...and the crowd goes wild... but this time, I support them *gets his flag and goes outside to party*

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No, I'm not aplz.

Well congrats to Portugal, they played better. Spain should pass for the good players we have, and for the supposedly "easy" group but...

Dunno what is the reason of the elimination but this coach Saez doesn't seem me the best option for the selection. enough said

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IBIZA INFO THREAD

And finally Spain gets out of the Euro... Well, I think they didn't play football against Russia, Greece... and so had happened against Portugal. We can have some of the best players in the world (Casillas, Vicente, Morientes was in great form this season...) but we always say goodbye in all tournaments too early.
I'm not really sad as I thought this will happen because Iñaki Saez is one of the worst coachs in the world, he is really bad... Luque cannot play in the right, Raul should have been in the bench... So if we are out now its because Iñaki Saez and his stupid decissions... If you have some players that are not playing well the most logical thing is changing them for the next match...

I think spains attitude towards this game justifies them leaving the competition. Spain are a very fluent and attacking side, and that is where they hurt teams. Getting 6 men behind the ball at all times, and playing for the draw is always going to cost you. Only the Italians are good at that, and yet they still got done against Sweden for that tactic by not taking their chances.

Should be a good warning to England. We need just a draw but i hope the boys go out there and go for a win!

Spain were unlucky, and Portugal did nothing against Greece and Russia to even justify them as being contenders for the championship. They play well only after they scored against Spain and thats becuase spain had to then score. Spain played well in their previous games but then get beaten and are on the next flight home. Football is a cruel game!

Another great game. I feel bad for Spain. Once again the national team fails to deliver.
I cannot understand why the coach didn't play Valeron this competition. Oh well, Portugal is the hosts and are playing great football when they want to. Congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by chavs

Agreed.
Inaqui pisses me off bc of that. Instead of taking players out (especially Raul), he keeps them in or takes that ones that are doing something out.
I wonder what excuse he will have this time; I hope Spain changes the coach.
But wtf is up with him and Raul. Raul hasn't done shit and he plays all 90mins, it's like Inaqui wants "something" from him


Congrats to Portugal, they played good, while Spain sucked balls...

Congrats to Portugal, may you have a nice tournie. I've never felt more like a coach was the problem like Saez with Spain.

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quote:

Originally posted by ChemEnhanced any party from 2003 and back I only remember bits and pieces...i've combined those memories into one awesome party

if (hopefully when) england get through they should not be scared by either Porttugal or Greece. Although portugal are improving im not sure if there is enough there and greece are getting progressively worse.

But very well done to portugal beating your rivals great result. im sure there is partying on the streets of lisbon tonight. i like you portuguenesse (you're our oldest ally and i had so many good childhood holidays on the algave ) so got a bit of a soft spot for you guys.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...look at the poll! only 1/3 believed portugal would win!! i was right, we attacked like hell, had a few frightenings especially after our goal, spain got really dangerous..
weeeee'rreeeeeeeeee qualifiiiiiiedddd..w000000h0000000 !!!
our next victims will be either england or france, and we're sorry but one of these will have to go home! this tournament belongs to us!!!

I think Spain have been the best team in the group, they just didn't get the rub of the green. They should have destroyed Russia, they should have destroyed Greece, they dominated play, created so many chances, but so often it was a few inches that made the difference. People can say 'you should take your chances' but in this case that's an easy coptout. The Spanish have played the best football in group A, attacked the best and defended the best. But things have not gone their way. It's ashame to see one of the best teams in the tournament leave. Saez hasn't helped, making 4 changes ahead of this game didn't help. In a game like this you need a backbone of experience, yet Saez drops Morientes for Torres, Etxeberria for Joaquin, Baraja for Xabi Alonso. IMO he gambled and lost.

hum..spain was the best team of group A but not with great superiority, besides, only points make the difference (ok..and goals too) people blame coaches too much, the players are the most blameful part of the games, at least that's what i think, they have to do what the coach says, and that's the only thing the coach do, everything else is a job for the players

I'm not blaming Saez, but I disagree with his lineup for this game. Although Spain drew with Greece they were clearly the much better team and there was no need for a knee-jerk reaction from the manager. Yet Saez reacted to that result and felt he needed to change 4 of his players. I think that's quite a gamble ahead of a crucial game like this. He took off experienced players and put on youngsters.

It's hard to see what Spain did wrong in this group. Perhaps they could have been more clinical in front of goal but if you look back at the number of near-misses they had over the three games it's unbelievable they only scored twice.