Man, I tell you Portugal takes the art of diving to a whole new level. If there is an award for best play acting or diving team they should get the prize in every competition. I'm glad those cheating bastards are out! Simply disgraceful. If they concentrated more on scoring goals and just playing futbol, then maybe they might have won.
Zidane didn't have one of his brilliant performances today that's for sure but he did no wrong IMO. For France sake they better hope he and Henry show up for the final or else they're going home.
Now on to the final I wanted Italy vs France. A repeat of the Euro 2000 final. Actually, this whole tourney has played out quite the same way. France beat Portugal in the semis to advance to the final after beating Spain in the qrts. Italy defeated the Dutch host nation to advance to the finals.
I won't say what happened after that but let's just say that hopefully Italy will be able to rewrite history this time around.
On a sidenote Germany and Portugal for 3rd place. I hope Germany takes this, it will be a nice consolation prize for them being host nation, similar to Italia '90 where Italy took 3rd place as host nation and Germany won the final. Hopefully it will be the same this time.
Go Italy!!!!Forza Azzurri!!!!!
Originally posted by Deano
balls scolari. stop banging on. ya gitya teams a bunch of cheating divin fools.
This is exactly what I mean, "Stop banging on". We won't hear the end of "Ronaldo is scum" but nothing said against Rooney, who committed a red card offense.
Too hypocritical. It happened, stop banging on.
-AC
Originally posted by Deano
to me, rooney's stamp looked accidental. he said it was accidental
he doesnt go around diving and ruining the game all the time. he sometimes can lose his temper, but thats him.
Sometimes Ronaldo can dive, but that's him. See? I can do that. It doesn't make his diving any more right does it? No. It's still wrong isn't it? Yes.
Just like Rooney stamping on Carvalho was/is still wrong, I don't see why it's less of a crime just because you've chose to accept that the man is a thuggish brute. I don't think the world has to accept Rooney's on-pitch temper and have it be passed off as "Aww, he's just passionate" or have it said that we should accept it because that's who he is. If that's who he is, f*ck off and play somewhere else, the pitch isn't for your temper any more than it is for diving. Ronaldinho is an incredibly passionate player, the only thing he ever lashes out is a smile.
Of course he said it was accidental, Ronaldo is getting all the stick, he's not exactly gonna come out and admit he did it on purpose is he? Given his nature, it's more likely that he meant it. We've seen him lash out before.
What Rooney did was a red card offense, had he not been sent off, England would have got lucky. Cristiano Ronaldo pointed out what he did, which is the ref's job anyway, so it balances out.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
[B]Sometimes Ronaldo can dive, but that's him. See? I can do that. It doesn't make his diving any more right does it? No. It's still wrong isn't it? Yes.
rooney rarely does that thought does he? and it was an accident anyway in my opinion. ronaldo is constantly diving..see? yes.
Just like Rooney stamping on Carvalho was/is still wrong, I don't see why it's less of a crime just because you've chose to accept that the man is a thuggish brute. Of course he said it was accidental, Ronaldo is getting all the stick, he's not exactly gonna come out and admit he did it on purpose is he? Given his nature, it's more likely that he meant it. We've seen him lash out before.
rooney isnt a thuggish brute. he can be aggressive, in a good way though, but that sometimes can lead to getting fouls. totti is a thuggish brute, ive saw him deliberatly elbow people and kick them. same with zlatan imbrahimovic, he is a crafty git.
What Rooney did was a red card offense, had he not been sent off, England would have got lucky. Cristiano Ronaldo pointed out what he did, which is the ref's job anyway, so it balances out.
why does ronaldo have to point it out to the ref? do you like players going around asking refs to brandish yellow cards and over dramaticising(sp?) fouls? obviously you do. remember del hornos red card at stamford bridge?
Originally posted by Deano
rooney rarely does that thought does he? and it was an accident anyway in my opinion. ronaldo is constantly diving..see? yes.
Rarely does what, has a temper tantrum? It's what he's known for. Everyone was saying, at the peak of Rooneymania, "He needs to keep his temper under control.".
Originally posted by Deano
rooney isnt a thuggish brute. he can be aggressive, in a good way though, but that sometimes can lead to getting fouls. totti is a thuggish brute, ive saw him deliberatly elbow people and kick them. same with zlatan imbrahimovic, he is a crafty git.
I've seen Rooney deliberately stamp on someone's...oh wait. That was an accident because Rooney said so and because you refuse to believe anything different.
Originally posted by Deano
why does ronaldo have to point it out to the ref? do you like players going around asking refs to brandish yellow cards and over dramaticising(sp?) fouls? obviously you do. remember del hornos red card at stamford bridge?
The only argument you have is "Ronaldo shouldn't have pointed it out, it's not his job", and fine, it's not. However, what Rooney did was a red card offense, factually and in the rule book. If he didn't get sent off, it wouldn't have been a good refereeing decision, because he deserved a red.
You can't moan at the result, just the way the result came about. Blame Rooney for stamping on the man, for committing the act.
-AC
Shouldn't of been a foul against England, never mind a sending off...Carvalho fouled Rooney at least twice before the alleged stomp. The man was trying to stay on his feet from a challenge that was from behind, and in attempting to keep his balance, accidentally stepped on the challenger. A red card for trying to stay on his feet.
And Ronaldo...I've seen better theatrics in a school play, Ridiculous. Same goes for all the divers in that Portugal team, they deserve the flack...IMO ofcourse
Italy to win the final 2-0
For me, Pirlo is the best player in the Italian team. I think he'll get an assist & be on the score sheet
Originally posted by mr-savonty
Shouldn't of been a foul against England, never mind a sending off...Carvalho fouled Rooney at least twice before the alleged stomp. The man was trying to stay on his feet from a challenge that was from behind, and in attempting to keep his balance, accidentally stepped on the challenger. A red card for trying to stay on his feet.
No, it was a red card for stamping on him, but you'll see what you want to see I guess, being an England fan. You saw an accidental step-on, I saw a stamp, the ref saw a stamp, Sven saw a stamp, many people saw a stamp. The only one's who didn't it seems are the squad and the fans.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
No, it was a red card for stamping on him, but you'll see what you want to see I guess, being an England fan.
...And being an England fan automatically labels me Biased, does it?
Well, what can i say?
"You have your 'opinium' and i have my 'opinium'.....so yeah....let's talk about it?"
Originally posted by Deano
balls scolari. stop banging on. ya gitya teams a bunch of cheating divin fools.
Amen to that. C. Ronaldo dived at least 4375849325 times during that match. I dont think I ever saw him standing up.
Originally posted by Deathblow
That's only because Zidane's at the end of his career. Zidane at Ballack's age was arguably the best player in the world.And he definitely doesn't suck. Did you not watch France's last two games?
And damn straight he was! And still is! Rampant Ox is full of shit "IMO" and doesnt know a thing about football! At least Zidane doesnt cry when his team loses a game!
Originally posted by Deano
yeh pirlo is quality. he has been there best player along with cannavaro
Don't forget Zambrotta, he's been just as important as those two. Camoranesi too.
I really can't pick a winner for this final. Both will be on an incredible high to have made it this far. France have some players (Zidane, Thuram, Henry) who desparately want to win it, but I think Italy, as a team want it more. I think Italy have a better all round squad, especially now that Saha is suspended for the final, but France have a few potentially match-winning individuals, Henry, Vieira, Ribery and of course Zidane who do not have Italian alternatives.
Henry will struggle up at the front on his lonesome against the truly excellent Italian defence, and I think Pirlo and Totti may run into problems against Makelele and Vieira, a much tougher midfield shield than they have come up against so far. Should be a very tight game.
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
The only argument you have is "Ronaldo shouldn't have pointed it out, it's not his job", and fine, it's not. However, what Rooney did was a red card offense, factually and in the rule book. If he didn't get sent off, it wouldn't have been a good refereeing decision, because he deserved a red.You can't moan at the result, just the way the result came about. Blame Rooney for stamping on the man, for committing the act.
Come on, let's be realistic here. The only person who knows whether that was foul was deliberate or not, was Rooney. To be honest, I couldn't tell. Carvalho threw himself under Rooney for one thing, so it was kind of hard for Rooney to step anywhere but on him. On the other hand, the contact wasn't exactly light contact, and even if that was accidental, it's dangerous play.
Still, I don't think any team other than the Portuguese would have complained too much if he was shown a yellow, and I don't think the referee would have reacted the same way if Ronaldo hadn't got involved and aggravated both the situation and Rooney himself.
I know you seem to have a real passion for the whole ''I'm cool and indifferent, I hate England and the patriotic masses'' thing AC, but I have to disagree with your defense of Ronaldo all the same. What Rooney did was (to give Portugal and the referee the benefit of the doubt) wrong, and you're very right to draw English fans attention to the fact that it was Rooney who set the whole thing off, but it's still just a standard foul, nobody was injured and at least in many eyes it was not hugely malicious. What Ronaldo did on the other hand, was sneaky, deceitful and exactly the kind of gamesmanship that has plagued this tournament from the start. Why do you think all the French fans were booing him all the way through yesterdays game?
At the end of it all, regardless of whether Rooney would have been sent off just for the foul anyway, Ronaldo's intentions were clearly to provoke another player (Rooney) into further action and to influence the referee. Neither of which should be tolerated anymore than standard fouls and dives.
I don't think the man deserves to be continually booed, I'm not saying what he did was right. However, the only thing I believe Ronaldo did "wrong" in that whole incident was encourage the ref, but it balances out because it was a red card offense, as I said.
If Rooney got anything other than a red, England would have got lucky. So if they wanna moan, moan about Ronaldo picking at the ref, not Rooney getting sent off, because he deserved that. If it were Rooney in Ronaldo's position, nobody would say boo to a goose, that's a borderline fact. We see Rooney get away with aggressive play day in and day out because it's passed off as "It's how he is, he's passionate.". Just because he can't keep his cool, I don't see why it's more acceptable than diving.
That said, have we forgotten when Man U played Arsenal, and the only way they ended Arsenal's unbeaten streak was a Rooney dive? The man's no angel.
-AC
I think Totti has definately been the star player for Italy this tournament, to come back from an injury like his, and to have the ability to make every pass come off (well almost every pass) is brilliant
I have always rated Totti, and will continue to do so, he's a top player
As for Ronaldo, he's getting what he deserves for being a cheating arsehole, had he not got in the ref's face, it would never have been a red card, it's just that refs are sometimes too easily influenced, and believe me, if Rooney had meant to step on Carvalho's balls, if he actually went to take him out the game, Carvalho would not have been able to continue, and squished balls would be on the menu
Ronaldo is getting the karma for being a cheat, and I love it!!!!
Have to say, I disagree very strongly with you there Mister Matto. I think Totti has been completely peripheral all tournament. Pirlo has taken on all of Italy's, Totti's playmaker duties, and his level of energy and commitment have been put to shame by Camoranesi and Zambrotta. Lots of Italian players have come into their own in the knockout stages, and Totti isn't one of them. He's just not what he used to be. He did absolutely nothing against Germany.
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I don't think the man deserves to be continually booed, I'm not saying what he did was right. However, the only thing I believe Ronaldo did "wrong" in that whole incident was encourage the ref, but it balances out because it was a red card offense, as I said.If Rooney got anything other than a red, England would have got lucky. So if they wanna moan, moan about Ronaldo picking at the ref, not Rooney getting sent off, because he deserved that. If it were Rooney in Ronaldo's position, nobody would say boo to a goose, that's a borderline fact. We see Rooney get away with aggressive play day in and day out because it's passed off as "It's how he is, he's passionate.". Just because he can't keep his cool, I don't see why it's more acceptable than diving.
That said, have we forgotten when Man U played Arsenal, and the only way they ended Arsenal's unbeaten streak was a Rooney dive? The man's no angel.
Well it all comes back to whether Rooney did intentionally stamp on Carvalho, and as I said, there's only one man who knows that for certain.
Of course Rooney's not perfect, far, far from it, and I do think he's overhyped in England (especially seeing as Carlos Tevez appears to have all of the same strengths as Rooney, and none of the weaknesses), but you can't blame anyone for that. It happens in every country. In France, Zidane is god, in Ukraine, Sheva is god, in Germany, Ballack is god. If a nation has a star player, they are always forgiven for just about anything.