I haven't made up my mind yet but one team i will be rooting for is Les Bleus.
I am rooting for Chelski in the Champions League and Napoli in the Italian cup this weekend.
This was just one of those things that can't be explained. Good for Chelsea. I wouldn't want to see this type of playing on a regular basis but for a one off type of thing , why not.
Poor Harry went from coaching England in the Euros , to cold freezing nights in Lodz Poland every other Thursday night. I think that rule stinks.
I feel so happy for a certain sullen shady Russian oligarch. You did it, RA! At the last gasp you(r billions) did it!
Ah, it's hard to hate RA when there is the City sheik and the Fenway mob and the Glazers.
I think some credit is due to the Swiss trained Italian manager.A lot of luck was involved but then, luck is supposed to be on the side of those who work hard.
War crimes prosecutor set to tackle football corruption As it tries to rebuild its reputation after a series of damaging bribery scandals, football’s world governing body FIFA looks ready to turn to a man used to investigating acts of genocide.
By FRANCE 24 (text) World football governing body FIFA looks set to follow up its promise to root out corruption from the sport by turning to man who has made his name prosecuting war criminals.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, 59, who has been chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, has been nominated for a new role as head of FIFA’s soon to be formed investigative body.
The Argentine lawyer, who made his name pursing war criminals like Congolese rebel leader Charles Lubanga, would be tasked with cleaning up an organisation which has been blighted by scandal in recent years.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Moreno-Ocampo, a keen football fan, is the highest profile name on a list of potential investigators drawn up by a 13-member advisory panel set up to oversee changes in the way FIFA is run.
“The fact Luis is on the list shows just how serious we are,” head of the panel Mark Pieth, a Swiss law professor, told Reuters news agency.
The prosecutor’s tenure at the ICC ends in June after which he had been expecting to take on a University teaching post.
Bribery and corruption
FIFA was hit by scandal last year after its officials were accused of taking bribes worth over €100,000 in exchange for backing Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Mohamed Bin Hammam, the then head of the Asian Football Association and a FIFA executive committee member, was banned for life in July 2011 from football after being found guilty of attempted bribery.
FIFA’s ethics committee found that Bin Hammam was responsible for bribes of around €30,000 offered to officials from the Caribbean Football Union as he sought votes in his bid to challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.
The scandal also claimed FIFA’s vice president Jack Warner, who quit after an internal report accused him of being “an accessory to corruption”.
Despite a cacophony of calls to resign, Blatter stood firm, vowing a radical clean up of FIFA from “inside”.
‘Reputation to lose’
The nomination of Moreno-Ocampo is a clear statement of intent by Pieth’s advisory panel, which has been openly critical of the way FIFA has responded to accusations of foul play in the past.
Speaking before Moreno-Ocampo’s nomination was made public, Peter Goldsmith, a former UK attorney general and member of Pieth’s panel, said only the appointment of a respected name would satisfy those who doubt whether FIFA can really clean up its own act.
Goldsmith said the panel needs someone who “has an international reputation to lose”.
After nine years trying to bring perpetrators of crimes against humanity to justice, no one doubts that Moreno-Ocampo has the clout and respect Goldsmith is seeking.
The growing influence of the ICC, which was the first international body set up to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes, is considered a result of Moreno-Ocampo’s steadfast determination.
“When his term ends, he will hand over an office that still faces formidable challenges, but being relevant is not one of them,” wrote David Bosco in The Atlantic.
Moreno-Ocampo leaves the criminal court at a time when, after 10 years of hard work, it is finally beginning to see the fruit of its labour.
In March, Moreno-Ocampo and the ICC achieved its first conviction since the court was established set up when Thomas Lubanga was found guilty of forcing child soldiers to join his rebel army in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President, was also found guilty of committing war crimes in Sierra Leone earlier this month.
Moreno-Ocampo grabbed the headlines when he issued arrest warrants for Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif as he responded to the conflict in Libya.
The prosecutor made his name as a young criminal lawyer in Argentina, when he took on former members of Argentina’s military government who were suspected of committing human rights abuses.
He became known for his willingness to take on the rich and powerful and for his relentless campaigns against corruption - all attributes which will come in handy when taking on football’s rogue officials.
FIFA’s executive committee is expected to meet in June when they are likely to make the Argentine’s appointment official.
A week from today the Euro's begin. I've always felt that in terms of international comp. this is much harder then the World Cup. There are no gimmies and teams that are there are there because they belong there and no gimmicks attached.
One or two surprises aside. I think Spain deserves to be favorite. I would however , if I were a betting man , I'd pick Germany to win it all.
Unlike the W.C. in South Africa , I don't think Holland or Portugal can survive. The Sweeds. will always be tough. The Italians , live for these things , but I don't think that they have the leadership or the special someone right now.
As for England. Loosing Lampard is not the worse thing that could happen. This a team in flux. For what little that's been seen from the new Manager , it's clear that he has his sights on the future and that this is only the start of a youth movement.
Being the Manager of England is the most fucked up job in the world in terms of what should be expected. (( That they get paid a boat load , is besides the point )) This is a good man , give him some time.
That's a little harsh. As true as it might be , there are powers that make sure that these things are high lighted.
The fact of the matter is that in USA , there is concerted effort to show and high light these things. I can recall my father telling me the obvious things about this sport not being commercial enough in this country. He also use to say that the other sport enterprises worked against this sport. That the owners of the NFL , NBA or MLB , should protect their interests , is not a grand conspiracy. If I were in that business , I would do the same thing. This is a game for the masses.
While not trying to justify those thing. I find it interesting that the coverage of this event in the U.S. has almost exclusively been about the problems that might happen. I've not read one article about how this tournament is the pinnacle of what and how great this game is , and in this case , it is limited to Europe.
We have are problems in America , to be sure. I just don't like how American journalists cover this sport on a world wide basis. For the most part , they don't know the game , they don't know the history and most important , there are no commercials.
That's a little harsh. As true as it might be , there are powers that make sure that these things are high lighted.
The fact of the matter is that in USA , there is concerted effort to show and high light these things. I can recall my father telling me the obvious things about this sport not being commercial enough in this country. He also use to say that the other sport enterprises worked against this sport. That the owners of the NFL , NBA or MLB , should protect their interests , is not a grand conspiracy. If I were in that business , I would do the same thing. This is a game for the masses.
While not trying to justify those thing. I find it interesting that the coverage of this event in the U.S. has almost exclusively been about the problems that might happen. I've not read one article about how this tournament is the pinnacle of what and how great this game is , and in this case , it is limited to Europe.
We have are problems in America , to be sure. I just don't like how American journalists cover this sport on a world wide basis. For the most part , they don't know the game , they don't know the history and most important , there are no commercials.
Just for the record, I never said things in the U.S. were perfect....having said that....I am not sure how the U.S. is even mentioned in this discussion?....(as screwed up as things are in the U.S. ....shit like that wouldn't be allowed to happen in any stadium in any sport in the U.S.....even against the current bogeyman of the moment. As in, Muslims.) but that report was by the BBC....and I am pretty sure The Beautiful Game is somewhat important in the UK.
It also involves Sol Campbell who was the Captain of the English National Team. Even Beckham (who I think is overrated) is now warning people.
In fact, it doesn't involve a single person from the U.S.
Last edited by Blue Train; June-2nd-2012 at 01:59 AM.
"There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind."
- Duke Ellington
“Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated.”
- George Bernard Shaw
"As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passion."
Uli, when a German or Eastern European scores, do you shout their name out where ever you are or is this something that happens just on the board?
Monte, it has nothing to do with Germany, Eastern Europe or this board. Among basketball fans or commentators shouting out names is quite a common expression of excitement. Barkley likes to yell Genobili, Chris Webber Gallinari for example. My favs are Schweinsteiger or Balotelli. Obviously Italian names lend themselves a bit more to this. yelling Smith for example would not work
With Lewandowski the excitement was that he scored the first goal of Euro 2012. i was kinda lucky because other Polish names would have been harder to yell for me and I have come accross his name before. I think he plays in the Bundesliga.
Not unexpectedly for an early group game Spain was not very offfense oriented. A !:1 or 0:0 was probably the most expected outcome.The game however was quite entertaining, imho both teams teams had their chances but especially Italy who seemed to be a bit more win oriented. both goals were beauties. forza azzurri!
I don't think I've ever seen a tournament start off so well , with respect to the quality of play and the number of entertaining games. It's been good so far.
I almost shed a tear for Sheva and the Ukrainians. It's always good to see the host countries do well. You got to love a country whose national anthem is titled " Ukraine has not yet perished." Gives me the goose bumps every time I hear it.
Poland v. Russia. I thought the Germans and English had a few things going on , but this is some serious stuff.
I don't think I've ever seen a tournament start off so well , with respect to the quality of play and the number of entertaining games. It's been good so far.
I almost shed a tear for Sheva and the Ukrainians. It's always good to see the host countries do well. You got to love a country whose national anthem is titled " Ukraine has not yet perished." Gives me the goose bumps every time I hear it.
Poland v. Russia. I thought the Germans and English had a few things going on , but this is some serious stuff.
You're absdolutely right. I don't remember a first round I enjoyed as much. Poland needs to be good against Russia looking forward to that game. Some good teams like the Dutch and Portugal need to step up.both matches Protugal/ Denmark and Geramny/Holldand are some of the next hilites coming up. Italy Spain Germany France and Englanf have shown some good soccer. Probably Ukraine and russia too but did not see much of those.
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Originally Posted by Monte Smith
