Will Robert Lewandowski have his White Russians–oh wait that’s next match–and drink them too? The big Dortmund striker is a candidate for “Robin Van Persie 2013?”
Poland’s on the Euro plan soon or later, but it’s player are paid in Euros…they a tad bit peeved at the Greeks. Should be a good celebration game.
Euro 2012…getting it on.
It’s the Big Lewandowski vs….
–
….the currency crushers…
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The Shin Guardian 
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 8:42 AM
And nothing says tolerance and diversity like Mikey Ballack! Perfect talisman for the broadcast.
Although I will enjoy him just punching Lalas at some point after one of his totally annoying non sequiturs he tosses out like a minor league mascot with a hot dog gun.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 8:49 AM
Freaking hilarious opening with Lalas already saying something stupid about Greece, Bob Levy giving him a hearty courtesy laugh and Ballack just staring at both of them…this may be the most underrated part of the tournament…
Posted by Jason on 2012/06/08 at 8:52 AM
Line-ups:
Poland: Szczesny; Boenisch, Perquis, Wasilewski, Piszczek; Polanski, Murawski; Rybus, Obraniak, Blaszczykowski; Lewandowski
Greece: Chalkias; Holebas, A. Papadopoulos, Papastathopoulos, Torossidis; Karagounis, Katsouranis, Maniatis; Samaras, Gekas, Ninis
Posted by Jason on 2012/06/08 at 8:54 AM
I’m not going to lie, I laughed at just how stereotypically Polish and Greek those names are.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 8:53 AM
And now for the obligatory WTF does this have to do with football opening ceremony…talk about non sequiturs….
Posted by Jared on 2012/06/08 at 9:14 AM
The game has been a lot more open than I expected it to be. I hope I haven’t jinxed it now.
Posted by Jason on 2012/06/08 at 9:19 AM
Beautiful, composed finish for Lewandowski. Man I hope he doesn’t end up at Man U.
Posted by matthewsf on 2012/06/08 at 9:30 AM
Nobody F’s with Poland’s Jesus:
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 9:39 AM
Bit harsh and premature maybe?
Posted by dth on 2012/06/08 at 9:46 AM
Dortmund have said they won’t sell. Could just be a negotiating ploy.
I think Dortmund can survive the loss of one of their frontline players (i.e. Kagawa) but not too.
I’m also not sure why United want another forward anyway. Seems to me Welbeck/Chicharito/sometimes Rooney are more than enough to take it up.
Posted by Jared on 2012/06/08 at 10:00 AM
I hope Dortmund don’t sell. That team deserves a chance to go into the Champions League without losing too many of its players. They’ve done it the right way and it would be unfortunate to have the money teams just take all of their players away from them.
Ferguson has always believed that a team needs 4 forwards. It’s been one of his core beliefs going back years even though they don’t play the typical 4-4-2 as much as they used to.
Posted by dth on 2012/06/08 at 11:32 AM
For Dortmund, it’s more of an Arsenal-type situation wherein they could spend more money, but they prefer not to. In Dortmund’s case, given they almost went bankrupt during the aughts, you can scarcely blame them.
Anyway, buying Reus and keeping Gotze and Hummels was a huge coup for them. The key is to manage any player outflows. One a year is not so bad. (I’m still unhappy that Sahin left last year and did nothing at Madrid.)
Posted by Jared on 2012/06/08 at 9:46 AM
Looks like the ref is enforcing some austerity measures on the Greeks with a couple of soft yellows on Papsthathopolus.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 10:17 AM
Badum chish! Nice…
Posted by Jason on 2012/06/08 at 10:13 AM
WOW! Did not expect Greece to equalize. Poland hasn’t looked nearly as sharp this half. Might have thought it was over already…
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 10:19 AM
Can’t discount the 20 mns at home impact on Poland. Think adrenaline might have fueled that onslaught. Althought Sammarans has been non existent on that side defensively.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 10:26 AM
Sammarans=Jesus + Ecstasy…just sayin
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 10:40 AM
+ Kramer….just awful and could surely use a bath…
Posted by Jared on 2012/06/08 at 10:26 AM
Well, the game started off as a good advertisement for soccer for any non fans. After the goal the Greeks have been showing off all the negative things about soccer with their injury faking.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 10:32 AM
Wow. Just wow.
Posted by Jared on 2012/06/08 at 10:36 AM
This game has been crazy.
Posted by John on 2012/06/08 at 11:26 AM
Group of hooligan fans attacked a group of english speaking russian cska fans and polish widzew lodz fans. Supposedly the attackers had/ahve ties to lks lodz hooligans.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 11:39 AM
Oh no! Hooligans at a Euro-based football tournament? I’m shocked. Can’t wait for the next “drunk angry unemployed guys acting like drunk angry unemployed guys” update!
Posted by John on 2012/06/08 at 11:46 AM
This is not a case of drunk unemployed fans causing havoc, this was a systematic attack on associated soccer fans. 50 people pulled up in vehicles and beat people so bad that the eyewitnesses thought they were dead.
Posted by Jason on 2012/06/08 at 12:13 PM
Russia up 2-0 already!? I expected the Czechs to be solid in the back but that may have been purely because they have Cech between the sticks…
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 12:16 PM
Russia looks solid. Interesting little sidebar was Arshavin being absent from the goal celebration 2-0. He played that gorgeous ball through and then doesn’t bother to join his 4 teammates for the joy. He’s a strange cat…
Posted by dth on 2012/06/08 at 12:21 PM
Keeping mind the worst thing is bragging about your fantasy team, I’m about to brag about my fantasy team.
Got Dzagoev and Lewandowski starting.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2012/06/08 at 12:23 PM
Kasey K is prettjy enjoyable and Ian Darke has to be thrilled to be rid of the Unnamed One. Intelligent and reasonable insightful and doesn’t need to inject his ego into his commentary. Like to see the list of capable American color guys growing.
Posted by Kevin O' on 2012/06/08 at 2:14 PM
Agreed. Then there’s Michael Ballack. Ugh. Wish he was as bad in the air as he is on the air. 2002 might have been different!
Posted by Nick on 2012/06/08 at 2:38 PM
Watching the Russia Czech game a little delayed and snickered to myself when Keller started talking about the two goal lead. Anyone know his email address so we can send him this link? http://theshinguardian.com/2011/06/28/turns-out-its-the-most-dangerous-lead-for-the-other-team/