A Year Late.....BUT IT ALL BEGINS TODAY!!!!
The club season seems to have just ended but we are already ready for the Euros to start. I wish it was all in one country but we are spread around 11 different countries. We start in Rome as the hosts welcome Turkey for the opening game of the tourney. All the games are on the telly(no bloody streaming needed). The games are either on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. Today we start on ESPN at 2pm with Euro Update show, then a pre-game and then the match. Here is a link to know where to find each match.
To get us in the mood
Finally, here is a list of all the venues
· Wembley Stadium - London, England
· Allianz Arena - Munich, Germany
· Stadio Olimpico - Rome, Italy
· Olympic Stadium - Baku, Azerbaijan
· Krestovsky Stadium - Saint Petersburg, Russia
· Arena Nationala - Bucharest, Romania
· Johan Cruyff Arena - Amsterdam, Holland
· Estadio de la Cartuja - Sevilla, Spain
· Puskas Arena - Budapest, Hungary
· Hampden Park - Glasgow, Scotland
· Parken Stadium - Copenhagen, Denmark
Join me for all the festivities
UWS
posted by United We Stand @ 10:34 AM
319 Comments:
Hiya, Dave - thanks for getting us going today. I'm here with bells on - really excited to get started with this tournament. I know that we always think this but I really do think that England have a chance to win this one. I don't fear any of these teams; England on their day have the ability to beat any of them.
Come on!
Today's match is fascinating. I don't rate Italy at all, even though you've tipped them for the final. Turkey could easily be a dark horse side - as Italy usually start slowly in tournaments, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Turkish win today. I just want to see loads of goals right from the start.
Hi Fellas
I think you are underestimating the Italians under Manini
They won every match in qualifying
I picked them to go far...they have all their group games in Rome
The first line ups of the Euros have been announced.... that means we are close!!!
ITALY TEAM NEWS
Team to play Turkey: Donnarumma, Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Locatelli, Jorginho, Barella, Beradi, Insigne, Immobile
Subs: Raspadori, Bastoni, Sirigu, Meret, Di Lorenzo, Belotti, Pessina, Emerson Palmieri, Chiesa, Acerbi, Cristante, Bernardeschi
TURKEY TEAM NEWS
Team to play Italy: Cakir, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Tufan, Yokuslu, Meras, Yazici, Calhanoglu, Yilmaz, Karaman
Subs: Gunok, Under, Tokoz, Bayindir, Antalyali, Kabak, Unal, Kokcu, Kahveci, Ayhan, Muldur, Dervisoglu
5Live's Drive is ending and going to the Sports.... they played the full version of Three Lions!!
BRILLIANT STUFF
Wahay! The coverage is starting on ESPN!
Had a great sing-along
Now....ESPN do have a EURO SHOW ON
Retirement....what a great thing!
Hiya Bob
Great stuff indeed
Bloody hell - is that Gaetano Berardi in the starting eleven? LUFC in the house!
I've just posted the welcome message for the Predictions Game via email, so have a look. Some really interesting choices there. I've noticed right away that five of us have chosen England to win it all!
Come on, England!
McManaman doo doo doo doo doo doo!
Stevie Mac and DelPiero in the studio
Wow - Alessandro Del Piero on the panel as well - impressive!
As usual, I've tried to encourage all of the guys in the Predictions Game pool to drop on by the blog for a natter during the matches. The more the merrier, eh?
Did they say Italy have never lost a game in Rome in a major tourney....where was the 1990 semi played? It was lost on pens...does that not count?
Tom picke Pelligrini to score first goal for the Italians...not even on the bench!
I do fancy Turkey tonight - their side is built around three of Lille’s title winners. Burak Yilmaz, 35, leads the charge up front; Yusuf Yazici patrols the left of midfield and Zeki Celik is stationed at right back. Yilmaz is my pick or the first scorer.
Wow... I'm not the only one to pick the Portugal manager to get the axe first!
I thought that was a shot in the dark
They have to play Hungary in Hungary, Germany in Germany and then France
Again, I don't think you're giving the Italians enough credit
Good Afternoon, Bob and Dave. Thanks for getting us started, Dave.
Just looked it up
The 1990 Semi for Italy vs Argies was in Naples
England's semi was in Turin
The Final was in Rome
I picked Italy to win the group to win the group and go out in the quarters to Belgium. I think that sounds about right. I do think Italy vs Turkey could be the match between then two top teams in the group
Just thinking about Italy vs Turkey makes make want to have Turkey on Italian bread or an Italian sub
Kenny's daughter is in the studio!
Wales' Chris Coleman
Tim Howard....cheating on NBC
Julie Foudy as well
I like the effort they are putting into this
Welcome, David - hope you're having a good day.
I just turned on the pre-game show on ESPN and just read the graphic about the unbeaten streak. really impressive considering they failed to qualify for the WC for the first time in years. Great job by Henry Mancini
Good job from ESPN so far - much better than the usual ESPN+ coverage.
Thanks, Bob. Glad to be around.
Agreed. It's an impressive looking crew
I wonder how the next round was chosen!
Why does the winner of England's group play the runner up in the Group of Death while other runners up in groups play a third place team!! Makes no sense!
I wonder if it is the teams that have hosted matches not playing a third place team
Kelly Cates said that there are 16,000 fans in attendance at Estadio Olimpico
That's what 5Live said the attendance will be
It sure sounded loud!
I was thinking about that yesterday and don't think it sounds right that England has a tougher match by winning the group than finishing second . I'm guessing they would probably face France or Portugal
Did you see that the Prem are taking about having thinker lines for defenders! Apparently, that will make it more black and white!
If England do win the group as does Belgium, France and Italy....England will be on the other side of the draw
I did pick England and Belgium to meet in the final. Making the predictions meant studying the brackets carefully .
I haven't heard about the thinker lines. When I first read it I was rethinking modern footballers do need help thinking
Looks like Italy to wear white socks....surely they should be blue!
Opening ceremony to be shown?
Italy England for me
Listening to Cookie Coleman makes me want to have a cookie with the sub
That means you're picking Italy to defeat Belgium in the quarters. I will admit they're on quite a run of form
That is correct
Any of click on the Three Lions link on this thread....gotta get in the mood!!
I haven't yet . Just turned on the match a few minutes ago
He just said ESPN and ESPN + ....I hope he made a mistake
Here are the first scorers according to our brain trust:
Ciro Immobile - Anfield Warriors, The Bee's Knees, MUR, Red Devil, Swansong, Teddy Goalsevelt, Simon,
Jorginho - UWS
Lorenzo Insigne - WHR
Lorenzo Pellegrini - Red Dragon
Federico Chiesa - Gooner
Burak Yilmaz - Blue Devil, Saint, Yellows
I'm saving the Three Lions to wake up the neighbors on Sunday morning.
Ian McShane....a BIG United fan!!
I wonder if Dave is predicting that Jorginho will score from a spot kick and did you predict a silly run up by him?
I was going to pick Ciro de Bergerac , but decided to pick the play that is NOT mobile
U2 singing the anthem....I thought someone else(that Tom likes) sang it!
I did....opening goal of the tourney
The red card stakes: Red Devil has chosen Leicester City center back Caglar Soyuncu to see red this afternoon and Swansong who is predicting that Okay Yokuslu will go off.
West Ham is choosing Italian hatchet man Giorgio Chiellini to go off tonight.
I can't believe the Euros are actually about to stop!!
Players in the tunnel - I'm a bit giddy with anticipation! Come on!
TT for the opening match of the Euros. Surely ESPN can do better than that
I was hoping that we could get away without TT... alas...no
Surely Italy will be favorites as there will be very few away fans. It will be a partisan crowd
I guess a few away fans
One of the great footie anthems coming up here. Love it's bounciness.
Classy suits for the Italians
Are you watching Bloody Pep??
The Italians should be favorites but they've got a habit of being slow starters at tournaments. The Turks are dangerous, mark my words.
The Italians seem fired up - I hope we get a fast start. Come on!
The Turkish fans were in the stadium earlier than the Italians... they booed as the Italians came out in their suits to look at the pitch
The hatchet man starting for Italy at the age of 36 and not a first team regular for Juve the past two seasons
The main thing I have against TT is him taking half an hour to stop talking every time he opens his mouth
Just be there for a few words here and there
Jon....don't ask him questions...I'm begging you
Poor form by the Turkish supporters , but not exactly surprised
I like the line up graphics
Mancini is a class act. If you had access to Milanese tailoring, why wouldn't you?
Italy wearing all white....not needed!!!
Italy playing with Buffon for the first time in a major tournament since Euro 2000
Oh dear..... match ball delivery by a VW.... stupid!
LOL! A toy auto is delivering the ball to the ref!
And we are away without a BLM kneel.
Tom came home early to watch the match with his old man!
Hopefully, Matt will come for the England match
We are off
They're off from Stadio Olimpico as Euro 2020 is underway in 2021
Here goes TT.... already rabbiting on
Italy actually the away team....but they could still wear blue
Oh - Berardi got onto that long ball and knocked it back toward Immobile. Nearly in there at the near post.
Berardio hussels to keep a long ball in play and Immobile shoots his pass into the side netting
Agreed, dave. Surely they should be able to tell the difference between red and blue
TT thinks Jorginho will be an attacking threat to the Turks. I guess he hasn't watched him in action for Chelsea
Then says Italy is a Pep style team. They've always played that way
My picks for this game.... A Jorginho pen and Touson to miss a pen... who's not even on the bench
Come on Italy... attack
TT says it's great balance
How many subs are allowed?
Oh - Yilmaz had a first chance to stretch his legs but he didn't have a lot of options once he reached it.
I'm not sure but my guess would be five subs for each side
It is five subs
Berarardi with shot blocked and gathered by the keeper
A lot of possession for Italy but with very little purpose so far. I'm not sure they've got much of a cutting edge.
I have a novel idea....SHOOT THE BALL!!!
I think you're right about that, David.
Some Italian players wanted a pen
First chance....curled wide
Oh - Insigne was in there! Should have done better.
Insigne nearly signs Italy into the lead as he curls a shot just wide
VDB the last player to score against Italy when he did so for the Dutch in October
A cross goes in the box...TT still yapping
Bonnucci well wide with a long range shot. italy starting to dominate
Italy want another pen...great moved and shot that was blocked
never a pen in my book
Of course, I want one
Immobile with a shot blocked by Coyuncu. Italy wants a penalty for hand ball. Nothing doing
Another big shout for a pen as Immobile rifled one at goal. Nothing doing from the Dutch ref.
My pick for first scorer has had several chances., the latest one blocked
Ooh... great header.... great save
Oh - Chiellini got on the end of that corner and Shakir had to tip over. Great stop!
The Hatchet Man has a header from a corner tipped over.
Bonnucci heads well wide form the next corner
Immobile is a good shout for first goal - he looks hungry for it. My boy Yilmaz hasn't really had a sniff yet.
I would be surprised if anyone picked the Hatchet Man to be the first scorer in the tournament
TT just loves the sound of his own voice....SHUT IT
Nope - Johnno has him as the first red card.
TT said eight of Turkey's eighteen goals in qualifying came from set pieces. I guess that tells us about them as an attacking force
For Italy in qualifying
10 games
10 wins
37 goals
4 conceded
They were in a relatively weak group, though.
I picked one of the Austrians for first card. The Hatchet Man gets lots of bookings, but seems to always do just enough to avoid being sent off
Come teams... I want a goalfest of a tournament!
Italy wants another pen...ref not interested again
The Italians need to stop trying to claim every pen - it's getting tedious.
Is VAR going to look at that...it would be given in the Prem
No pen
Why is the Prem VAR so crap!!
Such a bad effort of a pass there!!!
I just saw Italy's group and Finland were a distant second . Agreed about it being a week group, but this is a fairly strong looking Italian team
Yilmaz needs to bloody stay on side!
I'm not seeing it - they play the same boring possession game that every other European side does. Not exciting like England.
Why didn't the Italian shoot... you made a move and got in the box!
Agreed. Italy shop;d be able to defeat the Turks on their own merit without the whining and crying
Is it the Turk fans booing the Italian possession or the Italians?
Immobile on the end of that one but couldn't get any power in the header.
Immobile heads wide off a cross from Berardi. He needs to start scoring . What's he waiting for?
I think that they're booing the possession.
sadly, England try and play like this too!!
The problem with SGate.....I think he worries about the team we're playing and not have them worry about us!
Play Foden and Grealish...don't play Henderson and Rice
First save by Donnarumma - not that convincing.
Donnaruma pushes away a pass from old man Yilmaz., That could have easily been caught
Jorginho slows everything down - he's a bore.
In all the Prediction games thru the years.... who had the worse pick of all time and what was it?
Insigne with another curling effort now - into the keeper's arms this time.
Insigne shoots straight at Cakir off a run and pass from the Hatchet Man
Double T is acting like the Italians are 3-0 up; it's 0-0, mate!
Not sure who had the worst pick. Interesting question
There was a guy in the stadium for ESPN.... I would think the two numpties on the mic are in the studio so they can commentate on numerous games
Champ mentions that the blazer worn by Bobby Man is in memory of Enzo Bearzot. I do remember him wearing that blazer
It was so bad, we let him re-pick!
Berardi blazes one well over.
High and wide by Berardi . Munerous shots off target but credit to the Italians for trying to attack
I wouldn't know . I was never allowed to repick, LOL!
Any guesses Bob?
Belgium are up tomorrow afternoon, with no KDB on board. Still nursing that facial injury. Could be a real blow to them.
TT... please talk about the game.... we don't have to talk about other things!
Decent cross over there but no one was attacking it. The Italians don't really have a proper target man.
Glad to hear coverage on 5Live isn't blacked out
No guess Bob!
I mobile shoots straight at Cakir off a super long possession
Another ridiculous dive in the box. Should have got a yellow for that one.
A swan dive by the Turk... it was pathetic but Italians of all people can't complain about it!
Yilmaz with a horrible dive at an attempt to win a penalty. Should be booked for that
Another pisspoor cross but a modern day player
They want another pen
VAR looking apparently....nothing given
Hmmm...worst pick? Not sure - I've had some doozies, for sure.
Another VAR check for a pen. Tedious.
That looked a definite handball. Thought that would be given as a penalty
Into stoppage time.
It's 0-0 at the half
Half-time, then. Italians still bugging the ref for a pen. Pure gamesmanship. You lot need to get the ball in the net the old fashioned way.
It was in fact Dr Dahlgren.... Liverpool had a Friday night game to open the season.... he picked Suarez to get opening goal
He was banned for the first seven games of the season for his Dracula spats
HT
0-0
I want goals
That sounds like one of my picks! LOL!
Looks like coverage starts 30 minutes before all the games....at least on the weekend
Teams out for the second half
We're back on for the second half. Cengiz Under. Di Lorenzo on for Florenzi.
Jim White has left Sky Sports today....his last words.....OH YEAH....COME ON SCOTLAND!!
He will continue to be on Talksport Radio
Di Lorenzo on for Florenzi and Turkey with a change as Under is on for Yazici leaving there Turks with one less of the Lille Championship team on the pitch. Second half underway
Early corner chance for Italy then.
Classic pick, Bob
What a terrible short corner routine there - wow!
Early corner... bloody short one!
And it is called offside..... absolutely pathetic!!!
A complete waste of a corner as offside is called on the short corner
Oh uh - it's the Welsh boyo Mark Clattenburg as a special refereeing commentator now. What do you think, Dave?
Only opening match of a Euro tournament to finish 0-0 was Italy vs the USSR in 1968
It was directly from a corner!! Two guys at the corner flag.... one guy passed it to the other... offside... MORONIC
Clattenburg...lovely accent!
Need subtitles for the american viewers
Terrible dive there from the new sub Under. Should be a yellow there.
Isn't Clattenburg a Geordie? Not sure i'm keen on him as an expert commentator
Is he Welsh? Sounded Northeast to me
Yilmaz offside once again (sigh)....
He should went "Under" with that dive.
BOOM BOOM
He is from Durham in the Northeast
Sounded Welsh to me but maybe I need to clear my earholes out.
Quite far off mate
Boom boom, MUR - I thought you might have fun with Cengiz Under.
I'll have to stick my Tom Jones records on for a refresher.
What an atrocious free kick that is!!
Too clever for themselves!
We need an Italian win... from my bruv :(
Under dogs on a solo run off a wretched Italian short free kick and his shot is blocked by saved by Donnarruma
Another bollixed up short corner that helps Under to spring a breakaway. Deflected shot collected by Donnamurra.
GOAL!!
AN OG!!!
Finally a run into the box and good cross...or was it....was not going to a teammate
GOAL DEMIROL OG GIVES ITALY THE LEAD
GOAL! And the winner of the first goal is - o.g.!
So no one will get the three points for the first goal but the two points are still on offer.
Italians in front 1-0.
The Turks will have to risk something now - they can't just hit on the break. This should help the match.
The ball was played wide right to Berardi and it was actually a poor cross from him as it came off of Juve's Demirol
Italy almost in again
Now we need a Jorginho pen to get me a point
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