UEFA Euro 2012

[LN Strike Eagle]

Fancy the Dutch or possibly the French to take the title though.

Should have known better.

[PChaplin]

Portugal look like they could be the dark horses now. They started slow, but seem to be getting better in each game.

[DanH]

Germany v Greece in the next round is going to be an interesting fixture in the current context

[Trevsy]

I actually fancy England to reach the last 4 IF we finish top of the group. If we face Spain in the Quarters we're out, however anyone else in that group and we'll do ok.

[psquiddy]

If we face Spain in the Quarters we're out

Thats what I thaught - but they looked beatable against Croatia.

[MikeH]

England - beneficiaries of the lack of goal line technology, who'd have put money on that? Take that, Blatter and Platini, you Anglophobe Luddites!

[Stuka]

With Poland, Ukraine and Ireland out, there will be very few fans left for the knock out stages. Looking like Germany V Spain for another final

[DanH]

England - beneficiaries of the lack of goal line technology, who'd have put money on that? Take that, Blatter and Platini, you Anglophobe Luddites!

+ 1

[timuss]

Great result have to say i thought Gerrard and Terry have been outstanding
Now bring on the Italians.

[Abingdonman]

Good result for us in the end,I thought we were in for a stuffing after 10 minutes!
Rooney did the job no matter what anyone says,he didnt exactly get myriads of decent chances and he had to be in the right place and react to get the goal...
as for the goal clearance by Terry,some say we were lucky,it looked over the line for sure...
but where does luck begin? when the ball was first booted into our half a Ukranian player was offside,its when the ball is struck to the offending player,not during the balls flight that counts,is that not right?
therefore a Ukranian player was 100% offside a few seconds before the 'goal'...so the luck was even stevens!

[duxfordhawk]

I have to say that Roy Hodgson has done amazingly well in such a short time with the team, and for the first time you can see they are playing with a team spirit. To be honest we were out played last night and were very lucky, however isn't football about a bit of luck and chance?. I do worry if we let Italy see as much of the ball as Ukraine we will lose, but I never expected we would get to this stage so anything is a plus now.

I will be working on Sunday and listening to the game and for sure biting my nails hopefully not as far as my knuckles and crossing everything but my eyes for a win. If nothing else it will be exciting

[aviodromefriend]

therefore a Ukranian player was 100% offside a few seconds before the 'goal'...so the luck was even stevens!

Don't know where you saw that, but I just checked this attack at http://nos.nl/ek2012/video/385940-ek-2012-engelandoekraine.html but from the moment the ball was kicked towards the English half, at every pass the two players closest to the goalline were the English goalkeeper and a player in white clothes. So it can never be offside.

[DanO1978]

Need to stop Andrea Pirlo playing the "quarterback" role he does for Juventus, pinging passes around from deep. I'd be almost tempted to stick someone on him man-for-man.

This isn't a great Italian side, but they do have matchwinners - Balotelli, Marchisio and Di Natale. And Buffon still takes some getting past.

[LN Strike Eagle]

It's the first long ball (from inside their half) that was offside.

[aviodromefriend]

It's the first long ball (from inside their half) that was offside.

Sorry, but in the clip I posted that link to, I see an English player very close to the man that gets the pass who is making it not-offside (as the goalkeeper is still there too). Well, Suppose if this would have kicked out England, it would have become something like that one shot that never crossed the line in '66.

[LN Strike Eagle]

When the ball is played forwards, the Ukrainian striker is offside:



The striker that is onside doesn't touch the ball - it runs through to the striker who is offside. As soon as he touched it, the flag should have gone up.

[Abingdonman]

Having looked at the 'offside' and the 'goal' incidents on youtube a few times,they couldnt be easily missed,so what went wrong?
but wait a minute....did anyone see Hodgson or Blochin with thick brown envelopes?

[psquiddy]

Having looked at the 'offside' and the 'goal' incidents on youtube a few times,they couldnt be easily missed

Yes they could - you have seen them "a few times" - the ref and assistants see it in real time, once, from one angle - I looked at the "goal" 3 times before I was convinced that it was anything up to an inch over the line.

If the ref says it is a goal then it is a goal - if he doesnt then it isnt.

[Fumbles]

This will be fun.... The Mrs. and I arrive in the UK Sunday. Jet lagged and then drive for two hours. Check into the hotel and now somehow have to stay awake to watch the game at whatever local pub. Half asleep and lots of beer. Monday is going to hurt.

[Abingdonman]

Having looked at the 'offside' and the 'goal' incidents on youtube a few times,they couldnt be easily missed

Yes they could - you have seen them "a few times" - the ref and assistants see it in real time, once, from one angle - I looked at the "goal" 3 times before I was convinced that it was anything up to an inch over the line.

If the ref says it is a goal then it is a goal - if he doesnt then it isnt.

Your right about the real time,but the officials in both said incidents were in great positions,nevertheless even the best can make mistakes,and........ you can bet your life I swatted up on several youtube clips before I posted my opinion!

[Stuka]

I thought that I would post this befour the German V Greece match. I was talking to a friend back home in Germany and the feeling there is that the German national football team should not inflict a hammering or " zerschlagen " on Greece because of the economic problems in that country, and our roll in giving them money. I am in two minds about this, but I do like confidence, so, Zerschlagt sie! [Annihilate them]

[Abingdonman]

Will be watching it,and a German win shouldnt be too surprising ....Germany are 1/3 on to win and Greece are 8/1...thats a mighty gap ...but you never know,some of these officials can be dodgy!

update..
the odds were about right in the end,as for England,it may be better for us to lose a dignified game against Italy dont you think?

[Stuka]

If, and thats a large IF, England win against Italy, Germany will tear your team apart. Not as good as beating the Dutch but still..

[shaggy101]

If, and thats a large IF, England win against Italy, Germany will tear your team apart. Not as good as beating the Dutch but still..

We look forward too it. Hopefully. Besides, Greece were very poor tonight.

[StevenH]

If, and thats a large IF, England win against Italy, Germany will tear your team apart. Not as good as beating the Dutch but still..

Good to see you aren't getting overconfident and ahead of yourself then (athough you're certainly correct)...