Euro 2012 draw is done: let the tournament begin (No americans allowed - nothing personal)

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**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Stick your money on Germany winning the tournament, because 1) they can't stop winning and 2) the way the euro is going, Germany will get your money anyway!

Americans are more than welcome, but seeing as this is a european soccer tournament, can you add anything to the debate? Now, if there is a fanatical soccer fan from america on this site keen to be involved, then I apologise and will probably be forced by the mods to backtrack. But the bottom line is, this thread will probably end up descending into most brits moaning about how bad England are. Our american friends don't need that.

As for our lads, well, it'll be another summer of under achievement to rank up there with Taylor/Keegan/Maclaren et al

Anyway, here's the draw in full:

GROUP A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic

Group A is the weakest,and people will back Russia, but take a tip from a regular football gambler and stick your money on Greece. They need it! and they're on a good run

GROUP B
Germany
Holland
Denmark
Portugal

If there was ever a group of death, this is it. Talk about a bookmaker's nightmare. Tough to call it between Germany and Holland. Germany have not lost a game in almost 2 years, and holland are pretty good too.

GROUP C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia

The group of debt.

couldn't resist the financial joke. Spain red hot favourites. Spain so red hot that they are hotter than Kelly Brook in hot pants

my thanks to Alan Partridge for that joke.

]GROUP D
England
France
Ukraine
Sweden

As usual our newspapers will be convinced that all we have to do is turn up and the trophy is ours. And like most years, we'll buy it. Why do we do this to ourselves, and can we record our first competitive victory over the swedes?

**rodgers37**

First things first, just because there are Americans on here, don't call it Soccer, at least say Football (soccer).

Secondly, Germany vs Spain final. Winner depends on Germany's tactics to be honest. Spain are good enough to out last any team, and score a goal at some point in 120 mins, on penalties I would probably go for the Germans, so if Spain don't win before then....

I don't know if the papers will be bigging up England this time around to be honest (and then making out that all the players are morally evil or some such rubbish, that is just about everything you don't want your players to be subjected to before a major tournament). Its not even under achievement as you say, why should we be achieving more? Its only because the media hypes up our players. Just go and watch Lampard for chelsea, he got a lot more goals and praise when he was playing with Essien and Ballack, now Ballack has gone and Essien seems to be injured all the time Lampard is just average. Thats what a lot of English players are, over hyped. The English players, more than any I would say benefit a huge amount from foreign influence in this league. If you watch Italian or Spainish football, is there such diverse tactics are there are in the Premiership? I don't think so, because the Italian and Spanish teams, to an extent represent the way the national teams play.

I think England need to do what Gary Speed (RIP) was doing for Wales, focusing on building up a young talented team, get rid of Lampard, Gerrard, Terry, Rio, even then start to think about players like Cole, Defoe (who isn't really playing much) etc. Players like Whilshire, Sturridge, Rodwell need to be the forefront of the England set up from now on, if we are to anything in a major tournament.

Each group, my opinion. Russia and Greece from group A, not sure who will win. B, I actually think either Germany or Holland could fail to get out of the group, depending on Ronaldo's form for Portugal, and which one beat the other in there game. I'm going for Germany and Portugal. C, obviously Spain. And to be honest Italy seem to be getting better agin, and will be too strong for RoI and Croatia, but anyone is going to cause a shock next summer, it has to be ROI. Group D, England and France. Beating Sweden recently, will give us the confidence to beat them next summer, Ukraine aren't all that special and even a home advantage won't take them through. France, definatly a lot better than they were last year, so should also make it through.

If England then get Group A runner up (not sure how it works, is it group A winner vs Group B runner up, and C against D etc etc?), we can make it through to Semi-finals, if we have to play Italy, well that would be very tough and depends on what team Capello goes for to be honest.

To be honest, things can change, if Spain for example lost Xavi and Iniesta, I don't think their quite ready to play without the both of them. They would have to play differently, and then with the right tactics even Croatia and RoI could beat them. Capello could go for all the 'experienced' players which would be a huge mistake. All these predictions could do with updating just before the tournament starts to be honest.

**alarmingrick**

I'm crashing your thread, just because i'm American.
Go Yankees!1!1!! Hurr....

**Jihadin**

Whatever the octopus picks

**rodgers37**

P.S

Grant Holt should obviously be playing for England

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jihadin wrote:Whatever the octopus picks

Think he died...

**halonachos**

Jihadin wrote:Whatever the octopus picks

That octopus is good at picking teams.

**Jihadin**

So the octopus figured out soccar pretty much......think it could figure out crickett for us?

**halonachos**

We might need two octopi to do that.

**kronk**

I think that Germany or Holland will win your European Soccer Thingy. Someone from Group B. I wish everyone the best of luck, though.

How come we don't get to play in this European cup?

**rodgers37**

Probably the same reason no one else gets to play in the Baseball World Series

**Jihadin**

Its the europe cup?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have to ask....anyone in UK play baseball? seriously? like for shiats and grins?...or football...american football....we play rugby over here so yes we donate blood

**kronk**

Oh. I see rodgers37.

Well, best of luck to all in your Euro-Cup soccer thingy!

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Jihadin, Paul the octupus is dead...:( Like so many of his countrymen, he died in a tank (this was a popular joke in england the day after!)

European Championship is its full title.

Rodgers, you're wrong about Portugal IMO but correct with your views on team selection. It'll probably be a Terry/Upson centre back partnership again! :( I've seen old people move faster than those two!

Potentially, I think england could play germany in the quarters as I think is is A vs C and B vs D in the knockout.

**alarmingrick**

kronk wrote:Oh. I see rodgers37.

Well, best of luck to all in your Euro-Cup soccer thingy!

Agreed! and may the cup fit whoever wins it!

**Jihadin**

well...we know who wins when they start airing the riots on Fox news

**rodgers37**

Jihadin wrote:Its the europe cup?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have to ask....anyone in UK play baseball? seriously? like for shiats and grins?...or football...american football....we play rugby over here so yes we donate blood

Don't know of anyone playing baseball in the UK. But there are a few American football teams around, we had a coach come into school (when I was still there, this was 4+ years ago) from a team in Norwich and had a couple of sessions trying it out. Was quite fun, think they have a team at my Uni now, should probably find out and try it again, was good.

**Albatross**

I feel sorry for Republic of Ireland, as I like to see them do well. They're fethed. England will do well, as always, but I can't see us winning the thing - we've proven that we can beat any team on our day, but I think the Germans will be too strong for everyone this time round. Even Spain. I'm backing several of England's younger players to make an impact - has the squad been selected yet? Did Adam Johnson make the cut? I hope he will, I think he'll be a big player for us in years to come.

**d-usa**

Germany vs Spain seems like a likely final, with Germany winning the cup.

Of course I am not just saying that because I am German.

And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

**xxmatt85**

I'm only posting this to get my 300th post

.

**SagesStone**

d-usa wrote:Germany vs Spain seems like a likely final, with Germany winning the cup.

Of course I am not just saying that because I am German.

And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

This.

The octopus has spoken.

**Snrub**

MFW there are more American posts then British posts ITT.

Yanks - 12
Poms - 7

**kronk**

We like soccer here. I've been watching the premier cup league on Saturday mornings lately.

**SagesStone**

13-7

It is now a game inside a thread about a game.

**Coolyo294**

n0t_u wrote:13-7

It is now a game inside a thread about a game.

Gameception.

**Jihadin**

And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

You all just can't let that go can you.........

**d-usa**

Jihadin wrote:
And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

You all just can't let that go can you.........

At least we got revenge for Wembley last year, so it's all good.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also: should my posts count towards the US or Europe?

**Jihadin**

Make a Tie column D-USA?

**Albatross**

Jihadin wrote:
And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

You all just can't let that go can you.........

Well, to be fair, we can't stop going on about those wars we won against them.

**d-usa**

Albatross wrote:
Jihadin wrote:
And as a German I don't care if we win, as long as we get to beat England...

You all just can't let that go can you.........

Well, to be fair, we can't stop going on about those wars we won against them.

Best story I ever heard from a Brit:

It was some sort of exhibition game between Germany and England (could have been a U21 game or something like that), Germany was beating the gak out of England. Lots of chanting going back and forth between the sides in the stadium (I still think that there is no better chanting or singing in a stadium than at a soccer game).

When it was clear that there was no possibility of England getting the goals to win the game the entire English side started to sing "We won the war, we won the war"

And that is why soccer is awesome.

**mattyrm**

Two world wars and one world cup Eio Eio!