Euro 2012 - Day 1!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:16 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Friday, June 08, 2012
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- How much are you prepared to watch?
- Euro 2012 Preview - Ukraine
- No-nonsense Polish Cops
- Euro 2012 Preview - Sweden
- Let's Be Havin' Ya!
- Euro 2012 Preview - France
- The Guardian Euro 2012 Animated Series
- Euro 2012 Preview - England!
- Canada vs USA
- Euro 2012 Preview - Croatia
346 Comments:
Of course ESPN is skipping the opening ceremonies (bunch of numpties) so I'll be watching on our favorite site here:
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/125928/1/watch-2012-uefa-european-football-championship-:-opening-ceremony-.html
Welcome to our house... keep out of the family silver!!!
I'm casing the joint right now, mate. Shadow is pretending that he doesn't know me.
Good morning BD. I hope Shadow is not treating you like a burglar.What time do the ceremonies commence?
Way hay - the ITV coverage has started on the link with Butch Wilkins, Graeme Souness and Trevor Francis in the studio.
Morning, MUR - the opening ceremony is set to kick off in a matter of five minutes time from Warsaw. Try that link that I posted. It's got ITV coverage out of England on Link 2.
Cheers BD. Graeme Souness and Trevor Francis are starting to show their age.
BLOODY HELL! Why do they need a retractable roof? That is not conducive to footie?
Link is not working at my school
I have to run an honor roll lunch in about 15 minutes any way
Hello UWS? How are you? Will you be around for Russia vs the Czechs?
I'm just reliving my favorite Opening Ceremony moment ever - the Diana Ross penalty miss during the USA 94 opener while singing "I'm Coming Out."
Hey MUR
I will be home a little before 3 pm my time... I think the k.o. is 2:45
It will be like that for me for the next two weeks
I reckon that UWS should get home around 3pm, so might miss a bit of the late match today. Silly billy.
Here's that link for Diana:
http://www.complex.com/sports/2010/06/the-50-most-badass-moments-in-world-cup-history/diana-ross-penalty-miss
I missed that opening ceremony because I was teaching summer school and just barely made it home for Germany vs Bolivia. Also, I have not seen the opening ceremonies.
Bloody access denied again!!
I am off to my lucheon.
Talk to you guys later
TTFN
Cheers UWS!
This is the most underwhelming opening ceremony that I can remember. For Euro 96 they had SAS parachuters dropping onto the pitch. This year, they've just got the Polish and Greek players getting an early touch of the pitch. WTF?
See you soon, UWS!
Bagel and coffee dispatched. Thanks, BD. I thought I missed something. The announcer said that there are two French ringers starting for Poland.
Marvelous - I left at 4am to get here this morning and ran by Denny's on the way for a spot of Grand Slamage.
Still another twenty minutes till the opening ceremonies. A really brief opening ceremony in store for us.Harlingen has had longer fireworks shows!
Our family enjoys Denny's and the slamages. A favorite in our town!
I agree - I've seen more pomp and circumstance at your average high school graduation ceremony. Is this the new European austerity in action?
The key will be whether the skipper and Dortmund club mate , Blacyzowski,can supply Leeuwandoski with service from midfield. Balscyzowski chipped in with six goals for Dortmund this season.Sssuedio may have a quiet match today
I am not sure, but really disappointing. I know they are not into halftime shows and ceremonies,but still ...
So Greece will be facing a host nation in the opening match of a Euro for the second time in three tournaments.An Interesting coincidence.
I think Chalkias , the Greek keeper,had a short disasterous spell with Pompey.
The team news out of Warsaw:
Poland - Sussudio, Pisczerek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Beoni, Murawski, Polanski, Blaszcynk, Obraniak, Rybus, Lewandowski.
Subs: Sandomski, Wotkowski, Kamnski, Dudka, Matusczyk, Subtech.
Greece - Chalkias, Torosidis, Papastopilis, Holebas, Maniatis, Katsouranis, Karagounis, Ninis, Gekas, Samaras.
Subs: Tzoridis, Tzavelas, Matezas, Papadopoulis, Makos, Liberogoulis, Mitrogloudis.
The ESPN coverage has started with Big Red and Michael Bollocks in the studio.
I wonder if I should turn off my ITV link. Those two announcers are a nightmare come true.
I competed my second pre- match trip to the loo. I hope I am set till halftime.
The stadium look like an over sized tent!
Some important implications straight away for our Euro 2012 predictions game.
Blue Devil, Gooner, Matt, Red Devil, Simon, and UWS have all chosen Robert Lewandowski to score the first goal. Chelskilad has chosen some bloke named Pawel Brozek who doesn't appear to be in the squad for today - sorry, Tony. MUR has chosen Jakub Blasczykowkski who is playing.
Someone and Thomas are plumping for Georgios Samaras as first scorer in the tournament.
On the red card front, MUR is going for Greece's Vasilis Torisidis.
It looks more like a B movie version of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Now we're getting some silly dancing and costumes for the opening ceremonies. That's what we were looking for!
Better , but both countries are wearing the same outfits, but just different colors. I know they are neighboring countries, but they are not that culturally similar. There must be some sort of difference.
Now ESPN is showing it , but they are a minute behind. A bunch of nupties!
Actually ITV is about ten seconds behind!
Way hay - the ceremonies are over and the teams are in the tunnel now. First match approaching.
Three Dortmund players are starting for Poland this evening.
It looks like it's Ian Darke and Macca on the mic this afternoon.
Bloody Hell ! Spanish officials. The last thing we need is theatrical refs to start this tournament. FIFA needs to address that too.
Now the national anthems.
A stirring rendition of the Polska national anthem now.
I'm hoping for a good open game with lots of chances, of course. There's all to play for in this one, especially for the Poles.
Me too, but I don't see it happening unless the Poles score early.
And we're off from Warsaw.
So Greece get us started!
Lewandowski called for a foul that wasn't . I have a feeling this is a fussy ref.
First chance for Lewandowski - he's whistled for a cheap foul.
Now Polanski is called for minimal contact. LET THEM PLAY!
Early free kick chance here for Greece - set pieces could be key.
You're right - the Spanish officials are being a wee bit fussy.
Another cheap foul. I had a feeling it would be this way with a Spanish officiating crew.
First big chance there for Poland leads to a shot from Murawski. Good tip over from Chialkis.
Chalkias makes a theatrical catch. No wonder why he didn't make it at Pompey , then the Greeks block two efforts from Lewndowski before Chalkias superbly tips over from Polanski. Then Rybus shoots wide from the corner.
The Poles are looking good here after a shaky initial start.
I agree, but it may be that they are playing a poor Greek side that qualified from a really weak group.
Is Shadow being a gracious host?
True - but Poland might just be good enough.
I've bribed Shadow into submission.
We Will see the merits of the Polish side when they face their fellow Eastern European foes.
Well in mate!
Gekas heads wide from a long free kick. Similar tactics to 2004.
That free kick shows the danger posed by Greece. Nearly in for a decent header there Gekas.
Blasted over by the player I predicted to score the first goal of the tournament. I am not pleased about that. He should have scored.
Will you be around for the U.S. match this evening?
Oh - you were almost in with the two points there, MUR - you boys just had a chance but they scrambled it away.
Oh - how did Lewandowski not open the scoring there?
A great move down the right and a horrible cross intended for Lewandowski for what should have been an easy tap in.
You and some others almost had two points too.
Yeah - it's coming one way or another.
The Poles have had a lot of joy down the right. They are taking advantage of the Uruguayan born left back, who did not play a single match in the qualifiers. Fernando Santos may want to rethink that
Lewnadowski drags an effort well wide.
GOAL !!! 1-0 POLAND AND LEWNDOWSKI SCORES EASILY WITH A HEADER FROM CLOSE RANGE. ANOTHER MOVE DOWN THE RIGHT.
YESSSSS!!!!!!! Lewandowski nods home the opener. Two points for me, Gooner, Matt, Red Devil, Simon, and UWS!
Lovely cross and finish.
Where is that solid Greek defending? They were all over the place. That Uruguayan is having a mare.
That goal was coming; the Greeks had been warned. I'm liking the look of the way that the Poles have gone about this match.
Congrats lads. I didn't think the Greeks would be this charitable.Congratulations!
I agree. Definitely not the team of 2004.
Perhaps there is a red card to come. Some fussy Spanish official may help yours truly!
Now it looks as if one of the Greek central defenders - Papadopoulos - is going to have to come off.
Will you be around for the U.S. vs Antigua?
It seems that way as a replacement is about to come on.
Oh yeah - it's wall to wall footer today. Looking forward to it. This is just a tasty amuse bouche.
The Greeks are really off the pace and it won't get any easier ion the next two matches.
It will be that way on Tuesday too.
Katsouranis tries a pop from distance. Nothing doing.
Katsoranis has a weak effort go well wide.
Two good , old fashioned , honest challenges from each side. Credit to the ref for letting them play and having a laugh with the players.
Chalkias did decent job to punch away the corner, but not getting much help from his back four.
Free kick now for Poland....comes to nothing.
A Polish free kick is easily headed away and Samoras is muscled offff the ball by someone half his side. Would Neil Lennon tolerate in the physical SPL?
The Greeks win a soft free kick about a foot to the right of the box.
Now it's the Greek turn...Foul called
Take two as the ref saw something he didn't like and the retake goes horribly wrong.
After early Polish dominance, the Greeks are slowly getting back into this match.
Better from Samaras as he runs directly at the Poles. That is his strength, but he lacked any support.
Now Karagouinas goes down rather easily and wins a free kick.
I don't think Sseseudio has had a save to make. Few touches for the Gunners number one.
The first booking of the tournament is for Sokratis and I don't think it was even a foul , let alone a booking as he was called for a push on Lewandowski.
First yellow goes to Papastopilis.
One Papadopoulis for another.
Aussie born Avraam Papadopolis is being replaced by Kyriakos Paopadopolus as he goes off injured.
Oh - Perquis blows a big chance wide right after another shambles at the back.
Perquis drags an effort wide off a free kick and that was a decent opportunity.
The second Papadopolis plays his club footie for Schalke.
A corner for the Greeks that is headed out for another that is punched away by Sseudio and the Poles win a corner on the counter. More shambolic Greek defending.
West Ham Rising is already on the email begging for the two points even though he only specified "the most skillful Polish player." I'm feeling charitable so I'll give him the points.
Chalkias struggles to punch away the corner and shows why he struggled in his brief spell in the EPL.
Wasilewski clears a cross from Gekas for a Greek corner that is easily cleared.
A tad charitable toward WHR, LOL!
Qatar take a surprise lead vs South Korea in an Asian World Cup qualifier.
You Red Devilers must be panting in anticipation of seeing this Lewandowski bloke showing up at Old Trafford in August.
As he's picked Cristiano Ronaldo for Golden Boot, I figure I can be charitable.
I am not complaining!
Wow - first red - but sadly it's not Torosidis but Papastopilis who got a first yellow a while back. Very harsh at first look.
But he's off for an early bath.
WTF! Why is he being sent off/ Two soft yellows for Sokratis and it's going horribly wrong for the Greeks?
Did anyone in the PPP predict that as the first red?
What a shambles for Greece - they've had one central defender off for an injury and now another is off for a red!
Three minutes of stoppage time as South Korea have tied it up in Qatar.
Nope - no points for the First Red, sadly.
Now then - that looked like a pen.
Harsh on the Greeks as they are infuriated and their skipper is booked for dissent. They wanted a penalty for handball.
The Greeks are going potty and are going to pick up some yellows for this. Karagounis for sure.
On second look, I think it was unintentional.
Holebas is in the book as well.
Holebras was booked for dissent. I think this fussy ref has officited his first and last match of the tournament.
Wow - 16 red cards from 19 matches for this referee in La Liga!
So that's half-time of a quite breathless first half. We're off to some start. If the other matches live up to this one, we're going to have some fun over the next few weeks.
No doubt - UEFA bosses will be reviewing his decisions and he'll have an early flight home to Sevilla.
The Poles lead 1-0 and it could have been more. A harsh sending off for the Greeks as the player was sent off for two yellows when neither seemed like a booking. A terrible foist half for the fussy Spanish ref, who should be sent home , IMHO. Sepp did that in 2006 and the officiating surprisingly improved after the refs were put on notice. I would use him as an example to put all the other officials ion notice that if you cant' handle this tournament then go home. The only time I ever agreed with Sepp.
I agree. The UEFA officials must be aware of that stat and should have thought twice about picking him to officiate in a EURO.The player sent should not have received a single booking let alone two. What was this ref thinking? That may fly in Liga Liga, but surely not in this tournament.He should be sent home after this match and receive the SAF hairdryer treatment in no uncertain terms.
The only argument he could make is that up to the penalty shout melee Papastopilis was only one discipline - it's just that he picked up two yellows. I'm even wondering if he wasn't last man back on the second yellow.
Not sure. I don't really see what Papastopilis did wrong this match. Fernando Santos will need to make sure that his players don't lose the plot in the second half. The only thing going for the Greeks is that they are down by only one goal.
Dimitros Salpingidis is on for Sotoris Ninos as the second half is underway from Warsaw.
Right then - we're off in the second half. Hoping for more goals and more talking points in this second half. It's been great so far.
I am two points down, but expect to gain points with my other picks.
Halftime and it's Qatar 1 South Korea 1
Great pass and Lewandowski shoots high and wide from a difficult angle.
Now that should have been a yellow - tasty one there from your boy.
I wonder if the ref subconsciously realizes that he is on thin ice.
GOAL! The Greeks are level! Fantastic!
GOAL !!! 1-1 SPALINGIDIS, THE HALFTIME SUB TIES IT UP AFTER SSEUDIO MISSED A CROSS AND IT WAS AN EASY TAP IN.
A bit of sloppiness there in the defense and from Sussudio and Salpingidis nips in for a header. His first touch!
Gane on as Salpingidis has done more in six minutes than his teammates have done in fifty minutes combined.
An unlikely score as the Greeks have being up against it and a man down.
Now Karagounis is booked for handball. It seemed unintentional.
I thought that Karagounis had already been booked, but apparently not. Or perhaps this ref is going by the Graham "Three Cards" Poll philosophy.
I thought so too, but it was difficult to determine during the chaos at the end of the first half.
What will Gooner have to say about the keeping on that Greek goal?
I reckon he'll be hiding from that one. It was a shocker.
Free kick option now for the Poles. Well wide.
According to soccernet, that is Karagounis's first booking.
Ian says it was a misunderstanding between Seudio and Basilewski. I am inclined to agree, but Seudio should have done better.
Yeah - it's really the keeper's responsibility to come for and grab those sorts of crosses.
I expected more from Poland this half as they are the home team and have a one man advantage.
Oh - that was hopeless from Samaras.
Horrible from Samaras as he failed to control a great through ball then shanked it high and wide with just Sseudio to beat.
Karagounis is down injured after he felt the power of that shot from Murawski.
Samaras is having a mare. He is out of his depth at this level.
Rybus heads wide from a cross from the left.
He was out of his depth in the Premiership as well.
Fortounis coming on for Gekas.
Fortunis, who plays for relegated Stuttgart, is on for Gekas , who put in quite a shift.
Wow - it's a penalty for Greece and Sussudio is off as well!!!!!!
Salpingidis ran through and timed his run well and was tripped up by Sussudio who will now receive a three match ban.
It gets worse for the Poles as Seudio concedes a penalty and is sent off for being the last man. The correct decision.
Some beanpole named Tyton is coming on now for Greece.
Definitely an penalty and sending off as Seudio fouled Salpingidis. The PSV Keeper is on for Rybus and his first duty will be to face a penalty.
Karagounis to take for Greece....
And it's saved!!!!!!!
CAN YOU ADAN AND EVE IT AS TYTON SAVES FROM KARAGOUNIS.
Not the best penalty , but a great save and that will do wonders for Tyton's confidence as he is now Poland's number one. Ten vs ten.
I think Seudio is only suspended for one match.I think it's three for things like violent conduct.
Wow - this match has had everything. Dave will be kicking himself when he gets in in an hour or so that he didn't pull a sickie.
I thought it was three for a straight red.
I agree. He probably thought it would be better tot do during the England match.To be honest, I was expecting a duller match.
GOAL! No - Salpingidis is called offside as he pokes home. Marginal. Very marginal.
Salpingidis has a goal disallowed for offside. Wasn't he behind the ball? He really has turned around this match.
I think certain reds are a one match ban and others a three match. I think the last man back is a one match ban as it is not violent conduct.
Yeah - Salpingidis has been everywhere in this second half.
South Korea now lead 1-2 in Qatar.
Definitely MOTM.
AN ambitious volley from Torosidis and not that far off.
Oh - should have hit it with his right peg but he had no confidence. Shoved off the ball.
Never a penalty .Pabgraniak should have shot earlier. It was a shoulder charge and he knew he messed up.
Useless half volley from Samaras.UWS would have had plenty to say about that one.
High wide and 'orrible from Samaras again.
All the action is on ESPN today.
Yes - while FSC is busy showing infomercials for the ShamWow.
Do you honestly see the Poles advancing from Group A based on this performance?
Poor by FSC!Also old EPL matches.
Chalkias saves a weak long range effort from Polanski.
Perhaps not now, but I expected a win for them today. This breaks the group wide open.
I felt that this would be the playoff for the wooden spoon.
We'll see in a bit - these two could be the best two sides as well!
High and wide by Karagounis against the fading Poles.
Into the side netting by Lewandowski from a difficult angle, but he lacked support up front.
South Korea now lead 1-3 in Qatar.
I don't think so . I think Russia and the Czechs will be the top two in the group.
Yeah - I remember that that was your prediction. We'll soon see.
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