Euro 2012 - Knockout Stages

[just some bloke]

So now we have the line-up for the QFs:

Czech Republic vs Portugal

Germany vs Greece

Spain vs France

England vs Italy

A pretty impressive line-up for a major tournament Quarter Finals, with Greece and at a push the Czechs the only unfancied teams to have gotten through.

Your semi-final line-up? I'm going for:

Portugal vs Spain

Germany vs England

Fair waters the mouth, that.

[Stooper]

England won't beat Italy

[Stranded]

England won't beat Italy

Don't need to. We're due a turn of form on pens.

[Schards#2]

What's the deal with yellow cards, i'm sure i've heard on the TV coverage that, firstly, they are wiped off after the group stage and then, secondly last night, that they are only wiped off after the Q/F's

[Starfish]

unfancied teams

Only one team on that list has never played in a European Championships final.

[Wax Jacket]

chuckLOLe, nice

[watfordroyal]

England won't beat Italy

Don't need to. We're due a turn of form on pens.

I reckon it'll go to pens and WC final aside, their record in shootouts is as bad as ours,
So Hart to score winner for us 6-5 after 6 missed pens

Jt to wind up supermario & get him sent off

[Silver Fox]

What's the deal with yellow cards, i'm sure i've heard on the TV coverage that, firstly, they are wiped off after the group stage and then, secondly last night, that they are only wiped off after the Q/F's

The latter, to avoid the ban from the final as seen in the CL

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Tickets available for both Ukrianian QFs if anyone fancies a dash out there.

[Barry the bird boggler]

What's the deal with yellow cards, i'm sure i've heard on the TV coverage that, firstly, they are wiped off after the group stage and then, secondly last night, that they are only wiped off after the Q/F's

The latter, to avoid the ban from the final as seen in the CL

Yeah, can't have a player missing the final for being naughty can we but then again given some of the preposterous refereeing decisions.....

[Simon's Church]

Czech
Germany
Italy
Spain

[Handsome Man]

England Italy looks like the hardest to call.

What are the odds?

[leww_rfc]

Portugal
Germany
Spain
Draw - Someone on Pens

[Alexander Litvinenko]

What's the deal with yellow cards, i'm sure i've heard on the TV coverage that, firstly, they are wiped off after the group stage and then, secondly last night, that they are only wiped off after the Q/F's

I thought it was just a single yellow that was wiped off after the quarter-finals.

[Hoop Blah]

I can't make my mind up on Italy. On one hand I just don't see them as being that good a side, and they've had some stinker of results over the last year, but, they're still Italy and still seem to find a way to win when it matters.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about this quarter final though.

[TBM]

I can't make my mind up on Italy. On one hand I just don't see them as being that good a side, and they've had some stinker of results over the last year, but, they're still Italy and still seem to find a way to win when it matters.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about this quarter final though.

I genuinely couldn't name even half of the Italian team - they aren't the side that won the WC a few years back.....

[leww_rfc]

I can't make my mind up on Italy. On one hand I just don't see them as being that good a side, and they've had some stinker of results over the last year, but, they're still Italy and still seem to find a way to win when it matters.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about this quarter final though.

I genuinely couldn't name even half of the Italian team - they aren't the side that won the WC a few years back.....

Got some really good players though.. Marchisio, Cassano, Di Natale, Balotelli and even Pirlo is a very good attack

[Vision]

I can't make my mind up on Italy. On one hand I just don't see them as being that good a side, and they've had some stinker of results over the last year, but, they're still Italy and still seem to find a way to win when it matters.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about this quarter final though.

I genuinely couldn't name even half of the Italian team - they aren't the side that won the WC a few years back.....

Got some really good players though.. Marchisio, Cassano, Di Natale, Balotelli and even Pirlo is a very good attack

Marchisio has been the best allround midfielder in the tournament so far IMHO.

[leww_rfc]

I'd agree with that, quality

[Hoop Blah]

See, Cassano and Balatelli just don't give me much of a fear factor. Decent players of course, and Pirlo is still a clever player, but not the threat he was a few years back from what I've seem of him.

At this stage, and the tournament as a whole to be fair, pretty much all the teams are good enough to beat each other so it really is about who performs on the day. I'd be much more pessimistic if we were up against the Dutch, Germans, Spainish or French though.