Euro 2012 - Day 5!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 11:21 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!
Tuesday, June 12, 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
- Euro 2012 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update
- Panini goes to the dogs...
- Woy's Army!
- Euro 2012 - Day 4!
- Classic Shirt Competition
- Euro 2012 - Day 3!
- Euro 2012 - Day 2!
- U.S. v. Antigua
- Euro 2012 - Day 1!
- How much are you prepared to watch?
418 Comments:
Morning, chaps! I'm back in Blue Devil HQ for the second round of matches after thoroughly enjoying Round 1 with UWS and family in Glenville over the weekend.
Lots of great content on the Guardian website this morning, including a video of AC Jimbo's European paper round-up. My favorite head-line was from a Belgian paper describing Denmark's shock win over the hated Dutch: Ego-land 0 Lego-Land 1. Nice one!
Right, then - the team news for today's opening match:
Greece: Chalkias, Torosidis, Papadopoulis, Katsouranis, Holebas, Fotakis, Maniatis, Karagounis, Salpigidis, Samaras, Fortounis.
Subs: Tzoridis, Tzavelas, Melezas, Makos, Liberopoulis, Mitroglou, Gekas.
Czechs: Cech, Gebre, Sivok, Kadlec, Limbersky, Hubschmann, Plasil, Jiracek, Rosicky, Pilar, Baros.
Subs: Lastuvka, Suchy, Hubnik, Necid, Rezek, Petrzela, Rajtocik
So, the hero of Friday's recovery Salpigidis has got a call up today. And fair dues - the guy played on Friday as if his family had been kidnapped and tied up to a bridge loaded with dynamite. Cor!
Way hay - the ESPN coverage has just started. Let's hope that Big Red has a nasty head cold.
Good morning BD. I just got back from taking Sparky for a short walk and am back for the second round of group matches starting with Greece vs the Czech Republic.
I agree. I have feeling that the Czechs won't be able to deal with Salpingidis.
Some Asian World Cup updates that may not be of much interest:
Earlier today South Korea defeated Lebanon 3-0 and the Aussies drew 1-1 with Japan.
At halftime it is Iraq 1 Oman 1 and in the first half it is Iraq 0 Qatar0
Yes - Lalas is out today. It's Kasey Keller, Double T, Fernando Palomo and Max Bretos back from exile.
Morning, MUR - thanks for the update on the WC qualifiers. South Korea are the class of the Asian confederation as usual.
I agree with Taylor Twellman that Samaras was useless vs Poland.He may do better vs a weak Czech team.Is Milan Baros the best the Czechs can do.
Cheers BD. I am happy with the studio choices. Are Lexi and Bollocks getting a rest or was there plenty of viewer feedback?
I expect a typical 1-0 victory for the Greeks. If that happens then the Czechs are eliminated from the tournament because head to head is the first tie breaker.
I suspect that they may be back for the Group of Death matches tomorrow. Bollocks wouldn't miss the Germany v Holland fest.
I hope you had a safe trip back home. I alluded to Shadow and Sparky having a barking contest on skype even though they were separate events in reality.
Definitely true. I wonder if this may be the worst match of the tournament. Glad I had my morning cup of coffee.
It's Ian Darke and Robbie Mustoe on the mic this afternoon.
This like a home match for the Czechs as they are playing in Wroclaw just a few hours from the Czech border.
Anthems now - I'm hoping for some action but I've got the coffee at the ready just in case. The Czechs will be hoping to survive in the tournament, while Greece were lively after falling behind.
The Czech fans have a shorter drive than you did last night.
Will the Czechs have to hitchhike home if they lose? They haven't got far to go.
Some changes in the Czech, but I fear it is all in vain. I expect the Greeks to win as Fernando Santos must be a better tactician than his Czech counterpart.
Lucky for them that they didn't have to travel. A mini vacation for the Czech fans.
And we're off from Wroclaw.
Twenty goals in eight matches coming into today for a ratio of better than two goals a game. Not bad for a major tournament.
GOAL! And there's another one. Juracek slips his marker and finishes left-footed past Chialkis.
1-0 Czechs!
GOAL !!! 1-0 CZECHS AS THE GREEKS FELL ASLEEP AT THE BACK. GREAT FINISH AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH CHALKIAS COULD DO.
Great finish by Jirasek, but the Greeks failed to concentrate and Jirasek did, under pressure from a Greek defender.
The Greeks are certainly proving to be slow starters in this tournament. They were under the cosh for most of the first half in Warsaw the other day. And they seem to be still in the dressing room again now. Juracek was allowed to wander through unmarked there. Great ball through from Hubschmann, though.
GOAL! It's another one for the Czechs! They're on the rampage. Great move down the right and when the ball came in from Selassie, Pilar was able to get some part of his body on it to bundle it over the line.
2-0!
GOAL !!! 2-0 CZECHS AND THE GREEKS SCORE AN OG AS THE CZECHS WENT DOWN THE RIGHT AND IT WAS PUT IN THE RIGHT SPOT BY SELASSIE.
So that's our two goals per game quota already and we're barely five minutes into this one. No need for the strong coffee yet.
And now Katsouranis gifts the ball to Samaras. Wow!
I think the Greek number 21 beat Pilar to the ball and put it in for an OG. It's hard when you are facing your own goal under pressure.
No. It was Puilar. So, Hubschmann threaded the eye of the needle for Jirasek to score then Selassie with a superb run put it in for Pilar to bundle it home.
Pilar now joins Djagoev and Sheva on two goals in the tournament. I had thought that the Croatian Mandzukic might have two but I notice that UEFA have awarded his second goal to Shay Given unlucky bonce. It's an o.g. in the books.
Those two goals are the earliest goals in this tournament unless that first Croat goal was, but all three goals conceded by Greece were in the first fifteen minutes. That makes it difficult for any time.
I had thought it was a Given O.G. too.Great catch by Cech off the free kick. He sees those all time in the Prem.
Oh - Torosidis put a great ball through to Samaras who wasn't able to get anything on it.
Do you think Chalkias should have done better with the second goal? He could have pushed it away far better than he did.
Have you noticed that the Czechs are having lots of joy with those basic through balls? The Czechs sure did their homework on the Greeks.
Now Plasil is down after a tough challenge. Hard, but fair.
Definitely poor keeping by Chalkias on the second goal.
Hard to say - once the left back Holebas had lost his man Selassie and allowed him to overlap and get to the by-line, I think a goal was somewhat inevitable. If not Pilar, one of the defenders probably would have knocked it into the net.
Another desperate long free kick from the Greeks and some numpty is offside
I still blame Chalkias as he should know to firmly push it away if he can't catch it.
Pilar wins a Czech corner.
I remember that Poland also got a lot of joy out of Holebas down the right. That's where their goal came from and a lot of other earlier chances.
Gordon Bennett.. just back from lunch and it is already 2-0!!
I am going to see if any link works from school. I have the next 45 minutes off!
I am being a little selfish here but I wish BD was still in my living room watching the matches with my boys!!
Chalkias catches the corner from Rosciky, but had a tough time, Fumbling what should have been a routine play.
Hello UWS. I am sure you all had a great time. Wish I was there.
Useless Greek free kick and it is easily cleared.Then Samaras flicks on a header intended for Papadopolis, but it goes to Cech.
Oh - Pilar had a good chance but dragged his shot wide left.
I agree BD. Holebas was probably kept in the starting lineup due to the strong finish vs Poland, but may not start vs Russia.
Well wide by Pilar from long range,
Afternoon, UWS - hope school is going well. How was Tom's game last night?
Poor clearance by Chalkias. He was not under pressure. No excuses for that.
That's it for Chalkias. Is he going off injured?
That's a sad comment that this team is one of the last things that Greeks have to believe in right now with the economy in the dumps.
It appears to be the case and may explain the poor first half. That's it and Kotsapolis is on for Chalkias.
Looks like Chialkis is going off. Sifakis is coming on. More problems for Fernando Santos - he must wonder what he did to deserve this punishment.
Actually, Silkias is the sub keeper.
Correct BD. It's Sifakis.
I guess that will mean two minutes plus of stoppage time.
Blimey - that was a decent free kick toward Samaras, but Georgie only managed to clear the ball out!
It's the large rectangle at the end of the pitch you're aiming for, son!
Half way through this first half and the Czechs are looking rather comfortable. This puts some perspective on Friday's results. Russia are now looking better and better. If the Poles can get a result out of them later, it'll come down to the last day's match between Poland and the Czechs for the second spot.
I hear trumpets playing, but the brass band is banned. Is that political by UEFA?
Karagounis is down as if he's been shot. High boot from Rosicky, who gets a yellow for it.
Ab it of an ouchie for Karagounis from a high challenge from Rosicky. a bit of a cut , but he should be okay.
That should have been a booking for the foul on Sleassie as the Greeks appear to be losing their discipline. Fernando Santos will need to address that at the half.
Oh - Rosicky pulls the trigger and draws a good save out of the sub keeper Sifakis.
Great save from a long range effort by Rosicky.
Samaras heads away the corner from Rosicky and Rosicky wildly blasts it wide.
Rosicky and Karagounis are still reminiscing about their summer holidays out there. No love lost.
A third Czech goal and this one is done and dusted.
Samaras looks to be more adept when clearing the ball away from goal. Why don't they play him as center back and bring in a proper striker?
Fernando Santos should have plenty to say at the half and will need to do just as well with the adjustments as he did vs Poland.
Salpingidis has been offside several times already. Is there too much pressure on him after Friday's heroics?
Another Czech corner. As always Rosicky to take and Samaras heads away.
I was thinking about that ,BD. Other than the offsides , he's done naught. Definitely not the performance from Friday.
Not a bad run from Holebas but now he's out of position.
Torosidis, your Red Card boy, picks up a yellow again. I think he had one on Friday as well but sadly not two.
Now Torosidis is booked and that's probably for cumulative team infractions rather than the actual foul. The ref is starting to lose patience with the Greeks and rightly so.
He may do so if he continues to be undisciplined.Fernando will need to address that at the half.
And now it's Jiracek, the goalscorer, with a yellow.
Now Jirasek is booked for a foul on Maniatis, who is making a meal of it.I guess the Greeks are resorting to this behavior out of sheer desperation.
Oh - Fortounis played a lovely ball in toward Salpingidis. It's too high for him but he was offside again!
A decent idea for the Greeks, but the cross was just too high for Salpingidis ,who was flagged offside.
Barros is called for leaning in off the goal kick, but it was a and ram grab.
I just realized that this is rematch of the 2004 semis. The Czechs are on track to exact revenge.
The Greeks have a goal called back for offside.
GOAL! Greeks get one back! No - it's ruled offside. Fotakis nodded home but he was off.
A great cross from Torosidis was headed in by Salpingidis , but he was flagged offside. He may have been on this time. Harsh on the Greeks.
A great cross from Torosidis was headed in by Salpingidis , but he was flagged offside. He may have been on this time. Harsh on the Greeks.
Jiracek receives it again on the right but slices his shot wide.
The Greeks will need to do more of the same is they are to have any chance of getting anything from this match.
If the Greeks were offside on that goal decision then it was really tight.
Some warning signs in the area for the Czechs as the first half winds down.
Never a foul by Selassie on Fortunis.
One minute of stoppage time. I thought it would be more.
Just one minute of extra time? That makes no sense. There were two goals and a significant delay as Chialkis came off. Perhaps the ref is dying for a pee?
And that's it. Half time. The Czechs will be delighted with that early work. They risked letting the slow starting Greeks back in toward the end. All to play for in the second half.
It's 2-0 to the Czechs at the half and the Greeks should have done better with their last possession, but they took too long to get the shot off and the Czechs ran out the clock.The fans applaud as the Czechs are basically the home team.
Just one comment before the bell rings.
Did you see the article about how BBC's coverage is worse than ITV's for the first time since 1970
BBC has Savage and Calamity giggling like school girls and not being professional. I do see the BBC going that way with radio. Savage has gotten too big in too short of a time
The article was from The Guardian... I think!
Interesting...
Demetrio Albertini has admitted he was the man who asked for the pitch not to be watered before Italy's Group C opener with Spain. A number of Spanish players complained about the state of the pitch after the 1-1 draw, Cesc Fábregas describing it as "lamentable". The head coach, Vicente del Bosque, insisted that supporters would have seen a better game had the surface been watered 15 minutes before kick‑off. Under Fifa rules the pitch is watered if both teams agree. Italy did not
Bell just rang...of to teach!
Interesting tactics from the Italians. A same to see BBC decline . Great points, UWS.
The Czechs have made a change and Kolar is on for Rosicky. A sham,e as Rosicky had a great first half and we're underway form Wroclaw.
We're off again at Wroclaw with Greece really having to chase this one.
I wonder if that change was due to injury. That would really hurt the Czechs.
Chaos in the Greek defense off the cross from Selassie, but Barros committed a foul
Sounds like excuses from the Spanish waiters. Nice post, though UWS.
I disagree about Robbie Savage, though - I like his stuff on 606.
Baros had a split second chance there but let it run by him.
Jirasek goes down too easily from a minor push from Holebas, who needs to be more careful. It all began as an innocent tussle.
Di you see that Rosicky was subbed?
Rosicky must have picked up a knock. The Gooner won't be pleased as he's had a history of injuries at Arsenal.
As long as it is 2-0 , I think the Greeks have a chance. Who was the last team to throw away a two goal lead in the Euros?
It must have been and a shame for the Czechs.
Samaras went down like a house of cards from that challenge from the wee midfielder.
Definitely a tug by the right back and not sure why the Greek player is complaining.
Howler from Cech!
GOAL! Oh - it's a complete howler from Petr Cech! What was he thinking?
Gekas has the easiest of chances then.
2-1 Game on!
GOAL !!! THE GREEKS PULL ONE BACK AS THERE WAS A HORRIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CZECH AND A DEFENDER AS THEY COLLIDED AND GEKAS HAD THE SIMPLE TASK OF PUTTING IT INTO AN EMPTY NET.
I don't think he can blame anyone but himself. It doesn't matter who's about. If you're a goalkeeper, you come and claim and clear everyone else out.
So who was the last team to throw away a two goal lead in the Euros?
Afternoon, Red Devil! How are you, mate?
Agreed, BD and especially one of his caliber.
That's a good trivia question. I don't honestly remember.
This has the makings of a good final 30 minutes, with a traditionally cagey, defensive Greek squad forced to chase a result against a Czech team that can break quickly.
Good afternoon Red Devil.
Papadopoulis has picked up a yellow card for a hack.
So does anyone want to attempt to answer my trivia question???????????
Agreed, Red Devil. That goal was exactly what the neutral was looking for.
Naughty by Samaras on Selassie.
Another booking. Salpingidis now into the book. This ref is as card happy as the Spanish bloke in the first match.
Now Gekas is booked and the Greeks will need to be more disciplined if they want to continue the comeback.
Thanks, BD, I am well, but finding out that my mother-in-law has not yet mastered the use of her DVR. At least I can download the matches to get to the parts that I missed (such as the first 20 minutes of this game).
I think that booking was deserved as it was a rash challenge.
Was it the Netherlands who gave up the lead?
England?
I seem to remember some heroics by the Turks in Euro 2008 but I'm not quite sure about the match. Am I close?
Poor by Samaras . He was playing as a holding middie, then was going on a Sunday stroll, failing to ruin into the box waen a cross was put in from the right.
Sorry to hear that, Red Devil. Definite yellow card offense for your mother in law. ;-]
I don't really remember. They did the same thing in the 2006 World Cup if memory serves. Was it the Czechs?
I second that, BD. Shocking behavior from mum-in-law as that is a football no no and that was the best part of the match up to this point.
Correct BD. Well done. will the Czechs do the same today against the Turk's political rivals? I don't think Turkey was part of the 2006 tournament in Germany.
The Czechs had two 2-0 defeats in 2006.
Baros cames off for Pekhart. The Czechs definitely have to freshen things up. They're looking much more sluggish in this second half.
Thomas Pekhart is on for Barros, who was fading. A good change.
Ah, but she is not mean-spirited, simply incompetent.
MUR, that Czech Republic vs Turkey game was great excitement, and I saw it in one of the biggest Turkish cities in the world: Berlin. It was a madhouse!
First touch for Pekhart is a shot wide left.
Dragged wide by Kolar, who has done little since coming on for Rosicky and is now booked.
Fair point, Red Devil. Maybe she can be let off with just a verbal warning.
I heard the ref is shopping for Father's Day Cards and officiating at the same time.
I'm quite liking the look of this Selassie bloke on the right. Are you watching, Cap'n Birdseye?
I bet it was an awesome atmosphere, Red Devil.I saw it in the living room while eating a Father's Day Dinner.
Selassie is a great player . I wonder if a team like Sotton, Reading, Wigan , or the Hammers might be interested,
Samaras is looking even less effective wide left. He's about as mobile as a statue.
BD, I probably just need to take matters into my own hands, and leave less up to the others. A warning to mother-in-law would produce remorse, but no greater understanding of how the technology works.
Mitroglu came on Fortunis as this match has become really scrappy.
Mizoglu came on for Fortunis as this match has become really scrappy.
I agree, Red Devil. I have been in similar situations and have had to learn the hard way.
The cross was too high for Petroglu, but am not sure why he was called for a foul.
Though they are not really that similar-looking there is something about the toothiness and shagginess of Samaras that reminds me of one of my all-time favorite hard-men, the Wolfman, Trifon Ivanov of the Bulgarian squads of the 1990s.
Useless cross from Samaras , but at least he held ion this time.
I meant to say Cech held on.
High and wide by Pilar.
If I remember correctly , Ivanov had a beard , but did the dirty work in midfield. He did his job better than Samaras does his if I am thinking of the correct player
That 2008 match featured all three Turkish goals in the last 15 minutes. Anything is still possible. Let's see what the Men of Troy still have in them (besides billions of euros of debt).
A little less than fifteen minutes for the Greeks to get a priceless goal. A draw here would keep them in the hunt in the third match.
Why is Samaras playing so deep and acting like he's out at a picnic?
They are playing more like the men of debt then the men of the famous empire.
MUR, absolutely. He was one of those players who is always near the action, fouling and getting fouled constantly. Then with those incredible deep-set eyes of his, he would look imploringly at the ref for sympathy: "it wasn't me."
MUR, absolutely. He was one of those players who is always near the action, fouling and getting fouled constantly. Then with those incredible deep-set eyes of his, he would look imploringly at the ref for sympathy: "it wasn't me."
Useless again from Samaras.
To be fair, half of the sides in this tournament are holding billions in debt. However, the Greeks are a special case.
Sounds about right, Red devil. He was more serious about his footie than Samaras.
Good point, BD.
More phantom whistles from the crowd during this one. It's been one of the features of the tournament.
This Greek side seems to have run out of ideas unlike their political foes from 2008.
Does the Greek (Portuguese) coach have something of Gordon Brown about him?
More updates from Asia :
In Group A it has finished Iran 0 Qatar 0.
South Korea is firmly in control
In Group B it has finished Iraq 1 Oman 1. The Aussies and Japanese are firmly in control
Perhaps a little, Red Devil.
He does indeed, Red Devil. Wonder if he's got Gordo's right hook?
Plasil wins a Czech corner.
The Czechs take it short, running down the clock then concede a free kick.
BLOW UP REF!I'M GOING INTO A COMA.
The impressive Hubschmann comes off late on. No - it's Kolar, who came on at half-time.
Hubschman is on for Kolar as we enter stoppage time.
It hasn't been that bad, has it MUR?
Horrible pass from Pappadopolus intended for Samaras, who for once made a decent run.
The second half has. The first half was good.
In the last minute of stoppage time and a Greek attack ends with yet another foul.
Good flick on by Samaras to keep that move alive. But it's not enough.
The Czechs have pulled out a 2-1 to bounce back from their opening defeat. They jump up to second spot ahead of the late match. 3 pts and -2 GD.
That's it and the Czechs hang on for a 2-1 victory and three priceless points. Tough for the Greeks who must defeat the Russians in order to advance. A tall order for the Greeks.
Max Bretos is reporting on some trouble among Russian fans ahead of the late match and skirmishes with police. Looks a bit nasty.
I'm off to do a few errands ahead of the late one.
Russia should lose hosting the World Cup!!
ENGLAND IS READY TO TAKE OVER
That sort of punishment should stop the fans doing this
I totally agree with you, UWS. The London Olympics are going to show FIFA how a tournament should be organized. I'd ban Russia for what's happened already in this tournament. English fans have always had a reputation but the reality is that it's been decades since the last problem with England fans.
Some chatter about Joachim Loew's possible change for tomorrow's match, replacing SuperMario with Klose. Interesting.
The team news out of Warsaw this evening:
Poland: Tyton, Piszczcek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch, Dudka, Palanski, Blaszczykowski, Murawski, Obraniak, Lewandowski.
Subs: Sandomierski, Wojtkowiak, Kaminski, Matuszczyk, Rybus, Wawzyniak, Sobiech.
Russia: Malafeev, Anyukov, Berezutski, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin.
Subs: Akinfeev, Sharonov, Izmailov, Pavs, Kombarov, Kokorin, Granat.
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