Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alexandral]

I haven't been watching Euro 2008 at all. I am doing too much overtime work from home at the moment.

All overtime work must stop NOW!! Because it is Euro 2008!

- And Russia is through into the quarter-finals!!!!!!!!! (Please don't tell me they are rubbish :D).

- And Italy is through too!!!!!!!!!! (I must say I WAS following them, and even did a prayer or two :D)

- And Croatia is through!!! (Congratulations, my LJ friends from Croatia!!!!)

- And of course Germany is through and they are going to win (but I don't mind, they have Ballack!)

I might go all football-crazy again!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we are having sweepstakes at work (I secretly requested Italy :D)!

Comments

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't be so sure about Germany winning. All with time, football can be a really surprising sport. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It seems that some teams, like Spain or Portugal are always performing well and never win. But some others, loike Germany never are too good but end up in finals (at least).

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

- And of course Germany is through and they are going to win (but I don't mind, they have Ballack!)

ROTFLMAO!!! No they don't win .. not when they play like they did against Croatia and Austria ... I think the finals will be Portugal vs. Holland and Portugal wins.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I don't have much trust in Portugal's abilities, they always seem to lack in spirit. They often in semi-finals or even finals but they never seem to win.

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

Russia weren't terrible at all! At least not in their most recent game against Sweden which is the only one of theirs that I've watched. Their goals were impressive, very fluid attacking football and pretty easy to appreciate, from my neophyte's viewpoint. :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your good news!! I have read about it today and I am so so regretting that I haven't seen Sweden/Russia match. Everyone says they played great. The players are all so young! And cute!

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

Yaaaayyy, someone that actually doesn't hate Italy :D
I didn't watch all the Russia matches, but I loved them against Greece ♥

Did you see the match Italy-France yesterday? {Sorry, I have to rant somewhere xD}

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Italian team , I have always done but I was particular impressed during the World Cup 2006. I haven't seem any of the matches yet but I intend to watch the finals! Was Italy good against France? (I am so glad they won!)

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, let's say that France lost just because they sucked MORE than we did, lol.
We didn't do bad, but our attack is still very weak (thanks to Toni -.- who has managed to miss at least 1548743289 perfect chances to score), and we really miss a defender like Cannavaro; we're certainly very far from the team of 2006 :(
But it's always like this, we start the tournaments in the worst possible way and then we get better and better; and I sure as hell hope that we're gonna play ALOT better against Spain on Sunday :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, it seems that some teams are always good performers before finals (like Portugal and Spain) but they never seem to win. Other teams, like Italy, have a lot of spirit and they just seem to do better under stress. I like Luca Toni , very much so. I hope he'll find his game.

I am very worried about Russia - they never been further than quarter-finals. ;D

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

I can't stand Toni LOL, and I also hope he'll find his game, or I WILL kill him -.-
I will like him again (maybe) when he remembers how to score xD

as for Russia, the next match is against Netherlands :-/
the oranges have never played so well and they're doing an awesome job, it'll be pretty hard.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I can't stand Toni LOL, and I also hope he'll find his game, or I WILL kill him

Oh, why? And who is your favourite?

the oranges have never played so well and they're doing an awesome job, it'll be pretty hard.

They are always known as a hard team to play against as they have a very strong defense side. I don't think they'll win (Croatia will, LOL!) but Against the young Russian team their play might be very successful.

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

Oh, why? And who is your favourite?

Well I have nothing against him as a person, and he seems a pretty decent guy, but the problem is that when he plays with the Italian team he-just-can't-score.
And that's a fact that no one can change, even if everyone loves him here; plus, I don't like the way he plays, the waiting-for-a-decent-assist-and-doing-nothing-else and all that. He seems too static, he just stands there waiting for someone to pass the ball a few meters away from the goalkeeper (and he still manages to fail!).

My favourite has always been Cannavaro, our awesome captain ♥ and I think I'd like him even if I wasn't Italian, he's such a great player (THE THINGS HE DID BACK IN 2006 *_*).
Oh and Buffon, of course.

(re-reading the comment, I don't even know if "assist" actually means something in English as well. Oh well.)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

And that's a fact that no one can change, even if everyone loves him here; plus, I don't like the way he plays, the waiting-for-a-decent-assist-and-doing-nothing-else and all that. He seems too static, he just stands there waiting for someone to pass the ball a few meters away from the goalkeeper (and he still manages to fail!).

I have heard these points before , and to some extent I agree. He is just so nice to look at. :D Cannavaro is great beyond measure and I like him very much too. I seem to like everyone in the Italian team. But my favourite is definitely Buffon. He is just so ALIVE.

(re-reading the comment, I don't even know if "assist" actually means something in English as well. Oh well.)

Of course! Assist means the same here (in ice-hockey, at least), but I think the word most often used in football is "pass" for some reason.

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

He is just so nice to look at. :D

He does have that puppy/adorable look that makes you wanna pat him on the head, doesn't he? xD

But my favourite is definitely Buffon. He is just so ALIVE.

I know *_*
Just before Pirlo's penalty against France he turned around and just stood there with his back on the game cause he was too anxious to watch, he kept his eyes on all the fans and WAITED for their expressions to see if Pirlo had scored, before cheering himself (and screaming his brains out).
Things like these make me love him even more *loves Gigi madly* , cause you really get the feeling that he's putting his heart in this, that he really lives for this and not just because it's business or a job.

(you shouldn't tempt me about these things, I tend to rant ALOT xD)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Let's us talk about Buffon some more. :D I am preparing a picspam of him and Russian guys.

I LOVE EVERY FACIAL EXPRESSION OF HIS. And he is a great, great player.

BTW, is it fine if I add you to my friends list?

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

Of course it is :D
I'd already added you for the drama/icons-related posts *grins*

and I'll definitely be waiting for the picspam xD
You should take a look at this comm, I don't know the girl but god her picspam posts are AWESOME, they're just so funny. Especially all the matches reviews xD
And there's a lot of Buffon :P
http://community.livejournal.com/ahh_serie_a/


(And he is a great, great player.
I know I don't sound very objective saying this, but I do think he's the best goalkeeper in the world. I don't support my team blindly, I know we have thousands of flaws, our attack line is practically non existent, we need more young people and we have a terrible coach; but I do believe Cannavaro and Buffon are two of the best players in the world, and if I wasn't Italian I would want them in my team like crazy.)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY! I am so glad to meet you!

Thank you so much for the recs!!!

I absolutely agree that Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world. And it again shows how much everything depends on him.

I know we have thousands of flaws, our attack line is practically non existent, we need more young people and we have a terrible coach;

I remember everyone was saying the same at the beginning of the World Cup 2006, but they still won. :D

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

I remember everyone was saying the same at the beginning of the World Cup 2006, but they still won. :D

Haha, touché.
That is sooo true.
Especially the part about the coach, now that I think about it xD

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It seems that in tournaments that I have watched, the favourites of the initial stages never won. (Unless they were Brazil)

[bambinainnero.livejournal.com]

the favourites of the initial stages never won.

True.
And I hope things aren't going to change now, since we're playing against one of those teams :D
But it seems that Euro2008 is the tournament of broken traditions, so I'm quite worried xD
-Netherlands hadn't beaten Italy for like 30 years and they literally KILLED us
-Italy didn't win against France since like the 80s (LOL), and we won.

Maybe something will change also for Russia :P and they'll make it to the final, hehe.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

-Italy didn't win against France since like the 80s (LOL), and we won.

Italy won in the World Cup Final against France, didn't they? I was almost 100% sure France is going to win at that time.

-Netherlands hadn't beaten Italy for like 30 years and they literally KILLED us

Yup. Netherlands look awfully strong. I am not sure if they'll win Russia or not but I am sure they will lose at some point. Everyone does. (again, unless they are Brazil who do totally crazy things defying all odds).

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

I must say I WAS following them, and even did a prayer or two
Tzk, tzk, I knew you wouldn't leave us now! :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

But of course! I hope for another win from Italy now. :D

[so-spiffed.livejournal.com]

Honestly? As long as I get to watch men running around on a field chasing after a ball...I'm happy no matter who wins. *G*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Australia was quite good at the last World Cup. I was cheering for them till the end.

I have some teams I don't want to win (for few irrational reasons), like Portugal. I have a grudge against them since the World Cup 2006. Or Spain and Holland who are nether here nor there. But I am fine with Russia, Italy, Croatia or Germany. Or even Turkey.

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

And of course Germany is through and they are going to win.

Of course I wouldn't mind. Unfortunately, so far that doesn't look particulary likely. :D Tonight we won't even have a coach!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Of course I wouldn't mind. Unfortunately, so far that doesn't look particulary likely. :D Tonight we won't even have a coach!

What happened? (Can you let me know how Ballack is in German? If you don't mind?)

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

There was some dispute between the coaches of Austria and Germany towards the end of the first half of the last game. And both argued with the fourth official. Nobody knew what happened but suddenly the referee sent both of them to the stands. Everybody was surprised since there was no previous warning and it didn't seem that bad. And later UEFA banned both coaches for an additional game. It doesn't matter for Austria but our coach isn't allowed to talk to the players starting some time before the match until it's over. The assistant coach has to take over.

I don't think it's a big problem but the coach can help making decisions during a game if necessary and provide some order. On the upside, maybe it will provide an additional boost to the team since everybody's very upset. We also have two important players with injuries and it's not clear yet if they will play (Frings, Podolski).

Can you let me know how Ballack is in German?
I'm not sure if I understand your question. Do you mean how his name is pronounced? :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hopefully their game will not be too affected. I have an irrational dislike for Portugese team (all to do with the Ronaldo and his crying like a baby) so I am cheering for them today.

I'm not sure if I understand your question. Do you mean how his name is pronounced? :)

No, I was wondering if the spelling is the same. It is just that Russian players' names are spelled all over the place.

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, Ronaldo can be a bit of a "diva". :D Hopefully, he will lose his nerves this evening. ;)

Yes, his name is spelled Ballack in German.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, Ronaldo can be a bit of a "diva". :D Hopefully, he will lose his nerves this evening. ;)

I absolutely disapprove of a grown-up man behaving this way. Let's hope together. the thing I like the most about German team is that they seem to have nerves of steel, always. ;D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hopefully, he will lose his nerves this evening. ;)

I thought the German team had most awesome presence of spirit today. YAY! Go home, Portugal!

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

That was a most excellent game. I still can hardly believe what I saw. There must have been something in their tea. :D
As you say, all members of the team played very well. I'm very pleased. Portugal seemed frozen during the first 30 minutes and once they played better we luckily already had scored.
Though I'm glad the game wasn't five minutes longer, I'm not sure how long we would've been able to survive. :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Though I'm glad the game wasn't five minutes longer, I'm not sure how long we would've been able to survive. :D

Me too. I was about to have a heart attack when Portugal scored the secod goal. I am getting too old for this. :D

That was a most excellent game. I still can hardly believe what I saw. There must have been something in their tea. :D

he-he! I didn't know that tea is that popular in Germany. :D

[savepureness.livejournal.com]

i wish we could have discussed euro 2008 properly. as you might already know, i'm a huge football freak fan, and i've been following all the games in spite of having to work on my thesis (which is, all in all, football-centric as well). but i'll make sure to write an entry about this championship's edition, and perhaps then we'll be able to share a few thoughts. my favourites have been eliminated one by one, but i still had my share of drama, and i'm satisfied with it.

also, you know i'm almost fully back from hiatus - i only need to hold my thesis dissertation on monday/wednesday and it's done. i'll try my best to go through your most recent posts, and to catch up, but if you feel like there's something i should know straight away, please let me know :).

ps: i missed you.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY for thesis being football-centric! I wish I could do something like that!

And YAY for the end that is near for you!