View Full Version : Best major finals since...?
Gooders
14-06-2012, 10:36 PM
Despite a lot of misgivings beforehand, I have to say that I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a major football tournament as much as this one.
Not one goalless game yet is there? Nearly every team doing what they can to take the game to the opposition and yeah, Spain are looking ominous but it looks like there could be a few more surprises yet.
Don't want to jinx it but let's hope it carries on in the same vein. :)
ExiledStirling
14-06-2012, 10:50 PM
Before it started have never been as apathetic for a major tournament , where England are as involved, as this one.
However, am really getting into it now, encouraged by England, and also have enjoyed most of the other games. Do not think it has been exceptional but feel it will get better from a promising start.
The one thing that would improve it for me just now, is John Terry getting injured in training tommorrow and playing no further part.
Heb 7:4
14-06-2012, 11:29 PM
Meh. Not a patch on Portugal IMO.
Jono14
15-06-2012, 06:14 AM
WC2006 was the last tournament I really enjoyed.
Ruskin Old Boy
15-06-2012, 06:27 AM
Couldn't agree more - it's a shame that the final stages of the tournament are being extended from 16 to 24 countries next time.
gold76
15-06-2012, 12:44 PM
no boring 0-0's as yet
OldPeanutSeller
15-06-2012, 12:47 PM
Best major finals since players didn't fall over as much.
cockles
15-06-2012, 12:47 PM
2008
kolinkins
15-06-2012, 12:51 PM
Spot on Rob - it's been cracking so far. Players wanting the ball, teams not sitting bacl - teams concentrating on what they can do rather than the opposition.
My first tournament was Italia 90 - cannot say I have enjoyed any as much as Euro 2012
I'm never disappointed, always get caught up in it
fioreuk
15-06-2012, 12:54 PM
no boring 0-0's as yet
Let's hope tonight doesn't buck that trend..history might suggest otherwise.
ChristalPalace
15-06-2012, 12:54 PM
The complete antithesis of the World Cup two years ago, which was dominated by holding midfielders keeping scores low.
My first tournament was Euro 96, which I found exciting (being just five...); since then, I enjoyed WC98, Euro 2004, WC06 and Euro 2008; Euro 2008 was superb, but this isn't too far behind so far.
Latvian Eagle
15-06-2012, 02:49 PM
I really enjoyed Euro 2008.
WC two years ago was pretty crappy though in hindsight!
Euro 92 - Crap
WC 94 - Enjoyed
Euro 96 - Enjoyed
WC 98 - Enjoyed
Euro 2000 - Crap
WC 2002 - Average
Euro 2004 - Average
WC 2006 - Enjoyed
Euro 2008 - Great
WC 2010 - Average.
cpfc4evandeva
15-06-2012, 02:54 PM
Most tournaments are great I think.
My first was Euro 96 and since then the only one I haven't really enjoyed was the last World Cup.
Thus tournament has been particularly good :)
AJ's right boot
15-06-2012, 02:55 PM
Really loved France 98 from memory. But agree this is right up there. Brilliant so far.
Scroatey
15-06-2012, 03:01 PM
If you can remember international football tournaments then you weren't partying hard enough :lux:
I have vague recollections of the parties surrounding Euro 96 being particularly good as a student in Leeds.
ebyeeckeagle
15-06-2012, 03:16 PM
Euro 84 - just 8 teams and great football every match from memory. France were a joy (first trophy?).
But this has been good (apart from inept performances from us against Croatia and Spain but hey ho). Just hope England can turn it on tonight.
ebyeeckeagle
15-06-2012, 03:20 PM
I should say that on a personal level (beyond the actual football) I enjoyed Germany in 2006 - great country and some awesome fan zone/city centre drinking! Italia 90 would have been great apart from being beaten by the police and semi serious knife attacks on several nights by locals.
CommercialStone
15-06-2012, 03:55 PM
Sliced bread? 2002 and 2004 were crap - all the others in my memory have been awesome. LOve it.
Kipungu
15-06-2012, 04:49 PM
Euro 96 was the first tournament I watched with any enthusiasm for football, so it lives fondly in my memory. France 98 was also great, some great match ups, one of my favourites being Brazil v Holland, and a memory of Edgar Davids sprinting and tracking back to tackle a clean path to goal running Ronaldo from behind. The rest after that have been hit and miss. This year has been quite entertaining so far.
1f43
HurstpierPalace
15-06-2012, 04:54 PM
Really enjoyed 96 (first tournament I can really remember) and also World cup 2002. Beating the Argentinians was priceless. At the minute enjoying this one more than any other. Haven't seen a boring game yet and looks like great spirit amoungst various sets of fans.
gold76
16-06-2012, 01:47 PM
Euro 84 - just 8 teams and great football every match from memory. France were a joy (first trophy?).
But this has been good (apart from inept performances from us against Croatia and Spain but hey ho). Just hope England can turn it on tonight.
France 3-2 Portugal, the semi final, a cracker
Gooders
16-06-2012, 08:40 PM
Ok, hands up all those that had Czech Republic and Greece as the qualifiers after the first round of games.
Madness!
Tom's Old Man
16-06-2012, 09:09 PM
One of the best things for me is the lack of ridiculous over-hype for a major tournament involving England. Still get a bit of it, but the last few World Cups & Euros have ended up pissing me off.
Steve in Phoenix
16-06-2012, 09:16 PM
My first tournament was Italia 90 - cannot say I have enjoyed any as much as Euro 2012
Same here, best since '90.
CarlosTheFinger
16-06-2012, 09:43 PM
World Cup 98 got me into football in the first place, so nothing's ever likely to match that.
I've never not enjoyed a tournament. I spend ages looking forward to them, always book time off work to watch the matches etc. and really get into them. And that's just for games like tonight featuring teams I shouldn't really be bothered about, never mind when England are playing.
I don't go into them looking for wall-to-wall quality football. It's about so much more than that. I rather naively love the idea that these players are playing effectively for free, for national pride. No transfer fees, no agents, no rich benefactors etc. and lots of the other things that ruin the club game.
It's a bit like if we fielded an entire team of South London born Palace supporters.
That's why I will always rate these tournaments above the Champions' League.
Halftime Gold
16-06-2012, 09:49 PM
The EC's have I'd say provided much better football than the WC in the last decade, France 98 was the last WC I really enjoyed.
Simple difference I'd say, with 16 european sides you just have a much better concentration of quality, big sides play each other more and those matches mean something in tough groups.
I'd say the French and the Spainish looked much better when they won the EC than when the won the WC aswell.
CPFC2010ANDON
16-06-2012, 09:53 PM
Group A is the most boring group, but Russia made me sit up after their first game such was the way they played. The fact that any of them could have gone through tonight, and then the two unfancied sides, especially Greece went through has made the group such a surprise.
I actually don't think Spain are as good in this tourney. Someone just needs to occupy and keep out their midfiled. I think the Germans can do it, and Croatia may test them.
Can Greece win it again?
Selhurst300
16-06-2012, 09:57 PM
Watched the second half of the Czech Republic - Poland match and it was pretty poor. But that's the first match where I'd felt that.
Overall, a great tournament.
jazman
16-06-2012, 09:58 PM
I'm never disappointed, always get caught up in it
This ^^
I love a good tournament me
joyce the voice
17-06-2012, 07:25 AM
Euro 84 - just 8 teams and great football every match from memory. France were a joy (first trophy?).
But this has been good (apart from inept performances from us against Croatia and Spain but hey ho). Just hope England can turn it on tonight.
oh that French team. Christ what a midfield!
cpfc4evandeva
17-06-2012, 08:44 AM
World Cup 98 got me into football in the first place, so nothing's ever likely to match that.
I've never not enjoyed a tournament. I spend ages looking forward to them, always book time off work to watch the matches etc. and really get into them. And that's just for games like tonight featuring teams I shouldn't really be bothered about, never mind when England are playing.
I don't go into them looking for wall-to-wall quality football. It's about so much more than that. I rather naively love the idea that these players are playing effectively for free, for national pride. No transfer fees, no agents, no rich benefactors etc. and lots of the other things that ruin the club game.
It's a bit like if we fielded an entire team of South London born Palace supporters.
That's why I will always rate these tournaments above the Champions' League.
Great post this.
This tournament has just been fantastic. I would have loved to have known the odds you could have got on a Czech & Greece double before kick off.
Incredible stuff.
Duffle Coat
17-06-2012, 09:14 AM
Have to say, Mexico 70 was the top finals and the only one you can measure anything against. Every game there was drama of the highest quality. I remember reading a book about it long after I saw it and each game was meticulously analysed from the atmosphere in the ground to the key moments. Places like Puebla became forever synonymous with the drama. I agree you had to be there but I don't think football has ever come near replicating it and I don't think it ever will. Just to put it into context. During the finals, there was a terrible earthquake in Peru. I remember the Peruvians playing and winning while crying their eyes out for their lost countrymen and women. It was sensational. The England Germany game had to be seen to be believed. Sorry for the nostalgia but this current action seems as nothing to me.
Steve in Phoenix
17-06-2012, 09:17 AM
Greece certainly has a bit of that drama, qualifying from being bottom of the group - seems a bit unfair to call it nothing.
278
During my working life this is the first tournament during which I have not had a job and I couldn't be more happy! First time being able to watch all the build up and games without the annoyance of work getting in the way, so this one will be extra special for me and as others have said its really been a good one so far, long may it continue!! :)
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