Euro 2008 - UEFA

[josef]

thank you and good night ronaldo!!! you may be one of the best players in the world, but that display of pain was just brutal, go home and cry with your mom!!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Depressing feeling right now, but what r u gonna do. portugal wasn't all that bad, but their marking on the set plays was downright ridiculous and cost them. It's a shame. God, Pepe on that corner was un-marked in the 6 with a free header and puts it high. That goes in, game is tied and who knows what happens. I'll be visualizing that play for the next couple years. But, now with a new coach coming in, this team should have a different look. No more Petit who was brutal in this tournament, no idea why Scolari started him 3 times. And most of all, NO MORE RICARDO!!! He has been a thorn in my side for the last 4 years. Sure, he saved penalties and all that, but Christ, he has no command of the box on set plays and high crosses. 2 goals today, the goal in the final in 04, all from set plays. Yes, it's marking, but he should have been able to challenge for that second one from Ballack today. Good riddance Ricardo. Bring on Rui Patricio!!!


Ronaldo haters!!! Eat it!!! Stop thinking that every time he goes down that he is divin. Yes, the play where he got stepped on was a bit ridiculous with the late reaction and all, but good god, he is way more than that, and if you really know the game, you should realize that and stop looking for a reason to bitch about him. Whatever, he'll be FIFA footballer of the year and you all can shove it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Ronaldo haters!!! Eat it!!! Stop thinking that every time he goes down that he is divin. Yes, the play where he got stepped on was a bit ridiculous with the late reaction and all, but good god, he is way more than that, and if you really know the game, you should realize that and stop looking for a reason to bitch about him. Whatever, he'll be FIFA footballer of the year and you all can shove it.

Why? Ronaldo won FIFA World player of the year 3 times and you dont seem to acknowledge his quality.

Apparently any asshat can win that award and it doesnt mean anything.

Until he wins it 4 times, he'll always be C.Ronaldo.

Anyways, it always sucks when you're team goes out, they played well this tournament but just made little mistakes during the game that the Germans took them to task for.

Well played. Better luck next time. Go Germany.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by Locke

Why? Ronaldo won FIFA World player of the year 3 times and you dont seem to acknowledge his quality.

Apparently any asshat can win that award and it doesnt mean anything.

Until he wins it 4 times, he'll always be C.Ronaldo.

Anyways, it always sucks when you're team goes out, they played well this tournament but just made little mistakes during the game that the Germans took them to task for.

Well played. Better luck next time. Go Germany.

quote d for truth. I think you have the roles reversed, VFF!!!! We aren't the ones who need to "shove it" because we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better luck in 2010 with a new keeper and some more Ronaldo diving. We got a semi-final to prepare for

[Pagal4321]

Wow, you guys are pretty brutal on C. Ronaldo. That Metzelder guy just needs to stop diving, that's twice where he just went down like he was shot. And Lehman at the end was hysterical....get's hit in the mid-section and grabs his head and leg.

I REALLY do hope all the games are this close.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Wow, you guys are pretty brutal on C. Ronaldo. That Metzelder guy just needs to stop diving, that's twice where he just went down like he was shot. And Lehman at the end was hysterical....get's hit in the mid-section and grabs his head and leg.

I REALLY do hope all the games are this close.

Germans are pretty notorious for their diving over the years. Portugal are amateur divers compared to the Germans who have been diving for decades.

[KTown]

I know this is off topic, but

Canada's second of the home and home WC qualifier will air live tomorrow. Canada leads 3-0 with 3 away goals.

Broadcast :
Television - The match will air live on Sportsnet West at 17.30 MT.

So not just one game of soccer tomorrow, we get to see two games.

[chid]

Wow, Thanks KTown that should be a great game to watch!! I'll have to check here for some updates since I'll be at work

[jammies]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Germans are pretty notorious for their diving over the years. Portugal are amateur divers compared to the Germans who have been diving for decades.

Yah Ballack had a pretty lame dive going on there as well - ooh ooh I think I might have had someone's arm slightly brush my face! Oh, the agony!

Still, Ronaldo's dive was utterly pathetic. I wish they would give out retroactive red cards for obvious acting, that would end the stupidity right quickly. I don't understand how these guys can see replays of themselves acting like utter babies and not be shamed.

[jofillips]

yea the germans were pretty wet all game...though if portugal can't defend it helps!
I think players and managers should call out the divers after the game to name and shame divers.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

Why? Ronaldo won FIFA World player of the year 3 times and you dont seem to acknowledge his quality.

Apparently any asshat can win that award and it doesnt mean anything.

Until he wins it 4 times, he'll always be C.Ronaldo.

Never said Ronaldo was bad. You said he was the best player since Pele and I say that's a bloody joke. Cristiano had more goals this year than Ronaldo ever had in one season. And christ, Cristiano plays as a winger. Ronaldo played as a striker and couldn't crack 40 goals. Longevity is also an attribute of a great player and he never had it. Injured waaaay too often for him to be considered the second best player of all time.

When Cristiano wins his 4th FIFA Footballer of the Year, I still want him to be known as Cristiano Ronaldo. I don't want my Portuguese brethern to be known as a guy who likes trannies.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Never said Ronaldo was bad. You said he was the best player since Pele and I say that's a bloody joke. Cristiano had more goals this year than Ronaldo ever had in one season. And christ, Cristiano plays as a winger. Ronaldo played as a striker and couldn't crack 40 goals. Longevity is also an attribute of a great player and he never had it. Injured waaaay too often for him to be considered the second best player of all time.

When Cristiano wins his 4th FIFA Footballer of the Year, I still want him to be known as Cristiano Ronaldo. I don't want my Portuguese brethern to be known as a guy who likes trannies.

You realize that in the soccer world nobody gives a flying fadoo about the FIFA Footballer of the year right? I don't think anyone here would know who won the last 2 years without looking it up.

The France Football magazine award is probably more important but soccer is the one sport where nobody cares about individual awards.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You realize that in the soccer world nobody gives a flying fadoo about the FIFA Footballer of the year right? I don't think anyone here would know who won the last 2 years without looking it up.

The France Football magazine award is probably more important but soccer is the one sport where nobody cares about individual awards.

I think saying "nobody cares" is a bit of hyperbole. But yes, individual awards aren't as big in soccer as they are in any other sport. Or sport that I know of for that matter.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I think saying "nobody cares" is a bit of hyperbole. But yes, individual awards aren't as big in soccer as they are in any other sport. Or sport that I know of for that matter.

Soccer, even moreso than hockey, can have dozens of "right answers" to the question "who is the best goalie/defender/midfielder/forward" in the world, and even moreso to "who is the best player in the world." Especially when you consider that the top leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, Portugal, France (in no real order)) play distinctly different types of football, which make even the style differences between the NHL's Western and Eastern Conferences look minor.

This results in a cheapening of the individual awards to the point of obscurity and quaintness. Would Ronaldinho be the best player in the world in a grinding, tactical league like Serie A? Would Gigi Buffon have as impressive a save percentage in the high-octane Spanish Primera Liga? Would John Terry still be a rock on defense in a free-wheeling, less structured Portugese team? It ends up being less who is the most talented, and more who thrives the best in where they are.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Soccer, even moreso than hockey, can have dozens of "right answers" to the question "who is the best goalie/defender/midfielder/forward" in the world, and even moreso to "who is the best player in the world." Especially when you consider that the top leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, Portugal, France (in no real order)) play distinctly different types of football, which make even the style differences between the NHL's Western and Eastern Conferences look minor.

This results in a cheapening of the individual awards to the point of obscurity and quaintness. Would Ronaldinho be the best player in the world in a grinding, tactical league like Serie A? Would Gigi Buffon have as impressive a save percentage in the high-octane Spanish Primera Liga? Would John Terry still be a rock on defense in a free-wheeling, less structured Portugese team? It ends up being less who is the most talented, and more who thrives the best in where they are.

Interesting point. Well said.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Would John Terry still be a rock on defense in a free-wheeling, less structured Portugese team?

Only English people think John Terry is any good.

[ricoFlame]

this croatia turkey game is going to be awesome. croatia is rolling and a solid side, the turks, despite being undermanned, are going to be brimming with confidence following the epic comeback vs. the czechs. gonna be sweet...i hope.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Only English people think John Terry is any good.

Yep, and he gets his "best defender in the world" tag largely from them. But, put him in Serie A or La Liga, and he'd likely get pillaged more than a couple times. Look at Cannavaro, easily one of the best in the world when he was with Juventus, but once he got to Real Madrid... he turned very human. Yet, his performances with Italy are still excellent. The Real Madrid system just really exposes its defenders.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

this croatia turkey game is going to be awesome. croatia is rolling and a solid side, the turks, despite being undermanned, are going to be brimming with confidence following the epic comeback vs. the czechs. gonna be sweet...i hope.

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to this one. There should be some solid attacking play.

I'm as much Croatian as I am Portuguese, but I just have no desire to really care how the Croats do. I've just followed this Portugal team thru their whole qualifying campaign, kept tabs on the players on their respective teams, and am just do drained from a rough day yesterday(working before and after the game for 14 hrs starting at 5am didn't help) that if Croatia lose today, I really wouldn't care. If they win great, if they lose....meh. And this is coming from a guy who has 3 Croatia jerseys from earlier years in his closet.

[united]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Soccer, even moreso than hockey, can have dozens of "right answers" to the question "who is the best goalie/defender/midfielder/forward" in the world, and even moreso to "who is the best player in the world." Especially when you consider that the top leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, Portugal, France (in no real order)) play distinctly different types of football, which make even the style differences between the NHL's Western and Eastern Conferences look minor.

This results in a cheapening of the individual awards to the point of obscurity and quaintness. Would Ronaldinho be the best player in the world in a grinding, tactical league like Serie A? Would Gigi Buffon have as impressive a save percentage in the high-octane Spanish Primera Liga? Would John Terry still be a rock on defense in a free-wheeling, less structured Portugese team? It ends up being less who is the most talented, and more who thrives the best in where they are.

Finally an unbiased well thought out post. I never thought of things in this way for the most part but it does make a great deal of sense. I think the "best" player in the world is one who can adapt to the styles of any situation and excel, but how do you test that?
Good to see some insight and not just useless biased bickering about diving.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Only English people think John Terry is any good.

False. John Terry is good in the right system. He is largely over-rated by the majority. Not to mention he is smug and arrogant as they come.