[Locke]

I'm going to have to break this up to make my rebuttal even partially intelligible.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Seriously dude, are you smoking crack??

This is where I take the high road and not take shots at a Vancouver poster's drug habits.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Denmark had absolutely nothing for 84 minutes, absolutely nothing. If it wasn't for Portugal's pathetic lack of finishing, the game could have easily been 3 or 4-0.

Look son, if you cant finish, get off the field.

Portugal certainly had many chances, but lack of finishing falls on them. The Danish did what they had to do. They pressured Nanny and his ilk and made them rush their shots to imperfection and waste. Their defense may not have been perfect, but they worked hard.

You want to complain about Portugal's chances? They were trying to walk the ball into the net against what they thought would be a push-over Danish side.

And, I'll grant the penalty wasnt the Portuguese standard of "c.ry-baby" throwing a fit until the ref gives him what he wants so that he doesnt bruise his alabaster palms against the turf in a fit. It was a legitimately stupid play by the Danish defender. No argument there.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

How was Portugal overconfident?? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. How is a team overconfident in a 1-0 game?? It's not like they were juggling the ball or heel passing or playing keep away, they were going for a second goal and almost had it, but they couldn't finish.

How were they overconfident? I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume that you actually watched this game. In future though, you should find someone in Vancouver who you can call 'friend' who actually does watch the games and ask him to proofread your posts.

They were overconfident not because they were 'juggling' or 'heel passing'...because those are the only known forms of overconfidence....

Watch the game sometime and you'll see that apart from Nanny and the occasional corner Portugal didnt even make the effort to advance in the second half. They were perfectly content to sit on their lead. Add that to a plethora of chances that they had in the first half that they blew and voila.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

You hate Ronaldo, you hate Portugal, fine, but come, don't come on here and write such fabrications. Portugal outplayed Denmark by a wide margin, but the final 10 minutes was just one of those ridiculous things that happens every once in awhile, you can't really put too much stock into the play of one team or the other.

The final 10 minutes was the picture of overconfidence. Up 1-0 against Denmark at home, they had already punched out. The Portuguese are only mildly less delusional than the English in thinking that Carvalho is an actual defender.

I contest that I can put lots of stock into Portugal's play. Its called entitlement. If you want to see more, watch Brazil play, the only difference is that even the most mundane Brazilian international is still pretty damned fantastic.

For Portugal though, it was vastly uninspired play and considerably wasteful from the strikers. Sorry, but Ronny and Nuno Gomes can only drag their asses out of the fire so many times. Nani was pretty good, Pepe and Deco were less than impressive and their defense went for coffee and never came back.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I'll give Denmark credit for never giving up after Portugal made it 2-1 on the PK. Most teams would have folded. And also crdit to them for pushing forward after they tied it late. Most teams would have been more than happy with the road point, but they kept on pushing and got a lucky break on the winning goal. Unfortunate for Portugal, but they'll be fine, Ronaldo is almost fit. Away game to Sweden and home to Albania in October.....the away fixture to Sweden will be key.

Here, you and I agree. Denmark was the more inspired team, they wanted it more, and, well, they played defense. Always important.

Also, Portugal will be fine, they have enough talent to overcome the world superpowers of Albania, it'll be hard fought, but I think they'll pull it out....