2021 Euro 2020

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

After this tournament, Germany needs to find a manager and staff that is committed to the future and nurture it's next generation and work on making sure it qualifies for the 2022 WC in November ( )

The mess is already set to be inherited by Hansi Flick, which you should know given your avatar.

On 25 May 2021, the German Football Association announced that Flick signed a three-year contract from 1 August 2021 to serve as the manager of the Germany national team, replacing his former boss Joachim Löw after the team competes in UEFA Euro 2020. His first match in charge will be against Liechtenstein in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying on 2 September 2021.[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Dieter_Flick

I must say, that's quite the tripwire of a first game.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Westheim

The mess is already set to be inherited by Hansi Flick, which you should know given your avatar.

To be honest, when every manager comes in and all they do is win titles, they tend to just run together

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

To be honest, when every manager comes in and all they do is win titles, they tend to just run together

One day, some other team will win the Bundesliga. One day.

One day.

I might not live to see it, but I am fairly confident that it will happen.

I hope it's Red Bu- ... RB Leipzig, just to tick everybody off.

...

The interesting game today would probably be Ukraine - North Macedonia, because that's either team's ticket to third place, but I will spend the time in the office, doing accounting busywork. Yay, lucky me.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Westheim

I hope it's Red Bu- ... RB Leipzig, just to tick everybody off. .

You take that back right now...

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

You take that back right now...

See, it works.

[Westheim]

The perversion of the tie-breaker system of breaking ties only by results between the tied teams means that there's two groups with points distributed in 6-3-3-0 fashion right now with entirely different implications.

While in Group B all teams can still advance (and Belgium with 6 points have advanced for sure in *some* capacity) because last-place Denmark plays a 3-point team (Russia) in the last game, in Group C North Macedonia is eliminated and the Netherlands have clinched first place because those two have yet to play each other. Even if Macedonia beat the Netherlands (unlikey, but eh, for argument's sake!) and Austria and Ukraine didn't draw, Macedonia having lost to both of Austria and Ukraine will always have them lose the tie-breaker for third place.

I hate that system and I have hated it for a good 20 years.

Funny addendum to the absurdity of the situation. Below is the Group B table right now (from Wikipedia). If Denmark had beat Belgium earlier, Finland would rank ahead of Russia because everybody would be even on three points and you have to break the tie the proper way by goal difference. The result of Game X changing the ranking between teams that did not compete in Game X is beyond bonkers.

[Westheim]

UEFA rules rainbow armband is not a political statement

But illuminating the stadium in Munich in the colors of the rainbow against the Hungarians (governed from way outta rightfield) is, and has by now been haughtily forbidden by UEFA.

Shall I go into the controversy of UEFA pushing London to allow 60k spectators into the Wembley Stadium for the final three games, and for UEFA VIPs to be permitted to flout corona regulations? Yeah. **** UEFA.

At least the first controversy gave us Germans the delightful term "Schwuchtelbinde" (faggot band), coined by a far-right politician in a Twitter outburst. The latter will only help to distribute more Indian 'rona over the world.

I like humans, I really do. They are so much smarter than raccoons...

[Westheim]

Germany stumbles into the Round of 16. Wasn't pretty. Or convincing. We ain't got no D, and we also ain't got nobody to score a goal that's not bouncing off a defender.

Best part was the German commentary, when down 1-2 to Hungary, lamenting that we didn't have Miroslav Klose anymore (who retired 7 years ago), and who's supposed to score goals without Miroslav Klose??

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Now the more I read on it, he has a cardiac massage on the field. Yikes, that is super scary. I really hope he makes a full recovery and his career is not affected and his life is not altered in any way.

I read today that Eriksen will be let go by Inter because Italian doctors will not clear him to play anymore after having a heart ... machine thing ... implanted. I forgot what it's called.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Germany stumbles into the Round of 16. Wasn't pretty. Or convincing. We ain't got no D, and we also ain't got nobody to score a goal that's not bouncing off a defender.

Best part was the German commentary, when down 1-2 to Hungary, lamenting that we didn't have Miroslav Klose anymore (who retired 7 years ago), and who's supposed to score goals without Miroslav Klose??



I read today that Eriksen will be let go by Inter because Italian doctors will not clear him to play anymore after having a heart ... machine thing ... implanted. I forgot what it's called.

Pacemaker
I don't think Inter or Serie A wants to be held liable if he dies on the field during training or during a match.

I think he will be able to continue his playing career if he is willing to find doctors to give him the go-ahead and a FA/League/team willing to take on that risk.
And he and his family offer to waive any liability if he was to die or being seriously injured from playing.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Germany stumbles into the Round of 16. Wasn't pretty. Or convincing. We ain't got no D, and we also ain't got nobody to score a goal that's not bouncing off a defender.

Best part was the German commentary, when down 1-2 to Hungary, lamenting that we didn't have Miroslav Klose anymore (who retired 7 years ago), and who's supposed to score goals without Miroslav Klose??

I read today that Eriksen will be let go by Inter because Italian doctors will not clear him to play anymore after having a heart ... machine thing ... implanted. I forgot what it's called.

My father accepted a position with the US Government, and we moved to Wiesbaden, Germany in 1970. I lived in Germany from age 14-18, and all four years of high school.

I learned all about soccer. Gerd Muller, Beckenbauer, and many other excellent players. I had never in my life seen a soccer game played, prior to this.

My high school soccer coach asked me to join the American high school soccer team. I said I had no idea how to play. His comment? He could teach me how to play, but he couldn't teach me how to run. I was a track guy. Heh heh.

I recall one game where we lost 15-1, and another 16-2. That's OK, because we got the local German kids back on the basketball court. My older brother blew a layup at the end of a game, and the final was 99-12. Two 12 minute halfs...HALF the length of an NBA game. Good times, good times.

I have always loved what we ignorant Yanks call soccer, ever since.

[mytreds]

Soccer is the abbreviated form of Association, from Association Football. Rugby players were called Ruggers and Association Footballers were called Soccers. So really we’re not ignorant, just using an older term.

Where we are ignorant is still calling a sport primarily played with our hands “Football” XD

[Westheim]

Denmark whoops Wales 4-0 to be the first team into the quarterfinals.

That red card was a joke - at least the game was spiritually over at that point anyway.

[Westheim]

Hopp, Schwiiz!

Oh god, I hate penalty shootouts.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Hopp, Schwiiz!

Oh god, I hate penalty shootouts.

Today is a nice day.

That the fatal penalty was missed by Mbappe was just the cherry on top.

SQUEE!!

[dkgo]

there may not be a lot of competitive integrity to it but goddamn if a penalty shootout isnt thrilling to watch

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by dkgo

there may not be a lot of competitive integrity to it but goddamn if a penalty shootout isnt thrilling to watch

It's just two whiskers above settling ties with a coin toss (which happened at the Euro 1960-something).

There's a few more gnaw marks in my desk now.

[Westheim]

Going back to how stupid a penalty shootout is - it is entirely comparable to settling a baseball game tied through 12 innings with a home run derby.

[Boomcoach]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Going back to how stupid a penalty shootout is - it is entirely comparable to settling a baseball game tied through 12 innings with a home run derby.

I hate them as well, but a low scoring game like soccer needs some way to conclude in a knockout round.

I picked a good day to have countertops installed. I stayed home to help with any questions or issues and got to watch two fantastic games. the ebb and flow in each was amazing.

[Westheim]

Pah! Back when men were men, a rematch would be scheduled for two days later!

[koohead]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Today is a nice day.

That the fatal penalty was missed by Mbappe was just the cherry on top.

SQUEE!!

Oh boy. considering I work with a bunch of French, today is not going to be a good day....