tOfficial Champions League 2008 Final thread: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Originally Posted by arfabe16

That one starts June 7th, and it will all be on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Classic, and ABC.

It's perhaps the best national team tournament in the world, over the World Cup. Every team in it has a chance against any other team in it, unlike the World Cup where you'll have a team like Saudi Arabia going up against Germany and, of course, receiving 8 goals.

England did not qualify for it... that's how competitive this tournament is.

The favorites, for me, are Italy and Germany, along with classic underachievers Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal.

I have Spain winning it all... but they tend to choke, so it's probably not a wise choice

Here are the TV listings for Euro 2008:
ESPNsoccernet - Euro 2008 - European Championship Fixtures

CROATIA! I'm calling a big upset out of Group B.

[SpartanGop]

Originally Posted by arfabe16

what do you mean the silly season?

Last year we just used the main general soccer thread to discuss the soccer tournaments.

Only games that had their own threads were the UCL final and I believe someone (not a soccer fan) made a USA vs. Mexico thread... those games were just bigger.

I think the main general soccer thread will do just fine for the most part of the summer. Most CONCACAF qualifying games + whatever's left of Libertadores + most games in the European Cup + transfer news will only result in a few posts.

However, we'll definitely need an individual thread for the European Cup final.

I vote for a separate thread for the Euro 2008. We had one for Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. I think this would still be the thread for general discussion of transfers and friendlies.

[arfabe16]

Originally Posted by SpartanGop

I vote for a separate thread for the Euro 2008. We had one for Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. I think this would still be the thread for general discussion of transfers and friendlies.

Fair enough. I wasn't here for either of those. If someone wants to put up an Euro 2008 thread be my guest. Probably a few days before the tournament starts would be best.

But yeah, I think the general thread should be kept for transfers, friendlies, CONCACAF qualifiers, etc.

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by BleedinGreen

Snicker...

It starts on June 7th and the faves are both Italy and Germany, which you listed but also France and Portugal should be very strong.

All games are on ESPN networks and it will be freaking awesome.

Originally Posted by sarcyspice

Fletch..... you trying to rub it in....

the austrians and swiss are gutted as there won't be 100,000 fans singing tunes from the sound of music this year!!!!!!

I swear I didn't know!

I imagine it was a major upset for them not to make the field?? Would it be bigger than, less than or equal to MSU not making the NCAA tournament, for example?

I'm vowing to make Euro 08 the first non-World Cup tournament I follow very closely. I'm pumped (and shocked) to hear that all the games will be on ESPN/ABC.

I'm already doing my homework and see that Greece was the suprise winners last time around. I'll study the brackets and let you guys know who's going to win.

[arfabe16]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I swear I didn't know!

I imagine it was a major upset for them not to make the field?? Would it be bigger than, less than or equal to MSU not making the NCAA tournament, for example?

Probably bigger... simply because they didn't qualify because they lost to CROATIA, a team that has been relevant for exactly one summer (summer of 1998, riding on the back of Davor Suker) since it became a country. England, the birthplace of soccer, losing to freakin' Croatia with a Euro 2008 berth on the line.

A few days ago I saw an interview with Michael Owen about how heartbroken he was about it

[BleedinGreen]

Originally Posted by arfabe16

Probably bigger... simply because they didn't qualify because they lost to CROATIA, a team that has been relevant for exactly one summer (summer of 1998, riding on the back of Davor Suker) since it became a country. England, the birthplace of soccer, losing to freakin' Croatia with a Euro 2008 berth on the line.

A few days ago I saw an interview with Michael Owen about how heartbroken he was about it

The funniest part was that they needed a near miracle even to be in the position to make the tournament with a win over Croatia...then they blew it. A fail of epic proportions.

[MiamiSpartan]

Originally Posted by arfabe16

Probably bigger... simply because they didn't qualify because they lost to CROATIA, a team that has been relevant for exactly one summer (summer of 1998, riding on the back of Davor Suker) since it became a country. England, the birthplace of soccer, losing to freakin' Croatia with a Euro 2008 berth on the line.

A few days ago I saw an interview with Michael Owen about how heartbroken he was about it

Of course, if MSU were to not qualify for the tournament, we'd have to lose to some bad teams. But because college players stick around for only a few years, and England has a lot of well established players this is probably bigger. However, England also missed out on the 94 World Cup, so with one of these two major tournaments every two years, they had only made 6 consecutive tournaments, as opposed to MSU's current streak of 11.

So I guess it depends on how you want to judge it.

[sarcyspice]

Originally Posted by BleedinGreen

The funniest part was that they needed a near miracle even to be in the position to make the tournament with a win over Croatia...then they blew it. A fail of epic proportions.

thanks for that guys!!!!!! somebody find fletch a copy of the 2nd goal in zargreb (the nevile/robinson incident) and the 1st goal at wembley (the scott carson howler)... they are bound to be on you tube somewhere!!!!

fletch... the only reason why england were in position to make such an epic fail was that russia lost to israel in the series of games before, and england then only need to draw against croatia (who had already qualified)

they lost 3-2

but this euro 2008 qualifying was strange in the fact that a lot of the "big boys" struggled to get there..... France, Italy and Spain for example all had to win there last games to "make sure"

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by sarcyspice

thanks for that guys!!!!!! somebody find fletch a copy of the 2nd goal in zargreb (the nevile/robinson incident) and the 1st goal at wembley (the scott carson howler)... they are bound to be on you tube somewhere!!!!

fletch... the only reason why england were in position to make such an epic fail was that russia lost to israel in the series of games before, and england then only need to draw against croatia (who had already qualified)

they lost 3-2

but this euro 2008 qualifying was strange in the fact that a lot of the "big boys" struggled to get there..... France, Italy and Spain for example all had to win there last games to "make sure"

I'm disappointed to see that "my" team - the Ukes - didn't make the cut either. It was fun watching them make a nice run in the WC.

[sarcyspice]

Originally Posted by MiamiSpartan

Of course, if MSU were to not qualify for the tournament, we'd have to lose to some bad teams. But because college players stick around for only a few years, and England has a lot of well established players this is probably bigger. However, England also missed out on the 94 World Cup, so with one of these two major tournaments every two years, they had only made 6 consecutive tournaments, as opposed to MSU's current streak of 11.

So I guess it depends on how you want to judge it.

can we not mention WC 94 please.. still a sore subject here in england..... that is the reason that Ronald Koeman is still hated here....

last game of qualifying... holland vs england in rotterdam..... 0-0..... middle of the 2nd half, david platt is clean thru.... koeman pulls him down, ref gets the following blatantly wrong.... says it was outside the area (it was inside) and only give Koeman a yellow (when he was the last man by a good 20 yards and should have been a red)

anyway..... holland get a free kick 5 minutes from time, and up steps koeman to put the ball in the top corner of the net........

if you ever get to see the doctumentry following graham taylor thru that campaign called "do i not like that" do...... its a must

[sarcyspice]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I'm disappointed to see that "my" team - the Ukes - didn't make the cut either. It was fun watching them make a nice run in the WC.

they were in the hardest group for qualification.... in with france, italy, scotland... who are all top 20 ranked in the fifa rankings.....

[Fatwa Dakkash]

Jim Rome had a soccer take on his show today (



Jim Rome / 5-22-2008

You may have missed it and consider yourself lucky if you did! But, Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalty kicks to win the UEFA Championship. I know, “shocking” that the score was still tied at the end of regulation! Even more “shocking” that it was a scoreless tie! And, how fitting that they would decide arguably the biggest game of the year on penalty kicks?! I mean, how “soccer of them”!

Nothing like playing the entire game and then two O.T.’s…and then deciding the championship on penalty kicks?! That would be like Game 7 of the World Series going to extra innings, and “dragging” the pitching screen out to the mound for a little “Home Run Derby”. If the Spurs and Lakers go to Game 7 in their series, I don’t think David Stern is going to have Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant play a “game of horse” to decide who goes to the finals.

Look, I’m sure the “cats” playing the game are as bored as the rest of us watching it, but how do you decide the title on kicks? Why not come up with something a little less random like, I don’t know, “flipping coins”?! Or, a “rock, paper, scissors” competition?! Anyway, congratulations to “Man U”, your goalie guessed right one more time than their goalie did.

And as always “soccer fan”, let me save the trouble…I know, I just don’t get it. You’re right! I don’t! That’s my point! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t get it. And, I hope I never do![/QUOTE]

[drogba]

[quote=The Dread Pirate Roberts;4755032]HEY! Nice of you to show up in this thread. Too bad you couldn't show up in the game yesterday, and had to be a douche instead. Thanks for nothing. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. ]



I have been in Milan for weeks

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by MiamiSpartan

I think his cultural ignorance is evident right there. He lists 3 continents, but lumps all of South America in as Mexico. It reminds me of someone on here once talking about great "Latin" restaurants (by which he meant Mexican). And how so many people in Michigan call every Hispanic "Mexican".

You got your panties in a bunch over that? Get a life.

[Topopo]

Jim Rome / 5-22-2008
I know, “shocking” that the score was still tied at the end of regulation! Even more “shocking” that it was a scoreless tie!

Wow his argument is perfect
How do people spewing this stuff out of their ass stay on television?

[Deron5]

I like soccer but I think ending a championship game with penalty kicks is dumb. Maybe allow extra substitutions. Maybe there isn't a good alternative but it sucks for any game to be decided that way.