Help me enjoy the European Championship tomorrow!

[Colo Springs E]

I'm not a futbol fan, but really want to give this game a chance.

So what should I watch for? What are the keys to the game? Any interesting storylines? Why should I watch??

And who are you for, and who do you think will win and why?

[colorado]

Watch for people to fall down (a lot) and sceam in agony for seemingly no reason. The more they scream the less they are hurt. Expect long periods of nothing happening and a 1-0 final score. Enjoy endless inexplicable penalties.

For full enjoyment drink a lot of beer and hope the cable goes out.

[slauson slim]

Guardian UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/b...-italy-history

[tomkatf]

Originally Posted by colorado

Watch for people to fall down (a lot) and sceam in agony for seemingly no reason. The more they scream the less they are hurt. Expect long periods of nothing happening and a 1-0 final score. Enjoy endless inexplicable penalties.

For full enjoyment drink a lot of beer and hope the cable goes out.

Pretty accurate but the final score will be 0-0 and they'll decide the winner with a free-throw shooting contest or something...

T

[dented]

Espana will excite the crowd and win in exciting fashion. ( I haven't been right on any sports pick this year)

[blue metalflake]

The ball is round, the excitement will be huge, and hopefully there will be a result without penalties.

[notdave]

Go for a walk instead, or play your guitar, or watch paint dry.

[kp8]

Takes more than one match to get into it. For me it was when we hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. There is a lot of excitement and drama to soccer but takes a while to latch on to but a great tournament (like the 2002 FIFA World Cup) can be amazing and change entirely how you experience the game. You know if you have never gone to the ballet it is just a bunch of folks jumping up and down in tight clothing. It helps to know the rules, the rivalries, the history, etc.

If your team is down and the clock is almost expired and they pull their goalie and are pressing on the other teams side and they score? Amazing things happen.

enjoy or not. Soccer, like baseball is a beloved sound of summer for me. spicy snacks, cold beer, good friend screaming at the TV every time we get close to the net.. good times.

[fuzzbender]

Just find any personal reason why you want one team to win more than the other, you soon get involved

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by colorado

Watch for people to fall down (a lot) and sceam in agony for seemingly no reason. The more they scream the less they are hurt.

Greece and Portugal are out, aren't they ...

With Spain - Italy I guess you'll be disappointed if you expect much of dives/falling down and screams of agony.

Instead you should be able to enjoy the two best players in the tournament: Spain's Andres Iniesta and Italy's Andrea Pirlo. They lift football to an artistic level!

And you've got maybe the two best goalkeepers in the world, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas.

Two matches within the match that should make it worthwile watching.

But if you're not really that into the sport, I guess it's hard to enjoy it in the "right" way ... But good luck!

[nosuch]

I heard about americans not understanding football (soccer) but I didn't know it's so bad.
Watch out for strategy and virtuosity. Spain will try to play their usual strategy of midfield-domination which admitably can be a bit boring. Then there is individual class of some players. I wished there was another Zidane today, but watching Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso, Pirlo, Balotelli and the likes won't be disapointing.

[Shepherd]

Living in NA you'll never get into soccer unless you watch it in a European bar full of soccer fans. The atmosphere is amazing.

[elicross]

Watch a cricket match; if you survive, it'll make UEFA football feel like the Super Bowl by comparison.

[Alamo]

Futbol has the same rules as Bassbawl - only different. :P

[kp8]

Originally Posted by Shepherd

Living in NA you'll never get into soccer unless you watch it in a European bar full of soccer fans. The atmosphere is amazing.

BS. Europe is not the only place digs football.

[Shepherd]

Originally Posted by kp8

BS. Europe is not the only place digs football.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by elicross

Watch a cricket match; if you survive, it'll make UEFA football feel like the Super Bowl by comparison.

Hush your mouth eli !!, cricket is the KING of sports !

Hank has taught me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFJ-U...e_gdata_player

[Fred.T]

Originally Posted by colorado

Watch for people to fall down (a lot) and sceam in agony for seemingly no reason. The more they scream the less they are hurt. Expect long periods of nothing happening and a 1-0 final score. Enjoy endless inexplicable penalties.

For full enjoyment drink a lot of beer and hope the cable goes out.

So I guess you're not a soccer fan, am I wrong?

[kp8]

Exactly what was wrong with what i said?

I don't think being in a European bar full of friends is the only way to get into soccer, which is what your contention was. I know lots of folks got into soccer, EU and FIFA living in central America, Asia and Africa or hanging out with diaspora from those communities. I am in Korea now. EVERYONE is trying to stay up to 4 AM to see the match.

[Maxwell Street]

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