Portugal v France

[Furr]

I feel dirty for supporting France.. But anything to see Ronaldo looking tearfull is worth it!

Also has anyone else noticed that the :england: flags about look like they might be up for a while! Think finally its not become so taboo

 

[DaGaffer]

I was actually prepared to give Portugal the benefit of the doubt, but they were true to form, cheating bastards who deserved to lose.

 

[mank!]

shame.

hehehehehehe!

allez les bleus

 

[old.user4556]

Yep, cheating diving twats - deserved to go out.

That said, France were looking ropey, I'm very confident that Italy will win.

 

[mank!]

sadly i think you're right. i bum zidane so i'd like france to win but they're just not quite good enough.

 

[Wij]

France weren't putting 100% in. Probably because Portugal were so shit. If they play like they did vs Brazil they could beat Italy. Just have to hope old Teflon-gloves Barthez has a lucky game.

Portugal were the cheatiest cheats I've seen in a World Cup match. How Scholari could claim to be incensed at the ref is beyond me. His diving ***** would have been sent off if the ref was actually being fair.

 

[Bodhi]

Glad the greasy bastards went out, some of the diving that went on was shocking. Hope they lose to Germany in the 3/4 place playoff.

 

[Bodhi]

France weren't putting 100% in. Probably because Portugal were so shit. If they play like they did vs Brazil they could beat Italy. Just have to hope old Teflon-gloves Barthez has a lucky game.

Portugal were the cheatiest cheats I've seen in a World Cup match. How Scholari could claim to be incensed at the ref is beyond me. His diving ***** would have been sent off if the ref was actually being fair.

What the fuck? Why would any team give any less than 100% with a place in the World Cup final at stake? Especially after last night, when two teams gave everything they had to make it to Sunday's match and put on the best show of the World Cup so far?

 

[Wij]

What the fuck? Why would any team give any less than 100% with a place in the World Cup final at stake? Especially after last night, when two teams gave everything they had to make it to Sunday's match and put on the best show of the World Cup so far?

Dunno - ask the England team.

 

[Bodhi]

Dunno - ask the England team.

OK I'll rephrase that, why would any world-class team full of world-class players give less than 100% with a place in the WC finala t stake?

 

[Trem]

OK I'll rephrase that, why would any world-class team full of world-class players give less than 100% with a place in the WC finala t stake?

I have got the feeling in this world cup that most teams are just doing enough, sometimes it works(France) and sometimes it doesn't(England).

Dunno if the heat/humidity is slowing them down.

I just can't see France scoring against Italy, I hope they do as Henry is my fav player at the minute, I do like Italy though although they are also a bunch of divers as well.

I am so happy, so very very happy Portugal have gone out, the English fans await Ronaldo now and he ain't even in the final, wonder if he will think it was worth it now.

I can't see him going Real Madrid, we all know what Alex Ferguson is like if he doesn't want a player to leave, he will just sit him on the bench until hes fat and old.

 

[Calaen]

Ronaldo will be back and playing for United. Ronney has said there is no issues and to be honest im not suprised, they are close friends and Rooney will see beyond what happened during the match.

Things happen in football but its down to Fifa to be honest Sepp Blatter is complaining about all the booking yet its there new law about booking any challenge thats causing it.

Both teams want to win and some players will resort to diving to trick the referee its sad but it happens. If Henry had not fell over on his own last night the ref would not have given a Penalty even though Carvalhio fouled him, but the kick alone was not enough to bring him down so he fell over like a girl

Its football and its about time they got rid of Blatter he is a cock, start suspending players after matches for diving, then it will stop because teams will those the advantage of gaining pens, freekicks by losing the players that conned the ref for a game. If he re-offends double the ban then treble it. They will get the message.

 

[Bodhi]

I used to be a big fan of Henry but I've lost a lot of respect for him this tournament, mainly for his shocking play-acting against Spain, going down holding his face when he got brushed in the stomach. If an Italian or Portuguese player did that there would be a national outcry, but because the media have a hard on for Mr Va Va Voom nothing is said. His dive last night was a bit suspect as well - in my book you go down when the contact is made, not once you've figured out you're in the penalty area and might get a penno for it if you go over. Admittedly Carvalho went to ground which is always gonna risk giving one away (ask Lucas Neill), but Henry really did make the most of it.

Final should be interesting, although I really don't think France have the firepower up front to cause Cannavaro + co too many problems, Henry's never really convinced me as a lone striker, and I have no idea what Trezeguet has done to offend the coach, but I don't see him playing at all. By the same token they looked a bit shaky at the back yesterday, if Portugal actually had a natural born goalscorer I don't think France would be in the Final, and Italy have a bench full of them.

 

[`mongoose]

I'm with bods on this

I can't actually see France having too much of the ball tbh. Italy are masters of keeping posession and the left winger perotta made some wonderfully timed runs vs Germany.

I think the Italians will dominate the midfield and if they do - I can see France being pushed further and further back.

M

 

[Gat_Decor]

posted by Bond (i think) in IRC last night

 

[dysfunction]

I'm with bods on this

I can't actually see France having too much of the ball tbh. Italy are masters of keeping posession and the left winger perotta made some wonderfully timed runs vs Germany.

I think the Italians will dominate the midfield and if they do - I can see France being pushed further and further back.

M

I'm with Bods as well even though I like henry a lot. his "dive" was dissapointing to say the least.

It was, however, poetic justice against Portugal.

I wouldnt say france will be a pushover but I do think Italy have the upperhand and I would prefer them to win.

 

[Aada]

Ronaldo will be back and playing for United. Ronney has said there is no issues and to be honest im not suprised, they are close friends and Rooney will see beyond what happened during the match.

Things happen in football but its down to Fifa to be honest Sepp Blatter is complaining about all the booking yet its there new law about booking any challenge thats causing it.

Both teams want to win and some players will resort to diving to trick the referee its sad but it happens. If Henry had not fell over on his own last night the ref would not have given a Penalty even though Carvalhio fouled him, but the kick alone was not enough to bring him down so he fell over like a girl

Its football and its about time they got rid of Blatter he is a cock, start suspending players after matches for diving, then it will stop because teams will those the advantage of gaining pens, freekicks by losing the players that conned the ref for a game. If he re-offends double the ban then treble it. They will get the message.

Exactly, its funny hearing everyone saying Ronaldo is leaving united.. whatever... Rooney and Ronaldo are great friends Rooney has already said there is no hard feelings. Its often reported in the papers Rooney and Ronaldo out together.

Ronaldo is one of the most exciting players in the english league atm he was on top form last season and he gets better every season. Remember he is younger then Rooney.. ofc he is going to make mistakes just like Rooney.

I love watching Ronaldo run up that wing doing his tricks and its great to see hes not afraid to try his tricks.. sometimes they go wrong but sometimes he can pull something amazing off.

If he hadn't have winked none of this would be happening.. im sure hes learnt that mistake now and will pay for it in boos when the season starts.. but after a few games the booing will stop like it always does.

People are being way to harsh on him hes not the first player in the world to get someone sent off.. the media/fans are just looking for a scapegoat.. rather then looking to blame the shitty England team they choose some 20 year old who is still very young and blame him.

 

[Trem]

I am so happy, so very very happy Portugal have gone out, the English fans await Ronaldo now and he ain't even in the final, wonder if he will think it was worth it now.

I didn't mention Rooney, I mentioned the English fans.

 

[Dukat]

In my opinion:

Playing like Ronaldo (and the portugese team in general) is cheating.

Cheating is the lowest of the low.

Whatever ronaldo gets will be too good for him, I seriously doubt he can learn his lesson whilst there are still football clubs out there willing to pay him a professional footballers wage.

The whole thing is getting a bit sickening tbh

 

[DaGaffer]

Exactly, its funny hearing everyone saying Ronaldo is leaving united.. whatever... Rooney and Ronaldo are great friends Rooney has already said there is no hard feelings. Its often reported in the papers Rooney and Ronaldo out together.

Ronaldo is one of the most exciting players in the english league atm he was on top form last season and he gets better every season. Remember he is younger then Rooney.. ofc he is going to make mistakes just like Rooney.

I love watching Ronaldo run up that wing doing his tricks and its great to see hes not afraid to try his tricks.. sometimes they go wrong but sometimes he can pull something amazing off.

If he hadn't have winked none of this would be happening.. im sure hes learnt that mistake now and will pay for it in boos when the season starts.. but after a few games the booing will stop like it always does.

People are being way to harsh on him hes not the first player in the world to get someone sent off.. the media/fans are just looking for a scapegoat.. rather then looking to blame the shitty England team they choose some 20 year old who is still very young and blame him.

Ronaldo's older than Rooney, only about 8 months but still older. I think it was the fact the Rooney & Ronaldo are friends that caused Rooney to react the way he did, and despite appropriate denials (no doubt after a conversation with a certain grumpy Scotsman), I don't think Rooney will be able to brush Ronaldo's behaviour aside that easily. I still think Rooney was a victim of trying to play proper football and not falling over like you're apparently supposed to.

I don't think anyone's denying that England were shite in this tournament and that they didn't deserve to progress, and I agree that Ronaldo has become an easy target for the media, but (and I'm saying this as a United fan), Ronaldo, for all his talent, has shown some seriously unappealing characteristics in this World Cup. He's by no means alone; I've been disappointed by Henry's behaviour and Arjen Robben was the biggest cnut of the lot. I think there has to be fundamental change in refereeing tactics before Euro 2008, because its fairly obvious that a lot of coaches are encouraging gamesmanship and it needs stamping on, hard.

 

[Jupitus]

<snip>...and it needs stamping on, hard.

... maybe we should call on Rooney for that???


(sorry - was a shit joke, I know )

 

[leggy]

(no doubt after a conversation with a certain grumpy Scotsman)

He said nothing to me...

 

[DaGaffer]

He said nothing to me...

Yeah, I realised when I wrote it that 'grumpy Scotsman' was an oxymoron...

 

[Bodhi]

I still think Rooney was a victim of trying to play proper football and not falling over like you're apparently supposed to.

I'm sorry but you can't claim he's a victim when he got sent off for stamping on Carvalho's bollocks. That's proper football is it?

 

[DaGaffer]

I'm sorry but you can't claim he's a victim when he got sent off for stamping on Carvalho's bollocks. That's proper football is it?

Carvalho fell on his arse (big surprise) and Rooney stepped back trying to stay on his feet. He wasn't even looking at Carvalho when he did it. Despite the ref's subsequent denials, Rooney got sent off for slapping Ronaldo; the delay with the cards makes that obvious. Which, means you're right, Rooney deserved to get sent off, but Ronaldo shouldn't even have been there. Like I said, if Rooney had played by the rules (inspired by the WWE) and gone down like a sack of spuds when being tackled from behind by two players, he'd have been fine. I still don't think England would have won btw.

 

[Aada]

Carvalho fell on his arse (big surprise) and Rooney stepped back trying to stay on his feet. He wasn't even looking at Carvalho when he did it. Despite the ref's subsequent denials, Rooney got sent off for slapping Ronaldo; the delay with the cards makes that obvious. Which, means you're right, Rooney deserved to get sent off, but Ronaldo shouldn't even have been there. Like I said, if Rooney had played by the rules (inspired by the WWE) and gone down like a sack of spuds when being tackled from behind by two players, he'd have been fine. I still don't think England would have won btw.

If you watch the replay a few times you will see it was not a STEP BACK he pounded his foot backwards and stamped.

 

[old.user4556]

France weren't putting 100% in

Have to agree with Bodhi, I find it bizarre that you suggest a team don't put 100% into a semi-final game? Perhaps never played 100%, but didn't try? Daft .

Stuff

I thought this was a Portugal v France thread?

 

[leggy]

Yeah, I realised when I wrote it that 'grumpy Scotsman' was an oxymoron...

I think 'happy scotsman' would be the oxymoron.

 

[Wij]

I think 'happy scotsman' would be the oxymoron.

Grumpy Scotsman would be a tautology.

And I said "putting 100% in..." which is a bit ambiguous. Maybe they were tired maybe whatever. My point was they weren't playing the standard of football they had in the last two and that's bleeding obvious.

Chill ppl.

 

[Bodhi]

Carvalho fell on his arse (big surprise) and Rooney stepped back trying to stay on his feet. He wasn't even looking at Carvalho when he did it. Despite the ref's subsequent denials, Rooney got sent off for slapping Ronaldo; the delay with the cards makes that obvious. Which, means you're right, Rooney deserved to get sent off, but Ronaldo shouldn't even have been there. Like I said, if Rooney had played by the rules (inspired by the WWE) and gone down like a sack of spuds when being tackled from behind by two players, he'd have been fine. I still don't think England would have won btw.

The look behind just before and the expression on his face were the clinchers for me - Rooney knew exactly what he was doing. How the English can moan about fair play after their saviour - the greatest footballer ever ever ever - has just aimed his studs at someone's bollocks is beyond me. Between Rooney's attempted castration (I don't blame Ronaldo in the slightest for trying to get him sent off, I'd do the same if someone tried the same to one of my team-mates on the football field no matter who they were), Crouch's girly hair pulling nonsense against Trinidad and Lampard's excellent free-kick winning dive England were hardly whiter than white in this World Cup. You should remember that.