Peacemaker7

Hello.

Euro 2008 is where it's at.

Italy are clearly going to win, but the big question is - who will come second?

Watch this space!

WLKRAS

Netherlands - Introduction

In 1988 a Dutch team featuring footballing greats like Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit won their only international prize to date. They’d come close before, losing two World Cup finals in the seventies, but the Euro 88 win under legendary Rinus Michels was still their greatest achievement. Now, twenty years later, it was time for a repeat.

With a young manager with limited managerial experience heading up the squad, replacing legend van Basten just weeks before the start of Euro 2008, many had written off a Dutch challenge for the title. But they would ignore them at their own peril, because the Dutch team still had a host of world class players that could win a tournament such as this.

In goal, 37-year old record international Edwin van der Sar would most likely be first choice, with Maarten Stekelenburg and uncapped Tim Krul as his understudies.

At the back, John Heitinga, Hedwiges Maduro, Khalid Boulahrouz and Joris Matthijsen were the likely starters, but there’s a strong shadow defence available with the likes of Serginho Greene, Andre Ooijer, Ron Vlaar and Urby Emanuelson, the other uncapped player of the squad.

The Dutch midfield has the potential to be devastating to any opponent, but it could be risky to play first choices Van der Vaart and Sneijer alongside each other as both a very attacking minded. Stronger opponents might warrant playing a more defensive player such as Nigel de Jong or Denny Landzaat. On the wings Arjan Robben and Robin van Persie are the likely starters, though Ryan Babel might get to play on the wing if he can’t force his way into the team up front.

The Dutch strikers are name for name among the top in the world. Dirk Kuyt and Ruud van Nistelrooij have scored ten goals between them in the last five games for their country and look the likely starting pair. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Collins John and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will be the secret weapons deploying from the bench.

A group with PM7’s Italy, fc olympic’s Greece and the Czech Republic might be tough, but anything less than progression from the group stages won’t do.

Terk

Spain

We underachieve. It’s the law. That’s probably why Fernando Morientes is in the squad. He’s an underachiever. All you have to do is look at the 2010 World Cup – yeah, the one in the future – for proof that we don’t do as well as we should. We beat the Dutch. On Penalties. I think that’s still a sore point for them. Then we lost to Nigeria. That was embarrassing. But this is the European Championships, we can’t suffer that fate again, Nigeria aren’t allowed in.

Our group shouldn’t be a problem. Switzerland are *****, Israel shot Welwyn last time he tried to manage them, and France, well they lost to Scotland. Twice. They must be ****.


Goalkeepers
Iker Casillas (Or ‘Superman’ as the Dutch like to call him) – Real Madrid
Pepe Reina – Liverpool
VÃ*ctor Valdés – Barcelona

Defenders
Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
Pablo – Atlético Madrid
Gerard Piqué – Manchester United
Raúl Albiol – Valencia
Antonio López – Atlético Madrid
Asier Del Horno – Valencia
Andoni Iraola – Athletic Bilbao

Midfielders
Xabi Alonso – Liverpool
Alberto Zapater – Inter
Francesc FÃ*bregas – Arsenal
Cani – Villarreal
Jesús Navas – Sevilla
JoaquÃ*n – Valencia
Luis GarcÃ*a – Liverpool
Vicente – Valencia
Andrés Iniesta – Barcelona

Strikers
Bojan Krkic – Barcelona
Fernando Torres – Atlético Madrid
Fernando Morientes – Sevilla
David Villa – Valencia

Peacemaker7

Italy Squad 2008

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Marco Amelia | GK | Okay | 8-7-6-9-7 | 100% | 4 | - | 7.75 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Gianluigi Buffon | GK | Very Good | 9-8-8-7-7 | 100% | 4 | - | 7.50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | Bid | Alberto Fontana | GK | Superb | 8 | 94% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Cristian Zaccardo | D R | Okay | 7-9-7-9-7 | 100% | 7 | - | 7.00 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Emiliano Moretti | D LC, WB L | Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 100% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Dario Dainelli | D C | Very Good | 6-8-9-7-7 | 100% | 0 (1) | - | 6.00 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Alessandro Gamberini | D C | Very Good | 7-7-8-6-8 | 96% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Alessandro Nesta | D C | Poor | 7-6-8-7-7 | 100% | 4 | - | 7.00 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Gianluca Zambrotta | D/WB RL, M R | Okay | 7-6-8-7-5 | 100% | 2 | - | 6.50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Giorgio Chiellini | D/WB L | Okay | 6-5-7-6-7 | 100% | 5 | 2 | 7.40 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Fabio Grosso | D/WB/M L | Very Good | 7-8-6-7-7 | 100% | 5 (1) | 1 | 6.50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Andrea Pirlo | DM | Poor | 6-7-7-6-7 | 100% | 8 | 1 | 6.50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Gennaro Ivan Gattuso | DM, M RC | Good | 7-6-7-6-6 | 100% | 7 | - | 7.00 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Christian Ledesma | M C | Good | 8-7-6-8-7 | 100% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Mauro Camoranesi | AM R | Okay | 6-6-6-6-7 | 97% | 7 | - | 7.29 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei | AM RL | Okay | 5-6-7-6-6 | 100% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Fabio Quagliarella | AM RL, ST | Poor | 6-7-5-8-6 | 100% | 0 (2) | - | 5.50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Gaetano D'Agostino | AM LC | Good | 6-5-5-7-7 | 95% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Riccardo Montolivo | AM LC | Very Good | 6-7-7-6-8 | 100% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Amauri | ST | Okay | 7-8-7-6-8 | 100% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Vincenzo Iaquinta | ST | Okay | 7-7-5-7-8 | 100% | 3 | 2 | 7.67 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Luca Toni | ST | Very Good | 8-9-8-7-7 | 100% | 6 (1) | 7 | 7.71 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | MatÃ*as Vuoso | ST | Good | 7-6-8-8-8 | 96% | - | - | - | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

WLKRAS

Before the start of the tournament, Collins John spoke to the press and said he was confident that the Dutch could lift the trophy twenty years after they’d first managed to do so. With Marco van Basten surprisingly joining the backroom staff at the request of the new manager as well as Ruud Gullit, there are people who’ve done it before and possibly can inspire the squad to new heights.

We opened our quest for glory against reigning champions Greece, in the opening game of the tournament. Collins John was suspended for the game, but he hadn’t been expected to start anyway. The defending champions fired some early shots, but Van der Sar wasn’t troubled by any of that and gradually the Dutch started to roam forward. Dirk Kuyt fired a barrage, but those all went high of the mark.

On the half hour, a cross by Ruud van Nistelrooij was diverted into his own net by Tavlaridis. That promptly opened the floodgates. Van der Vaart intercepted a pass forward and put in Dirk Kuyt who made a great finish for 2-0. He then provided a good cross in from the left for Robin van Persie to make it 3-0 and the game seemed already over. Star performers Kuyt and Robben were subbed off at half time. Things looked to get a bit dicey when Hedwiges Maduro was unjustly sent off twenty minutes from the end, but goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ruud van Nistelrooij sealed an impressive first win. Not quite the defence of their title that the Greeks had in mind.

Peacemaker7

1-0, it's the Italy way.

We started Euro 2008 with two Argentinians and a Brazilian in the first eleven and another Brazilian on the bench. My motto is, if you can't beat them - nick their players. The line up for this crucial opener with the Czech Republic would be Buffon; Zaccardo, Nesta, Moretti, Grosso; Taddei, Gattuso, Ledesma, D'Agostino; Vuoso, Toni

We expected a touch match and we got it, but with Dutch showing too many cards against Greece, we needed a win here - whatever it took. Half time came and went goalless, before Taddei made an incredible run just after half time, but his effort was inches over the bar. Seconds later we were ahead, Vuoso from a tight angle. It is hard to say we played well in this game, but this is Italy.


1-0, it's the Italy way.

Welwyn

Israel

It was weird for several reasons:

I’m a 27-year old ex-pro who only played for Luton, Rushden & Newport Co. before my injuries forced me to call it a day.
I have no coaching qualifications.
I had a dream about me being killed by Mossad last night!

So why, for the sack of Bethlehem, have I just received a phone call from the Israeli FA offering me the National job!

Still, I was only the picket line (I’d become a postie), the money was good & with both France & Spain in the group they only wanted respectability, thank goodness. What was I meant to do, TURN IT DOWN!

You see, the only problem with moving to Israel & then Swiss/Austria so quickly is that although you can have 2 laptops. Only one is Internet compatible so when the keyboard stops working for it you’ve no hope. Have you! (Sorry Lads). Thank God for Zip Discs!

HD

Turkey

The only real points for discussion following my announcement of the Turkey squad were the choice of a Brazilian midfielder and of the old and young strikers of Galatasaray - seventeen year old Sultan Cem and forty seven year old Hakan Sukur.

The group contained Portugal, Romania and Austria, sides which were better than Turkey, so it was really all about getting a little more tournament experience. At least, that was what I felt.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Club | Height | Weight | Age | Value | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | Sus | Demirel Volkan | GK | Lyon | 6'3" | 14 st 0 lbs | 26 | £2.9M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | GK | | Reçber Rüstü | GK | Fenerbahçe | 6'1" | 13 st 0 lbs | 35 | £1.7M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Ak Orhan | D LC | Galatasaray | 5'10" | 11 st 9 lbs | 28 | £975K | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Ümit Özat | D LC, WB L, DM | Fenerbahçe | 6'1" | 13 st 3 lbs | 31 | £1.7M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Zan Gökhan | D C | Besiktas | 6'4" | 13 st 7 lbs | 26 | £375K | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Çetin Servet | D C | Lazio | 6'3" | 13 st 7 lbs | 27 | £1.7M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S4 | | Alpay | D C | Köln | 6'2" | 12 st 12 lbs | 35 | £60K | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S5 | | Hamit Altintop | D/WB R, DM | Atlético | 6'0" | 12 st 10 lbs | 25 | £3.2M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Kurtulus Serdar | D/WB R, DM | Besiktas | 6'0" | 12 st 6 lbs | 20 | £2.5M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Topuz Mehmet | D/WB R, AM RC | Besiktas | 6'0" | 12 st 1 lbs | 24 | £2.9M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S6 | | Mehmet Aurélio | DM | Fenerbahçe | 5'10" | 11 st 11 lbs | 30 | £1.8M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MC | | Belözoglu Emre | M LC | Newcastle | 5'7" | 11 st 4 lbs | 27 | £3.9M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MC | | Nuri Sahin | M C | Dortmund | 5'10" | 11 st 6 lbs | 19 | £4.7M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MC | | Leon Osman | AM RC | Everton | 5'8" | 10 st 12 lbs | 27 | £3.9M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S1 | | Turan Arda | AM RL | Galatasaray | 5'10" | 11 st 6 lbs | 21 | £3.5M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FR | Inj | Halil Altintop | AM R, ST | Gelsenkirchen | 6'1" | 12 st 12 lbs | 25 | £5.75M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S2 | | Sanli Tuncay | AM LC, F C | Fenerbahçe | 6'0" | 11 st 11 lbs | 26 | £4.3M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S7 | | Yildiray Bastürk | AM C | Bremen | 5'6" | 10 st 7 lbs | 29 | £7M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FL | | Nihat | AM/F C | Villarreal | 5'9" | 11 st 2 lbs | 28 | £6.25M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S3 | | Márcio Nobre | ST | Besiktas | 6'0" | 12 st 10 lbs | 27 | £3.2M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | Sus | Ünal Gökhan | ST | PSV | 6'1" | 12 st 3 lbs | 25 | £4.3M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FC | | Hakan Sükür | ST | Galatasaray | 6'3" | 13 st 12 lbs | 36 | £30K | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FC | | Sultan Cem | ST | Galatasaray | 6'0" | 12 st 6 lbs | 17 | £2.2M | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Panpardus

England

So here we are again and after coaching in the future in the World Cup Terk referred too I've decided I'm glutton for punishment so here we are again.

First up is the game again Sweden and I know ill do crap, the squad is crap, Austria and Switzerland is a crap place to be and lets face it, my tactics just suck we can have 55% of the possession, have a truck load of shots and just can't score, although it might help if we didnt have useless tools up front.

Shrek missed a sitter, Bent couldnt hit the side of the barn from 5 yards out, Hargreaves just sucked and dont get me started with that poor excuse of a keeper.

England 0 - 1 Sweden

I might not even last to the end of the group stage the way this is going!

HD

Turkey 1-2 Portugal

As expected we were ineffective for all but the opening 20 seconds of this game. Admittedly, we scored in that period, Sultan Cem getting his debut off to a fine start, but Portugal took over, scored twice before half time and saw the second half out with some degree of ease.

Belezoglu Emre was sent off in the second half, costing us his services for the next game, against group favourites Romania, so it will simply be another learning opportunity on that occasion.