Yeah, cheers for that Czech Republic – how many chances do you need to be gifted before you can equalise!? The look on Ronaldo's face, that he cast to a few key team mates, said it all... still – I can't blame Portugal for blowing the gig, the Czechs, the bookies, and I deserved to lose and lose big on that one – and true to form Lady Luck reaches out and pulls the largest strap-on off the shelf, liberally coats it in gritted swafega and pounds us silly. Sometimes, it seems, you should just go with the form book!
Still – Lady Luck wasn't a total sadistic bitch, as she game me a hug and set the record straight in match two...
The fix was most definitely on – sort of, not 'on' in a PL/PGMO way, but 'on' in a subtle 'UEFA Euro 2008' way (not to be confused with the less subtle 'UEFA Champions League' way). The weather was something else, the match should have been abandoned but as it was a randomiser in favour of the Swiss so it was 'game on' with the following equation:
Zero skill advantage (due to playing conditions) + Run of referee decisions = Desired result.
Not so! Good on you Turkey, you did me – and my wallet – proud... I'm up by about 50 pence on yesterday's games; which is a damn sight better than being down 20 by quid.
Alas this does raise another question – now that the Swiss are effectively out of it, which team should a Goon support? Let's see who's left:
Cesc Fabregas - Spain,
Robin van Persie - Netherlands,
William Gallas - France,
Lukasz Fabianski - Poland
Jens Lehmann – Germany
Lehmann isn't really a gunner anymore so strike him off, France are bonkers – so they're out... I'm not bothered about Poland (as Fabianski is on the bench) – So that leaves Spain and the Netherlands as the obvious choices. I'm going for the Netherlands as they play the pretty-pretty football with Spain as my second team as, even though they have Fabregas, they are packed to the gills with Liverpool players.
Come on you Dutch!
Right, today's matches... let us examine the group:
Group B
P GD PTS
1 Germany 1 2 3
2 Croatia 1 1 3
3 Austria 1 -1 0
4 Poland 1 -2 0
Croatia v Germany @ Klagenfurt
I reckon Germany by two goals... they will have Austria in the last match and they will not want to be in a position where they will have to smash them out in a feisty match to continue... a draw would suit both but it would be better to guarantee a place today and take it easy in game three. German efficiency!
Austria v Poland @ Vienna
Poland are the better side... but – I don't know, something doesn't sit right for me here. Austria have good fitness and a raw squad – but Poland are better... Austria are the last of the tournament hosts... so – there will be reasons why them not being eliminated at this point would be advantageous to a number of parties. But Poland are the better team and will very much want to win... and they have a good keeper.
Let's consult the odds:
Poland: 2.38
Draw: 3.40
Austria: 3.45
Hmmm... there is cash to be made here – but I might just steer clear.
[12/06/2008 09:11:31] DogFace says: well - win some lose some... how many chances did the Czechs have to equalise? Useless bastards. Still Turkey did me proud!
[12/06/2008 09:12:11] dhjackal says: and me
[12/06/2008 09:13:25] DogFace says: ha - nice one!! They were the long odds - and you could see why with the weather and the Swiss getting the run of decisions. I laughed my arse off when they nicked it at the end.
[12/06/2008 09:13:55] dhjackal says: i thought it was a draw until i saw the paper this morning
[12/06/2008 09:14:26] DogFace says: Ha ha - man it was classic... why didn't you watch it?
[12/06/2008 09:14:39] dhjackal says: i watched the 1st half - saw enough
[12/06/2008 09:15:17] DogFace says: The second half was better - the first half was slapstick football.
[12/06/2008 09:15:29] dhjackal says: i know, laughable
[12/06/2008 09:15:33] DogFace says: I've had games called off playing in better conditions!
[12/06/2008 09:15:41] dhjackal says: who you going with today?
[12/06/2008 09:15:59] DogFace says: It's going to take some thought...
[12/06/2008 09:16:19] dhjackal says: i had 100% record y'day
[12/06/2008 09:17:08] dhjackal says: Germand and Poland double
[12/06/2008 09:17:10] DogFace says: Yeah - you did well... although the first match looked to be an agreed draw - they just fucked up the gig.
[12/06/2008 09:17:12] dhjackal says: £10
[12/06/2008 09:17:26] dhjackal says: 3-1 is not an agreed draw
[12/06/2008 09:17:40] DogFace says: It went wrong.
[12/06/2008 09:17:50] dhjackal says: no
[12/06/2008 09:17:52] DogFace says: Yes.
[12/06/2008 09:17:55] dhjackal says: you went wrong
[12/06/2008 09:17:58] DogFace says: No... and yes.
[12/06/2008 09:18:08] dhjackal says: i think youi'll find it is a YES
[12/06/2008 09:18:16] dhjackal says: you fucked up the gig
[12/06/2008 09:18:18] dhjackal says: YOU
[12/06/2008 09:18:39] DogFace says: It was obvious... but I'm glad in a way as Portugal were the better team and it serves the Czechs right for being too shit to score despite being gifted 20+ chances to do so.
[12/06/2008 09:19:11] DogFace says: Did you see the last goal? The look on ronaldo's face?
[12/06/2008 09:19:47] DogFace says: Did he look happy... of did he look a bit sheepish?
[12/06/2008 09:20:04] DogFace says: In fact none of the goals were particularly celebrated...
[12/06/2008 09:20:28] dhjackal says: whatever
[12/06/2008 09:20:44] dhjackal says: your deluded
[12/06/2008 09:20:55] DogFace says: It's good though as I want to see Turkey smash the Czechs and go through... should make for a good match!
[12/06/2008 09:21:10] DogFace says: How can you say I'm deluded?
[12/06/2008 09:21:25] DogFace says: Go back to your Panini sticker album you fucking moron!
[12/06/2008 09:22:11] dhjackal says: HELLO?
[12/06/2008 09:22:22] dhjackal says: you thought it was a "nailed on" "fixed" DRAW
[12/06/2008 09:22:28] dhjackal says: it turned out to be 3-1
[12/06/2008 09:22:32] DogFace says: It was an agreed draw – there's no such thing as a "nailed on" result.
[12/06/2008 09:22:44] dhjackal says: and now you say they "didn't mean to score" the 3 goals
[12/06/2008 09:22:51] dhjackal says: course it was
[12/06/2008 09:22:53] DogFace says: Yes - it went wrong - it was so obvious, I don't know how you couldn't see it from watching the match?
[12/06/2008 09:23:04] DogFace says: The body language of the players...
[12/06/2008 09:23:05] dhjackal says: i didn't know why i bother
[12/06/2008 09:23:11] DogFace says: …the "kick-about" attitude.
[12/06/2008 09:23:23] dhjackal says: no
[12/06/2008 09:23:24] DogFace says: You need to watch a little closer.
[12/06/2008 09:23:25] dhjackal says: it was easy
[12/06/2008 09:23:27] dhjackal says: easy
[12/06/2008 09:23:33] DogFace says: Yes it was...
[12/06/2008 09:23:34] dhjackal says: like i said it would be
[12/06/2008 09:23:42] DogFace says: ...because nobody was trying!
[12/06/2008 09:23:42] dhjackal says: that's why they won 3-1
[12/06/2008 09:23:52] dhjackal says: because portugal are MUCH better
[12/06/2008 09:23:57] dhjackal says: making it easy
[12/06/2008 09:23:59] DogFace says: Yes they are much better.
[12/06/2008 09:24:01] dhjackal says: for them to win
[12/06/2008 09:24:02] DogFace says: I will agree.
[12/06/2008 09:24:07] dhjackal says: no agreed draw
[12/06/2008 09:24:12] DogFace says: But the result does not tell the whole story – it was 2-1 right up until the last minute and Portugal were letting them attack again and again.
[12/06/2008 09:24:12] dhjackal says: just an easy win
[12/06/2008 09:24:20] dhjackal says: and was always going to be
[12/06/2008 09:24:27] DogFace says: Err - why are you defending this match?
[12/06/2008 09:24:36] dhjackal says: i'm not - i'm defending my prediction
[12/06/2008 09:24:45] DogFace says: Yes you are, besides – your prediction came true?
[12/06/2008 09:25:00] dhjackal says: and your nonsencial arguement that the result was a mistake
[12/06/2008 09:25:19] DogFace says: You think that if you admit that there might be the slightest whiff of corruption in a game that your team do so well out of then the whole illusion might fall apart?
[12/06/2008 09:25:46] dhjackal says: no
[12/06/2008 09:25:49] DogFace says: Yup.
[12/06/2008 09:25:51] dhjackal says: i think you need to let it go
[12/06/2008 09:25:56] dhjackal says: get another line
[12/06/2008 09:26:01] DogFace says: I think you need you open your mind.
[12/06/2008 09:26:01] dhjackal says: this one is boring me
[12/06/2008 09:26:13] DogFace says: Then why don't you let it go...
[12/06/2008 09:26:22] DogFace says: ...and stop trying to convince me that I'm wrong?
[12/06/2008 09:26:31] dhjackal says: your right
[12/06/2008 09:26:33] dhjackal says: i will
[12/06/2008 09:26:34] DogFace says: thanks
[12/06/2008 09:27:47] DogFace says: right
[12/06/2008 09:27:51] DogFace says: on to business
[12/06/2008 09:27:52] dhjackal says: ok
[12/06/2008 09:27:56] dhjackal says: lets hear it
[12/06/2008 09:28:11] dhjackal says: who's "fixed" what today?
[12/06/2008 09:28:46] DogFace says: I reckon Germany will go out to win.
[12/06/2008 09:28:54] dhjackal says: look
[12/06/2008 09:28:56] dhjackal says: Germany and Poland
[12/06/2008 09:28:59] dhjackal says: end of
[12/06/2008 09:29:02] DogFace says: although, as yesterday, a draw would suit both...
[12/06/2008 09:29:11] dhjackal says: well you get on the draw then
[12/06/2008 09:29:16] DogFace says: But I can't see Germany wanting that
[12/06/2008 09:29:19] dhjackal says: i'm sticking with Germany and Poland
[12/06/2008 09:29:25] DogFace says: Reasons? How many goals?
[12/06/2008 09:29:37] dhjackal says: they are the best 2 teams
[12/06/2008 09:29:45] DogFace says: Germany by... 2 goals?
[12/06/2008 09:29:48] dhjackal says: i've already got £5 on each
[12/06/2008 09:30:52] DogFace says: I'm thinking that maybe Austria
[12/06/2008 09:31:09] DogFace says: dunno - might not get on that match.
[12/06/2008 09:31:24] DogFace says: I think it's going to be close.
[12/06/2008 09:31:33] DogFace says: Austria seemed to have great fitness capable of getting late goals - what's the Poland fitness like?
[12/06/2008 09:32:25] DogFace says: Game 1 - Germany to beat Croatia by 2 goals.
[12/06/2008 09:32:42] DogFace says: HT/FT Germany/Germany
[12/06/2008 09:32:44] dhjackal says: Germany & Poland
[12/06/2008 09:32:50] dhjackal says: that's it
[12/06/2008 09:33:03] DogFace says: Man ...not sure about the second match...
[12/06/2008 09:33:13] DogFace says: don't think it's quite so clear cut - I wouldn't risk the double.
[12/06/2008 09:46:06] DogFace says: what odds did you get on Poland?
[12/06/2008 09:46:28] dhjackal says: donno
[12/06/2008 09:46:34] dhjackal says: what are they?
[12/06/2008 09:47:10] DogFace says: Just checking..
[12/06/2008 09:49:05] DogFace says: The network is quite busy... you got the java client on your phone yet?
[12/06/2008 09:49:14] dhjackal says: no
[12/06/2008 09:49:23] dhjackal says: did it all online last night
[12/06/2008 09:49:54] DogFace says: Yeah it can cause problems having 24/7 access to a betting exchange - particularly when you are pissed.
[12/06/2008 09:50:06] dhjackal says: :)
[12/06/2008 09:50:28] DogFace says: I remember Scottish_Darran telling me he was pissed up and stuck a grand on a rugby match.
[12/06/2008 09:50:37] dhjackal says: he did
[12/06/2008 09:50:42] dhjackal says: luckily he won
[12/06/2008 09:51:07] DogFace says: Nutcase!
[12/06/2008 09:51:57] DogFace says: Iraqi_Ali is brewing up some mega-coffee if you and NickLeFranc are interested?
[12/06/2008 09:52:06] dhjackal says: Mmmm
[12/06/2008 09:52:12] dhjackal says: that stuff is dangerous!
[12/06/2008 09:52:12] DogFace says: Yeah - might brew a pot of Silver Needles instead...
