Comments on: Euro 2008 Countdown – Group A: Swiss to get rolled on home turf http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/ Soccerlens - Football News You Can Trust Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:45:26 -0800 http://soccerlens.com/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Craig Smithson http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/comment-page-1/#comment-89565 Craig Smithson Tue, 20 May 2008 10:13:22 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/#comment-89565 Some interesting comments here on my original article. As the article was originally posted before the respective coaches named their final squad I understand there maybe a few players mentioned that who will not be featuring so apologies for that! However Maniche not getting the nod is a big shock for me. I stand by my initial thoughts as I still think Portugal will win this group. I do have a strong fancy for Turkey though to nip through ahead of the Czech Republic! Switzerland only have home advantage going for them and that is not enough in my opinion! Some interesting comments here on my original article.
As the article was originally posted before the respective coaches named their final squad I understand there maybe a few players mentioned that who will not be featuring so apologies for that! However Maniche not getting the nod is a big shock for me.
I stand by my initial thoughts as I still think Portugal will win this group. I do have a strong fancy for Turkey though to nip through ahead of the Czech Republic! Switzerland only have home advantage going for them and that is not enough in my opinion!

]]> By: Tuga http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/comment-page-1/#comment-89192 Tuga Wed, 14 May 2008 12:58:49 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/#comment-89192 Scolari's pick: GK Ricardo Quim Rui Patrício Defenders Paulo Ferreira Miguel Bosingwa Jorge Ribeiro Fernando Meira Bruno Alves Pepe Ricardo Carvalho Midfielders Petit Miguel Veloso Raul Meireles João Moutinho Deco Cristiano Ronaldo Simão Nani Ricardo Quaresma Strikers Hélder Postiga Nuno Gomes Hugo Almeida Looking at the list, 2 things come to mind. Maniche didn't make the final cut, a little strange considering he played most of the qualifying matches (personal differences with Scolari have been pointed out). Jorge Ribeiro (Maniche’s younger brother) was called up to fill the gap of left-back, although he hasn’t played in that position for over a year and half. I don’t believe in Portugal chances. Quaresma is extremely inconsistent and Ronaldo doesn’t play at a Man United level with portuguese colors. Also the lack of a World class striker will cut Portugal chances of reaching higher stages of the competition. Scolari’s pick:
GK
Ricardo
Quim
Rui Patrício

Defenders
Paulo Ferreira
Miguel
Bosingwa
Jorge Ribeiro
Fernando Meira
Bruno Alves
Pepe
Ricardo Carvalho

Midfielders
Petit
Miguel Veloso
Raul Meireles
João Moutinho
Deco
Cristiano Ronaldo
Simão
Nani
Ricardo Quaresma

Strikers
Hélder Postiga
Nuno Gomes
Hugo Almeida

Looking at the list, 2 things come to mind. Maniche didn’t make the final cut, a little strange considering he played most of the qualifying matches (personal differences with Scolari have been pointed out). Jorge Ribeiro (Maniche’s younger brother) was called up to fill the gap of left-back, although he hasn’t played in that position for over a year and half.
I don’t believe in Portugal chances. Quaresma is extremely inconsistent and Ronaldo doesn’t play at a Man United level with portuguese colors. Also the lack of a World class striker will cut Portugal chances of reaching higher stages of the competition.

]]> By: TurkishRED http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/comment-page-1/#comment-89034 TurkishRED Mon, 12 May 2008 16:21:15 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/#comment-89034 Interestingly enough, Hakan Sukur has been left out of Fatih Terim's initial squad for UEFA EURO 2008, according to an article in the website for the competition. The link: http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=694243.html Goalkeepers: Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahçe SK), Rüştü Reçber (BeÅŸiktaÅŸ JK), Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor). Defenders: Gökhan Gönül (Fenerbahçe SK), Sabri SarıoÄŸlu (Galatasaray AÅž), Gökhan Zan (BeÅŸiktaÅŸ JK), Ä°brahim KaÅŸ (BeÅŸiktaÅŸ JK), Emre Aşık (Galatasaray AÅž), Servet Çetin (Galatasaray AÅž), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray AÅž), UÄŸur Boral (Fenerbahçe SK). Midfielders: Mehmet Aurélio (Fenerbahçe SK), Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray AÅž), Emre BelözoÄŸlu (Newcastle United FC), Tümer Metin (Larissa FC), Yıldıray BaÅŸtürk (VfB Stuttgart), Hamit Altıntop (FC Bayern München), Ayhan Akman (Galatasaray AÅž), Arda Turan (Galatasaray AÅž), Tuncay Åžanlı (Middlesbrough FC), Kazım Kazım (Fenerbahçe SK), Gökdeniz Karadeniz (FC Rubin Kazan). Forwards: Nihat Kahveci (Villarreal CF), Halil Altıntop (FC Schalke 04), Semih Åžentürk (Fenerbahçe SK), Mevlüt Erding (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard). Overall, I think the midfielders and attacking line are quite strong, but this team can't sit back because the back four and keeper are usually shaky and questionable. In my opinion, they can at least beat Switzerland and Czech Republic and draw Portugal. Hopefully, Turkey will get to at least the quarter-finals, and maybe even the semi-finals. They were lucky not to get drawn into a group with one of the real European giants like Spain, Germany, France, Italy or the Netherlands. Still, Portugal and Czech Republic aren't cakewalks either... Interestingly enough, Hakan Sukur has been left out of Fatih Terim’s initial squad for UEFA EURO 2008, according to an article in the website for the competition. The link: http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=694243.html

Goalkeepers: Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahçe SK), Rüştü Reçber (Beşiktaş JK), Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor).

Defenders: Gökhan Gönül (Fenerbahçe SK), Sabri Sarıoğlu (Galatasaray AŞ), Gökhan Zan (Beşiktaş JK), İbrahim Kaş (Beşiktaş JK), Emre Aşık (Galatasaray AŞ), Servet Çetin (Galatasaray AŞ), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray AŞ), Uğur Boral (Fenerbahçe SK).

Midfielders: Mehmet Aurélio (Fenerbahçe SK), Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray AŞ), Emre Belözoğlu (Newcastle United FC), Tümer Metin (Larissa FC), Yıldıray Baştürk (VfB Stuttgart), Hamit Altıntop (FC Bayern München), Ayhan Akman (Galatasaray AŞ), Arda Turan (Galatasaray AŞ), Tuncay Şanlı (Middlesbrough FC), Kazım Kazım (Fenerbahçe SK), Gökdeniz Karadeniz (FC Rubin Kazan).

Forwards: Nihat Kahveci (Villarreal CF), Halil Altıntop (FC Schalke 04), Semih Şentürk (Fenerbahçe SK), Mevlüt Erding (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard).

Overall, I think the midfielders and attacking line are quite strong, but this team can’t sit back because the back four and keeper are usually shaky and questionable. In my opinion, they can at least beat Switzerland and Czech Republic and draw Portugal.

Hopefully, Turkey will get to at least the quarter-finals, and maybe even the semi-finals. They were lucky not to get drawn into a group with one of the real European giants like Spain, Germany, France, Italy or the Netherlands. Still, Portugal and Czech Republic aren’t cakewalks either…

]]> By: Fateh http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/comment-page-1/#comment-89023 Fateh Mon, 12 May 2008 15:13:12 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/euro-2008-countdown-group-a-swiss-to-get-rolled-on-home-turf/7367/#comment-89023 Portugal have a magnificent team...but they are just one sandwhich short of a picnic. Ricardo in goal is great. Miguel,carvalho and bosingwa are great defenders. Maniche always plays his heart out for his country. Deco needs to show that he hasnt lost his touch after a poor season with barcelona.All eyes will be on cristiano ronaldo. They have great wingers...with ronaldo..simao..quaresma and nani. Up till now..they certainly make for a world class team However..they fall short in attack. Nuno gomes is a prolific striker but he isn't world class. You can always get away with having a not-so-world class defensive midfielder or defender...but u need that flash of inspiration of front when faced with a rock-solid defence. Scolari however has other options. How about using ronaldo upfront...him occasionally interchanging with simao and quaresma the striker role.To my mind..there's no questioning simao's quality and it would be a greta combination For the group stage...however portugal should stick to nuno gomes upfront and see how the system works. They should get past the swiss and the czech and the turks but its when the face the likes of france and especially the italian defence that they need that world class striker. Also..another suggestion-initially start quaresma to patner ronaldo on the wings.You know what you're going to get with simao..hes quality and hes proved it.But he's not among the best player in the world.Quaresma though..if he is consistent..might just be there.So give him a chance in these first matches..and he might just be the star of the tournament Rosicky's out..and after nedved's retirement the czech's look desperately short of ideas. Baros has flattered to decieve after winnning the golden boot in portugal 4 years ago and jan koller is simply too old and injury prone. Czech's hopes are hanging by a thread. The swiss have a great chance of advancing if they don't play senderos. Frei is a wonderful striker and i think they have a better team than the czech's Portugal have a magnificent team…but they are just one sandwhich short of a picnic. Ricardo in goal is great. Miguel,carvalho and bosingwa are great defenders. Maniche always plays his heart out for his country. Deco needs to show that he hasnt lost his touch after a poor season with barcelona.All eyes will be on cristiano ronaldo. They have great wingers…with ronaldo..simao..quaresma and nani. Up till now..they certainly make for a world class team
However..they fall short in attack. Nuno gomes is a prolific striker but he isn’t world class. You can always get away with having a not-so-world class defensive midfielder or defender…but u need that flash of inspiration of front when faced with a rock-solid defence. Scolari however has other options. How about using ronaldo upfront…him occasionally interchanging with simao and quaresma the striker role.To my mind..there’s no questioning simao’s quality and it would be a greta combination
For the group stage…however portugal should stick to nuno gomes upfront and see how the system works. They should get past the swiss and the czech and the turks but its when the face the likes of france and especially the italian defence that they need that world class striker. Also..another suggestion-initially start quaresma to patner ronaldo on the wings.You know what you’re going to get with simao..hes quality and hes proved it.But he’s not among the best player in the world.Quaresma though..if he is consistent..might just be there.So give him a chance in these first matches..and he might just be the star of the tournament
Rosicky’s out..and after nedved’s retirement the czech’s look desperately short of ideas. Baros has flattered to decieve after winnning the golden boot in portugal 4 years ago and jan koller is simply too old and injury prone. Czech’s hopes are hanging by a thread.
The swiss have a great chance of advancing if they don’t play senderos. Frei is a wonderful striker and i think they have a better team than the czech’s

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