Wow. What a goal by Ruud. What an even better goal by Tobinski. Great game.

And to think: The Netherlands, Portugal, and France are out. Turkey and Russia are in the Semis. Raise your hand proudly if you saw that coming.

I'll be watching the entirety of the Italy v. Spain game tomorrow. Unfortunately, I don't have any/many friends here that care about it. I reckon, at the very least, my dog will hang out with me.

I've only caught maybe 10% of the action thus far (I'm in and out of the house quite inconsistently), but damn, I'm loving what I've been lucky enough to see.

The European Championships often throw up more surprises than the World Cup, such as Greece last year, and the year when Denmark won (1994?) - they weren't even meant to be in it but the Balkans war meant that Yugoslavia had imploded and had to withdraw so Denmark went instead.

It's a pity that the more teams that play the more attractive football (Portugal, Netherlands) are out though. I'd like to see Spain in the final.

I meant Greece last tournament, not last year.

Well, I only came in around the 78th or so minute of the Russia/Netherlands game, and at least in those final 30 minutes of game time, Russia definitely looked like the deserving victor.

Also, to be honest, I'm kind of glad Portugal are out, even if it means the yawningly boring Germans made the semis. Cristiano Ronaldo can $randomoffensiveinsult himself.

I really thought Croatia had a decent chance, but I guess that's why they play the games. If I remember right, wasn't Greece the longest shot last time around according to the bookmakers? I wonder if Turkey will be this year's Greece.

Then again, I'd be less than surprised if the final wound up being Germany v. Spain. Looks like it's almost inevitable.

Ow man, what happened? The Dutch weren't a shadow of their former selves.
And to think that I even supported them in my orange suit jacket on the Amsterdam meetup. Ungrateful bastards.

I hope Germany makes it to the final. They've played quite poorly the entire series and it would be fitting if they actually get lucky and win.

cmonkey, no country in Europe apart from Germany wants Germany in the final, especially a final played in Austria. Old memories and all that.

That's fine, but regardless of other countries want, Germany v. Italy would be a fantastic party at the public viewings here.

Russia kicked Sweden's arse and I was so hoping that Holland would kick their back for us. When I saw that those supersonic fast russian kids (well, the goalie is only 22) were at it again, I couldn't bear to watch because I just knew. They seem disorganised, but hell no they ain't they're bloody psychic. In teh Sweden/Russia game it felt like old meets new kids on the block.

I will hold my breath during the entire Italy v. Spain game.

("Holland" - that was a swedish way of saying the netherlands. We know Holland is just a part of the Netherlands but whenever there's footie on, we speak of Holland and not "nederländerna")

The Netherlands-Russia game was really for either team to lose. The Dutch were nowhere to be seen; the Russians compensated by making stupid mistakes. In the end, Russia (deservedly) won by outlasting the Dutch.

cmonkey: a Germany vs Italy final would be boring. And ugly.

(dabitch, that's quite allright with saying 'Holland'. Saying 'the Netherlands' is just too cumbersome. nederländerna sounds rather cumbersome too.)

I've been thinking that this year will be Italy's year, but that's not looking good. The only game I've seen is the turkey croatia one, the last 5 minutes of that were amazing. You couldn't make it up.

Don't listen to essexjan either. I want Germany to win.

Yeah, that Turkey/Croatia game was incredible. I was watching it while I worked and kept knocking my beer over.

cmonkey: a Germany vs Italy final would be boring. And ugly.

Sure, but it would still be a fantastic party even if the football sucks. And that's what's really important here.

It's finally gotten hot here, so of course the annual entire-block-loses-electricity-on-and-off* thing happened last night. During the last 15 minutes of the game plus the overtime. Arggh. Will be going to a friend's house tonight to watch the game.

I was cheering for the Netherlands as well, but they seemed a shadow of their previous ass-kicking selves. Pity. The announcers were going on and on and on about the Curse of the First Ranked (Portugal, Croatia,& Netherlands) and how all three had rested up their best players in the previous games yet went out. I was happy one of the announcers told the others to basically shut up and stop asking for bad luck.

I'll be wearing the lucky underwear, holding my breath, and crossing my fingers tonight, but...

I don't like Donadoni as a coach (very mild understatement), and Gattuso & Pirlo are both out, the latter more of a loss than the former, since Gattuso's not been in the best form lately. No Cannavaro (*sob*), Inzaghi didn't get called up, Totti doesn't want to play for the Azzurri anymore...we're nowhere near the same team that won the World Cup. The veterans are getting on, injured, or not playing and the youngsters have yet to settle in.

And God help me if Toni f***s up yet another easy shot - I've already gnashed my teeth down to nubs.

But hey at least we beat the French. And it looks like that might mean that Domenech goes bye-bye, and the French might actually get a coach that's not batshit insane. (See also: not calling up Mexes, Giuly, & Trezeguet)

Last but not least, I would hope that a Germany - Italy final would be pretty good, since their semi-final face off at the World Cup was hands down the best game of the cup (IMO).

Sure, but it would still be a fantastic party even if the football sucks. And that's what's really important here.

Indeed. I'd never seen an entire nation hungover until July 10, 2006. :D

*I think my neighbor, the Pope, has been trying to make ice cubes in Hell again...

I can't believe Spain won, what the christ.

Fucking Donadoni. You could see in his eyes he was going for the penalty kicks.

Spain played well, and deserved to go through.

/hungover
/wants Donadoni's head on a stick