Euro 2004 Football discussion

[DarkMaster]

Let me know when your dogs can do that.

Don't have a dog and I was only talking about putting a header in a goal on a corner. When you don't have time and talent you focus on the simplest thing and repeat them until you mastered them fully. Their forward and midfielder clearly didn't know any other trick.

As for their defense I guess it falls under the WC US team category, except that defense is everything but exciting.

Yes great achievement for their coach, but nobody will make me say that their forwards and midfielder were International competition material.

 

[barsoomcore]

I really should avoid picking on someone who's clearly in so much pain, but I just can't resist:

I could teach a dog to do it

Possibly, but evidently nobody was able to teach the Czechs or the Portugese to do it. The Portugese had, what TEN corners in that game? And failed to score even once? Gee, maybe it's not so simple after all. Or else your average footballer is less intelligent than, say, a Yorkshire terrier.

Your whining doesn't prove anything except that lots of people in this world are sore losers. The Greeks played a smart, tough, cool-headed game and they deserved that trophy. You didn't enjoy watching, fine -- but I saw plenty of excited people in the streets afterwards, so maybe it wasn't a complete snorer.

And hey, look at all this conversation it's generating!

 

[DarkMaster]

I really should avoid picking on someone who's clearly in so much pain, but I just can't resist:

Possibly, but evidently nobody was able to teach the Czechs or the Portugese to do it. The Portugese had, what TEN corners in that game? And failed to score even once? Gee, maybe it's not so simple after all. Or else your average footballer is less intelligent than, say, a Yorkshire terrier.

No they just have other stuff to practice. The reason I use dog is not to compare the greek player intelligence with dogs, they are obviously smarter than that. My point was that It doesn't require a tremendous amount of training to become good at it. And from what I saw on the field I was under the impression that offensively that was the only thing the Greeks could do.

Your whining doesn't prove anything except that lots of people in this world are sore losers. The Greeks played a smart, tough, cool-headed game and they deserved that trophy. You didn't enjoy watching, fine -- but I saw plenty of excited people in the streets afterwards, so maybe it wasn't a complete snorer.

And hey, look at all this conversation it's generating!

As a European I am ashamed that this team will represent us against the various International team. Can't Imagine an Argentina-Greece. The average Argentinean will look at the game and wonder what happened to European football, they might lose but they will still wonder what happened to the European quality of play.

My guess is that if the rumor about their coach is true, we won't even see them in Germany and I won't hear any BS about the incredible football ability of the Greeks. Don't get me wrong if the quality of their play improves my opinion will change, but until then....

And as for seeing people in the street that only proves one of two things, you are either living in Greece or in an area where a lot of Greek lives like I do.

 

[barsoomcore]

No they just have other stuff to practice.

Nothing that helps them win football games, obviously. Maybe they're spending too much time rehearsing for their Addidas commercials.

My point was that It doesn't require a tremendous amount of training to become good at it.

Again, evidently it takes more training than any other team was able to put in to this tournament.

Your argument is that the Greeks are a crappy team. You offer as evidence the fact that they scored two goals on the same maneuver. This is obviously nonsense, because given the EXACT SAME opportunities, only TEN TIMES as often, the Portugese were unable to score a single goal.

So suggesting that this is a simple tactic that anyone can learn only begs the question -- why were the Greeks so spectacularly better at it than the Portugese?

And if your argument to that is, "The Portugese were practicing lots of things," then the only sensible conclusion is that whatever things they practiced were the WRONG things for this game. And a team that can't figure out how to play against another team is a team that doesn't deserve to win.

And from what I saw on the field I was under the impression that offensively that was the only thing the Greeks could do.

You may be right. It might be true that offensively the only thing the Greeks could do was score more goals than their opponents.

I would say, even if corner kicks were the ONLY offensive play the Greeks could succeed with, that STILL puts them ahead of the Czechs, the Portugese and the French -- none of whom came up with ANY offensive plays they could succeed with. I say that ONE is better than NONE. Infinitely better, if you want to get mathematical about it.

As a European I am ashamed that this team will represent us against the various International team. Can't Imagine an Argentina-Greece.

Why aren't you ashamed of the French or English or other "star" teams that are supposed to be so good? Why take your ire out on a bunch of hard-working players who were smart and determined enough to carry out a plan against what are supposedly the best players in the world?

My guess is that if the rumor about their coach is true, we won't even see them in Germany and I won't hear any BS about the incredible football ability of the Greeks.

Oh, well, unfounded predictions about the future lend a lot of weight to your argument. Now you've got me convinced. At least we know you aren't bitter.

And as for seeing people in the street that only proves one of two things, you are either living in Greece or in an area where a lot of Greek lives like I do.

Right. Because one would expect if, say, the Czechs won, then Portugese people all over the world would be celebrating like mad. Now you're just getting silly.

 

[DarkMaster]

Right. Because one would expect if, say, the Czechs won, then Portugese people all over the world would be celebrating like mad. Now you're just getting silly.

I give up, the Greek are the most talented team I ever saw in my life, they make perfect pass 89% of the time they dribble like no one else, they can take all kind of difficult shot and all kind of position and still place the ball where they want. Their midfielder have an incredible vision of the game and can always spot the demarked forward and can improvise when needed. Their forward can feint half the opposing team and still get to score a goal.

Hope everyone is happy and realised how all I just say don't make sense.

I like to tease the English or the Italian when Beckham or Baggio miss a penality and say all kind of things. But Inside I know that these two are or were amazing players. So no I am not ashamed to see them misses a penality or a team like Spain or France lose to a purely tactical game without any essence or talent. I prefer listening to a violin virtuoso who do some mistake but put some humanity and passion in his play than a cold perfect computer playing a bunch of notes.

Finding a loop in a system and win from it doesn't make you interesting and doesn't ingnite any passion for the sport. Seeing Baros drive inside and making that last second improvised and beautiful pass that leads to a goal will create more excitement and desire to go play than seeing a bunch of normal guy playing according to a very strict plan and win.

I don't agree with you last statement when the Brazilian won the world cup everybody was happy, a lot of people from different nationality where behind them, why because they have a flamboyant and incredible style of play, not because they play a stupid defensive game perfectly. Everytime I go see a Brazilian game in a cafe or bar more than half the people cheering for them never even put a single feet in south America. Now you explain that

 

[OakwoodDM]

Your argument is that the Greeks are a crappy team. You offer as evidence the fact that they scored two goals on the same maneuver. This is obviously nonsense, because given the EXACT SAME opportunities, only TEN TIMES as often, the Portugese were unable to score a single goal.

So suggesting that this is a simple tactic that anyone can learn only begs the question -- why were the Greeks so spectacularly better at it than the Portugese?

I think at least part of this was because of the shocking play of the Portuguese goalkeeper. I mean, what possessed him to think that charging out to an area where at least 4 other people are between him and where the ball was coming from was a good idea?

 

[barsoomcore]

I give up, the Greek are the most talented team I ever saw in my life

Excellent. We're done here.

 

[DarkMaster]

Excellent. We're done here.

Yeah can't wait to see two teams like the greek playing together. Don't forget the ecstasy we will need it to stay awake.