[quote]danmaftei wrote:
1-0 France!!
I REALLY want to see a Germany-France final. Spank the krauts one last time for Platini.[/quote]
I think you’ll get your wish.
[quote]hotsauce wrote:
Allez les bleus!!!
What an uninspired game by Brazil. Played as if they did not care.
So its going to be a European semi final.
Say what you want but our chances rise by the minute.
Only Italy and than either France or Portugal.
WE CAN DO IT!!![/quote]
I agree with the prospect of a Germany v. France Final.
However, if Zidane keeps playing the way he’s playing, France will hoist the Cup.
He is putting on a display - talk about going out with a bang!
[quote]supermick wrote:
Post pics!
Nancy’s not bad for an older bird. Loads of cash and probably into all sorts of naughty things.[/quote]
Defintely filth. Nancy, that is! Feel sick now…
[quote]OARSMAN wrote:
Wrong. Portugal were better than Holland and they were better than England today.
Say what you will about Portugal - they did what they had to do to win. Ricardo the keeper was enormous.
As to the diving:
Diving is a part of the game - get used to it. It may not be pretty, but it’s pretty fucking effective - and at this stage in the tournament it’s what can win you a game.
[/quote]
Wow - you are right - diving is part of the game. But it is turning ‘The Beautiful Game’ into a farce.
The one truly ‘World Championship’ in sport (with the possible exception of track and field or athletics) is becoming a joke. It is painful and disgusting to see a team like Portugal go through with the pussy unsportsmanlike conduct that they use.
I hate the hooliganism of football, but if I was at that game it would have taken ALOT of self control not to throttle a Portuguese fan after that game.
They need to change the game if it is not to become a parody of sport with the team composed of the most assholes and actors taking the titles. What a fuckin’ joke.
Winning the way that Portugal won (and Italy as well against the Aussies) is like taking it up the wazoo and then telling your wife or girlfriend that you got paid alot for bending over. Where’s the fuckin’ honor in that?
It used to be that sport was not JUST about winning.
[quote]Austro Canuck wrote:
Wow - you are right - diving is part of the game. But it is turning ‘The Beautiful Game’ into a farce.
The one truly ‘World Championship’ in sport (with the possible exception of track and field or athletics) is becoming a joke. It is painful and disgusting to see a team like Portugal go through with the pussy unsportsmanlike conduct that they use.
They need to change the game if it is not to become a parody of sport with the team composed of the most assholes and actors taking the titles. What a fuckin’ joke.
[/quote]
Amen to that, Bro!!
[quote]Austro Canuck wrote:
Winning the way that Portugal won (and Italy as well against the Aussies) is like taking it up the wazoo and then telling your wife or girlfriend that you got paid alot for bending over. Where’s the fuckin’ honor in that?[/quote]
I semi agree with you and I semi don’t.
Say what you will about the Portuguese, but the fact is they played better than England and Holland and are rightfully in the semis.
The diving was beside the point. England didn’t lose because of the diving - they lost primarily because Rooney acted like a moron and put his team a man down.
They lost because they played boring, unimaginative (on the offensive end) football all tournament and were finally exposed by a decent team. The diving did not make the English choke those PKs.
The Portuguese diving did not curtail the thuggish type tactics that the Dutch opened the festivities with in the second round game.
Say what you will about Cristiano Ronaldo but his cleating in the sixth minute opened the door to dirty play on both sides, but it did not explain Holland’s anemic attack or van Basten’s inexplicable omission of van Nistlerooy when what the Dutch clearly needed up front was a capable striker. I’m sorry - Kuyt instead of van Nistlerooy? Curious Dutch logic, there.
Italy’s diving was not responsible for Australia’s cautious approach to the game after they went up a man and the fact that they refused to attack Italy and seemed content to play for the penalty round. Hiddink’s excessive conservatism and not Italy’s diving cost them the match.
As a Spain supporter, I could bitch and moan about Henry’s cowardly dive that set up the second French goal that all but sealed the victory, but I won’t. His dive did not cause the defensive breakdown that allowed Zidane’s ball to go across the defense unchallenged - that dive did not change the fact that Zidane and Vieira had taken over the midfield and even if there was no dive they would have scored eventually - why? Spain could not solve the defensive wall, their back line were much too far forward and would have eventually been nailed by the counter - as Henry almost did about 5 times - and the French were getting many more occasions in front of the goal.
So yes, I agree, diving can be dirty - but if the ref is allowing it, why not? Regardless of that, it’s usually no excuse for the losing side’s poor play.
[quote]
It used to be that sport was not JUST about winning. [/quote]
That quote sums up why US Soccer is so mediocre. That’s the attitude they have in those soft suburban youth leagues.
In Europe and South America, as far I can remember, soccer has ALWAYS been about winning. Period. This is why players dive and “act” in order to gain advantage for their teams.
[quote]OARSMAN wrote:
In Europe and South America, as far I can remember, soccer has ALWAYS been about winning. Period. This is why players dive and “act” in order to gain advantage for their teams.
[/quote]
I agree that playing poorly is simply playing poorly. You play bad, you lose. Good. Diving by your opponent does not excuse poor play.
I just have a problem with the lack of any semblance of honor or courage. Players holding their heads, ankles, knees etc. when not even touched or barely tapped (there are more than enough examples or this) is really too embarassing and disgusting to watch.
I lived with 2 soccer players once and gave them shit about this (I was playing rugby at the time). They explained the strategy of drawing a yellow or red card. OK - if one can live with oneself while being a chicken shit asshole, no problem. It is just so spineless and unsporting.
When a player tries to do in an opponent’s achilles, or cleat him, he should be punished. But the theatrics are really ruining the game.
[quote]Austro Canuck wrote:
OARSMAN wrote:
In Europe and South America, as far I can remember, soccer has ALWAYS been about winning. Period. This is why players dive and “act” in order to gain advantage for their teams.
I agree that playing poorly is simply playing poorly. You play bad, you lose. Good. Diving by your opponent does not excuse poor play.
I just have a problem with the lack of any semblance of honor or courage. Players holding their heads, ankles, knees etc. when not even touched or barely tapped (there are more than enough examples or this) is really too embarassing and disgusting to watch.
I lived with 2 soccer players once and gave them shit about this (I was playing rugby at the time). They explained the strategy of drawing a yellow or red card. OK - if one can live with oneself while being a chicken shit asshole, no problem. It is just so spineless and unsporting.
When a player tries to do in an opponent’s achilles, or cleat him, he should be punished. But the theatrics are really ruining the game. [/quote]
I agree… but I primarily blame FIFA. What was this bullcrap about “clamping down on diving” when only a handful of players have received cards for diving in this World Cup? WHENEVER a player goes down and looks to the ref for a foul, if no freekick was given, then a yellow card MUST be shown to the player.
Plain and simple.
The ref usually waves play on if he deemed it wasn’t a foul, but this is stupid. If it wasn’t a foul, then what was it? A dive, so it should be punishable with a yellow.
There should be exceptions when the player that goes down doesn’t look for a foul ie. he gets back up and acknowledges that was a decent tackle/50-50 ball or whatever. But if the player is clearly looking for the freekick, that should be an instant yellow.
Presently, cards for diving are only given in the box for players looking for a penalty but this should be enforced around the pitch. If this happened, do you think these pussy bitches would still be going down like 5 year olds?
Portugal’s diving practice!
[quote]sharetrader wrote:
Portugal’s diving practice!
Except that the video has already made the rounds as “the Italian diving video”…
As for England, isn’t it time to do a reality check? England just isn’t that good. It is an upper-level European team, but no world champions.
[quote]TQB wrote:
sharetrader wrote:
Portugal’s diving practice!
Except that the video has already made the rounds as “the Italian diving video”…
As for England, isn’t it time to do a reality check? England just isn’t that good. It is an upper-level European team, but no world champions.[/quote]
OK, I didn’t know that. As for England, I agree. Top 20 for sure, probably in the top 10 (just) but that’s about it.
On the other hand, Greece are European champions but didn’t even make the World Cup …
just my two cents about the diving thing…i’ll be honest sometimes when watching a match from the vantage point of the TV camera it can be difficult to determine if a player was fouled or if he infact should be casted in an upcomming hollywood flick…its only in reviewing the replays that we the tv viewers are able to see the blatant attempt that the player has mad to trick the ref in to awarding a free kick, sometimes in a very dangerous position.
so lets be fair a ref or even his assistants aren’t always able to tell the difference…
i think a better solution to the problem may be strict fines on players who are seen to be OSCAR nominiees, and a boradcasted appology from the player and the teams coach, maybe even a ban from a few matches may prove effective. i think that this type of “punishment” would have a huge impact on the pride or the team and the player and would also show that FIFA actualy gives a damn about this whole “fair play”
[quote]TQB wrote:
sharetrader wrote:
Portugal’s diving practice!
Except that the video has already made the rounds as “the Italian diving video”…
As for England, isn’t it time to do a reality check? England just isn’t that good. It is an upper-level European team, but no world champions.[/quote]
England are current odds on joint favourites for next years european cup
[quote]electric_eales wrote:
TQB wrote:
sharetrader wrote:
Portugal’s diving practice!
Except that the video has already made the rounds as “the Italian diving video”…
As for England, isn’t it time to do a reality check? England just isn’t that good. It is an upper-level European team, but no world champions.
England are current odds on joint favourites for next years european cup
http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal
[/quote]
There is no European championships in 2007.
Also the diving video is an edited edition of a newspaper advertisement in the UK. The times or the guardian i think.
Haha, that was too easy, I left it alone.
For 2008, I am taking straight up bets that Holland will go further than any team you want to pick. Any takers?
[quote]supermick wrote:
electric_eales wrote:
TQB wrote:
sharetrader wrote:
Portugal’s diving practice!
Except that the video has already made the rounds as “the Italian diving video”…
As for England, isn’t it time to do a reality check? England just isn’t that good. It is an upper-level European team, but no world champions.
England are current odds on joint favourites for next years european cup
http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal
There is no European championships in 2007.
Also the diving video is an edited edition of a newspaper advertisement in the UK. The times or the guardian i think.[/quote]
My thoughts on it.
Any player that clutches themself or that causes play to be stopped because they are ‘in pain’ should spend a minimum of three minutes on the sidelines before they can rejoin the game to erm… Make sure they are ok.
This would surely cut down on exaggerated claims of injury.
Any player motioning or requesting for an opposition player to be carded should instantly be yellow carded themselves.
Only the captains of the two teams should be able to approach the referee and question a decision. Attempts to surround or otherwise intimidate a referee should result in a yellow card for all offenders except the captains, unless they too are attempting to intimidate the referee.
I think these measures would go some way to cleaning up the game.
BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - If Germany make it past Italy on Tuesday to reach the World Cup final, Juergen Klinsmann will be happy to share the credit with a pioneering American who was unknown outside Germany until two years ago.
Fitness instructor Mark Verstegen, who runs the Athletes’ Performance group with centres in Arizona and California, was one of the first people hired by Klinsmann when he took over as Germany coach in August 2004.
He was charged with revolutionising training sessions, charting the fitness of each player and devising individual programmes for them to follow when they were back at their clubs.
‘I was proud to get to know Mark,’ Klinsmann, whose home base remains in California, told reporters on Monday. 'I could see how good he was to work with.
‘We are convinced that football will become more and more focused on the individual. To make the team better, you make the individual better.’
The recruitment of Verstegen roused suspicion in Germany, with many wondering why the three-times world champions needed help from an American, but the German record at this World Cup speaks volumes for his effectiveness.
Germany have had no serious injuries and their players have clearly had more sharpness and stamina than their opponents in all five matches to date.
Only captain Michael Ballack showed signs of fatigue in the punishing quarter-final against Argentina on Friday, needing treatment for muscle cramps during extra time.
Even he was able to recover sufficiently to blast in his penalty in the shootout Germany won 4-2.
In the gym and on the training pitch, you will hear more English spoken than German as Verstegen leads the players through their work-outs.
Psychology plays a part, too. After the very first session of the pre-World training camp in Sardinia, when the then uncapped David Odonkor trained with his new team mates for the first time, Verstegen had the players gather in a circle.
‘We are a…’ Odonkor was asked to shout out three times and the rest of the players responded with a rousing chant of ‘Team!’
Germany have proved that at this World Cup, with most players turning in performances far above the quality they usually show for their clubs.
‘I can’t overestimate the contribution Mark and his team have made,’ Klinsmann said. ‘Just ask the players and I’m sure they will only have praise for him.’
Verstegen = Dutch roots = greatness.
That’r really all you had to say.
[quote]biltritewave wrote:
BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - If Germany make it past Italy on Tuesday to reach the World Cup final, Juergen Klinsmann will be happy to share the credit with a pioneering American who was unknown outside Germany until two years ago.
Fitness instructor Mark Verstegen, who runs the Athletes’ Performance group with centres in Arizona and California, was one of the first people hired by Klinsmann when he took over as Germany coach in August 2004.
He was charged with revolutionising training sessions, charting the fitness of each player and devising individual programmes for them to follow when they were back at their clubs.
‘I was proud to get to know Mark,’ Klinsmann, whose home base remains in California, told reporters on Monday. 'I could see how good he was to work with.
‘We are convinced that football will become more and more focused on the individual. To make the team better, you make the individual better.’
The recruitment of Verstegen roused suspicion in Germany, with many wondering why the three-times world champions needed help from an American, but the German record at this World Cup speaks volumes for his effectiveness.
Germany have had no serious injuries and their players have clearly had more sharpness and stamina than their opponents in all five matches to date.
Only captain Michael Ballack showed signs of fatigue in the punishing quarter-final against Argentina on Friday, needing treatment for muscle cramps during extra time.
Even he was able to recover sufficiently to blast in his penalty in the shootout Germany won 4-2.
In the gym and on the training pitch, you will hear more English spoken than German as Verstegen leads the players through their work-outs.
Psychology plays a part, too. After the very first session of the pre-World training camp in Sardinia, when the then uncapped David Odonkor trained with his new team mates for the first time, Verstegen had the players gather in a circle.
‘We are a…’ Odonkor was asked to shout out three times and the rest of the players responded with a rousing chant of ‘Team!’
Germany have proved that at this World Cup, with most players turning in performances far above the quality they usually show for their clubs.
‘I can’t overestimate the contribution Mark and his team have made,’ Klinsmann said. ‘Just ask the players and I’m sure they will only have praise for him.’ [/quote]
I am a very proud portuguese, and i’ve been reading this topic a long time ago. So do you really english guys think we dont lose with you guys since 1966 because we are good divers??? Camon guys face it, you dont have what it takes to defeat Portugal a long time ago (40 years) and your game with equador sucked big. I guess nobody was countting on Portugal, because we are just divers as you all say, but may i remind you all, we lost the european cup in the final with greece ( defended all the game) and we weren t winning as english and dutchs, didn t blame the referee and so on.
Alsountill now only 2 teams won every games, Germany and Portugal so get real. As we say in portugal “When you suck at sex the blame is allways in the condom”
No just divers, very bad spellers as well, haha.
Dude, seriously, I never blamed the Holland loss on the refs. We had our opportunities and did not score, period. All I said is that you have some of the sneakiest dirtiest players I have ever seen, and to resort to theatrics to get a player a card is ridiculous. If Figo had tried to play me like that with a fake elbow I would have stomped on his fucking face to ensure I earned the red card.
You have the talent to be a great soccer nation and really dont need that kind of bullshit. And yes, you beat us two years ago in the semis, which was well deserved. But you and I both know you should have beaten Greece while playing at home in the final!!
But I like that you stick up for your country and I applaud you great sex/condom quote.
A
[quote]Nightman wrote:
I am a very proud portuguese, and i’ve been reading this topic a long time ago. So do you really english guys think we dont lose with you guys since 1966 because we are good divers??? Camon guys face it, you dont have what it takes to defeat Portugal a long time ago (40 years) and your game with equador sucked big. I guess nobody was countting on Portugal, because we are just divers as you all say, but may i remind you all, we lost the european cup in the final with greece ( defended all the game) and we weren t winning as english and dutchs, didn t blame the referee and so on.
Alsountill now only 2 teams won every games, Germany and Portugal so get real. As we say in portugal “When you suck at sex the blame is allways in the condom”[/quote]