Big Question: Who do you want to win now?

and yet again Massimo, u prove why italians are so hated around the world, ur nothing more than a bunch of DOGS!!! maybe everytime u dumbf*cks step on to the pitch everyone in the crowd should start barking and playing BAHAMEN’s WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? WOOF WOOF!!! RACIST DIPSH*TS

Posted from  Australia

@Zantheman

You are right about the lack of emotional control in the Portugal team in WC 2002. It was Joao Pinto who punched the ref and thereby squandered the rest of the squad’s chances. The team payed the price and so did Pinto (he never played again for Portugal).
I believe that since that shameful incident indiscipline has been eradicated from the squad, and their record since then speaks for itself (not one single red card, a claim most of the other teams cannot make). This 4 year record without a single red card ended with the Holland match. As has been stated before, that match was one to forget from both teams, but there was actually little violence on the pitch.

Regarding your points:

1) I can’t agree with you on this one. If this were true then every single match would be rife with expulsions as 99% of the players run towards the stands after scoring. I don’t know where you get the idea that running off the pitch is an automatic card. I believe this only happens when the celebrations take too long or the players remove their shirts.

2) Here I agree with you that Figo was very very lucky (I can’t say favoured because the Russian ref clearly had no love lost for Portugal - as he admitted later in an interview to a russian paper.) The reason FIFA did not ban him (unlike the Frings case) was that Ivanov booked Figo during the incident (admitedly he was lucky to see yellow, not red, but Van Bommel’s theatrics probably actually backfired against Holland). In all the other cases (Frings, Italy) the ref missed what happened on the pitch or the events took place after the match, that’s why FIFA felt it had to apply “justice” later on.

Except for the Figo incident I just analysed above (and remember that Boolarouz should have gotten a direct red card for his assault on Ronaldo, so the ref made a mistake both ways), I still don’t see anyone pointing to any example where Portugal was favoured or cheated their way to the semifinals.
Lucky? yes
Favoured by refs? no
Cheated? no
Skill? yes
Willpower and total dedication to victory? yes

And I agree that bad calls are part of the game and will remain forever because of the human element. Sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t. It happens in every other sport, so why not football?

Again, thanks for your comments. I enjoy discussing these issues with like minded individuals in a civilised manner.

Posted from  Belgium

@Massimo: So, nothing technical against POR…

“The” cross, is still the legacy of the Order of Christ - “leftovers” of the Kights of Templar, ordered to me terminated by the pope and kept by D Dinis, portuguese king. They were crutial in the discoveries quest. It’s the one you can see in the boats, NOT the country’s cote of arms.

It’s the same you see in red in the portuguese federation symbol, and in white in the brazilian confederation symbol.

“The” brazilliant coach… Well… Not only it’s a poor argument, there was a time POR and BRA were indeed a single country, called “The United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil”. It was the portuguese prince (D.Pedro) who fought for Brazil’s independance.

All the other collonies were independant much after. More than 100 years later than Brzil…

Posted from  Netherlands

To those who accuse the Portuguese of lack of fair play, enjoy this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Eh20XkatM , an example of english fair play…

Posted from  Portugal

alright it seems everyone is getting too agitated before the game…

new FIFA rule (suggested by a Lusitanian) . everyone needs to quickly find their special someone and have a lot of really aggressive sex!!!! and make sure they are wearing your teams jersey, that will help!

the testosterone level has gotten far too high, in these last e-mails.

Posted from  United States

@ janus .

Thanks for the response. Regarding Figo he was lucky to get a yellow . So when I say he was favoured I am comparing his call to other tackles: Matterazzi on The aussie player ( direct red -a joke) he was trying to legally tackle a guy and missed (tackling is part of the game ) but Headbutting your opponent is inexcusable no matter how lightly you do it! So much for FIFA fair play. Figo was lucky, really lucky!!

Regarding the Maniche running off the field incident. I was unaware of this yellow card rule and thought it was for overcelebrating (taking off your shirt ) but while I was watching the game the announcer (a former CANADIAN national team keeper ) stated that he should receive a yellow for LEAVING the pitch to celebrate.

I was perplexed about this info so I looked up fifa’s rules of the game and it states that:

a player shall be cautioned if he:

7. deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission.

Here’s the link:http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/regulation/0,1584,3,00.html

I haven’t noticed many players other than Maniche actually leaving the field of play to celebrate.He practiclly ran up to the crowd. I have seen many celebrations, pile ups and festivities take place ON the field. As a result, according to FIFA rules, not my rules, he should have been shown his 2nd yellow and dismissed from the game.

Apparently, you can also get a yellow card for violating rule 6: reentering or leaving the field of play without the ref’s permission.

just some food for thought!

I enjoy your well thought out comments and responses that contain no vulgar add ons.

Cheers!

Posted from  Canada

Screw this, I am too nervous to even make a prediction! But I want the Azzurri to win it!

Posted from  United States

Southern California supports Portugal!

Posted from  United States

Germany r gr8 they’ve been doing the best,I hope they win but if they somehow lose i think France will win it cos they have returned to form

Posted from  United Kingdom

Suck a lemon, Italy!!!!

Posted from  United States

Today against Italy.. The first goal is for you, Torsten. The second goal is for you, Torsten and the third goal against Italy will tell the Italian press that they cannot beat Germany. In the meanwhile, please someone replace FIFA.

Posted from  United States

Greater Los Angeles area, inlcuding Mexico supports Germany….

Posted from  United States

I support Germany from the very beginning. I really don’t mind who they go against but I really hope they win the cup. And if not….then any other team will be fine too. I’m just so sad that I won’t be able to see Ronaldinoh anymore. XD I loved him, he was so cute! And an awesome football player. My dad was devistated when Brazil lost. XD We all loved Ronaldinoh.

Posted from  United States

GER and ITA might not want to meet FRA in the final. They both would be rooting for POR to win.

However, FRA and POR would prefer meeting ITA in the final. FRA would be rooting for ITA to win.

So, my conclusion: Final game will be ITA - POR.

And if this becomes true, my heart says POR will win the cup and my mind says ITA will win the cup.

Posted from  United States

I hear everybody complaining of the poor performance by top players and teams just playing “crisis management instead of positive attacking football.” However, please keep things in perspective and realize the intensity and brutal toll the sport has on these athletes. The World Cup is undoubtadly football’s greatest spectacle. It’s also a monthlong grind, and the fatigue starts to sink in.

Games every few days, many playing under a hot, muggy sun. Travel across a country that’s almost as big as California. Pressure that grows with every game. And that’s on top of the nine months - or more - that many players just spent with the top and very demanding clubs accross Europe.

“The World Cup is a special test,” said Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira.”No matter how hard you try, you can’t completely overcome that tiredness.”

Or the injuries. Or the mental exhaustion.

Some teams manage better than others. Look at Germany, Italy, France and Portugal. They all have outstandin players but they definately do not look like it. But, they managed to outlast the other 28 teams, and it’s not only because of skill, timing and luck.

Italy is probably the strongest team mentally, able to ignore distractions from a corruption scandal that is rocking the domestic league. Despite several grueling games, Portugal has managed to remain in the tournment. France saved its energy and now looks fresher now than a month ago. And Germany is among the fittest teams after coach Juergen Klinsmann overhauled its training program.

“Physical condition is very important, because in soccer these days, 95 percent of the time the team that runs more wins,” Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta said. “Compared to the past, soccer is much more athletic and the pace is much faster.”

When the tournament began in 1930, there were only 13 teams and it lasted two weeks. Now 32 teams play 64 games over four weeks, and qualifying begins two years out.

So give them a break and enjoy the teams from a perpective that the best crisis management team will win and not necessarily the team with the most lightning strike attack with precission pin point accuracy.

Posted from  United States

Forza Italia

Posted from  United States

Germany is the best and it will win

Final: Germany vs France

I’m sorry Italy won…..since they won that penalty against Australia there is no team I hate more…. If you want to talk about a clear group of cheaters…it’s Italy.

France….NEVER… also divers and cheaters

I guess I would want Portugal (forget about holland match…more holland fault than Portugal’s) to win…they are the “Brazilians of Europe”

Portugal win it for your former colony ..BRAZIL

Good luck Portugal…such a small country and such a big achievement…congrads

Posted from  Bermuda

This is so pointless. I’ve read most of it and from what I gathered is that none of the post’s I’ve read even think of the final four from a football point of view(I’ve read about 15, so perhaps not all). My point is this, everyone reaches their conclusions based on theories, the Portuguese are foul players, the Germans cheat, the French are old, and the Italians are has-beens. Why not look at it from a different angle, something no-one seems to be doing. Which team actually plays the best football? Now I’m no expert but here are a few points to digest.

Germany: Play strong ball, much stronger physically than the other three.
Italy: Have not played to their full potential, but have advanced this far. Should be dangerous if they just stepped up the tempo a bit, while still playing their usual patient ball.
France: The most promising of the four. Played a near perfect ball against the current (but only for 9 more days) champions. Have great talent with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vierra, Claude Makelele, and Frank Ribery (who in my humble opinion is likely to be the next Zidane. Any comments?)
Portugal: Haven’t really seen much of their games. Only game I’ve seen, unfortunately was the Porto – Netherlands game. Frankly I was to busy commenting on the fighting. But great talent, great players, great team.

Having said that I think France will be the eventual winners simply because I’m a French fan  and they play a very good ball.

definately portugal even though a few hours ago id said germany when they were still in it.would nt mind france. it’d be a great send off for zidane. france will be krap after this world cup.

Posted from  Ireland

Portugal is considered the weakest link BUT let’s not forget we are still 2nd place in Europe, and amongs the 4 best from the world…do I need to say more?!
PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from  Germany

Maradona and Messi support Portugal. Maybe because they know a bit about footbal

PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from  Portugal

@Zantheman

I enjoyed reading your comments. You make some good points but I don’t think that the rule you mentioned applies when the game is stopped (ie. after a goal). Even if it does, the rules are made to be interpreted by humans who are supposed to use common sense and not an inflexible “by the book” mentality.
Anyway, that is how the football culture in Europe works, maybe in Canada they have a stricter interpretation. It boils down to the football culture and the ref in the final analysis.

Cheers to you too my friend.

I have to get back to work before I get fired

Posted from  Belgium

Forza italia… why does everybody go against italy and why does everybody think there cheaters. Diving is a good thing. They do it to win free kicks. (its not really cheating). And that penalty shot against austrailia, they didnt cheat. i say that was a bad call but that was the refs disission. thats not italys fault……. ITALIA IS GONNA WIN IT ALL

Posted from  Canada