I agree on Ronaldo’s character. And he definitely wasn’t on song this time.
But when he’s at his best, he’s amongst the top 2-3 in the world (with Messi of course)
England have organised a friendly against Iceland. Depending on their performance, they might even get to play against Tesco and ASDA.
[quote]Sonny S wrote:
[quote]print wrote:
Though I hope Ireland wins the whole thing, I am going to say Messi will go off against the Germans. He will
not be held scoreless this game.[/quote]
Whenever I see Germany and Argentina play, and I see their young exciting players Messi and Podolski, I f’n want to cry.
As a fan of Italy, who was disgraceful and deserved to be eliminated by Slovakia, all I do is think that we left home Balotelli (19) and Rossi (23), the most exciting strikers since Baggio. Nasty dribblers with range and the ability to beat double teams.
Then I look at the geriatric ward that was the midfield: old, injured grandfathers past their prime… And I think we could have had Davide Santon (18) in there. He could not have played worse than those who did.
Then Lippi leaves out Quagliarella until the 2nd half of the last game and all he does is score a goal, have another disallowed, and have yet another shot blocked by the keeper.
I think for 2014 Italy will be awesome, but if they had played the younger guys this time, we probably would not have won but a) we would not have been shameful and b) our future stars would have had World Cup experience.
That’s all. I’ll go back to despairing now.
BTW, what was done to Ireland is a disgrace and one of the most unfair things that has ever happened in sports. So maybe I shouldn’t complain too much.[/quote]
Italy choose experience over youth every tournament. worked in 2006 cause we had playmakers like pirlo and del piero and camoranesi fit and defenders like grosso who could get up the wing. Alas no more
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]JACKED71 wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
Messi > Ronaldo, easily. Messi actually passes the ball.[/quote]
( spitting at the camera after Portugal’s loss, pretty much sums up this guy’s character…what a disgraceful act of sportsmanship )[/quote]
Yeah I saw that, I guess he did that on purpose, didn’t really think too much about it. What a prick. But yeah just watching him play, he just looked like a bitch to me. The way he handles himself just reeks of arrogance, like he wants everything on a silver fucking platter.[/quote]
You are spot on.
And yes, of course he spit on the camera and on us on purpose.
I did not miss that either.
Expect nothing less of him then to pass the buck for his failures and to bite on the hands that feed him.
Worst character in sports, in my opinion.
[/quote]
I actualy didn’t think too much of it myself - I spit a lot when I play too. And he was upset, poor thing. He wasn’t thinking about the camera. And just to play devils advocate, Messi did also spit at a player once…
Basically I’m saying that these guys are 23, bank rolling and sport celebrities - the majority are going to be jerkoffs. Except of course for Carlos Tevez who is an upstanding guy through and through 
Speaking of, did y’all see what Lahm said about Argentina, “They [Argentina] are temperamental, we’ll see how they deal with defeat on Saturday. They are impulsive, temperamental and they don’t know how to lose.”
This could get ugly…
My money is on Argentina for the game, but on Germany for the post-game fight. The Germans are bigger, and Maradona and Messi are particularly small.
[quote]nrt wrote:
My money is on Argentina for the game, but on Germany for the post-game fight. The Germans are bigger, and Maradona and Messi are particularly small. [/quote]
A but Maradona is well used to fighting
Italy choose experience over youth every tournament.
[/quote]
Yes, to their detriment. I don’t care if DelPiero was voted one of the best players of the 20th centruy by Pele or if Ronaldinho says he was his idol and patterned his game after him. In the most important games, the World Cup, he always underperformed. To me DelPiero was always more hype than substance.
Compared to Baggio, who barely got any time in 1990, yet scored twice including Most Beautiful Goal of the World Cup. Then in 94 he scored 5 goals in the knockout stages. Then in 98 he barely played as a substitute behind - guess who? - DelPiero but still scored a few goals and assisted. The coach ended up apologizing to him for not playing him more.
My points are
a) Baggio should have had more time in 1990 when he was 23. 23 is NOT young for a soccer player.
and
b) DeRossi, who is 23 now, and Balotelli should have played. I mean Iaquinta is terrible, and was terrible even in 2006.
Next world cup Balotelli is going to be “only” 23. Are we going to wait for 2018 to see him??
Its like Italy insists on being its own worst enemy, unlike say Brazil, where youth always gets a chance. Italy has the players to play a beautiful game, yet they insist on always trying to play a stifling match with too much diving.
They played amazingly in 2006 semi final vs. Germany. All my friends were amazed because they were so used to catenaccio. That’s the depressing thing. When they want to, Italy can play lovely football but they settle for fortress Azzurri
Balotelli will no doubt be the captain of the aging 2026 world cup team 
(who disappoint obviously)
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
My Picks:
Netherlands over Brazil
Ghana over Uruguay
Germany over Argentina
Spain over Paraguay[/quote]
fuck no.
Brasil
Uruguay
Argentina
and I give Spain to you, by like 4 goals too.
Wow I knew Ronaldo was getting it done on and off the pitch but wow.
Check out the chicks hes been with.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/379631-cristiano-ronaldos-20-hottest-girlfriends
And we thought Derek Jeter was the one of the best ‘players’ around but hes got NOTHING on the girls Ronaldos been with. We’re talking some of the hottest ass on the planet!
Gemma Atkinson hooked up with Ronalda…NOOOOOO!!! ;_;
I’m going with Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, and Spain.
Does anyone really care for Ronaldo? He’s too self-centered for my taste, and no matter how good you’re football is still a team sport. I think there are times he’d rather miss a shot then get an assist. It’s quite nice to see him marveling at himself on the screen before a free kick though, it made what he cares about while on the pitch quite evident .
[quote]Mascherano wrote:
Speaking of, did y’all see what Lahm said about Argentina, “They [Argentina] are temperamental, we’ll see how they deal with defeat on Saturday. They are impulsive, temperamental and they don’t know how to lose.”
This could get ugly…
[/quote]
I would adore to see a physical fight break out on the field as it nearly did with Brazil and Ivory Coast at the end when the IV started to foul the Brazilians violently.
Brazilians are fun and friendly first but will fight if aggressed.
Our neighbors Argentinians are more inclined to go to straight to battle, I think .
I find it very very funny! They are beautiful and excited one moment then as you said it can suddenly turn ugly - it should be the best match of this week.
Go Argy!
[quote]Magicpunch wrote:
England have organised a friendly against Iceland. Depending on their performance, they might even get to play against Tesco and ASDA.[/quote]
You have given me the best laughter on this thread with jokes like these!!
I read you thinking you are being serious and suddenly I crack up laughing…!
Thank you SO much for the damage control from the English team performance.
It is a shame our American friends won’t get the joke above - I laughed out loud!
( Very clever that they are not even in the top league to play Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, ha!)
[quote]goldengloves wrote:
It’s quite nice to see him marveling at himself on the screen before a free kick though, it made what he cares about while on the pitch quite evident .[/quote]
That is a very good observation!
Even I missed that…so true. Well spotted.
The name on his shirt should be Narcissus.
[quote]ronaldo7 wrote:
[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
My Picks:
Netherlands over Brazil
Ghana over Uruguay
Germany over Argentina
Spain over Paraguay[/quote]
fuck no.
Brasil
Uruguay
Argentina
and I give Spain to you, by like 4 goals too.[/quote]
I agree with ronaldo7.
The ideal final to me would be either:
Brazil x Argentina
Spain x Argentina
Argentina HAS to be there because I really want to see a fight break out and I want to see what Maradona is going to do.
And I think David Villa is playing better than any of the other Brazilian strikers.
To see him do battle with Tevez and Messi would be awesome.
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
[quote]Magicpunch wrote:
England have organised a friendly against Iceland. Depending on their performance, they might even get to play against Tesco and ASDA.[/quote]
You have given me the best laughter on this thread with jokes like these!!
I read you thinking you are being serious and suddenly I crack up laughing…!
Thank you SO much for the damage control from the English team performance.
It is a shame our American friends won’t get the joke above - I laughed out loud!
( Very clever that they are not even in the top league to play Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, ha!)
[/quote]
Hah, well thank you. These are all the jokes that are flying around the office - we English have decent coping mechanisms eh.
Oh - have you heard the rumours flying around giving the reason for our shocking display in the games? (This won’t be a joke unfortunately!)
Probably untrue but apparently Gerrard has got his sister-in-law pregnant. Terry was extremely pissed off that Capello didn’t demand Gerrard’s captain’s armband, given that Terry had been relieved of his captaincy for acting in a similar way.
So the camp has split into those supporting Gerrard and those backing Terry. Could this explain why Terry was bold enough do an interview in which he made quite a few criticisms? Is this why Gerrard wasn’t playing in front of Terry?
Emails are suggesting the story will break in two weeks, after Capello’s fate has been decided, as the courts have put a gagging order on Gerrard’s private life until then.
Possible that its true? Or is it just a fake email that’s become popular because it could tap into our desire to find “the reason” for our shocking performance?
I heard that too.
Insert scouse joke here
[quote]Bambi wrote:
I heard that too.
Insert scouse joke here[/quote]
Why wasn’t Jesus born in Merseyside?
Because God couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.
I think I’ve developed Stockholm Syndrome with the vuvuzelas.
Today lines up to be a great day in soccer, and I think the Netherlands will really give Brazil a run for their money. Although the second game doesn’t look sexy on paper, I am actually just as excited to watch it, as both teams will be extremely hungry and should play wide open. I’ll be rooting for Ghana since they knocked out the USA, have to give respect where respect is due. Plus Forlan just looks like a douchebag.
Netherlands over Brazil
Ghana over Uruguay
Looking forward to this!
My picks
Netherlands over Brazil, not going to put money on it though.
Uruguay beat Ghana.
Spain smash Paraguay.
Argentina over Germany. I think whoever comes out on top here will go on to win the cup.
For all you Argentinos, something a friend posted to my FB.
My Spanish is pretty poor, but I understood enough to get the gist.