepers in the tournament when it comes to set pieces.

Add corners, off the ball, etc, etc etc.... except penalties.

Where is Baia? He is a good keeper!

Retired last year. He was out of the national side for long. Scolari and the FA removed him from selections as he was a witness against the FA in the court.

He's where he should be; far from letting in 'Poborski' goals and blaiming the defence...

TITO wrote:Because he didn't let Ronaldo take a free kick in the first game, and tonight he did the same.
And he actually isn't that good in taking them!

Actually, he is. Quite good really.
Fucking up these two chances doesn't change that.

Quaresma to take Simao's place. Sabrosa never had a place in Portugal's 11 and he doesn't deserve one on these performances.

L.r.d wrote:What's that they're singing? It's to the theme of Viva Ronaldo but in Portuguese

Didn't hear it. Only heard Sporting's 'só eu sei'... and the usuals.

Turan is a potential , Newcastle would do very well to get him.

Turks are awesome easily one of the best games in the tournament so far.

Semih Senturk should start next game he seems like a proper centre forward

Both hosts out after 6 days?

what kind of stupid hair is that

Another good performance from Portugal, particularly against a team that plays in their style. All things considered I thought that Pepe, Carvalho and Ricardo handled their crosses(our biggest weakness, against their greatest strength.) far better than anyone could have hoped.
Of course, the easier people for MOTM, Deco and Ronaldo deserve their praise, but I thought that Simão was particularly effective in carrying out Scolari's instructions, and probably showed, in this game, why he, and not Quaresma, is first choice.

Luso wrote:

TITO wrote:Because he didn't let Ronaldo take a free kick in the first game, and tonight he did the same.
And he actually isn't that good in taking them!

Actually, he is. Quite good really.
Fucking up these two chances doesn't change that.

Both Deco & Simao are much better free-kick takers then Ronaldo. I absolute hate it when that bellend does that stupid pose just before he takes the FK, only to inevitably send it over.

Ignorant, naive tosser. wrote:Another good performance from Portugal, particularly against a team that plays in their style. All things considered I thought that Pepe, Carvalho and Ricardo handled their crosses(our biggest weakness, against their greatest strength.) far better than anyone could have hoped.
Of course, the easier people for MOTM, Deco and Ronaldo deserve their praise, but I thought that Simão was particularly effective in carrying out Scolari's instructions, and probably showed, in this game, why he, and not Quaresma, is first choice.

You've got to be kidding. Simão was horrible and so slow and always wasted the few opportunities he had. Quaresma played without Moutinho thus with lesser conections to the midfield and even so he managed to create a opportunity and scored a goal. It was easy but even so one must be in the right place to score.

And we didn´t play that well. We've conceded plenty of space, look a little lost for a lot of time and the result was better than the performance. We've had our moments but we weren´t very solid.

Congrats Portugal. Impressive so far. Hope we have to play you in the final, would be tasty.

I almost fell out of my shorts when Ronaldo made the pass for Portugal's 3rd. Was anyone else suprised? What happened?

not impressive, czech were on the same level

Toni Kroos wrote:not impressive, czech were on the same level

und? the Czechs beat you during qualifcation. They might not have played well the first match (mainly because Brueckner playing Koller), but they still have a very decent squad.

germany was the first nation who was qualified for the euro, after that germany didnt take the rest serious


we doomed czech on there own pitch, and they doomed us in germany because germany was still qualified at this time

Toni Kroos wrote:germany was the first nation who was qualified for the euro, after that germany didnt take the rest serious


we doomed czech on there own pitch, and they doomed us in germany because germany was still qualified at this time

well if we're being picky it was actually austria and switzerland.

Toni Kroos wrote:not impressive, czech were on the same level

If we play bad and win, imagine if we start playing to our normal strengths

Glennko Hysénjcar wrote:I almost fell out of my shorts when Ronaldo made the pass for Portugal's 3rd. Was anyone else suprised? What happened?

Saw NutWing streaking onto the pitch out of the corner of his eye, and had no choice but to give up the ball before doing a runner.

lampiao007 wrote:

Toni Kroos wrote:not impressive, czech were on the same level

If we play bad and win, imagine if we start playing to our normal strengths

If you start playing as a *team*...

So far I have seen a lot of players going for their own glory, not for the team.

As it stands you're one of a small group of favourites, if you start playing like a team (and get rid of Ricardo) you'll be the sole favourite IMO

Unfortunately, Quim is out injured. So our chances of a better goalie are not famous
Although I would take Nuno or Rui Patricio any day...
Except on a penalty shoot out that is....

Saying that, Cech is probably the best in the world, and he let 3 in....

lampiao007 wrote:Saying that, Cech is probably the best in the world, and he let 3 in....

Cech hasn't been his old self since the injury, I honestly don't think he's anywhere near the best of the world at the moment.

Buffon on the other hand