like your thoughts on a possible 0-0 tomorrow. I was thinking 2-1 Italy but have been waiting for that 0-0 as it hasn't happened yet this tourney and there should be one. I just know England doesn't have that ability to put together two goals against quality teams. So most they get is one. The thing about this tournament is all of the teams that are in it right now are all great european International teams. France, England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal...All these teams have a chance.
yeah - i know yellow cards are factors but didn't pay attention about lineups or who's in jeopardy of missing matches. I believe in posting early because a lot of guys don't come here 20 mins before kickoff and although it sometimes hurts the record or I post plays i might not have played had i seen lineups - that's the nature of online forums and soccer. I just don't think posting with 4 mins til kickoff helps anyone except the poster looking for credit.
Just my opinion...France had some chances and hopefully can get one early and then both sides play for that 3rd goal.
Just my opinion...France had some chances and hopefully can get one early and then both sides play for that 3rd goal.
france actually played well...i was impressed by ribery - a couple of just over the bars and the one great save from Casillas. Spain still not clicking imo - kinda funny since they haven't lost but this isn't the same side that won the WC. Inesta a no show imo - xavi so-so...this team isn't winning the EURos.
I know picking england might not be the popular choice but i might take them. Seems like an extra time game so considering england to qualify at -105. Under 2 at -121 seems a bit short when guys like mario and rooney are on the pitch..but yeah 0-0 1-0 seems the most likely scoreline. England can still play defense esp against a team like italy that don't press forward. The risk is always with a physical english side vs a floppin' team like italy - perhaps a free kick or penalty might prove the difference. I am hoping Super Mario red cards his ass because the EUROs have been more about italy than himself...and he doesn't like that.
to me walcott has to start or i'd send roy packing..i don't mind him coming off the bench but england is so much better when he starts. But i could always change my mind tomorrow but i'm thinking england to qualfy
I know picking england might not be the popular choice but i might take them. Seems like an extra time game so considering england to qualify at -105. Under 2 at -121 seems a bit short when guys like mario and rooney are on the pitch..but yeah 0-0 1-0 seems the most likely scoreline. England can still play defense esp against a team like italy that don't press forward. The risk is always with a physical english side vs a floppin' team like italy - perhaps a free kick or penalty might prove the difference. I am hoping Super Mario red cards his ass because the EUROs have been more about italy than himself...and he doesn't like that.
to me walcott has to start or i'd send roy packing..i don't mind him coming off the bench but england is so much better when he starts. But i could always change my mind tomorrow but i'm thinking england to qualfy
EURO 2012 Record:
Knockout Rounds: 0-1-1 -1.05 units
Group Stage: 11-9-3 +1.98 units
Overall: 11-10-4 +0.93 units
Sunday June 24th
England v Italy
England to qualify -110 - 1.10 to win 1 unit
the extra time/penalties appears to be a real possibility here so taking england in 90 mins (some guys call it ml) is dangerous. I guess if the qualify bet isn't available england pk is okay...at least it would push if Italy wins it in extras or penalties. Seems a lot of people are backing the draw today which i understand but draws are still very hard to get and at +188ish hard to believe that has a ton of value.
I might be on England because I hate Italian football...simple as that. I can usually talk my way out of bets based on emotion but I really do like England here. There is a lot of talk about how poor England is suppose to be but England have 1 loss in 15 matches - friendly loss to the Netherlands (stoppage time winner). Wins include against Spain, Norway, Denmark, 2 vs Sweden and the Ukraine. I understand they have injuries but for me in international play there are always replacements available. And certainly in the round robin England drew to France without Rooney and beat both Sweden and the Ukraine to win the group. They are proving to be very tough in defense and for me Italy has 2 players capable of scoring - Super Mario and Di Natale (De Rossi on free kicks too). But this English defense, imo, can control 1-2 players and Cole/Johnson should manage the sides quite well today. I do wish Walcott would start but he does get subbed quickly in the 2nd half so have a real impact if needed. Rooney goal was a gift so i wouldn't say he is match ready but having ran out one full match he should be much better today and the physcial strenght on the front line could be a major factor. Portuguese ref might be influence by the several dives we are about to witness from the italians and could make the difference for the Azzurri esp. for penalities and free kicks near the box.
Super Mario is one yellow away from missing the semi's and he really can't play his style if he has to worry about it - so perhaps a more tamed Balotelli will be less effective. Of course it could the other way where a yellow card Mario turns into the selfish noob and get a red card 5 mins later. In any case, Italy has been rather poor since the WC. Certainly drawing Spain was a good EURO result but they failed to impress in the Irish match, blew the lead vs Croatia and lost 3 of the 4 friendlies prior to the tournament - including a loss to the USA <--really? It was a very weak qualifying group for Italy and probably a good reason they actually made this tournament.
Personally i think England defense is much better - the midfield is certainly better (esp with Walcott) and Rooney/Walback combo is still a decent threat to score every game. Italy is counting of guys like Cassano that haven't done much and unreliable people like Mario and Pirlo. I think England wins in the 90 but perhaps extra time...if it comes to penalities England might be in trouble though.
GL - if you like Italy don't let me talk you out of it because certainly my hatred of all things Italy football could effect the play today.
Knockout Rounds: 0-1-1 -1.05 units
Group Stage: 11-9-3 +1.98 units
Overall: 11-10-4 +0.93 units
Sunday June 24th
England v Italy
England to qualify -110 - 1.10 to win 1 unit
the extra time/penalties appears to be a real possibility here so taking england in 90 mins (some guys call it ml) is dangerous. I guess if the qualify bet isn't available england pk is okay...at least it would push if Italy wins it in extras or penalties. Seems a lot of people are backing the draw today which i understand but draws are still very hard to get and at +188ish hard to believe that has a ton of value.
I might be on England because I hate Italian football...simple as that. I can usually talk my way out of bets based on emotion but I really do like England here. There is a lot of talk about how poor England is suppose to be but England have 1 loss in 15 matches - friendly loss to the Netherlands (stoppage time winner). Wins include against Spain, Norway, Denmark, 2 vs Sweden and the Ukraine. I understand they have injuries but for me in international play there are always replacements available. And certainly in the round robin England drew to France without Rooney and beat both Sweden and the Ukraine to win the group. They are proving to be very tough in defense and for me Italy has 2 players capable of scoring - Super Mario and Di Natale (De Rossi on free kicks too). But this English defense, imo, can control 1-2 players and Cole/Johnson should manage the sides quite well today. I do wish Walcott would start but he does get subbed quickly in the 2nd half so have a real impact if needed. Rooney goal was a gift so i wouldn't say he is match ready but having ran out one full match he should be much better today and the physcial strenght on the front line could be a major factor. Portuguese ref might be influence by the several dives we are about to witness from the italians and could make the difference for the Azzurri esp. for penalities and free kicks near the box.
Super Mario is one yellow away from missing the semi's and he really can't play his style if he has to worry about it - so perhaps a more tamed Balotelli will be less effective. Of course it could the other way where a yellow card Mario turns into the selfish noob and get a red card 5 mins later. In any case, Italy has been rather poor since the WC. Certainly drawing Spain was a good EURO result but they failed to impress in the Irish match, blew the lead vs Croatia and lost 3 of the 4 friendlies prior to the tournament - including a loss to the USA <--really? It was a very weak qualifying group for Italy and probably a good reason they actually made this tournament.
Personally i think England defense is much better - the midfield is certainly better (esp with Walcott) and Rooney/Walback combo is still a decent threat to score every game. Italy is counting of guys like Cassano that haven't done much and unreliable people like Mario and Pirlo. I think England wins in the 90 but perhaps extra time...if it comes to penalities England might be in trouble though.
GL - if you like Italy don't let me talk you out of it because certainly my hatred of all things Italy football could effect the play today.
back in your thread for another swipe at the pie on the sill.....made 3 bets this morning w/the bookies at the track....3 Lions to win(90'+injury) at 2-1odds for a nickel.....over 2 goals at +105 for $1500...and 3 Lions to win 3-2 for a hundy@33-1 odds...i am looking at a snoozefest turning into a cracker in the blink of an eye this afternoon....mario should start on the bench..maybe come the 70' he enters...in a game of this magnitude can he be trusted...since he plays for my club team i can answer that...NO!....cassano and dino up front can make do....even them 2 could torch this english back line...i don't knjow what lescott is smoking? reading the english rags the last 2 days he thinks he has marios #....laughable...you don't have a youth academy's #, son....how you get accolades is beyond me....good luck gents...and cheers...have a horse or two as well in the pony forum....
i can't remember that last time i saw +188 for home/draw/visitors - funny how we think we can predict the game when clearly it is impossible to figure out. Just glad i bet the same amount and hope for an english victory...it would be better if it came at the expense of super mario but we will see. For me if the other semi is an all iberian semi then england v germany would make it a great semi - lots of history there. Germany v Italy --- more like partners than foes. an early goal would make a huge difference...this might be the sleeper game of the tournament which is saying a lot.
gl with the three lions and three bets...must have done that on purpose....i am guessing the 8th minute when we see our first italian flopper.
gl with the three lions and three bets...must have done that on purpose....i am guessing the 8th minute when we see our first italian flopper.
i will never understand Roy's thinking today - Ashley Young and Scott Parker were shite all day - and why let that useless bum take a penalty. Didn't he watch all those Aston Villa misses by Young....he was terrible at the spot. The English had it in the bag til he Beckhamed himself and hit the post. Parker couldn't feed a pass all day and he kept him in until the last sub.
How there wasn't 2+ goals is beyond me though....i think the Germany would have scored 3-4 vs these two teams. I hate losing but i really hate watching shite players because all english managers think if you play for Man Utd or now Man City you must be the best option...was james milner on the pitch or was just name on the list? I didn't see him all game.
Mini-rant over - on to spain v germany final thinking...
How there wasn't 2+ goals is beyond me though....i think the Germany would have scored 3-4 vs these two teams. I hate losing but i really hate watching shite players because all english managers think if you play for Man Utd or now Man City you must be the best option...was james milner on the pitch or was just name on the list? I didn't see him all game.
Mini-rant over - on to spain v germany final thinking...
milner was subbed for walcott in 2nd half....my question is..why wasn't your other striker(andy boy)taking a pk?...as well as theo...why you had a miserable fullback taking one is all you need to know...i guess in the end one of these miserable pk taking countries had to win, right?...i don't have a leg to stand on with the dutch...we are just as bad..we might have bagged one and put the next 3 over the bar....!!!..ps. joe hart isn't a top world keeper...been saying it since he took over for that donkey given at city...he's very good...he is not great...!!!..pirlo with the goal of the tourney...that chip was brilliant...and the balls at that moment is cake
I've seen Ashley Cole score penalities for Chelski and he's alright ... at least he hit the net albeit a pretty poor attempt. Young and Parker costs them the game imo...two useless players. And they were useless all tournament so it wasn't like they had a bad game...theo didn't do much when he got subbed but give him 90 mins and chances are they would have had better scoring oppertunities...parker's attempt to play someone in were horrible. I've seen penalities like Pirlo did go horribly wrong so good for him because it worked but that could have been brutal. And england wins and he will never be the same...but it worked.
For me it is germany now - no sense cheering for Spain and many reasons to hate the Italians...if it is Spain v Italy in the Final that might trump the WC final as far as worst game of the decade. I wouldn't be shocked in Portugal win but i think germany runs all over italy. THey won't miss like the English did yesterday with the chances.
For me it is germany now - no sense cheering for Spain and many reasons to hate the Italians...if it is Spain v Italy in the Final that might trump the WC final as far as worst game of the decade. I wouldn't be shocked in Portugal win but i think germany runs all over italy. THey won't miss like the English did yesterday with the chances.
I couldn't stop myself from focusing on Young for nearly the entire match. It became annoying because I found myself watching him and not the run of play - he was terrible. I can't recall a match at this level where I so clearly noticed how poorly someone was playing. All this and he misses the PK, inexcusable for a team the caliber of England.
i don't know if USA friendly books have it but Most Goals in the 2nd half seems to be a good pick. Only the match vs France has spain not scored more goals in the 2nd half. In fact all tournament 2 goals score in the 1st half and 7 in the 2nd. For what is worth only 2 matches in 10 matches since the EURO qualifying have Spain not had more goals score in the second half. (last game vs france and a 2-2 draw to Costa Rica in a Friendly). Portugal have 2 games where 2nd half saw more goals and two the 1st half. Both second half more goals came in 1-0 scorelines....very much a 1-0 type game here. Spain v Portugal just looks a very tight affair with a lot of midfield action with little scoring...both sides know the other style quite well and certainly portugal v spain in the club level have been a big focus lately. Very tight opening half imo - the fact that 0 goals in the first half is the lowest odds leads me to think 0-0 HT most likely scoreline.
If there is 0-0 HT I am hoping the under 0.5 goaline is pretty much to be able to cover the bet in case of 0-0 but i'd probably ride it....for me i can't decide who is going to win because if you look back at the EUROs this is when countries emerge as powerhouses and perhaps it is portguals turn...i remember not that long ago we were all talking about how Spain can't win the big game....today could be portugal's turn. In the end I think Spain wins 1-0 with a dramatic 82nd min winner...under 2 is tempting but i think more goals in the 2nd half will be my bet
Spain v Portugal
more goals in the 2nd half +105 - 0.95 to win 1 unit
gl - not sure it is available though
ps - rubber match in the jays/red soxs this afternoon too...good day for sports. Spain and Jays win!
If there is 0-0 HT I am hoping the under 0.5 goaline is pretty much to be able to cover the bet in case of 0-0 but i'd probably ride it....for me i can't decide who is going to win because if you look back at the EUROs this is when countries emerge as powerhouses and perhaps it is portguals turn...i remember not that long ago we were all talking about how Spain can't win the big game....today could be portugal's turn. In the end I think Spain wins 1-0 with a dramatic 82nd min winner...under 2 is tempting but i think more goals in the 2nd half will be my bet
Spain v Portugal
more goals in the 2nd half +105 - 0.95 to win 1 unit
gl - not sure it is available though
ps - rubber match in the jays/red soxs this afternoon too...good day for sports. Spain and Jays win!
haha...the line dropped a bit on the over 2...the over 2 is now the favourite...hard to see 3 goals in it but perhaps both score as they do have some of the best strikers in the world. I just don't see more than 1 goal today. As for a side - if available you could take portugal +0.5 near evens. I think i saw 5 of the last 8 semi's have gone to extras and certainly this game looks like a draw in 90 min chance. Skip today and double bet Germany tomorrow...italy are finally over their heads --- at least i hope so. Spain or Portgual v Italy final will be unwatchable...kinda like Romero will be unhittable today - hahaha
