Zidane's Headbutt Discussion and also some stuff on that FIFA World Cup 2006 thing

[drunkymonkey]

Well deserved. France was the better team the whole game.

ROFL, the commentators are already blaming Parreira. I'm telling you, the guy's gonna be killed!

And, Drunkymonkey, since the beginning I said I thought Italy would win. Brazil had no chances of winning this WC with Parreira. And, btw, you know what I mean by killing him.

Yeah well, lol. There's been plenty of unnecessary riots because of this World Cup, so it really wouldn't surprise me.

[Psychotic]

I must admit, the French were mesmerising at times, and in the end I was happy to see Brazil go out. It seems the pressure of being labelled as "The Greatest Team Ever Who Will Crush All In Their Path" got to them, as they've been, well, sad at times.

I hope the French beat Portugal now, although I'll be rooting for the winner of Italy v Germany in the final. I can't cheer for a team with the loathsome Patrick Vieira in it, really, and Thierry Henry isn't in my good books either after his Spain antics. But yeah, Portugal are even worse.

[Croyles]

I reckon England will do much better under Steve McClaren, it was unlucky that they went out.

I am happy for France, I did not expect them to win at all, and I completely forgot about the game and only saw the last 10 minutes! I dont have anything against the France football team, and Brazil usually play excellent football, I didnt REALLY know who I wanted to go through, but now that France is, im happy with it ^^

So its:
Germany v Italy
Portugal v France

Im nervous as hell I can tell you that much

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

England, with 10 men, were a match for the Portugese, hence why it went to penalties.

I was referring to the start of the match when there were 22 men on the pitch and Portugal were missing two first-team players.

Because it was in entirely different circumstances, for one. Rooney was in the middle of a game and trod on a guy, whereas Beckham, lying on the ground after a foul had been given, kicked out very deliberately.

Rooney has let teammates down before with his uncontrollable loose-cannon-like attitude and maybe he is paying for it all now. I don't think it's fair to make somebody's life so hectic just because they get sent off in a football match. Rooney unlike Beckham needed to be disciplined severly and taught how to control his attitude. I certainly think he is more befitting for such treatment if any, let's see how he would react. And just before anybody criticises any other outfield players performance just remember that it wasn't they who were sent off.

There's a difference between sticking up for someone and appealing for them to be sent off, and then smirking and winking when it happens, especially if you profess to be their friend.

yeah guess I was in a rush to finish off that sentence since the second half was starting. But just because he plays for the same team he doesn't have to back out and keep his mouth shut. There is no way Rooney can be sour for his reactions after that little incident. The pre-kick off headbutt however is another matter. Anyway several Portuguese were unfairly dished out cards in their last match so he may have still been feeling a little upset after that.

If Rooney had done that to Ronaldo, my opinion of him would have been significantly lowered, although I do admit it would please me to see Ronaldo sent off.

Isn't one United player getting sent off good enough for you?

[Rainecloud]

I'd just like to say that as an Englishman, I'm glad England lost to Portugal. The amount of shirt-tugging, pushing, falling over and acting I saw from the England squad was just disgraceful, and it makes a mockery of 'the beautiful game' that I enjoy watching so much. I'm a casual football fan, so I'm not overly bothered that England has lost, even though they're supposed to be 'my' team. I don't watch football to see a bunch of grown men cry and whinge and feign being punched/hit/kicked. I watch it to see skill, magic and, well, Zidane!

Congratulations to France. They played excellently, and deserved to win the game. Plus, the match was nice and clean (despite a couple of dirty tactics), and was a refreshing change from the short tempered, arrogant England squad.

I'm looking forward to the next matches in the Cup. They should be very interesting and very entertaining.

[Psychotic]

I was referring to the start of the match when there were 22 men on the pitch and Portugal were missing two first-team players.

And England were missing one. The thing is, though, you said they couldn't handle the Portugese, which is very flattering to Portugal, if anything.

Rooney has let teammates down before with his uncontrollable loose-cannon-like attitude and maybe he is paying for it all now. I don't think it's fair to make somebody's life so hectic just because they get sent off in a football match. Rooney unlike Beckham needed to be disciplined severly and taught how to control his attitude. I certainly think he is more befitting for such treatment if any, let's see how he would react. And just before anybody criticises any other outfield players performance just remember that it wasn't they who were sent off.

I absolutely do believe that he should get his attitude problems sorted out, but I still don't think what he did was as bad as what Beckham did.

yeah guess I was in a rush to finish off that sentence since the second half was starting. But just because he plays for the same team he doesn't have to back out and keep his mouth shut. There is no way Rooney can be sour for his reactions after that little incident. The pre-kick off headbutt however is another matter. Anyway several Portuguese were unfairly dished out cards in their last match so he may have still been feeling a little upset after that.

He should keep his mouth shut anyway. Rooney fouling Carvhalo was absolutely nothing to do with him, but I can understand that if Ronaldo thinks that appealing for a card is part of the game, he should do it to everyone and not hold back because someone is his friend. The two are, or were, clearly friends, as you could tell by their friendliness before the match in the tunnel. But if I were Rooney, I'd be absolutely infuriated the way that Ronaldo was visably pleased with himself for getting Rooney sent off, by, as I said, winking, smirking and laughing.

Ronaldo has upet both Van Nistelrooy and Rooney (And Ferdinand and Neville didn't look to pleased either). Maybe United will have to get rid of him. I hope so, even if it means they get a better player.

Isn't one United player getting sent off good enough for you?

No. More, more, MOOOOOOORE!!

I'd just like to say that as an Englishman, I'm glad England lost to Portugal. The amount of shirt-tugging, pushing, falling over and acting I saw from the England squad was just disgraceful, and it makes a mockery of 'the beautiful game' that I enjoy watching so much. I'm a casual football fan, so I'm not overly bothered that England has lost, even though they're supposed to be 'my' team. I don't watch football to see a bunch of grown men cry and whinge and feign being punched/hit/kicked

...What? I didn't see a single incident of England acting like that (if you could provide examples, that'd be great) but the Portugese were doing it in abundance.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

Yeah the French did play at a pretty exhilirating tempo for a brief but wonderful period. I'm happy for ZiZi since he is guaranteed two more games.

EDIT: What I meant by not being able to handle the Portuguese is a way of expressing the fact that they simply cannot beat them given many a chance, a bogey team if you will, like the Swedes which I mentioned somewhat earlier in this thread.

[Russielloyd]

If there was one team in the World Cup who don't call for red cards, play to dive and do just get on with the game, taking no nonsense, it's England. It always seems to be the latin countries who play to dive and milk every foul. Portugese probably being the best example of that.

[charliepanayi]

If there was one team in the World Cup who don't call for red cards, play to dive and do just get on with the game, taking no nonsense, it's England. It always seems to be the latin countries who play to dive and milk every foul. Portugese probably being the best example of that.

I don't think any team with Joe Cole in it (and Michael Owen had he played) can claim to be diving-free. The fact is every team does it to differeing degrees, and claiming England are innocent of it is rubbish. Yes Christiano Ronaldo is a git, tell me something I didn't know before today. All this moaning about the Portugese players diving is as usual people trying to pave over the fact England lost (yes they played well, but penalties are a lottery, and England's were awful largely) - it's always the other team to blame, never England it seems. They havn't gotten out of 2nd gear in this tournament, and talking about how heroic they were today won't change that.

[DK]

I'd just like to say that as an Englishman, I'm glad England lost to Portugal. The amount of shirt-tugging, pushing, falling over and acting I saw from the England squad was just disgraceful, and it makes a mockery of 'the beautiful game' that I enjoy watching so much. I'm a casual football fan, so I'm not overly bothered that England has lost, even though they're supposed to be 'my' team. I don't watch football to see a bunch of grown men cry and whinge and feign being punched/hit/kicked.

Yeah I agree with Paul, I'm not sure what game you were watching but the Portugese were the ones diving all over the place and clutching their faces in agony when the defender grazed their shin. England were pretty well behaved today.

[Jimmy Dark Aeons Slayer]

If there was one team in the World Cup who don't call for red cards, play to dive and do just get on with the game, taking no nonsense, it's England. It always seems to be the latin countries who play to dive and milk every foul. Portugese probably being the best example of that.

Every player despite the country always tryes to dive a bit it´s not just the "latin people" as you call us...saying that England players are litle angels that don´t try to win fouls where they don´t exist is totally false. They do it just as much as any other team.

[Shoden]

I changed my mind, GO FRANCE You can do it.

[Croyles]

Hmmm, ill make a video tribute to all the world cup teams of 2006 after the final and post it here.

[DeathKnight]

Portugal! YES!

Robinson(England's Golie) sucks ass lol. He kept jumping around like a boxer pfffft!

I hope Portugal wins it all.

[Shoden]

Portugal! YES!

Robinson(England's Golie) sucks ass lol. He kept jumping around like a boxer pfffft!

I hope Portugal wins it all.

The teams left totally outclass Portugal but then again in a class competition France vs Brazil was unexpected... Wait til the M United training sessions start again there's going to be sparks and bombs everywhere, no doubt about it, the players didn't look too pleased with Ronaldo, I hope they kill his hair at least. That'd be enough for revenge.
I want any of the teams left to win. EXCEPT Portugal.