sounds stimulating....if you lived in prague

Soccer is not the most exciting sport.

But dammit, the announcers can
speak English. They dont barrage one
with constantly with superlatives (like basketball).

At least it is an interesting listen.
The two guys that have done the 1st games
each day are a very good.

That's Derek Rae doing the play by play today. Less is more is the most appealing way to hear a game called and that is the Euro announcer's style.

Because England is not in the tourney, ESPN was also able to snag commentator, Andy Gray who is also top notch. He is known in the US as the commentator for EA Sports' FIFA game. He's doing the second game.

Bigs, I cant stand Andy Gray.. I cant stand pretty much all the guys who do football on Sky Sports over here..

Tonight's game wont be the best advert ever seen for football.

Your guys you can't stand are like gold to us over here. We're used to ESPN trying to convert Baseball/Football/Basketball play by play announcers into Soccer guys and it just doesn't work. Even though our color guys/gals are all ex-players, they have the same talk talk talk style. They never shut up.

You're right about this game, good thing the US Open comes on in an hour.

The netherlands is good?

I want to see some cheating and trash talking. In other words, are the Turks in it?

best team so far, they have been slightly flattered by the 2 scores though.. and I sense they will lose in the semis to France or Italy if one of those two manages to get out of the group..

France had numerous shots against them that missed.
Did not see the game with Italy.

The Dutch apparently are quite good at putting the
ball in the back of the net. But defensively, if France
is any indication... They can be scored on in my lacking
soccer opinion.

For the people who have not tuned in.
The guys that do the first game are wonderful imo.
So much better than basketball and football(as in pads
and helmets)

yes indeed

If they win they move on.
Maybe even if they tie...

The one game I saw with them...
they are one of the more physical teams.

Great game by spain today. After being denied a pk on an obvious foul in the box earlier, they score with about a minute left in extra time.

So do you know the names of the guys that announced
that game? The Irish guy, I guess that is Rae, is very
entertaining.

Ohhh my. A skewed cross by the little Dutchman.
from another game.

LOL...I see they are being stubborn as spoiled 6 year olds. ..Big Surprise.

"A new rule means that Sunday's group match could be decided on penalties after 90 minutes for the first time in a major tournament, but Terim said he had no particular plans to make his players practise spot kicks. Czech Republic (previously Czechoslovakia) have been in three shootouts at major championships, winning every one and scoring all 20 penalties. Turkey have no experience of a shootout at a major tournament.'I don't feel it necessary to particularly train them for that,' Terim said."

Turkey v the Czechs - what an unbelievable game..
The czechs go 2-0 up and are coasting, then Turkey come back to win 3-2, plus have their keeper sent off. just a very odd game ..

Somehow, I knew the Turks could make Soccer fun to watch. They looked dead. Then, they just kept coming. Get a go-ahead goal, and then (just got to hold on) the goalkeeper decks a guy(and gets thrown out of the game.) They held on though.

A very tough-minded side on that pitch today.

Bloody good match.

Looks like France is going home....it's doesn't hurt my feelings in the least. :D

Yue gut yourw bewt well placed un thet wen.

-an irish agreement.

quarter finals start tonight
Germany Portugal then

Turkey Croatia
Holland Russia
Spain Italy

It's been a superb tournament so far. I reckon the Holland Russia game will be a belter of a game. both play so attractively.. Tonight's game may be a bit more reserved, unless we get a goal soon..

2-1 to Germany at half time.. Id recommend everyone to watch the 2nd half, it should be class.. Germans are wiley old dogs and might just hang in there against the silky Portuguese..