WORLD CUP

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:24 am

witchy wrote:From all the bits I've seen of the Dutch team since I'm here, I can honestly say that they're one of the fairest-playing teams I ever saw, which reputation are you referring to Red??

The Dutch team undoubtedly began lashing out in similar fashion during the match, but only because the violence from the Portugese was so breathtaking and the ref was clearly not in control of the match. Under those circumstances, I think the Dutch decided to let the Portugese know in no uncertain terms that they would defend themselves with just as much reckless abandon. They didn't have much option. Sometimes the only way to tackle bullies is to give them a taste of their own medicine.

puce · Post by **puce** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:52 am

witchy wrote:The good old catenaccio, o yeah, they hate us for it!
Bah, admitting we could beat Germany, we'll surely lose against France, it wouldn't be the first time I honestly don't know what's worse...

If there's a final France - Italy (and I really hope for it), I'll be the only Italian among Frenchies, that's a nightmare! I won't be able to enjoy the match as usual (I cry and support and swear in real Italian style

).

red · Post by **red** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:30 pm

elizabeth wrote:The Dutch team undoubtedly began lashing out in similar fashion during the match, but only because the violence from the Portugese was so breathtaking and the ref was clearly not in control of the match. Under those circumstances, I think the Dutch decided to let the Portugese know in no uncertain terms that they would defend themselves with just as much reckless abandon. They didn't have much option. Sometimes the only way to tackle bullies is to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Sorry Beth, but you're misremembering... I don't mean to harp on about it, but Van Bommel's vicious tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo, forcing his replacement, started the spiral. And then the portuguese started letting the dutch know that they would defend themselves. The Dutch committed more and worse fouls than the portuguese throughout the match.

In fact, the portuguese red cards were because of 1) a stupid handball by Costinha, and 2) Deco picking up the ball (time-wasting) - ungentlemanly conduct, but hardly thuggish behaviour!? I think at that stage the referee was losing control (and he's been criticised by FIFA for the way he handled things).

I'm not sure why you're remembering it the other way around? Does it have something to do with the England match? (portugal do seem to be making a habit of kicking England out of tournaments

) or maybe just a horrible holiday in the Algarve in your childhood?

Post by **sound world** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:57 pm

Hey red,she's Scottish you know!!

I once hitched a lift with a Scots guy,and made the mistake of mentioning footy,after which there was a long and largely incomprehensible tirade about 'English bastards' all the way up the M6

Not that our Beth would be anything like that of course

blue · Post by **blue** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:01 am

red wrote:
Sorry Beth, but you're misremembering...

Or perhaps you were watching a different match to myself and Sara.

red wrote:I'm not sure why you're remembering it the other way around? Does it have something to do with the England match? (portugal do seem to be making a habit of kicking England out of tournaments ) or maybe just a horrible holiday in the Algarve in your childhood?

I'm Scottish - no bias for the English team, here.

I've never been to Portugal, though I hear it's a rather beautiful country.

I just don't like thugs who bully and cheat their way through anything in life, sport or otherwise. It's kind of a bugbear with me. I don't like to see wanton violence triumphing.

With a bit of luck the French will put them out of the tournament. Perhaps by Euro 2008 the Portugese will have learned to conduct themselves in a civilised manner.

blue · Post by **blue** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:15 am

sound world wrote:Hey red,she's Scottish you know!!

I once hitched a lift with a Scots guy,and made the mistake of mentioning footy,after which there was a long and largely incomprehensible tirade about 'English bastards' all the way up the M6

Apparently the best-selling t-shirt in Scotland the past few weeks has been one adorned with the plea: 'Anyone But England'.

Seriously, I know quite a few fellow Scots exiles here and I haven't heard a single one make any sort of negative comment about the English team's prospects, except in an obviously humorous vein. One of my Scottish co-workers even wore an England shirt into work the day of England-Sweden match. The general feeling as far as I could gather was 'they're British, we're British, if it was us there and not them we'd want them to support us.'

There were a couple of really appalling incidents in Scotland though, that I think made the whole country feel thoroughly ashamed to have the same blood as those who perpetrated them. One seven year old English boy who's family live in Scotland was randomly thumped by an ADULT for wearing an England shirt in public.

[censor] What goes through the minds of such cretins I do not know.

sound world wrote:Not that our Beth would be anything like that of course

Not at all. The way I look at it, I've lived in England for twenty-summat years now, this is the country that's given me a home and work and a life, so of course I wish all the best for their team. It's been lovely to see the English sort of united for a change, across cultures, races, classes.

Their team deserved to win that match, and I was as crushed as any English person to see them go out so damn unfairly.

Post by **sound world** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:40 am

One of the reasons I don't really like footy,(except every four years)

,apart from the violence (God I hadn't heard that story about the 7-year-old,Beth

),the xenophobia,and the fact that some people (like yer man who thumped 7 yr.-old) take it FAR too seriously,is that too often games are decided on such unfair moments of luck,and to resort to penalties after a 120 minute game isn't really determining a deserving World Champion,is it.
(At the end of the day,Brian,when all's said and done,it's about getting the ball in the back of the net

).
Also the standard of refereeing has been godawful,(granted, the players have been taking advantage of the situation and diving around and appealing for anything and everything).Considering the massive budgets football can command,is it so difficult to have something like a 'third umpire' as in cricket,watching the action on a telly,who the ref on the pitch can appeal to for help and advice?

barrett · Post by **barrett** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:54 am

sound world wrote: Also the standard of refereeing has been godawful,(granted, the players have been taking advantage of the situation and diving around and appealing for anything and everything).Considering the massive budgets football can command,is it so difficult to have something like a 'third umpire' as in cricket,watching the action on a telly,who the ref on the pitch can appeal to for help and advice?

I heard on the news this morning that FIFA are considering using two referees in future games.I wonder how that'd work,one in each half

or one to referee the other perhaps. [crazy]

Post by **sound world** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:41 pm

FRANCE
v.
ITALIA

I got my Final!! OK now who'd like a tip??
At the moment I'm quite impartial.Hope it's a good,fair game.

blue · Post by **blue** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:52 pm

Hehe. Portugal put out of the tournament by an undeserved penalty for an Oscar-worthy dive. Oh, the sweet irony.

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.

And so France versus Italy on Sunday - I'll be delighted whoever wins, I have the blood of both nations in me. I'll be watching it with my half-Italian hubby so I suppose I should be diplomatic and go for his side. I have a feeling France will win, though.

red · Post by **red** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:25 am

elizabeth wrote:Hehe. Portugal put out of the tournament by an undeserved penalty for an Oscar-worthy dive. Oh, the sweet irony.

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.

Well I thought it was a justified penalty (although not a malicious foul - he was just wrong-footed).

And I'm heartbroken at your gloating at my country going out, Beth (even though they didn't really deserve to go through). I'd like to see France win it - they have a few players of portuguese origin (Vieira, Pires...)

blue · Post by **blue** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:00 am

red wrote:
Well I thought it was a justified penalty (although not a malicious foul - he was just wrong-footed).

Henry's dive was more hilarious with each replay.

The penalty may have been deserved depending on how strictly you observe the rules about contact I guess, though I agree it didn't - for once

- seem like deliberate foul play.

red wrote:And I'm heartbroken at your gloating at my country going out, Beth (even though they didn't really deserve to go through).

Hey, if they'd won, they'd have done enough gloating to last most of us a lifetime.

Seriously, I'd honestly forgotten till you said 'my country' that you're of Portugese extraction, that explains why you've been defending them! I have to say you're the only person I've heard sticking up for them at all, everyone else I've talked to about football the past few days has been unanimous in condemning their conduct on the pitch.

No personal offence meant though love, honestly - if I'd remembered you had Portugese blood I'd have been a bit more diplomatic. [akiss]

red wrote: I'd like to see France win it - they have a few players of portuguese origin (Vieira, Pires...)

I don't mind either way to be honest, though officially I'm supporting Italy.

Post by **sound world** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:07 am

I'm pissed that I missed (I'm a poet and I don't know it

) the Germany-Italy match (I was out gigging) which was evidently a classic in which Italy played very well (which they haven't really been doing up till now).TV here since dominated by Wimbo so still haven't seen highlights even.
Italy should have won in 1990,so I kind of hope they will now.
Meanwhile I have a soft spot for those old guys of France...
On the day I'll support the team who plays fast and fair

blue · Post by **blue** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:15 am

The Italy-Germany match wasn't that great to watch, really, I found it quite boring for the most part, but that last minute .....

To win a world cup semi-final in the last minute of extra time with one goal is amazing enough, but two is just jammy.

I felt so sorry for the Germans though, what a terrible way to go out.

And they were so dignified about it too, no scenes, no drama. If nothing else, I think they've done their country proud and possibly made a difference to the way some nations continue to think of them.

Post by **sound world** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:37 am

elizabeth wrote: made a difference to the way some nations continue to think of them.

Hmm,I wonder which?