Football: WORLD CUP 06 and close season/transfer discussion.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:56 pm 0

Chelsea's 31 million looked, again, erm.... interestingly spent.

And yet Mark Bright (I think it was him) said he couldn't wait to see him in the Premiership on that performance!

Gorecki · Post by **Gorecki** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:00 pm 0

Is Martin O'Neil pished?

amanset · Post by **amanset** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:01 pm 0

Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:Where are you all imagining this tosh from? Were you listening to the almost comically-biased ITV commentary? Argentina hardly fell over in the whole game, because the ref was giving them absolutely nothing.

I'm sorry but I just cannot agree with that. Both teams were diving a lot but Argentina were far, far worse. I'd argue that you are letting your love of the Argentinian team blind you somewhat. The stats from the game don't seem to support your idea that "the ref was giving them absolutely nothing" either.

merman · Post by **merman** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:16 pm 0

Gorecki wrote:Is Martin O'Neil pished?

"Eye wisch eye'd bin borne Eye-talian"

There's no doubt Italy deserved their win, but it could have been so different... the difference between 1-1 at 60 minutes (which it could have been) and 2-0 (which it turned out) was immense...

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:22 pm 0

Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:I hope the Germans win it now, though - they're the second-most-attacking side, and the alternatives are all too horrible to contemplate.

Crikey. Game must have changed after I left to watch the 20/20 cricket, because I saw up to 75 minutes of this game, and I believe by that point the Argentine keeper had not made a save, it was midfield chess the whole way. If that's the second most attacking team in the tournament I hate to see the third.

I believe I am I correct to say that both goals came from set plays?

As I said to the lads I was watching the game with that looked absolutely exactly like England vs. England. Am about to watch the 'highlights' but on the news I haven't seen anything to dissuade me from this opinion yet.

A poor performance from both teams, can do better, see me.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:33 pm 0

Yep - highlights seem to agree, one shot on target during ordinary time by each side, and none in extra time. German goal wasn't from a set-piece though.

England have played better than that in every game, if you ask me.

German penalties were perfect though and Argentina's weren't good.

GeeZa · Post by **GeeZa** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:58 pm 0

Dio wrote:
Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:I hope the Germans win it now, though - they're the second-most-attacking side, and the alternatives are all too horrible to contemplate.
Crikey. Game must have changed after I left to watch the 20/20 cricket, because I saw up to 75 minutes of this game, and I believe by that point the Argentine keeper had not made a save, it was midfield chess the whole way. If that's the second most attacking team in the tournament I hate to see the third.

I believe I am I correct to say that both goals came from set plays?

As I said to the lads I was watching the game with that looked absolutely exactly like England vs. England. Am about to watch the 'highlights' but on the news I haven't seen anything to dissuade me from this opinion yet.

A poor performance from both teams, can do better, see me.

I agree with you, both Germany and Argentina were poor, although that's perhaps not the best word to use. 'Considered' may be better.

A lot going on in the middle of the park, but no super-slickness up-front and no clean chances. Goals from crosses with defenders in the box probably keeps Hansen awake at night. A lot of teams in this tournament are having trouble linking up forward play down the middle, it's weird.

Italy look good (don't they always?) although the USA game proved if you get at them and score they wobble. Home advantage is big though so I expect Germany in the final. Those penalties were incredible. From the other four teams left it's anyone's guess tbh. Certainly don't see any reason why either England or Portugal couldn't go all the way. Tomorrow will be an exciting day.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:04 am 0

A bad mistake taking Riquelme off, I think.

I hope we don't end up in a penalty shoot-out with Germany. Did you see how far Lehmann was allowed to come off his line?

Rev. Stuart Campbell · Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:07 am 0

I think the pertinent point is, these were the two best teams in the tournament to date. It wasn't very likely they were going to give each other a lot of space.

GeeZa · Post by **GeeZa** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:16 am 0

PaulEMoz wrote:A bad mistake taking Riquelme off, I think.

It was although he seemed out of sorts. He was replaced with a more defensive player in Cambiasso as was Crespo with Cruz (over Messi). I think the plan was to play out the remaining 10 minutes which was a gamble that didn't pay off. On balance I'd rather Argentina went through simply because they're better to watch imo but having the home crowd still behind Germany is good news I reckon. Keeps it interesting. Can they win it??

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:17 am 0

PaulEMoz wrote:I hope we don't end up in a penalty shoot-out with Germany.

Too bloody right.

Rev. Stuart Campbell · Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:20 am 0

GeeZa wrote:It was although he seemed out of sorts. He was replaced with a more defensive player in Cambiasso as was Crespo with Cruz (over Messi). I think the plan was to play out the remaining 10 minutes which was a gamble that didn't pay off. On balance I'd rather Argentina went through simply because they're better to watch imo but having the home crowd still behind Germany is good news I reckon. Keeps it interesting. Can they win it??

Definitely. I've been sticking up for them since the tournament began, and now they've shown they've got the nerve to go with their enthusiasm. If they can beat Argentina, who can't they beat?

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:22 am 0

That said, Italy looked really quite decent tonight as well. OK, Ukraine have been pretty shite since day 1, but there's not a game left that's easy to call the winner.

Unfortunately that's different from saying they're all going to be cracking games of football...

GeeZa · Post by **GeeZa** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:34 am 0

Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:
GeeZa wrote:It was although he seemed out of sorts. He was replaced with a more defensive player in Cambiasso as was Crespo with Cruz (over Messi). I think the plan was to play out the remaining 10 minutes which was a gamble that didn't pay off. On balance I'd rather Argentina went through simply because they're better to watch imo but having the home crowd still behind Germany is good news I reckon. Keeps it interesting. Can they win it??
Definitely. I've been sticking up for them since the tournament began, and now they've shown they've got the nerve to go with their enthusiasm. If they can beat Argentina, who can't they beat?

Yeah agreed, I said also early on that you can never count Germany out, they're just always *good*. Italy will be a tough game though, if one team are gonna spoil the party it's them. Do we reckon England will beat Portugal tomorrow? Certainly not having Deco is a blow. I'm going for an England win obviously.

Lampard scores the winner in 2-1 regular time win. /cough.

PFVA · Post by **PFVA** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 1:07 am 0

Well as i'll be having breakfast tomorrow early morning at the Irish pub to watch Portugal X England i just want to say

Go POOOORTUGAAAAL (Probably not the most common cheering in this forum)

In anyway, above all i just hope the 2 play good football and that we don't have anymore physical disagreement in between players. There has been enough on those.