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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'm with @balamw and @Apple fanboy.
I dislike Cristiano Ronaldo, mainly because of his entitled arrogance, and the fact that he is a complete narcissist. His lack of generosity and grace towards Iceland spoke volumes, and I cheered when he missed the penalty against Austria.
However, he is an incredibly gifted footballer, and nobody can out his commitment to Portugal.
Actually, I have to say that this is a truly sad way to have to leave the pitch when you are captaining your national team in the final of a major international competition. Yes, I am sorry to have seen this happen in this way. And, for once, the tears were genuine and in a worthy cause.
Personally, I would have much preferred to see him defeated on the field of play.
I dislike Cristiano Ronaldo, mainly because of his entitled arrogance, and the fact that he is a complete narcissist. His lack of generosity and grace towards Iceland spoke volumes, and I cheered when he missed the penalty against Austria.
However, he is an incredibly gifted footballer, and nobody can out his commitment to Portugal.
Actually, I have to say that this is a truly sad way to have to leave the pitch when you are captaining your national team in the final of a major international competition. Yes, I am sorry to have seen this happen in this way. And, for once, the tears were genuine and in a worthy cause.
Personally, I would have much preferred to see him defeated on the field of play.
I think if anything Portugal have been better since he came off.
Think the game hasn't been a classic though. Needs a goal.
Portugal seem to be playing for penalties. They are defending deep and France are working hard to break them down. Not working too well. Extra time will be telling for France. Since they'll be more tired...
Agreed that Portugal have been better since Cristiano Ronaldo had to be helped off.
However, most finals that I have ever seen have been a huge anti-climax. In my experience, the best games are often the quarter-finals, or, sometimes the semis.
Yes, that is what I think, too.
Playing for extra time, followed by the test of nerve, skill, composure and character that are penalties.
Bless the crossbar for not allowing that bad call to turn into a goal.
Eder with the hand of God.
EDIT: BS goal.
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Eder with the hand of God.
EDIT: BS goal.
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The only Portuguese player I'm somewhat happy for is Patricio. He had an awesome game.
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Most boring team ever to win the Euros. They make Greece 2004 look good. I'm surprised at myself - I always like to root for the underdog. But Portugal have been so boring (ok, apart from the 3-3). And I dislike most of their players. Pepe a champion? Ronaldo running around with his shirt off. Screw them. I just can't get behind this.
I disagree LB, but no need to draw that out. One note: stroke of genius - and not greek-like at all if you ask me - to bring in a real striker, Eder who played brillianty, for a middielder, Sanchez, in the 80th min.
Great teamwork. And a phantastic young LB, Guerrero! Welcome to Dortmund!
Great teamwork. And a phantastic young LB, Guerrero! Welcome to Dortmund!
Fair point on Eder - I bear no grudge against him and I can only tip my hat to him for getting a goal in open play in an otherwise cagey match.
Yeah but the field was tilted at that point Clatteburg neutered Koscielny with the yellow card for Eder's handball. Even if the foul had been called but no yellow issued Koscielny would have been able to go in for the professional foul.
I don't see that as open play.
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Well, your definition of open play is questionable at minimum tbh. France shouldn't (and didn't to my knowledge) complain about cards dished out - because Clattenburg was very generous with that. Umtidi and Payet could have easily received yellow first half. And if you look closely, Kosc pushed Eders arm to begin with - not saying that the foul was deserved but to nitpick about such a thing is ridiculous in my opinion.
Second, I very much doubt that Koscielny would have fouled Eder, who was playing 1v3 (+Lloris) 25m in front of the goal (not running directly onto it but parallel no less) 5min before the pens. In hindsight he would have done it, but Portugal's players are extremely good regarding free kicks, see one min before, - especially when CR7 isn't on the field - so that would have been way more threatening + it would take at least 1min to execute the free kick.
I think it a bit ridiculous to be honest to downplay the very first title Portugal could ever win. In 2004, everybody loved how they played but they ultimately failed due their "too beautiful playstyle" ("in Schönspielerei sterben / den Ball in's Tor tragen) - but they lost the final in their own country against the concrete wall Greece built. Now they win as the big underdog and it's still not right.
And about Eder, he played brilliant and not just because of the goal. Koscielny played a bad final altogether - doesn't mean much to have great stats when all but one (Germany) of the former opponents lack serious format. To win 2 tackles on the ground but lose 7 (!) while also losing duels (?) in the air 1-4 just shows that Portugal wasn't just standing in front of their own goal. Or that Koscielny was neutred because of a yellow card (if he thinks Eder so dangerous 25m in front of the goal while outnumbering him he still should have fouled - no matter if France would play 10v11 for 4mins).
Second, I very much doubt that Koscielny would have fouled Eder, who was playing 1v3 (+Lloris) 25m in front of the goal (not running directly onto it but parallel no less) 5min before the pens. In hindsight he would have done it, but Portugal's players are extremely good regarding free kicks, see one min before, - especially when CR7 isn't on the field
- so that would have been way more threatening + it would take at least 1min to execute the free kick.I think it a bit ridiculous to be honest to downplay the very first title Portugal could ever win. In 2004, everybody loved how they played but they ultimately failed due their "too beautiful playstyle" ("in Schönspielerei sterben / den Ball in's Tor tragen) - but they lost the final in their own country against the concrete wall Greece built. Now they win as the big underdog and it's still not right.
And about Eder, he played brilliant and not just because of the goal. Koscielny played a bad final altogether - doesn't mean much to have great stats when all but one (Germany) of the former opponents lack serious format. To win 2 tackles on the ground but lose 7 (!) while also losing duels (?) in the air 1-4 just shows that Portugal wasn't just standing in front of their own goal. Or that Koscielny was neutred because of a yellow card (if he thinks Eder so dangerous 25m in front of the goal while outnumbering him he still should have fouled - no matter if France would play 10v11 for 4mins).
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You are much better at being a neutral fan than I am!
Portugal deserved their title. There, I said it and I mean it. On the other hand, I still found them boring to watch and I can't get past my dislike for some of the players. Ronaldo parading around with his shirt off at the end...ugh. Sorry, you're still not going to get me excited about it, twietee.
In retrospect, the big guns all failed to perform; the Netherlands didn't even quality, Spain petered out quite early, Italy did better than expected but still fell short, Germany were depleted by the end and France were too disorganized.
Oh, I don't want to convert anybody
I don't know about other countries but here in Germany there is always weird undertone when talking about Portugal - I can understand when people complained because they fell too quickly - but I didn't see that at all in this tournament.
And during this tourney these undertones were extremely hefty - from the very first match. And as usual, when the whole world starts to ridicule one single person, and s/he may be a flawed individual, I eventually start to sympathise with him/her...
I don't know about other countries but here in Germany there is always weird undertone when talking about Portugal - I can understand when people complained because they fell too quickly - but I didn't see that at all in this tournament.
And during this tourney these undertones were extremely hefty - from the very first match. And as usual, when the whole world starts to ridicule one single person, and s/he may be a flawed individual
, I eventually start to sympathise with him/her...
I wanted France to win but had a feeling Portugal would snatch it. Its been the year of underdogs after all so no real surprised here. I don't like most football people associated with Portugal but congrats to their country for the big achievement
Germany had injuries and no striker, Italy were unlucky in a lottery, Spain have been figured out, Netherlands need a rebuild, England were England.
France had all the tools but still threw it away. Can only blame themselves.
Germany had injuries and no striker, Italy were unlucky in a lottery, Spain have been figured out, Netherlands need a rebuild, England were England.
France had all the tools but still threw it away. Can only blame themselves.
One more thing: football is always so much more interesting (? - shall we call it "entertaining") when rooting for a team. And rooting for France when they play at home isn't really that uncalled for either. Especially when they have a player like Griezmann who seems to be down to earth and totally on fire (and who just lost to Real in the CL final).
re tournament:
-one thing that I really like is how fair it was all things considered. No deJong style stuff, no brutal fouls no nothing in that regard. Really digging that. When "fouls" like the one Payet commited to Ronalde is among the hardest stuff to come up with everything's ok.
-referees where almost entirely ok - which is a lot. Regular last season was horrible regarding that so that was a nice surprise. I would love to see that level on a daily basis - not gonna happen though.
All in all I think we can see that quite a lot of the smaller teams caught up a good deal - so the field is more levelled than ever probably. So of course random bashings are way more seldom than before. Teams are more balanced - if that continues and matches get too tactical (less goals = less entertaining = less money made) I can see some rules ajusted.
Also, we keep milking top players constantly for ~50-60 matches each year = they or their bodies on the their behalf will show it. More and more muscle injuries. Less enthusiasm and innovation and more matter to fact / playbook style. That won't change anytime soon if at all. I guess it'd need the big bang to regulate that front.
Rooting for somebody can be more emotionally exciting - but is not always more fun. Sometimes it's great to sit back and watch a game as a neutral, you see things you might miss if you are rooting for one team over another.
I agree that it was a pretty fair tournament though.
There were some exciting stories (Iceland, Wales, Ireland; Frace-Germany PKs) and a few great goals in this tournament but overall the quality of football was mediocre.
I also agree about players playing too many matches - there is no off-season anymore for elite players, and despite advances in sports medicine you can't play 60-70+ matches a year and not see negative consequences.
I agree that it was a pretty fair tournament though.
There were some exciting stories (Iceland, Wales, Ireland; Frace-Germany PKs) and a few great goals in this tournament but overall the quality of football was mediocre.
I also agree about players playing too many matches - there is no off-season anymore for elite players, and despite advances in sports medicine you can't play 60-70+ matches a year and not see negative consequences.
Looking at it in the cold light of day, after the emotions wear off, I feel like Portugal are deserved champions, though this tournament will be remembered mostly because
Johnathan Wilson summed it up succinctly in a recent Second Captains podcast "good football is when two teams attack each other". That did not happen enough in this tournament. I'm beginning to wonder whether club football (i.e. the effects of money and fixture congestion/year-round playing commitments) has damaged international football to the point that it truly starts to spiral into insignificance. If international tournaments become characterized by exhausted/unfit players deployed using elementary/defensive tactics...
- Christiano finally won a big international tournament with Portugal
- Several elite national teams underperformed
- The football was boring
- The champions were clearly not the best team in the competition (probably 3rd-5th best IMO)
- Iceland
Johnathan Wilson summed it up succinctly in a recent Second Captains podcast "good football is when two teams attack each other". That did not happen enough in this tournament. I'm beginning to wonder whether club football (i.e. the effects of money and fixture congestion/year-round playing commitments) has damaged international football to the point that it truly starts to spiral into insignificance. If international tournaments become characterized by exhausted/unfit players deployed using elementary/defensive tactics...
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