June 13, 201214 yr goal difference could be crucial here, don't concede 6 while going for a draw! park the bus and live to fight another day.
June 13, 201214 yr Expect Huntelaar to come in very soon. Side note, there was a time when I dreamed of coldplay soundtracking something like the world cup a la u2. Now I'm just like: "Oh...clocks. cool."
June 13, 201214 yr My God, Hummels just walks into the top of the box completely unopposed and is extremely unlucky not to have scored. Worst defending I've seen in...well, a long time.
June 13, 201214 yr Ooooooh! What a dramatic moment it was for the Netherlands. Sorry, very very sorry for them. Pity they won't even qualify from the group. They were my favourite team (right after my national one). Just that close!
June 13, 201214 yr Feel bad for Denmark, they're probably the team that have impressed the most. Good on Germany. The Dutch were lucky they didn't score more. ^Holland can still advance.
June 13, 201214 yr Netherlands 1-2 Germany Mario Gomez gave the Netherlands a lesson in finishing as Germany left their bitter rivals on the brink of an early exit from Euro 2012. The Bayern Munich striker turned sharply and slotted home Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass before lashing in a brilliant second from the right. Robin van Persie, who had wasted a golden chance to put the Dutch ahead, gave them hope with a fine strike. But Germany held on to all but cement their place in the quarter-finals. While the Germans just need a point from their last game to reach the last eight, the Dutch face a monumental task. They must beat Portugal on Sunday, hope Germany beat Denmark, and ensure they finish with a better goal difference than Portugal and the Danes. Meanwhile, coach Bert van Marwijk must somehow rouse his players after a devastating defeat by their fiercest foes. The long-standing enmity between the teams has produced era-defining clashes at the 1974 World Cup, the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 World Cup. The Dutch, who wasted 28 shots at goal in losing their opening game 1-0 to Denmark, made the brighter start when a long ball from Mark van Bommel caught the German defence napping. Van Persie, as guilty as anyone of profligacy against the Danes, had time to take a touch, but instead chose a first-time volley, which was easily saved by Manuel Neuer. Germany hit back with a volleyed effort of their own as Mesut Ozil's strike from the edge of the area cannoned off the near post and into the arms of the grateful Maarten Stekelenburg. Most of the Netherlands' attacking play was channelled through Arjen Robben on the right and the Bayern Munich winger was the provider for Van Persie's next chance, slotting a pass through to the Arsenal striker, who dragged his right-footed effort wide. Ibrahim Affelay's delivery was less reliable and, after breaking clear down the left, his low cross failed to pick out Van Persie in space in the middle. Once again, the Dutch were made to pay for their inaccuracy, falling behind midway through the half to a moment of German precision. Thomas Mueller cut in from the right and fed Schweinsteiger, whose inch-perfect through-ball was brilliantly controlled on the spin by Gomez, who then wrong-footed the goalkeeper with his finish. The goal seemed to devastate the Dutch - their early confidence on the ball deserting them, their body language that of a defeated team. Germany should have doubled their lead when an inexplicably unmarked Holger Badstuber headed an Ozil free-kick straight at Stekelenburg from four yards. But any disappointment was short-lived as Schweinsteiger again fed Gomez, who lashed a delicious shot across the goalkeeper and inches inside the far post. Van Marwijk made an attacking double-substitution at half-time, sending on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart. But the withdrawal of captain Van Bommel left a giant hole in front of the Dutch back four, allowing centre-back Mats Hummels to stroll through and almost put the game beyond doubt. Van Persie gave the Dutch hope when he forced Neuer into a smart one-handed save with a half-volley from the edge of the area, and Wesley Sneijder's goal-bound shot was superbly blocked by Jerome Boateng. Their reward for a period of concerted pressure arrived when Van Persie finally found his range in style, darting in from the left flank and arrowing a low shot past Neuer with his weaker right foot from 25 yards. Roared on by a sea of orange in the stands, the Dutch pressed hard for an equaliser, with Van Persie's claims for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Hummels waved away by the referee. But their efforts thereafter too often fizzled out the edge of the area, their growing frustration and disjointedness encapsulated in the sight of the substituted Robben vaulting the advertising hoardings on the far side of the pitch rather than running across to be replaced by Dirk Kuyt. Indeed, it was Germany who came closest to a late goal when Stekelenburg allowed a backpass to run across his body, recovering just in time to prevent substitute Miroslav Klose from scoring the simplest of goals. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18139274
June 13, 201214 yr Euro 2012: Russia punished for fans' behaviour Russia have been given a suspended six-point deduction by Uefa because of the behaviour of their fans during their 4-1 win against Czech Republic. Action was taken due to the use of fireworks and far-right banners. An incident in which fans attacked stewards, leaving four needing hospital treatment, is being investigated by Uefa and police. The penalty will apply to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and also includes a fine of £96,000 (120,000 euros). Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his concern over the violence to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and believes the hosts should take more responsibility. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov added: "Putin stressed that organisers of such international tournaments bear full responsibility for the safety of fans from other countries on their territory." Russia, who will host the 2018 World Cup, could face further sanctions after their supporters were involved in violence before their game against Poland, which was drawn 1-1, on Tuesday. A march by thousands of Russian fans to mark their national day had to be halted and some missiles were thrown as supporters clashed with their Polish rivals. Police say they arrested at least 120 people and that 10 people were injured. Inside the ground, Russian fans also displayed a provocative banner. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18431163
June 14, 201214 yr Holland have the better center-backs, but across the midfield there's not too much between them. Holland have the better centre backs? Really? I think they're very suspect and I also think Hummels for Germany is a superb defender, the best in the German league and easily one of the best central defenders in the world. A really intelligent player. Mertesacker ain't too bad either.
June 14, 201214 yr buah busy, [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTdDIjCY7E&feature=related]An Tagen wie diesen - Fortuna Düsseldorf - Relegation 2012 - YouTube[/ame]
June 14, 201214 yr An Tagen wie diesen - Fortuna Düsseldorf - Relegation 2012 - YouTube[/url] the german aiutumn
June 14, 201214 yr An Tagen wie diesen - Fortuna Düsseldorf - Relegation 2012 - YouTube[/url] haben wir noch ewig Zeit wünsch ich mir unendlichkeit
June 14, 201214 yr Holland have the better centre backs? Really? I think they're very suspect and I also think Hummels for Germany is a superb defender, the best in the German league and easily one of the best central defenders in the world. A really intelligent player. Mertesacker ain't too bad either. I made that comment 10 minutes into the match after Van Persie twice easily slipped behind them. As I later commented, The Holland back line completely disintegrated by the middle of the match. Worse as I've ever seen it. That said, I've heard from and agree with several analysts who say that the German centerback situation is their main weakness at the moment. As a Bremen fan, I followed Mertesacker closely at Arsenal, and I can't pretend like he was the solid, consistent defender that he was a couple years ago, as I witnessed some truly awful games for him in red (hence him being benched, you did see he didn't play, right?). I've never been overly impressed with Badstuber. I respect what Hummels has been for Dortmund, he made some mistakes today, but I know he can hold his spot until Brazil. That said, this pairing doesn't inspire anything near the same confidence that Merte-Friedrich did in the world cup. My other point was just that, as individual players, I would pick Mathijsen and Heitinga over their counter-parts on the playground most days of the week.
June 14, 201214 yr buah ich finde das Engerland Engerland immer noch am geilsten, auch ohne rooney, denkemal des ihr das gegen Schweden gewinnt. um dann mal irgendwann gegen uns zu spielen
June 14, 201214 yr buah ich finde das Engerland Engerland immer noch am geilsten, auch ohne rooney, denkemal des ihr das gegen Schweden gewinnt. um dann mal irgendwann gegen uns zu spielen an tagen wie diesen
June 14, 201214 yr [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTdDIjCY7E&feature=related]An Tagen wie diesen - Fortuna Düsseldorf - Relegation 2012 - YouTube[/ame]
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