That would of been a good option to take but unfortuately the other Portugal players were closer to the halfway line than the goal. They seemed reluctant to commit men forward. Probably because it was the opening match and they were playing infront of their home crowd. Wanted to keep it tight and not make any mistakes (oops).
Didn't watch the Italy match so I don't know how Vieri performed.
Beckham had hit a dip in form coming to these championships but he was solid enough.
Owen had no service and he needs it now it seems.
Raul, missed that match but I heard he had a relatively poor season for Madrid (might be bollocks though). >.<
Zidane is getting to the twilight end of his career. You can't expect him to be quite the same driving force he has been in the past. He still showed his class in the end.
Henry never performs on the big stage, so I'm not surprised by him.
Euro 2004 - Guess Work...
Moderators: Jay2k1, DavidM, The_One
Since my predictions suck... i made more! For the rest of the tourny 
http://www.clan1234.com/Jr/euro2004.txt
Admit it, how predictable was it for an england fan to pick England
a) to win
b) to beat France ;D
Unrealistic my arse!
http://www.clan1234.com/Jr/euro2004.txt
Admit it, how predictable was it for an england fan to pick England
a) to win
b) to beat France ;D
Unrealistic my arse!
Portugal played R-r-r-r-r-RUBBISH. Even after Russia had the keeper sent off, his sub was good aswell.
We all knew (or thought we knew) Portugal would win, i s'pose it doesnt matter how well you play, as long as you win, but people would be mad if they think Portugal can beat Spain playing like that.
Im expecting a red card or 2 in their game...
Which reminds me - its making me sick now, diving. Diving by the Russians, diving my portugese.. its getting out of hand and UEFA and FIFA have to do something about it.
Also play-acting. eg yes, it was a foul - then holding your face and "crying" cos likkle schnukkums is hurty-wurty his handy-wandy. If you dont know i mean the Portugese player who had the ball belted at him, at lets say medium pace, where it hit him about the mid-riff (stomach/chest) in the HANDS. What did he do? Held his face.
Pathetic.
We have these bastards on tape and every time FIFA/UEFA see this they should stick that player a yellow card for the next game, money punishments (ie like Rivaldo(?) in the WC) do NOTHING and they're laughing all the way, literally, to the bank.
[/rant at cheats]
We all knew (or thought we knew) Portugal would win, i s'pose it doesnt matter how well you play, as long as you win, but people would be mad if they think Portugal can beat Spain playing like that.
Im expecting a red card or 2 in their game...
Which reminds me - its making me sick now, diving. Diving by the Russians, diving my portugese.. its getting out of hand and UEFA and FIFA have to do something about it.
Also play-acting. eg yes, it was a foul - then holding your face and "crying" cos likkle schnukkums is hurty-wurty his handy-wandy. If you dont know i mean the Portugese player who had the ball belted at him, at lets say medium pace, where it hit him about the mid-riff (stomach/chest) in the HANDS. What did he do? Held his face.
Pathetic.
We have these bastards on tape and every time FIFA/UEFA see this they should stick that player a yellow card for the next game, money punishments (ie like Rivaldo(?) in the WC) do NOTHING and they're laughing all the way, literally, to the bank.
[/rant at cheats]
I know people say that using instant video replays to ratify referee decisions would spoil the 'spirit' of the game.
But personally I think that argument is complete bullshit.
I've seen so many bad decsions made by refs either because they are too far away or just have their heads up their arses.
What football seriously lacks at the moment is consistency. This is why we see so much diving and play-acting.
Who here honestly believes that Russia's goalkeeper should have been sent off? That was the most ludicrous decision I've seen in ages.
But personally I think that argument is complete bullshit.
I've seen so many bad decsions made by refs either because they are too far away or just have their heads up their arses.
What football seriously lacks at the moment is consistency. This is why we see so much diving and play-acting.
Who here honestly believes that Russia's goalkeeper should have been sent off? That was the most ludicrous decision I've seen in ages.
Did he handle it?
I didnt see it properly, cos i wasnt bothered, and it looked like he handled it in the semi-circle.. which is outside the box
Then again, he might have had his hands *near it* but not touching, i dont know ;/
And Relik - they've already dismissed video-interevention, which is sad. They think it'll ruin the "flow" of the game, but all it needs is a man in the refs ear (a 5th, TV watching official) to say "dive" or "he started it" or whatever. The time it takes to "ask" is a lot less than "helping" a player who's faking injury or waiting for him to stop rolling around crying his eyes out.
I didnt see it properly, cos i wasnt bothered, and it looked like he handled it in the semi-circle.. which is outside the box
Then again, he might have had his hands *near it* but not touching, i dont know ;/
And Relik - they've already dismissed video-interevention, which is sad. They think it'll ruin the "flow" of the game, but all it needs is a man in the refs ear (a 5th, TV watching official) to say "dive" or "he started it" or whatever. The time it takes to "ask" is a lot less than "helping" a player who's faking injury or waiting for him to stop rolling around crying his eyes out.
if he did touch the ball, it was very slight and completely accidental.
also the goalkeeper had already taken care of the situation with the attacker and his hand only brushed past the ball when he was trying to stand up.
I only saw the incident on the highlights but even the commentators thought the decision was bad.
Later on in the highlights, Figo was blantantly tripped in the Russian penalty area, but that was allowed to carry on.
Personally I don't think referees should have the power to give immediate red-cards unless they get the go ahead from the 'TV ref'.
also the goalkeeper had already taken care of the situation with the attacker and his hand only brushed past the ball when he was trying to stand up.
I only saw the incident on the highlights but even the commentators thought the decision was bad.
Later on in the highlights, Figo was blantantly tripped in the Russian penalty area, but that was allowed to carry on.
Personally I don't think referees should have the power to give immediate red-cards unless they get the go ahead from the 'TV ref'.
Penalty decisions
Red cards (not 2nd yellows)
Close (edge of the box -25yr area) dubious free kicks
Fights...
Spats between players
Did it or didnt it cross the line
and goal-creating offsides
probably more, but most of these should be checked before doing something.
...Did David Beckham deserve a red back at WC98? I think it was a straight red for "kicking" the argie, who sold it like he was shot.
I've seen worse get yellows and/or a ticking off.
Consistancy does indeed suck, they should have Frisk to EVERY game
Red cards (not 2nd yellows)
Close (edge of the box -25yr area) dubious free kicks
Fights...
Spats between players
Did it or didnt it cross the line
and goal-creating offsides
probably more, but most of these should be checked before doing something.
...Did David Beckham deserve a red back at WC98? I think it was a straight red for "kicking" the argie, who sold it like he was shot.
I've seen worse get yellows and/or a ticking off.
Consistancy does indeed suck, they should have Frisk to EVERY game
The Russian keeper was unlucky to get sent off. But my first reaction was he had handled delibrately and had to go. Only the replay made me think otherwise.
The Spain vs Greece match was ruined by contanst diving and play acting. It is pathetic. Grown men falling over at the slightest contact and rolling around as if they've been shot. If you really are in agony you certainly don't roll two or three times. And the stupid thing is the referees blow for a foul. Any player who has his shirt pulled and then arches his back, turns his legs to jelly and falls to the ground should be booked for exaggeration. It's a disgrace, particularly when they wait a split second, glance at the ref, and then do it.
Sad thing is, this diving mentality is creeping into the English game as well - Owen and Scholes are particularly guilty. It's a man's game - stop falling over all the time and acting like fucking pansies.
The Spain vs Greece match was ruined by contanst diving and play acting. It is pathetic. Grown men falling over at the slightest contact and rolling around as if they've been shot. If you really are in agony you certainly don't roll two or three times. And the stupid thing is the referees blow for a foul. Any player who has his shirt pulled and then arches his back, turns his legs to jelly and falls to the ground should be booked for exaggeration. It's a disgrace, particularly when they wait a split second, glance at the ref, and then do it.
Sad thing is, this diving mentality is creeping into the English game as well - Owen and Scholes are particularly guilty. It's a man's game - stop falling over all the time and acting like fucking pansies.
Russian goalkeeper didnt deserve to be sent off coz he didnt even touch the ball, but tbqh it looked like he did it to every one, even in the replay more close from the referee's eyes you can see it really looks like his hands touched the ball, of course with slow-motion u can see he doesnt, but the referee doesnt see in slow-mo
and there was also a penalty that looked like Figo had dived, but in the replay you can see he was actually touched in his feet.
so they were wrong decisions but i dont think the referee had bad intentions tbh.
About that thing in the mid field when Maniche just started rolling and rolling, yep that was ridiculous... but u have to remember that the player who supposedly shot the ball against him is Maniche's teammate in FC Porto. and things arent really very well with Alenitchev in Porto, he already said he wanted to leave, he was clearly having bad disputes with their teammates yesterday, theres sum "backstage" thing there ^^
and Spain and Portugal will be a very emotional game, no doubt about it. I hope the referee doesnt spoil it.
Portugal played shit vs. Russia, but it would win with or without that red card. and Spain seems to have a really hard time b4 they can create a chance to score. I also think Portugal cant win against Spain playing like this, but hopefully the players will do that kind of game to remember
like in Euro2000, when they owned Germany 3-0 with the substitutes playing
and there was also a penalty that looked like Figo had dived, but in the replay you can see he was actually touched in his feet.
so they were wrong decisions but i dont think the referee had bad intentions tbh.
About that thing in the mid field when Maniche just started rolling and rolling, yep that was ridiculous... but u have to remember that the player who supposedly shot the ball against him is Maniche's teammate in FC Porto. and things arent really very well with Alenitchev in Porto, he already said he wanted to leave, he was clearly having bad disputes with their teammates yesterday, theres sum "backstage" thing there ^^
and Spain and Portugal will be a very emotional game, no doubt about it. I hope the referee doesnt spoil it.
Portugal played shit vs. Russia, but it would win with or without that red card. and Spain seems to have a really hard time b4 they can create a chance to score. I also think Portugal cant win against Spain playing like this, but hopefully the players will do that kind of game to remember
like in Euro2000, when they owned Germany 3-0 with the substitutes playing
Last edited by Cenotaph on 17-06-2004 14:23, edited 1 time in total.