The Official Football (Soccer) Thread (v. It's starting again!)

[senecadawg2]

God save the Welsh

[MirrorMask]

Now I want a Wales - Iceland in the final, I would give up on the dream of Italy winning for that 

[Train of Naught]

What the fuck?

Don't know what to be more hyped about, Wales going through or Belgium being eliminated.

So I missed this game, how did both teams perform?

[Cyclopssss]

Belgium started strong but slacked off when they got 0-1 ahead. This allowed Wales to start playing and get into the game.
Once they had the upper hand and their defence settled, the Welsh just grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and never let go.

[MirrorMask]

So, it's Italy vs Germany again, a most memorable match for any italian!

I grew up learning about these historical matches: World Cup 1970, the "match of the century", Italy defeating Germany 4-3 in overtime... and in 1982 Italy winning again in the final, becoming world champions. And I witnessed myself two other glorious nights, the World Cup 2006 seminifinals where Italy scored 2 goals at the last minutes of overtime, and last Euro Cup when they defeated again Germany in a semifinal. Each time it's like "We can't always be lucky" and each time, Italy defeats Germany! 

Furthermore for me it's almost a derby... as I said before in the thread, I love Germany. Like, REALLY love Germany, their landscapes, their cities, a lot of bands, their architecture, I have friends there and I've been there several times etc... I'm just in love with that nation, I would love to live there. I even have a medium sized Germany flag, I don't have an italian one that big. But still, it's not that I'm torn over which team to root for... on the contrary, in this occasion I'm 100% behind Italy and against Germany! You know when your older brother defends you from other dudes, and yet picks on you because he's your big brother and since he loves you and he's family he feels like he "deserves" to have fun with you? same messy logic for me when it comes to football, I love Germany so much that in this one occasion I feel entitled to "hate" them and to gladly bathe in their sorrow and drink their tears in case of their defeat  and then for the next match I'll just come back to support them 

Of course I wish that this is gonna be Germany's last match in this Euro Cup, and if that won't be the case, I will seriously start rooting for a Wales vs Iceland final. Wales actually may get there, Portugal is in the semifinals basically having always equalized ffs!

[Evermind]

I'm so. Fucking. Ready. For this.

Sorry MM, I'm all for Germany in this game.

[Train of Naught]

That handsball must be one of the - no - the most stupid mistake of the entire tournament, glad Italy are back in the game but goddamn Boateng what the hell was he thinking?

[Tomislav95]

I'm pretty sure it's not allowed to stop while taking a PK as Bonucci did

[Evermind]

Eh... I really hoped it won't come down to this. Now it's the lottery again.

[Evermind]

Damn, that Schweinsteiger penalty kick was pathetic.

Glad that Germany won, but I wasn't too impressed with the team.

[MirrorMask]

GODDAMN HOW I HATE PENALTIES.

It's a wonder we even won a World Cup this way.

Uh well, Italy had Spain, Germany and France on their path and out of the three, if defeats has to be, it's far better than to lose once again to Spain or to our neighbours France.... and statistically speaking, the match will be registered as a draw so *technically* Germany still never defeated us in official matches, but FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU 

[Train of Naught]

Damn, that Schweinsteiger penalty kick was pathetic.

And like.. 5 others? I laughed fucking hard at that Zaza dude's PK, he got subbed in like the 120th minute just so he could try his luck with a penalty. Then he continues to do the most idiotic little run before shooting wide. I believe that's also his only appearance apart from the Ireland game.

Buffon somehow managed to guess the right direction on every single penalty IIRC, that's pretty impressive, too bad the ball slipped right underneath on the last one but it was a pretty tense penalty shootout (mostly because both teams fucked up hard).

Not terribly excited about Germany but they were fun to watch at times.

[Evermind]

Damn, that Schweinsteiger penalty kick was pathetic.

And like.. 5 others? I laughed fucking hard at that Zaza dude's PK, he got subbed in like the 120th minute just so he could try his luck with a penalty. Then he continues to do the most idiotic little run before shooting wide. I believe that's also his only appearance apart from the Ireland game.

Hahaha, yeah. I singled out Schweinsteiger because his kick could've been the deciding one, but yes, plenty of failure in this shootout.

[MirrorMask]

It was a competition about who was sucking more, embarassing really 

Now I seriously hope there will be a Wales vs Iceland final. But if France goes through, I'll still root for Germany. And in case of Germany vs Wales in the final well, anything goes really, I won't hold a grudge against the germans for this defeat but a debutant winning the Euro Cup in face of the world champions would be glorious.

[Evermind]

I just rewatched Zaza penalty kick and .

Yeah, I'd take either Wales - Iceland or Wales - Germany. Seriously hope Portugal won't make it. Also seriously hope Iceland will win today, I don't think it'll happen but I can hope.

[MirrorMask]

I think too that realistically Iceland's run has come to an end, but remember Greece in 2004? Each match everyone would assume "Ok, this is it", and yet they won. I agree, one can hope!

[Scorpion]

Holy shit that was nerve-wrecking. Some really shitty PK's from either side - Zaza, Müller, Pellé and Schweinsteiger come to mind - but some great saves by Neuer too.

But honestly, without Boateng doing the most stupid that he's done this tournament, the whole thing would have been unnecessary, because Italy were never really a danger in front of the German goal. And Bonucci's PK was pretty damn close to the line of what I would consider acceptable with regards to run-ups under the new rules.

Anyway, glad that Germany went through even though both teams were pretty evenly matched. Still rooting for Iceland today.

[Evermind]

I'm really not sure what was more hilarious, Zaza's PK with his "most idiotic little run before shooting wide" or Pellé with his cocky hand-gestures to Neuer before missing badly. We should have a poll.

[Train of Naught]

I hate doing this because I love Iceland but I'm actually starting to root for France to go to finals now since I'm going to France for a weekend and it just so happens to be the weekend of the finals. How awesome would it be to be in the home country the night that they win the euro's? Not going to happen anyway but one can dream..

[Kwyjibo]

I think I aged at least ten years watching last night's game. Not a great game but very exciting because of the suspense. I think Germany deserved the win and overall they were the better team, but then again I'm biased.

And dear Boateng, what were you thinking?

And wtf was up with the first penalties of each team? Three out of the first five missed on both teams?

But I'm glad that Hector made the decisive goal. He's the only national player that came out of Cologne for a long time, my hometown and favorite football team.

And now I think Germany comes out of this match stronger than before, I don't see anyone defeating them in this tournament, although a Wales vs. Iceland final would also be cool.

[RoeDent]

What a ridiculous run-up from Zaza last night! Guy comes on as a sub specifically to take a penalty in the shootout, and his ends up being the worst miss of all. Goalkeeper probably could have gone for a quick pint in the time it took Zaza to run up to the ball!

And as one of the few Welshmen round here (if there even are any others)...GO WALES!!! Friday night was absolutely EPIC! Three magnificent goals to knock out the No. 2 ranked side in the world.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

How awesome would it be to be in the home country the night that they win the euro's? Not going to happen anyway but one can dream..

I actually was in France 1998 when they won the world cup. I remember it so vividly because I was in Riom-ès-Montagnes and the town just exploded 2 mins after the game. Pretty epic experience.

[Scorpion]

What I found most ridiculous yesterday was the way that all the strikers/midfielders basically missed and all the defenders actually made their PK's. Like... what's up with that?

And France is up two goals! Still hoping that Iceland bounces back, but I think this is the end of the road for them.

[Train of Naught]

To me the most ridiculous thing was all the stupid run-ups, it was not just Zaza, but literally like half the time you could tell from the run-up that it would be a bad kick, and I think only one of those bad PK's made it into the goal.

How awesome would it be to be in the home country the night that they win the euro's? Not going to happen anyway but one can dream..

I actually was in France 1998 when they won the world cup. I remember it so vividly because I was in Riom-ès-Montagnes and the town just exploded 2 mins after the game. Pretty epic experience.

That's awesome dude. One of my friends was in Germany for the weekend, 2 years ago, with the sole reason of being amongst German people during the world cup final and it was supposedly very awesome.

Looks like the chances of a Wales - France final are increasing! Germany will be a bitch to beat though and I might still prefer their team over the French even though I want France in the final. I'm glad my Icelandic friend is currently.. well, in Iceland, because he's a bit of a sore loser and a bitch to be around after this kind of thing.

[MirrorMask]

France leading 4-0 overtime? well, that escalated quickly.

Screw the fact that they kicked Italy out, I'll still be rooting for Germany next match, Iceland doesn't deserve to be humiliated!

[Evermind]

Yeah, well, I think Iceland is done.

[Zantera]

The only comfort we can get from this is that France won't get past Germany anyways

[Evermind]

Damn, but I love how Iceland is playing. Got nothing to lose and just keeps trying to score, and it works.

[Zoom E]

And as one of the few Welshmen round here (if there even are any others)...GO WALES!!! Friday night was absolutely EPIC! Three magnificent goals to knock out the No. 2 ranked side in the world.

I'm Welsh but living in Canada. The Wales victory over Belgium was an absolute thrill. Have to take the day off work on Wednesday to watch the semi-final. I can't wait!

[Kwyjibo]

Ah this sucks. I knew Iceland's streak had to end sometime and that they probably wouldn't make it to the finals, but to go down with five goals is hard. Still props to them for coming this far 

[Evermind]

Ready for Portugal - Wales today! Rooting for Wales, obviously. Luckily I'm on vacation so I don't have to worry about staying late and getting up early.

Will you guys be watching?

[Train of Naught]

Nah I'll just st in my room, turn off the lights and listen to some doom metal

'f course I'll be watching I'm kinda neutral on this one, I like the portuguese lineup but theyve just been so boring this whole tournament, and I'll always have a softspot for underdogs like Wales but at the same time I want France's potential enemies to be the weakest possible one and it seems like that team is Portugal right now.

And if it's going to be Germany in the finals (most likely) I'm definitely hoping for Wales to win the whole tournament.

[Kwyjibo]

I hope I find the time. I'm not really interested in both teams but it's the semi-final, so hopefully it will be fun. Rooting for Wales because Ronaldo sucks   

[MirrorMask]

Iceland will be forever the fairytale of this tournament, but let's see if Wales becomes an actual reality!

Rooting for Wales because they're underdogs and because Portugal equalized 4 matches out of 5, at this point I want Wales to win, also in England's face.

I would be still rooting for Germany, but they kicked Italy out so I won't cry over their eventual defeat in the final, which I still hope they'll reach 'cause France can't just win every time they host a tournament 

[Evermind]

Really boring game so far to be honest.