| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/13/2008 4:33:30 PM | I'm a big fan of the Netherlands , and their victory today promises some great battles ahead. I pulled on my orange T-shirt from the last World Cup, and wore it with pride as I did some errands today.
I temporarily become a Dutch citizen, at least in spirit, every time they play a game. 
As I’m writing this there are people yelling out their windows in my apartment building and honestly, why the hell not?
http://www.sirened.com/euro-cup-2008-netherlands-3-0-over-italy
Well, if you've read some of my past posts here, you know how very much I love the Dutch. They are a people that are, based on my personal experience with them, who seldom exhibit that fervent national patriotism that we see in some nations.
Unless there's an international football game going on, with their team playing in it......
Then ?
Watch out...... 
That's right, the stands are filled with orange colored shirts, pants, faces, hair, and other parts of the human body best left unmentioned in polite company. Some nations wear their hearts on their sleeves, the Dutch dip themselves in orange.
All over the Netherlands, and worldwide, you can count on the Dutch to be glued to a TV screen at home, in a bar, or even (weather permitting) outside their houses on TV's dragged out for the occasion.
One highlight not to be missed is the singing of the Netherlands national anthem, before the game. I think it's one of the best moments of the game, win or lose, actually.
When they strike up "Het Wilhelmus", with a few beers under their belts and at a soccer match - you'll never get a better example of how proud of being Dutch they are capable of being. Most of the rest of the year, you'd probably have to waterboard them to get it out of them.
My l'il sis in Holland was telling me on Thursday that the street near her house kind of looks like an orange paint factory exploded. I imagine it's pandemonium now.
They seem to have become giant slayers, with two very impressive victories against two powerhouses in football.
Hup Hup Holland !
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/13/2008 5:46:40 PM | The Netherlands are going to take it.
However, I was not happy that Italy lost today. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/13/2008 7:06:53 PM | | its still an open tournament, its anybody`s cup. croatia should be the team to keep an eye on | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/13/2008 10:56:06 PM | Mizzica, so many people get their kicks out of watching the Italians lose because of their "tantrums." When you have to deal with as much politicking with referees as Italy does, you're entitled to your complaints. Has anyone actually closely watched Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal play? He's undoubtedly a wizard and probably the best in the world right now, but this guy has got to be the most aggravating player out there. Now THERE'S a whiner! He's a master of simulating fouls, and then he WINKS at the cameras after he gets up! No wonder Wayne Rooney wanted to kick his ass after he got him red-carded at the last World Cup....and they're teammates at Man U!
As for the Italians, well, we're the first to admit that our team is playing like absolute garbage. If not for 'keeper Gigi Buffon, it would already be over. But no self-respecting soccer fan can say that Luca Toni's goal was offsides today. The Dutch, they won deservedly on Monday, but the Romania game was different. I watched the feed on Belgian TV, not Italian, and the announcer said, "Italy is playing 11 against 14, including the linesmen." But still, you need luck to win tourneys. We had all the ingredients in 2006, but we don't have them this time around. It could finally be Spain's year....they've waited long enough!
And of course, as a born Italian, I'd just like to point out that those who hate the Azzurri are rarely objective about it and hate them for things all teams are guilty of, save for the fact that Italy does them better. If the "best" team always won, the Netherlands would have 2 World Cups instead of none. They might be showmen, they might take a dive or two, and they could probably do to just shut up and play more, like Gattuso does, instead of yelling at the ref, like Toni does....but the fact is the Italians usually win. No other teams in the world except Brazil and Germany consistently win as much. They're the world champions, and they've been world champions 4 times. Accept it. We have  | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/14/2008 5:53:58 AM | | No disrespect to anyone, but I really don't rate the Dutch team at all. I think they were played off the park for a lot of the game by a currently weak anough French side (I don't know what's going on there but they have been poor in recent times). Holland look very dodgy at the back and in midfield, France controlled A LOT of the game. In general, this has been a dreadful Euro competition. A lot of very ordinary teams... | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/14/2008 11:48:26 AM | because England did not qualify?
hey Kirk, i do respect you! but you should not say that this 'Euro competition has a lot of ordinary teams'
let me tell remind you friend that powerful countries like Germany, Italy, Holland or France are fighting for it.
it pisses me off to see how poor the Germans are in the last years, but they are powerful and everyone respect them. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/14/2008 12:21:52 PM | though im rooting for Portugal...my vibes will be Croatia against Netherlands for the final.
Germany will come back for their next game, i assure you that--they need to recuperate--i still believe on Micheal Ballack and his team--good job for Podolski.Lehman keep it up!!
I like Van Der Sar-the Dutch goal keeper-- he's wicked!!!--haha
I want Italy OUT-i will never liked them, lucky bastards -- theyre hanging on--well they have to----they are getting there... for the elimination. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/14/2008 5:46:29 PM | | I'm not doubting that we have had great footballing nations at all Pedro...not at all friend...but I am disappointed in the tounrament so far. I think Italy have been terrible and they are world champions, Germany have such a magnificent attitude and great organization...but they don't have the world class players anymore (maybe one), Holland, Spain and Portugal all have superb attacking football but they are weak in defence and France are self-destructing...I think Croatia might end up being the team to beat | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/14/2008 6:33:13 PM | I don't think the Germans are dead.....well not yet anyway.
But Italy & France battling it out for a 'potential' 2nd spot is really a sad indictment on the tournament as these 2 teams contested the last world cup final only 2 years ago & especially France look such a poor team against a bit of pace.
I think the Italians & French will draw the last game...& even the Dutch fielding a much weakened team (which they are entitled to) against the Romanians will beat them. So its bye bye France.
I'll atill stick to 3 teams for the final potentially. Germany, Portugal, Spain. Think the Dutch will come a cropper against a team that can contain a counter attack....errr...ok so there isn't that team left but the Portugese & Spanish will out score them. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/15/2008 11:58:14 AM | Well Italy are probably gone.
But thems the breaks, at least Lippi will come back and can concentrate on 2010.
Least we all know the Poms are shite.
lol | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/15/2008 4:56:51 PM | Its gotta be the Dutch right?
Young confident team, good at the back, good midfield defensive cover, great attacking midfield potential and an old pro up front doing what he does best..
The Spanish have a chance, although it could be another case of same old same old with them.
I can't see Portugal doing it, they have a couple of starlets but overall I think they lack strenght in some areas of the pitch. But at least them or Germany should make it to the final? | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/25/2008 4:49:31 PM | | Finally, either Spain or Russia will play in the final. These nations have played quite decent football and have a good chance to snap a long painful streak of underachieving. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/25/2008 10:13:06 PM | Can we PLEASE PLEASE stop calling the Italians "World Champions"!!!! They are a mediocre team as best by European standards...wont even make it to the Quarters. Looks like the Dutch are the team to beat thus far.Portugal & Spain as well..Maybe the young guns from Spain can keep up the momentum.
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Italy are the world champions untill the next world cup.
Thats how it goes.
One bad campaign doesnt remove past silverware.
Again a diff set of rules for Italy and for every other wc winner.
Potugal and Brazil dive as much as anyone.
man. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 2:06:29 AM | | Hop down off the cross Frankster...seriously, this martyrdom stuff is getting a bit old. Italy were extremely fortuitous and lucky to get as far as they did and they typically have a LOT of lucky breaks in big tournaments. Maybe the problem this time was they didn't have a major scandal concerning footballing corruption right before the tournament like the wins in 2006 and in 82 (Paolo Rossi banned from the sport right up until the world cup on corruption charges goes on to be Italy's top scorer) no wonder they didn't win this time. In fairness the two wins by Mussolini's teams in the 30's were came from an Italy devoid of any hint of such scandal though I'm sure | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 2:37:33 AM | Kirk dont throw stones ... seriously, when u have no basis to throw them.
No cross needed, unless its for England or Brazil. lol, the sacrosant ones.
This time things didnt go there way. Not the end of the world.
Lets talk about corruption huh, 66 England win, the poor krauts.
WC 2002, list goes on.
Italy has a lot of lucky breaks?
considering how ripped off they were in wc 2002 and Euro 2004, Bold statement.
If they arent angels , they are just doing like everyone else.
Maybe the Irish should put down the stout and try smartening up.
They might win something. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:03:29 AM | | Soccer's not an Irish sport Frankster! It's not even close to being the number one Irish game. We have two other domestic sports which are far more popular. And in case you hadn't noticed, Irish teams have won the triple crown in rugby with monotonous reglarity, one of our teams (Munster) have just won rugby's equivalent of the Champions league. And we regularly SPANK the Italian rugby team. Oh, and we are the greatest horse racing nation on the planet...not bad for a country of 3 or 4 million. A little country that came very close to knocking the Italians out of the 1990 world cup in ITALY and a little country that BEAT Italy in the 1994 world cup...an Italian team that managed to splutter their way to ANOTHER final afterwards...again not doing so bad for a country that has a smaller population than an Italian city!!!! | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:09:57 AM | Yeah mate, pity rugby isnt popular in Italy huh. lol.
I hate rugby personally in all forms, but knock yourself out.
So Ireland had a win in the group stages over Italy in a world cup. Congrats.
Its being there at the end that counts though isnt it? | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:28:28 AM |
Lets talk about corruption huh, 66 England win, the poor krauts.
WC 2002, list goes on.
An Italian talking about corruption in football....I've seen it all on this forum now.
lol
You actually then advise Kirk not to throw stones .....
You are a legend mate. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:36:52 AM | A Pom actually talking football at all, the record since 66 and not even being able to qualify, now ive seen everything.
Oh mate i can go on.
Liverpool and Grobbolar.
The German refs in jail. for taking bribes.
See. it happens in all countries.
Wanna talk English, how about Mclaren.
Biggest sporting fine in history.
Yeah they r legends lol
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 3:54:27 AM | Comparing the corruption that has rocked Italian football to its foundations again and again and even led to their top international stars being banned from the game to the sporadic and universal incidents of corruption rumors in other countries is a bit like comparing the holocaust to a bar brawl...they are completely incommensurable!
As to your comments about rugby, I'm simply pointing out that a country with a population that is less than some of Italy's cities is way ahead of Italy in a number of sports...and what's more, has BEATEN Italk and competed well with them in Italy's NUMBER ONE sport. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 4:01:49 AM | Nope it isnt Kirky and you know it.
England, Germany and Spain have all had their corruption problems.
France too has had major probs, remember Marseille.
Even in the latest Calciopoli thing Juve was only charged with talking to refs, there was no solid evidence.
But dont let that get in your way of your diversionary spin doctoring.
Congrats for that one game where Ireland beat Italy in football.
Pretty flimsy irishmen though, Most were black.
Obviously the old football phrase -one game, anything can happen hasnt reached Ireland yet. | |
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| Euro 2008 (soccer) Winner?
Posted: 6/26/2008 5:29:28 AM | E viva i Facisti, giu con i Irlandesi !!!
So what if the 34 team did the facist salute.
The 66 England team recieved the trophy from Queen Elizabeth.
The English dont have the humanest of histories do they?
lol
Remember the black and tans? | |
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