As part of my excitement about the Euro 2008 tournament, I'm going to be doing regular IM chats with my friend Dumont Walker of Walker-Sports. I know this is an entertainment blog (for the most part) but international soccer is one of the few sports I take a strong interest in. Especially when Portugal's involved! So suck it up if you don't like sports. It's only for a month anyway.
Walker-Sports: So Portugal kicks off with Turkey on Saturday?
Bark + Bite : Yes
Bark + Bite: but before we jump into that
Bark + Bite: What tournament do you think is more exciting?
Bark + Bite: The Euro or the World Cup?
Walker-Sports: umm I like the Euro Cup more
Walker-Sports: I mean the World Cup is a lot of fun, and Ive been in Europe for both, but it seems like Euro Cup has more bragging rights on the line
Bark + Bite: Right, I was thinking the same thing
Bark + Bite: because Europe is considered the best of the best
Bark + Bite: Whereas the World Cup allows stragglers like Iraq to get in :-p
Walker-Sports: exactly, you can slip through in the World Cup and get a weak bracket
Walker-Sports: but the Euro puts basically 5 of the top 10 teams in the world
Bark + Bite: But looking at the first two matches this Saturday, we've got Portugal v. Turkey and Switzerland v. Czech Republic
VoxantRibeiro: Who do you pick to win each match and why?
Walker-Sports: Um I like Portugal in the first match
Bark + Bite: FORÇA!!!
Walker-Sports: I think a lot of people are picking them to go deep and they are a talented team
Walker-Sports: Turkey is just one of those teams that could be considered a fringe team
Bark + Bite: My friend, I'll have my mom send you a plate of bacalhau for that comment
Walker-Sports: haha
Bark + Bite: Obviously I'm very biased, but I agree.
Bark + Bite: I actually think Portugal lucked out with this group
Walker-Sports: yeah no doubt they are a very good team, I have to admit it
Bark + Bite: They should sail through it easily
Walker-Sports: yeah, they are pretty solid and that group is not one of the strongest
Bark + Bite:
Now how about Switzerland v. Czech? I'm going with the Czechs because
the Swiss don't do anything well besides watches and chocolate
Walker-Sports: yeah, I like the Czechs they are actually a solid team
Walker-Sports: they made some solid moves during the 06 Cup so i think they can come out with a 3-2 victory over Switzerland
Bark + Bite: Yup, I remembered them from the WC too. They were decent.
Bark + Bite: Alright on Sunday the 8th
Bark + Bite: We've got Austria v. Croatia and Germany v. Poland
Bark + Bite: WTF?
Bark + Bite: Austria and Poland are gonna get their asses handed to them
Bark + Bite: Who put together this lineup?
Bark + Bite: And how did Poland qualify for the Euro, but England didn't?
Walker-Sports: haha yeah well England had that random collapse at the end of the year
Walker-Sports: it was pretty funny
Walker-Sports: I love the German squad
Walker-Sports: they are young all playing first division soccer across Europe and they are ready to go
Walker-Sports: Lukas Podolski will lead them through their group with ease
Bark + Bite: I'll have to take your word for it
Bark + Bite: I think you just like Germany cause of their beer
Walker-Sports: hah well the beer helps
Walker-Sports: but they are the country that truly introduced me to soccer
Walker-Sports: I
like their squad a lot, they made a great run at the World Cup and most
of those guys were only about 19 then, and now they are Vets
Bark + Bite: It wasn't the Irish that introduced you to soccer?
Walker-Sports: well I love the Irish, but A) Ireland Soccer is terrible B) they play with a combined country so its a bit hard to watch
Bark + Bite: Combined country?
Bark + Bite: You mean with No. Ireland?
Walker-Sports: yeah northern Ire and the southern 26
Bark + Bite: Yikes
BigPPup: so its a bit different from what I am used to seeing
Bark + Bite: Now how about Poland
Bark + Bite: Who are they
Bark + Bite: And how did they get into the Euro?
Walker-Sports: I wont lie, I don't know a thing about them
Bark + Bite: LOL
Walker-Sports: I think I saw part of a test match again England
Bark + Bite: What next, will Albania be qualifying for the Euro?
Bark + Bite: Stunning
Walker-Sports: hah yeah
Walker-Sports: I actually think Poland beat England
Bark + Bite: Oh shit
Bark + Bite: So they might be the underdogs this year
Walker-Sports: I think that was the game that knocked them out
Walker-Sports: no I don't think so
Bark + Bite: England was just really shitty this year then, huh?
Walker-Sports: yeah, they had a mismatched squad
Walker-Sports: Rooney is out
Walker-Sports: Beckham is out
Walker-Sports: so they are in a transition period
Bark + Bite: Austria v. Croatia? I'm gonna go with Croatia.
Walker-Sports: Yeah I like Croatia a lot
Walker-Sports: they are a pretty good squad
Bark + Bite: Alright let's talk about some interesting matches on the 9th
Bark + Bite: Romania v. France and Italy v. The Netherlands
Bark + Bite: I saw the Dutch play in the WC and they're GANGSTA
Bark + Bite: They foul like crazy and play like wolves
Walker-Sports: yeah they were straight thuggin
Bark + Bite: But the Italians are slick meatballs. They always seem to squeak by with a sneaky goal or a dive
Walker-Sports: and I think they will do the same this time around
Walker-Sports: Well I hate watching the Italians play they are so slow and boring
Bark + Bite: lol
Bark + Bite: What about France v. Romania?
Bark + Bite: I don't know the Romanians' game too well, but I don't like zee sneaky French
Bark + Bite: But now they're without Zinedine Zidane, so maybe they're toothless?
Walker-Sports: I don't know much about them, I mean France is a great team
Walker-Sports: they should have won the World Cup
Bark + Bite: *scoffs*
Walker-Sports: haha
Walker-Sports: well they are a good squad
Bark + Bite: They're aight
Bark + Bite: but like I said, they don't have Zidane this year
Bark + Bite: Can Thierry carry the team?
Walker-Sports: He is due, he needs to step up for real
Walker-Sports: I mean he is a great highlight reel but not sure that he can carry a team
Walker-Sports: or a country
Bark + Bite: true
Bark + Bite: Alright Dumont, I'll catch up with you next week after this weekend's games
Walker-Sports: sounds good man
Bark + Bite: I should be riding on cloud 9 from Portugal's victory
Walker-Sports: Enjoy the games
Walker-Sports: haha well don't count those eggs before they hatch
