Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

Must be frustrating for Portugal fans having Ronaldo take every free kick within 40 yds of the goal and blaze it high and wide. Nani or Quaresma could be whipping the ball into the area for Ronaldo's aerial dominance instead. You would think that would be a much higher percentage option. Couldn't be worse, that's for sure.

Starting XI
2.4K
·
3.1K
·
over 11 years

Must be frustrating for Portugal fans having Ronaldo take every free kick within 40 yds of the goal and blaze it high and wide. Nani or Quaresma could be whipping the ball into the area for Ronaldo's aerial dominance instead. You would think that would be a much higher percentage option. Couldn't be worse, that's for sure.

There must be some contractual thing going on, each free kick is 30 seconds more screen time for the CR7 brand.

Marquee
970
·
6.5K
·
over 11 years

Buffon II wrote:

Boro4eva wrote:

number8 wrote:

2 goals for Iceland, respect.

Semi Final will be

Thursday 7am: Portugal va Wales

Friday: Germany vs France

Sad to say, but I guess Portugal will win against Wales and the final will be Germany vs Portugal on Monday.

Wales could do it..Portugal haven't looked that great.

Portugal have been shark, but they've been jammy. That's what will probably get them through again.

Could go either way esp with a red card. TAB odds for half-fulltime : $41 Port/Wales  $31 Wales/Port.

WeeNix
34
·
610
·
over 14 years

Portugal"s luck will run out tomorrow ...Wales to make history !!

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

Pepe in doubt, could make a massive difference to Portugal. He might be a diving, cheating thug but he's a world class defender

WeeNix
34
·
610
·
over 14 years

c'mon Wales....0-0 @ half-time

WeeNix
34
·
610
·
over 14 years

who else but Ronaldo....

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

...and that's why someone else should take Portugal's attacking free kicks so Ronaldo can get on the end of them

Starting XI
850
·
2.7K
·
about 10 years

Unbelievable Portugal will be in the final. They're doing a Greece...

WeeNix
34
·
610
·
over 14 years

bugger...Bale hugs Ronaldo..aww shucks ...

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

LeighboNZ wrote:

Unbelievable Portugal will be in the final. They're doing a Greece...

But even less likeable
Appiah without the pace
6.5K
·
19K
·
over 16 years

Imagine how different this tournament would be if Iceland hadn't scored that last minute winner against Austria. This is all your fault Iceland.

Marquee
3.3K
·
6.7K
·
over 16 years
Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

2ndBest wrote:

Imagine how different this tournament would be if Iceland hadn't scored that last minute winner against Austria. This is all your fault Iceland.

Damn them and their small mentality
Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

I just realised that if Portugal win this we might get to see Ronaldo vs Moses Dyer in Russia next year

Woof Woof
2.7K
·
19K
·
almost 17 years

el grapadura wrote:

Mainland FC wrote:

Buffon II wrote:

Boro4eva wrote:

number8 wrote:

2 goals for Iceland, respect.

Semi Final will be

Thursday 7am: Portugal va Wales

Friday: Germany vs France

Sad to say, but I guess Portugal will win against Wales and the final will be Germany vs Portugal on Monday.

Wales could do it..Portugal haven't looked that great.

Portugal have been shark, but they've been jammy. That's what will probably get them through again.

Time will tell. Poland was well organised but largely ineffective upfront against Portugal. In contrast, I think Wales has a potent attack (scored more goals than Poland throughout the tournament) and Belgium was arguably as tough an assignment for them as Portugal, so Wales is there with a strong chance.

Unlike Belgium, Portugal have defenders. They also play fairly conservatively, and I think Wales will struggle to hit them on the break. I sense a 1-0 to Portugal, and a fairly unwatchable game.

Like you say, time will tell, but like Iceland, I think Wales have played their big game, and Portugal will jammy their way into the final while looking distinctly ordinary throughout the tournament.

That was a typo. I meant to say 2-0.

Woof Woof
2.7K
·
19K
·
almost 17 years

2ndBest wrote:

Imagine how different this tournament would be if Iceland hadn't scored that last minute winner against Austria. This is all your fault Iceland.

If that hadn't happened, Croatia's path to the final would have been: Iceland, Poland, Wales. Fudge you Iceland.

Marquee
4.3K
·
6.7K
·
over 13 years

el grapadura wrote:

2ndBest wrote:

Imagine how different this tournament would be if Iceland hadn't scored that last minute winner against Austria. This is all your fault Iceland.

If that hadn't happened, Croatia's path to the final would have been: Iceland, Poland, Wales. Fudge you Iceland.

This could be the real reason they sacked their sports commentator. 

It could all be so different if he just kept quiet.

Lawyerish
1.8K
·
4.8K
·
over 13 years

I just realised that if Portugal win this we might get to see Ronaldo vs Moses Dyer in Russia next year

Would love to see Themi kicking Ronaldo and Fallon giving him an elbow. 

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

I just realised that if Portugal win this we might get to see Ronaldo vs Moses Dyer in Russia next year

Would love to see Themi kicking Ronaldo and Fallon giving him an elbow. 

Fallon elbowing Pepe would be fun
Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

This is already more entertaining than most of the games in this tournament so far

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

I'd be pretty fudged off if I was a German fan right about now

Marquee
300
·
5K
·
about 17 years

We've all had that feeling.Dominate, don't score, then concede.

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Marquee
3.3K
·
5.1K
·
almost 13 years

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Penalty call was correct, can't go jumping in the air like that with your hands up. As for the German shout for a penalty, Schweinsteiger had mistimed his run and was already past the ball and it was more just a clash of bodies, I wouldn't have called it.

Jaume
·
WeeNix
300
·
970
·
almost 8 years

Good shark from France today. Played very well when they had the ball and used their chances. Hopefully they go all the way. What a save from Lloris at the end to keep his clean sheet!

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

Yakcall wrote:

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Penalty call was correct, can't go jumping in the air like that with your hands up. As for the German shout for a penalty, Schweinsteiger had mistimed his run and was already past the ball and it was more just a clash of bodies, I wouldn't have called it.

caveating this with saying I'm not a ref but I think both those calls were the sort which some refs will call and some won't. Schweinsteiger didn't handle directly off the corner and had absolutely no time to react or move his hands after the French player's touch, and it didn't look "deliberate" to me  - more like the arms were up as leverage for his jump. The other one he probably wasn't going to reach but as I saw it he was bundled in the back which of course would make him over run the ball
Legend
2.4K
·
17K
·
about 17 years

Obivously we all want France to tear Portugal a new one, but you just know that isn't going to happen.

Even if France do win (which i think they will) this Portugal team are gonna ride their jammy luck all the way to the very end.

Marquee
3.3K
·
5.1K
·
almost 13 years

Yakcall wrote:

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Penalty call was correct, can't go jumping in the air like that with your hands up. As for the German shout for a penalty, Schweinsteiger had mistimed his run and was already past the ball and it was more just a clash of bodies, I wouldn't have called it.

caveating this with saying I'm not a ref but I think both those calls were the sort which some refs will call and some won't. Schweinsteiger didn't handle directly off the corner and had absolutely no time to react or move his hands after the French player's touch, and it didn't look "deliberate" to me  - more like the arms were up as leverage for his jump. The other one he probably wasn't going to reach but as I saw it he was bundled in the back which of course would make him over run the ball

This is it isn't about deliberate for the hand ball, if your hands are in an unnatural position (Over his head) then if the ball hits them it has to be a penatly. A player shouldn't be jumping up like that where they are doing deliberate or not.

Marquee
2.1K
·
6.4K
·
over 14 years

Yakcall wrote:

Yakcall wrote:

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Penalty call was correct, can't go jumping in the air like that with your hands up. As for the German shout for a penalty, Schweinsteiger had mistimed his run and was already past the ball and it was more just a clash of bodies, I wouldn't have called it.

caveating this with saying I'm not a ref but I think both those calls were the sort which some refs will call and some won't. Schweinsteiger didn't handle directly off the corner and had absolutely no time to react or move his hands after the French player's touch, and it didn't look "deliberate" to me  - more like the arms were up as leverage for his jump. The other one he probably wasn't going to reach but as I saw it he was bundled in the back which of course would make him over run the ball

This is it isn't about deliberate for the hand ball, if your hands are in an unnatural position (Over his head) then if the ball hits them it has to be a penatly. A player shouldn't be jumping up like that where they are doing deliberate or not.

they can jump however they like. It  only becomes a problem of the ball hits their hand.

At least it gives the GIF makers more raw material

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

But the laws of the game clearly say it has to be deliberate. If the guidance says otherwise they should change the wording of the law

Marquee
3.3K
·
5.1K
·
almost 13 years

But the laws of the game clearly say it has to be deliberate. If the guidance says otherwise they should change the wording of the law

It is considered deliberate if your hands aren't in a natural position.... Confusing I know

Starting XI
2.4K
·
3.1K
·
over 11 years

Phoenix Germany gifted them two goals and could not score once. Can not blame the referee for that. Germany better team, France more clinical. Well at least it was an entertaining game. France on their way to win the Euro.

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

It just raises deep philosophical questions about what is natural and what is not. At what point in evolutionary history did humans become unnatural?

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

Not blaming the ref, just saying on a different day in a different stadium I could see those calls going the other way. Germany paid the price for. Their lack of a genuine striker. They were also lucky to not concede another when Boateng did his obligatory dangerous error and let Giroud clean throough

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

I completely retract everything I said about that penalty. It was a clear handball. I just saw this https://gfycat.com/HandsomeFrailIaerismetalmark

Didn't see that angle on the broadcast. Pretty hard to argue with though

Marquee
1.1K
·
7.6K
·
over 12 years

I completely retract everything I said about that penalty. It was a clear handball. I just saw this https://gfycat.com/HandsomeFrailIaerismetalmark

Didn't see that angle on the broadcast. Pretty hard to argue with though

That must have been given by the goal line AR.  Ref would have seen the same angle as original TV shot.
Marquee
1.3K
·
5.3K
·
over 16 years

Not blaming the ref, just saying on a different day in a different stadium I could see those calls going the other way. Germany paid the price for. Their lack of a genuine striker. They were also lucky to not concede another when Boateng did his obligatory dangerous error and let Giroud clean throough

Loew had identified a couple of things before the tournament, teams don't press and harder to break down and has lamented the development of players in Germany hasn't produced that many that can beat the opposition with ball at their feet and also picked Gomez for games like this. 

Bad errors from Germany resulting in goals, France not making errors - it was a very Mourinho-esque big game performance.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/apr...

Woof Woof
2.7K
·
19K
·
almost 17 years

Yakcall wrote:

It was a marginal penalty call against them too. And they should have had a free kick right on the edge of the area earlier when Pogba tripped Kroos, and possibly a penalty for themselves on an earlier corner too (I didn't catch a decent replay but one of the French guys fell into Schweinsteiger as the ball came in)

Penalty call was correct, can't go jumping in the air like that with your hands up. As for the German shout for a penalty, Schweinsteiger had mistimed his run and was already past the ball and it was more just a clash of bodies, I wouldn't have called it.

caveating this with saying I'm not a ref but I think both those calls were the sort which some refs will call and some won't. Schweinsteiger didn't handle directly off the corner and had absolutely no time to react or move his hands after the French player's touch, and it didn't look "deliberate" to me  - more like the arms were up as leverage for his jump. The other one he probably wasn't going to reach but as I saw it he was bundled in the back which of course would make him over run the ball

There is absolutely no reason for Schweinsteiger to have his arm where he had it. It's actually an excellent call from the refs (the call came from one of the assistants).

Woof Woof
2.7K
·
19K
·
almost 17 years

Bullion wrote:

Not blaming the ref, just saying on a different day in a different stadium I could see those calls going the other way. Germany paid the price for. Their lack of a genuine striker. They were also lucky to not concede another when Boateng did his obligatory dangerous error and let Giroud clean throough

Loew had identified a couple of things before the tournament, teams don't press and harder to break down and has lamented the development of players in Germany hasn't produced that many that can beat the opposition with ball at their feet and also picked Gomez for games like this. 

Bad errors from Germany resulting in goals, France not making errors - it was a very Mourinho-esque big game performance.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/apr...

As average as Gomez is, Germany have looked 10 times better with him in the line-up than without at this tournament. They'll need to solve that problem if they want to retain their world title in 2 years' time.

France is a team that's actually still on the up - and once they iron out some of their defensive problems, they could be the dominant world team over the next 5 years or so.

You’ll need an account to join the conversation!

Sign in Sign up