EPTIf so, where do you recommend I begin? I really don't know anything about soccer other than the rules...
Where to get started?
| Forum Index > UEFA Euro 2012 |
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IamBach
United States1059 Posts
If so, where do you recommend I begin? I really don't know anything about soccer other than the rules... | ||
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Pangolin
United States1035 Posts
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Zocat
Germany2229 Posts
It's useful to get a basic idea how strong the teams are (and talking about the 2 free seeds for Poland & Ukraine (two host nations) is also a fun topic - since it lead to the group of death B). Apart from that and actually just watching games... who cares. Just admit you dont know too much and I bet your (drinking?) conversation partner will gladly inform you about everything you need to know (since during EM/WM every single German becomes a football expert). | ||
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zf
231 Posts
In all seriousness, there's no substitute for watching lots and lots of games. And, like everyone else has posted, don't pretend to have knowledge that you don't. It's easy for someone who's been following the sport for decades to identify someone who's a relative newcomer. | ||
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lefix
Germany1082 Posts
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Manit0u
Poland17238 Posts
 Watching some games before you go to Germany is a good idea, as you'll get some basic understanding of what's going on. Then, like previous posters said, don't pretend to know more than you do. Watching the games, drinking beer and explaining "superior version of football" to "ignorant muricans" will most likely be fun for people there  | ||
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MotherOfRunes
Germany2862 Posts
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IamBach
United States1059 Posts
I am not trying to sound like an expert, I just know absolutely nothing about football. | ||
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Endrew
Poland73 Posts
On June 11 2012 03:48 IamBach wrote: Ah ok thanks for the advice. I still don't understand somethings. For instance, according to this website, http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/standings/index.html it appears that there are multiple teams from each country? Which one do I root for? I am not trying to sound like an expert, I just know absolutely nothing about football. You're trolling, right? | ||
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aqui
Germany1023 Posts
On June 11 2012 03:48 IamBach wrote: Ah ok thanks for the advice. I still don't understand somethings. For instance, according to this website, http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/standings/index.html it appears that there are multiple teams from each country? Which one do I root for? I am not trying to sound like an expert, I just know absolutely nothing about football. That link has nothing to do with the euros 2012. The link is about the champions league, which is club football, kinda like the NFL. The euros 2012 are a championship between national teams, like the World Cup except the teams are only from europe. But really, you don't have to learn anything. Just make sure to pick a team you want to win before every game , this way the tension will make it less boring for you. Just enjoy yourself as best as you can. Beeing from america you will enjoy enough attention no matter your football knowhow. | ||
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aqui
Germany1023 Posts
Whats your problem, he said he doesn't know anything about football. | ||
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Endrew
Poland73 Posts
On June 11 2012 04:10 aqui wrote: Whats your problem, he said he doesn't know anything about football. I'm just amazed how ignorant one can be. Just type the title of this sub-forum into google and bam, first link gives you all the info you need to get familiar with EURO. I'm glad he at least recognized Europe is not a single country. | ||
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Jinsho
United Kingdom3101 Posts
Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal are likely the strongest contenders. They are currently in the group stages. Top 2 advance into the single elim playoffs. Look up the football rules online, and feel free to ask anyone what's going on during the game when you see something you don't understand. Just watch and enjoy otherwise, as it's really a simple, very flowing game without too many stops or interruptions or weird rulings. | ||
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StiX
Netherlands220 Posts
On June 11 2012 04:37 Endrew wrote: I'm just amazed how ignorant one can be. Just type the title of this sub-forum into google and bam, first link gives you all the info you need to get familiar with EURO. I'm glad he at least recognized Europe is not a single country. You're totally misusing the word ignorant, he asked the question for a reason. I would be confused too. | ||
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Silvanel
Poland4725 Posts
 The best advice was already given "football" not "soccer" | ||
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docvoc
United States5491 Posts
. Seriously though, I follow soccer some, not crazy compared to a lot of people, but a lot for an American in the South where soccer is overshadowed by other sports. The key is to LISTEN be honest with them, say that you know the bare minimum but you want to learn I guarantee they will want to bestow their knowledge on you. A big mistake is to make declarations especially about anyone that is well known that goes against the main idea that is propogated i.e. Bolitelli is just a huge lovebug rather than a great player with some temper tantrums, these can make you seem unknowledgable and can make things awkward.best of luck, GERMANY HWAITING~~~ | ||
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IamBach
United States1059 Posts
and maybe it won't be that big of a deal though. Does anyone at least know of any place where I could find what teams are still in and what teams are out? That is what I was trying to figure out when I found that deceptive website. | ||
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Lyter
United Kingdom2145 Posts
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DannyJ
United States5110 Posts
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Kleinmuuhg
Vanuatu4091 Posts
that should be enough :D germans fans = tolerant of nubs | ||
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Punscho
70 Posts
That being said, since you know nothing about European football let's get some basic info on the table. UEFA is _the_ European football organization and the two largest tournaments it hosts are the European Championships (euro2012 etc, every 4th year) and the Champions League (a club team tournament, every year). Every European country has their own national leagues in a tiered system. The most prominent leagues are England's Premier League, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga and Germany's Bundesliga, all being the top league of their country. These league have a lot of money and a lot of foreign players (like for instance, the NHL in comparison). The top players of almost all teams have their best players in one of those leagues. Why is this important? Because people will discuss players' performance in their club teams, and it really helps if you have some grasp on how European football works. People also love to discuss past performance of the national teams. This might be an aspect you as an American is not that used to since none of the most popular American sports have that interesting international championships I think? It is not unusual that players perform very differently in the national team compared to in their club teams. They of course have other teammates, but they might also have a different role in the national team compared to their club team. Some countries just have a single or maybe two incredible players that will have a lot of pressure performing during the championship, possibly making or breaking the teams' entire tournament run. Some teams are stacked with talent from top clubs but still have a hard time performing that well. And some teams have a distinct lack of star power but really play like a team. If there are things about the sport in general, like rules you don't know, I would think Wikipedia has pretty good content. There is a rule called offside, which is more a less a rule against having someone constantly "fishing" in front of the opposing teams' goal. You can't be behind the opposing team's defenders when someone passes the ball to you. But there are some exceptions to this rule, but that is the basic notion. Otherwise it's pretty straight-forward, dudes chase the ball and puts in at the back of the net for 1 point. Edit: Oh yeah and when people talk about 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and so on it's the team's player system. For example, 4-3-3 means 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards/strikers. This has implications of course. | ||
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Skyline026
Netherlands1129 Posts
Ball. Foot. Kick ball around. Football. Its not hard. | ||
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Manit0u
Poland17238 Posts
On June 11 2012 07:16 IamBach wrote: So I am beginning to realize that I don't have any hope to learn enough to sound educated and maybe it won't be that big of a deal though. Does anyone at least know of any place where I could find what teams are still in and what teams are out? That is what I was trying to figure out when I found that deceptive website.http://livescore.net/ On the left there you have links you want to follow. Most basic info: - "football" not "soccer" (mentioned before but can't stress this one enough) - check the format, you have 16 teams in there, first comes the group stage (bo1, everyone against everyone else in their group, 2 teams make it out of each group. Place you get in group depends on points (3=win, 1=draw, 0=loss), in case of a tie it's goals scored, in case of another tie goals lost), after that it's... Why the fuck am I even writing all that? Go and educate yourself here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012 | ||
KalWarkov
Germany4126 Posts
despite that, everyone has sth to say and claims to be a total expert^^ | ||
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alderamin
80 Posts
It requires you having played at a reasonable to high amateur level yourself and watching recent games, automatically analysing them. Most people who debate this game because its WC or Euro cup time have no clue. It is actually really hard to analyze a game because there is so much luck involved. Games are often won by one single goal made because of 1 single play. To catch up what you can do is learn the basic rules, learn about some key players of key teams and watch some matches. Only thing one can help you with is if you ask a direct question. [edit] Oh wow it seems you don't even know what countries Europe has. Well, can't help you. Just drink german beer and do whatever. | ||
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samw
England443 Posts
On June 11 2012 08:07 alderamin wrote: Most people know very little about the game. There is not much one can tell you so you can have a meaningful discussion on the game. It requires you having played at a reasonable to high amateur level yourself and watching recent games, automatically analysing them. Most people who debate this game because its WC or Euro cup time have no clue. It is actually really hard to analyze a game because there is so much luck involved. Games are often won by one single goal made because of 1 single play. To catch up what you can do is learn the basic rules, learn about some key players of key teams and watch some matches. Only thing one can help you with is if you ask a direct question. [edit] Oh wow it seems you don't even know what countries Europe has. Well, can't help you. Just drink german beer and do whatever. I'm certain this is not true, in England you can have a discussion with most other guys about football and im assuming this is the same in Germany. It's probably best if you don't pretend to know alot about football and just say. I'm sure whoever you are staying with would enjoy teaching you about it. | ||
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Zocat
Germany2229 Posts
On June 11 2012 08:20 samw wrote: I'm certain this is not true, in England you can have a discussion with most other guys about football and im assuming this is the same in Germany. It's probably best if you don't pretend to know alot about football and just say. I'm sure whoever you are staying with would enjoy teaching you about it. He said "meaningful" discussion I dont know an English site, but stuff like: http://spielverlagerung.de/ is something most people (in Germany) dont know (I personally dont realize much of it as well, but it's interesting to read after matches). Edit: Ok found a similiar site in English: http://www.zonalmarking.net/category/euro-2012/ | ||
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alderamin
80 Posts
English managers to this day have the reputation of being lowly skilled. They can't give a complete training like many continental coaches do and their tactical feel for the game is limited. They also aren't familiar with fine tuning a team for good positional play. So I don't know why you say some random guy in the pub knows something about the game. | ||
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darthfoley
United States8001 Posts
On June 11 2012 07:45 Skyline026 wrote: Y U PEOPLE NO SAY FOOTBALL? Ball. Foot. Kick ball around. Football. Its not hard. Kickball? | ||
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Caphe
Vietnam10817 Posts
. It also contains a section about "Laws of the game" which is very important for starter.http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=334130 Have fun watching the most exciting and beautiful sport in the world. | ||
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snow2.0
Germany2073 Posts
16 national teams have made it into the group stage, were split into 4 groups and following tomorrow there's 2 more match days for each group. Best 2 teams qualify for KO tournament. If you stay for a longer time, you won't stand a chance trying to memorise all the teams, matches and histories you'll face. Just figure out germany for your friend and you'll pick up typical biased trashopinions for all the other teams on the fly. Most importantly, Gomez (our Striker) can't score. Even when he's a top scorer for the league, the champions league, the national cup and just got his first goal in the first match at the Euro2012. Don't be mislead by results, the clumsy bastard is infuriating to watch really xD Also, where are you staying? | ||
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pb.fcnz
Canada101 Posts
On June 11 2012 04:10 aqui wrote: Whats your problem, he said he doesn't know anything about football. Yes but OP is also a 1k post veteran on TL and should know to type "wiki football" or "wiki euro 2012" in google. This is a little like people who'd sign up and post a thread in general going "hey guys I'm new, where can I find build orders" instead of actually exploring the site a bit. Information for the euro is easily available to anyone who can use the internet. I thought he might be trolling too when I clicked that link actually. I mean if I'm looking at say, the Olympic tournament for rugby (dunno if there is one, I'm picking a sport I don't know), and I run into a page with a bunch of non national teams with cities in their names... sure I don't know rugby and never watched a game in my life, still I'd figure this is not what I'm looking for... | ||
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IamBach
United States1059 Posts
@snow2.O I'll be in Berlin and thanks for that tidbit of information. | ||
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Northern_iight
Canada363 Posts
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Timerly
Germany511 Posts
Lahm is loved by everyone, Gomez can't score, Klose is old but badass, our goalkeepers are the best in the world, Boateng and Hummels play surprisingly well, Podolski is not the smartest but has leg power, Kroos, Müller and Götze are prodigies of some sort. However, I'd generally avoid trying to sound like you know anything about football. Germans are usually VERY happy to explain how it all works and why Germany will win it this time etc. so just go about like a clueless American and get some biased education | ||
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Talin
Montenegro10532 Posts
On June 11 2012 08:20 samw wrote: I'm certain this is not true, in England you can have a discussion with most other guys about football and im assuming this is the same in Germany. What most people actually know is just a ton of data, not the game itself. Relatively few people understand the tactical side of the game and player's roles, can tell which player made a mistake and why, why one team has possession and the other doesn't, etc. I do agree with alderamin you need to have played football at some level to have actually been taught these things (or decided to learn it yourself for some weird reason ;p). It's fairly obscure information that commentators NEVER really go into during a game, even the analytical/expert commentators barely touch the subject. I never quite understood why that is. This has been my experience in Italy, Scotland and the Internet. | ||
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Terminal
United Kingdom2109 Posts
Euro 2012 only lasts a few weeks or so and the competition has just started, so every team(that have already qualified for Euro 2012) are still in. There's not really much to it.. you'll pick up quickly who the best players are, the fixtures, results and what the current standings are in the tournament just by watching. | ||
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B.I.G.
3251 Posts
Your life will never be the same | ||
Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
Yes, that makes sense too but, tell how does throwing a ball with your hands around a pitch for 4hours classify as "football" | ||
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DannyJ
United States5110 Posts
On June 11 2012 19:48 Pandemona wrote: Yes, that makes sense too but, tell how does throwing a ball with your hands around a pitch for 4hours classify as "football" It's a sport based off of rugby football, which itself was a deviation of typical football. The word football just stuck as the sport changed over 140 years (it's nothing like it was back then), and since Americans couldn't care less about the rest of the world's football it didn't seem that strange or problematic I guess. It's like basketball isn't played with baskets anymore, but no one thinks about changing it's name. Not all of football is totally lost even in American football, interestingly enough. The game still largely involves kicking the ball through a goal. | ||
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kyllinghest
Norway1607 Posts
As a bonus you can make up a speech about how you have always loved Dzagoev, and that you beileved in Shirokov even when he vanished for two months. | ||
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hewley
Germany1063 Posts
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Mallidon
Scotland557 Posts
On June 11 2012 07:30 DannyJ wrote: Just wikipedia it dude since apparently you just want the absolute basic information. That has up to date match score and such as well. This! Every time your friends say for example: 'Ohh Muller is good but he aint doing well at the moment' you can just silently wiki it on your phone and say something like 'Well Muller did provide 7 assists and 3 goals in 10 games during qualifying' and look like a right smart ass Just pretend you are texting someone who isn't there and Bob's your auntie! Edit - Nod along a lot and say 'I guess so' too. Most people do it when I start spouting footy at them and it usually appeases me lol. | ||
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disco
Netherlands1667 Posts
On June 11 2012 10:37 snow2.0 wrote: [...] Most importantly, Gomez (our Striker) can't score. Even when he's a top scorer for the league, the champions league, the national cup and just got his first goal in the first match at the Euro2012. Don't be mislead by results, the clumsy bastard is infuriating to watch really xD This hurts now. | ||
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aseq
Netherlands3975 Posts
- goal kick/corner/throw in - penalty area/penalty shot - offside - yellow/red card/fouls/hands - substitutes/injury time/extra time/penalty shootout - formations (4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2 mostly) and positions (back, winger, striker etc). Then just watch a couple of matches and you'll have a good idea what to expect, maybe google something if it bothers you. GL! | ||
tree.hugger
Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
On June 10 2012 15:33 zf wrote: It's funny; this used to be a good strategy, but this Euro, Lalas has been dead on about almost everything. He's studied. O_oIf you're watching ESPN/ESPN3, just believe the opposite of everything Lalas says and you can't go wrong. In all seriousness, there's no substitute for watching lots and lots of games. And, like everyone else has posted, don't pretend to have knowledge that you don't. It's easy for someone who's been following the sport for decades to identify someone who's a relative newcomer. | ||
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darkcloud8282
Canada776 Posts
I keep seeing players covering their face and get up immediately after they realize the ref wont give a penalty It seems like thats an accepted norm and its ok to try and get free penalties from refs. Arent there punishments for this behavior? | ||
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Malinor
Germany4721 Posts
On June 24 2012 04:53 darkcloud8282 wrote: Is it bad for me to point out that people keep diving in football? I keep seeing players covering their face and get up immediately after they realize the ref wont give a penalty It seems like thats an accepted norm and its ok to try and get free penalties from refs. Arent there punishments for this behavior? Everyone hates that behaviour and it is not punished enough. Hard to punish either way, you can hardly prove that someone is not in pain. And there are pretty limited possibilities to punish a player in retrospective after the game. Though I don't feel it has been that bad during this EURO. | ||
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warding
Portugal2394 Posts
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