You know what makes that especially scary? The next Euros will have 8 additional (and presumably worse) teams competing in it.
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The 2011-2012 Football Thread
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You know what makes that especially scary? The next Euros will have 8 additional (and presumably worse) teams competing in it.
EDIT: Spain bored us to death for 88 minutes and then decided to put the ball in the back of the net - though not from a shot. The final ball was, of course, a pass.
a rather lucky win for Spain IMHO ... while Inesta wasn't offside Navas in the middle, sprinting towards the goal sure was in the replay...and last time i checked sprinting towards the goal keeper isn't "passive"
on another day Spain would have received a penalty for the foul on Mandzukic in the first half ... all in all Spai nwas rather disappointing with the few chances they managed to create until the croats opened up the last 10 minutes
Spain are the best squad on paper, but they can't afford to go goalless for 88 minutes in games where a draw would see them eliminated. They were slightly lucky today, I agree.
Then again, the Spanish have been doing this for years now - hypnotic passing followed by a single late goal for the win. They did it in the last Euros, and they did it in South Africa. And they won the tournament in both cases. So I suppose it is hard to argue against their system until they lose.
Then again, the Spanish have been doing this for years now - hypnotic passing followed by a single late goal for the win. They did it in the last Euros, and they did it in South Africa. And they won the tournament in both cases. So I suppose it is hard to argue against their system until they lose.
You know what makes that especially scary? The next Euros will have 8 additional (and presumably worse) teams competing in it.
They'll be the feeder/philanthropic teams. Only there to generously donate 3 points.
UEFA would argue it increases the chances of a shock upset. I would argue that increases the number of crappy games we have to watch in what is supposed to the the finals of a major tournament. Pretty soon there will be no break in play; the Euro qualifiers will simply turn into a 2 year-long tournament.
Oh, and it makes a big extra bundle of cash for UEFA.
In other news, Rio Ferdinand has finally caught on to the nexus of hypocrisy that is UEFA when it comes to the relative importance they seem to attach to fighting racism in the game.
UEFA are useless. There is talk of "investigating" the bananna thrown on the pitch in the Croatia-Italy match, and yet they've no trouble pulling their finger out when it comes to punishing someone for unauthorized advertising.
I suppose the only way UEFA will ever truly punish racism is if it happens to appear on some form of unauthorized advertising.
UEFA are useless. There is talk of "investigating" the bananna thrown on the pitch in the Croatia-Italy match, and yet they've no trouble pulling their finger out when it comes to punishing someone for unauthorized advertising.
I suppose the only way UEFA will ever truly punish racism is if it happens to appear on some form of unauthorized advertising.
High speed camera clearly shows he is on from phase 1(c).
Lord Blackadder - imagine the turmoil if the world's best had been sponsored by Fyffes Bananas.
Cheers,
OW
The UEFA suits probably think bananna-throwing is merely some novel form of buffet.
if anybody told me that england will be sitting in the defensive against the ukraine i would have laughed a a few years ago... absurd game so far
I think we can all agree that aside from possession, chances, passing, keeping hold of the ball, communication, creativity and desire England have had the better of the first half.
looks like england can be happy now that goal line technology wasn't introduced ... didn't take many tournaments
Surprised the French lost 2-0. Looking forward to Spain knocking them out. I'd like to say i fancy England against Italy but Buffon, Chiellini, Di Natalie and Cassano...hmm.
Gerrard has been the standout performer in the England squad. Immense in midfield.
Gerrard has been the standout performer in the England squad. Immense in midfield.
Job done, was Ukraine's 'goal' in?.....Yes it looked a goal to me, was it offside?, Yes it seems so, did Andy Carroll get bundled over in the box and was it a penalty?....maybe, were Ukraine the better side?, depends what you mean by 'better'.....they were more attacking for sure, they had to be and no doubt will feel like they should have got something from the game, do i care?, not a bit of it, England have already exceeded my expectations by getting out of the group, how long it lasts, who knows?!
Took them long enough to mention the definite offside - 2 official cock ups make a right.
The midfield are too slow on the counter; 2 wide attackers + Gerrard, Parker, and Milner + Welbeck or Rooney?
Fine goal by Ibrahimovic.
Cheers,
OW
The midfield are too slow on the counter; 2 wide attackers + Gerrard, Parker, and Milner + Welbeck or Rooney?
Fine goal by Ibrahimovic.
Cheers,
OW
That's a huge turn of events for England - top of the group and they avoid a certain (as far as I'm concerned) quarterfinal exit against Spain. I guess if you want to put it in a positive light, you could say that England were no more lucky to go through than Spain.
Karma from South Africa on that disallowed goal?
Italy are better than England in all areas, but not as good as Spain. On paper an Italian victory is highly likely, but I'm sure Roy & Co. are pretty happy with their situation at the moment.
Rooney didn't exactly sparkle. Is he an automatic start against Italy? Gerrard is in surprisingly good form.
Karma from South Africa on that disallowed goal?
Italy are better than England in all areas, but not as good as Spain. On paper an Italian victory is highly likely, but I'm sure Roy & Co. are pretty happy with their situation at the moment.
Rooney didn't exactly sparkle. Is he an automatic start against Italy? Gerrard is in surprisingly good form.
Karma; not for South Africa, but for the offside not being given in the first place - the Ukraine player who receives the long ball and plays it inside.
Italy; don't think they are better up front.
Rooney; needed to bed in. He missed one, scored one, had a decent free kick, and should've had a penalty after his long run. Not his best, but worth a start next game - choose 2 from Welbeck, Young and Walcott.
Gerrard - told you he's finished.
Cheers,
OW
Just watched the replay and agree. Two bad calls make two bad calls, not one good one, but the result was fair in the end.
Possibly true, especially if Rooney improves, but they are definitely better in the back. I would not bet against the Italians even if I think it's a winnable match for England. USA beat Italy recently - in Italy - so you guys should manage, even without Clint Dempsey.
Welbeck and Young to start with Rooney then. With England behind 1-0 in the second half, Carroll and Walcott come in for Rooney and Young and it's longball time, with Walcott to stretch tired legs. A Carroll equalizer takes them to penalties and Terry slips on his arse at the crucial moment.
So apart from an excuse to increase the wage budget and probably give a job to your sisters husband, just what DO FIFAs/UEFAs goal line assistant refs (or whatever they're called) do? Has anyone known them to give a decision? As the pundits mentioned last night, he didn't even adjust himself to see if the ball had crossed the line, his view would have been obscured by the post.
What is the objection to technology? It all seems so daft. The crowd can see the replay - we can see the replay, why can't the ref get to see it?
There's plenty of technology used elsewhere - the advertising hoardings etc
Also - It works well in Cricket and Rugby...
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