tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926Thu, 08 Sep 2016 04:20:59 +0000Euro 2008Euro 2008 picksfootballFantasyCristiano RonaldoAustriaSwitzerlandMatch PreviewreportLeaderboardMatch ReportBallackSpainPodolskiVillaKloseTorresGermanyTurkeyArshavinFabregasNihatPuyolIbrahimovicPortugalSchweinsteigerXabi AlonsoCroatiaDecoItalyLahmModricRussiaDonadoniLarssonLowNetherlandsPavluychenkovan PersieAragonesArda TuranBilicCassanoCzech RepublicDel PieroFranceGreeceHamit AlintropJankulovskiKranjcarFreiIniestaIvanschitzKazim KazimPolandRobbenSwedenTerimXavivan Bastenvan NistelrooyDeparture LoungeGattusoGekasHenryHiddinkMutuPower RankingsRiberyRoger GuerreiroRomaniaSneijderTonipointsCechGalasekGrygeraKollerRefereerules<p align="center"><b>The Fantasy Euro 2008 Tournament that looks smarter than Slaven Bilic. </b> </p>http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Gav)Blogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-3331553261630339997Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:31:00 +00002008-06-30T17:31:28.499+01:00Here it is. Gavin Stone wins, although the 21 point gap was closer than expected in the end. Nathan Fox takes a very impressive second and as a result, is owed £25. Nathan, your call: I can send it via paypal, UK cash (if you dare), UK cheque or give it to Jim when he's over in August. The problem there being it will probably be used for beer…Tim and Daph Stone take third spot and £15 (should buyhttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/final-table.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-8247429453675567483Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:28:00 +00002008-06-29T19:32:08.389+01:00AragonesBallackEuro 2008GermanyIniestaKloseLahmLowPodolskiPuyolSchweinsteigerSpainTorresXaviGermany: Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Frings, Hitzlsperger; Schweinsteiger, Ballack (c), Podolski; Klose.Spain: Casillas (c); Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, Silva; Torres.So as expected - and hoped for - by Germany with Ballack risked after a heavy course of painkillers and icing. He will play the central role of a three-man attacking http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany-v-spain-line-ups.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-9070463423642267276Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:07:00 +00002008-06-29T19:21:10.403+01:00AragonesBallackEuro 2008Euro 2008 picksFabregasGermanyIniestaKloseLahmLowMatch PreviewPodolskiPuyolSchweinsteigerSpainTorresVillaXabi AlonsoXaviSunday 29th June – 1945 UK time (Live on BBC1); Final; At Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna Ballack set to start, despite calf injury…Villa definitely out of action…Fabregas set to start in five man midfield…Frings back in starting XI for Germany... Tale of the Tape: GERMANY SPAIN Joachim Low Manager Luis Aragones 3rd Power Ranking 1st 5thhttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany-v-spain-final-preview.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-183457310841694447Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:54:00 +00002008-06-29T22:29:27.091+01:00Arda TuranArshavinBallackCristiano RonaldoDecoHamit AlintropLahmModricNihatPodolskiSchweinsteigerSneijdervan PersieVillaThere's no point on relying on UEFA to choose a Player of the Tournament, as it is either decided by teeny fans choosing their favourite player, or officials with a vested interest. No, we need to decide on the player who has set this tournament alight.Below is an entry form, listing the twenty players I feel have look the most impressive during Euro 2008. I would like you to choose one carefullyhttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/player-of-tournament-vote-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-720991794130949381Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:52:00 +00002008-06-28T20:57:43.238+01:00LeaderboardAs we approach the end, with one match left, the title looks to have found a home. Gavin Stone has it in the can, barring any disaster. Nathan Fox is the only man who can catch him and a close look at their respective players suggests this is unlikely to happen:Gavin: Casillas, Lahm, Ballack, Villa, Torres.Nathan: Lahm, Ballack, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, Torres.With Villa out injured and both managers http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/leaderboard-day-18.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-2505683403722253456Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:40:00 +00002008-06-28T07:58:22.153+01:00AragonesArshavinEuro 2008Match ReportPavluychenkoPuyolSpainTorresVillaXabi AlonsoRussia 0-3 Spain Most pundits in the know predicted a Spanish victory in this semi-final, but not to this extent. Despite a first-half injury to David Villa, which rules him out of the competition, Spain looked the better side throughout, despite Roman Pavlyuchenko going closest of all in the first half. Cesc Fabregas made the difference as a substitute, when he took over from Villa in a move http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/russia-0-3-spain-match-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-596899255546089340Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:26:00 +00002008-06-28T07:34:39.811+01:00ArshavinHiddinkMatch PreviewPavluychenkoRussiaSpainTorresVillaXabi Alonso Thursday 26th June – 1945 UK time (Live on ITV); Semi-Final; At Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna Tale of the Tape: RUSSIA SPAIN Guus Hiddink Manager Luis Aragones 2nd Power Ranking 1st 24th FIFA Ranking 4th 10th ELO Ranking 1st 15th UEFA co-efficient 12th Winners (60) Euro Best Performance Winners (64) 3-0-1-7-5 Euro 2008 Record (W-D-L-F-A) 3-1-0-8-2 l Spain 1-4 http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/russia-v-spain-semi-final-preview.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-2626188798678306048Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:34:00 +00002008-06-26T18:42:19.800+01:00BallackKazim KazimKloseLahmLowMatch ReportPodolskiSchweinsteigerTerimTurkeyGermany 3-2 Turkey Perhaps the most one-sided match I have seen where the dominant team lost. Turkey came alive in this match, as though they had nothing left to live for. Rumours of goalkeepers playing in defence never materialised and when Ugur Boral opened the scoring midway through the first half for the Turks, worries of absent friends were forgotten. Bastian Schweinsteiger levelled a few http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany-3-2-turkey-match-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-3303006763182435565Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:14:00 +00002008-06-28T07:35:45.922+01:00Arda TuranBallackEuro 2008Euro 2008 picksGermanyHamit AlintropKazim KazimKloseLahmLowMatch PreviewNihatPodolskiSchweinsteigerTerimTurkey Wednesday 25th June – 1945 UK time (Live on BBC1); Semi-Final; At Saint Jakob-Park, Basel Tale of the Tape: GERMANY  TURKEY  Joachim Low Manager  Fatih Terim 3rd Power Ranking  6th 5th FIFA Ranking  20th 7th ELO Ranking 15th 4th UEFA co-efficient  14th Winners (72, 80, 96) Euro Best Performance  Semi-Finalists (08) 3-0-1-7-4 Euro 2008 Record (W-D-L-F-A)  2-1-1-6-6 http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany-v-turkey-semi-final-preview.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-7412424004184036581Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:24:00 +00002008-06-28T07:36:38.532+01:00CassanoDel PieroDonadoniEuro 2008GattusoItalyMatch ReportSpainVillaXabi Alonso Spain 0-0 Italy (After extra time, Spain won 4-2 on penalties.) Ahh, the one that got away. I hadn't forgotten to write a report for this match – I just couldn't find anything inspiring about it. The tactics of Italian coach Roberto Donadoni were in place to placate the Spanish and defend and without Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, there was no midfield drive. Spain, for their part, were http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/quarter-final-4-match-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-8654266508912607910Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:46:00 +00002008-06-25T06:57:17.635+01:00Arda TuranHamit AlintropKazim KazimNihatTerimTurkeyI never thought I would be asking him for another article during Euro 2008, but Emir Karakurt is back. This time, he tells us what it is like to be Turkish during these heady days.As an avid and loyal football supporter, I have witnessed many, many footballing competitions in my life. In the 24 years I've lived on the face of this lovely planet I have seen many great matches, many great http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-did-we-get-here-part-4-turkey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-404228715045411817Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:19:00 +00002008-06-24T21:27:03.107+01:00ArshavinDonadoniItalyRefereeRussiaToniTurkey1. Andrei Arshavin is starting to dominate Euro 2008.It's been argued that had he not been suspended for the first two matches, Other teams would have worked out how to handle him. Yet Andrei Arshavin has set this tournament alight, whatever happens in the semi-finals. Perhaps he will be the first player to truly dominate a tournament since Zinedine Zidane in the 1998 World Cup?2. Common-sense http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/5-things-ive-learnt-this-week_24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-1604129136791475766Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:39:00 +00002008-06-28T07:37:28.732+01:00AustriaCroatiaCzech RepublicEuro 2008FranceGermanyGreeceItalyNetherlandsPolandPortugalPower RankingsRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkey I don't care if my list of best, in-form teams in the Alpine regions hasn't reflected the final four. After, my last list after the group stages saw the Netherlands, Croatia and Portugal in the top 4. Alas, further football has proven these teams are not worthy of these spots. These teams are: 1. Spain (up 2) As Yazz once said, "The only way is up, baby," and this is the case of the Spaniardshttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/euro-2008-power-rankings-tuesday-24th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-7625272587869273164Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:16:00 +00002008-06-28T07:38:06.142+01:00ArshavinEuro 2008HiddinkPavluychenkoRussia It's the turn of Russia now, with Vara Drezhlo explaining how their success is down to more than Andrei Arshavin and Guus Hiddink… The Rebirth of the Firebird: Russian Confidence Reborn This year, the Russian National Team came to Euro 2008 as underdogs. There has been no Russian team in the finals since the fall of the Soviet Union, and Russian teams played a cautious and timorous game. http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-did-we-get-here-part-3-russia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-2631674935272867155Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:12:00 +00002008-06-28T07:38:46.484+01:00AragonesFabregasIniestaSpainTorresVillaXabi AlonsoXavi The excellent Miguel Cabezas is back again, telling us this time what Euro 2008 has been from a Spanish point of view. Read on, especially if you are English and have forgotten what it feels like tobe in a major tournament! June 10, 2008. Here we are again, in another major competition, almost two years after the game against Ukraine in the World Cup. That day (6/14/06), Spain hammered http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-did-we-get-here-part-2-spain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-4954041904196184058Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:20:00 +00002008-06-28T07:39:08.612+01:00Euro 2008FantasyfootballLeaderboard Here we have a list of who has who left in the competition. Numbers in brackets indicate how many players you have left. If you have space in your 4-3-3 formation for your remaining subs to play, THEY WILL START. You do not have to inform me of any changes for these last matches. If there is a situation where you have four forwards and only three forwards places, I will be in touch. Gavin (338http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/final-days-final-teamsheets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-1615732816935443484Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:23:00 +00002008-06-28T07:39:28.327+01:00Euro 2008footballLeaderboard Gavin Stone has cemented his place at the top of the Fantasy League, thanks to two penalty shoot-out saves from Iker Casillas and the Man of the Match award for the same player. It leaves him with a 27 point lead over Nathan Fox with just three matches left. It is by no means impossible for Nathan to close the gap. But it will take some doing. Beneath them, 7 points separate 3rd from 7th, http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/day-16-leaderboard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-498625709454186021Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:49:00 +00002008-06-22T18:51:32.399+01:00BallackEuro 2008GermanyKloseLahmLowPodolskiSchweinsteigerThe first part of our look at all four semi-finalists sees Germany-based Steve Gold give us his views on Jogi Low's side. Deutschland, Deutschland, über alles, über alles in der Welt.....We scraped through, literally, from what everyone saw as an easy group it was far from it for us, but that was more our own fault than anybody elses.Pre tournament we favoured ourself very much as group winners http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-did-we-get-here-part-1-germany.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-3501731087180025697Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:46:00 +00002008-06-22T18:47:41.609+01:00ArshavinEuro 2008Match ReportNetherlandsPavluychenkoRobbenvan Bastenvan Nistelrooyvan PersieNetherlands 1-3 Russia (After extra-time) Wow. The gloss was taken off of Dutch football with a very average display. Russia, prompted by the classy Andrei Arshavin sealed a deserved victory in a match they dominated. They took the lead in the second-half through Roman Pavlyuchenko and were unfortunate not to win it in normal time. Ruud van Nistelrooy exposed a worrying weakness at set-pieces tohttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/quarter-final-3-match-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-7629547709916116582Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:39:00 +00002008-06-22T18:40:25.979+01:00CassanoDel PieroDonadoniEuro 2008Euro 2008 picksFranceGattusoItalyMatch PreviewSpainToniTorresVillaXabi AlonsoSunday 22nd June – 1945 UK time (Live on BBC1); Quarter-Final; At Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna The lowdown: Oooh, this should be meaty. Spain have been in awesome form thus far – so much so that in their final group match they fielded a reserve side. Italy, in comparison, have laboured to get this far following a win, a draw and a loss in their group. Hmmm, haven’t we been here before – for http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/quarter-final-preview-spain-v-italy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-9028543619112854665Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:02:00 +00002008-06-21T23:03:14.839+01:00LeaderboardThank you Andrei Arshavin/Arse-shavings (thanks, Jim.) One goal, one assist and a well-deserved Man of the Match award for the Russian playmaker as his side storm to victory. His performance has thrown many of us again, as we all lose a few Dutch players. Yet some of us were astute enough to select Arshavin (Tim and Daph Stone have climbed a ridiculous 16 places since selecting him for the final http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/day-15-leaderboard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-2953655817705651963Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +00002008-06-21T22:23:44.861+01:00ArshavinEuro 2008Euro 2008 picksMatch PreviewNetherlandsPavluychenkoRobbenSneijdervan Bastenvan Nistelrooyvan PersieSaturday 21st June – 1945 UK time (Live on ITV); Quarter-Final; At Jakob-Park, BaselThe lowdown: The Dutch come up against a Dutch coach in one of the most eagerly-anticipated last eight matches. The Netherlands are the favorites, with everybody from my mum to Johan Cruyff singing their praises over the past fortnight. Yet the Russians looked superb for long periods against Sweden in the week http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/quarter-final-match-preview-netherlands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-6889812389191610966Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:47:00 +00002008-06-21T22:24:57.724+01:00Arda TuranBilicCroatiaHamit AlintropMatch ReportModricNihatCroatia 1-1 Turkey (Turkey win 3-1 on penalties) It's not worth talking about the first 119 minutes of this match, although they weren't as bad as some commentators have made them to be. Croatia defended superbly and broke more than the Turks, who were continually frustrated by the masses in the Croatian ranks. The Turks also enjoyed most of the possession. The Croats created the better http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/quarter-final-2-match-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-520746694567782406Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:57:00 +00002008-06-20T22:57:45.794+01:00LeaderboardIn the words of Sir Alex Ferguson: "Bloody hell." As if the last-second surprises of the Croatia-Turkey match weren't enough (Slaven Bilic = idiot, for reasons I will explain later), there has been some juicy goings-on in the Fantasy League too. Nathan Fox has opened up a six point lead over Gavin Stone after two quarter-finals, but it is worth noting that the total remaining players left to playhttp://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/day-14-leaderboard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989677259589857926.post-4421378688256867119Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:48:00 +00002008-06-20T17:52:01.014+01:00Departure LoungeFreiSwitzerlandSWITZERLAND Finished: 4th in Group A on 3 points, behind Portugal and Turkey and the Czech Republic. Did they win any matches? Yes, but they left it way too late. A 2-0 win over Portugal was nice, but by then their opponents had qualified and they had been knocked out. A disappointment then. Absolutely. Joint hosts, good players, an easy group on paper. They really should have done better. http://fantasyeuro08.blogspot.com/2008/06/departure-lounge-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gav)0