Euro 2008 Coverage: Triple Deke Style

Now that hockey is over and the Stanley Cup is in it's rightful home. It's time for me to cover my favorite sport in the world which is.................... Soccer! That's right, soccer. I've been playing since I was five years old and I'm one of the minority here in the US that grew up and still enjoys the sport. And now is a wonderful time for me and all in the states that follow soccer. Someone over at ESPN realized they might actually make more money showing showing relevant world sports than retarded poker re-runs or car auctions. Each and every game of Euro 2008 is being covered here this year and I for one am fucking stoked! Of course not every match will be available for me to watch because six or seven are on ESPN Classic. But I will be able to see the majority and will cover each game here in The Triple Deke.

Of course, being the lazy blogger I am I missed covering the first two days of games in Groups A and B. But I will be starting with Today's games in Group C (a.k.a. The group of death)

-Group C
Romania v France - Letzigrund Stadium (30,000) Noon EST


What else can I say about the first game other than snooze fest. It's games like this that people use as arguments against the sport. France was the strong favorite, but seemed to have played way too safe vs. the spunky Romanian side. The matched ended 0-0 and I ended with a gun faced towards my head knowing that the stalwart defense of the Italians was due up next.

-Group C
Netherlands v Italy - Stade de Suisse Wankdorf (31,500) 2:30 EST


My personal favorite of the tourney Holland plays defending World Cup champs Italy. Right off the bat the Netherlands was attacking. They made Italy look very old and it wasn't long before a clusterfuck around Buffon left a wide open Van Nistelrooy available to knock home the first goal. Not long after the Dutch were able to put a second goal in and never looked back. This match was the exact opposite of the bore that was Romania v France. Lost of free flowing attacking on behalf of the Dutch. Italy had a few good looks but the ball just wasn't going where the Azzurri
had hoped. After this match Holland has to have loads of confidence to face the rest of the group of death and hopefully make it through to the next round.

Italy can suck it!

Tomorrow we get to see Spain in their first game of the tourney v Russia and also the Greece Sweden match. Should be fun, I'll be back with more tomorrow.