This is thread where you help me anticipate and somehow feel part of of Euro 2004

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'm miles away and the games are going to be on ridiculously early here, but I am DETERMINED not to miss to on any of it if I can help it. However, I need some context and ILX can help me. How were the qualifiers? Who are the dark horses? Consider that I haven't been able to follow football at all this season - who are the good new players in the England squad? Sum up the mood in the press. Feel free to add to this thread as Day One draws ever closer...

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

This was probably the wrong time of day to put this up here.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

You go to the Mad Dog?

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I will be doing. Or that other place further up Haight (because everyone else will be going to MDITF).

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

France have won their last 15 or so games, and have a fabulous looking side - I am guessing their front six might be Viera, Makalele (a central midfield pairing to dominate virtually anyone), Pires, Zidane (two of the best attacking midfielders anywhere), Trezeguet (one of the top scorers in Italy in recent years) and Henry, maybe the best striker in the world this year.

Portugal have some good players and home teams generally do well. If Italy can get their best team sorted out and playing well, they could win it. The Czech Republic have looked extremely strong in recent years, yet are not short odds with bookies - certainly the best gambler's pick, I think. Sweden will take a lot of beating. 'You can never write off the Germans' they always say, but I hereby do so. It's only a few games, so there are only a couple of teams who appear to have no real chance, and England are not among those, but we do look short to me in several positions - keeper, both full backs, left midfield, even up front unless our only two players there who can play at world class level (Owen and Rooney) hit top form, which they haven't often this season. We have got real strength in central defence and centre and right midfield, I think, so who knows?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

How is Rooney doing, both domestically and internationally? He didn't seem to be quite fulfilling his potential when I left in May/June of last year.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

9 goals in 31 league appearances
8 yellow cards

3 goals in 6 England appearances

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you have cable, Michael?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

If so...what station do I need and how much does it cost?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Any other player his age you'd say he's had a pretty good season in a team which has performed well below expectations, However the weight of expectation is such that it's been a little dissapointing.

One thing though, he's picked up a lot of bookings which is something opponents will exploit and which he'll have to control.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i think some non primary espn station will cover these, which would necessitate either digital cable or directTV

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

He's always looked better for England than almost all his club form. If he can play the way he did in some of our big games (the home game against Turkey, for instance) he could be terrific. He could indeed also get in trouble.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I can understand what yr feeling adam: i was in canada when the world cup was being screened, I did manage to catch some games but it was just horrible to miss anything.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I do have cable but I don't know who'll be showing it. I'll find out from the boys down at the Dog and let you know. If you find out, e-mail me or post it here.

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Also now I am going to be starting a new job with unpredictable hours...b-b-b-but it's Euro 2004!!!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

April 9. 2004

Setanta Sport will offer Euro 2004 via pay-per-view and closed-circuit TV in the US. The residential rate is $179 for all matches. Individual first-round matches will cost $19.95 and each match from the quarterfinal through the final will cost $24.95. DirecTV, DISH Network, and iNDemand have signed to carry residential pay-per-view.

http://www.setanta.com/sport/Schedules_Northamerica.htm

That's in addition to your digital cable subscription with Comcast.

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

what a rip!

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh well, time for another bright idea.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

At $20 a pop to see the games live, there's not many I won't see replayed and the hours are so bad, schedule-wise, it doesn't make much sense to order it at home.

It's like the league for me. I schedule the games I really want to see and if I can't see them live, I do everything I can to watch them later in the evening on tape.

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Good things only come in EVEN years.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Except me.

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i think it will be a good tournament altho the final will probably be a let-down as usual

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

At least we won't get 2 Italian teams in the Champions League final. While watching last year, I remarked to an English friend of mine that for an English Cup tie you can see and feel the difference from league play and that I couldn't tell the Milan AC-Juve final from an ordinary Serie A game. He said, "Sure you can. They're attacking even less."

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

the euro 2000 final wasn't bad really.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you kidding! Trezeguet's goal at the end was great.

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

so now that Germany have lost 5-1 to Romania, which is more likely - they will go on to a disappointing (for them) first round exit as the Dutch and Czechs (also faltering) progress, or will they get to the bloody final again?

why was Roberto Baggio playing for Italy last night?? apparently they cheered everytime he touched the ball. shame he couldn't really influence the predictability of the 1-1 result though.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 29 April 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I think he was maybe playing a farewell match. I'm pretty sure he's about to retire.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 29 April 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3520796.stm

yep, I was right.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

@d@m, did anyone ever put you onto http://www.soccertv.com? Once the tournament starts going, have a look at the site every afternoon. What usually happens is that one or more channels will show some games on one or two days' delay, and usually at tolerable hours. Fox Sports World will probably pick up a few games, possibly Telemundo... who knows.

They never announce details on the re-airing of any given match prior to that match actually being played. And chances are against anything you really desperately want to see being shown. But if you want to be cheap about it, and not pay the dollar equivalent of a scant £101 to see 31 matches in three weeks, then you'll take what you can get.

I'm not paying for it, of course. I don't have a dog in that hunt. I'd rather watch MLS.

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Thursday, 29 April 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Squad named

I am going to hold Chris B personally responsible if Carragher fouls up.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 17 May 2004 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry - somehow managed to miss the other thread.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 17 May 2004 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Having been overlooked by Sven again, I officialy retired from international football today.

I am officially excited. England will win.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I want greece to win.

are they in it?

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:45 (twenty-two years ago)

They are. I'm torn between Sweden and the Czech Republic

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:46 (twenty-two years ago)

... and of course there's always Bulgaria

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd be happy for any team to win it apart from Germany

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't mind Germany winning it

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so excited I've just done a whoopsie.

I would have picked Defoe as a wildcard (even at the expense of an extra midfielder). Expect this squad to change over the next couple of weeks as players drop things on their toes and Trevor Sincliar flys around the world three times.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Et voici la selection francaise:

Gardiens de but : Fabien Barthez (Marseille), Grégory Coupet (Lyon), Mickaël Landreau (Nantes).

Défenseurs : Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikaël Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus Turin).

Milieux de terrain : Olivier Dacourt (AS Rome), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Benoît Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Jérôme Rothen (Monaco), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal), Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid).

Attaquants : Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus Turin).

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

So then, how's Del Piero going to get Italy knocked out this time?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 10:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Worst thing about this tournament - it completely overlaps Wimbledon with the final on men's singles final day! If it rains in SW19 on that Sunday and forces back the schedule (a la Sampras-Rafter in 2000) they could be on simultaneously. I remember when N Ire-France in WC82 clashed with the Connors-McEnroe final; Mum & Dad had to watch the footy in the back room on my miniature B&W portable.

But other than that, I'm dead excited. Euro 2000 was the greatest feast of football in my lifetime (well, I wasn't yet two at the time of Mexico 70) and I have high hopes for this two. Can we play Lampard and Gerrard together somehow?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Too, not two! I'm that excited!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:04 (twenty-two years ago)

yes Lampard and Gerrard will probably play together as Stevie's on the left, woo and indeed hoo

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Would be a terrible thing to waste Lampard.

I can't wait.

x-post: i thought they weren't really gonna play him as sven doesn't wanna break up the existing arrangement in midfield.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

That's what I heard too

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:11 (twenty-two years ago)

to not play Lampard ahead of Scholes would be idiocy of the highest order - tho Lampard has a tendency to be lazy as fuck for England (remembering his performance against Slovakia last year)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Why Scholes? He has been pencilled in as a must start, but his much vaunted arriving late, attacking midfielder has kind of not worked for England for over 2 years...lampard's goal rate is better (IIRC) and he's doing a Scholes type job better (and tackles cleaner than Scholes too).

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

OTM, we should clone Gerrard and play him in every position. Seriously though, he should be playing on the point but we don't have another player who can break up opposition play quite like he can.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:46 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the best thing about lampard is THAT HE IS NOT SCHOLES. at least we don't have to listen to bigotron kissing scholey's arse this time...

also where is my picture of michael owen hitting a cow's arse with a banjo please?

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Scholes will not only get in the first team at the expense of Frank Lampard, Nicky Butt will too, despite having played about four hours of football all season.

That France squad looks fearsome. Cissé and Mexes didn't make the cut, I see.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Cisse is banned for about eight games for kicking someone in the head in an under 21 game, otherwise he would be going and not Saha

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

woo i got paid for this one (banjo and cow's arse not shown)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.geocities.com/carsmilesteve/masterpiece.jpg

i hope that's not too big...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

hahaha, that truly is rubbish...

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

d'oh, can anyone else see it?

http://www.geocities.com/carsmilesteve/masterpiece.jpg

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, it's shit

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

That squad doesn't look so good. How is Owen Hargreaves these days? I haven't been around to see Wayne Bridge or Ledley King play, are they good? Why are our goalkeepers still so shit?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think it's that bad a squad at all. the only thing missing is an Ince type.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Why are our goalkeepers still so shit?

don't you remember back at school how nobody ever said 'ME! ME!' when it was asked who wanted to go in goal?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Or perhaps a Bobby Moore?

x-post

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't see Hargreaves often, but Bridge has been excellent this season. King's pretty good, and we have a few centrebacks unavailable (Ferdinand, Woodgate and Southgate would have been ahead of him, I imagine). I can't explain the keeper thing - worst crop we've had in my memory (i.e. since at least the late '60s). I still say that we can put together a strong first 11, but the depth isn't there, apart from in central midfield, where we could leave Scott Parker out.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

or a Jon Moncur

(x-post)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I am going to have to pay $20 per game (or at least, for the England games) to watch this in a pub.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

no-one showing a delayed recording out there?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Only on cable, which I don't have. Perhaps the games will show up on bittorrent.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

what's $20 again, 17p or something?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the price of one of these:

http://www.expatcorner.ca/chocolate/images/ch1002.jpg

I was looking at flying back in August, then saw the prices/exchange rate and wept.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't remember where you live, Adam, but might there not be some bars showing games? I am imagining Spanish or Italian places, for instance.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I live in the San Francisco area, Martin. There might well be some Italian places in the city (North Beach, probably) that are showing games. Michael White is the expert here, it seems.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(btw, hi! How are you?)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(not the place for a long answer to that, but pretty okay right now, thanks.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Rah for Martin! I was thinking about ya last night, sir.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

"thinking"

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

How many countries are there with defences that are any good? I am losing track of all the teams that are supposed to be weak at the back.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

it's a mugs game, defending.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Erm, The Italians?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweden are meant to be pretty solid as well.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Despite all the talk about France's defense being shit, they haven't conceded a goal in a year.

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I have no idea as I don't follow international football closely, but people (see the Guardian's Euro 2004 guide, for example) are saying that Italy's defence is nothing to write home about, Matt.

Maybe Euro 2004 will be a GOAL FEST.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I'M EXCITED!!!!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Guardian's Euro 2004 Guide was fucking SHIT!!!!!!!!!! All that if "Croatia Was A TV Character It Would Be......", when will all that crap end?!!?!?!?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

The Sunday Herald's is worse. They've got this bit where they make an acronym of each country's name. An example:

Front Runners? Arsenal Neanderthals Challenge English

wtf??

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

wtf indeed!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

It's really just as well for the Herald that The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia didn't qualify

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I am telling myself that it can't possibly be intended to be racist, but I'm struggling to think what else it's getting at. Vieira's disciplinary record?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

The OSM's guide was quite good, if only for informing me of the Croatian managers thoughts:

"I hate the gays. There is no place for a gay in my team. And I could easily spot one if he tried to get into my team."

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn those skillful gays.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Apparently some gay Croatians are planning to go to Portugal and support England in protest. I spy entertaining crowd shots.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

There are no gays in Croatia.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

the times did a 'if [euro team] was an actor/actress'.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

This kind of stuff takes so much of the onus of describing American sports culture's idiocy away. What's next? If 'X' team were a porn star?

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Those Croatian gays in full

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

And I thought you were joking!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

What I don't understand is why England and not Switzerland or France? Is Mugabe right - are we perceived as being the gayest nation in the world? I do hope so. Or is it just that Beckham is hott?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

the poor Croatian manager was duped and told that the word 'gay' was the English word for 'fanny dangler'

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

'Fanny dangler' is Croatian?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.