EURO 2016

Who will win EURO 2016?


  • Total voters
    47

Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Talk Tennis Guru
Portugal are champions of Europe!

cristiano-ronaldo-laughing.jpg
 
T

Tiki-Taka

Guest
1-1
0-0
3-3
1-0 AET
1-1 (5-3)
2-0
1-0 AET

Talk about scrapping through the entire tournament.

Congratulations on your 1st Euro title, Portugal.
 

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Hello everyone from TT

I need some help, asking for a friend. If anyone sees this guy, please, contact my pals at Man United. £100mi reward
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Crazy money.

Most of the French players went missing tonight.

Still, well done Portugal. CR7 the movie to win some awards at the next festival.
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
Fairly open match, this is.

Portugal are starting to look like the blessed team for this tournament and will probably sneak out the win today.
Yet more luck for Portugal.

They'll go on getting overtime/penalty wins for the title, no?

Turned out almost true.. Very blessed. One measly regular-time win for the whole tournament, and three draws in the group stage:D:mad:

Oh well, congrats to Portugal. At least some karmic restitution for the 2004 Euro.
 
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Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil

Talk Tennis Guru
100 - minutes that Portugal played without Ronaldo in the final
80 - minute when Portugal registered their first shot on target against France
73 - Portugal led for 73 minutes in their seven matches (720 minutes)
43 - years passed between Portugal's two wins over France (ten losses in a row)
35 - matches that Portugal played at the Euros until their first title.
18 - Renato Sanches is the youngest champion in the history of Euros (18 years and 326 days)
10 - Portugal are 10th different European champion
7 - saves from Rui Patricio in the final
6 - the scorer of the title winning goal Eder is the 6th reserve that scored in the Euro final
2 - both extra time goals for Portugal at this tournament were scored by reserves
1 - Portugal won only one out of seven matches in the regular 90 minutes
0 - the number of goals that Euro final hero Eder scored in the English Premier League last season...


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CnCRLvgXgAE7Oa3.jpg:large
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
What makes this loss harder to swallow for me is the fact, that the very same player who ran away from Eder, just before Eder kicked it in, was the player who mistakenly got a yellow and a free kick against him 2 minutes earlier for a handball that Eder was the perpetrator of.

Had that not happened, he would in all likelihood have attempted a tackle/given Eder a freekick. And then who knows what would have happened in the last 10 minutes/penalties.

Anyways, congrats to Portugal! One win within ordinary time in their 7 matches. And now they are European Champions. Not even Greece could win it with so few wins. Well done on scrapping through.
 

augustobt

Legend
What makes this loss harder to swallow for me is the fact, that the very same player who ran away from Eder, just before Eder kicked it in, was the player who mistakenly got a yellow and a free kick against him 2 minutes earlier for a handball that Eder was the perpetrator of.

Had that not happened, he would in all likelihood have attempted a tackle/given Eder a freekick. And then who knows what would have happened in the last 10 minutes/penalties.

Anyways, congrats to Portugal! One win within ordinary time in their 7 matches. And now they are European Champions. Not even Greece could win it with so few wins. Well done on scrapping through.
And that ball from Gignac in the end of the second half? Pepe is still waiting for him.
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
And that ball from Gignac in the end of the second half? Pepe is still waiting for him.
yeah - an inch to the right and it goes in. Half an inch to the left and it goes right out to Griezmann. So unlucky. They literally had all the chances in the 90 minutes.
Would have loved to see Griezmann pull a Van Persie early in the match, but it was a very good save
 

Chicharito

Hall of Fame
Smug bump.

Portugal now have a chance to win this, they would not have had any chance v Germany imo.

France are now the red hot favourites to win on home soil, that is a lot of pressure. Portugal on the other hand should be nice and relaxed but highly motivated, no one expects them to win this.

Portugal have the definsive ability to really frustrate France and nick this match. A bit like Euro 2004 where Greece (strong defensively) stunned the home nation in the final.

Still backing France of course, an early French goal could render all the above obsolete.





I strongly disagree with the SF schedule, should have been Tues and Wed, no on should have to play a SF on Thurs and then a final on Sunday. Will be interesting to see how much of an impact this has on France

Thursday semi final had a huge impact imo. France had no bite, they were exhausted.

But still disappointed in them, you have to win it as the favourite, don't be cautious. Bizarre to not bring on Martial till the goal.

Small margins of course, could have easily won and this conversation would not exist.


Portugal as a nation deserve that for the last 20 years. the ghosts of Lisbon 2004 are buried, the shoe on the other foot this time.
 

augustobt

Legend
But France paid the price of Deschamps being such a terrible coach. Banning Benzema because he blackmailed Valbuena? I think that after spending a tournament with GIROUD as striker Benzema may even blackmail François Hollande...
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
yeah - an inch to the right and it goes in. Half an inch to the left and it goes right out to Griezmann. So unlucky. They literally had all the chances in the 90 minutes.
Would have loved to see Griezmann pull a Van Persie early in the match, but it was a very good save

Yeah, like France was never lucky in international football. It was our time. We were not known for being mentally solid and/or lucky and we were both of these things this time. The era of expecting Portugal to play beautiful football and have moral victories (and actual defeats) is fortunately over. Beating France at the Stade de France and with all the things the French press (and even our own press) said about this team is extra tasty.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
Either Germany or France, whoever wins tomorrow.

Hope France/Germany save football from Kristina

Although i dont like penaldo i really dont want Cameroon to win the title

France better win this....

I would be rooting for Portugal if it wasn't for Ronaldo

Utter joke of luck, lmfao

Not Portugal are up to their antics. Life threatening cramp.

1-1
0-0
3-3
1-0 AET
1-1 (5-3)
2-0
1-0 AET

Talk about scrapping through the entire tournament.

Congratulations on your 1st Euro title, Portugal.

Turned out almost true.. Very blessed. One measly regular-time win for the whole tournament, and three draws in the group stage:D:mad:

Oh well, congrats to Portugal. At least some karmic restitution for the 2004 Euro.

What makes this loss harder to swallow for me is the fact, that the very same player who ran away from Eder, just before Eder kicked it in, was the player who mistakenly got a yellow and a free kick against him 2 minutes earlier for a handball that Eder was the perpetrator of.

Had that not happened, he would in all likelihood have attempted a tackle/given Eder a freekick. And then who knows what would have happened in the last 10 minutes/penalties.

Anyways, congrats to Portugal! One win within ordinary time in their 7 matches. And now they are European Champions. Not even Greece could win it with so few wins. Well done on scrapping through.

yeah - an inch to the right and it goes in. Half an inch to the left and it goes right out to Griezmann. So unlucky. They literally had all the chances in the 90 minutes.
Would have loved to see Griezmann pull a Van Persie early in the match, but it was a very good save


how it must suck to be this daft
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
What makes this loss harder to swallow for me is the fact, that the very same player who ran away from Eder, just before Eder kicked it in, was the player who mistakenly got a yellow and a free kick against him 2 minutes earlier for a handball that Eder was the perpetrator of.

Had that not happened, he would in all likelihood have attempted a tackle/given Eder a freekick. And then who knows what would have happened in the last 10 minutes/penalties.

Anyways, congrats to Portugal! One win within ordinary time in their 7 matches. And now they are European Champions. Not even Greece could win it with so few wins. Well done on scrapping through.

Lets not forget this

thierry-henry_1526874c.jpg


or pretend platinni is not to be arrested for corruption, or how you win germany with home coming referee

But looking at it, it seems Petain spirit is still very alive
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, like France was never lucky in international football. It was our time. We were not known for being mentally solid and/or lucky and we were both of these things this time. The era of expecting Portugal to play beautiful football and have moral victories (and actual defeats) is fortunately over. Beating France at the Stade de France and with all the things the French press (and even our own press) said about this team is extra tasty.
Congrats. I'm not French and I was rooting against them on Thursday. But they were the vastly better team yesterday for the first 90 minutes and the vastly better team over the past month. They could not do the most important thing in football though -> get the ball into the goal and Portugal capitalized.

My comment was not about luck in the past which I regard as utterly irrelevant to the here and now (but tbh, I don't recall France being lucky in 98 or 2000).
My comment was about the actual match, where Portugal neither wanted nor couldn't produce any attempt on goals for 90 minutes.
That's not football for me (but I do realize, smaller countries need to play their chance this way) and for that reason, the wrong team won imo.
Nevertheless, congrats.

@Gorecki - you're on ignore, so don't bother. Cheers
 
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insideguy

G.O.A.T.
My comment is on espn. I wasnt rooting from portugal but jesus these guys, some brit who was the worst were so pissed portugal won the way they did. It was actually disturbing. Look its freaking soccer. These guys were acting like someone desecrated the Mona Lisa or something. If the USA won a tournament playing this style not one US soccer fan would say crap. I thought ESPN embarrassed themselves with this coverage. You do what it takes to win, period . You dont play pretty to make people happy and lose. Jesus.
 
I wonder where you got that from. Saying it was a scrap from them throughout the entire Euros wasn't a critic, it's a fact. I am also quite happy for them and congratulated on the title. No need to create trouble out of nothing.
Gorecki has demonstrated constantly that he loves trouble. The funny thing is that he constantly spews hatred against anything Spanish, but if someone dares state an inoffensive fact that he doesn't like about Portugal, then he flies off the handle. Clown...
 
T

Tiki-Taka

Guest
Gorecki has demonstrated constantly that he loves trouble. The funny thing is that he constantly spews hatred against anything Spanish, but if someone dares state an inoffensive fact that he doesn't like about Portugal, then he flies off the handle. Clown...
Sounds like an excellent example of a person who should always be avoided.
 
Portugal usually plays with flair as most people who watch soccer know... they are called the Brazil of Europe for a reason.

However, how many times have we been the better team and ended up losing? I recall the semi final vs France in 2000 where we were the best team in the tournament and we were striked out by a dubious penalty 3 minutes away from the penalties ...

In 2004, we lost vs Greece in the final against all odds ...

Sure we havent played pretty since Fernando Santos has taken helm of the team, but like he said the other day "Im in this to win... finals are to be won, not played... if you ask me if I rather play ugly and win vs playing pretty and lose... I rather take the cup and I am going to take the cup mark my words..."

History is made of winners... no one remembers anymore how Portugal shouldve won in 2000 or 2004 ... and in a few more years rarely anyone will mention it.

On the cup, it will say Winner of 2016 - Portugal ... there is not enough room on the cup to say Winner - Portugal (but they played a bit defensive though) ...

This was long overdue... and the hero of the match to be Eder, the ugly duckling in Portugal just makes it extra tasy... from an ugly duckling to national hero ...

Ive been very critic of Fernando Santos and because he doesnt play with flair... but ill take winnings vs flair anyday... of course if both can be aligned then im all in ...

I was sick of moral victories already!
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
Congrats. I'm not French and I was rooting against them on Thursday. But they were the vastly better team yesterday for the first 90 minutes and the vastly better team over the past month. They could not do the most important thing in football though -> get the ball into the goal and Portugal capitalized.

My comment was not about luck in the past which I regard as utterly irrelevant to the here and now (but tbh, I don't recall France being lucky in 98 or 2000).
My comment was about the actual match, where Portugal neither wanted nor couldn't produce any attempt on goals for 90 minutes.
That's not football for me (but I do realize, smaller countries need to play their chance this way) and for that reason, the wrong team won imo.
Nevertheless, congrats.

@Gorecki - you're on ignore, so don't bother. Cheers

Well, maybe the French were too good during those 90 minutes and didn't allow us to create any opportunities. I don't think we can criticise Portugal fully for that. And as you say, if this is the football that can give smaller countries a chance to win titles, should we then only cheer when the bigger countries - the ones that are expected to win - end up doing what they're expected to do anyway? Would we be better off if better football always won (and isn't having the best tactics good football?)? Because we've had those teams in the past too and they haven't won anything (and the strongest of the lot were probably our national team from the 1966 World Cup). And if we're to condemn a defensive approach to football, then we have to find the courage to say 4-time world champions Italy don't play what you consider to be football, which is a little controversial to say the least. And they are not a small country.

I'm not even sure France were the better team in the end, goal opportunities were pretty much evenly distributed and both teams hit the bar/post. And in extra-time we were probably the better team - extra-time also counts. Our players seemed fresher than the French players, which is extraordinary considering the dimension of both teams. And outlasting your opponent is also good football: it's exactly what France did to us in 1984, 2000 and 2006. Lesson well learned, because it was that much sweeter to win in Paris.
 

Slice'n'dice

Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Portugal, arguably the worst team to have ever won a European Championship. 1 win inside 90 minutes in the entire tournament and third in their group (ridiculous system 24 teams has not worked for many more reasons than that, should be 16 or 32). Nevertheless they did it, just goes to show people saying that a team like England would have no chance and shouldn't expect to have a chance are talking rubbish. In terms of quality of players Ronaldo aside, England's squad is considerably better, difference is Portugal had a competent manager who managed to get them through the big games no matter how ugly it looked, lucky to get through the groups they may be but once they were through the bored their opponents into submission and did so well.

So yeah goes to show, you don't need to have the best team, the best players necessarily, no point trying to reinvent your game at grass roots level when you have in truth, an abundance of talent. A good manager with a little bit of luck can take all manner of teams a long way as Portugal have showed and as Greece showed back in 2004.
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
Congratulations to Portugal, arguably the worst team to have ever won a European Championship. 1 win inside 90 minutes in the entire tournament and third in their group (ridiculous system 24 teams has not worked for many more reasons than that, should be 16 or 32). Nevertheless they did it, just goes to show people saying that a team like England would have no chance and shouldn't expect to have a chance are talking rubbish. In terms of quality of players Ronaldo aside, England's squad is considerably better, difference is Portugal had a competent manager who managed to get them through the big games no matter how ugly it looked, lucky to get through the groups they may be but once they were through the bored their opponents into submission and did so well.

So yeah goes to show, you don't need to have the best team, the best players necessarily, no point trying to reinvent your game at grass roots level when you have in truth, an abundance of talent. A good manager with a little bit of luck can take all manner of teams a long way as Portugal have showed and as Greece showed back in 2004.

I think they're one of the best teams to have won the European Championship. Not only did it win the Championship with (arguably) the best player in the world (a team with the best player in the world can hardly be called the worst team), but they also won it without him (which proves the team itself was good enough to win it without its star player). The team showed mental fortitude unheard of in past Portuguese teams and there's no evidence to suggest England is "considerably better", since most of the Portuguese players who weren't as well known as some of the English players will as a result of this be considered if not as good, then better than many players on the English team. Any way you cut it - even if you look at participation in recent Euros - Portugal's record rivals and even surpasses (especially when compared to England) most of the other teams. You need a combination of factors to come together for a team to be successful at this level, and a "competent manager" is certainly not the only one. Football is about ebbs and flows, the football that generated titles a few years ago was all about possession, now it's the other way round (look at Leicester). When it was Iceland doing it (and they did it against Portugal too, lest we forget), everyone was praising them. If it's Portugal using a more defensive approach to the game (while still creating a lot of chances), the criticism suddenly appears.

Portugal won this Euro with a little bit of luck on their side (every winning team needs a little luck), I'm not denying it, but they were also the team who changed and adapted the best to their opponents and had a more flexible approach to the game (they didn't play the same in the group stages and then in the knockout phase). That is the opposite of boring. I agree with your final paragraph, although I believe you underestimate the talent in the Portuguese team.
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
Well, maybe the French were too good during those 90 minutes and didn't allow us to create any opportunities. I don't think we can criticise Portugal fully for that. And as you say, if this is the football that can give smaller countries a chance to win titles, should we then only cheer when the bigger countries - the ones that are expected to win - end up doing what they're expected to do anyway? Would we be better off if better football always won (and isn't having the best tactics good football?)? Because we've had those teams in the past too and they haven't won anything (and the strongest of the lot were probably our national team from the 1966 World Cup). And if we're to condemn a defensive approach to football, then we have to find the courage to say 4-time world champions Italy don't play what you consider to be football, which is a little controversial to say the least. And they are not a small country.

I'm not even sure France were the better team in the end, goal opportunities were pretty much evenly distributed and both teams hit the bar/post. And in extra-time we were probably the better team - extra-time also counts. Our players seemed fresher than the French players, which is extraordinary considering the dimension of both teams. And outlasting your opponent is also good football: it's exactly what France did to us in 1984, 2000 and 2006. Lesson well learned, because it was that much sweeter to win in Paris.
I wouldn't say goal opportunities were evenly distributed, but I do agree you could be said to be the better team in extra time. However, the post you hit was due to a massive mistake by the ref (Eden was the one with the hand on the ball), which in the end contributed to Eden scoring minutes later, as the player, who mistakenly got a yellow, didn't dare to tackle again.
Anyways, I'm off from the forum again, but congrats. It's charming for sports that small teams can win as well.
As for Italy, I don't like it that much when they win either. Like in tennis, I prefer certain styles over others. And a purely defensive style is just not that exciting for me as a viewer.

As for the freshness, I agree. But you also had an extra day of rest, whereas France had to battle hard against the World Champions from Germany
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
I wouldn't say goal opportunities were evenly distributed, but I do agree you could be said to be the better team in extra time. However, the post you hit was due to a massive mistake by the ref (Eden was the one with the hand on the ball), which in the end contributed to Eden scoring minutes later, as the player, who mistakenly got a yellow, didn't dare to tackle again.
Anyways, I'm off from the forum again, but congrats. It's charming for sports that small teams can win as well.
As for Italy, I don't like it that much when they win either. Like in tennis, I prefer certain styles over others. And a purely defensive style is just not that exciting for me as a viewer.

Fair enough. Who wouldn't love to win with a team like 1970 Brazil? :)
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
The 1970 Brasil team will be remembered (generally, not locally) forever.

I very much doubt that the Portugal 2016 team will be remembered.

:cool:

I agree. But this title and the manner in which it was won (against the host nation and with all odds stacked against us) will be remembered forever.
 
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