FIFA World Cup 2010

[DarkFish]

Oh god... Spain vs Holland, my two favourite teams... apart from england of course. I think I might have to go for spain on this one... Well, the Dutch might easily win. We won from Uruguay when we were clearly not playing at our best, to put it lightly. Who knows what can happen if we play well in the finals?:)

Just to piss Darkfish off if we win...:stare:

But I want Holland to win... and I also want Spain to win. Damn you sweet irony! The two teams that I thought only one would make it to the final. Serves me right for enjoying good football I suppose :O:Well personally I thought neither team was going to make it:) I was pleasantly surprised:DL

[goldorak]

Well, the Dutch might easily win. We won from Uruguay when we were clearly not playing at our best, to put it lightly. Who knows what can happen if we play well in the finals?:)



Nope you got it all wrong.
The Dutch were rooting for Germany precisely because it was a team they could beat easily. Not so with Spain. The only way to beat Spain is to do a 90 minute pressing all over the field, and thats not how the Dutch team plays. Even yesterday when Germany was basically defending in 11 hopeing in quick restart they lost. You're going to have one hell of a final, and maybe lose for the third time. :wah:

[Jimbuna]

Maybe scroll up a little further... jeesh, first the memory and now the eyesight? :O:

Aging is a b!tch :D

HunterICX

You'll get your turns soon enough kereltjes

http://www.freefever.com/animatedgifs/animated/men141.gif

[Wolfehunter]

Agree. Well I only watched the last 16 minutes and lucky enough to witness the single goal but that's how I saw it too.

Spain put much emphasis on defense (and that was an awesome display of defense and ball control) and a surprise fast counter attack that sealed the fate of the German team. Should have been two no for Spain.

Anyway Skybird or you could probably avenge the match with THIS (http://fifa-world-cup.easports.com/news.action?id=News%20FIFA%20Online%20Beta)
Or we could set a subsim team or what? who wants to see Skybird against Sailor Steve or Hitman or Wolfehunter in soccer match?! Haven't tried it myself though.Naw I play dirty. To many red cards to my name.. :arrgh!:

[Skybird]

And here we are, Spain vs Holland. The supremacy of european football. :D

I told Skybird some days ago that Germany without Muller would be mortally wounded. They played the worst "italian-style" football ever seen.
It could have worked had they pressed the Spanish team, but they didn't.
Against a team that has a wonderfull control of the ball thats asking for problems.


See my comments on the match, I must disagree with you. Germany copies the Spanish way to play, the spnaiosh coach says so, the German trainer indicated that - it'S just that the spnaish play this way to play with higher pace and more pressing nthan the Germans, who additonally were paralysed by their respect. Muller wouldn't have made much of a difference. the only two German player who convinced me, were the goalie, and Schweinsteiger.

the Dutch will face the same problems, I expect, like Portugal, and Germany. The spanish will outplay them, "out-patience" them, out-pass them, will keep them running for the ball, will simply wait for their chance to score a goal, and that's it. The Dutch have only a chance if they play as fast as the Spanish ( eing able to do that is somethign different), and without any respect, of which Germany had too much - in a way the match yesterday was between the master of spanish playing against the student of spanish playing.

After the performkance shown yestersayk for me the Spanish team simply is the best there is. currently,l they are a league of their own, and you see it as well in the champions league: half of their national team playing yesterday is the Barcelona team that also dominated the champions league.
it's the same players, and thes eplayer have been drilled together and in teamplay to work ike they do since their youth, they play together since many years. And it shows.

[Skybird]

No sign of Sky yet? :hmmm:

Hope there's no bridges near where he lives...or buses :DL

---> #739 ;)

[Jimbuna]

---> #739 ;)


Oh I knew of that but the saying is a British one when someone is feeling 'down'.

Throw oneself off a bridge or under a passing bus :DL

[Skybird]

Throw oneself off a bridge XXX under a passing bus :DL
You English do not do things by halves, do you? :D

[Skybird]

The tentacles struck again: Paul ruled today that Spain shall win the trophy and that Germany will beat Uruguay.

[DarkFish]

Nope you got it all wrong.
The Dutch were rooting for Germany precisely because it was a team they could beat easily. Not so with Spain. The only way to beat Spain is to do a 90 minute pressing all over the field, and thats not how the Dutch team plays. Even yesterday when Germany was basically defending in 11 hopeing in quick restart they lost. You're going to have one hell of a final, and maybe lose for the third time. :wah:Hmm? I haven't got it wrong. Where did I say Spain would be any easier than Germany? That's right - I didn't:)
All I'm saying is that if we play at our best, we should be able to win.

[Jimbuna]

You English do not do things by halves, do you? :D

Not usually...unless it's football :cry:

The tentacles struck again: Paul ruled today that Spain shall win the trophy and that Germany will beat Uruguay.

Saw that on the news....he's turning into a bit of a celebrity over here in the UK :DL

http://www.hawaii-hawaii.net/gfx/octopus.gif

[Skybird]

Saw that on the news....he's turning into a bit of a celebrity over here in the UK :DL


Not only there.

Two days ago a mathematic analyst demonstrated that to correctly predict the winner in six matches, has a chnace of only 1.5%. That would mean if you ask 65 octopusses to correctly predict the outcome of 6 matches in one row, you could expect only one of them doing it, and all others failing.

Two years ago he predicted correctly I think 6 of 7 matches, or 5 of 6.

He is old, however, after almost 2,5 years of living he is close to his end. Which I know since two days anyway. :D

[Jimbuna]

Not only there.

Two days ago a mathematic analyst demonstrated that to correctly predict the winner in six matches, has a chnace of only 1.5%. That would mean if you ask 65 octopusses to correctly predict the outcome of 6 matches in one row, you could expect only one of them doing it, and all others failing.

Two years ago he predicted correctly I think 6 of 7 matches, or 5 of 6.

He is old, however, after almost 2,5 years of living he is close to his end. Which I know since two days anyway. :D

I've just looked him (Paul) up and was astounded to see he's bloody British, born in Weymouth :o

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Octopus

http://www.hawaii-hawaii.net/gfx/octopus.gif

[Arclight]

And here I was thinking it was a nickname, but it turns out to be an actual octopus. :nope:

[Jimbuna]

And here I was thinking it was a nickname, but it turns out to be an actual octopus. :nope:

Oh he's real alright but I'm struggling to find the average lifespan of an octopus because the refernces say each type is different.

I think Sky meant '25' when he posted '2,5' earlier :hmmm:

[Skybird]

Oh he's real alright but I'm struggling to find the average lifespan of an octopus because the refernces say each type is different.

I think Sky meant '25' when he posted '2,5' earlier :hmmm:
Ah, decimals, no, I meant 2.5 years (in German we use "," for decimals and "." to separate every set of three digits - just the other way around in English). They said on TV the species Paul belongs to has a life expectancy of 2 years in the wild and up to 2.5 years in prison.

And the Germans have the flu, some players from the first lineup and the coach are reported to be off duty.

[HunterICX]

Two years ago he predicted correctly I think 6 of 7 matches, or 5 of 6.

4 out of 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Octopus#List_of_predictions

HunterICX

[Skybird]

He was a baby back then. He was practicing. :DL

[Jimbuna]

He was a baby back then. He was practicing. :DL

LOL :DL

2 1/2 years isn't that long really :hmmm:

[TarJak]

The Claire-bouyant Paul has chosen Spain and the Dutch are nervous? Maybe not as nervous as Paul is after receiving death threats http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/psychic-octopus-paul-picks-spain-to-win-world-cup-20100710-104go.html :D
(http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/psychic-octopus-paul-picks-spain-to-win-world-cup-20100710-104go.html)

[Castout]

Why people hate the Octopus so much??!! For telling them what is right? :haha: oh please those people should get a life.

I'm rooting for Spain too.

[tomfon]

They don't hate it, they envy it.:rotfl2:

[Castout]

They don't hate it, they envy it.:rotfl2:

Well that would explain the animosity :haha:

[Susexx]

I do not trust this octopus...

http://www.yaplakal.com/uploads/post-3-12786752069859.jpg

[Jimbuna]

The Claire-bouyant Paul has chosen Spain and the Dutch are nervous? Maybe not as nervous as Paul is after receiving death threats http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/psychic-octopus-paul-picks-spain-to-win-world-cup-20100710-104go.html :D
(http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/psychic-octopus-paul-picks-spain-to-win-world-cup-20100710-104go.html)


Paul's home, an aquarium in western Germany, has received death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan", said entertainment supervisor Daniel Fey.

:har:

[Skybird]

Small final, match for third place. What an idiotic event. Players for the most hate it, motivation is almost zero, the audience has forgotten it after two weeks. I do not know why they hold these kind of matches at all, in duel-sports that run by a k.o.-system, nobody cares for third and fourth places.

Do you remember Germany's oppenent in the small final three year sago? I don't. I do not even recall if Germany won or lost.

As a matter of fact I will not even watch the match this evening. And I heared of many people not caring for it, too. If I were a player, I would tell the coach that he should not count on me willing to engage myself too much in such a match, and that I would not be angry if i would be dismissed for holidays three days earlier because somebdy else takes my place in the lineup.

Pffft.

[coronas]

Well, I'll expect an enjoyable Final Match. :yeah:
Good luck Netherland but I bet for Spain. :03:

[Jimbuna]

I do not know why they hold these kind of matches at all, in duel-sports that run by a k.o.-system, nobody cares for third and fourth places.




Extra financial income/returns....a requirement of the sponsors to give as much saturation coverage as possible.

I do agree with you though :yep:

[goldorak]

Fantastic game, the two teams played really really well. Uruguay maybe should have won but the result is ok. I wonder why the german team didn't play like this against spain ? :-?
Oh well, I hope that the final tomorrow will be as thrilling as the todays small final.

@Skybird, why do you play the small final ? Well to determine 3 and 4 place.
And its not stupid, as in all sports you have a podium not only with the winner but also with the second and third place.

[Fish]

Well, I'll expect an enjoyable Final Match. :yeah:
Good luck Netherland but I bet for Spain. :03:

Hope for a great match to.

No, I don't bet. :03:

[Skybird]

@Skybird, why do you play the small final ? Well to determine 3 and 4 place.
And its not stupid, as in all sports you have a podium not only with the winner but also with the second and third place.

Okay, then play the minifinals for the4 losers of quarterfinals. You want to determine 5th-8th place.

In the end, the fame goes with the 1st place. The winner takes it all in this kind of tournament mode.

Whether or not it is reasonable, is something different. But I assume reason is not the intention here, but spectacle. You want to see the winner of finals triumphing, and the loser of the final breaking out in tears. That is part of the show. Every placement below finals - is statistics only.

[Jimbuna]

@Skybird, why do you play the small final ? Well to determine 3 and 4 place.


The Spanish didn't allow Germany to play well because of the tactics employed.

Here's hoping for an entertaining final.

[Skybird]

Der Spiegel reports on the drastic drop in audience gathering in the very popular public viewing hotspots throughout the country. With the exception of Berlin where the drop in audience for the small final was "only" around 50%, in the metropoles that Der Spiegel referred to in their German essay only 15-35% of the former crowd sizes gathered for the small finale. Where there were live broadcasts by TV, the directors had to call the few people gathering to assemble close to the stage so that the cameras were able to not show empty space only, but an illusion of a "dense crowd".

I do not recall whether it was Lahm or Klose who in front of the camera revealed that the team this year does not wish to attend a meeting with the fans on the fan-mile in Berlin, like they did 4 years ago. I remember that when I saw that interview I nevertheless thought that it was such a revealing display of desinterest and disappointment in the speaker's face and language that it really said everything. By placements amongst the final four, Germany is the most successful team in the history of FIFA world championships, and by particfipation in the finals, Germany is equal with Brasil only. Does it matter, does it mean anything? No.

However, this just in reply to Goldorak.

In Germany, we say special thanks to Günther Netzer. The international audience probably does not take note of it, but Netzer and Delling were a benchmark and a TV legend as a comentator duo for football in German TV. Netzer, once a famous football profi himself, set new standards for professional expertise and - in interaction with his close personal friend Delling - biting humorous presentation. Netzer's analysis most often were spot on, precise, and took no prisoners when the team(s) played bad. These two will not be replaced easily, and leave a gap that is hard to fill, even when considering that in the past 1 or 2 years the wear and tear of this long TV cooperation started to show a bit. Thank you Herr Netzer for being both most competent and entertaining in your many, many analysis of players, teams, tactics and performances. :salute: I for myself will really miss you. Too bad that I missed the last performance of this duo.

What remains to be said about this championship? Terrible noise. Mediocre standard in match quality. Terribly many lousy referee performances, imo. Most of the internationally well-known big stars failed in delivering, and dissappointed. And - I say that without national sentiments - a German team that surprised all and easily wins the title of the most spectacular team of this tournament. I was totally, completely wrong in my prediction of their perfomance from before the tournament, and for talking them down I hereby apolize. For South Africa, I hope after the massive financial investements there is some lasting return. The TV impressions of the people, the audience and the country were truly in the Southafricans' favour.

tonight, the octopus said the Spanish will win. I think so, too. Sorry for Holland. It will not make it easier for them to bear their trauma. :) That beast with nine brains and three hearts then will have scored 8 of 8 predictions correct this time. Maybe we should clone him!

[Oberon]

Dutch karate masters? :o Alonso thinks so :yep: The ref does not :hmmm:

[goldorak]

The referee should have expelled the dutch player that hit his opponent directly into his chest. He should have given a red card without thinking about it.
What a shame. "s h i t t t y" game, not a lot of fair play from the orange side.

[Arclight]

Aye, they're trying to kick them into submission. :shifty:

[Oberon]

Aye, they're trying to kick them into submission. :shifty:

Kick, or bore? :hmmm:

Not that Spain are doing much better.

[goldorak]

Kick, or bore? :hmmm:

Not that Spain are doing much better.


How about kick ? The dutch player is an animal.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/7782/espulsione.jpg

[Arclight]

Kick, or bore? :hmmm:
Bit of both. Seems like they were holding back a bit to make a push just before half-time and take them by surprise.

[Oberon]

Van Der Wiel now the only Van without a yellow card :haha:

Is it just me though or is the Ref's hair style (or lack thereof) is trying to channel the infamous:

http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/14984.gif

Not quite though mate...nice try...but not quite...

EDIT: Another yellow card...are the Dutch going for a fall house? XD

[Raptor1]

Seeing the amount of yellow cards, it appears the Dutch and Spanish teams haven't quite gotten over 1572 yet...

[goldorak]

Van Der Wiel now the only Van without a yellow card :haha:

Is it just me though or is the Ref's hair style (or lack thereof) is trying to channel the infamous:

http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/14984.gif

Not quite though mate...nice try...but not quite...

EDIT: Another yellow card...are the Dutch going for a fall house? XD

Collina was a first class referee.
Its absurd to try and compare him to the guy refereeing tonight.

[Oberon]

Collina was a first class referee.
Its absurd to try and compare him to the guy refereeing tonight.

Oh, I agree mate, Collina is the best of the best alright.

Howard is one of the best (according to the IFFHS anyway)...but not in the league of Collina...I was just commenting on the look.

This chap is a bit fast on the cards, he's got a reputation for it. So I guess it's no wonder the Dutch are burning through his notebook.

[goldorak]

Oh, I agree mate, Collina is the best of the best alright.

Howard is one of the best (according to the IFFHS anyway)...but not in the league of Collina...I was just commenting on the look.

This chap is a bit fast on the cards, he's got a reputation for it. So I guess it's no wonder the Dutch are burning through his notebook.

Yes, he takes out quite a lot of cards.
The irony is that the color most of the times is simply wrong. :damn:

[Oberon]

Oh, there'll be reds before this game is out, mark my words. :yep: That karate kick should have been a red for sure though.

I find it a bit hard because I'm rooting for Holland but they are playing quite hard tonight, but I can't rule Spain out, and neither can Paul. :03:

[Oberon]

It's going to go to penalties at this rate... :doh:

[nikimcbee]

:yawn: what a snoozer. It's like watching CSPAN:yawn:

[Skybird]

That match is - boring.

I agree, Collina set abstandard. I don't olnwo any referee by name who could compete with his benchmark. Howeverl. the British guy tonight does not do too bad for the standards of this tournament, although there are already two serious flaws: he didn't gave a penalty for Spain just minutes ago, and earlier, he should have pulled a red aganst the Dutch.

As I see it, the Dutch can feel lucky that they do not play already with two players less.

Spain has more shares of the match, but they do not use their chances. Maybe they will cry over this. the Dutch had two major chances from sudden counter-attacks, also wasting them miserably.

[Oberon]

It's picking up a little bit...Spain are pushing well, Holland are hitting hard still but the yellows seem to have dried up now.
Let's hope it doesn't go to penalties...but I fear it will... :damn:

[Arclight]

It's going to go to penalties at this rate... :doh:
And we all know how brilliant the Dutch are when it comes to penalties. :nope:

[Oberon]

Spain have scored, and Holland have scored another yellow card. Oh...and so have Spain now. :har:

Paul claims victory. :yep:

Is this a new record for bookings in a game? :doh:

[Oberon]

Fourteen bookings
Thirteen yellows
One red
Hundred twenty minutes of play
One goal
Spain win.

Paul wins.

Holland looks to kill the referee. :dead:

[Raptor1]

Death to the Cephalopod!

[Oberon]

Somewhere in Germany:

http://www.monster-munch.com/images/OctopiedBuilding.jpg

[ERPP8]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2LPxggvqY

[DarkFish]

Death to the Cephalopod!+1
Burn him at the stake!:stare:

[Oberon]

On a side note, Iniesta's tribute to Jarque on his undershirt was rather touching.

"Dani Jarque siempre con nuestros."

Well done Andrés, well done. :rock:

[Skybird]

All in all the better team won. Congrats to Spain. The referee was mediocre, quite some additonal mistakes he made in overtime.

In world football, the Europeans dominate over the Southamericans - different to what usually is said. I often wonder why some commentators always talk as if the total superiority of Southamerica is a given. That claim just holds not ground.

It seems to me that indeed the currently best three or four teams in the world mark the first three (four) placements in the championship.

[Arclight]

They got Eliyah in on the left flank and he ends up mostly defending. Almost completely ignored from the moment he stepped on the field, the ball finding it's way instead to an exhausted Robben every time.

Not too mention it was closer to a wrestling match... imho we didn't deserve it here.

[HunterICX]

to sum up the finale = C-R-A-P

Both Teams dissapointed me, Spain for their theater acting and Ramos the 2nd field referee, Holland for losing their nerves and lost track of the game and where more worried on what the Spaniards performed in drama next and played their game by beeing the play's bad guy.
and the usual Referee that liked to take the rythm out of the game and a offside goal...excellent...:down:

HunterICX

[Jimbuna]

Congratulations Spain....but on chances created the Dutch just shaded it for me.

[Skybird]

BTW, Germany has a new octopus-oracle:

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4001/1879758.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/1879758.jpg/)
"All will be well!"

[Skybird]

and the usual Referee that liked to take the rythm out of the game and a offside goal...excellent...:down:

HunterICX
It was no offside, slow motion clearly revealed it. On the other hand, a penalty for Spain was not given. Although the referee fumbled several times, the final win for Spain reflects some kind of overall justice, even if the victory needed more work than expected.

Revealing how carelessly the Dutch trainer put the silver medal in the pocket of his jacket and got away.

[HunterICX]

It was no offside, slow motion clearly revealed it. On the other hand, a penalty for Spain was not given. Although the referee fumbled several times, the final win for Spain reflects some kind of overall justice, even if the victory needed more work than expected.

Revealing how carelessly the Dutch trainer put the silver medal in the pocket of his jacket and got away.

the pass before was offside, should've been flagged but they let the game continue.

HunterICX

[goldorak]

Spain deserved to win. :D
Cheers to the spanish team. :yeah:

[kranz]

howard webb ftw....:down:

[Skybird]

the pass before was offside, should've been flagged but they let the game continue.

HunterICX
Not on the slo-mo shown on German TV. The goal was absolutely valid, so was the opening pass. the issue on that pass mabye, for the Dutch, was not any possible offside in passing, but an claimed foul that imo simply is no foul but a duel within the usual range of football 1-on-1s.

and while I write this, a Swiss referee just confirms right what I said on that foul on German TV. Nobody even mentions any possible offside here.

However. ;) If you think the goal was not valid, ease the pain for you and just consider the penalty not given for Spain. That should put you straight. ;)

[Skybird]

I jujst realised a terribly question:

What do we do for the next four years? What do we discuss, on what issues to we ask the oracle...?

I feel, all life is ending. Entropy? Nonsense! Boredom...! :D

[Castout]

I'm quite disappointed with the final match.

Spain played quite badly compared when they were playing against Germany. The Dutch played it rather rough too.

I wished they went on to penalty fight. Spain wasn't showing that it was really worthy of the title world champion at least not in their final match. :yawn:

[Castout]

Revealing how carelessly the Dutch trainer put the silver medal in the pocket of his jacket and got away.

He was too proud to wear the silver medal obviously :)

[Fish]

Congratulations Spain, see you over two years.

[Jimbuna]

I jujst realised a terribly question:

What do we do for the next four years? What do we discuss, on what issues to we ask the oracle...?

I feel, all life is ending. Entropy? Nonsense! Boredom...! :D


The poor bugga probably has less than a year left :-?

[Biggles]

Well done Spain! One of the most entertaining games I've yet to see of this game!:D:yeah:

[coronas]

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/2848/724262747dd4ag.jpg
Fair Winner. :yeah:

I jujst realised a terribly question:

What do we do for the next four years? What do we discuss, on what issues to we ask the oracle...?

I feel, all life is ending. Entropy? Nonsense! Boredom...! :D

Remember: Great adversaries makes us great warriors (Sioux old said)

:salute:

[Jimbuna]

Remember: Great adversaries makes us great warriors (Sioux old said)



You once said that of England :O:

[papa_smurf]

Not a bad game last night, Spain were the deserving winners.

[coronas]

You once said that of England :O:

Now, we say of Germany. :D

[DarkFish]

On the other hand, a penalty for Spain was not given.What penalty was not given? Supposing we're talking about the same occasion here, I didn't see anything worth a penalty. And both non-fouls were made just outside the penalty area.
Can you come with pictures/explanations, other than just stating "a" penalty was not given?

On the other hand, consider the free kick Robben should have been given. Hugging a player might seem an affectionate thing, it's a little less nice when done while running to keep the enemy from reaching your goal.:nope:

And don't forget the Dutch shot on goal, hit by both a Spanish player and their keeper, while no corner was given.

Also, the referee was much too easy in giving yellow cards. Some were deserved (like the one for De Jong, which could have easily been red), most weren't.

Anyway, overall the Spanish were a little stronger, so well done and congratulations :up:

[Skybird]

Two Dutch players should have been given reds for extremely brutal fouls, one was almost a Kungfu attack, and one Spanish player should have been fiven a red as well for one revanche foul of his that bordered a "Tätlichkeit" - unfortuantely, that is the player who later scored the goal.

the dutch palyed more and more brutally, and the high number of cards that scored thus was no surprise - and this although the refree in the first half tried to deal easy with them. Obviously they understood this as an ecouragement.

As German commentor Oliver Khan, ex-goalie, put it: if the referee of the match germkany-Serbia would have whistled the final, the Duch would have ended up with two or three field players remaining on the pitch.

Robben also behaved evertyhing but clever or professional. To score a yellow for endless lamenting with the ref ad nauseum is simply stupid.

there were many comments to be read i the press meanwhile about the Durch players afterwards putting all the blame on the ref, while they did not said anything about their own brutal play. that even afterwards they still went for the ref and then laucnhed their underhanded comments, speaks against this team and has cost them most of the sympathy that during the tournament they had earned so hard. Very, very bad loosers. :down:

to be noted: I limit that criticism to the dutch team, the players and their coach. I have no quarrel whatever with the Dutch fans. In my house, two floors below my appartement, they had a Dutch family for visit, and they watched the final together. I met the man, he said he and the people he phoned at home felt ashamed for the Dutch team's brutal playing, and their bad behavior. that brought back all the bad images of brutal Dutch football that the team before has worked so good to make them forgotten (although some of their players again are the players with the highest number of fouls in the tournament).

This essay from the Kölner Stadtanzeiger marks the point.
http://www.ksta.de/html/artikel/1278853929913.shtml

and this was the ultimate in brutal fouls. Here a red was a must, instead he made it a yellow: unforgivable.
http://p3.focus.de/img/gen/9/6/HB967i8s_Pxgen_r_467xA.JPG (http://p3.focus.de/img/gen/9/6/HB967i8s_Pxgen_r_700xA.JPG?http://p3.focus.de/img/gen/9/6/HB967i8s_Pxgen_r_1100xA.JPG?http://p3.focus.de/img/gen/9/6/HB967i8s_Pxgen_r_1300xA.JPG)

Webb did not give too man cards. His mistake was that he was too mild. Holland deserved several reds.

Very dissapointing match. the less brutal team won - not by killing the other players, but by shooting a goal. The Dutch had my sympathy during the tournament. But for the time being, I'm done with the orange team. Whenever they lose a big match - it never is their fault, it seems, it always is somebody else's. that they do not score and that they act like gladiators in the arena all has nothing to do with it.

[Hartmann]

Spain can´t play very well because the rought gameplay of dutch team, but finaly was able to score a goal and win the coup.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7950/eurocopa2008.jpg


:D

[HunterICX]

Brutale foul?

seeying the slomo it was just a foolish move of the jong to get to the ball with a streched leg no way it was aimed for the player.
if he was given red I would say it was for his foolishness not because he was intentionally planing to knock out the player.

I agree the way Holland played was just bloody awfull and distastefull, they where too rough they lost their nevers and payed attention to other things then their play and they got very lucky. the same thing happend to us in 2006 against Portugal.

but dont just critisize Holland, if you looked well enough you would have seen that at least a quarter of the fouls was a big deal of dramatic theater done by the Spaniards and Ramos really should get a new career as a referee he seems to like to give cards himself.

but in general I don't like the way Football is going, they seem more focused to learn the art of dramatic theater performance on the field then actually focus on the ball, they drop by the slighted touch between to competing players and scream it out like a baby but it seems whistles and yellow cards to the one that commited the foul has miracle healing powers as he stands up and then is back like nothing happend. Also too many time I see teams gang around the referee to make a protest, it showed that it doesn't help so why do teams keep trying? the referee is in charge so if he makes a decision you just keep yourself calm and focus on the game.

I don't blame the americans for calling it pansyball, when I see games from the 70's and 80's I see real men play football. nowadays we have these overpayed spoiled brats that play football, they are able to play good but are to worried about their own status that they are mostly a a disgrace on the field because if they can't have it their way...they are like kids that don't get a extra cookie from the jar.

hilarious to see that the so called Star players of every nation has shown us a very very poor performance of themselves this world cup.

also Fifa really have to get better referee's, too many of them have failed miserably this world cup on important events.

note: I don't say this because Holland lost, in fact if Holland would have won I still would have been disgusted by the teams peformances, heck I barely watched the end because after 20 minutes I already knew this was going to be a dragged out match which wasn't football at all and that a goal was put in fast for the sake of it to end.

I rather lose a well played finale then having this.

HunterICX

[Skybird]

Over the past couple of years I have larned to appreciate women's football, althoiugh only if two really top teams play against each other. The ammount of physical violence and brutality is lacking there, also the ladies play moreteam-oriented, tatctic- oriented, and due to the lack of physical aggressiveness as in male football, individual skills and techniques pays more off. But watching ladies' football only if it is the few top teams playing there, else the show gets very lame and boring very soon. also, the general lack in good teams means that often a superopponent is playing against a total nobody, leading to very onesided matches and large differences in number of goals scored. But regarding the top teams the ladies have, the times i looked down on them are definitely over.

[Lord_magerius]

Dear friends
Well I've had a great time over the last few weeks. I managed to get myself an all expenses paid holiday to the South African World Cup. So I took the opportunity to chill out, relax and just watch some guys play football...
Best of all though, at the end of it they even gave me a medal.

F. Torres.

[Susexx]

http://www.yaplakal.com/uploads/post-3-12789244195585.gif

[Marcantilan]

Que viva España!

My congratulations to the team and the whole country!

[Fish]

Two Dutch players should have been given reds for extremely brutal fouls, one was almost a Kungfu attack, and one Spanish player should have been fiven a red as well for one revanche foul of his that bordered a "Tätlichkeit" - unfortuantely, that is the player who later scored the goal.



The spanisch players did better?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TXVIlAKO2E

[Jimbuna]

Nothing quite beats a good old after match post mortem :DL

[Skybird]

Nothing quite beats a good old after match post mortem :DL

:lol:

It's over, and this is my last posting in this thread. The best scene yesterday was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRghIhWgbWw&feature=popular

[Skybird]

P.S. Never say never again... :lol:

It seems Holland'S Johan Cruyff - whom we probably would all agree to know one bit or two about football - agrees with my condemnation of the Dutchmen's final match, their brutality, the lack of red cards against them, and the too soft referee, from A to Z:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8812484.stm

This was it - my really last posting in this thread. :D

[Fincuan]

CBS Sports has a different opinion on the result :)
http://kuvat2.iltasanomat.fi/iltasanomat/iDoc/2223725-2223725-1-1279040116.gif

[coronas]

:lol:

It's over, and this is my last posting in this thread. The best scene yesterday was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRghIhWgbWw&feature=popular


Hats Up! :yeah:

:salute:

[Jimbuna]

P.S. Never say never again... :lol:

It seems Holland'S Johan Cruyff - whom we probably would all agree to know one bit or two about football - agrees with my condemnation of the Dutchmen's final match, their brutality, the lack of red cards against them, and the too soft referee, from A to Z:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8812484.stm



Damning but true and accurate words by the great Cruyff :yep:

[DarkFish]

Spain wants to buy Paul:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10670333


I'd like to have him as well, I've got a great "aquarium" with "floor heating" to let him really enjoy the food in there - especially the onions should taste good with him:stare:... ehrm, should taste good *for* him I mean of course:oops:

[Jimbuna]

Only a sucker would want to buy that...............'sucker' :DL

[The Third Man]

Want make this game exciting and worth watching? Put up a time limit, get rid of the of the game slowing off side penalty and create a game which most folks cannot master at age six.

[Jimbuna]

Huh? :hmmm:

[Raptor1]

Huh? :hmmm:

I support this statement.