Soccer thread 07/08

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:54 am

Much the same way that I might have missed it - after all, he's about as good as I am, and about as mobile.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:07 am

10spro wrote:I missed Turkey's big win as I followed instead Argentina and Brazil with their qualifiers matches for 2010. Brazil is lost under the current tutelage of Dunga as they lost 2-0 vs Paraguay, (0-2 a few weeks back vs Venezuela ) and they don't seem to have that identity and fear factor that their past peers planted on their opponents.

Argentina barely tied Ecuador 1-1 with three minutes of extra time, they got Riquelme and Veron back in the lineup and with Aguero and Messi everyone thought it was going to be a Tango. Very far from the truth, both teams will now face each other on Wednesday trying to erase over their weekend poor performances. Look forward to it.

BTW I attended that Brazil-Venezuela game up here in Foxboro. Brazil was uninspired and lack total consistency. It was really pathetic.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:23 pm

Am I cynical to think that Romania-Holland have something in their sleeves? France-Italy surely hope they'll play their hearts out. I doubt it.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:34 pm

10spro wrote:Am I cynical to think that Romania-Holland have something in their sleeves? France-Italy surely hope they'll play their hearts out. I doubt it.

Not cynical, just logical. As I said earlier, it's only smart to take advantage of the chance to eliminate two huge nations like Italy and France. Better than having them squeeze through, find their form and knock you out later.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:27 pm

It's hard not to be cynical after the magical 2-2 draw between Sweden and Denmark in 04 that put both teams through.

Granted this situation is a little different, and Holland has earned the right to rest its starters against Romania if they so choose. Thus, without more, there is nothing wrong with Romania defeating a second choice Holland squad.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:45 pm

The Dutch haven't recieved the memo from myself and Rob regarding mailing in the game. Why isn't the cleaning lady on at centre back? I was also hoping to see the team bus driver in goal. Sort it out, Van Basten!

In the other game (tis half time), I hope EA Sports are watching and finally take the opportunity to correct Abidal's ratings as he's continually overrated in their games. His 'tackle' on Toni was something even Titus Bramble would be ashamed of.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:12 pm

What a fantastic deflection by Henry. Too bad it's into the wrong goal. I love Italy, up 1-0, up by a man, France's best player injured, and they just sit back and soak it up.

I hope Spain absolutely hammer them. Of course, knowing Spain, they'll choke and we'll be seeing Italy in the semis. *sigh*

It's not all over yet...come on Romania!!!! (Dirk, put a few in your own net!)

Macca
(had Italian food for lunch)

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:35 pm

Both games are 2-0 so Italy is going through.

Yes, I'm pulling for the Italians. Feels like hockey season again where everyone hates my team.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:51 pm

Naples39 wrote:Both games are 2-0 so Italy is going through.

Yes, I'm pulling for the Italians. Feels like hockey season again where everyone hates my team.

I like Italy...so there

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:55 pm

Naples39 wrote:Both games are 2-0 so Italy is going through.

Yes, I'm pulling for the Italians. Feels like hockey season again where everyone hates my team.

lol

There's lots of Flyer fans on DSP. Your football team....not so much (at least not me, doug b and Rob)

Congrats on getting through and like I said before, I fear Spain will choke and your lads will get through to the semis.

EDIT: Okay, XXXIV likes them but that's because he's confused - he sees a team in Blue with 10 men behind the ball and thinks he's watching Greece.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:56 pm

Macca00 wrote:
Naples39 wrote:Both games are 2-0 so Italy is going through.

Yes, I'm pulling for the Italians. Feels like hockey season again where everyone hates my team.
lol

There's lots of Flyer fans on DSP. Your football team....not so much (at least not me, doug b and Rob)

Congrats on getting through and like I said before, I fear Spain will choke and your lads will get through to the semis.

EDIT: Okay, XXXIV likes them but that's because he's confused - he sees a team in Blue with 10 men behind the ball and thinks he's watching Greece.

...Always confused...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:07 pm

at Macca. Believe me Naples, Italy is far from being hated as your pesky flyers, until I see Gattuso complaining to the refs. I said it after their loss to the Orange, Italy is not finished yet and when they advance to the next round, watch out for them...

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:28 pm

Taking my disdain for Italy out of the equation, the Dutch are morons.

With all due respect to Herm Edwards, sometimes You Play To Win the Tournament...not the game

They gave a much more dangerous wounded opponent a hand off the matt today. That may be all greater-Europe and all, but it was stupid beyond description. I just don't know if I want them to lose immediately or really get their due by being beaten by the Italians down the road.

Now I'm really hoping my Croats slice through the lot of these old decrepit soccer powers...after sending the Turks back to Asia whence they came. LOL

PS Isn't there a FIFA rule that states that a game is forfeit immediately by any team that has to resort to playing Jean-Alain Boumsong?

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:35 am

RobVarak wrote:Taking my disdain for Italy out of the equation, the Dutch are morons.

With all due respect to Herm Edwards, sometimes You Play To Win the Tournament...not the game They gave a much more dangerous wounded opponent a hand off the matt today. That may be all greater-Europe and all, but it was stupid beyond description. I just don't know if I want them to lose immediately or really get their due by being beaten by the Italians down the road.

Now I'm really hoping my Croats slice through the lot of these old decrepit soccer powers...after sending the Turks back to Asia whence they came. LOL

PS Isn't there a FIFA rule that states that a game is forfeit immediately by any team that has to resort to playing Jean-Alain Boumsong?

Why ? Firstly, if they'd played to let Rumania obviously win, then there would have been an outcry and possibly an investigation.

Secondly, and let's be very clear about this...Italy, with the exception of about 3 or 4 players, are not actually very good. They got spannered by Holland, were a penalty save away from complete elimination against Rumania, and had huge slices of luck against France.

- France had lost their best holding midfielder before the game
- They are a team in transition, and some of the new players are poor (Abidal in particular). Others are well past it (Thuram, Gallas) or have had poor domestic seasons (Henry).
- France lost their best player early on (Ribery)

Despite all of that, Italy's goals were a foolish penalty and a freakish deflection. Their forward line was laughable, and the defense looks as shaky as anything. I only caught the second half, and didn't even realise France were a man short (although to be fair, if you are reduced to playing Camoranesi and Cassano, then you are two men short).

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:41 am

I just read where even high ranking officials in Poland's government are calling Howard Webb a fraud for the penalty decision. Classy.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:41 am

The Guardian has an interesting article on the Spain Italy match-up.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/ ... e_for.html

Spain haven't beaten Italy in 88 years. lol

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:52 am

davet010 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:Taking my disdain for Italy out of the equation, the Dutch are morons.

With all due respect to Herm Edwards, sometimes You Play To Win the Tournament...not the game They gave a much more dangerous wounded opponent a hand off the matt today. That may be all greater-Europe and all, but it was stupid beyond description. I just don't know if I want them to lose immediately or really get their due by being beaten by the Italians down the road.

Now I'm really hoping my Croats slice through the lot of these old decrepit soccer powers...after sending the Turks back to Asia whence they came. LOL

PS Isn't there a FIFA rule that states that a game is forfeit immediately by any team that has to resort to playing Jean-Alain Boumsong?
Why ? Firstly, if they'd played to let Rumania obviously win, then there would have been an outcry and possibly an investigation.

Secondly, and let's be very clear about this...Italy, with the exception of about 3 or 4 players, are not actually very good. They got spannered by Holland, were a penalty save away from complete elimination against Rumania, and had huge slices of luck against France.

- France had lost their best holding midfielder before the game
- They are a team in transition, and some of the new players are poor (Abidal in particular). Others are well past it (Thuram, Gallas) or have had poor domestic seasons (Henry).
- France lost their best player early on (Ribery)

Despite all of that, Italy's goals were a foolish penalty and a freakish deflection. Their forward line was laughable, and the defense looks as shaky as anything. I only caught the second half, and didn't even realise France were a man short (although to be fair, if you are reduced to playing Camoranesi and Cassano, then you are two men short).

If France and Italy are so poor, how bad is Romania, who only manage to draw them both...unable to even score against the might French back 4? It's an academic exercise, but I suspect that despite their problems so far Italy are a stronger side than the Romanians going forward.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:09 pm

Nice showing by the Russians, dismissing an indifferent Sweden. Guus does it again. The first half, in particular, was just beautiful football by the Russians. They have questions at the back, but that seems to be a theme of many of the quarter finalists.

England is starting to look somewhat less ghastly in light of the quality that the Russians and Croats have shown.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:38 pm

RobVarak wrote:Nice showing by the Russians, dismissing an indifferent Sweden. Guus does it again. The first half, in particular, was just beautiful football by the Russians. They have questions at the back, but that seems to be a theme of many of the quarter finalists.

England is starting to look somewhat less ghastly in light of the quality that the Russians and Croats have shown.

I'll second that analysis of the first half - wow, that was some fantastic football played. Not sure if Sweden were indifferent though - I think that Russia just completely outclassed them. There were some truly outrageous runs by the side backs - the one that set up the second goal where the side back ran through the middle of the defense has to rank up there for sheer wonder.

Russia are a young team and I'm not sure if they can maintain their consistency. But if they play up to that first half level against Holland that game could be just unbelievably good. Then again, knock out round games tend to be quite a bit more conservative. Still, I'll be sitting down squarely in front of my television on Saturday afternoon.

On a more personal note, can I just say in response to Macca's post about indoor scoring prowess that I would like to sign him for our outdoor team, who collectively would have a tough time scoring in a French brothel if you spotted us the room and the hooker. I include myself in the sad tale of ineptitude - haven't had a shot in net in 4 games.

Best wishes,

Doug

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:46 am

Nice to see Arshavin making the leap from my Football Manager 08 team to the big time.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:32 am

Hard to root against Holland after reading this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... d=football

Very sad.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:33 am

I feel the same Dave. It looks like the Bahamas might make the Group Statges of the CONCACAF qualifying tourney down here. Just like I did in FM2008. Of course it took me until 2020 to get them there

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:36 am

fsquid wrote:I feel the same Dave. It looks like the Bahamas might make the Group Statges of the CONCACAF qualifying tourney down here. Just like I did in FM2008. Of course it took me until 2020 to get them there

And did I ever realise my dream of playing in a World Cup, or had I long since retired ?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:05 pm

davet010 wrote:
fsquid wrote:I feel the same Dave. It looks like the Bahamas might make the Group Statges of the CONCACAF qualifying tourney down here. Just like I did in FM2008. Of course it took me until 2020 to get them there
And did I ever realise my dream of playing in a World Cup, or had I long since retired ?

You retired. However, you did manage to get signed to the Houston MLS team when you were about 28

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:40 pm

Well, i never received any money, must give them a bell.

Forza Deutschland for tonite