The Euro 2012 prediction competition

[longeared]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Portugal 0-1 Spain
Germany 2-1 Italy

Podolski

[slackster]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Portugal 2-2 Spain
Germany 3-1 Italy

Pirlo

[Bill Bones]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Portugal 0-1 Spain
Germany 2-0 Italy

Gomez

[imp]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

It's gonna be tight as a Calvinist's purse. I hope I'm hopelessly wrong.

Portugal 0 Spain 0
Italy 1 Germany 0

Goal: Pirlo (free kick, mistake by Neuer, 15 minutes from time.)

[Edie St Pierre]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Um, I'm a bit more optimistic for tonight, I think Portugal are going to make Spain play like they've haven't played since Senna hung up his boots:

Spain 3 - Portugal 3
Italy 1 - Germany 2

[Sean of the Shed]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Scores after the semi finals:
kevchenko13 7* - 35
Bill Bones 0 - 33
imp 4 - 31
Greenlander 4 - 30
Unbelievable Jeff 1 - 28
Sash08 d - 28
Hofzinser 1 - 27
Donbas Ogrodnik 3* - 26
Lilia Podkopayeva 3 - 25
Jah Tomaszewski 0 - 25
ad hOkocim 0 - 24
mews 3* - 23
Andy C 0 - 23
meregreen 0 - 23
RoberMnicus d - 23
mafu d - 22
Cal Zapiekanki Bialystok 3* - 21
Sean of the Szczed 1 - 21
paulomagnifico 1 - 20
Antepli Ejderha 0 - 20
Mr Beast 1 - 19
Kurt Bafokeng d - 19
linusz 0 - 19
oskhar mykolaiv 0 - 19
Czerwony Zielony 0 - 18
Sundeporino d - 18
über slasker 1 - 18
Lviv 5 0 - 17
Big Daves Gussett d - 17
Incandenza d - 16
Billy Casper d - 16
Widzew longearedz 0 - 15
wingco 0 - 15
David Agnew d - 15
Belhaven d - 15
Glass Half Empty d - 15
J.Reece d - 14
Matchenko 0 - 12
Smallcaps 0 - 12
Nishlord d - 12
E10 Rifle d - 12
Scratchmonkey 0 - 11
Szczesny Saxon Kyivs d - 11
zbigniew d - 11
rick derris d - 10
Kettlist Kharkiv d - 8
My Name Is Ian d - 6
willie1foot d - 6
Boris Kharkiv d - 5
Calvert W. McCutcheon d - 5
pebblethefish d - 5
ale d - 4
The Purple Cow Junior d - 3
Tooncgull d - 3
Vicariousz Thrillseeker d - 3
OAPM d - 2
Pietro Paolo Virdis d - 2
Rogin Chorzow d - 2
Mat 1 - 1
Etienne d - 1
Top score of 7 points for kevchenko13 puts him two ahead of Bill Bones on 35 points. Any score with a * against it includes 3 points for guessing that Mario Balotelli would score first.

[Sean of the Shed]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Just the final to predict then:

Spain v Italy

For a 3 point bonus, predict which minute (of normal time only, not extra time) the first goal is scored (if at all). Nearest will win.

The total goals scored so far is 72 going in to the the final.

[Hofzinser]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 0-0 Italy

First goal: None

[Sean of the Shed]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 1-2 Italy

28th minute

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 1 Italy 2

Goal in minute 27

Cheers Sean.

[Cal Alamein]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 1 Italy 0

77th minute

Thanks Sean - this has made the tourney more interesting.

[meregreen]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 1-0 Italy

81 minutes.

Cheers Sean, much appreciated.

[Andy C]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 0-0 Italy

No first goal

[imp]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

I was going to say 0-0, but it seems too obvious, and the obvious scores rarely happen (except for Spain 0 Portugal 0). With three goals conceded between them, it really should be 0-0, and it's easy to envisage this Sunday slumped on the sofa paralyzed with boredom as mutual negation spreads its smothering blanket over the field for the full 120 minutes. But I don't want to sit there subconsciously thinking, "Oh well, if it's 0-0 at least I get three points in the OTF Prediction Competition", just like I did all the way through Spain-Portugal. It's just sad and pathetic for a 46-year-old man to be watching a football game that way, and I want goals and I want excitement as much as the next neutral armchair commentator.

So...

Spain 2 Italy 2

First goal: 4th. minute

[matt j]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

sigh...

Spain 5-3 Italy

Arbeloa to score in the 4th minute after everyone forgets he's there and he taps it home after a scramble, Pedro (starting for Silva) to score in the 15th as he slams a shot home from outside the box (Buffon doesn't move). Pirlo will score a penalty in the 33rd (Ramos clattering Balotelli again) to make Italy think they have a comeback in the second half.

Unfortunately for them, Xavi drills a freekick into the corner at the 47th minute, and Xabi Alonso chips Buffon from distance at 60. Balotelli scores another golazo of the tournament with a bicycle kick from a corner (63rd). At 4-2 the game starts becoming a shambles: Ramos sent off, De Rossi sent off, Balotelli sent off, Busquets gets two yellows for flashing imaginary cards, Buffon gives away a penalty to the substitute Navas. Fabregas misses the pen, but the rebound is tapped home by Pique (81st).

Di Natale comes on late as Italy go for broke, and scores in the 90th.

Everybody remembers this final as the greatest game of soccer in history and hail Spain as the greatest team of all time.

Only because 0-0 was already taken.

[Jah Womble]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 2 Italy 0

First goal = 41st minute

(Hardly any of my bets have come off this tournament, so I ain't holding the breath...)

[imp]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Matchenko wrote: sigh...

Arbeloa to score in the 4th minute...

Oi, fourth minute's taken.

[linus]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

I was going to put 0-0, but I just turned 46, and imp said that it was sad and pathetic for 46 year-olds to make that prediction. Things seemed so much easier when I was young...

So then,

Spain 1-0 Italy, @ 43'.

thanks for all the work Sean, it's been fun.

[mews]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 3 Italy 2

25 mins

Thanks Sean,great work.

[imp]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

linusz wrote: I was going to put 0-0, but I just turned 46, and imp said that it was sad and pathetic for 46 year-olds to make that prediction. Things seemed so much easier when I was young...

So then,

Spain 1-0 Italy, @ 43'.

thanks for all the work Sean, it's been fun.

Ooh, sir, you misunderstand me. It's not sad and pathetic to predict 0-0, it's sad and pathetic to watch the game trying to pretend you're not hoping that it's 0-0 so that you get 3 points in the OTF Prediction League.

I'm only going to thank Sean if I win. And only then if he gives me a prize. And only if he changes his name back to Sean of the Shed, which alongside Dynamo Kev is my favourite OTF name ever.

[matt j]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

imp wrote:

sigh...

Arbeloa to score in the 4th minute...

Oi, fourth minute's taken.

Fantastic, that just negates the whole prediction too.

[Greenlander]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Spain 1-2 Italy

First goal: 19th minute

Thanks Sean.

[Kevin S]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Cor, top with one game to go. Whoda thunkit? Rather wish I hadn't gone for the frivolous Greece win forecast in the QFs!

So ten points up for grabs meaning anyone from Duncan (needs a 0-0) upwards can win it outright, though Hof would need to double up on his 73 goals with a one goal final rather than 0-0. Unbelievable Jeff needs a three goal final and Sash an unlikely eight. Greenlander and imp's predictions look fearsome and either could bag the six, but they can't get the total goals bonus.

I could wait for Bill to go and stitch it up but that would really be against the spirit of things. I'm going to back the calls I made before a ball was kicked: Italy to win a 76 goal tournament. It's shit or bust.

Spain 1-3 Italy

10th minute

Thanks Sean for your excellent work, it's been emotional.

P.S. need to mention Lilia, who has a chance of sharing it with a successful six goal forecast.

[Duncan Gardner]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Italy 0-0 Spain aet

Big ups to the lad Szczed. Yours to lose, Kev...

[Come along, Min]

The Euro 2012 prediction competition

Fairplay Kev, great work Sean as per.

Spain 3 Italy 3*

25th minute.