BlueZebra said:

it's just funny that a Belgian dude comes up here and talk about the presumed arrogance of the Dutch team.....one thing they are totally not is arrogant! The French & the Italians are arrogant, thinking they could come up with the same (old) stars of two years ago and whoop our asses.....the two games Holland has played (against France & Italy) were the best games played in the first week of the championships and total credit goes to the Dutch, who are there with a young, fresh and hungry team of excellent players!
Arrogant would be if the Dutch would let Rumania win and therefore eliminate the French & the Italians.....it would also be wise. But I expect the Dutch to crush the Rumanians with a B-selection of players, sparing the hotshots of the first two games.....the Dutch are on a winning streak that they haven't displayed since 1988!

GO DUTCH!!!!! We're proud of you! Marco van Basten is proving everybody (including myself) wrong.....let them have it!!!!



PS: where are the Red Devils?????

abierman said:

I'd choose "wise" over "arrogance" any day

Steadwood said:

Aren't the next championships in South Africa?

Serious said:

Oh yeah

I'm thinking the olympics

Oh Lord... I need my brain fixing

Steadwood said:

I am better informed about football than you are .
Summer olympics I suppose. Austria is only successful in winter olympics .

Serious said:

What Time is it?.... What Year is it?... Where am I?


"The Hills are Alive Wi...."

Steadwood said:

You should definitely change the music you are listening to . No wonder you are confused now .

Steadwood said:

so would I, guess we'll see in a few days.....with France & Italy out, it would only leave us an underperforming Germany, underdogs Croatia and Spain to count with.....counting on Germany eliminating Portugal (because they WILL kick Austria's ass and go to the quarters!), things are looking good!

abierman said:

Just like everybody thought they would do in Cordoba .

abierman said:

If they perform as they did over France there's no reason why they can't do it... that 3rd goal was a dream

Serious said:

I wouldn't listn to that crap in a million years

Steadwood said:

But what's your excuse then?

abierman said:

our football players (if you like to call them that ) are on holiday. They don't seem to feel the need to be at the top of their game when playing for our national selection. However ... I didn't say they ARE arrogant, but they tend to become arrogant when they are on a winning streak. If they don't go down that path, they're up for a great tournament. And yes, those two games
were the best of the tournament so far. Actually I don't believe they will let Rumania win. They want a clean sheet going into the quarters, that's clear. If it weren't for Croatia, you guys would take the cup home this year.

BlueZebra said:

Well I didn't watch any match, but Austria had chances against Croatia according to not only the media here, but also the German media that are no really pro-Austria, so how come you think they will win? Just because they won over Germany?

.
[Edited 6/14/08 8:22am]

Serious said:

because they have a very strong team ... don't forget apart from the obvious favorites (Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Portugal) they have very low odds among all bookmakers)

http://euro2008betting.be...008/winner

Dewrede said:

I'm sure they're gonna do very good. I didn't expect it with Marco @ the rudder, but they come out great. Very strong.

Steadwood said:

yeah- wateva

LleeLlee said:

France 0, Italy 0 France 3-2 on kicks

SUPRMAN said:

France 2 - Italy 0

jizzinparis said:

BlueZebra said:

Not this team.....it appears that Van Basten and his boys are working out a masterplan.....a masterplan NO-one believed in until last Monday, the game against France last night is just the confirmation of it.
You can see it from the disciplne of the players, the coherence of the group.....you even see it in the interviews.
Van Basten has been loathed upon over the last years, now he's totally turning the tables on everybody. If his plan will work out, he will write history and will be seen as the best coach in Dutch history. I truely hope it will work!

abierman said:

But seriously, there is no shadow of a doubt about the Oranje superiority last night. Technically, the dutchies were really impressive. Total respect.

abierman said:

I wonder what people will say if they don't win the tournament. Everyone's already saying how fantastic they are and that Marco's a genius, but they're only through to the 1/4 finals. That's it people. They haven't won anything yet! I think that's the arrogance Zebra's talking about. Usually the players don't get very arrogant, it's the "fans".

BTW, Michels will still be better than Van Basten.

eikonoklastes said:

They've beat the worldchampion and the vice-worldchampion.....that's what people will say.....it's clear they are not in Vienna yet ().....and it's also clear that there are other teams to take into account (Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Spain.....to name a few).....the team is NOT there yet! But, it's hard to deny that the Dutch had the best start of all, especially given the group they're in. And Van Basten must be given credit for giving the team the coherence and modesty they are displaying right now. Who would have thought over the past few years? I surely haven't!
About the fans.....I personally hate the colour orange, the frenzy that is going on is nothing new though.....But I don't know whether you know, the Dutch fans have always been chosen favorite at tournaments like these.....not so much arrogance, rather fair-play.....(if that's the right word)
[Edited 6/14/08 14:40pm]

oh.....and Van Basten will be just as good as Michels if his teams gets to win the championship!

abierman said:

No, what I meant is stuff like fans are already talking about facing Portugal or Germany in the finals. They think that because they already beat Italy and France those other teams won't be able to beat Holland. They're also talking about letting Rumania win so they won't have to deal with Italy or France in the semi-finals....completely ignoring the fact that in the qualifying round for Euro 2008 they haven't been able to score a single goal against Rumania.

Not to mention that in soccer/football the best team doesn't always win...
[Edited 6/14/08 16:11pm]

eikonoklastes said:

Can I turn this into a sex thread?

eikonoklastes said:

I see what you're saying and that's pretty much true. Still, I dont think Van Basten will give the team instructions to lose from Rumania, other other hand it would be good to get rid of Italy & France at once.....these are 2 teams that are known to grow in a tournament like this. But Van Basten wants a clean sheet, not applying 'German tactics'.....the only thing different is that we will most certainly see the same players on the field against Rumania.
The fans? Oh well, let us just assume & believe that the fans will not get a last say in what will happen and what tactics are going to be applied!