Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Final Report

The last ball has been kicked in Kiev, and the biggest question in world soccer has evolved from "Who will be European Champion?" to "Is Spain the greatest dynasty in the history of the sport?"


There are of course a few other answers out there still to search for: What was Jogi Loew thinking? Who the hell is Jordi Alba?? And why did it take me a week to finish this final writeup???

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Semi #2 Roundup

When Mezut Ozil stepped up and banged home a penalty kick in the 94th minute of the second semifinal of Euro 2012, no one watching, save for possibly GiGi Buffon, thought the gifted goal would actually lead to a change in the match's end result.

But while it may've been too little, too late for Germany, Ozil's conversion from the spot went a long way towards shaping the final standings on our fantasy leaderboard.

Besides just the big points to Ozil himself, the goal erased clean sheet bonuses that the Italian defense had seemed destined  to earn most of the day. Even though most of Mezut's owners in contention lost those bonuses along with everyone else, they more than made up for it with a big chunk of MID Goal points all to themselves.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Semi #1 Roundup

Euro 2012 has seen 311 minutes of pitch time since Xabi Alonso did Spain right with an unmarked header that gave new definition to the idea of "open play." Since then the only kicks that have found the back of the net have come from the penalty spot. 


Amazingly though, two straight goalless draws have produced the two highest fantasy scoring outputs of the tournament. 

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Qtr #4 Roundup

The last Quarterfinal of Euro 2012 gave us the most exciting Nil-Nil draw I've seen in quite a while, even if the English attack eventually lost steam and the air of Italian inevitability took over once it went to the penalty shootout (even if "some people" were dumb enough to predict the exact opposite).


But for our purposes, the game was more than just a good soccer match. Even though the ball never hit the back of the net (at least not without the flag going up), extra time and clean sheet bonuses turned this one into a fantasy bonanza.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Qtr #3 Roundup

The action on the pitch in Quarterfinal #3 of Euro 2012 was mostly hypnotizing, but peppered with a few brief flashes of action that at least made you feel like you'd actually just watched a world class win-or-go-home soccer match.

But with the only goals coming from a player owned by no one in our pool, the game could hardly have been duller from a fantasy perspective. Muchas puntos extras created by Spain's third straight clean sheet may've made this the highest scoring day of the Knockout so far, but they sure as shit didn't shake up the standings much at all.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Qtr #2 Roundup

Well, Gentlemen, we officially have a fight on our hands. After more than a week of running away from the field, Andrew L. finally gave back major ground today. 


Back on Day 9 of the Group Stage, I focused my recap on the contrast between a lot of high scores and a lot of low ones. But that was nothing. Today the same theme played out even stronger, with several contenders taking goose eggs on the day and others scraping for a single, solitary point. Meanwhile a few people rode big gains to reshape their destinies in this pool.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Qtr #1 Roundup

For those like me who are conflicted about the ambivalent nature of their mixed feelings toward Cristiano Ronaldo, the first game of the Euro 2012 Knockout round dished out a generous slice of cake then let us take a big old bite.

Ronaldo's performance vs. the Czechs came flavored with all his classic attitudes, emotions, and abilities. Early, it was petulance dashed with determination topped off with a bit of blubbering disbelief. Later, strong notes of savage brilliance, and a tiny sprinkle of raw, honest patriotism, all served up with a sauce of brittle arrogance, unable to forget for even one single moment that most of the world still thinks Messi is better.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 12 Roundup

Day 11 wrapped up Euro 2012's Group stage in style. It featured a happy hello for Rooney, a fizzling farewell to Sheva, a doubled disappearance by Evra, and a wild where-the-hell-did-that-come-from by Larsson. 


For 48 minutes, I even got to entertain the idea of France making yet another early exit from a big tourney, which would've satisfied my anti-Gallic inclinations while also giving a tiny boost to my chances of somehow, some way climbing into the Top 20 of my own pool.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 11 Roundup

With no one player really standing out from the pack (Pirlo, Cassano, and Iniesta all tied for top daily scorer with a mere 7 points), Day 11 was all about small, subtle storylines. 

Of course, every tiny edge you can get on the stat sheet counts, and enough little edges put together will pay off big - as evidenced by the pool's increasingly dominant top dog, Andrew L.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 10 Roundup

From the moment the balls were drawn in Warsaw last winter, they called it the Group of Death. And when it came to the action on the pitch, they couldn't have been more correct - even the mighty Germans could never be assured of advancing until they scored in the 260th of the 270 minutes the Group Stage contains.

But gambling doesn't always imitate life, and for fantasy purposes, Group B will likely end up as the liveliest of all.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 9 Roundup

In a day of extreme tension on the pitches of Group A, the fantasy scoresheet featured a few standout performances matched against lots of low numbers.


The top echelon of the Leaderboard is shoring up position, with owners trading a few spots back and forth here and there, and bracing to see which players they'll have on board for the stretch run.  The middle of the pool remains as bunched as ever, while at the low end, we congratulate Kyle S. -  who moved up his second spot in as many days.  If only we were running this thing until September. He might've gone all the way to the top.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 8 Roundup

Things got dicey on Day 8, Fantasy Footie Fans.  I've never had 5 of you immediately e-mail me right after the scoring report when out until today! 

The obvious reason? For the first time so far in the tournament and the pool, credit for a goal was given to one player, then the ruling was changed mid-game. 

And the impact on our Leaderboard was even bigger, because it wasn't just the original goalscorer and the new one involved in the play, there was also the matter of the assist!

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 7 Roundup

Well, fantasy friends, what to say about Shay Given? 


Under Furia fire from the opening kick, Given was often beaten and never graceful, but ultimately he was the only thing that kept Spain from reaching double digits on the scoresheet.

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 7 - Quick Picks

Balotelli tries to decide which personality will take the field today

I'm feeling better after finally getting a few wins under my belt, even though Portugal almost blew it.  Today's games are about to kick off so I'll make these short and sweet:

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 7 - Group B Chaos, Group C Yearning

Speed Solvers, go!

Halfway through the Group Stage of Euro 2012, no one has been eliminated, no one has guaranteed advancement, and no one is really sure what to make of what's going on in Group B.

From Nicklas Bendtner's controversial undies, to Arjen Robben's emergence as a total headcase, to Cristiano Ronaldo's inelegant misdirections, there's a lot to confuse us fans.  Master wordsmith Ian Darke likened Group B to a Rubik's Cube this morning.

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 6 - Desperate Dutchmen

It's been a couple days since I've pumped out any non-Fantasy Pool related thoughts on the Euros.  Chalk it up to equal parts busyness, fatigue, and lack of inspiration. Almost halfway through the group stage and I have only really gotten to sit and watch a couple of games with full focus - and unfortunately one of those games was England v France, which literally put me to sleep in the second half.

Day 6 brings a remedy for some of those problems, but not all.  I'm still busy and I'm again on the day shift which means not watching the games live, but I've finally caught up on sleep, I feel fantastic, and today's matchups come loaded with inspiration.

Topping the list of things to look forward to: Desperate Dutchmen. 

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 4 - Anticipating the Ox, and Today's Quick Picks

"So, just who was on that Milan backline, anyway?"

Today England plays their first match in the European Championships since I was still in my early 20s.  Since I was introduced to the game by and Anglophile friend of mine and I follow the English Premier League closer than I do any other in soccer, I'll always lean toward the three lions in a big international tournament. Against France, even more so.

Euro 2012 Fantasy Player Pool - Day 3 Roundup

Day 3 gave us a new name atop the leaderboard, some old reliables coming up strong, and the timeless tradition of hustle plays making prima donnas look ridiculous.


Yes it's good to be among the leaders now, but it's better to be scoring points that no one else is getting, and a few people got a good number of preciously unique points through goals from Fabregas and Jelavic, owned by only a pair of owners each our pool. 

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 3 - Quick Picks

No time for analyis here this a.m. as I've got a few other things pressing, so here are some REALLY quick picks for today's games:

Euro 2012 Diary, Day 3 - Missing the Action, In Action

As much as I've been looking forward to this tournament, timing has not been my friend so far over the first two days.  First I was stuck in the middle of a busy workday on Friday, then Saturday I passed on watching games that only happen every four years to take up an opportunity I considered even more rare.