The Football thread

rio

Goat wrote
That can't be real.

Hehe, if it isn't, give that guy a medal for mad satire skillz

Holy_Terror

TODAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME EVER!!

Azrael

rio wrote
Goat wrote
That can't be real.
Hehe, if it isn't, give that guy a medal for mad satire skillz

that Guardian article you posted a few days ago mentioned several people linking football to socialism.

FORÇA PORTUGAL!

North_From_Here

Did anyone see the Paraguay-Japan game? Was it as exciting as the score suggests?

Orion

emperorblackdoom wrote
Did anyone see the Paraguay-Japan game? Was it as exciting as the score suggests?

Pretty boring. The defense was pretty stout on both sides, but that just doesn't make for exciting football. Felt bad for the Japanese dude that missed his shot though.

ganeshaRules

emperorblackdoom wrote
Did anyone see the Paraguay-Japan game? Was it as exciting as the score suggests?

Booooooooooring.

North_From_Here

Haha, I didn't realize the score was 5-3 on penalty kicks. I just saw the score and assumed it was a regulation score. Now I am really glad I missed it.

ganeshaRules

We win!

CR is a flopper (Capdevilla too). The name of Villa is goal, and Xavi is the mastermind of this team.
We should win Paraguay. Argentina- Germany will be a different beast, but being between final 4 is very good.

Thomas

I just found out why I for the life of me can't enjoy south-european football. I was at a bunch of games when I lived in Spain and just couldn't feel the excitement, except from the fans, which were brilliant. But the fucking diving, sabotage, and time-wasting is just total fucking bullshit, and I just lost all mye respect for Capdevilla. Fucker.

Azrael

and the TV didn't show a single proper replay of this... wonder why?

but Portugal didn't show what it takes to be the world champions. in the goal, they've all got their arms up but none of them move to stop Villa from shooting, that and Spain got two more very clear shots on goal through Llorente that could've nailed the game for them, we can't let that happen. otherwise i'd say we were solid in defense, if they got any shots on goal it was from awkward angles.

in attack the same problem persisted, not enough creativity in attack and a weird reliance on long balls. it's a mistake to play that against Spain, especially if they are winning, because when they catch it they can hold on to it for 5 minutes at a time, meaning that Portugal had very few chances to attack and have to take them properly.

Ronaldo doesn't have the attitude to be captain, he was always on the floor (that's another thing Messi has over him, when he is charged he stays up as long as he can) and then just sat there looking at the ref like he would signal anything.

now rooting for Germany or Brazil.

EDIT
on Capdevilla: pathetic. say what you will about Portuguese players and diving, fact is i've never seen one of ours do that shit. fuck him.

Holy_Terror

Try all you want to mar this victory with complaints of collateral matters, but the fact of the matter is Portugal was owned in every aspect of the game. And from what I saw on the numerous replays Capdevila took an elbow to the face. Was it malicious, probably not. Did it deserve a red? Probably not. Does it matter? Fuck no!

Queiroz said Portugal was going to attack. What a crock of shit. They did like every other team that plays Spain, pack the box with ten players and then try and counter attack. That's what's really pathetic, not a guy performing the industry standard in embelishment.

So I understand some CHops may be upset about this victory, but the game ended the way it should have. With a more stylish, more technically capable team on top. Do I approve of what Capdevila did.....yes, a little ha ha. WHy you may ask? Because Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest piece of shit in the game and for every time Capdevila dives once, Ronaldo dives three times and writhes for twice as long.

Holy_Terror

And Azrael, that photo only shows VIlla after the ball had been touched and was well on its way to its target, when the ball was struck, which is what matters, Villa was just barely on sides. Just another example of precision passes and runs.

warfleloup

No way, Villa was off-side and the goal should have been refused.

What is true is that Spain played a much better football than Portugal.

Thomas

Spain played better after Torres got substituted.. Ronaldo wasn't bad today in terms of diving, and the fact that refs just ignore him doesn't make things easier. Sure it's his own fault, but it's still ridiculous.

Even if Capdevilla took a elbow to the face, he gets halfway up, sees that the ref is coming over and throws himself at the ground again. Fucking twat.

Queiro tried to make this a tactical victory, and he nearly succeeded, this wasn't about Portugal being cowards or a lesser team, they fell back, waited for their opportunities to counter, which more or less i the only way to take down Spain. Who can blame them? They could of course pull a Chile and play all out attack, but that would probably get them the same result that Chile got yesterday.

Llorenna came in and made things MUCH heavier up front, and distrubed the defense a lot more than Torres ever did with his raw power. Portugal got caught off guard, and you can't do that when Villa threatens you. Deserved. But a shitty match overall.

Holy_Terror

Shitty? Hardly. The first half started off blistering but then settled down as the teams tried to feel each other out....with Spain holding the ball about 65% of the time. Both sides got pretty good chances.

Second half was a different story. Spain patiently played beautiful football which essentially amounted to a game of keep away until Portugal was too tired to defend properly, and then BAM! A true work of art capped off by Villa's killer instinct. It was a close game as everyone expected, but not the shity game you make it out to be. Despite Portugal's boring tactics, watching Spain play is never boring.

Azrael

Holy_Terror wrote
Try all you want to mar this victory with complaints of collateral matters, but the fact of the matter is Portugal was owned in every aspect of the game. And from what I saw on the numerous replays Capdevila took an elbow to the face. Was it malicious, probably not. Did it deserve a red? Probably not. Does it matter? Fuck no!Queiroz said Portugal was going to attack. What a crock of shit. They did like every other team that plays Spain, pack the box with ten players and then try and counter attack. That's what's really pathetic, not a guy performing the industry standard in embelishment.So I understand some CHops may be upset about this victory, but the game ended the way it should have. With a more stylish, more technically capable team on top. Do I approve of what Capdevila did.....yes, a little ha ha. WHy you may ask? Because Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest piece of shit in the game and for every time Capdevila dives once, Ronaldo dives three times and writhes for twice as long.

Ronaldo dives, but he doesn't act like he's been punched or elbowed in the face. sorry but that's 10 times worse.

Spain dominated the second half but the way victory came says it all. the best team won, but you make it sound like it should've been 3 or 4.
Portugal like i said had no real offensive solutions, especially in creativity, and was punished for that when we were losing - we could only attack once every five minutes because Spain is very strong at holding on to the ball, and we didn't take advantage of the few attacks we could get in.
aside from Villa's and Llorente's attempts, every Spain shot came from outside the box or awkward angles.

mind you possession alone says nothing about a match - in Chelsea x Barcelona in 2009, Barcelona had ridiculous possession but only managed a single shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes.

and a note on Ronaldo... it really, REALLY annoys me that he can't drible ANYONE in 1x1. i'd understand if he were a defender or some crap, but this guy has incredible technical skill but only ever dribbles away from the opposing goal. if he ever breaks through he falls on the slightest touch rather than capitalising on the space he just gained.

EDIT - and in the picture i think the ball is still on Xavi's foot, but whatever. i already said that either way the Portuguese defenders should have charged immediately rather than look at the ref like idiots.

Holy_Terror

Ronaldo is an extremely impressive individual....but he's nothing more than an individual. His team play is still quite lacking. That said, I think Portugal has a ton of talented players, but the midfield is what lost the game for Portugal. The defensive unit was excellent, much respect to Eduardo he is one hell of a goalie. But the midfielders...oh the midfielders.

Azrael

really? i'd say the midfielders were pretty good. Raul Meireles played a great game, as did Tiago until around the 60th minute, when he pretty much died physically. thing is they are not suited to a 4-3-3 tactic (few midfielders are, and Spain is lucky to have so many).

the problem is attack, there is no creative force, Deco is fat and in terrible shape and Nani was injured before the WC even started. Simão has lost his "burst" and Ronaldo was never a creative player. our midfielders are more more fit to charge into the box and shoot rather than to create such a chance.

under Queiroz the team started playing for the striker, whereas before the striker was there to anchor 1 or 2 defenders and make room for the midfielders to charge in.

unless there is a disaster i think Spain will beat Paraguay, but i don't think they can take on Germany. the Mannschaft is the most organised national team around. now, if Argentina beat them...

Holy_Terror

I think Spain have the quality to beat any remaining team. The defense looked solid and organized and the midfielders are excellent at maintaining possession and creating chances. I think with teams like Germany and Argentina the pace of the game will be much quicker than against Portugal. Also, in these later rounds you don't have teams playing as defensively. In games where the pace is quicker, Spain have a decided advantage as their players can control the tempo of the game to their liking. Neither Argentina or Germany will have much possession which will significantly limit their chances on goal. If the defense continues to play solidly then Spain should be able to win.

That said, it's the world cup and anything could happen. At this point it's useless predicting who will beat who. All that is useful is saying who is capable of being who and then sitting back and watching the results. In any case, Viva Espana! Belleza que solo dios pudiera hacer!!

North_From_Here

metal_xxx wrote
I just found out why I for the life of me can't enjoy south-european football. I was at a bunch of games when I lived in Spain and just couldn't feel the excitement, except from the fans, which were brilliant. But the fucking diving, sabotage, and time-wasting is just total fucking bullshit, and I just lost all mye respect for Capdevilla. Fucker.

Yep, rooting for Netherlands or Germany the rest of the way.

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