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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
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I usually don't root for the favorites, but I hope France hammer the living snot out of Portugal; I just want to see the look on Ronaldo's face.
Germany never go down easily, but France, aided by a little luck, handled them about as professionally as any team could expect to. Griezmann is the real deal.
Everyone seems to be ripping off Iceland's signature chant, and that's lame. Come up with your own chants.
I have to say that - while I normally support the underdog in such circumstances - on this occasion, I will be supporting France, for much the same reasons that @Lord Blackadder has outlined above.
Even if Ronaldo wins a Euros he'll still be a massive twit of a man. France destroyed Iceland and still showed them more respect than Ronaldo did after failing to beat them.
I'd love to see France face off against Chile in the Confederations Cup next year. Both dynamic teams, it would be a great match.
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@Lord Blackadder going to see your Crew play the Revs tomorrow at Gillette.
Will be very odd watching Kei Kamara in blue for once. Both sides will definitely have something to prove.
Hope we can stop hemorrhaging silly goals someday soon or we definitely won't make the playoffs this year. I think Jay Heaps is taking a page from Klinsmann in all the changes he's been making in the back line. Well at least we didn't get knocked out in the US Open Cup (yet).
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Will be very odd watching Kei Kamara in blue for once. Both sides will definitely have something to prove.
Hope we can stop hemorrhaging silly goals someday soon or we definitely won't make the playoffs this year. I think Jay Heaps is taking a page from Klinsmann in all the changes he's been making in the back line. Well at least we didn't get knocked out in the US Open Cup (yet).
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Well said, and that grating lack of grace, and lack of basic decency, and lack of generosity and respect on the part of Cristiano Ronaldo to others is one of the main reasons I hope France win.
Agree. France should win it in paper, but there are no guarantees. I'd love to see a French master class do rub that smile of his face.
There's no questioning Ronaldo's commitment to his trade, or his passion for the sport. Nor is their any question over his status as one of the best footballers who ever lived. There is also anecdotal evidence that, away from the public spotlight, he's a decent guy.
Still, his public persona is so irritatingly self-centered that I will enjoy watching him fail if France win.
It's been a bad summer for Messi: he duffed a key penalty on the way to losing yet another final, retired from international duty (maybe), and now he's been done for tax evasion and given an actual prison sentence that he will avoid partially due to his wealth and celebrity. If Ronaldo wins the Euros it will be another major twist of the knife.
EDIT: There are rumors that Klinsmann is in talks with the FA over the England job. He has divided opinion in the USA: too much tinkering with lineups, a relatively unsophisticated approach to tactics. On the other hand he is a great motivator and his competitive spirit is contagious.
I think the question with England would be whether the pampered "headphones" - er, players - will buy into Klinsmann's man-mangement strategy. It worked with the USA because our players are fairly humble, team-oriented and willing to sacrifice for the collective. They know they aren't the best players out there and they know that they need to become more than the sum of their parts in order to win. This is raw material that Klinsmann can be successful with. England, on the other hand, don't really seem to have that mentality.
Still, his public persona is so irritatingly self-centered that I will enjoy watching him fail if France win.
It's been a bad summer for Messi: he duffed a key penalty on the way to losing yet another final, retired from international duty (maybe), and now he's been done for tax evasion and given an actual prison sentence that he will avoid partially due to his wealth and celebrity. If Ronaldo wins the Euros it will be another major twist of the knife.
EDIT: There are rumors that Klinsmann is in talks with the FA over the England job. He has divided opinion in the USA: too much tinkering with lineups, a relatively unsophisticated approach to tactics. On the other hand he is a great motivator and his competitive spirit is contagious.
I think the question with England would be whether the pampered "headphones" - er, players - will buy into Klinsmann's man-mangement strategy. It worked with the USA because our players are fairly humble, team-oriented and willing to sacrifice for the collective. They know they aren't the best players out there and they know that they need to become more than the sum of their parts in order to win. This is raw material that Klinsmann can be successful with. England, on the other hand, don't really seem to have that mentality.
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As far as I can see in all of the reports anyone can avoid short prison sentences in Spain as long as they are eligible for probation. Further discussion here belongs in PRSI I'm afraid.
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Fair point (though I'm sure he had access to the best legal counsel money could buy, which is always a factor).
Without making it too political, I think it's fair to say we are seeing some pushback in Spain against the privileged positions Real and Barca occupy. Both have been exposed as taking advantage of illegal state subsidies, both have recently been hit with transfer bans over dodgy dealings with youth players, and Barca in particular has faced a rash of tax evasion charges against several players (Mascherano and Neymar, and possibly others I don't remember).
Will it make a difference? I doubt it, at least in the short term.
Count yourself lucky that you don't know what it is.
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From what I've read it is customary in Spain that if it is one's first offense and a nonviolent crime then any sentence under 2 years does not need to be served in jail.
Yes, that seems to be the case. They also levied substantial fines against Messi and I think his father also.
I'm sure that had they not had good representation the sentences may well have been longer than 2 years.
So from that point of view his money and fame did probably help, somewhat.
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Ugh. Mark Geiger. why is it always Geiger?
New England took the game 3-1 over Columbus, but the refereeing was atrocious. I can't wait to see what MLS instant replay has to say about it on Monday.
On to Euros finals laters today. Since I'm rooting against CR7. "Allez les Bleus!"
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New England took the game 3-1 over Columbus, but the refereeing was atrocious. I can't wait to see what MLS instant replay has to say about it on Monday.
On to Euros finals laters today. Since I'm rooting against CR7. "Allez les Bleus!"
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Yes. Agreed.
Pretty much my position, as well, and for pretty much the exact same reason.
The Brits are winning today! Hamilton, Murray. I now need France to win. That will allow Giroud and Co. to come back to Arsenal with new confidence...
I think a LOT of footballers want Les Bleus to win just because they're starting to tire of Cristiano Ronaldo
I'm just hoping Payet comes back to West Ham!
Come on France. Let's wipe the smile from the most hated man in football.
[doublepost=1468178484][/doublepost]Of course I didn't mean limping off injured! Now I feel bad, especially as it was my man that did it!
It's ok he's back on.
No it's a shame. Carried off crying isn't how anybody should leave the field.
I can't stand Ronaldo. But oddly now I want them to win, and him come on to lift the trophy while on crutches. Ugh, I feel all weird after typing that...