UEFA Euro 2012 - Poland/Ukraine

[Kevin W.]

Michel Platini needs to go. His continued opposition to the necessary advancements in goal line technology fly in the face of the opinions of nearly every other important figure in the sport, including the man in charge. He is stuck in the past so his presidency should be relegated to the history books.

[Viper]

I never thought I'd live to see the Azzurri get smoked like a cheap cigar in a championship final, but that's exactly what Spain's doing to them so far.

[lordsketor]

Spain Back 2 Back European Champions...

But as a consolation prize for Italy, they will go to Brazil next year for the FIFA Confederations Cup as the UEFA Representative as Spain is already there as World Cup Champions.

[rams80]

It's like the 1500s out there on the field.

[DaytonBlue]

And Spain reigns in Ukraine! -Ian Darke

[lordsketor]

And Spain reigns in Ukraine! -Ian Darke

Classic!

[DaytonBlue]

And Spain reigns in Ukraine! -Ian Darke

Classic!

I also love the way UEFA presents trophies in both the Champions League and Euro Cup. Set up on the stage, hand out the medals, play amazing instrumental music, give the trophy to the captain, and shoot off confetti! No questions from lame media types, no ad-libbed speeches from egotistical owners and commissioners.

[lordsketor]

And Spain reigns in Ukraine! -Ian Darke

Classic!

I also love the way UEFA presents trophies in both the Champions League and Euro Cup. Set up on the stage, hand out the medals, play amazing instrumental music, give the trophy to the captain, and shoot off confetti! No questions from lame media types, no ad-libbed speeches from egotistical owners and commissioners.

Bingo! let the moment speak for itself!

[Kramerica Industries]

Ian Darke is an outstanding play-by-play announcer.

In fact, the ESPN crew in general was pretty solid. Enjoyed listening to Ballack in the studio.

[NEW.ERA]

John Helm is really good too. That's who we got.

[Kevin W.]

Ian Darke is really in a class by himself. There is no one quite like him. Would Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria have been quite as exciting without Darke calling it?

[Saintsfan]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

[OMMF]

Ian Darke is really in a class by himself. There is no one quite like him. Would Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria have been quite as exciting without Darke calling it?

Or even more so, Wambach's goal against Brazil in the WWC.

(Antiquated note to Pierre McGuire: That's the appropriate amount of time to wait when the commentator asks you if you can believe it.)

[Eye]

Ian Darke is really in a class by himself. There is no one quite like him. Would Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria have been quite as exciting without Darke calling it?

Or even more so, Wambach's goal against Brazil in the WWC.

(Antiquated note to Pierre McGuire: That's the appropriate amount of time to wait when the commentator asks you if you can believe it.)

What's Pete Carroll doing there?

[lordsketor]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

Very important insight there, you can have great players but if you do not have a team around them, your chances are very small.

[Viper]

If Alan Shearer is to be believed, the pitches of Euro 2012 aren't the only place La Furia Roja have been scoring...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug9D5530rrE

[Don]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

Very important insight there, you can have great players but if you do not have a team around them, your chances are very small.

I wonder what the Madrid men on the team think about basically taking and crafting Barcelonas style into the National team and the Barca way getting all the credit for the wins?

[Saintsfan]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

Very important insight there, you can have great players but if you do not have a team around them, your chances are very small.

I wonder what the Madrid men on the team think about basically taking and crafting Barcelonas style into the National team and the Barca way getting all the credit for the wins?

I don't think the Spanish team necesarily plays like Barca. I think it's a pretty good combination of Real and Barca in fact. More defensively aware than Barca, more prepared to spread play out than either Barca or Real (who both feature star play makers in Messi and Ronaldo), but as technically proficient as both Real and Barca are.

[Don]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

Very important insight there, you can have great players but if you do not have a team around them, your chances are very small.

I wonder what the Madrid men on the team think about basically taking and crafting Barcelonas style into the National team and the Barca way getting all the credit for the wins?

I don't think the Spanish team necesarily plays like Barca. I think it's a pretty good combination of Real and Barca in fact. More defensively aware than Barca, more prepared to spread play out than either Barca or Real (who both feature star play makers in Messi and Ronaldo), but as technically proficient as both Real and Barca are.

The gameplan against them is the same and is effective, to bunker down, let them hog possession but clog up the middle. Italy opened it up and paid for it. I'd say the only reason theyre more defensively aware than Barca is that they dont have Dani Alves flying down the wing and wandering wherever the hell he wants. I think if David Villa were healthy it'd be more Barca-like than it was this Euro Cup.

[Saintsfan]

Interesting thought about this Spain team. They are an all time great team, but without any all time great players. Some all really really good players, but noone to sit along side Pele,Maradona or Messi.

Very important insight there, you can have great players but if you do not have a team around them, your chances are very small.

I wonder what the Madrid men on the team think about basically taking and crafting Barcelonas style into the National team and the Barca way getting all the credit for the wins?

I don't think the Spanish team necesarily plays like Barca. I think it's a pretty good combination of Real and Barca in fact. More defensively aware than Barca, more prepared to spread play out than either Barca or Real (who both feature star play makers in Messi and Ronaldo), but as technically proficient as both Real and Barca are.

The gameplan against them is the same and is effective, to bunker down, let them hog possession but clog up the middle. Italy opened it up and paid for it. I'd say the only reason theyre more defensively aware than Barca is that they dont have Dani Alves flying down the wing and wandering wherever the hell he wants. I think if David Villa were healthy it'd be more Barca-like than it was this Euro Cup.

Well the coach is a Real guy. But I think his great skill is realising that a Spain team built around one or the other doesn't work. It needs to be a blend of philosophies. And Del Bosque has figured ou how to do that.