The World Cup

I guess there may be one less potential Portugese footballer to knock us out in the future.
 
thats what happens when you put all the pressure on one person...in every sense of the word...

the media make the whole build up to the competition about whether the latest 'wonder-boy' to hang the hero-fairytale on will be fit...

then the manager plays a formation which makes it as good as impossible for him to do his job...

he was under pressure and he lost his cool, not condonable or excuseable at any level...

but perhaps not that difficult to understand.

there were some amazing individual performaces from the majority of the squad throughout all the games, but they seemed stifled by the style of play the formation imposed...

i'm not one for going 'blame-hunting'

the spirit the team showed after rooneys exit was impeccable...

the manager played a good team a bad way right from the start.
 
The Portuguese are too lame for me. They won against the Netherlands in a formidable match of Rugby and after scoring one goal just shut the door close and got some cards for time play.

The Italians played well after Totti at last was taken out. They should win!

The French came back and Zidane worked his magic in the midfield. If they play further that way they can win too.

The Germans. Well. I live in Germany. I dont want to hear months over months that they are the best. It just annoys me.

And concerning Rooney: The red card was too harsh. Two Portuguese were on him and the referee didnt react. Then Rooney got tired of the Rugby approach and fought back. Then he got the red card (while it is not certain that he stood upon the guy on purpose - it may be so but it is not sure at least from what I have seen).
 
The intent of Rooney's step doesn't matter, if you're going for the ball on a dangerous tackle, you get carded even though you were going for the ball. The fact is he put cleats in a man's groin, that's at least a yellow. We also don't know what he was screaming at the ref or why he shoved Ronaldo. I can see in respect to the game why it was a red. The semi's look to be good matches though.
 
I wish......!

My predictions for the quarter finals were garbage!

I don't know what to say about the England game. First time we play with a bit of pride and determination (in patches) but at the end of the day the tactics were rubbish and a lot of the players just can't deliver at this level.
I'm glad that Erickson is going, and hopefully Beckham will follow.

France were awesome against Brazil, they hardly gave them a look in. I'm glad Brazil are out, so we don't have to listen to muppets banging on about how great they are, when the fact is that this Brazil team isn't worthy of cleaning the boots of the great Brazil teams of the past.

Italy are as mean as ever in defence. Their strikers look poor, but they have real quality throughout the rest of the team. Always hard to beat.

Germany are being their usual lucky selves, doing just enough in an easy group, getting a soft draw against the clueless Swedes and then just when they should have been sent packing, let off the hook by Argentina self-destructing. They hahe developed some flair in attack, but their central defence is supsect. When will someone exploit it?

Portugal are not my favourite team right now, but to be fair they are better than a lot of people give them credit for. Good players throught the team, but at times against England you had to remind yourself that they had the extra man.

I am now cheering for France, mainly because they dive and cheat less than the other three.
 
Amen to that !
Zidane was rolling back the years, and showed Ronaldinho what it meant to be the 'best player in the world'. Zidane was everpresent for France while Ronaldinho barely featured. But Viera and Makelele were just as good. That's the best I've seen Viera play in at least two years.

It's a sad thing when we have to say we support a team for diving less than the others... I too am supporting France and hope they play like that from now on.

It's a completely different team from the one that scraped through in Dublin
 
It's a completely different team from the one who stuttered against Switzerland in their opening match!

Good teams grow during the course of a tournament, and France have done that. (As have Germany.)

You are right about Vieira - he has recaptured his form after a shaky start. With him and Makelele in front of that back four, they look as solid in defence as the Italians.

I still think that Henry up front on his own looks like half the player that we see every week for Arsenal. If I was Domenech I'd play 4-3-3 with Saha leading the line, Henry split left and Ribery split left. With both of them drifting inside and dropping off, they woul dbe a handful for any defence. In midfield I'd have Zidane pulling the strings in the middle with Makelele holding and Vieira breaking forward from deep. The back four is perfect, but I'd replace Barthez with a proper keeper.
 
Oh, don't be so pathetic. Do you like football or do you not like football?

This might cheer you up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmEvaXIpT8A&search=england%20portugal
 
I want Italy to win by default now. I couldn't bear to see Lehman, Henry or C. Ronaldo lift the trophy.
 
Italy v. Germany

What a frickin game! It might have been goaless up to the dying embers of extra time, but both teams really went for it and gave us a totally absorbing contest. The game was made by a top referee who had the balls to let it flow and only produce a card when he absolutley had to, so top marks to him.

Overall I think Italy deserved it, but fair play to the Germans, who gave it their best shot but just weren't quite strong enough.

Oddball highlight was David Pleat trying repeatedly to pronounce 'Camarenesi' and never getting Klose. Sorry, close.
 
I agree, what a fantastic match, a game the entire 120 minutes of it. It was great entertainment.
I can't stand the Italians, they are the worst divers still in the tournament. Watching either France or Portugal win would be a great thing.
With my bias pronounced, I thought the ref today was a bit too lenient, he should've called a couple more fouls on both teams. (He was much better than most refs and in most cases let the game flow).
France v Portugal should be a good game. Zidane and Ronaldo have some amazing skill, even though Ronaldo might make a good actor.
 
Yep, David Pleat is a complete half-wit, although I didn't notice him mispronunciate Camoranesi it would probably be more surprising if he got it correct. In the Champions League Final, moments before Barcelona equalised, he summed up his commentary career with the statement "the sight is in end for Arsenal".
 
He must have tried every possible combination!

He's a fecking richard! But what a game that was!
 
Few days ago I voted Portugal. I still think they are gonna win the tournament.

Let's c.

France 1
Portugal 2

Final:

Italy 1
Portugal 3


Just guessing.
 
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