Lol I just googled Stewart Downing and second hit was:

Watch All of Stewart Downing's EPL Goals and Assists This Season

5/16/2012 8:55:44 AM

wasn't Theo taken to a world cup when he was an unproven 18 year old?

5/16/2012 10:25:42 AM

Quote :

"Jordan Henderson in reserve is like having Tibet as an ally in wartime."

5/16/2012 12:48:25 PM

^^ yes... So? Downing is 28. Unless you were responding to some unknown criticism of Ox I'm not sure the relevance.

5/16/2012 1:49:40 PM

yes it was in reference to chamberlain being selected, no criticism of him

5/16/2012 2:42:22 PM

No Micah Richards? Lescott is going? Downing over Lennon?

Woy, you got some splainin to do.

5/16/2012 4:14:55 PM

Who would you play over Lescott? He has been rock solid all year long.

5/16/2012 4:25:48 PM

No he hasn't. He's been very mistake prone this season, at least for a supposed world class defender. Games against Tottenham and the QPR game this past weekend come to mind. If he weren't playing next to Kompany he'd be getting exposed even more. Plus, he's already shown a propensity for blowing it in international matches. Personally, I'd have taken Smalling.

5/16/2012 4:37:04 PM

Smalling is out

5/16/2012 5:11:26 PM

^^ Respectfully, I disagree. I've watched Man City all year and I have to say he has made very few mistakes, QPR being the notable exception. On a few occasions he has made some very, very good clearances that have saved goals. I think he is easily in the 23 man squad, but you know, just my opinion.

5/17/2012 8:11:59 AM

Join the brackets on espn:

http://games.espn.go.com/euro-bracket-predictor/en/m/frontpage

Group name: TWW
Pw: USA

5/19/2012 10:37:07 AM

LOL! Italy is involved in another game fixing scandal!

5/28/2012 12:18:18 PM

The whole no Richards thing baffles me. I thought he was one of the best right backs in England this year.

5/29/2012 9:54:27 AM

Not sure what you could base that on since he couldn't ever start at city. he's probably not being taken cause of lack of match fitness

5/29/2012 10:48:15 AM

predictions?

5/29/2012 10:51:41 AM

Shevchenko wins golden boot, Ukraine dominates their way to the championship and there's a lot of racist fan incidents

5/29/2012 10:57:15 AM

Balotelli:

Quote :

"Balotelli, who is preparing with the Italian team for their Group C fixtures, said: "I will not accept racism at all. It's unacceptable. If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to jail, because I will kill them." The Italian also described himself as a genius, saying: "I think I am a genius but not a rebel. I have my life, my world, I do what I want, without annoying anyone. I believe I am more intelligent than the average person. The talent God gave me is beautiful and wonderful but it is difficult because you are always facing other people keen to judge you.""

5/30/2012 8:11:38 AM

Quote :

"Join the brackets on espn: http://games.espn.go.com/euro-bracket-predictor/en/m/frontpage Group name: TWW Pw: USA "

I've tried to submit my bracket with three different browsers and they all get stuck saying "Please wait while your bracket is being submitted..."

5/30/2012 10:08:35 AM

^ same, what the hell

5/31/2012 2:38:23 AM

So does Italy withdraw? What happens if they do? Seems unfair to other groups

6/1/2012 4:25:20 PM

6/1/2012 4:36:14 PM

^^I was wondering about that, but don't think it's going to happen.

I think I need to withdraw my prediction for Italy based on the thrashing they just received from Russia.

6/1/2012 7:26:57 PM

The Italian manager only said he would have no problem with withdrawing if asked. That's where all these rumors are starting.

No one has asked them to withdraw, and I don't think anyone would. The PM has discussed suspending Serie A, which would make more sense (but also, imo, will never happen). Italian officials like to talk a lot about how they're going to clean up the sport, but nothing meaningful ever gets done.

I think Italy will perform quite well under the cloud of match-fixing scandal, like they did 6 years ago.

6/1/2012 8:09:18 PM

I think England and France are both in the "who can implode faster" running.

I think Spain have to win it all. I don't see another team in the competition that's even close.

[Edited on June 1, 2012 at 8:31 PM. Reason : implode not implore. stupid kindle.]

6/1/2012 8:30:07 PM

don't sleep on Germany

6/2/2012 1:08:13 AM

Also, Germany's new away kits own.

Deutschland uber alles.

6/2/2012 1:20:24 AM

Quote :

"don't sleep on Germany"

Who is sleeping on Germany? Have you seen their midfield? It's incredible.

6/2/2012 9:57:10 AM

Hey Arsene, Ox starts for England but not for you? Fix it..

** How the hell did Belgium not make it? Jeez. That roster up and down (at least in the Starting XI) is better than England's today.

[Edited on June 2, 2012 at 12:44 PM. Reason : is there really no one in all of england better than james fucking milner?]

6/2/2012 11:58:31 AM

France had their implosion at the world cup, I think they look dangerous

6/2/2012 3:18:22 PM

^^ theres plenty better than Milner. Thing is, they are either hurt or they play for United and SAF won't let Woy risk them in a tourney England has no real shot at winning.

[Edited on June 2, 2012 at 8:45 PM. Reason : and Ox has no business starting for england yet.]

6/2/2012 8:44:40 PM

Belgium's lineup is full of youngsters and there were actually a lot of expectations placed on them. Inexperience is an issue.

6/3/2012 1:50:28 AM

There's a whole series of articles on how Belgium will dominate WC14/EC16. They have a good group of youngsters with tons of potential. It'll be interesting to see how they all pan out.

Just looking at the younger players on their roster:
Defense
Alderweireld (23)
Vertonghen (25)
Vermaelen (26)
Kompany (26)
Boyata (21)

Midfield
Fellaini (24)
Witsel (23)
Dembélé (24)

Forwards
Hazard (21)
Mertens (25)
Lukaku (19)

6/3/2012 7:38:51 AM

^those articles remind me of this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2641675.stm

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM. Reason : a]

6/3/2012 6:13:17 PM

^That is absolute gold.

"England will have so much talent up front it will be embarrassing, and other teams may concede games before kick-off to avoid the humiliation on the pitch."

Bahahah. I love how half of that list has either been capped once or never been capped for England.

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 6:41 PM. Reason : .]

6/3/2012 6:27:45 PM

Got my bandwagon swag for the tourney.

6/4/2012 12:10:56 AM

Some grade A trolling in this link.

Ten reasons why England won't win Euro 2012

Quote :

"By all accounts, Hodgson is an intelligent, affable chap. He speaks five languages (five more than the media’s presumptive choice for his job, Harry Redknapp), is well-read (John Updike, Martin Amis, Richard Ford, Eric Cantona) and looks great in a cardigan"

Quote :

"Parker, at least, has a distinctive talent, having mastered the art of the 180 degree pirouette that looks Zidane-like until you realize he's just doing it to pass the ball back to a defender."

http://espnfc.com/us/en/news/1085989/david-hirshey-ten-reasons-england-win.html

6/4/2012 11:17:17 PM

I'm surprised they could only come up with 10.

6/5/2012 6:23:06 AM

I love how he doesn't even try to hide that Arsenal bias

6/5/2012 8:15:31 AM

didn't realize every game was being televised on ESPN1 until just now, can't wait for the complaints about not being able to watch that 8th hour of sportscenter because of fucking soccer.

6/5/2012 12:00:03 PM

Quote :

""Join the brackets on espn: http://games.espn.go.com/euro-bracket-predictor/en/m/frontpage Group name: TWW Pw: USA"

i just completed mine using firefox, but earlier on my brackett was flipping out and indicating abunch of java errors..

6/5/2012 1:23:02 PM

anyone doing the manager game as well? i feel like everyone will have the same squad.

6/5/2012 1:30:27 PM

Even though I disagree with a lot of Hodgson's choices for the international team and they probably won't do too great in the tournament, a true fan sticks with his team through ups and downs. I still and always will support England 100%.

6/5/2012 2:14:40 PM

Fuck the Queen.



Fuck Germany.


That's right. I've got two dogs in this fight. Well, two and a half. Go Russia? Sort of.

6/5/2012 4:24:14 PM

^

6/5/2012 4:40:08 PM

Quote :

"a true fan sticks with his team through ups and downs"

even the Downing's?

6/5/2012 5:02:19 PM

Am I mad?

lol, not really because Ireland stands a better chance of progressing than does England.

I love watching England fail. It never gets old.

6/6/2012 12:01:49 AM

^

Don't know if you support an English club team, but I find supporters of English clubs hating on England national team absurd!

6/6/2012 12:23:53 AM

Quote :

"i just completed mine using firefox, but earlier on my brackett was flipping out and indicating abunch of java errors.."

Same here. Fox's works but there's no TWW group: http://eurobracket.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/userhome.do

Quote :

"anyone doing the manager game as well? i feel like everyone will have the same squad."

I'm signed up for this one: http://en.euro2012fantasy.uefa.com/ It's a little challenging to get players who will start if you want a lot of big stars.

Quote :

"Don't know if you support an English club team, but I find supporters of English clubs hating on England national team absurd!"

I'm a Newcastle fan and a USA citizen/fan, go France.

[Edited on June 6, 2012 at 2:43 AM. Reason : =]

6/6/2012 2:43:06 AM

lololol, guest announcer on Mike & Mike ask Alexi Lalas how Messi and Ronaldo will do in the Euros.

Lalas was unphased. I would have laughed then and when Golic said how he likes to watch Olympic soccer.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8011274
(happens at 1:00)

Lalas thinks KNVB won't make it out of the Group of Death. I'd be fine if it's Germany and Denmark, but I'll be damned if it's Germany and Portugal.

6/6/2012 5:51:48 AM

Quote :

"I find supporters of English clubs hating on England national team absurd!"

I find people expecting support for England's national team from people that support English clubs absurd!

Hating any team with John Terry on it makes perfect sense to me.

6/6/2012 8:52:25 AM