Liverpool FC Forum

by **Number 9** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:46 pm

The Manhattan Project wrote:Germany have conquered Poland and Austria, again

Germany will be conquered as soon as they meet a half decent team Manhattan!

As shown by Croatia!

by **NANNY RED** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:03 pm

Simply Red wrote:Rafa may have a point in buying the no name brands to fill the gaps. A

After reading many of the comments on here, the same names are called on time after time with even more speculation. After watching Croatia a couple of times, I believe that they could just be the dark horse in the euro 2008.

Therefore, they must have some talent which is assisting them in finishing top of the group. I did some research on their players and have come up with 2 players from a relatively unknown NO NAME BRAND squad which may offer value.

1)Ivan Rakitic (One for the future)
Ivan Rakitic born on March 10th, 1988 in Mohlin, Switzerland is an amazing football player who currently plays for Croatia and club FC Schalke 04. Earlier he played for Switzerland U-17, U-19 and U-21 national teams. Ivan Rakitic the outstanding midfielder was named the best young player of the 2006-2007 Super League season while playing for the club FC Basel.
Ivan Rakitic began his professional football career for FC Basel in September 2005. During his three year stint with FC Basel, Ivan Rakitic played in 33 Super League games including 9 UEFA Cup in games and scored 11 goals. In 2007, Ivan Rakitic moved to German football club FC Schalke 04 and scored his first goal for the club in the first round of the German Cup.

2)Darijo Srna (Potential Target - winger)
Darijo Srna (born on May 1, 1982 in Metković[1]) is a Croatian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk and the Croatia national football team, in which he is currently the leading goalscorer out of the current active squad, and 3rd on the all time list. Croatia has never lost a match in which Srna has scored.

Darijo Srna
Played a prominent role in his country's 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign, scoring five goals in qualifying and another in Germany. The effervescent right-winger was in equally good form during the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers and his accurate crosses and free-kicks are an important part of Croatia's attacking armoury.

Croatia 2 Germany 1

These 2 players were up against the likes of England and Germany, whom are no pushovers, yet they have topped their group.
Also, they have played international football and have been up against some of Englands and now Germany's top players (Ballack, Klose, Podolski).

Who can argue with that.

Here are some comparison stats between
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) (Top Speed 29)Covered - 10909m

Darijo (Croatia)(Top Speed 25.81)Covered - 9595m

Ronaldo (Portugal)(Top Speed 27.41)Covered - 6513m
(taken from their last games.)

http://flickr.com/photos/27151907@N06/page2/
http://flickr.com/photos/27151907@N06/tags/croatia/

See what you getting at lad an they are a good team so if where talking No name brands id like to throw a name in theres a kid who plays for Turkey hes impressed me a lot a winger Arda Turan , can play left or right scored last night crackin little player .Might need fillin out a bit so he could deal with the physical side but im very impressed with him

by **The Manhattan Project** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:43 pm

Manhattan has come up with a plan.

Basically, the EURO's should be expanded to 32 teams.

More teams, more games, more money, more merchandise sales.

UEFA has 53 present members.

32 finalists would allow the usual suspects (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland etc...) through. It would also allow teams with huge support through (Denmark, England, Wales, Eire, N Ireland, Scotland etc...) through, and would also give a chance for some teams on the cusp of being decent (Finland, Cyprus, Israel etc....) to appear at a major tournament.

32 would allow a good selection of teams to get through, while also keeping out the truly shyt ones, like Luxembourg.

by **Dundalk** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:09 pm

How would qualifying work?

Is it the top 6 in each qualifying group go through?

I like your idea Manhattan more teams means more football which is always good but how could it be done fairly?

England and Ireland probably still wouldn't qualify

by **The Manhattan Project** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:20 am

The qualifying groups seem to be getting bigger and bigger with every tournament. If Kosovo and Montenegro join, that's two more members of UEFA. Each qualifying group has about eight teams in it. So yeah, top four teams out of a group of eight go through, or top three if the group has six or seven teams, depending on how many groups they have. If England and Eire can't get out of qualifying groups like that, then they may as well just quit football altogether.

A bigger EURO tournament is more inclusive, would lead to wider interest, and would be good for business.

The extra cost of hosting duties is offset by the enormous gain in profit and TV deals.

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:37 am

Simply Red wrote:Rafa may have a point in buying the no name brands to fill the gaps. A

After reading many of the comments on here, the same names are called on time after time with even more speculation. After watching Croatia a couple of times, I believe that they could just be the dark horse in the euro 2008.

Therefore, they must have some talent which is assisting them in finishing top of the group. I did some research on their players and have come up with 2 players from a relatively unknown NO NAME BRAND squad which may offer value.

1)Ivan Rakitic (One for the future)
Ivan Rakitic born on March 10th, 1988 in Mohlin, Switzerland is an amazing football player who currently plays for Croatia and club FC Schalke 04. Earlier he played for Switzerland U-17, U-19 and U-21 national teams. Ivan Rakitic the outstanding midfielder was named the best young player of the 2006-2007 Super League season while playing for the club FC Basel.
Ivan Rakitic began his professional football career for FC Basel in September 2005. During his three year stint with FC Basel, Ivan Rakitic played in 33 Super League games including 9 UEFA Cup in games and scored 11 goals. In 2007, Ivan Rakitic moved to German football club FC Schalke 04 and scored his first goal for the club in the first round of the German Cup.

2)Darijo Srna (Potential Target - winger)
Darijo Srna (born on May 1, 1982 in Metković[1]) is a Croatian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk and the Croatia national football team, in which he is currently the leading goalscorer out of the current active squad, and 3rd on the all time list. Croatia has never lost a match in which Srna has scored.

Darijo Srna
Played a prominent role in his country's 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign, scoring five goals in qualifying and another in Germany. The effervescent right-winger was in equally good form during the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers and his accurate crosses and free-kicks are an important part of Croatia's attacking armoury.

Croatia 2 Germany 1

These 2 players were up against the likes of England and Germany, whom are no pushovers, yet they have topped their group.
Also, they have played international football and have been up against some of Englands and now Germany's top players (Ballack, Klose, Podolski).

Who can argue with that.

Here are some comparison stats between
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) (Top Speed 29)Covered - 10909m

Darijo (Croatia)(Top Speed 25.81)Covered - 9595m

Ronaldo (Portugal)(Top Speed 27.41)Covered - 6513m
(taken from their last games.)

http://flickr.com/photos/27151907@N06/page2/
http://flickr.com/photos/27151907@N06/tags/croatia/

Weren't we linked with Srna during the last World Cup? I seem to remember people feeling relieved that that deal never came off after watching him in Germany. I wonder, after two years of Pennant, whether anyone would have rather we had gone in for the Croatian?

by **Bad Bob** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:39 am

andy_g wrote:the best match of the tournament hasn't even been shown on telly apparently. i just caught a quick clip from it on eurosport and it looked like real edge-of-the-seat stuff

Either it's a little chilly down by the banks of the Danube or the Austrian ladies are, ahem, well up for it.

BTW, the second one in from the right for the Austrians is a player right out of the very top drawer. As Rafa would say, she is a player I like and you know my idea... :eyebrow

by **Dundalk** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:41 pm

The Manhattan Project wrote:The qualifying groups seem to be getting bigger and bigger with every tournament. If Kosovo and Montenegro join, that's two more members of UEFA. Each qualifying group has about eight teams in it. So yeah, top four teams out of a group of eight go through, or top three if the group has six or seven teams, depending on how many groups they have. If England and Eire can't get out of qualifying groups like that, then they may as well just quit football altogether.

A bigger EURO tournament is more inclusive, would lead to wider interest, and would be good for business.

The extra cost of hosting duties is offset by the enormous gain in profit and TV deals.

Dont be posting that here, get it sent to UEFA

Looks good to me!

by **JamCar05** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:44 pm

Number 9 wrote:
The Manhattan Project wrote:Germany have conquered Poland and Austria, again

Germany will be conquered as soon as they meet a half decent team Manhattan!

As shown by Croatia!

Well the way the germans have been playing for the last couple of games, Portugal really should be (and probably will be made) favourites. But you can never count out the germans in these types of games. Having said that I still expect Portugal to go through. I just wouldn't be particularly surprised if the germans actually won the game. Anyway, who cares as long as Spain win the whole thing :eyebrow

by **Yessicajax** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:31 pm

Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler, Van Persie, De Zeeuw, Afellay, Engelaar, Robben, Huntelaar are the players who start for holland tonight.

by **NANNY RED** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:02 pm

Yessicajax wrote:Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler, Van Persie, De Zeeuw, Afellay, Engelaar, Robben, Huntelaar are the players who start for holland tonight.

Hehe made up Huntelar startin i took a gamble that hed start an put a tener on him first goalscorer

by **Number 9** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:09 pm

Its in Hollands best interest to loose tonight!
Funny how by loosing a game they can eliminate two of the favourites! :laugh:

I hope Romania win,both France and Italy have been hugely dissapointing!
Come on Romania,send em home!

by **NANNY RED** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:12 pm

Number 9 wrote:Its in Hollands best interest to loose tonight!
Funny how by loosing a game they can eliminate two of the favourites!

I hope Romania win,both France and Italy have been hugely dissapointing!
Come on Romania,send em home!

Shut up Barry im gonna be quids in if me bet comes up :laugh:

Sayin that though i would love to see the other two go out.

Ill have to have a think abar that one now .

by **Yessicajax** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:13 pm

well i heard that even if we win, we can still send italy and france home.(if they draw)
so i do hope that will happend..because i dont wanna lose:cool:

by **The Manhattan Project** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:19 pm

France need a goal so Dommenech replaces Nasir with......Boumsong???

Liverpool FC Forum

The official spain euro 2008 thread - Viva espana

Who is online