Who will win the EURO 2012?

off-topic conversation unrelated to Jane's Addiction

Who will win the EURO 2012?

Poll ended at Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:05 pm

Czech Republic
0
No votes
Germany
0
No votes
Netherlands
1
10%
Portugal
0
No votes
Italy
0
No votes
Spain
4
40%
England
0
No votes
France
0
No votes
Other
5
50%
 
Total votes: 10

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Artemis
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#76 Post by Artemis » Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:43 pm

A satirical piece in The Globe and Mail.

Very funny..

Euro Cup 101: Traditions in post-hegemonic masculinity

MARK SCHATZKER
The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Jun. 22 2012, 7:17 PM EDT

As Euro Cup fever grips Toronto for the second week running, more and more residents are fed up with the non-stop honking, high-fiving and street partying that has paralyzed a number of neighbourhoods. But, as with so much European culture, what appears to some as idiotic celebration hides a continental tradition of profound intellectual inquiry .

“We probably look like a bunch of morons driving around the block for four hours,” says Mimo, who drove his Jeep Wrangler around the block for four hours on three separate evenings this week. “Through ritual action,” he explained, quoting Carl Jung, “attention and interest are led back to the inner sacred precinct.”

“Yeah, guy,” added his enthusiastic cousin, Nick, who was wearing a muscle shirt and pumping his fist in the air. “It’s like what Nietzsche said about the eternal recurrence of the same,” he said.

But while some see the Euro Cup as an opportunity to celebrate European philosophical notions, others favour a more forward-leaning continental analysis.

“I see it all as this raging post-feminist commentary on the defunct hegemonic tradition,” yelled Angela over the din of pounding bass in her white Hyundai Sonata, which was filled with four similarly festive girlfriends. “You’ve got these two extremely skilled teams who can’t score on one another, revealing the futility of so-called dominance in a post-postmodern value system.”

“I see it more as a study in changing gender narratives,” interjected her friend Sasha, who was simultaneously putting on lipstick and dancing in the back seat. “You have a field full of men embracing homoeroticism, displaying heightened levels of emotion, and exhibiting an almost comically low pain threshold – all traditionally feminine traits, quote-unquote.”

And to some fans, the Euro Cup isn’t isn’t so much about soccer as the European mathematical concepts the game sometimes portrays.

Following Monday’s match between Spain and Croatia, the 1-0 score reminded Mike, who took off his shirt to display his well-defined chest and biceps, of the binary algebraic system on which modern computing is based. “It’s called Boolean logic,” Mike said between beer belches, and then pointed out that the high-definition broadcast he and others watched at a sports bar was, fundamentally, just a stream of ones and zeroes.

As Mike reveled in cosmic meaning, nearby Alex was driving his Honda Civic and honking his horn incessantly. When Mike gave Alex the finger, Alex stopped the car and rolled down his tinted window. A crowd formed.

“What is honking,” Alex shouted out the window, paraphrasing Gustave Flaubert, “but a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to when we long to move the stars to tears?” Then he squealed his tires and drove off.

Several blocks north in Corso Italia, meanwhile, a fan named Sylvia saw the Euro Cup as an opportunity to engage in the existentially informed questioning of national identity that is as old as European nationalism itself.

“What is the meaning of ‘Italy’?” she implored a crowd of fans whose faces were painted like the Italian flag. “The north, an industrial giant that puts the Rhine Valley to shame, wants a divorce from the South, a feudal basket case. A single tiny village can’t even agree on the recipe for a ragu, let alone the entire so-called country.”

Her remarks were met by hooting and fist-pumping. The philosophically charged crowd then marched west on St. Clair licking gelato and obnoxiously chanting “Viva Italia!,” the irony lost on everyone but themselves.

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Warped
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#77 Post by Warped » Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:48 pm

I was really positively surprised by England for the first few minutes. :lol: They played really well. But then they simply refused to play....no clue what is going on there. I think they have some young ones who are promising like Walcott or Carroll and of course Joe Hart.

Italy :noclue: i don't like them and i never will. They must have made it in the 90 minutes.
Funny and pathetic side note: De Rossi wore a shirt with one short sleeve and one long sleeve, the long sleeve covered his Teletubbie tattoo"...... :lolol: :lolol: :lolol: which he did not want everybody else to see :lol: :lolol: :banghead:

Image

Final: Spain vs Italy

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Bandit72
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#78 Post by Bandit72 » Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:49 am

Japhy wrote:
LJF wrote: How is that with the talent there? The game started well for both sides, then England couldn't put two passes together. I'm pulling for Italy, but if they don't learn how to finish their chances Germany will bury them.
Mix of things really... firstly, there isn't enough of that talent you mention - not enough challengers for positions in the team. Part of that is because too many of our teams don't bother with english players but rather fill them with fancy looking foreign stars. Our league completely proves that you reap what you sow. Short term entertainment domestically but long term nothingness on the world stage.

I'm gutted to not face Germany but it will be a good game between them and Italy now. It's still Spain all the way for me but i can't wait to see Ronaldo try and take them on single-handed.
Yeh, I'm supporting Spain too. What's really bizarre is that after every tournament, the "pundits" always bang on about the same thing. Change the style of play, better coaching at grass roots etc....errrr then why hasn't this happened? Ever since 1996 I've heard these same clichés. Euro '9 was probably the last tournament I really got into. Ask anyone our age and most would say the World Cups of '82. '86 and '90 were the best they've seen. Club over country every time for me, but I've mentioned that before I think.

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Mescal
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#79 Post by Mescal » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:29 pm

Why is there no mention of the Germans here?

It's pretty clear they're the best team on the tournament. Very, very consistent.

I don't understand the Spain and Italy love? Wasn't impressed by any of those two teams.

Portugal is playing really well these last two matches with Ronaldo being in top form.

So I'm going for Germany - Portugal, which will end up being a boring final game with the Germans winning it with 1 - 0, goal in the 80 th minute or something.

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Warped
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#80 Post by Warped » Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:21 pm

Mescal wrote:Why is there no mention of the Germans here?

It's pretty clear they're the best team on the tournament. Very, very consistent.

I don't understand the Spain and Italy love? Wasn't impressed by any of those two teams.

Portugal is playing really well these last two matches with Ronaldo being in top form.

So I'm going for Germany - Portugal, which will end up being a boring final game with the Germans winning it with 1 - 0, goal in the 80 th minute or something.
Simply because i don't like the German team, they do mainly consist of players of Bayern München which i totally dislike (for different reasons, it would take too long to mention all of them, to sum it up, they think they are better than any other team, they change rules to their advantage and stuff like that, the german press kisses their ass and so on....)

And that does not change just because they play in the national team. I admit the team was pretty good so far but i just can't like them. And i hope Italy buries them.

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Juana
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#81 Post by Juana » Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:32 pm

I still say Brasil but it will prolly be Spain they seem to be playing lights out. Still trying to get into soccer but its so boring, a bunch of running and no goals. Its like hockey without the violence :sad:

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LJF
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#82 Post by LJF » Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:48 am

Look Germany clearly wins it. The other three countries will all need a bailout and Germany is the country writing the checks. Merkel is on the phones to these other countries saying look let us win and then we will think about writing those bailout checks, if not forget it.

This is an easy call to the Italians. Remember I'm an azzurri fan, but the call will go something like this:

Merkel: Hello yes about the game on Thursday, I looked into my crystal ball and saw the score was 2-1 us. Look you are Italians you know all about fixing matches, just make it happen. Then when you come to us for a bailout, you will lean towards yes. Thanks, Ciao.

Then repeat for the winner of Spain v Portugal.

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JOEinPHX
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#83 Post by JOEinPHX » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:27 am

Did Poland win yet?

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Larry B.
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#84 Post by Larry B. » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:39 am

Six7Six7 wrote:Did Poland win yet?
Not yet. Poland and Brazil will be playing the Final of the Asian Cup this weekend. John Ramirez, President of Benin and the most important sports figure in this Asian nation, will be at the bat.

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Artemis
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#85 Post by Artemis » Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:01 pm

I hope Italy doesn't win.

Only because the Italians in my city act like total idiots when Italy wins. They act more Italian than the Italians in Italy. It's kind of weird. :noclue:

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Bandit72
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#86 Post by Bandit72 » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:08 am

Artemis wrote:I hope Italy doesn't win.

Only because the Italians in my city act like total idiots when Italy wins. They act more Italian than the Italians in Italy. It's kind of weird. :noclue:
Italy are probably the least likely to win. Yeh I understand what Mescal is saying about the Germans but Spain haven't even got out of 2nd gear yet I don't think, although they do look tired. The Spanish team play like Barcelona (who probably play the best club football at the moment). I'm going for a Spain v Germany final, although I think Italy v Germany will be a lot closer than people think.

In the final, ANYTHING can happen.

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Larry B.
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#87 Post by Larry B. » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:33 am

Bandit72 wrote:The Spanish team play like Barcelona (who probably play the best club football at the moment).
not ever?

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Bandit72
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#88 Post by Bandit72 » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:54 am

Larry B. wrote:
Bandit72 wrote:The Spanish team play like Barcelona (who probably play the best club football at the moment).
not ever?
Definitely in my lifetime. Don't think I've ever seen a team play as well as they have the past two or three of seasons.

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Mescal
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#89 Post by Mescal » Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:53 am

Larry B. wrote:
Bandit72 wrote:The Spanish team play like Barcelona (who probably play the best club football at the moment).
not ever?
Yes, but they're missing Messi.

Not unimportant.

And Germans don't care about titikaka soccer

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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#90 Post by Larry B. » Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:09 am

Yeah, I was referring to Barcelona... even though I started actively studying football only 5 or 6 years ago, I think I know and I've seen quite a bit... and I've never seen anything like Guardiola's Barcelona.

It's amazing that almost every available Spanish player from Barcelona's starting XI (minus Valdés) is in Spain's starting XI.

I'm sure Del Bosque was hoping that Iniesta would score more in this tournament, coming from the left. Spain's tactical movements have been great, but they are still lacking a forward with enough self-confidence.

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Mescal
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#91 Post by Mescal » Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:43 pm

What a game.

Boring.

And ending in penalties, even more lame.

Lucky I don't bet for money, or I would lose a lot.

Here's to Germany :cheers:

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Warped
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#92 Post by Warped » Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:32 pm

Adios Ronaldo, boaw.....great game :lol: :lol: :lol: He must have made one of his numerous chances...loser.

Spain will make it , i still think they are showing just as much as they need to. You could see in the second half of the extra time how good they can be if they want/need to...okay they got into the penalties what wasn't really necessary :banghead:
and the game wasn't one of their bests but they will show it in the final ...against Italy :hehe:

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Juana
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#93 Post by Juana » Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:14 am

Spain while boring seem to play a very good defensive game. At least from what I have seen. Granted a lot of the "futball" I watch is the Galaxy since I have the local programming for back home. That said I think that they just try to choke a team and if it comes down to PKs they're down for that. They remind me of the NJ Devils in Hockey of the early 2000's.

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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#94 Post by kc » Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:34 am

I was really hoping for Portugal to win via the penalties.
And than having Germany win today so we could all look forward for Ronaldo and Gomez out-handsoming one another in the final game! :lolol:

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Warped
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#95 Post by Warped » Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:51 am

kc wrote: Gomez out-handsoming one another in the final game! :lolol:
:jasper: :lol:

Why is your name in lady pink?

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Bandit72
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#96 Post by Bandit72 » Thu Jun 28, 2012 1:32 am

Injustice? Errrr, you lost, get over it.

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clickie
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#97 Post by clickie » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:07 am

I noticed alotta people voted for other, are they still in this thing?

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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#98 Post by Larry B. » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:15 am

I blame Portugal's coach... Bruno Alves kicking before Cristiano Ronaldo?? :essence:
clickie wrote:I noticed alotta people voted for other, are they still in this thing?
Nope, they aren't. They suck.

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kc
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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#99 Post by kc » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:23 am

Warped wrote:
kc wrote: Gomez out-handsoming one another in the final game! :lolol:
:jasper: :lol:

Why is your name in lady pink?
http://aintnoright.org/viewtopic.php?f= ... &start=120
And - pssss- it's magenta! I don't want to get into more trouble w/ Romeo! :wink:


Btw in a perfect world, Gomez would play every game like that - > Image

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Re: Who will win the EURO 2012?

#100 Post by Larry B. » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:25 am

I just had a revelation!! The final will be Spain vs. Italy. It's so obvious, how did I not see it before? It makes perfect sense. Beautiful football vs. Anti-football, just like Barcelona vs. Chelsea and Bayern vs. Chelsea.

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