Euro 2008: Matchday Three
Good Day all. The European Championships roll on today with the first of the tournament's high-profile matches as Group C, the Group of Death, kicks off. France take on Romania (11:50am, ESPN2) and defending World Champion Italy faces the Netherlands (2:30pm, ESPN2).
The Italy-Netherlands match is the marquee match-up, but France must avoid a potential upset loss to an underrated Romania squad that I can definitely see making noise in this loaded group. Can the French attack, led by Henry, Ribery and Benzema, show more than they have shown in recent friendlies? Can Romania pull the upset and move into position to advance to the quarters?
Since many of you are at work and won't be able to watch these matches I will try to do at least one match commentary a day. Today I will be doing a running commentary on the Italy-Netherlands match so be sure to check in for that at 2:30 p.m., whether you're watching the match or at work wishing you could watch.
Feel free to share all your pre-game and in-game thoughts on today's Group C action in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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I hope the Dutch do well, but I have a feeling Italy is going to shoot for 3 clean sheets and hope to nick a goal here and there to claim the occasional victory.
I would expect the Holland-France and Holland-Romania games to be fairly exciting, and the France-Italy game to be pretty chippy.
Posted by: Brant | June 09, 2008 at 11:44 AM
one word, baby: SLINGBOX!!!
Posted by: Reston, VA | June 09, 2008 at 11:52 AM
ESPN360 is also showing the games, if you have that wonderful service. Also, Henry is not starting for France. Is that surprising?
Posted by: Igor | June 09, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Henry is out with a back problem. Anelka gets the nod.
Posted by: Ives | June 09, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I'm hoping to see Bafetimbi Gomis make an appearance. He's a young (22) striker who scored a brace in a recent France friendly. Plus, I love his name.
Posted by: Igor | June 09, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Lets go Ribery, lead France to a big win.
Posted by: Keith G. | June 09, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Interesting, Toulalan gets the start next to Makelele, leaving both Vieira and Diarra on the bench. I would have gone with Diarra, he finished the year dominating for Portsmouth.
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM
eric - Clearly you have not seen Diarra's horoscope. It's terrible.
Posted by: Igor | June 09, 2008 at 12:19 PM
anyone have a link to the games today?
Posted by: will | June 09, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Igor - ???
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Domenech is really into Astrology.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 09, 2008 at 12:36 PM
eric - I was referring to the fact that Domenech has been known to use astrology (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/13756482/) to choose his lineups. Actually, I looked it up and Diarra (Pisces) does not have a abd horoscope for today, but Toulalan (Virgo, same as me) has a much better one.
Posted by: Igor | June 09, 2008 at 12:39 PM
That's right! He didn't want Tauruses on his team, or something like that...
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 12:39 PM
The French should drop Anelka back and play Benzema farthest forward instead of the other way around. Anelka is one of those forwards who half wants to be playmaker, and Benzema is the better finisher anyway.
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 12:53 PM
man anelka is so junk compared to a guy like trezeguet. he wouldve def. put away that header that anelka knocked over the bar. i'll never understand picking him over trezeguet. france has looked pretty crappy. i'm hoping for nasri to come on. that guys friggin awesome
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:03 PM
france is missing zidane. they need some one who can play the attacking midfield role and get the ball out to the strikers. france has no one in the middle to play through. benzema is having to drop back and play that role which is leaving analka isolated. it doesnt help that analka is doing nothing when he does get the ball not to mention the header he missed. the wings need to step up (malluda and ribbery) since theres no one in the middle to play through. defensively the french have looked good though. not giving up many if any real chances.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I'm sure this has been said elsewhere...but, anyone know a place on line to listen to the games for free?
I can't get espn360 to work on my computer at work and I figured someone might know of a place here.
Thanks!
Also, I'm dying for the Italy-Netherlands game. I think it'll end up being tie. I see Netherlands and France advancing out of this group.
Posted by: Corey | June 09, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Finally some encouraging play from Malouda. France is looking much better in the very early stages of the 2nd half.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 09, 2008 at 01:07 PM
sagnol with a dirty ass play.
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:09 PM
No ship, right? Trezeguet was huge, and why would anyone want Anelka in a big game after the CL final?
The game's really picked up, good chances for both sides since the half. 0-0 52nd
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 01:10 PM
maluda with a good chance. finally the wings are steping up.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:10 PM
i really like this ref. this is so far the best called game i've seen in a while. i've only counted one foul missed.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:15 PM
theyve got to dump anelka for nasri. move benzema up to the lone striker and let nasri play the zidane role that someone else was suggesting earlier. he's been pure crap (again) today.
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:17 PM
matt i think we'll see nasri soon if a goal doesnt come
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:19 PM
i'm starting to think romania is playing for a tie. they've slowed there attack and counter attack and holding on to possession
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:23 PM
romania'a first sub proves as much
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:25 PM
gomis, nasri, and i think diarra were shown warming up. oh snap!
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Several French players, including Nasri, are warming up, finally.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 09, 2008 at 01:28 PM
10 mins too late....
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:29 PM
i'm gonna guess nasri comes on for tulalan. as bad as analka is they need to keep there striker power out there and add a little more bite in the middle of the midfield.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:31 PM
gomis coming up. maybe for analka? striker for a striker?
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:32 PM
yup
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:33 PM
ok really france has been crap for most of this game. i dont see them advancing if this is indicative of what they're going to try to do in each game.
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:35 PM
both teams have done well to limit serious free kick opportunities.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Benzema off for Nasri, should have taken off a defensive midfielder.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 09, 2008 at 01:36 PM
I've seen a lot of terrible free kicks taken in this tournament. Wow...awful.
France can't score and Romania doesn't seem interested in trying to score.
Posted by: KC | June 09, 2008 at 01:37 PM
nasri coming on finally.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:38 PM
that was awful!!!! come on france!
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:40 PM
i just put my euro 2000 jersey on
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 01:40 PM
so if this ends up a draw does that make the netherlands-italy game more or less exciting? do they attack for a win or play for a draw? what's the strategy there?
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I feel pretty good about picking Italy & Holland to advance out of this group. France just isn't that good...they've still got 5+ minutes to score but they haven't shown enough to convince me otherwise.
Posted by: KC | June 09, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I don't think it has much of an impact with game 1. Now if these were the 2rd games it might have more of an impact and game 3 would not have the impact since the are played at the same time.
Posted by: DCM | June 09, 2008 at 01:45 PM
pretty sure now that i'm hoping for france to get trounced out and finish 4th in this group. talk about wasting talent...this is infuriating.
Posted by: matt | June 09, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Come on Romania!!! I have no desire to see an uninspiring France team do well in this tourney.
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 01:47 PM
I can't wait to read how many coaches get canned at the end of this first round of matches. Domenech is out if France don't go past the first round.
Posted by: HomeyBoehme | June 09, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Agreed Matt, this match is starting to get under my skin.
Posted by: DCM | June 09, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Come on, a sub in the 3rd minute of stoppage time with 3 minutes being added.
Posted by: DCM | June 09, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I want my two hours back after that crap.
Posted by: DCM | June 09, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Well I picked that one right in my ESPN pick 'em game, only one I missed so far was I picked Swiss & Czech to draw.
Posted by: KC | June 09, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Thats the type of 0-0 draw that make non soccer-people hate soccer. Compare that scoreless garbage to what we saw last night. Ugly.
Posted by: KC | June 09, 2008 at 01:57 PM
come on guys it wasnt that horrible of a game and i'm a frence fan.
france started slow at the world cup in 06 and we all know how that turned out. the draw today makes the italy/netherlands game that much more intense. a draw and every one is even. a win and that team will have a clear advantage going forward as i dont see romania giving the netherlands and italy the same problems they gave france.
Posted by: wendel | June 09, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Regaurdless, blame lies in France. They've got to do better with their loads of talent. There is no excuse for them to not score verse Romania, no offense to them. Romania did what they had to do.
I love Andy Gray and Tommy Smith managing to bring up the Irish, even though they are absent... =(
Posted by: mikeK | June 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Holland: Van der Sar, Ooijer, Boulahrouz, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Kuyt, De Jong, Van der Vaart, Engelaar, Sneijder and van Nistelrooy. Subs from: Timmer, Stekelenburg, Heitinga, De Zeeuw, Van Persie, Robben, Melchiot, Bouma, De Cler, Huntelaar, Afellay and Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Barzagli, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Toni and Di Natale. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Grosso, Chiellini, Gamberini, Del Piero, De Rossi, Borriello, Quagliarella, Cassano, Perrotta and Aquilani.
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Hopefully Italy/Netherlands is a better game than the one before it, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 09, 2008 at 02:27 PM
No Cannovera? Fine, bring on Materazzi. Freakin' Italians.
So much for both Robben and Van Persie being healthy at the same time for Holland, they get neither starting today.
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 02:29 PM
French, the second most talented team in the tournament IMO (behind Spain), looked awful. Toulalan should not be paired with Makelele. Nasri should have come on sooner. And Anelka should not be alone up top. I hate Domenech.
Posted by: sean | June 09, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Why is Foudy talking?
Posted by: FIXXXER | June 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Oh come on, call the stadium by it's full name, the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf (seriously)
Posted by: eric | June 09, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Yay Netherlands. I enjoyed Amsterdam much more than Rome when I visited. And I can not forgive the elbow to McBride's face, nor the diving shammockery in the game vs. Australia. I hope Italy goes out in the first round. Hopefully beaten by France. HA!
Posted by: HomeyBoehme | June 09, 2008 at 03:20 PM