Preview: France vs. Portugal

I am so happy Portugal is in the semifinals!! But also very concerned because of how we played against England.

Against the oranje we fought a war and won. That was an amazing game. But today we had an hour with a 1 man advantage and still didn’t score. According to FIFA statistics the English and French goalies are equally good. But it wasn’t the goalie that was stopping us, it was the defenders who kept us out of the box stuck to the wings.

What is Filipão’s offensive strategy? I don’t understand it. Why didn’t we do many crosses or passes to the middle? Even on corner kicks, we played them short instead of to the center. I saw no offense whatsoever, we were totally shut out of the middle!

I think France is going to score at least once, so we’re going to have to score too, and I don’t see it happening if we don’t play better than we did today. No, not just better, but with different strategy and tactics!

Also I think England lost because their coach made huge mistakes, and we won because of Filipão. But I don’t understand what he is thinking with our offense. HOW are we going to score stuck on the wings or shooting 40 yard shots to the center of the net that the goalie could stop blindfolded??

I think its already a victory for both teams to be in the semi-finals, im Portuguese but i must say France recovery has really impressed me, at a given point almost everyone declared France as death to this worldcup..they proved all of them wrong. As for Portugal they are the underdogs of the last four, both France, Germany and Italy have been worldcup champions, and Portugal have not.. so i guess France will be the favorite for this match, expecialy after eliminating Brazil, and for those reasons people will not give us much of a chance, but Portugal has proven to be a tough team, with alot of fighting mentality and faith in themselves.. so despite all of this, i supose they’ll keep fighting and they’ll keep beliving.

Portugal MUST correct 1984 (late french goal to kick POR out in the french european champ last 4) AND 2000 – exactly the same, only this was in HOL/BEL.

So… Don’t be surprised if this time the match’s tied 1-1 and between mins 80-94 POR scores… :-) That’d be lovelly…

Fresh Costinha in front of the centre defenders, securing Deco and Maniche, the first opening spaces for the second to shoot half distance. The wingers streching that french tight defense and (an inspired Pauleta), hopefully eager to score against his french colleagues, he must know oh so well… IF NOT, there’s always Nuno Gomes, the striker who unlike Pauleta plays much behind the offside trap limit, the man who opened the score 6 years ago with a brilliant surprise shot, one Barthez just couldn’t hold…

FORCA PORTUGAL!

Congratulations to Portugal for making it thus far!However I hope the Zidane & Henry combination will not be taken lightly. Cristiano will have to step up his game and set his team mates up for good shots on goal. I have faith that Scolari can pull this one off.

why isn’t david trezeguet on the starting lineup for france?

FRANCE
You guys must beat Portugal

Especially Cristiano Ronaldo.

He planned for Rooney to get sent out and because of that we LOST.

He told his team-mate to make sure he falls under and in-between Rooneys legs and to position his Crotch so that Rooney can step on them.

And then Ronaldo paid the Referee 5 EUROS to give Rooney a Red card. He told the referee that he can get Rooney to push him.

All he had to do was tell Rooney to Push him RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE and because Rooney doesn’t have a mind of his own ACTUALLY PUSHED Ronaldo.

There. You French guys be careful. Ronaldo has a lot of 5 euros floating around. He can get u guys’ Red cardeD!!!!!

i want france to be world cup 2006 champion because france is the only country which have no racist and religions problems so people will come to know the famous french!

BRazil is gone so im now rooting for Portugal,on another note Brazil cleary takes the cup for the most beautiful women in the stands.

Say what? France has no racist or religion problems? Is that a joke? They have both in spades. In some French towns, they have literally run ethnic immigrants out of town at the end of knives and pitchforks. Not a common thing, of course, but to say there aren’t racists in France is ludicrous. As for religion, Muslims are slowly taking the country over. In a few decades, France will be part of the Middle East, at least culturally.

If Zidane & Henry play the full 90 minutes, it is going to be a 2-nil victory to France, no matter how many Ronaldos be on the other side!

OH MY GOSH! SINCE BRAZIL IS GONE! ITS PORTUGAL ALL THE WAY! PLEASE IF YOU READ THIS.. CAN YOU PLEASE JUST BEAT FRANCE! FRANCE SHOULD NEVER VS. BRAZIL! THEY ARE SUCH A JINX ! OBVIOUSLY FRANCE AS YOU KNOW IS NOT ! NOT BETTER THAN BRAZIL! ANYWAYS YOU HAVE MY VOTE! ( IF YOU DONT WIN I WILL CRY ! ) IM SERIOUS!

Toronto Metros-Croatia

what? John maybe has geography problems. Islamism came from Middle East as Christianism and Judaism, being muslim doesn´t mean being middle eastern probably you don´t know there are many christians in Middle East. The most part of muslim french immigrants came from north Africa. And in Brazil there many riots too. That isn´t a religious problem but a economic problem.

redheart, perhaps you have reading comprehension problems. I said Middle Eastern “at least culturally.” Please, if you’re going to respond, try not to ignore salient portions of the comments. That way you won’t waste everyone’s time again.

Let’s see, didn’t the French government ban the wearing of Muslim head scarves by women in certain areas or under certain circumstances? Hmm, still want to argue that France doesn’t have any issues with religion?

OK I understand what you want to say but Middle East is culturally miscellaneous, Beirut is really different from Teheran. But I understood what you mean. Even in Australia last year I remember there were problems about lebanese immigrants And that is more a racial problem than religious `cause there are many lebaneses that are christians

The most part of the second generation north african immigrants or the children of the immigrants don´t feel so connected to “middle-Eastern culture” as you think , they love their origins but they feel french above all.

Go Europe! enjoy the game, i hope it would be full of goals and no fist fights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA

Early odds from my bookies:
Portugal to win by a goal or more margin within the 90mins.
France the wiser of choices..?

i hope portugal will win tomorrow but french team seems not so easy as the last ones. i even prefer some french players as henry or zidane instead of some portuguese players such as c ronaldo. but i am portuguese so…

to john i was about to call you stupid and ignorant.I apologize.You’re just north-american.it’s not you’re fault.

Hi lisboa,

Yes, you’re right. An accident of birth is a good reason to label someone ignorant and/or stupid. Do you even see the irony of stereotyping me based entirely on where I live?

Someone wrote early on in this thread that France was the only country with no racist or religion problems. I merely pointed out that this is a silly comment and gave examples. Feel free to go look into it yourself, unless you’re too lazy or afraid to learn new things that shake up your worldview. If it’s easier for you or makes you feel safer to remain ignorant (in the true sense of the word), I don’t mind. It’s amusing.

Lisboa,

Here are a couple of examples to help you on your educational journey. Knowledge is a good thing! Embrace it.

France Bans Muslim Head Scarves: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/02/world/main597565.shtml

November 2005 Riots by Poor Muslim and African French Immigrants: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4413964.stm

the best team will win. but i prefer PORTUGAL. he deserve to win

well porugal has done a lot good to itself by getting so far….but me being a true fan of the netherlands would want to see portugal get the bitter taste….i hope they beat france tonight and then go ahead only to loose to italy!portugal will loose the finals(if it gets there)…….cheers!

it’s really a big question on who’s gonna won.
i’m not a fan for either team, but Germany. but since the games yesterday was such a tear… i think that i just have to pray for a third place…
but anyways, i’ll have to need more information on the teams to decide on a team that has a better chance of winning.
seriously… i really don’t know anything about the two teams.
but who ever is the winning team, i believe is gonna beat Italy… cz i really don’t like Italy. (u know Y)
so… what r the history of France and Protugal, and which team do u like…?

I will never call you ignorant ’cause you was born in US or elsewhere, was not me. I just said that north Africa is not Middle East and even culturally those parts of the world are different and miscellaneous.I said that culturally the immigrants’ children feel more french than north africans even being muslims. And as i said what happened in France last year is more a economic problem than just religious,the same thing happens in US with mexican immigrants and they don´t do it because of religion.But you’re right when you say there is racism in France, unfortunally it there is everywhere.

By the way, i know you know that wasn’t me that call you that.

There is no doubt that France is gonna win the trophy. The incredible team formation, the wise leadership of Mr. Raymond Domenech and the superb performance of Thiery Henry is going to blast the Portugals.

posted from Ethiopia

french consider they r mignon and all others are rude and cruel. Let’s see how mignons they are !

I think most people want to see a France v Italy final, a repeat of an excellent 2000 european cup final. France played to their full potential against brazil and portugal look toothless. But that excellent French midfield are ageing and have played only a few days ago. Portugal will be tough and keep the game very tight. I can see portugal take it to extra time at least.

redheart,

Fair enough, and I appreciate you being cordial in our debate. :-)

Getting back to the football, I’m jazzed about this game! I am pulling for France, who won me over when they beat Brazil and showed such determination. How can you not be a fan of Zizou???

Allez Les Bleus!

New odds obtained:
France to win by a goal or more margin within the 90mins..,
Are they the favourites..?

ok u folks, 2nite is a draw match. france will win on 2 pk shots.

All right! Game starts in less than three hours… Christiano Ronaldo Fan Club Roll Call!

PORTUGAL,

one single voice
one single shout!

VICTORY!!!

FORCA PORTUGAL!!! A CAMINHO DA FINAL!!!

france 2:0 portugal

I think France deserves to win because the beat Brazil! I really do prefer the portuguesse but France deserves to win not only against portugal but hopefully against Italy as well.

The stage is nearly set for a World Cup final that I believe will bring the two best coaches on the national side stage together this Sunday, Lippi and Scolari. It is no accident that these two will probably meet, although the Italians clearly had some help from the ref against Australia (but may have won anyway).

Lippi is going with essentially the same kind of set he did when he was Juve’s boss in the 90s, placing Totti behind his strike force for service (something Ericsson could have learned when he isolated poor Rooney up front the other day) as well as a green light to penetrate and shoot anytime he likes. I expect Lippi will stay with that 4-4-1-1 in the final and Camoranesi will remain very active on the wings, aided by Pirlo coming forward as needed (not something Trappy would have been familiar with in 2002); Gattuso won’t come forward, as he is a defending midfielder exclusively. Gilardino and Del Piero will again probably be wisely held in reserve for late-strike energy and a shootout (if necessary) while the point man for much of the contest will be hard-working Toni, who can present a lot of problems even to a defense as staunch as Portugal’s. Cannavaro is the defender of the Cup so far, and Zambrotta, Zaccardo and if available, Nesta, along with Buffon, are incredibly tough to score on, especially if they jump out on top.

I don’t want to break down in much detail what I think Portugal might do for a theoretical match, but although Scolari can be remarkably flexible in his alignments, he does like that 4-2-3-1 with wingers Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo supporting Pauleta. Costinha returns, and if he behaves himself tonight, he and Maniche will have holding duties but may will be able to move forward on occasion while Deco directs matters on both sides of the center stripe. With decent protection of their formidable back four and the continued performance of the tournament’s best keeper Ricardo, Portugal will be as stingy as Italy with goals. I look for Portugal to claim a 1-0 win tonight, and it might not any different on Sunday against Italy.

I know I am giving Les Bleus short shrift here, but time is short and my prediction has been made in any case. Hope everyone enjoys the game in any case.

Dave hamildav@yahoo.com

By the way, John, you are a smart one and being born in north america does not make us stupid. In fact, we should be proud that we were born in a continent were we have so many different people from all over the world, this helps us know what people of other cultures are and what they believe in. This is something that very few countries have.
QUE VIVA NORTH AMERICA!!!!!!

its amazing that the computer, the car, the airplane, and most other modern inventions were invented by americans but we are called stupid by those who use them. racism, terrorism,and suicide bombings, and beheadings really are not inventions of north americans but im sure someone will figure out a conspiricy theory to blame the jews or the americans

hey vive france and zidane

Unfortunally racism, behading and terrorism(terrorism is more than suicide bombings) exist since the human being became (in)civilized. The car is not a american invention. And Here nobody wants to blame americans(there are good and bad people, smart or stupid in any part of globe), jews(Who talked about jews?),arabs(zinedine zidane for example) or anyone with specific race, ethnic group or religion. So please stop all those xenophobic comments.

HEY GUYS, WHEN DOES THE GAME START?

Portugal lost the game but we can say that our chance of playing in the finals was stolen from us…. on the other hand there is peace on Saint Clair, Toronto Canada and tonight everybody can sleep….

POrtugal was Robbed.. they deserved to win it all.. I mean France obviously played well.. but Italy has been helped and carried all the way through.. what a Shame … This World Cup bites the beg one.. and FIFA Sucks Big Hard D _ _ _ s.. it all sucks.. who gives a crap who winds this one …

Rezultat final : Portugalia / Portugal 0 Franta / France 1

Data : mi 05 \ 07 \ 2006

Locul : München / Munich

Tara : Germania / Deutschland / Allemagne / Germany

Faza : a doua semifinala

Competitia : Campionatul Mondial de Fotbal Germania 2006
Coupe du Monde de Football Allemagne 2006
Football Coupe du Monde Allemagne 2006
FIFA WORLD CUP Germany 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany

Vive la France !!!
Allez les bleus !!!
Vive les bleus !!!