Sports #52: Because Olympic tryouts are happening, Baseball is playing, and we're waiting to see who are Euro Champs!
 

Thanks Alex!



Thanks KerBear!!

Thanks callie 1327!

That was a fantastic title, co-mod. < So cool. :love: I love it! :thumbs_up:

Thanks for the new thread. I like the title too :).

You have to like it! You didn't have do it! :lol:

Thanks, though. :D


ETA: Michelle...sorry..I didn't read your request in the last thread! You're going to have to practice next time!

Okay so what do we think, guys?

Is it a given it's Germany versus Spain or do you see another scenario?

I think Portugal has a better chance of messing with Spain but I feel like the Germans are licking their chops tonight/early tomorrow morning. < Seems so cool to say. LOL. I feel they will handle Italy but then again, you never know!

ETA: It's cool, I opened the thread and faked that I altered the title anyway. I practiced. :lol:

Thanks for the thread!

You're welcome, Texan!

Alexi Lalas

I agree with this comment from the ESPN comment section. Alexi Lalas bothers me. I used to like him but he sounds so arrogant sometimes. I used to think it was all passion but he has such arrogance with his thoughts and so many times, his thoughts aren't always sound either. He certainly knows what he's talking about quite often, but not all the time, and when he's wrong, he's wrong. I really like the foreign guy, Ballack. I agreed with every word he said. I wish I could have heard more from him over Lalas!

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I also cannot believe how bad England has been for so long when it comes to international competitions. It's really incredible to see how they tank so much. So many call it bad luck. When are we going to have to start considering that many of the English players collectively are just not that good? I wonder how many foreigners make up EPL. I would think quite a bit. Shouldn't England be winning non-stop considering they have arguably the best professional league in the world if so many of the players are right from their country? It astounds me how England is always considered a powerhouse but look at their results. Results are what matters. The truth of the matter is Italy simply gets it done, Germany has a wonderful resume as well. Of course the real powerhouse is Brazil. England has not had it for years and years. It's sad, really.

I kind of agree with Alex here and think that Ballack is kind of arrogant..

Well to be honest for me the England Premier League is good because of the foreign players and not because of their players.

Don't get me wrong, but when for the last couple of years we've heard about their young players that need to take over? Barcelona did what they did, because the way you see it Iniesta and Ernandez are there since they are kids. The same goes for some of the defense players of Real Madrid. And those players play in the national team. Now that's how you make good league and a team. For me after the England Premier League, the next best one is the Spanish league. The only difference is that they don't rely solely on foreign players. And that's how you make a good team - with traditions and young boys that are trained to play football/soccer since they remember who they are.

As for the semi finales everything can happen. Germany has history in loosing against Italy, but with this game Italy doesn't have too many chances against Germany. As far as Portugal both team have a chance, though the history (especially the last years) are in favor in Spain. Let's not also forget that Ronaldo makes Portugal and almost all Spanish players know how to play with him. The defense plays with him in Real Madrid and the mid fielders know how to stop him, because he rarely scores against Barcelona. And the moment he is stopped I'm not sure how much Portugal will do.

Personally I root for Germany and Spain for the final.

A couple of Texas Tech athletes qualified for the Olympics today for their respective countries! Time for a Guns Up!

Yes absolutely, this is true. You are also right on about how the Spanish league is the next best and that league builds from within. I love how the Spanish league does it. I also like the style better in the Spanish league over EPL. 4-5-1 is deployed by many teams in Spain but the contrasting attacking mindset is refreshing. Build up play consists of more than five passes, a punt up field and a 60 yard chase. Players are not afraid to get men into the box or counter attack.

I definitely want a Germany/Spain final, too. I just think it would be a tremendous match. Who do you want to win that final?

Betty, yes in that instance I see the arrogance. Maybe yesterday was an exception or something but the commentary bothered me for some reason.

Shelby, that's great! The TT students that qualified... what sports were they?

Well I'm biased you know since my favorite team is Real Madrid, so if I watch some leagues that's the Spanish League. I also watched the English one, because my father is fan of Manchester United. I'm a fan too, but Real Madrid is my first choice, while for him this is second choice.

Anyway I've watched enough of the Spanish league and the Spanish national team. What I like there is that you don't know who will be the champion till the last minute. That's good league - there is competition between the teams. That's what I care about - the fact that some team that is not so popular could beat the so called favorites. That's how you know you have good players.

A lot of people find the game of Spain boring. I know it, but I think differently. I guess it's different tastes. I like what Spain does - they control the game, they have great synchrony, there is no miscommunication there. Just watch them - whenever they make a pass, it just lands in someone else legs. It's just amazing. They just know where they are, what they are about to do.

I like soccer, because it's a team sport - that's the fascinating part, but for me in this Euro cup only Germany and Spain play like teams. Portugal plays because of Ronaldo :D and Italy is not in their best form.

England played with 10 players in defense. Even their counter attacks weren't good. A lot of people say how last night's game was something spectacular. It wasn't for me - I was just waiting the game to finish, because really inability to score a goal for 120 minutes? It was a bit too much.

Shelby that sounds awesome! Good luck for them! What sport will they compete for?

When does the next round start, Koni?



These 2 are going to be fun to watch in the Olympics.


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2012/oly...lochte-tx2.jpg

I watched the springboard finals and the women's platform finals yesterday. The men's springboard came down to the final dive, and each of the top three put in a spectacular dive. It was great.

Alan, do you think that any American divers have a chance this time. It seems that we haven't been doing that well in international competitions.