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The 2015-2016 Football Thread

Yes, the penalties were a huge opera - and I was actually surprised that we won it. Two top goalies force players to take more risky shots. So that's one reason why so many shot quite badly into the sky (also the nerves of course). Buffon - one of the greatest and a true sportsman on the pitch - lucky that he didn't catch our last one which wasn't shot all that great either.

A pity with all the injured players now and that Hummels got booked twice for minor fouls (if fouls at all). Anyway, looking forward.

And I wouldn't say that France is favorite now against Germany. It's 50/50 in my book. They haven't faced one top contender in the tourney so far and except the win yesterday their other games weren't all that convincing either. And it was Iceland after all, not downplaying them - they played an absolutely amazing tourney of course, but there is a reason they went 0:4 in the first half.

Also playing at home can be a huge advantage - or a huge reliability (see Brazil in 2014). But I guess it's the former for France. The defence is quite shaky imho and only Griezmann and Pogba are world class. Will be an interesting match. The people will put quite some expectations on France now against us - our advantage imo.
 
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France are true contenders and they have the talent but their defense is a little shaky at times, and as twietee mentioned they have not yet faced a really dangerous opponent in this tournament. They let in two goals against Iceland and could have conceded more; against Germany those small mistakes will be punished.

I'm rooting for Wales - it would be a great story to see them in the final and its not crazy to say they could win it...after all, Ireland beat Germany not that long ago and Wales are a better side than Ireland.

It's hard to bet against the Germans these days though. They haven't yet played to their full potential in this tournament, but have still looked like the favorites.
 
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Breaking news:::

Argentina's coach resigns. with this news and brazil in bad form, this means the World cup is up for grabs in Russia 2018 #ColombiaWillRise
 
twietee said:
Haha. Someone gotta root for Portugal tonight then! So I'll do it then ;)
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Well only if it goes to extra time and pens! That's their preferred method!
I have nothing against Portugal (although I'm not a big fan of Ronaldo).
But Wales are such an underdog, as a neutral I've got to go with them.
Plus as a West Ham fan, I like Collins. He's an honest old school defender.
[doublepost=1467836093][/doublepost]Well I think that's job done for Portugal. Two goals in 3 minutes have changed the game. Now think Wales will chase a goal and leave themselves exposed at the back.
Hope I'm wrong though.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
England and Russia.

Sorry to see Wales losing; and I would love to see them go through mainly for the reasons that @Apple fanboy has eloquently set out a few posts earlier.
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Going to take a miracle now. They've not really looked like getting back into this since the second goal.
It's not been a great game. France v Germany looks like it could be good tomorrow. And you'd fancy the winners of that to win the final.
Specially if it's Germany. I can almost smell my money!
 
Portugal are the team England currently wish they could be: a second-tier footballing power who can make it deep into tournaments, with an outside shot of winning one; a solid if unspectacular core of players with a couple stars and one superstar. I dislike Portugal for four reasons: Ronaldo, Nani, Pepe and the fact that they robbed USA of a win in the last WC with their late equalizer. Sad to see Wales out, those suspensions really cost them in the end and Portugal just had a little too much for them.

The next semifinal is probably the key match of the tournament. You have to think that whichever of France or Germany make the final will be heavy favorites over Portugal. Still, Denmark and Greece have done it...but somewhere along the line you have to beat a top-tier team to win a tournament, and Portugal have not done that yet. They scraped draws against Iceland and Hungary and just squeaked by Croatia and Poland. Their win against Wales was more decisive but they hardly blew them away. Against a team with real firepower and big-tournament pedigree like France or Germany they will have to reach another level.

As for the story of the tournament? I'll wait till after the final to decide, but Iceland is still far and away the romantic's choice, with Wales' run, Ireland's win over Italy and the Germany-Italy shootout all tied for second in my mind.
 
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Increasing noise in the press speculating on the next England manager...Allardyce's name is starting to get bounced around with increasing frequency...and you know? He might be a good choice for England.

England need to develop a clear identity as a team and a unity of purpose - if Iceland can do it, if Italy under Conte can do it, England surely can too. Allardyce has built a career around taking troubled teams and whipping them into shape. He's no tactical mastermind but neither was Capello or Hodgson.

...and it would be hilarious to see some of the Premier League's inflated egos being managed by Big Sam, who would himself be massively inflated with pride if he got the job.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Increasing noise in the press speculating on the next England manager...Allardyce's name is starting to get bounced around with increasing frequency...and you know? He might be a good choice for England.

England need to develop a clear identity as a team and a unity of purpose - if Iceland can do it, if Italy under Conte can do it, England surely can too. Allardyce has built a career around taking troubled teams and whipping them into shape. He's no tactical mastermind but neither was Capello or Hodgson.

...and it would be hilarious to see some of the Premier League's inflated egos being managed by Big Sam, who would himself be massively inflated with pride if he got the job.
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I'm not sure Big Sam is the right choice. I think the press will be on his back from day one. His tactics are negative and that won't do for the fans.
Look at West Ham. He struggled to do much with us in the Premier league. Then Billic takes over and for quite a bit of last season we were a top four contender.
I'm also not sure of his pedigree of handling superstars.
I'm not sure they will respect him.
I'd love to see Harry Rednapp get a crack at it. With a younger guy alongside.
Can't see that happening though!
 
Apple fanboy said:
I'm not sure Big Sam is the right choice. I think the press will be on his back from day one. His tactics are negative and that won't do for the fans.
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That's another thing about England...the fans expect too much. Booing Sterling was just foolish and counterproductive. England would have made the quarterfinals of this tournament had they played a more defensive style and executed it with discipline. And started Vardy in every match...and not called up Wilshere...
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
That's another thing about England...the fans expect too much. Booing Sterling was just foolish and counterproductive. England would have made the quarterfinals of this tournament had they played a more defensive style and executed it with discipline. And started Vardy in every match...and not called up Wilshere...
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And given Rashford a run.

Meanwhile France v Germany is a decent match. Whoever wins this should be the tournament winners.
Come on Germany (but only so I can collect my winnings!).
[doublepost=1467921076][/doublepost]Bit of a soft penalty decision for me.
Not sure if the game was being played in Germany if the pen would have been awarded!
Germany should really have made more of their early dominance.
France had some chances on the break, but it was really Germany's half (except the pen).
Should be a good second half.
 
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Well, a French victory.

I must admit that I hadn't anticipated - or expected - that outcome.

Still, France have been a team that is slow to warm up - they did the same in 1998 - but come together in the later stages of the tournament. And, a number of commentators have made the point that some members of this French team feel that they may have something to prove to a French audience.
 
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2nd half would have sealed it for FRA anyway without the pen. Rooting for Portugal but have no false pretense as to who will win. FRA will steam roll them.
 
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