Spain vs Portugal

Wish he'd been the ref for the Japan game...Japan would have romped home against 9 men...

Just watching the highlights and Ronaldo certainly got the Jabulani dipping and swerving on that free kick, first time I've seen it do that.

Yeah. One shot using the inside of the right foot, shooting outside the leftside of the box, swinging right to left to the far post, I saw the Jabulani curving to the inside of the far post and when it started to dip it swerved away from the far post to the outside.

This Jabunlani ball have introduced the reverse swing shot similar to the reverse swing while bowling an old ball in cricket.

Not sure whether I like it or not tbh. But makes interesting shots.

I'm not saying it's the ball, he has done it elsewhere. Just that he seams to be the first to get it to move unpredictably.TopLeft072010-06-30 18:49:46

Well.... the red card was late but had an affect, definatel a dive... blah.

Other than the back 5, things were pretty hopeless today, we needed to drop Ronaldo deeper and get him on the ball, and Deco was missed, sorely. Bringing off Almeida was.. interesting, seeing as it was for Danny and not Liedson, don't think a change up front was what was required anyway, again, Deco would have been the most likely to make an impact. Whatever, Spain stepped up, we didn't.

I watched it at the Kings, decent numbers supporting both countries but the Spaniards definately outnumbered us. Decent atmosphere, particularly in the first half, but a shame that that's how my first 2010 World Cup game outside of our own lounge went like that. I was pretty upset afterwards, tried to vent some anger at the red but if I'm honest the ref had a great game. Villa is world class, no shame in conceding the only goal of the game to his speed of thought and movement, maybe a hint of offside.... but we were under the cosh for most of it. So yeah, shed a couple of tears, had a prety rough day because of it.
Loyalgunner, I know what you mean about Spain bandwagoners, they are everywhere after the Euro.


Speaking of the Euro, Euro 2004 was the first major tournament where I felt a strong affinity to a team from the start, World Cup 2002 was my introduction to international football, and I was on an England/Brazil wave. But, Portugal at that Euro were heroes for me, I was so gutted when they were robbed by the Greeks. Then, they went one WORSE in Germany, out in the semis. Another two years, another one worse (out in the quarters), this time round.... you get the picture, doesn't bode well for 2012 in Poland/Ukraine.


Rant over, just like watching AWB.

Too bad he did nothing else. All game. Except dive and spit.

The ref was fine. I thought there was contact, tbf? Pretty minimal and pretty embarassing, but there was contact. And if he elbowed him in the head, then he has to go. (Not that I believe that there was enough contact to warrant a foul at all, just pointing it out). The ref had a fine game- let it flow really well.

Unlucky Oska- makes up for Atleti losing out on a CL place to Porto though! El-Ni�o2010-06-30 20:39:22

Not everyone hates Spain EN. I'm not a massive fan or anything but i do admire their style and do enjoy watching them play, it's very easy on the eye.

While I dislike the team (and won't get lost for calling them dickhead's) I'll admit that their women that you see in the crowd are exceptional.

Oska - short video showing the goal to be offside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1D6uOV0xzM

And if the trend continues, as you were saying, while Poland/Ukraine will be heartbreaking elimination in the first round and Portugal won't qualify for Brazil 2014, it surely means that in Euro 2016 (who is hosting that?) Portugal will win.  Having said all that, though, it may not be a cycle like we think going consecutively from worst position to best and after they don't qualify for 2014 anything could happen.

A neutral on this. Spain the much the better side. The ref was crap. There were lots of fouls from both sides in the first half which he let go and it took 72 min to book anyone. He was poor.

I don't mind Spain but if I was to have one criticism of them, I would say they seam like a team of individuals rather than a good 'team group' to many egos etc. Mind you I think Portugal are similar. I just think the best 'team' is going to win the world cup rather than the country with the best 11 players....if you get my drift.

Edit. I think Germany are the best example of a good 'team group' at this tournament...............not the Dutch! TopLeft072010-06-30 21:22:05

He had a tough job with all the acting in front of them, but missed few fouls and wasn't fooled much, except for Capdevilla.. fk him. I thought he could have shown some yellows for a few dives.

France

I agree - thought the ref was so determined to appear not to be buying 'dives' that he let a lot of fouls go. Ronaldo was clearly fouled on 3-4 occasions without ever getting the call (the two armed shove from Capdevila late in the game was ridiculous and not given!), remember also an instance where Sergio Ramos was breaking on the counter and had his ankle kicked and the ref just waved play on...

They never gave us a good look at the red card incident, but from what they did show there didn't seem to be much.

All the teams I don't like are out of the world cup (yes, Ronaldo is all I need to not like Portugal). Thank you Spain. 

Buffon II2010-07-01 19:21:10

Yeah, I posted early on about Ronaldo not getting any calls, despite clearly getting fouled. You have to wonder if the ref has an impression of him as a diver, so was not willing to give him the calls. All in all, I can't help but think it's just desserts. If you get a reputation as a diver, in other words a cheater, refs should be cautious to believe you when you go down.

there is numerous data to support the idea that ref's take preconceived bias/ideas/concepts into match day. It's just human nature.

as the previous 2 posts allude he's brought that sh*t on himself. I'd wager 99% of all other footballers would have got a free on the late Capdevilla 2 handed push....

Brilliant Buffy. Works on so many levels.