posted Jun 22, 2008

Seem to be forgetting something, that winning games do not focus primarily on who looks the best side. Greece won it last time because they defeated all before them except for Russia. As much as some of us like to look at certain teams and players as favourable for their skill, passing, goals, etc, the aim of the game is to win and Greece did that. Now it's Turkey into the SF, which they have equally earned, regardless. If they go on to win it, they would have earned the right to.

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yes but as neutrals most people want the best footballing sides to win, sadly not greece and turkey

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posted Jun 22, 2008

comment by Big_Jemal
"yes but as neutrals most people want the best footballing sides to win, sadly not greece and turkey"

Well I can see this side of it.. what do you tell the little teams? what is the point of them even joining? why have qualifying if there is only 4 to 6 super teams in europe? why let the small nations and not so good footballing nations have a chance at winning something like this, when all we want to see is "good football"
Ahh but what is "GOOD football"? entertaining? but then what is entertaining? 5-0?, 3 goals in 3 minutes? come back from 5-0 at half time? 90% to 10% possession?

I mean really... people love to make statements like they are talking for all neutral fans everywhere. When really there are many different views, one mans bore match is another ones tightly contested tactical match. Some will say 2 goals at 119 and 121mins doesn't make up for 118mins of no goals, but others will say it doesn't those two moments that made me jump out of my chair and them drop into a pile of rubbish to the floor all within 90 secs is what football is all about.

But going back to who deserves to win... well who does? and does it matter? in my view NO... I mean why do san marino keep at it? why does other "no hope" footballing nations? do they get paid by uefa to take part? (I bet that's a big NO), and why do the "mid table" teams carry on? you know.. like us Turkey.. why don't we all just pack it in? why not just play the finals starting with the QFs every year? you know the top 8 teams.. and let them fight it.. I mean what's the point of teams like Turkey being there? we'll just get knocked out in the group stage? why bother showing up?

Explain these things to me because making statements like the above, without any explaination... for example.. what makes a great "footballing" side? And why isn't Greece or Turkey not considerated so?

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posted Jun 22, 2008

ravenzahadoom,

good post

we should all savour the finale to the croatia v turkey game because it might not be in our lifetimes that anything like that ever happens again.

even if it had been a pulsating, end to end 118 minutes before it, nobody would remember that in the future, they'd still only remember the finish.

it's like the two liverpool 4 newcastle 3 games, they are remembered together, almost as one game, who remembers that the second one wasn't half the game the first one was? it just happened that there were the same amount of goals.

armchair man united fans only apprieciate goals and man united winning, they are no judge of who deserves to win international tournaments

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posted Jun 22, 2008

last three matches between turkey and germany
1998 turkey 1-0 germany
1999 germany 0-0 turkey
2005 turkey 2-1 germany

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posted Jun 22, 2008

Turkey , has luck in this euro2008 but he has
something more than luck.. FAITH

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posted Jun 23, 2008

Yes anaximender69.. faith, i would also like to add determination, and not failing to give up, coz lets face it, any other team wouldnt make an effort in the final minute would they?

Its great football and never a dull moment when turkey have been on the pitch!

Turkey has as much chance of going into the final as any of the other teams left.

And if one half of the squad cant play, the other half certainly can! no thanks to the ref in the croatia game 3 players have been suspended, he was bias and anyone who disagrees with me, i suggest you watch the match again carefully!

Turkey have made history in euro 2008, well done to them for getting this far! They deserve to go all the way.

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posted Jun 24, 2008

If it hasn't already been said I will say it. Croatia blew it - they were tactically inept in the last 25 seconds. They had the ball and gave it to their 2 forwards who were offside. Suicide never mind offside! What immaturity. This let the Turks in to pound the Croatian goal with 10 players forward. All they had to do was keep possession. Turkey didn't win it - Croatia gave it to them.

As for Portugal - what was it Big Fil used to call England? A QF team only. Hahahahha - now does that make Portugal a QF team now too?

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posted Jun 25, 2008

"It might just happen, Germany will underestimate Turkey and might just pay the price for it"

_________

Yes and six pigs might fly past in formation over the stadium for the pre match entertainment.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

Yes Greece may have won all their games bar 1 in 04 but i beleive they did this in a large part because the other teams underestimated them. They were found out in 08.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

"Yes Greece may have won all their games bar 1 in 04 but i beleive they did this in a large part because the other teams underestimated them. They were found out in 08."

Greece beat Portugal from the first group match, an early goal and a penalty with Portugal taking something like 40mins plus for a consolation. Then they drew with Spain and lost to Russia. From then they won 1-0 against France, Czech Republic and eventually Portugal again in the final. After qualifying as runners-up to Portugal, how many teams would look on Greece and underestimate them? Even going a goal behind in the knock-out stages, teams still could have equalised, much less won the game, with their skills and talent. Call it what you wish, Greece won those games fairly and those who were beaten were the ones who were overestimated.

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