The Dutch Dream-Germany through host win first game

[shantanu_rooney]

Netherland's Dream to be European Champions​

Netherlands were drawn in the group of death alongside World Champions Italy , Runner Ups France and Romania . Netherlands are known as the dark horses even to progress in the next round . Will Van Basten and side lift the cup and reach their dream or will they have to wait another 4 years .

23 man Squad Announced ​

Marco van Basten announced his 23 mad squad for the EURO Finals to take place in Austria and Switzerland .

1 Edwin Van Der Sar (c) - Manchester United
13 Henk Timmer - Feyenoord
16 Maarten Stekelenburg - Ajax

2 Andre Ooijer - Blackburn Rovers
3 John Heitinga - Ajax
4 Joris Mathijsen - Hamburg
5 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst - Feyenoord
12 Mario Melchiot - Wigan Athletic
14 Wilfred Bouma - Aston Villa
15 Tim de Cler - Feyenoord
21 Khalid Boularhouz - Chelsea

6 Derny de Zeeuw - AZ
8 Orlando Engelaar - Twente
10 Wesley Sneijder - Real Madrid
17 Nigel de Jong - Hamburg
20 Ibrahim Afellay - PSV
23 Rafael Van Der Vaaart - Hamburg

7 Robin van Persie - Arsenal
9 Ruud van Nistelrooy - Real Madrid
11 Arjen Robben - Real Madrid
18 Dirk Kuyt - Liverpool
19 Klaas Jan Huntelaar - Ajax
22 Jan Vennegoor of Hasselink - Celtic

​

Looking at the squad there are no surprises and it was a much expected squad just Ryan Babel was replaced by Engelaar as Babel was withdrawn due to injury

Netherlands Fixtures​

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Netherlands vs Italy
France vs Netherlands
Netherlands vs Romania
​

 

[Mad Snake]

looking good, will be a tough group hopefully you can pull through

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

No doubt this is a group of death, but with your efforts they can ride anything .Just be sure you don't beat my Italy . Great start to another journey

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Switzerland vs Czech Republic
Match 1 , EURO 2008
St.Jakob-Park , Switzerland

The host side started the game on high . They attacked from the wisthle and were testing Petr Cech . Cech was made to make 2 saves in the first 5 minutes from Frei . Czech Republic took some amount of time to settle down and play their game . They were surely missing Tomasz Rosicky who could have been a vital part in the mid field . Swiss were looking the most dangerous side . The Swiss were well organised at the back and didnt allow the Czech to break and were also very dangerous while attacking . And finally it was the host who took the lead at the stroke of half hour . Behrami's cross was headed past Petr Cech by Alexandre Frei . The Swiss were 1-0 up at half time . Czech made their first change and brought Koller as a major threat . Just 10 minutes later Koller could have equalised when his shot went over the bar from 5 yards . Second completely saw Caech Republic attacking but they werent able to hit the target or work the keeper . Baros' header from a corner hit the post and then was cleared on the line by Senderos . the lady luck was on the side of the host . The Swiss fans celebrated the victory and what a way to start EURO 2008 with an upset .

Man of the Match : Alexandre Frei

Switzerland 1(Alexandre Frei 30') - Czech Republic 0


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Portugal vs Turkey
Match 2 , EURO 2008
Stade de Geneve , Switzerland

After Swiss stunning the Czechs was their gonna be another shock in the group A ? But it didnt happen so . Cristiano Ronaldo who was the man to watch out for this tournament had a shot saved by Volkan the Turkish keeper after just 2 minutes on the clock . Portugal were just attacking for first 20 minutes or so . Turkey were finding very difficukt to keep the possession . Volkan was tested 3 times by Ronaldo in the first 25 minutes . It was looking as if the goal was coming and it was just near by . And it indeed came . Cristiano Roanldo on left wing from just out side the edge of the box takes the shot and Deco puts it in the net through a rebound after just 27 minutes on the clock . But 6 minutes later Hamit Altintop's freekick from 25 yards hit the post and in by Semih Senturk and Turkey were back leveled . But young Sporting Lisbon captain made 2-1 for Portugal when his long range was deflected in . It was an entertaining first half . In the second half Nuno Gomes was replaced by Quaresma and Ronaldo was given the captain's arm band . And 8 minutes after the restart it was Cristiano Roanldo who scored Portugal's third goal . It was a great solo effort by Ronaldo getting past three defenders and then beating Volkan by his shot from the edge of the box . Nani was brought on for Simao added more threat . Portugal showed why they are the pretournament favourite as they completely dominated the game . But there was some consolation for the Turkish fans . Gokhan Zan late in stoppage time headed a corner from Tuncay Sanli and the match ended at 3-2 .

Man of the Match : Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal 3 (Deco 27' , Joao Moutinho 38', Cristiano Ronaldo 53') Turkey 2 (Semih Senturk 33' , Gokhan Zan 90+2')

 

[Mad Snake]

are you doing every game in the tourny good win for portugal and a grea win for the home nation in the opener

 

[saladguy]

Nice start! KUTGW!

 

[freddiw]

awesome awesome mate keep it like this, regular updates and STICK TO ONE STORY just updsate ONE heaps

 

[shantanu_rooney]

awesome awesome mate keep it like this, regular updates and STICK TO ONE STORY just updsate ONE heaps

I am gonna do both the stories Liverpool and this...My fifa manager game got uninstalled so still then I will do this

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Austria vs Croatia
Match 3 , EURO 2008
Ernt Happel , Austria

Yesterday the co host Switzerland stunned the Czech by winning against them and the Austrians hope for the same thing to happen . But this didnt happen . Croatia struggled to settle in the game as the Austrians dominated the start . Austrians could have gone up but Linz shot was well saved by Pletikosa . Croatia kept the ball in the midfield and were getting their passes right . Stranzl and Pogatez in the Austrian centre defence were doing some last inch clearing . The gaol was near as the Croatians had a lot of shots saved by the kepper or going a bit wide . And it did soon come . Modric's cross was headed in by Niko Kranjcar to give Croatia the lead at half time . Just after the restart Petric doubled the lead . It was a great solo effort by him and the shot had a lot of speed and power went it went pass Austrian keeper .In the second half Austria never looked like coming back in the game . They were made to run all over the place by Croats . Niko Kranjcar scored his second goal and sealed the victory with an easy one on one finish . At the end it was an easy game for the Croatians .

Man of the Match : Niko Kranjcar

Austria 0 Croatia 3 (Niko Kranjcar 45' & 77' , Petric 50' )

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Germany vs Poland
Match 4 , EURO 2008
Worthersee , Austria

This match was always gonna be a tight and a fierce one . It was the clash of the rivals . It was an emotional game for German Polish born strikers Miroslaw Klose and Lukas Podolski . Germany dominated the match . They had a lot of possession . The game was not entertaining as a total of 7 shots were seen . Most of the game was played in the midfield . Germany had the best chance just after 5 minutes when Lukas Podolski's volley just going agonizingly wide . But it was the Spanish German striker Mario Gomez who scored from a great one two between him and Klose . Germany could have doubled there lead when Ballack's free kicked was punched away for a corner by Kowalewski . Poland in the second half could have gone up when Zurawski's header was cleared of the line by Lahm and then Jop's rebound went over the bar . The whole second half was played in the midfield . Germany dominated the passes . They had a couple of good chances in stoppage time but keeper Kowalewski denied them . It was quite boring game but Germans celebrated has the had got all three points from the game .

Man of the Match : Michael Ballack

Germany 1 (Mario Gomez 28') Poland 0

 

[saladguy]

Great update, really liking the table graphics!

Great win for Croatia, and I hope that Poland can bounce back from their defeat to Germany!

 

[shefellover93]

Really good graphics and a good read mate. Real SOTM contender! KUTGW!

 

[freddiw]

:hpraise

 

[Mad Snake]

again graphics are great keep it up

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Romania vs France
Match 5 , EURO 2008
Letzigrund , Switzerland

France missed their captain Patrick Viera due injury . Lilliam Thuram was given the captaincy band . France dominated the game with a lot of possession around 67% . From the starting itself they played a passing game by passing the around in the midfield . The first clear chance came to Henry , but his header was well saved by Romanian keeper by Lobont . Romania were bit untidy in their defence as they werent able to clear the ball quite nicely . Benzema had his shot saved by the keeper and then Henry freekick went agonisingly wide . Only chance for Romania was Adrian Mutu freeckick which was on target but easily saved by Coupet . France dominated completely but werentable to find the net . Govou , Nasri and Evra were brought on as substitute still France werent able to convert chances . 1 minute of stoppage time was added . Ribery crossed the ball in and Benzema dive just missed the ball . One minute of stoppage time was over and finally Govou's cross was met by Henry's head and the ball went the in goal . And the goal had finally come in the 92nd minute and the fench fans looked very happy celebrating . It was heart break for Romania .

Man of the Match : Lobont

Romania 0 France 1 (Thierry Henry 90+2' )

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Netherlands vs Italy
Match 6 , EURO 2008
Stade de Suisse , Switzerland


Marco Van Basten went with 4-5-1 formation lets see if this formation works .

Netherlands made the right start to the big game . They attacked and tried to get their passing right . After just 5 minutes on the clock Kuyt pass to Ruud van Nistelrroy and the Nisterooy's shot was saved by Buffon . This was the first and last chance of the half for the Dutch . Afterwards it was all Italian domination . 12 minutes later Luca Toni got a great pass from Pirlo and he shoot his Van Der Sar to score Italy's first goal . 4 minutes later Toni doubled the score because of some poor defence by the Dutch . Dutch were all over the place and werent able to clear the ball which led to Toni get it pass Van Der Sar and score to make it 2-0 . At half time Italians led 2-0 .

Robben was brought on for Engelaar and thet added some speed and attack to the Dutch side . But yet they werent able to get the ball from Pirlo and Gattuso and De Rossi .Netherlands and some chances but they were saved by Buffon who was classic in front of goa today . Van der Varrt got the first booking of the match for poor challenge on the subsitute Del Piero . Andre Pirlo freekick was well saved by Van der Sar and then the Dutch counter attack began . Van Der vaart , Nisterooy , Sneijder and Robben all counter attack and finally Robben;s crossed was headed in pass Buffon and Ambrosini by Van Nisterooy . But this goal was just a consolation as it had come too late . Netherlands were defeated in the opening match and must win the next two to qualify for the next round . At end it was a tight but easy win for Italy .

Man of the Match : Laca Toni

Netherland 1 (Ruud van Nistelrooy 87') Italy 2 (Luca Toni 18' & 24')

 

[Kiko_97]

Unlucky there Shantanu, KUTGW.