Image posted by the great Benit in the OleOle graphics forum. I thought I'd share it to those of you who are non-graphics forum browsers. It's hilarious, and a bit harsh for Michael Ballack. But hey, the truth hurts.

I don't like to brag about the massive press that I get [sarcasm] because it comes too often [/sarcasm], but this blog has been talked about in this article in the Los Angeles Times. Here's the quote:

"No-name bloggers not listed above also contribute to the site. Some endow the games with a little humor, such as this Romanian blogger who updated fans on the Sweden-Russia game with such tidbits as “Kolodin shoots from far away. I think he's still hung over from the vodka last night. Why would any defender want to shoot from that far out?”  and “Another shot Russia! I can't type his name fast enough so I won't, but great job once again by him.”

Well... it's not really glamorous, but since I am a no-name blogger, I'm slightly excited. They didn't quote Arseblog did they? Well... the article is about OleOle anyways, it's a good read. I only posted it because it's a good example of what kind of people are watching you here on OleOle. But Alana Semuels, if you would have asked, I would have told you my name... seriously. 

omg. I'm famous. omg. I'm gona go buy some Gucci so I look good for the paparazi tommorow. 

Thanks to Niran for showing me this.

<3, Horia

End Of Match: Russia have qualified. Sweden are out. I'm looking forward to Netherlands - Russia. Bring me Hiddink at Romania... seriously.

90': Another chance for Arshavin and Russia. They deserve the win 100%.

88': Bystrov the speedy man is coming in to replace Pavlyachanko.

88': Arshavin has another chance, should have passed it to Pavlyachenko.

82': Saenko and Pavlyanchenko are ripping apart the Swedish defense. Another chance for Pavlyachenko, but the shot is no good.

81': Pavlyachenko heads it in, the Sweedish keeper saves it. Another good chance.

80': POST hit by Russia.. what a chance!

75': Foul Kolodin on Ljungberg. Yellow card shown to the Russian.

72': Ibrahimovic header, not too dangerous from the Swede. Russia are on the attack again.

71': Akinfeev leveled by Larsson. He's okay though.

68': Saenko gets a corner out of the Swedes.

66': Arshavin fouled in the box in my opinion, nothing given.

66': Saenko goes in for Russia.

65': Yellow card for Arshavin. A bit unfair.

62': Header Mellberg, over the goal.

61': Elmander loses posession in the box. Corner Sweden.

57': Larsson tries an overhead acrobatic scissors kick. Didn't quite work out.

57': Yellow card Symak for not too rough of a foul.

57': Another attack Russia, fantastic performance!

51': What a goal again, team work from the young russians.

50': GOALLLLL ARSHAVIN!

49': Elmander gets a yellow card for shooting after being offside.

46': Game back on, hard to tell what will happen. Russia still are keen to attack.

Half Time: Half Time - Russia and Spain qualify at these scores.

45' (+1):

Sweden waste the corner right before half time.

45' (+1): Chance for Nilsson, but he doesn't put it away.

43': Shot by Ljungberg, good save by Akinfeev. Corner to follow.

41': Ooooh, another shot Pavlyachenko, poor shot.

41': And the follow-up.

40': Akinfeev deals with the corner.

39': Foul Russia. Sweden has a chance to attack slightly. Sweden get their first corner.

37': Arshavin picks it up but keeper makes the save .

37': CORNER again.

36': Another shot from long range by Russia, saved by the Swedish keeper!

36': Jesus what a chance. Pavlyachenko hits the post!

35': Corner Russia... another shot wasted.. this time by Anyukov.

34': Not much happening the past 5 minutes, Russia attacks, Sweden tries to counter attack, but no real danger to any goal.

27': Another shot Russia! I can't type his name fast enough so I won't, but great job once again by him.

26': Larsson's header hits the post, very very close. It actually hits right in the upper 90!

26': Another close one from Russia, unlucky to miss it!

24': Pass..Pass..Pass.. OWNED.

24': GOALLLLL PAVLYANCHENKOOOOOOO. RUSSIA 1-0 SWDEN!

20': Arshavin almost scores from a tough angle, it was meant to be a cross. corner again. Zhirkov gets on the end of it from the corner with a left foot shot, inches away from a goal!

19': Another terrible shot from a defending player from far out.. why?

18': Arshavin plays a perfect through ball, Zyryanov messes up the cross, but the Russians get a corner.

16': Ljungberg cross goes straight in akinfeev's hands.  Arshavin on the counter attack shoots on goal, but it goes a meter wide.

15': After 15 minutes, Sweden has had NO attacking presence yet, besides a boot in the face by Ibrahimovic.

15': Another venture in the attack by Russia, unlucky in the end.

13': Arshavin header goes wide of the goal.

12': Ljungberg roughs up Akinfeev... might be because he thinks he's cute.. but who am i to judge?

10': Kolodin shoots from far away.. I think he's still hung over from the vodka last night. Why would any defender want to shoot from that far out?

10': Ibrahimovic gets at the end of the cross, but Akinfeev has no trouble picking it up.

8': Foul Russia, not close enough for a dangerous strike at goal.

6': Arshavin makes an instant impact. Russia are playing around in the box of the Swedes.

6': Pavlyachenko tries to heel pass it instead of taking it in stride. Bad choice.

4': Corner Russia.

Before Kick Off: I hope Arshavin starts! I'll let you know when I see the lineups.

Even though Spain is playing today, the Spain - Greece game is not at all the match of the day in my opinion. I love watching smaller teams fight it out and create a show. The stage is set for the Russia - Sweden match coming in 30 minutes, a fight for qualification and pride. 

What I'm excited about today is the possibility of seeing Arshavin in action for the first time in Euro 2008. The press says that "Andrei Arshavin is available for the first time in these finals after serving a two-match ban yet there are no guarantees the FC Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker will start as Hiddink ponders possible changes to a team he believes did a "decent job" in defeating Greece 1-0 on Saturday. "There's a lack of rhythm to Arshavin's game because he hasn't played recently. He's not match-fit so I don't know if he'll start," said the coach. Yuri Zhirkov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov are also likely to be available, despite bruised knees picked up against the deposed holders and Dmitri Torbinski is recovering from fatigue."

While Russia has players coming back from injury, Sweden is in a different dilemma. "We're not sure about Ibrahimović. We have an individual training plan for him," said Lagerbäck, already without Christian Wilhelmsson due to a hamstring problem while Niclas Alexandersson is struggling with a calf strain.

Lagerbäck also said that "Russia have a strong team offensively and we have to be very focused on that." "All their players are good; they're very strong on the left side in particular. We always prepare in a similar way. There's nothing dramatic, it's just about being ready for all the eventualities that may arise. What we need to improve on is keeping the ball in the final third. It's very difficult to say who are the favourites as it's such a decisive game. It starts at 50-50 I think."

I'll be supporting Russia in this game, although it is a bit hard for me to do so, but they've shown some good moments, a good mentality and Hiddink is a manager I respect a lot. I will also live-blog this game in the Russia vs. Sweden Match Centre on OleOle. See you there!

49': Lobont saves Persie's shot.. amazzzing save.

48': Mutu = faster than affelay.

46': Shot Mutu from 23120301 yards away.. why?

46': game back on.

45': Half Time... dissapointing.

45': Amateurism.

45': How in the world did he miss that?????????

44': Codrea miss.. jesus christ.

39': Shot Cocis, wide again. 

37': How did he misss that??? my god. Robben just missed a perfect opportunity. wow.

35': Titi Henry almost scored for France in the other game... getting there!

34': Dangerous cross Contra, no one got on it!

33': Miss Huntelaar.. close.

30': Mutuuuuu sooo clooooose jessu.

26': I hope the French can score one and tie it up! Benzegoolll come on.

26': Ribery injured, Abidal red card. Penalty Pirlo, goal.

24': Incredible miss Mutu! Skipped off of Bouma's foot.. dammmn

23': Someone teach Nicolita how to cross PLEASEEE

21': we're defending too much! Hand ball Huntelaar.

19': Persie heads it over the goal, not close at all.

17': the atomic gypsie is fast, but can't cross... shame.

16':

15': Robben is gona get injured.

14': Chivu clinical tackle and stop.

13': Lots of possession and counter-attack tries.

9': Chivu shoots it over the goal... damn.

8': Mutu fouled in a dangerous position.

7': Offside Nicolita.

6': Afellay dribbles it out of the pitch, not too threatening.

4': Shot Marius Niculae, Looking good for us.

4': Foul Netherlands.

1': Game on!

Before Kick Off: Stekelburg startinggg yess!

Latest news from De Telegraaf! The leading Dutch news source has found out that it's highly probable that both Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben will be in the starting 11 against Romania.

According to the Dutch newspaper, the most likely starting 11 from the Netherlands will be:

Van der Sar - Melchiot, Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler - De Zeeuw, Engelaar - Van Persie, Afellay, Robben - Huntelaar

Van Basten seems to be risking a bit by starting Van Der Sar in my opinion in a game that doesn't matter at all for them. Van Persie and Robben just came back from injuries and playing the glass figurines against our rough line-up might lead to them picking up another injury. If I was him, I wouldn't risk it, but it seems like he will. 

Another Dutch publication, Algemeen Dagblad, gave their 10 reasons why the Netherlands will defeat Romania:

1. Afellay has the chance to get revenge on Mutu after Fiorentina - PSV in the Uefa cup.
2. Van Basten isn't forgetting Huntelaar anymore, and he will score a goal to repay him.
3. Van Nistelrooy wants the top scorer prize.
4. Ovidiu Petre, one of the best midfielders for Romania is injured.
5. Ogăraru, Lobonţ and Chivu don't agree on the Dutch tactics.
6. Romania has won only once against Holland.
7. Mutu will miss another penalty.
8. Sneijder also wants to be top scorer.
9. Robben tries to score from impossible positions, this time he'll try to score from a corner.
10. Stade de Suisse is a temple for the Netherlands. 

I'd say that all of those except for 1,3,8 and 9 are false. 1,3,8 and 9 won't contribute to a win. Ruud and Sneijder are on the bench, Afellay won't do anything important, like the Fiorentina game, and Robben can try to score from a corner, but it won't happen. I was expecting a bit more creativity from the Dutch press to be honest. 

Not much time left before the big games in the group of death. I'm dieing waiting for these games to begin.

My prediction: Romania 2-0 Netherlands. 

"I live in luxury. I have so many choices for the team that sometimes I don't know what to do, that's my problem." That's what Van Basten said, who will take advantage of the chance in the last game of the group to rest most of the players in the starting 11, and to test the rest of the squad. 

"I won't risk a possible injury caused by fatigue or to leave myself without a player because of bookings. Also, who is not 100% fit will not play against Romania," said Marco Van Basten to the Dutch journalists. 

These are the possible 10 players that will be rested:

Van der Sar - he is 37 years old and has played 52 games this season.
Boulahrouz - often injured and he just played 6 games at Sevilla and the fitness level is showing.
Ooijer - has a yellow card from France and could risk suspension.
Van Bronckhorst - the left defender who is 33 years old and played 45 games this season will probably be rested after the tiring sprints against France and Italy.
De Jong - he has a yellow card from the Italy game.
Van der Vaart - he is also fatigued after 54 games this season and he ran 21.16 km at Euro so far.
Sneijder - Sneijder had a long season with Real Madrid and gathered 50 games. He also ran 21 km at this Euro and is the key player for Holland and can't risk injury.
Van Nistelrooy - he came back in april after a month of absence caused by an operation on his ankle. Van Basten doesn't want to risk injury.
Robben - he is not 100% and the doctors don't want him to push it and risk another injury.
Van Persie - after two months of absence, it is unlikely that Van Basten will risk an injury on him this game that doesn't do anything for Holland. 

Taking these into account, the possible lineup could be: 

GK: Stekelenburg
DF: Melchiot, Heitinga, Bouma, De Cler
MF: De Zeeuw, Engelaar, Kuyt, Afellay
FW: Huntelaar, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

Insiders from the Dutch setup said that if Italy and France were eliminated, the Dutch would "rid themselves of two forces of global football, which could come back to form any time. They would avoid the probability of meeting one of them again in semi-finals."

Van Basten suggested the same thing. He was asked about the game tuesday. He said laughing that he is "interested to be first in the group." The reporter shouted back "you already are!" To which Van Basten said: "Oh really? I didn't think of this scenario. I will do that and we will choose the best possible path for ourselves." 

He also said that it's not their ambition to "lose games, but we will reflect seriously on what is best for us, not for other teams."

Chivu said in an interview for the International Herald Tribune that "it won't change much. The other 11 players will be wanting to show off their skills." I think that's just politics though. 

Also the comments of Cosmin Contra in the same article put a smile on my face for once. He said that "we are a good team. We have two draws against the most powerful teams in the world. We need to attack (against the Netherlands). We need to go hard against them."

Before the Italy game, he said he wanted to sit back and defend. I'm happy he's changed his mind after seeing what a bit of attack can do for us against these big teams. They're not used to small teams attacking them, they're always shell shocked. 

Ciprian Marica is supposed to start for Romania as the striker in the Netherlands game. He is over his injuries, and Daniel Niculae will be rested after the hard work against France and Italy. He should add a different dynamic to the game for us, him and Niculae are very different players. 

Well this is looking good for us so far. Of corse, the Dutch substitutes are good players, but we did beat them 1-0 and drew 0-0 in qualifying and they weren't playing backups. People say that the backups will play hard to get a chance in the first team and show what they can do. But they have to think in their minds that the starting 11 Van Basten used against France and Italy beat the world champions and the vice-world champions 3-0 and 4-1, so even a good game against Romania probably won't convince Van Basten to include them in the starting 11. I think the Dutch will see this as a holiday, and prepare for their game against Russia or Sweden. They'll get their chance to play the starting 11 against us after we beat Spain. 

Either way, I truly believe that France and Italy will draw anyways. And if that happens, I really don't think we'll lose 3-0 against the Dutch reserves, so we'd still move on. But we need the win to guarantee that we can move on. 

I'll be back with more as soon as I have more information, until then, ROMANIIIAAA ROMANIIIAA OLE OLE OLEEEEE. 

End Of Match: We had the 3 points twice in our hand. I can't believe it.

90' (+2): yellow rossi... hooligan. COME ON.

90': diving AGAIN. I hate you italy.

87': greasy cheating .... i won't go on. Lucky.

80': i can't believe it.

80': PENALTY???!!???

79': think Nicolita fuck sake. Jesus what a dumbass.

78': Lobont. <3

75': Corner romania.

75': miooooowwwwww

71': we are.. how do you say... pumping them in the ass?

70': HOLY shit nico almost scored. gah soooo close.

65': ANOTHER offside Italy. GO home.

60': the atomic gypsie. I hope he scores.

59': Nicolita in.

58': Jesus christttt. What an attacking play.

58': Yellow chivu.

56': no.

56': That's why he should be up there. Let's keep it up!!!! my god.

55': game changin player., game changing player. Perfect.

55': jesus christ.

54': MUTUUU GOALLLL

54':

Mutu shot, put brusises on buffon's hands. He needs to do that more. 

52': offside.

49': Dica cross, I saw a hold on Nico, but the refs didn't.

46': Game on.

Half Time: Radoi is in the hostpital, he really jacked himself up.

Half Time: Half time. We're alive.

45' (+2): Holy shit i pissed myself. jesussss christ. Offside. omg. I hateee you toniiiiiii lalalalalala i hate you toniiiiii.

45' (+1): Foul del piero, bad attitude.

45': We're a team of mercenaries.

45': Rat is bleeding again :S.

43': You know why mutu fouled? Because he isn't a defender and shouldn't be defending. Just a thought.

40': Can I get a "mioowww"

40': LOBONNNNNNNNNNNT. Cat-like.

39': Codrea saves our life. God bless him.

38': Well italians mess it up too, so it's okay then. I forgive Mutu.

38': Mutu is fucking up again. Lame.

34': What a pussy.. get up and stop diving.

32': We keep giving free kicks. Why oh why? But it's okay, they miss it every time.

31': Toni misses another header. Sun is coming out. I don't like it.

29': offside mutu, he's playing striker now, nico left mid. perfect tactic.

29': so close.

28': Not only did we put on a passing clinic just now, but we almost made love to the net. Fuckkkkk.

27': Toni misses the goal again, same old same old. Keep it going.

25': Del piero misses the ball again, doesnt get to it. We escape.

25': Dica coming in. One Steaua twat for another. Fantastic. Least this one can score.

23': OLeeee ola. ROmania attacking. Here we go boys. Nico got pushed.

22': Why bother playing Italy when we injure ourselves? Rat has a hard head.

21': Radoi killed himself.

21': Damn Panucci. WHy can't he be off the field for this free kick?

19': OMGGGG we hit the bar. Friday the damn 13'th. Fuck sake. It will go in soon. And then Radoi and Rat hit heads :P. Headless chickens.

19': Free kick romania.

18': You can only hear our fans. :D

18': TAMAS free kick, bufffon was nervous.

17': Free kick romania

16': Toni misses a header, keep doing it tall guy.

15': Mutu on the attack, misses it. We can't do that. Buffon can be beaten.

13': Mutu defended beter than the defenders. Jesus chance Italy, missed the ball.

12': Free kick Pirlo.

10': GOIAN holy shit he saved us.

9': What a chance Del Piero. Miss. THANKKK GOD.

8': Foul Goain.

7': My friend's dad (who is very Romanian) just tried to explain football to my american friend who has been playing for 8 years :). "IF i go baseball game, I dono where goal is, they say they have no goal."

4': Corner italy.

3': Mutu offside. Shite really.

1': Mutu header, we already attacked more than the whole of France game.

1': Kick off. Italy.

Before Kick Off: Anthems played, ours is definately more emotional. And the players were really into it, very very much.

It seems like a deja vu for me. It hasn't rained here in any morning except for the mornigns Romania has played. It's Friday the 13'th and I'm having a complete deja vu to the game against France. But I'm not a perticularly superstitious person, and I don't believe in Friday the 13'th (although, Italy has never won on Friday the 13'th).

The stage is set for a good game. Italy have to win, Romania can't lose. The game is played in Zurich and the weather is 11 degrees. There is no rain, and it's not so damn hot like during Romania - France. I saw different scenarios that show that we could qualify with 2 points. I hope we don't do that, but it's possible. 

I don't have much to say for once before the game. I'm just being hopeful and wishing for a Romania victory against the champions of the world. Will it happen? I don't know. Can it happen? Why not.?

I'll be live blogging the game as much as I can in the OleOle match centre. I hope we play a better game and I hope we win and prove something to the world. If that damned man Victor Piturca manages to mastermind a win, I'll hold back any future criticism. If we can do this, we can advance and make a great image for ourselves. I have faith in my country, in our players and what we can do. I hope I'm not wrong. 

We're not expected to win, but I think we will. Enjoy the game, and hopefully it will be a good one this time!

Roberto Calderoli, the minister of reforms in the Italian Government was asked in an interview on La Stampa if the game tomorrow between Italy and Romania has political implications. The hostile and slightly inhumane treatement of romanian "gypsies" being paid back by a Romanian victory. 

Calderoli responded ironically: "if we'll lose against Romania, we'll pas a decree by which their win will be canceled morally."

What an absolute wanker.