Friday, June 08, 2012

Euro 2012 Spectator Thread

While this is a Dodgers (and Puzzle Championship Series) blog to the core, I know many of you out there enjoy watching 22 Europeans run around and fall down a lot for an hour and a half, just as I do! With that in mind, the Sons of Steve Garvey are happy to provide a place where those with that shared interest can discuss the nuances of the aforementioned falling down. Your SoSG Euro 2012 Watching Thread starts...NOW!

We're completely impartial here, right?

188 comments:

Franklin Stubbs said...

The Greek austerity program has forced them to send 1 man off, so only 21 Europeans falling down for the moment.

Greg Hao said...

What horribly shit refereeing.

And the ESPN announcers need to be shot. Craptacular doesn't begin to describe it.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Unless a game of significant interest comes along, this will be a catch-all thread.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Yes. I hope this is the exception, not the rule, for the tournament.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Seems like it could be perfect storm of a strict referee and aggressive play.

Franklin Stubbs said...

10-on-10 now.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Poland and Greece draw 1-1. I suspect that the Greeks feel better about that result than the Poles.

Dusty Baker said...

Dammit! I just saw this thread. Thanks, Stubbs!

I almost wept when I saw the Three Lions front and center on this post. Come on, England!

I was only able to follow the first match on the computer and not actually watch it. Looked like a doozy. What the hell is the keeper doing eating sent off?

Dusty Baker said...

I had forgotten lately how shitty Arshavin has been in the Premiership.

Dusty Baker said...

Love this Soccernet in-game commentary:


9'
Lovely play from Jiracek as he beats two men and gets to the line but his cross is nodded clear by the imposing figure of Ignashevich - the sort of chap you wouldn't dare argue with in the queue for a nightclub.

Dusty Baker said...

Dzagoev scores. Commits up 1-0 early.

Dusty Baker said...

Zs for everyone!


15'
An emphatic finish from Dzagoev after Zyryanov's cross found Kerzhakov and his header cannoned back off the post.

Dusty Baker said...

2-1 Commies over former Commies 50-odd minutes in.

Dusty Baker said...

3-1 now and Russia is in command.

Franklin Stubbs said...

4-1 Final Time in Wroclaw. Russia's got an inside track to advance to the second stage, now.

Dusty Baker said...

Oooof. 4-1 and that's a final.

Dusty Baker said...

DAMMIT!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Tough game for Cech.

karina said...

I don't like games with too many goals but this one was GREAT

Franklin Stubbs said...

It definitely wasn't as much of a blowout as it seemed. The Czechs just got caught taking risks and paid the price.

Dusty Baker said...

Since I couldn't see the game, were some of the goals on Cech or was there just a shitty defence?

Franklin Stubbs said...

I didn't see the first two, Dusty, but the late goals definitely counters. Can't hold it too much against him.

Franklin Stubbs said...

^were

Dusty Baker said...

Laughing at the fact that Karina doesn't like games with too many goals. How un-American of you - I love it!

#0-0CanStillBeAGoodMatch

Franklin Stubbs said...

IIRC, Karina subscribes to the Calcio philosophy of futbol.

spank said...

Футбол? Футбол? Футбол?

Franklin Stubbs said...

Да, товарищ.

Wicks said...

How did a miss this thread? That Poland v Greece ref gave out 16 red cards in 19 La Liga matches this season. How the hell did he get picked to do Euro 2012?

Dusty Baker said...

@Wicks

I'm firmly unconvinced that fixes aren't in with UEFA when it comes to this competition, beginning with the referees.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Hup Holland Hup up in dis bish!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Whoa! Didn't see that coming!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Oh christ, you gotta score there RVP

Franklin Stubbs said...

Arjen Robben's head looks more and more like a Citroen 2CV with each passing day.

karina said...

go Holland, Denmark hasn't won a game against you in 40 years and today isn't a good day to break tradition.

karina said...

@Dusty @Stubbs Italian soccer is one of the loves of my life so indeed, don't like games with too many goals, i like strategy!

karina said...

also, it seems the three of us are the only ones interested in the EuroCup

Dusty Baker said...

Whoa, Scooby Dooing. I was on the sportsgasm thread.

Dusty Baker said...

You're right about ITA futbol. I personally don't have to have a lot of scoring in a game, but sometimes watching ITA style can get frustrating.

Dusty Baker said...

Dutch have their foot on the gas early in the second half but nothing doing yet.

Karina- what makes you pro-Dutch in this one?

Franklin Stubbs said...

@Dusty

It can be particularly frustrating when you're a goal down and there are somehow 27 Italians in the box at any given time. Hard to argue with the strategy, when well executed, though.

Dusty Baker said...

And 13 more Italians rolling around grabbing their ankle in faux agony.

karina said...

@Dusty my great-grandmother was Dutch so I have a soft spot for that country :$

and of course, since you are a Premier League lover, where every game is blood, sweat and tears, you have to get frustrated with some good ol' catenaccio at times.

karina said...

@Dusty 10:21 that was very mean :(

Dusty Baker said...

@Karina

Ahhhh, that's right. I forgot about that Karina trivia re your great grandmother.

Dusty Baker said...

45

Dusty Baker said...

@K

Mean - but true? ;-)

Dusty Baker said...

I was reminded of this old video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU0Eho3kkjs

Dusty Baker said...

Three mins of stoppage time for the Dutch.

Dusty Baker said...

^Also for the Danes. But you know what I mean.

Dusty Baker said...

And the Danes take it.

Now I need to get warmed up to hateHateHATE both teams in the next match!

spank said...

Some people call it strategy I call it kicking the ball backwards and wasting time.

spank said...

Btway that was great match between the Nederlands and Denmark.

Not really.

Enjoy your games,peeps.


AJAX!

Dusty Baker said...

I simply can't wait to hate on France.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Looking for a Portugal-Germany draw. I need reassurances that one of the two isn't going to be in the next round.

karina said...

@Dusty no, it's not *rolls eyes a little*

"simply can't wait to hate on France"

can't wait? why? I always hate on France (at least the racist ones and the ones I worked that time)

spank said...

Wash yer hair,Ronaldo!

spank said...

Germany! Woo hoo!!!!

spank said...

In case you are wondering I'm not cheering for teams i'm cheering for goals.

1-0 Krauts.

spank said...

I demand more goals ....and whistling.

Franklin Stubbs said...

That was a pitiful waste.

Dusty Baker said...

@Karina

You are absolutely right. It is entirely appropriate to hate on France each and every day.

And I do.

karina said...

great minds, Dusty.

btw, that Italy video is MEAN it's obviously British jealousy, how many cups have they won? when did they win the last one?

;)

Dusty Baker said...

1966

(cries)

Dusty Baker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dusty Baker said...

@Karina

Is your point that ENG should start diving to be more successful?

;-)

karina said...

HA! if only they would worry more about keeping the ball than making violent shows on the field ;)

Dusty Baker said...

Ok we have ESP v ITA queued up now. Who will take it?

Dusty Baker said...

This is a game from the Group of Debt.

Dusty Baker said...

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Piqué, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi; Silva, Iniesta, Fàbregas

Italy: Buffon, Maggio, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Rossi, Motta, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Marchisio, Cassano, Balotelli

Dusty Baker said...

This six midfielders with no strikers formation for Spain is quite interesting. Still no Torres?

karina said...

very nice Pirlo, as always <3

Dusty Baker said...

Great effort by Pirlo, indeed. Especially for someone who is 137 years old!

Dusty Baker said...

First big dive of the game by the ITAs. Motta got about five rolls in on that one. Which is strange bc if his upper arm were really hurt, he wouldn't want to keep rolling over it. Pfffffffftttt.

Dusty Baker said...

Things starting to get a little testy now. I like it!

karina said...

Dusty, you should concentrate all the hateHATEhate on France, just sayin'

Dusty Baker said...

Karina, there's no hate. I'm actually pulling for ITA. But facts is facts.

Someone has their Azurri-colored glasses on!

Dusty Baker said...

Great save by Casillas! I thought that was in.

Dusty Baker said...

Balotelli needs to be subbed. He's a volatile fool who is always in danger of being sent off.

Dusty Baker said...

^ Which is what Spanky's tombstone will read.

Dusty Baker said...

Iniesta was great for ESP. Cassano was strongest for ITA in the first half.

Ballack just said they had watered the pitch heavily. As if this game needed to be slowed down more?!?

Dusty Baker said...

This game got a lot more interesting in the second half!

Dusty Baker said...

But, it only had one way to go.

Dusty Baker said...

Di Natale puts ITA ahead! Nice work from the substitute.

Now maybe ESP puts in an actual striker?

karina said...

goooooooooooooool!

Pirlo is a genius!

karina said...

best game so far in the tournament, World Cup final quality

Dusty Baker said...

And ESP equalise! It is ON like Donkey Kong now.

Dusty Baker said...

This game is infinitely better than the GER v POR game.

Dusty Baker said...

Leonardo Bonucci - that is just a great name.

karina said...

"Someone has their Azurri-colored glasses on!"

Dusty, I thought blue was your color....

Dusty Baker said...

I want to see more gratuitous shots of hot futbol-mad women.

Dusty Baker said...

Hah! Exactly, Karina.

Why take Cassano off? Weird.

Why not put Torres on? Stupid.

Dusty Baker said...

That was funny what you just Tweeted, K.

Dusty Baker said...

And this one is in the books 1-1.

karina said...

So, rest of the teams playing the Eurocup, that's how you play soccer!

Dusty Baker said...

@Karina

You should definitely cc: Netherlands on that comment!

Dusty Baker said...

All you need is Duff
Duff is all you need


Come on (ex)Chelsea, get IRL back on track!

karina said...

@Dusty it's funny because it's true!

Dusty Baker said...

Gooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!

Ugliest man in ENG puts Three Lions up 1-0.

Franklin Stubbs said...

All even on Nasri's strike.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Tied at the half. ENG was looking fine until the last 15 minutes or so.

Get your shit together and come on strong in the second half, lads.

Dusty Baker said...

Shocking no one, ENG scored early on then sat back in defence.

All even after the half. Hopefully the younger players will settle in and calm down. And hopefully I will, too. Can't lost to these cheese-eating surrender monkeys.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Apparently, anything up to a full mugging will be allowed today.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Come on, England! If they're going to allow everything, y'all should be able to put the hurt on these guys.

spank said...

*dives*

Franklin Stubbs said...

Magic healing spray for everybody!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Fer fuck's sake, don't turtle up now!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Hey Roy, you know you have substitutions you can use, right?

karina said...

C'mon England, I thought it was established you're better than France, who stopped Bonaparte? who won in 1945?

karina said...

Dusty and Stubbs, you should put a link for this thread on the sidebar, please?

*puppy eyes*

Franklin Stubbs said...

@Karina

Too bad they can't call up the Prussians or Yanks in this one...

Franklin Stubbs said...

@Karina

We'll appeal to the powers-that-be. Not all Sons are created equal with respect to the sidebar.

spank said...

Marie Antoinette once said "Let them eat fish and chips".

Franklin Stubbs said...

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Now that guy new how to hit his man on the cross.

karina said...

ok, so, just in case:

@Orel @Sax @Delino @Nomo

can you put this thread's link on the sidebar?

*puppy eyes*

thanks in advance :)

Orel said...

Lucky for you I'm a sucker for puppies and for eyes. Link is below the #AJ2KC badge.

spank said...

Dang! Here i've been trying to get Nomo killed off from the Sons since day one and Karina has him in an elitest position.

Boooooo!

Just kidding Nomo.

Hideo Nomo said...

(cries)

(drinks)

(cries some more)

Dusty Baker said...

Re the result:

I'll take it!

karina said...

SHEVA <3

Dusty Baker said...

@Stubbs

What Yanks would there be to even call up? Those useless gits couldn't even qualify for the Olympics!

Franklin Stubbs said...

The traditional English choke against Sweden is out of the question now.

Franklin Stubbs said...

@Dusty

I meant Yanks and Prussians in the geopolitical sense, of course.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Though I bet Patton would be a hell of a striker, if put to it.

karina said...

@Orel thank you very much gentleman :))))))))))))

you're the best!

Franklin Stubbs said...

I'd say the Swedes should have this, but we'll see if home cooking counts for anything.

karina said...

Spank, leave Nomo alone, he rocks! (unless he's using your abuse as an excuse to drink, in that case, keep it going and cheers)

#Sonslover

MR.F said...

Is there a match going on right now? I need to satisfy my urge to frantically refresh something.

Orel said...

(blushes)

Franklin Stubbs said...

@MR. F

Ukraine-Sweden is on as we speak, so limber up your F5-pressing-finger.

Dusty Baker said...

Between meetings. What's the score?

Is Nomo still awake?

Dusty Baker said...

Why couldn't you do that for us, Sheva?

Franklin Stubbs said...

Got damn, Russia could be through today.

Franklin Stubbs said...

...aaaaand it's already 1-0.

Franklin Stubbs said...

...and another. 0-2 now.

Dusty Baker said...

Whoa! Had just got around to pulling the game up online.

Franklin Stubbs said...

The Czechs look a hell of a lot better than last week.

Dusty Baker said...

Milan Baros is still alive?

Dusty Baker said...

I'm thinking the Greeks don't end this one with all 11 on the pitch.

spank said...

GREECE SCORES!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Opa!

Dusty Baker said...

Petr Cech spilled one?

Get it all out of your system this summer, lad!

Franklin Stubbs said...

It's done. The Czechs are officially alive in group A, the Greeks are on life support.

Dusty Baker said...

Czechs just don't have much even against a poorer opponent,

And I mean poorer in every sense of the word.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Russia-Poland in Warsaw. What could possibly go wrong?

Franklin Stubbs said...

Russia's starters edge Poland's in aggregate scrabble word score. 229-223.

Dusty Baker said...

I this one any good? I can only glance down once in awhile to look at the acerbic BBC commentary.

spank said...

@ Dusty

I don't know. My eyes have been distracted by Nigella's breast...of chicken.

Franklin Stubbs said...

1-1!

spank said...

I think the riots were more entertaining than the match. Russians should know better than to march like that on Poland lands. Enough political science for the day.

Franklin Stubbs said...

What's more, there is a strong possibility for there to be a Germany-Russia matchup in the quarters or semifinals.

Dusty Baker said...

Let's see...what do we have on tap this morning?

I mean in terms of the match, not beer.

Dusty Baker said...

The Danes scratch back near the half. 2-1 greasy muppets.

karina said...

if this score remains the same (2-2) will bring some excitement to this group and some delight to some anglophiles around :)

karina said...

andiamo, Azurri!

Dusty Baker said...

1-0 ITA. Karina is happy thus far!

Dusty Baker said...

I love the irony of Italians complaining about time wasting at the end of a match.

Dusty Baker said...

Strange results from the Group of Debt.

karina said...

:(

now they are forced to have a great game vs Ireland

Dusty Baker said...

It wil be easy for them to have a great game vs IRL.

Dusty Baker said...

Hart, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Milner, Gerrard (c), Parker, Young, Welbeck, Carroll

Come on, England!!!

karina said...

this match is anything but boring

Dusty Baker said...

Three Lions on Tour!!! Hell yeah.

I was happy, then so-so, then sad, then so-so, then elated during this match. What a cracker!

#ENG2012

Franklin Stubbs said...

If Spain and Croatia draw 1-1, today has the potential to get weird.

karina said...

longing for a big Italy win

*bites nails*

Franklin Stubbs said...

Well, if Spain keeps this up, 1-1 seems unlikely.

spank said...

Somebody please score a goal.

spank said...

I was actually going to say "Ireland please score a goal" but i don't want to upset Karina and get my head bitten off.

Go Valderrama!!

karina said...

highly satisfied :)

Spank, you're a wise man you know better than anyone you don't provoke latinas :)

Franklin Stubbs said...

I was pulling for Croatia and Italy to go through because I'm sick of Spain's shit, but I'll take it.

spank said...

@ karina

true that about Latinas but someone should have told me that goes for half white half native indian ladies also which unfortunately i found out last night.

spank said...

Fuck Rooney!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Rooney can go to hell...in August.

spank said...

Damn you,Flea!

Franklin Stubbs said...

Shrek scores! 1-0 Engerland.

spank said...

Holy shit! that was close to being a goal for the ukraine.that was in

spank said...

Ukraine got screwed

Franklin Stubbs said...

Turned out not to matter for shit, though.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Not that I'll complain when France loses.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Let's go Notgermany!

karina said...

France is losing!France is losing!

Dusty Baker said...

Francelost! Francelost! Woo hooo!

@Karina

You're not going to be mean to me tomorrow, are you?

karina said...

@Dusty @Stubbs not at all, that the best team wins :)

Dusty Baker said...

Come on, England!

(I don't think we'll win)

karina said...

extra time over there!

:__________(

Dusty Baker said...

Good game. Either side had its chances could have won. ENG were overmatched this competition but played its heart out.

In the end,we're hard-wired not to be able to win on PKs.

Now I'll have to throw my full support to Italy!

karina said...

blue is a good color :)

Franklin Stubbs said...

I predict that tomorrow's match will NOT be 0-0. The possibility of another Germany-Spain final bores me, but at least Cristiano got booted.

spank said...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO