Metal Sludge Gossip Board

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For those in the USA, ESPN Classic will be showing classic matches all of next week leading up to Friday's kickoff

Monday - 4 matches in a row beginning at 11 am est
Tuesday - 2 back to back matches beginning at noon
Wednesday - 4 matches in a row beginning at 11 am
Thursday - 4 matches in a row beginning at 9 am - looks like both semis and the final from 2008 are listed as the last three matches

It also looks like OnDemand has 7 different 26-27 minute previews listed under ESPN's free section.

Group B is amazing. I wouldn't be shocked if Denmark advances with a lucky result as the other teams may cancel each other out. I just hope that Germany isn't their victim.

Group A
Poland
Czech Republic
Greece
Russia

Group B
Germany
Portugal
Netherlands
Denmark

Group C
Spain
Italy
Ireland
Croatia

Group D
Ukraine
France
England
Sweden

Who is your pick?
Will Germany become the first 4 time winner?
Will another Greece or Denmark show up and surprise everybody?
Will Spain continue their dominance?
Will England underachieve?
Will they get past Sweden?

Group A
Poland
Czech Republic
Greece
Russia

I think Russia and Czech will go through to next round. I don't think anyone will get a lot further. Poland can suprise a little with home advantage. Everyone knows Greece by now. This is the weakest group.

Group B
Germany
Portugal
Netherlands
Denmark

Portugal will have trouble with Germany and Netherlands. It's between these three really.

Group C
Spain
Italy
Ireland
Croatia

Croatia is no pushover, they might pull a surprise here. Spain, Italy or them here.

Group D
Ukraine
France
England
Sweden

I still don't think Ukraine will get further, despite home advantage. France is a question mark and England isn't very good. Sweden might surprise both.

Who is your pick?
I'm hoping Netherlands.

Will Germany become the first 4 time winner?
It's possible, they have one of the strongest teams, at least on paper.

Will another Greece or Denmark show up and surprise everybody?
Croatia maybe.

Will Spain continue their dominance?
Maybe not.

Will England underachieve?
As always.

Will they get past Sweden?
It may be tough.

Most disappointing because they're the most over-hyped. They'll never get a chance to sneak up on anyone.

England's midfield is pretty weak.

Can't believe Hodgson has picked Henderson as Fat Lampards replacement and not Carrick. 5 Scousers in the squad. You wouldn't think Liverpool finished 8th in the Prem. Be lucky to get out of the group stage.

How does qualifying/seeding work that they wound up with such a weak Group A?

Group A
Poland
Czech Republic
Greece
Russia

I'd like to see Poland advance for the sake of the atmosphere alone, haven't seen them play in a long time, though. I could see Russia surprise people. I've always liked the Czech too, even though they fucked us in 2004. Greece can suck a dick, especially since they let Otto Rehagel loose to coach my club right out of the Bundesliga this season.

Group B
Germany
Portugal
Netherlands
Denmark

For the first time in my life, I had a good feeling about Germany's chances to win the whole thing, but after Bayern's screwed up Champions League final, half the squad seems damaged. Portugal is weak. If they lose the first game, Germany's taking the group, otherwise we're out. Holland will make it through.

Group C
Spain
Italy
Ireland
Croatia

I fucking hate Italy with a passion, so despite their shitty games and desolate morale lately, they'll probably make a lucky 2nd and win the cup in the end. Spain is a safe 1st in the group to me.

Group D
Ukraine
France
England
Sweden

I'm rooting for France here, and I think they have the strongest squad as well. Again, I'm hoping Ukraine somehow makes it too, although it would be a miracle. England would be fun to meet in the quarters (not sure if that's possible, haven't really checked) and have an old-fashioned penalty shootout, other than that, I don't care. Ibrahimovic, I mean, Sweden always bored me. I hope they lose everything so there's gonna be less chicks at the sports bars.

SebastianLeeDanzig wrote: I fucking hate Italy with a passion

Remember when they couldn't beat New Zealand in the World Cup? Good times.

Dropping like flies.

Cahill out of England squad with a broken jaw after being pushed into Joe Hart by Dries "Doc" Mertens.

And New Zealand v Italy was one of the most exciting matches of the 2012 WC.

Rageman wrote:

Most disappointing because they're the most over-hyped. They'll never get a chance to sneak up on anyone.

To be fair, if anything the Netherlands are surely the world's most disappointing team. Consistently produce strong teams, great technical players (far better than England), high in the rankings, yet one European Championship when only 8 teams took part.

For the most part, England's performances in knockout tournaments matches their FIFA rankings; quarter finals/second phase tops.

England are certainly not being overhyped at the moment. Most English fans would be pleased if they qualified from the group.



Will Germany become the first 4 time winner? No

Will another Greece or Denmark show up and surprise everybody? Funnily enough England have the best chance to do this. Although, they are weak going forward, Hodgson has them playing very compact in their half and in the last two games have looked quite difficult to score against, although vulnerable to pace. They certainly won't be exciting to watch though. A favourable result against France would be welcome. The other two games are winnable.

Will Spain continue their dominance? Yes

Will England underachieve? Not much is expected, even in England,so no. Qualifying from the group would be a success.

Will they get past Sweden? More often or not they draw with Sweden.

Denmark pulls a surprise, Group B will be very tough. Holland vs. Portugal next, which one loses is pretty much out.

Portugal were poor until they went behind. Their tactics hinder their 2 best players, Ronny and Nani. Postiga is shite up front.

Group D gets interesting also. Shevchenko still has it.

A draw is a good result for England.

Good that Ukraine won as well. Makes the group interesting.

Go Poland!

Portugal had to win Denmark. Best game so far.

Christ Spain are boring to watch.

France has been a disappointment so far. I'd rather have Ukraine beat them right now.

pieceofme wrote:Christ Spain are boring to watch.

I'd normally agree, but against such a weak time as Ireland I was rather entertained. They're going to be hard to beat by anyone once again.

SebastianLeeDanzig wrote:France has been a disappointment so far. I'd rather have Ukraine beat them right now.

pieceofme wrote:Christ Spain are boring to watch.

I'd normally agree, but against such a weak time as Ireland I was rather entertained. They're going to be hard to beat by anyone once again.

Yeah just after I typed that, they started playing entertaining football against the Irish.

I really hope they don't win it again. Prefer the Italians or the French over the Spanish at this point. Never thought I would say that.

Super Danny Welbeck!

England - Sweden was a great game. Expected a draw as England haven't beaten Sweden in a competitive match for about 40 years. Once again England seem to switch off when they go ahead and seem to need the motivation of chasing a game.

I really, really hope someone other than Spain wins. Especially if it stops the commentators having verbal orgasms (in England at least) every time they get the ball.

Where's all this hatred towards Spain is coming from? What did the spaniards ever do to you? Can't we all just get along and just hate the french like we always did?

Yeah it's just the media love in that's put people against Spain. And they do seem a little smug with themselves too.

You wanna see real smugness, wait until WE win a World Cup. Better sit down while you wait though, it may take a while.

MickeyG wrote:Super Danny Welbeck!

Good game, it was fun to watch at pub with Sweden losing.

Greece surprises again.

And the Czechs through too. Ended up a fucked up group that one.

Thought Nani was great today for Portugal, despite that bad miss. When he's at it, he's a great player. United need to tie him down and pay him Rooney money if necessary.

MickeyG wrote:Super Danny Welbeck!

It was a good goal, but he's like Bambi on ice!

shocked_the_monkey wrote:England - Sweden was a great game. Expected a draw as England haven't beaten Sweden in a competitive match for about 40 years. Once again England seem to switch off when they go ahead and seem to need the motivation of chasing a game.

I really, really hope someone other than Spain wins. Especially if it stops the commentators having verbal orgasms (in England at least) every time they get the ball.

I concur.

Go Croatia!