World Cup and European leagues

[Mr. Ypsi]

As for tomorrow (OK, later today ):

At full strength, I'd definitely take Portugal over England, but the Portuguese will be missing at least two key players (any word on the injury?).  As it is, I'd rate the match a toss-up, but England seems to have a penchant for winning ugly, so the slight nod goes to the side with a former Spice Girl in their fan contingent.

Brazil HAS to wake up someday (don't they?), so, unless he can find one last ounce of magic, I think it is goodbye Zidane.  (Then again, I thought it would be Brazil-Spain.)  While the Bastille Boys cannot be counted out, I'll go with Mardi Gras.

[David Collinge]

I think it is interesting that one half of the bracket (the "Axis" bracket) has devolved into Germany vs. Italy, whereas the other half (the "Allied" bracket) could end up with England vs. France.  (Not terribly likely, I suppose, but it could happen.)

This is what the world should do instead of fighting wars.   

[Warren Thompson]

This is what the world should do instead of fighting wars.   

But didn't two South American nations fight a war over the outcome of a futbol
match?

[Greek Tragedy]

There is no special provision for an injured keeper.  It's a reason why some managers never or rarely use that third sub in a tie match.  I know it was pretty common practice ten or twelve years ago on the international level for both teams to end the game with a sub remaining.  I guess teams aren't as worried about it anymore.

There is talk about adding a fourth substitute but it would be reserved for the goalie. 

Another example of diving:

In the 2nd half (I think) of the Germany/Argentina game, a German player takes a dive just outside the top right hand corner of the box after losing the ball and falling over due to him losing his balance.  It was a clear and obvious dive, but the ref calls the "foul" anyway.  The German player rolls over holding his ankle in pain.  NOT ONE GERMAN TEAMMATE goes over to see if he's ok! lol.  They just all stand around the ball setting up for the free kick.  My friend and I were just laughing, and it was even funnier after watching the replay several times.  What a joke.

Anyway, England and Portugal look like they actually want to win the game.  The most entertaining I've seen England play.

I see Rooney cleaning off the bottom of his cleat as he seems to have part of a Portugal player's groin suck on the bottom of it.  Nice job Rooney.  You're a great player, but your temper has gotten the better of you once again.  I totally agree with the sending off.

[sac]

Brutal way to settle a game.

Cruel, cruel fate England.  They were the better team today.



Portugal = Italy, Italy = Portugal......same tactics, dive untill you get an advantage.

England would have been toast in the next round without Owen, Rooney or potentially Beckham.  Lampard gets the big raspberry for England, he did nothing but miss the whole tournament.  Bottom line for England was they had just no threat up front. 

Good tournament still, although these PK games could have used a late goal to settle things.

(Rooney didn't push Ronaldo hard enough)   

[Hoosier Titan]

Oh man.  Cruel fate is right.  England played better once Rooney was gone (will he ever learn to control his temper?), and they had some chances to end the game without PKs.

If you'd asked me which England player was a sure thing to bury a penalty kick I would have said Steven Gerrard.  And why Frank Lampard, who finished something like 0 for 27 on shots for the Cup games, went first is beyond me.

I'm proud of the way the English played, and from here on out I'm supporting whoever is playing Portugal.  Their diving was ridiculous.

Oh well, the EPL starts in a few weeks, and Eriksson is gone.

[cawcdad]

Should we get C. Ronaldo some cheese to go with his whine? With his tremendous talent and skill, he sure spends a tremendous amount of time crying to the refs.

For Rooney, a yellow card for sure, but not red.

Could you imagine the flop fest if Italy and Portugal make it to the final.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I thought Rooney's red was well justified.  As Alexi Lalas pointed out, soccer players are well aware of where others are (and it is especially easy when you are standing between a player's legs!).  That his cleat came down on the Portuguese player's groin was no accident.

The first 15 minutes of the match were very promising, and OT was great, but the 75 minutes in between left a lot to be desired.

[Greek Tragedy]

(Rooney didn't push Ronaldo hard enough)   

When Man. U. signed Rooney, I wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.  But, after watching him the last two years in the EPL, I've come to realize what a great player he is...though his temper will always overshadow him.  I will wonder if he'll get the same treatment Beckham did when he got sent off against Argentina ('98? too lazy to look), basically the public blaming him for the loss.  Rooney was obviously not himself because of the long layoff, and at this level, it's obviously important to be match fit, among other things.

When Man. U. signed Cristiano Ronaldo (or as Balboa would like to call him, Christian Ronaldo-from what I heard from my friend that watched the game on ESPN), I thought he was pretty awesome.  But, he falls down way to easily and I've come to find him over-rated.  As my fellow soccer friend would say, "All he has is that stupid step over move!"  Anyway, rumor around the campfire is that he wants to play for Real Madrid. By all means, I'll pack your bags for you.

Oh well, the EPL starts in a few weeks, and Eriksson is gone.

I'm looking forward to it as well.  I'm hoping Man. U. can actually challenge the New York Yankees of the EPL (which is kind of ironic since it's Man. U. that has a partnership with the Yankees!)

Two very entertaining games today.  But maybe watching it on Univision made it every more exciting.  I curse ESPN! lol. Henry gets the monkey off his back.  Prior to Chelsea buying the last two EPL titles, I hated Arsenal and Henry.  Not anymore. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

While Henry played pretty well, and gets official credit for the goal, I suspect any of US could have scored off that pass from Zidane!  Talk about perfect placement!

I was rooting for Brazil to score in the final minutes.  Not necessarily that I wanted Brazil to win, but I wanted thirty more minutes of that game!  I was unable to see the first half (out trying to pick up my 14 year old who gave me the wrong address on where he was - teenagers ), but the second half MAY have been even better than Germany-Argentina.

[Mr. Ypsi]

BTW, Hoops Fan,

A couple of days ago you argued that Zidane was the greatest player of all time.  I'm not SURE I'd go that far, but after today I ain't gonna argue against you.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In the 9th minute against South Korea, Henry scored the first French Cup goal since 1998!

(Is France scoring listed as a Sign of the Apocalypse? )

Since they are now in the semis, and should be heavy favorites against Portugal, I guess this qualifies as yet more evidence that past performance (including performance in group, as long as you advance) is virtually meaningless once you hit the knock-out rounds!  (Or maybe it is just additional evidence that I'm an idiot! )

[Ralph Turner]

While Henry played pretty well, and gets official credit for the goal, I suspect any of US could have scored off that pass from Zidane!  Talk about perfect placement!

I was rooting for Brazil to score in the final minutes.  Not necessarily that I wanted Brazil to win, but I wanted thirty more minutes of that game!  I was unable to see the first half (out trying to pick up my 14 year old who gave me the wrong address on where he was - teenagers ), but the second half MAY have been even better than Germany-Argentina.

I understand the sentiment.  When France scored first, I felt assured that in the remaining time we would see some of the finest soccer we would ever see.  I just did not want to see Brazil move forward.

As for Rooney, how stupid can one be!

[Mr. Ypsi]

WT,

If memory serves, the 'soccer war' was Honduras and El Salvador - so Central rather than South America, but point taken!

OS,

I suspect the tabloids will be pretty rough on Rooney, though perhaps not quite as bad as Beckham due to his youth (I believe Becks' red card was the 2000 European Championship - if I'm remembering that right, he would have been 25 to Rooney's 20).  Rooney is wildly talented, but if he doesn't grow up soon in terms of his temper, he may be as likely to join the hooligans as the soccer immortals - stomping an opponent's groin is not likely to win you Mr. Congeniality!  Another couple of incidents like today and I predict that either FIFA will come down like a ton of bricks, or some opponent will 'accidentally' (i.e., deliberately) end his career.

A real shame because he has as much talent as any 20 year old striker I've ever seen (except perhaps Pele at 20 - the films are just not good enough to say).

[mr_b]

If memory serves, the 'soccer war' was Honduras and El Salvador - so Central rather than South America, but point taken!

Ypsi,

Good call!  The "Soccer War" occurred in 1969 between Honduras and El Salvador after the second qualifying match for the 1970 World Cup. According to the website http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/sierra/soccer1969.htm, "The actual war had lasted just over four days, but it would take more than a decade to arrive at a final peace settlement."