I'm normally not a huge soccer fan, but I've been getting in to some of these games in the Euro 2012. Can some of you soccer guys tell me exactly what this tournament means in the grand scheme of things, what are some of the key games to look for, who's the favorite, how close are we to the Finals, etc. Just a break down for someone that's never watched or kept up with this event. There has been some good games so far.
Euro 2012 Question
- Thread starter CadaverDawg
- Start date
I'm normally not a huge soccer fan, but I've been getting in to some of these games in the Euro 2012. Can some of you soccer guys tell me exactly what this tournament means in the grand scheme of things, what are some of the key games to look for, who's the favorite, how close are we to the Finals, etc. Just a break down for someone that's never watched or kept up with this event. There has been some good games so far.
It is the same format as the actual World Cup except only European teams play in it. It also only has 16 teams (WC has 32). There are 4 groups of 4, and each team plays the other 3 teams in their group once. A win is 3 points and a tie is 1 point. The two teams with the most points at the end of the three games move on to the knockout stages. So 8 teams move on and then it is a standard tournament with the winner of each game moving on. No ties in the knockout stages.<div>
</div><div>As for the favorites you would have to say Spain (current WC champs and last Euro champ) and Germany who went 10-0-0 in qualifying. Others to watch are Netherlands and possibly Italy. Tomorrow is a great day to watch because Germany plays the Netherlands, and Portugal (Christiano Ronaldo) plays Denmark, who beat the Netherlands in the first game.</div>
</div><div>As for the favorites you would have to say Spain (current WC champs and last Euro champ) and Germany who went 10-0-0 in qualifying. Others to watch are Netherlands and possibly Italy. Tomorrow is a great day to watch because Germany plays the Netherlands, and Portugal (Christiano Ronaldo) plays Denmark, who beat the Netherlands in the first game.</div>
We're in the group stage now. Top two teams out of the groups advance to play each other in knockout rounds. The #1's play the #2's.<div id="isChromeWebToolbarDiv" style="display:none"></div><div>
</div><div>Just watch the games to see which teams play a boring style and hate them and to see which players arewhiningdiver and hate them. The 2006 WC and hating Cristiano Ronaldo is what got me into soccer as a whole and helped lead me to the club team that I root for now.</div><div>
</div><div>edited to add: this site:http://www.zonalmarking.net/is great for understanding the nuts and bolts of soccer. i think we all grew up living and breathing football, so we all understand the stuff behind it besides oh hey look touchdown pass! zonalmarking has helped me to understand all the tactics and stuff. and it has great previews of all the teams if you look back a couple of pages. a fantastic time waster at work or school.</div>
</div><div>Just watch the games to see which teams play a boring style and hate them and to see which players arewhiningdiver and hate them. The 2006 WC and hating Cristiano Ronaldo is what got me into soccer as a whole and helped lead me to the club team that I root for now.</div><div>
</div><div>edited to add: this site:http://www.zonalmarking.net/is great for understanding the nuts and bolts of soccer. i think we all grew up living and breathing football, so we all understand the stuff behind it besides oh hey look touchdown pass! zonalmarking has helped me to understand all the tactics and stuff. and it has great previews of all the teams if you look back a couple of pages. a fantastic time waster at work or school.</div>
SKB nailed all the details.
One thing to keep in mind is that NATIONAL pride is at stake in all these games. Soccer (football) is the primary sport in pretty much all of these countries, and these are the best of the best representing those countries.
The toughest group (aka the group of death is the Netherlands, denmark, germany, portugal) group.
It should be great to watch since Denmark had a big upset of netherlands in game 1.
I think all 4 of those teams are considered top 20 worldwide (could be wrong on that).
On key point, is that the first round is 3 games. Given the point system that SKB detailed, if a team has 6pts after 2 games,
they tend to rest their stars -- so weird things can happen in that final game.
In terms of tournaments it is my 3rd favorite, lots of strategy and years of potential anguish
1) World Cup
2) March Madness
3) Euro Cup
One thing to keep in mind is that NATIONAL pride is at stake in all these games. Soccer (football) is the primary sport in pretty much all of these countries, and these are the best of the best representing those countries.
The toughest group (aka the group of death is the Netherlands, denmark, germany, portugal) group.
It should be great to watch since Denmark had a big upset of netherlands in game 1.
I think all 4 of those teams are considered top 20 worldwide (could be wrong on that).
On key point, is that the first round is 3 games. Given the point system that SKB detailed, if a team has 6pts after 2 games,
they tend to rest their stars -- so weird things can happen in that final game.
In terms of tournaments it is my 3rd favorite, lots of strategy and years of potential anguish
1) World Cup
2) March Madness
3) Euro Cup
I'm glad to know that it is a lengthy tournament. I was worried I had missed some games or that it was almost over. I thought Ronaldo should have been more aggressive the other day in their first game. He seems to have incredible skills, but he didn't really attack and try to force the issue until they got behind and it was late in the match. I expected more out of a guy many claim to be the best, so I'm looking forward to their next game. I will be sure and tune in tomorrow.
I wouldn't mind getting into club soccer, but I just don't really understand it. Manchester United and Chelsea seem to be mentioned a lot....but is there a particular team that most of you pull for? I won't ask anyone to break down the club game, but feel free to do it if it won't take a novel. I think the fact that I don't understand the level of different leagues and how the champions are determined has kept me from getting into soccer as much. I love World Cup soccer, so I'm trying to learn more about other leagues/tourneys so I can watch more year round. Thanks
I wouldn't mind getting into club soccer, but I just don't really understand it. Manchester United and Chelsea seem to be mentioned a lot....but is there a particular team that most of you pull for? I won't ask anyone to break down the club game, but feel free to do it if it won't take a novel. I think the fact that I don't understand the level of different leagues and how the champions are determined has kept me from getting into soccer as much. I love World Cup soccer, so I'm trying to learn more about other leagues/tourneys so I can watch more year round. Thanks
Important leagues are in Italy, Germany, Spain, and England. France, Holland, and Portugal also have teams that can compete at the top level from time to time. The best players generally play in these leagues during the prime of their careers. International players from the big nations tend to play in their own leagues tend to play in their own countries. The league is determined like the NHL regular season. 3 points for a win. 1 point for a draw. Goal difference, goals scored - goals let in, is a tiebreaker. Add up all the points from the all of the games in the season and you have the places every team finishes in. No playoffs. No extra time. No penalty kicks.<div>
<div>Top teams from leagues all over Europe play in the Champions League. The best players want to play in the Champions League, and the teams get crazy tv and prize money from the CL which creates a positive reinforcing cycle that keeps the good teams good. Traditional powerhouses will always have an advantage over the little guys.<div id="isChromeWebToolbarDiv" style="display:none"></div></div></div><div>
</div><div>As far as actually getting into the club game, it's pretty easy. Saturday's during the fall are great. I get up at 9, shake my hangover and watch a game from 9-11. Then college football goes from 11-11. Sunday morning you can get up and watch the games if they're any good, and then go straight into NFL. Just watch the biggest match-ups of each weekend and figure out which teams you think are fun to watch, which players you hate and like, and which clubs you can see yourself rooting for. It all develops pretty naturally.</div><div>
</div><div>If you have any questions about anything I can answer. Sorry if I'm not very clear. It's kinda late.</div>
<div>Top teams from leagues all over Europe play in the Champions League. The best players want to play in the Champions League, and the teams get crazy tv and prize money from the CL which creates a positive reinforcing cycle that keeps the good teams good. Traditional powerhouses will always have an advantage over the little guys.<div id="isChromeWebToolbarDiv" style="display:none"></div></div></div><div>
</div><div>As far as actually getting into the club game, it's pretty easy. Saturday's during the fall are great. I get up at 9, shake my hangover and watch a game from 9-11. Then college football goes from 11-11. Sunday morning you can get up and watch the games if they're any good, and then go straight into NFL. Just watch the biggest match-ups of each weekend and figure out which teams you think are fun to watch, which players you hate and like, and which clubs you can see yourself rooting for. It all develops pretty naturally.</div><div>
</div><div>If you have any questions about anything I can answer. Sorry if I'm not very clear. It's kinda late.</div>
... he'll do that. A lot of the really skillful guys do, for a lot of reasons. I don't really like it. Sometimes they pick and choose when to stand out, sometimes a team really has a great game plan for containing them, and sometimes they just don't want to get hurt. Sometimes they're headcases. He's a bit lackadaisical. Incredible talent, and can turn the game around in a heartbeat, but not enough heart for me.<div>CadaverDawg said:
</div><div>I like Messi myself if I had to pick a "best". He just plays hard most of the time, which is why he's so good. Don't think he really started standing out until he got older; he was always small for his age, and still is. A lot of the younger youth teams pick the more athletic kids (bigger, older) at first. He's a guy that just put in extra work, and he's amazing to watch now. I see him with 3 and 4 goals constantly. If he doesn't score, it's at least not for lack of effort. I'll take that.</div><div>
</div><div>I like English Premier League. I don't really have a favorite- no real ties. I liked Everton a few years back because they had a few Americans and seemed to do more with less, but they've changed a lot. I tend to stay away from the typical powerhouses everybody likes. I usually like the newly promoted sides- loved Blackpool last year, liked Swansea this year, Hull City a few years back. What really got me into it is playing Fantasy Soccer- swear. It makes you keep up with it, and it's kind of fun. I like it better than Fantasy Football. Man City was an exciting team to watch this year, Man U is always good, Chelsea is usually but very down this year, Arsenal was so-so (great goal-scorer up top in Robin Van Persie). You should join one of those leagues in August- I like Fantasy Premier League. Seriously. I knew NOTHING on those teams before I joined, but learned quickly and it got me excited to watch.</div><div>
</div><div>Soccer, like golf or tennis, is fun to watch if you understand the rules of it. It's hard otherwise, no doubt. You have to be attracted to things that Americans aren't really attracted to- the flow of the game, the great pass, the ]backwards flip to hit a volley [/url]out of midair into the net. That stands out right now- I didn't get to see many at all this year because I moved and we don't get that channel in our package here. Damnit. They were showing a bunch of great plays from previous years on that Fantasy Soccer EPL league page.</div><div>
</div><div>I say just watch it and pick who you like and figure out why you like them. That's what I always do. I like less-heralded teams that get scrappy players and make the big clubs play them hard. Swansea did that this past year very well. They also played pretty well. Aguero for Man City is one of my favorite strikers- that little guy can motor and never quits. They have so many options for his position, but he's still always my pick for them.</div><div>
</div><div>The more you watch, the more you learn, and if you have questions, just put them. There are a lot, and they're hard to figure out. Some aren't even rules, they're just "things you do". I don't agree with all of the all of the time.</div><div>
</div><div>Anyway, get into the Fantasy stuff. Period. End of novella. Maybe.
</div>
In the European leagues they have relegation and promotion zones. In England their are four leagues, and you have to earn your way into the top league, and to stay in the top league. Each year the bottom 3 teams from the EPL get relegated to the second division in England, and the top three teams get promoted to the EPL. This is the same for the bottom and top teams in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th division too. So teams can change from divisions depending on how well they do. Now the Manchester Uniteds, Chelseas, Arsenals of the world don't have to worry about that because they are always at the top of the table, but it is very interesting to see who gets promoted and relegated each year.
and I LOVE that, because everyone is literally battling until the last minute of the last day trying to stay in or stay on top. Not just a bunch of boring, keep a draw so neither of us fall kind of stuff. <div>skb124 said:
</div><div>This year will be a battle with United wanting to retain their crowd from cross-town rival Man City, who nobody likes much because they just spend ungodly sums of money getting the best players... which is what the others do, to an extent, but to Fergie's credit he gets a lot of them young and develops them. They are certainly not above getting a stud from a lower team to sign on, at all.</div><div>
</div><div>Dempsey seems to like Fulham, and I think it's a good role for him, but I know those type teams are thinking of every way they can get him.</div>
Tottenham Hotspur.
As a State fan, you're used to disappointment. So this will be business as usual for you.
Take the most recent season, for example. As someone else explained, the UEFA Champions League is a big deal. Lots of money at stake. And all the good players want to play in the Champions League. So it's a cycle that reinforces itself. In England, the top 4 teams normally qualify for some stage of the next season's Champions League. I say normally because the Champions League winner from one year automatically qualifies for the next one. Now, if that winner doesn't otherwise qualify by league position (again, in England, this is the top 4), then they take away thelast qualifying spot from their country's league. The EPL season ended before the Champions League final. Tottenham finished 4th. They had every opportunity to finish 3rd, but choked down the stretch and finished 4th. Normally that would beOK as far as Champions League qualification. Except that this year's Champions League final was between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Chelsea finished the EPL season in 6th, which meant that they wouldn't qualify for next year's Champions League unless they won it this year. Of course they won it, in penalty kicks (on Bayern Munich's home field, no less), sending Tottenham to the less prestigious Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup).
Now isn't that exactly like something that would happen to State?</p>
As a State fan, you're used to disappointment. So this will be business as usual for you.
Take the most recent season, for example. As someone else explained, the UEFA Champions League is a big deal. Lots of money at stake. And all the good players want to play in the Champions League. So it's a cycle that reinforces itself. In England, the top 4 teams normally qualify for some stage of the next season's Champions League. I say normally because the Champions League winner from one year automatically qualifies for the next one. Now, if that winner doesn't otherwise qualify by league position (again, in England, this is the top 4), then they take away thelast qualifying spot from their country's league. The EPL season ended before the Champions League final. Tottenham finished 4th. They had every opportunity to finish 3rd, but choked down the stretch and finished 4th. Normally that would beOK as far as Champions League qualification. Except that this year's Champions League final was between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Chelsea finished the EPL season in 6th, which meant that they wouldn't qualify for next year's Champions League unless they won it this year. Of course they won it, in penalty kicks (on Bayern Munich's home field, no less), sending Tottenham to the less prestigious Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup).
Now isn't that exactly like something that would happen to State?</p>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_league_system#The_system
The top 4 levels are all fully professional leagues. Starting at level 5, there are fully professional and semi-professional teams scattered throughout the next couple of levels. Everything after that is amatuer clubs.
The FA Cup is the coolest sporting competition in the world. Last year, it was comprised of 763 teams from the top 10 levels. The lower level teams start out, and as the rounds progress, the higher up teams enter the competition. For example, in the round of 64 last year, the 20 Premier League teams and the 24 Championship teams (Level 2) entered the competition along with the 20 winners remaining from levels 3-10. There are always huge upsets, and tiny amatuer clubs get to host the huge clubs. Last year, 1 4th, 1 3rd, 5 2nd, and 9 1st level teams comprised the round of 16. Think March Madness times 15.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_FA_Cup
The top 4 levels are all fully professional leagues. Starting at level 5, there are fully professional and semi-professional teams scattered throughout the next couple of levels. Everything after that is amatuer clubs.
The FA Cup is the coolest sporting competition in the world. Last year, it was comprised of 763 teams from the top 10 levels. The lower level teams start out, and as the rounds progress, the higher up teams enter the competition. For example, in the round of 64 last year, the 20 Premier League teams and the 24 Championship teams (Level 2) entered the competition along with the 20 winners remaining from levels 3-10. There are always huge upsets, and tiny amatuer clubs get to host the huge clubs. Last year, 1 4th, 1 3rd, 5 2nd, and 9 1st level teams comprised the round of 16. Think March Madness times 15.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_FA_Cup
Tottenham, much like State, are the worst because they give you just enough hope that you feel like crap when the door slams shut. I'm not sure I could have it any other way. Disappointment and sports go hand in hand for me.<div id="isChromeWebToolbarDiv" style="display:none"></div>
They are the ultimate sidewalk fan club. It's like pulling for Alabama, even though you've never been to Tuscaloosa. It's like rooting for the Dallas Cowboys or the Pittsburgh Steelers, even though you've never driven down I-20 through DFW or I-79 through the Steel City. Sir Alex Ferguson is perhaps the world's greatest manager, but Man U knows how to buy players just like the rest of them.<div>
</div><div>I think the English Premier League is the best league to watch. Watch it for a season or so before you pick a team to root for, so that you get a feel for the style of soccer you prefer. It's a shame that Blackpool couldn't get promoted for next year, as they play very positive football with virtually no stars. I've found myself rooting for Manchester City, simply because I like a lot of their players and their style of football. Sure, they've bought their success, but who hasn't?</div><div>
</div><div>If you want a Mississippi State-like team to root for, I'd go with either Stoke City, Fulham or Everton. That will give you enough disappointment to make you feel comfortable.
</div>
</div><div>I think the English Premier League is the best league to watch. Watch it for a season or so before you pick a team to root for, so that you get a feel for the style of soccer you prefer. It's a shame that Blackpool couldn't get promoted for next year, as they play very positive football with virtually no stars. I've found myself rooting for Manchester City, simply because I like a lot of their players and their style of football. Sure, they've bought their success, but who hasn't?</div><div>
</div><div>If you want a Mississippi State-like team to root for, I'd go with either Stoke City, Fulham or Everton. That will give you enough disappointment to make you feel comfortable.
</div>
to Chester a couple of years ago. The tour guide turned out to be a retired business man who also happaned to be the vice-chairman of Altrincham FC. At the time Altrincham were in the Blue Square Premier League, what used to be known as the "Conferance". That is the level just below the lowest of the four fully pro leagues. I talked soccer with the guy as we were walking around Chester. The thing that astounded me was that the part time players at semi-pro Altrincham made around 50,000 pounds a year. He said the League Two pros made about the same so a lot of guys actually preferred to play in the BSPL over League Two. That way they canhold a regular job and make more money.
I've been a fan of Arsenal ever since I saw them play some friendlies against Napoli and Atlectico Madrid at Highbury in '94. I'd like to see them play a non-friendly game sometime at Emirates sometime. I cannot believe they finished in third place this past season. This was probably the weakest Arsenal team I've seen in some time (the defense was poor and they didn't keep their heads in the game a lot of times-- being red carded a few times early on-- really frustrating-- but Van Persie was very awesome & Thierry Henry's brief loan spell was also inspiring) and was very happy to see them finish in third place because for some reason (maybe it's the Ewing Theory) I'd been thinking that Chelsea would beat Bayern Munich.
I also participate in Fantasy Premier League-- finishing in second in the main league I participate in but had a decent run to the sixth-seventh? round of the Fantasy Cup thanks in part to Benoit Assou-Ekotto (I made him a captain because Spurs were playing two matches instead of Van Persie was rewarded with two defensive shutouts, a goal, and an assist). The year before I was in first place in fantasy league thanks in part to Charlie Adam and Blackpool-- man that was an entertaining team. And you're right, Swansea was entertaining this past season-- I wonder how Liverpool will do now that they've hired Swansea's old manager.
As far as unheralded teams are concerned, I like Wigan. I've been a big fan of their goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi-- he's somewhat unheralded in comparison to other players (the first EPL player from Oman) but I think he's very impressive.
I also participate in Fantasy Premier League-- finishing in second in the main league I participate in but had a decent run to the sixth-seventh? round of the Fantasy Cup thanks in part to Benoit Assou-Ekotto (I made him a captain because Spurs were playing two matches instead of Van Persie was rewarded with two defensive shutouts, a goal, and an assist). The year before I was in first place in fantasy league thanks in part to Charlie Adam and Blackpool-- man that was an entertaining team. And you're right, Swansea was entertaining this past season-- I wonder how Liverpool will do now that they've hired Swansea's old manager.
As far as unheralded teams are concerned, I like Wigan. I've been a big fan of their goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi-- he's somewhat unheralded in comparison to other players (the first EPL player from Oman) but I think he's very impressive.
I started following them about 2 years ago and they are so much like MSU at times it drives me crazy, but I've grown to love watching them. They have some fantastic young players (Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker) and some really skilled attacking/midfield players in Van der Vaart (Netherlands), Modric (Croatia), Adebayor, and Defoe. Also something really cool about Tottenham is a chant their fans do during game. Think "Saints go marching in" but replace Saints with Spurs. Pretty awesome when the entire stadium sings it.<div>
</div><div>I'm sure some of the bigger clubs are going to come after Bale this off-season, but if they can hold on to him and add some better defenders I think they'll finish in the top 4 in the premier league again.</div><div>
</div><div>I'll probably throw my support at one of the newly promoted teams this fall as well. I'm thinking Southampton, called "The Saints."</div>
</div><div>I'm sure some of the bigger clubs are going to come after Bale this off-season, but if they can hold on to him and add some better defenders I think they'll finish in the top 4 in the premier league again.</div><div>
</div><div>I'll probably throw my support at one of the newly promoted teams this fall as well. I'm thinking Southampton, called "The Saints."</div>
Yeah- I like more unheralded teams personally. Blackpool really stole my heart last year, HATED to see them relegated. I hate when a team like that loses their stud to a Liverpool or Chelsea or whatever and then they get lost in the mix. Charlie Adam was a beast for Blackpool. He won me my league last year.<div>
</div><div>I am a big fan of the unknown players, though.</div><div>
</div><div>Get into FPL, even if you know nothing about soccer. I really didn't know anything on EPL when I entered- very little but a few high profile players. It's easy to catch on and doesn't require a lot of "knowledge", just general making good decisions with money and transfers and Captain spots. It makes you watch and kind of teaches you about the value of a player. I knew a decent amount on soccer, but seeing the actual value to their team makes you watch for things a little closer. So in that sense, I did learn something.</div><div>
</div><div>On that note, Robin Van Persie doing what he does best and cuts the German lead to a goal.
</div>
Yes, get involved in FPL.
The 2010-11 season was the first time I'd done FPL and I struggled at first and was in the middle of the pack. Thank goodness for wildcard transfers and congested match weeks because of winter postponements. I made up a close to a 300-point deficit in late December 2010 to win that league.