Match 59 - England vs Portugal - QUARTERFINAL THREE

[hj2k_x]

Come on England! :)

A meeting with either Brazil or France in the semis awaits the winner.
It should be a good game.

Lets hope Sven allows England to do some attacking and goes with two strikers again!

Portugal have won all their games so far, also beating Holland along the way so they are not to be taken lightly. Ronaldo may not make it due to injury, Deco and Costinho are suspended.

My money is on England to finally step up and perfrom

Kickoff 5PM SA Time. Saturday July 1

[4cer]

ME and my girlfriend have a bet on this game... England better win.

[feo]

I'm supporting the Poras in this one..England were far from convincing in the group stages and I seriously hope this is their last match in the World Cup.

[eagle-slayor]

we gonna win today
hopefully Mister Scolari is gona tink of something
PORTUGAL!!!

[Highflyer_GP]

Porra's for the win! All those red cards from the previous game might come back to bite though :(

[feo]

Yip plus Ronaldo was injured in that last game so he might not start..

[Highflyer_GP]

LOL @ Rooney tramping nuts

LOL @ Rooney's red card

[icyrus]

That has to be the most pathetic red card so far in the world cup. And I dont even like england. Pathetic...

[Highflyer_GP]

Well done to England for dragging it out to penalties with 10 men. Having said that, Ricardo was fscking brilliant at saving penalties.

[icyrus]

Well done to England for dragging it out to penalties with 10 men. Having said that, Ricardo was fscking brilliant at saving penalties.

You mean the english are rubbish at taking them. With a penalty its all about the taker not the keeper.

[maverick]

C. Ronaldo what a little $%$#W

[nocilah]

HA HA HA

As usual the english prove to be pathetic at almost everything they do...

well done to portugal.... and damn good goalie... Ricardo WAS fscking brilliant and the english were fsking pathetic (as usual).

[Highflyer_GP]

You mean the english are rubbish at taking them. With a penalty its all about the taker not the keeper.
Maybe a mix of good keeping and crap penalty taking :) But you have to give it to the guy, to choose the right direction 4 out of 4 shots, just missing the one that did go in.

[Highflyer_GP]

C. Ronaldo what a little $%$#W
Typical England supporter, when they lose then look for someone to blame other than their team ;)

[rpm]

Good goalie indeed…or at least a good match. Not a nice way for England to exit the WC.

[nocilah]

ME and my girlfriend have a bet on this game... England better win.

so how much do you owe :D

[mooK]

Ronaldo wasn't the reason Rooney was sent off, that commentator was talking absolute crap!

Anyway, that was one of the most intense penalty shoot-outs I've ever seen. Well done to Portugal.

It's too easy to hate Ronaldo, you gotta give it to the man, he was probably the biggest playmaker in the match.

[maverick]

Typical England supporter, when they lose then look for someone to blame other than their team ;)

I'm not an England Supporter (Brazil supporter). I just think the way he ran up to the ref to have rooney booked, a teamate of his at manchester united (support Manu aswell) was a little ****ty.

[derekc]

sad way to exit....sigh...

[bb_matt]

Oh well, at least the flags will all be finally taken down and life can get back to normality here - with lots of gloom for a while - hehe.

What a **** game tho, until extra time, when England really did well with 10 men.

Horrible tension with the penalties - but the best team won, Portugal deserved it as much as England would have, such was the even matching of the teams.

My big fear now is the hordes of England fans leaving Germany, lets just hope they "vanish" away and don't bring the nation to shame with violence.

So, time to cheer on my "follow up" team, which would be Germany - yep, I want the host nation to take it, not one of the favourite that so many people have - the predictable choice of Brazil.

I think Germany have played outstanding football and have been amazing hosts of this World Cup, so they deserve to win !

[feo]

I'm glad the pora's took it...England didn't deserve to win this one. Poor performance in the group stages and nothing inspiring in the knock-out stages so it's bye-bye England..

[hj2k_x]

Typical England supporter, when they lose then look for someone to blame other than their team ;)
Only when there is someone else to blame.

That was NEVER a red card. I agree. Ronaldo = big w@nker

[hj2k_x]

I'm glad the pora's took it...England didn't deserve to win this one. Poor performance in the group stages and nothing inspiring in the knock-out stages so it's bye-bye England..
Not like Portugal have been setting the world alight with their football. They did not play that well in this game either.

[hj2k_x]

Ronaldo wasn't the reason Rooney was sent off, that commentator was talking absolute crap!


Then what was, pray tell?

Match report:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=191976&cc=3888

[feo]

The boot to the groin was bad but the ref only took action after the push so yeah it was the push that caused the red card...I also first thought the ref was talking horse crap when he said it was for the push on Ronaldo.

[hj2k_x]

The boot to the groin was bad but the ref only took action after the push so yeah it was the push that caused the red card...I also first thought the ref was talking horse crap when he said it was for the push on Ronaldo.
Thing is, he wasnt even going to get yellow for the boot to the groin which didnt look intentional from where i was standing. So as i understand it, it was direct red for the 'push' on sissy-boy Ronaldo.

Still, either France or Brazil will kill Potugal in the semis.

[feo]

Don't be too sure of that...the suspensions really weakened the Portugal side and they'll be back to full strength in the semis so I'm still backing them for the next match.

[kobie]

Bad reffing ruins another world cup game. Portugal will hopefully get the thrashing they deserve in the next round. Maybe we will even get to see Portugal play a game where none of their opposition get red cards from dodgy calls?

[hj2k_x]

Really?! I think they are poor. Have underperformed thus far, just like England had, and today, when they had to step up, they cheated, and still could not beat ten men in an hour or so of football. Good luck to them! :p

[hj2k_x]

Bad reffing ruins another world cup game. Portugal will hopefully get the thrashing they deserve in the next round. Maybe we will even get to see Portugal play a game where none of their opposition get red cards from dodgy calls?
Indeed, just as in France 98 against Argentina, England are robbed by an undeserved red card :(

[feo]

At least we won't have to look at Crouch anymore...

[hj2k_x]

At least we won't have to look at Crouch anymore...
LOL! He looked really good when we only had ten men. Did a really good job of holding upthe ball, even when there was no support, which there usually wasnt. Pity he couldnt have put one of his chances in...

[Highflyer_GP]

Only when there is someone else to blame.

That was NEVER a red card. I agree. Ronaldo = big w@nker
ermm the guy got pushed, should he just sit back and take crap from the opponent?

BTW Crouch has to be one of the clumsiest looking people I've ever seen play soccer :D Makes for funny viewing

[hj2k_x]

ermm the guy got pushed, should he just sit back and take crap from the opponent?
No, the guy ran up to the ref and begged for him to book Rooney. I'd've done more than push the little ****er. They are supposed to be United teammates. This kind of behaviour needs to be stamped out by FIFA, not 'pushing'!

[ignacio]

Indeed, just as in France 98 against Argentina, England are robbed by an undeserved red card :(Rubbish - England sucked... no robbing here. They were unimpressive the whole tournament.

[hj2k_x]

Rubbish - England sucked... no robbing here. They were unimpressive the whole tournament.
So you thought it was the right decision to send him off and that the best team won, despite England playing better than Portugal even with ten men?? :confused:

[Highflyer_GP]

No, the guy ran up to the ref and begged for him to book Rooney. I'd've done more than push the little ****er. They are supposed to be United teammates. This kind of behaviour needs to be stamped out by FIFA, not 'pushing'!
That tramping of the nuts looked intentional to me, it's a question of believing otherwise because of the need to look for a scapegoat. His sending off had no effect on the score after extra time, and no you can't say that England would have scored if he didn't get booked because fortune tellers don't exist ;) England can't take or save penalties to save their lives, that's what had an outcome on the final result.

So you thought it was the right decision to send him off and that the best team won, despite England playing better than Portugal even with ten men??
That's a matter of opinion, and in my opinion playing with basically all 10 as defenders hardly qualifies as playing better :)

[dominic]

probably the best england have played in the WC and imo they shaded portugal in terms of scoring opportunities. portugal have certainly played far better football than today and as a neutral i prefer them going through as they will provide a better spectacle, especially with deco back (although less of the drama would be good)

also thought crouch was pretty good as opposed to "a tall guy to aim at" - couple of nice touches and hold-ups

the red card was harsh - yellow would have been fine (and it is completely disproportionate to figo's yellow for the headbutt)

[hj2k_x]

That tramping of the nuts looked intentional to me, it's a question of believing otherwise because of the need to look for a scapegoat. His sending off had no effect on the score after extra time, and no you can't say that England would have scored if he didn't get booked because fortune tellers don't exist ;) England can't take or save penalties to save their lives, that's what had an outcome on the final result.

If you believe that then you are crazy.

Regardless of intention or not, the red was not reaching for his pocket to even book Rooney - it was a direct red for the 'push'. Of course this had an effect on the outcome.

[hj2k_x]

the red card was harsh - yellow would have been fine (and it is completely disproportionate to figo's yellow for the headbutt)
Exactly.

[ignacio]

So you thought it was the right decision to send him off and that the best team won, despite England playing better than Portugal even with ten men?? :confused:I don't know if it was right - really stupid to push a player right in front of the ref.... really, really stupid. If you kick a guy in the nuts (intentionally or not), you step back, say sorry and move on.

Best team? They were equal teams. Hence the draw. England just moved absolutely everyone back in defense with Crouch offering minimal attacking chances... so 1 man doesn't really matter that much with 9 defenders,

England just happens to be ***** at one of the easiests things (technically) to do... score from the penalty spot. Lampard couldn't score a goal even with the goalie gone.

[hj2k_x]

That's a matter of opinion, and in my opinion playing with basically all 10 as defenders hardly qualifies as playing better :)

What do you suggest we do when we only have ten men and our striker has been sent off?? Go all out on the attack??

[hj2k_x]

I don't know if it was right - really stupid to push a player right in front of the ref.... really, really stupid. If you kick a guy in the nuts (intentionally or not), you step back, say sorry and move on.

Best team? They were equal teams. Hence the draw. England just moved absolutely everyone back in defense with Crouch offering minimal attacking chances... so 1 man doesn't really matter that much with 9 defenders,

England just happens to be ***** at one of the easiests things (technically) to do... score from the penalty spot. Lampard couldn't score a goal even with the goalie gone.
I agree that England suck at the penalties- trust me i have seen us go out of tournaments enough times to know that!

But the fact remains that the red card was not warranted and left us with little chance of anything but hanging on to penalties..

[ignacio]

I agree that England suck at the penalties...
...hanging on to penalties..Then that is just a tactical error by the coach.

[hj2k_x]

Then that is just a tactical error by the coach.
What? The sucking at the penalties?

[ignacio]

What? The sucking at the penalties?Stopping attacking to survive through to penalties when you suck at them.

[Highflyer_GP]

What do you suggest we do when we only have ten men and our striker has been sent off?? Go all out on the attack??
No try and be innovative, at least try and make a game of it. All I'm saying is that playing like a bunch of moffies by moving everyone up to defend hardly qualifies as playing better. It doesn't provide the viewers with the spectacle worthy of a world cup match. I've seen games in the Bundesliga where matches were won with 10 men so moving everyone into defense is a lame excuse.

[hj2k_x]

Stopping attacking to survive through to penalties when you suck at them.
I see. Well i thought we did as much attacking as we could afford to. We made better chances than they did.

[hj2k_x]

No try and be innovative, at least try and make a game of it. All I'm saying is that playing like a bunch of moffies by moving everyone up to defend hardly qualifies as playing better. It doesn't provide the viewers with the spectacle worthy of a world cup match. I've seen games in the Bundesliga where matches were won with 10 men so moving everyone into defense is a lame excuse.
We did try to make a game of it. We attacked as much as we could and as much as any team in the same situation in A WORLD CUP QUARTER FINAL would have done. This isnt some Bundesliga game.

[Highflyer_GP]

This isnt some Bundesliga game.
Considering how many international players play in the Bundesliga, or Premier League, or Serie A etc. I find that to be a derogatory thing to say.

[hj2k_x]

Considering how many international players play in the Bundesliga, or Premier League, or Serie A etc. I find that to be a derogatory thing to say.
I am saying that this is somewhat more important than some league game!

[Highflyer_GP]

/me waits for the hooligans to start rioting :D

[nocilah]

Not like Portugal have been setting the world alight with their football. They did not play that well in this game either.

funny you say that considering the english had a tough time keeping the ball and the ball tended to stay near their goals more often then not. However the english did have a superb defense, but oh yeah... portugal won so so much for enlish soccer setting the world alight.

[stepper]

Sentiments killed England, Lampard should have never played.

[freeek]

Italy Vs Portugal final!!!

[mooK]

I'd put my money on it being Germany vs France.

[hj2k_x]

I'd put my money on it being Germany vs France.
Same here.

[hj2k_x]

Sentiments killed England, Lampard should have never played.
Indeed. He had an awful tournament and you just knew he was going to miss his penalty when he stepped up to take it.

[hj2k_x]

funny you say that considering the english had a tough time keeping the ball and the ball tended to stay near their goals more often then not. However the english did have a superb defense, but oh yeah... portugal won so so much for enlish soccer setting the world alight.
WEll England played as well as they had to to get past weak opposition and then were unlucky to lose to the first decent team that they did play in Portugal.

[bb_matt]

Indeed. He had an awful tournament and you just knew he was going to miss his penalty when he stepped up to take it.

Yep - it was sadly a given that he would miss, as he's truly sucked in every single game. Believe me, England supporters have been dismally dissapointed with the performance of thier team - on the books, they looked unbeatable, but in practice - well, they just couldn't gell.

Rooney was stuck up their alone with nobody supplying what he needed, so he got frustrated and showed his immaturity. Lennon wasn't given enough match play and the tactics were just woefully wrong.

That's football for you - all the hype here about Rooney, which reached ridiculous levels, ended up being a thorn in the side for the team.

If England had got through, there's no way they would've got to the final if they had met Germany or Brasil on the way - not a chance.

[hj2k_x]

Still, we went out of the tournament having not lost a game, which is always a pity.

I would have liked to see us up against Brazil or Germany with McClaren in charge, as he clearly was for the latter stages of this game.

We had the players for sure, but playing with these terrible defensive tactics, there was very little way we were going to be successful against the bigger teams.

At least Sven is gone now and we have an English manager again :)

Euro2008 here we come! :D

[.geek]

First of all, I'd like to say England didn't deserve to go through. Regardless of Red cards, bad luck, etc etc. They played one good half of football (vs Sweden, 1st half) the entire tournament. There were two great goals, Joe Cole's long-range volley and Beckam's last free kick (can't remember vs who).

The rest of the time, they were uninspiring to say the least. They lacked vision, defended poorly at times and were very uncreative in the midfield. It's time for a big change in mindset for the England team to be truely successful again.

IOL: Beckham quits as captain (http://www.iolworldcup.co.za/breaking_news/story.php?news_id=1281)

P.S. I've always been a big support of the English national team, but am just really disappointed at their performance.

[hj2k_x]

It's time for a big change in mindset for the England team to be truely successful again.

That is for sure. They certainly have the players...

[bb_matt]

Yeah - that Beckham statement isn't much of a suprise.
He's only got a few years left at pro level.

He really must be feeling the pain, as he was an inspiration for the team and played with his heart.

It's funny how sad English Football can be at international level, there's just so much belief and heart, but the press are ars3holes and really bring the team down and then up and then down ad nauseum.

There's just no feeling that we deserve it in the media - they are usually looking at the negative side and that definately effects the performance of a team.

Heck, when Rooney was injured, the media decided that England didn't stand a chance without him - they were written off. He's a great player, but my G0d, we had more than him in the team - imagine how the other players felt during Rooney-Mania?

I HATE the media over here, because I know that next week, they will begin to disect the team and place blame all over the place - it's no wonder that Beckham has decided to quit, he knows that the media will force him out anyway.

This country is suffering from a mixed bag of negative sentiment and starry eyed worship - but hey, that's the England after the Empire - a nation of shop keepers ...

[hj2k_x]

Yeah - that Beckham statement isn't much of a suprise.
He's only got a few years left at pro level.

He really must be feeling the pain, as he was an inspiration for the team and played with his heart.

It's funny how sad English Football can be at international level, there's just so much belief and heart, but the press are ars3holes and really bring the team down and then up and then down ad nauseum.

There's just no feeling that we deserve it in the media - they are usually looking at the negative side and that definately effects the performance of a team.

Heck, when Rooney was injured, the media decided that England didn't stand a chance without him - they were written off. He's a great player, but my G0d, we had more than him in the team - imagine how the other players felt during Rooney-Mania?

I HATE the media over here, because I know that next week, they will begin to disect the team and place blame all over the place - it's no wonder that Beckham has decided to quit, he knows that the media will force him out anyway.

This country is suffering from a mixed bag of negative sentiment and starry eyed worship - but hey, that's the England after the Empire - a nation of shop keepers ...
Indeed, England seem a nation that just love to hate their sporting teams. Depsite all the belief and hope at the start of tournaments the media especially seem happier to report on the latest glorious failure. Some fans are like this as well...

I watched the game at my local pub here in Cape Town which was full of English 'supporters' who onlt really started singing after many beers late in the 2nd half. They cheered when they saw Beckham crying! :confused:

Things really need to change or England really need to win something soon!

[lewstherin]

My take of the game and England's WC:

1.) Rooney is a dumb punk kid who happens to have great football skillz. He really needs to get his head out his ass and start realising what international soccer is all about. Ronaldo's actions was his usual typical crap designed to aggro Rooney into something rash. But thats WC football, and Rooney should have known better - especially since he plays with the dude all the time!
I mean how dumb can Rooney get? He stamps a guy's nuts (whether accidental or not), then hangs around to argue with the ref and shove Ronaldo. Most mature players would have gotten their asses out of there sharp to try to avoid the card, or else would have showed some concern for the player and apologised etc. Not Lord Rooney though.

2.) Ronaldo is an immature crybaby that happens to have great football skillz. He dives alot, he crys alot, he aggros alot. That's how he chooses to play, and its a poor reflection on FIFA that they tolerate his crap. Of course I can think of at least a dozen other international players that play the same way (half of them in the Italian team). Thats WC football, and teams playing against these players should be prepared for their antics.

3.) When Ronaldo and Rooney take time off from arguing with the ref/opposition and swan diving, they are a joy to watch. Ronaldo especially is just brilliant going forward.

3.) Sven is a formerly great coach who is now past it. He made some seriously bad subs and his tactics for this WC were foolish. He expected English players to play a different game to their natural inclination, and it showed. Even worse was that he persisted with a strategy that obviously wasn't working. Rooney just isn't up to being a lone striker at this time. He plays club football with one of the best lone strikers in the game (Van Nistelrooy), and has yet to learn this role. Sven should have realised that by the end of the 1st round.
And don't even get me started on his subbing off of Joe Cole for Crouch! Lampard should have been taken off to make way for Crouch. Joe Cole was having a blinder.

4.) I would have love to have seen Lennon starting every game, Becks play more midfield, Lampard dropped after his dismal first round performances, Crouch and Rooney starting alongside (or with Crouch slightly back from Rooney to provide the holdup and service into the box), and Hargreaves playing the kind of ranging role he filled late in the quarter-final.

5.) The Portuguese side were definitely weaker without Deco. The guy is a great player, and Port's main playmaker. I think they will be good to watch in the next game with a full strength team.


For me, Italy are the least deserving semi-finalists. They lucked out in a huge way against Australia, and played a pretty crap team in Ukraine. I think their progression will depend more on the ref's sympathy than their football skills. Portugal have played some tougher games and are more deserving of their spot.

I wish Italy had met up with Argentina in the quarters. It would have been fun to watch 2 of the best diving sides in the tourney go head to head. I also think Argentina would have handed Italy the ass-whomping they deserve.

[Angelo]

The inevitable has happened, England are finally out having offered very little this World Cup. For how long were they going to play ugly and win? Against top teams it's just not enough. This team is simply not good enough to even be in the Final game.

Typical of English fans, rather than condemn Rooney for his barbaric foul and immaturity they are looking for a scapegoat. Rooney's foul was just unacceptable, even in sports like Wrestling and Rugby. Anyway what did Rooney offer in the game before being sent off besides mis-kicking a Lennon pass and chasing people around aggresively?

The red card is being used as an excuse for a poor team because even with 11 men Portugal were dominant. If anything the red card gave England an excuse to be ultra-defensive and hope to sneak it through the back door that is penalties.

Favoritism is also the norm in the England team, why was one of England's best attacking players Joe Cole taken out while Lampard remained on the field just to make up the numbers? Why was a 17-year old kid taken to the tournament while seasoned strikers like Jermain Defoe remained behind.The less said about their penalty taking the better.

Maybe we'll have less hooliganism now that the English are going home and also the media circus surrounding this average team will be over. No more "football is coming home!" chants. Less hype and expectations about England's football team will do everybody concerned good.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter must be a happy man after complaining last week that England were playing boring football despite being considered one of the favourites.

[hj2k_x]

My take of the game and England's WC:

1.) Rooney is a dumb punk kid who happens to have great football skillz. He really needs to get his head out his ass and start realising what international soccer is all about. Ronaldo's actions was his usual typical crap designed to aggro Rooney into something rash. But thats WC football, and Rooney should have known better - especially since he plays with the dude all the time!
I mean how dumb can Rooney get? He stamps a guy's nuts (whether accidental or not), then hangs around to argue with the ref and shove Ronaldo. Most mature players would have gotten their asses out of there sharp to try to avoid the card, or else would have showed some concern for the player and apologised etc. Not Lord Rooney though.

2.) Ronaldo is an immature crybaby that happens to have great football skillz. He dives alot, he crys alot, he aggros alot. That's how he chooses to play, and its a poor reflection on FIFA that they tolerate his crap. Of course I can think of at least a dozen other international players that play the same way (half of them in the Italian team). Thats WC football, and teams playing against these players should be prepared for their antics.

3.) When Ronaldo and Rooney take time off from arguing with the ref/opposition and swan diving, they are a joy to watch. Ronaldo especially is just brilliant going forward.

3.) Sven is a formerly great coach who is now past it. He made some seriously bad subs and his tactics for this WC were foolish. He expected English players to play a different game to their natural inclination, and it showed. Even worse was that he persisted with a strategy that obviously wasn't working. Rooney just isn't up to being a lone striker at this time. He plays club football with one of the best lone strikers in the game (Van Nistelrooy), and has yet to learn this role. Sven should have realised that by the end of the 1st round.
And don't even get me started on his subbing off of Joe Cole for Crouch! Lampard should have been taken off to make way for Crouch. Joe Cole was having a blinder.

4.) I would have love to have seen Lennon starting every game, Becks play more midfield, Lampard dropped after his dismal first round performances, Crouch and Rooney starting alongside (or with Crouch slightly back from Rooney to provide the holdup and service into the box), and Hargreaves playing the kind of ranging role he filled late in the quarter-final.

5.) The Portuguese side were definitely weaker without Deco. The guy is a great player, and Port's main playmaker. I think they will be good to watch in the next game with a full strength team.


For me, Italy are the least deserving semi-finalists. They lucked out in a huge way against Australia, and played a pretty crap team in Ukraine. I think their progression will depend more on the ref's sympathy than their football skills. Portugal have played some tougher games and are more deserving of their spot.

I wish Italy had met up with Argentina in the quarters. It would have been fun to watch 2 of the best diving sides in the tourney go head to head. I also think Argentina would have handed Italy the ass-whomping they deserve.

I agree with everything from 2 onwards. Rooney should have known better, but the red card was still harsh.

[mooK]

So u don't think Rooney should've known better?

[hj2k_x]

The inevitable has happened, England are finally out having offered very little this World Cup. For how long were they going to play ugly and win? Against top teams it's just not enough. This team is simply not good enough to even be in the Final game.

Typical of English fans, rather than condemn Rooney for his barbaric foul and immaturity they are looking for a scapegoat. Rooney's foul was just unacceptable, even in sports like Wrestling and Rugby. Anyway what did Rooney offer in the game before being sent off besides mis-kicking a Lennon pass and chasing people around aggresively?

The red card is being used as an excuse for a poor team because even with 11 men Portugal were dominant. If anything the red card gave England an excuse to be ultra-defensive and hope to sneak it through the back door that is penalties.

Favoritism is also the norm in the England team, why was one of England's best attacking players Joe Cole taken out while Lampard remained on the field just to make up the numbers? Why was a 17-year old kid taken to the tournament while seasoned strikers like Jermain Defoe remained behind.The less said about their penalty taking the better.

Maybe we'll have less hooliganism now that the English are going home and also the media circus surrounding this average team will be over. No more "football is coming home!" chants. Less hype and expectations about England's football team will do everybody concerned good.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter must be a happy man after complaining last week that England were playing boring football despite being considered one of the favourites.

Lets just say i dont agree with most of what u have to say here, Angelo, but that's nothing new i guess.

[hj2k_x]

So u don't think Rooney should've known better?
I dont think it was a red card. Period.

[mooK]

Do u think it would be possible to find a short clip of what happened?

My memory's a bit hazy, but I kinda remember Rooney rushing forward between 2 portuguese players, and then pushing back with his arms outspread on either side kinda pushing them back, and then the one guy fell and he tramped on his groin, it looked pretty bad imo.

[hj2k_x]

Do u think it would be possible to find a short clip of what happened?

My memory's a bit hazy, but I kinda remember Rooney rushing forward between 2 portuguese players, and then pushing back with his arms outspread on either side kinda pushing them back, and then the one guy fell and he tramped on his groin, it looked pretty bad imo.
Hmmm, not sure about getting a clip...

But yes, it basically went like that. Rooney tangled with two players, who were actually fouling him. It ended with him standing on the one players groin, but it did not look like a stamp to me, more like he was trying to stay on his feet and regain his balance.

Either way, the ref was NOT going to even BOOK Rooney for this 'stamp'. It was a direct red for the push, which is ridiculous.

[icyrus]

Do u think it would be possible to find a short clip of what happened?

My memory's a bit hazy, but I kinda remember Rooney rushing forward between 2 portuguese players, and then pushing back with his arms outspread on either side kinda pushing them back, and then the one guy fell and he tramped on his groin, it looked pretty bad imo.

At work at the moment so cant post a direct link but head over to http://www.youtube.com and search for "rooney portugal".

Seen the clip a couple of times and still don't believe it was deliberate.

[hj2k_x]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3cCsJRJII0&search=rooney%20portugal

[hj2k_x]

Good to see it again.

Clear foul on Rooney. Very debatable stamp. And as for the 'push" PLEASE!!

[Angelo]

Lets just say i dont agree with most of what u have to say here, Angelo, but that's nothing new i guess.
I put several points in my post, state which ones you don't agree with and give your reasons? Surely you are not just disagreeing because it's Angelo?

[hj2k_x]

I put several points in my post, state which ones you don't agree with and give your reasons? Surely you are not just disagreeing because it's Angelo?
No, no. I just didnt think that we wanted to get into another argument that gets us nowhere. But ok, gimme a sec...

[Angelo]

No, no. I just didnt think that we wanted to get into another argument that gets us nowhere. But ok, gimme a sec...
Debate shouldn't be mistaken for an argument, even arguments are enlightening.

[hj2k_x]

The inevitable has happened, England are finally out having offered very little this World Cup. For how long were they going to play ugly and win? Against top teams it's just not enough. This team is simply not good enough to even be in the Final game.
Playing 'ugly' footballis what you need to do sometimes to win games. African teams never play this kind of footy, but they rarely win either. I see some correlation there.


Typical of English fans, rather than condemn Rooney for his barbaric foul and immaturity they are looking for a scapegoat. Rooney's foul was just unacceptable, even in sports like Wrestling and Rugby. Anyway what did Rooney offer in the game before being sent off besides mis-kicking a Lennon pass and chasing people around aggresively?
Take a look at the link i just posted and you can see the whole incident. This was a foul on Rooney. England should have had a free kick and nothing else.

There was no stamp. Ronaldo should have been booked for trying to get an opponent sent off as FIFA said they wanted to crack down on this sort of thing.

Rooney was not going to be booked for the 'stamp' anyway. If you think that someone should be sent off for a push like that, then you really do not know much about footy.


The red card is being used as an excuse for a poor team because even with 11 men Portugal were dominant. If anything the red card gave England an excuse to be ultra-defensive and hope to sneak it through the back door that is penalties.

This is flawed on so many levels.
It was a pretty even game if you ask most people, even after the red card England created the best goal-scoring chances and could even have won it. To say that Portugal were dominant does not make me anfgry- it is simply wrong.

As for relying on penalties...Why would we do this if we are so very bad at taking them? After being reduced to ten men and having our best attacking player removed, we had little choice but to sit back, try to hold on and grab something on the break. Which we nearly did, on more than one occasion and certainly more than Portugal.


Favoritism is also the norm in the England team, why was one of England's best attacking players Joe Cole taken out while Lampard remained on the field just to make up the numbers? Why was a 17-year old kid taken to the tournament while seasoned strikers like Jermain Defoe remained behind.The less said about their penalty taking the better.

This i agree with! :) The tactics of the manager, if you can call them that, were laughable at best. Lampard was awful and Cole was having a blinder. Crouch should have come on for Lampard. Everyone else in the world could see this, why not Sven??


Maybe we'll have less hooliganism now that the English are going home and also the media circus surrounding this average team will be over. No more "football is coming home!" chants. Less hype and expectations about England's football team will do everybody concerned good.
Whatever. We still did not deserve to go out the way we did.


FIFA President Sepp Blatter must be a happy man after complaining last week that England were playing boring football despite being considered one of the favourites.

Boring football got us three wins and two draws. We leftthe WC without losing a game, and lost, only on penalties, due to an incorrect refereeing decision.

[mooK]

Clear foul on Rooney?!

Lets analyse the clip:

1. Rooney angles down and turns around with the ball, 2 porra players are at his side, now Rooney is just getting off the ground again and seems to push at the other players to get them away or generate some pace or whatever.

Note: Just having his arms spread out like that blocking them is a foul.

2. Rooney has his right arm on the one porra player's thigh and pulls it as he runs forward causing him to trip over it and both of them stagger and fall over.

3. Rooney remains on his feet and puts his weight on his right foot, then you can clearly see him push his left foot into the other dude's groin unnecessarily. You can tell that he's fully weighted on his right foot and really seems to go out of his way to put maximum force down on the guy's groin, also, the dude's groin wasn't directly below him, it was behind him, so it wouldn't be the best, or most natural place to ground his footing in any case.

Imo, Rooney lost his head, I mean everyone knows he's an immature agressive player.

EDIT: Do you even know what Ronaldo said to the ref? Thinking that the ref booked Rooney because of what Ronaldo said or Rooney pushing him, or the combination of the 2 alone, is a sad cop-out.

[Angelo]

Angelo, is it really necessary to quote his entire post if you're not even responding to the content thereof?
Sorry Mookie t'was a mistake, deleted, proper response coming up.........

[hj2k_x]

EDIT: Do you even know what Ronaldo said to the ref? Thinking that the ref booked Rooney because of what Ronaldo said or Rooney pushing him, or the combination of the 2 alone, is a sad cop-out.

What do you think he said? What did it look like to you? Come now man, be serious. Watch the clip again. The ref was not going to take ANY ACTION for the foul that led to the freekick. The red card was for the push!

[hj2k_x]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylMqeyMgsxs&mode=related&search=rooney%20portugal

Much better clip with stepbystep analysis of the clip in english.

[Angelo]

1.Playing 'ugly' footballis what you need to do sometimes to win games. African teams never play this kind of footy, but they rarely win either. I see some correlation there.

2.Take a look at the link i just posted and you can see the whole incident. This was a foul on Rooney. England should have had a free kick and nothing else.

3.There was no stamp. Ronaldo should have been booked for trying to get an opponent sent off as FIFA said they wanted to crack down on this sort of thing.

4.Rooney was not going to be booked for the 'stamp' anyway. If you think that someone should be sent off for a push like that, then you really do not know much about footy.


5.This is flawed on so many levels.
It was a pretty even game if you ask most people, even after the red card England created the best goal-scoring chances and could even have won it. To say that Portugal were dominant does not make me anfgry- it is simply wrong.

6.As for relying on penalties...Why would we do this if we are so very bad at taking them? After being reduced to ten men and having our best attacking player removed, we had little choice but to sit back, try to hold on and grab something on the break. Which we nearly did, on more than one occasion and certainly more than Portugal.



7.This i agree with! :) The tactics of the manager, if you can call them that, were laughable at best. Lampard was awful and Cole was having a blinder. Crouch should have come on for Lampard. Everyone else in the world could see this, why not Sven??


8.Whatever. We still did not deserve to go out the way we did.


9.Boring football got us three wins and two draws. We leftthe WC without losing a game, and lost, only on penalties, due to an incorrect refereeing decision.
Man, thanks for responding........

1. Like I said playing ugly and winning is a temporary thing and it showed with England, they bowed out against a team that's hardly World Class. And justifying England's performance by comparing them with African teams rather than say Germany or France really says a lot about the standards of the English national team. In world cup reviews I'm sure they are celebrating in Ghana but I don't know if it will be the same in England

2. Rooney's foul was cynical and you link just reaffirmed that, I'm sure FIFA will be looking at it the same way they did Italy's Rossi's. I foresee an extra punishment for the brat.

3. Again you are directing blame at the wrong direction.

4. Say, how many seconds should the referee take before punishing a foul? Rooney was sent off for trying to destroy somebody's manhood, his extra foolishness angered the ref more. Even if the ref had missed the stomp Rooney was going to be punished by FIFA and was going to be unavailble for the rest of the tournament anyway. (not to say England would have won even with him there)

5. The game I watched Portugal basically camped in England's half after the red card and it was a question of when were they going to score. Even as an English fan you must admit the viewing public is better off watching Portugal than England?

6. Penalties are know as a "lottery", teams which don't trust themselves on the field rather prefer them to playing. If you were not so keen on penalties and wanted to win it in normal play would you have subbed Joe Cole? England basically defended with everyone except for Crouch and if this isn't a ploy to get a draw then I don't know what is.

7. You must remember that even Assistant coach Mclaren has a lot of influence, maybe these tactics are a sign of things to come since he is now the new coach?

8. You deserved to go out in 90 minutes, penalties flattered you.

Edit: Rooney was a frustrated time bomb waiting to explode anytime.

[hj2k_x]

I will respond now now. Take a chance to look at the second clip i have linked and tell me that it was a red card ...

[Angelo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylMqeyMgsxs&mode=related&search=rooney%20portugal

Much better clip with stepbystep analysis of the clip in english.
English analysis nogal? :)

[Angelo]

I will respond now now. Take a chance to look at the second clip i have linked and tell me that it was a red card ...
Save yourself from supplying more clips analysis, or whatever.........there's really so much explanations one can do to justify what everybody saw on video, eyes don't lie.

[hj2k_x]

Save yourself from supplying more clips analysis, or whatever.........there's really so much explanations one can do to justify what everybody saw on video, eyes don't lie.
Just watch the clip.

[hj2k_x]

Man, thanks for responding........

1. Like I said playing ugly and winning is a temporary thing and it showed with England, they bowed out against a team that's hardly World Class. And justifying England's performance by comparing them with African teams rather than say Germany or France really says a lot about the standards of the English national team. In world cup reviews I'm sure they are celebrating in Ghana but I don't know if it will be the same in England

I was merely making the comparison for the sake of seeing how far these exciting teams actually got, paying the way that they did.



2. Rooney's foul was cynical and you link just reaffirmed that, I'm sure FIFA will be looking at it the same way they did Italy's Rossi's. I foresee an extra punishment for the brat.


That is highly unlikely IMO. The fact that there is so much debate about it seems to me that there is doubt. Which means it was not calculated or cynical, or even intentional, which is what i believe.

3. Again you are directing blame at the wrong direction.

Not sure what u mean here...


4. Say, how many seconds should the referee take before punishing a foul? Rooney was sent off for trying to destroy somebody's manhood, his extra foolishness angered the ref more. Even if the ref had missed the stomp Rooney was going to be punished by FIFA and was going to be unavailble for the rest of the tournament anyway. (not to say England would have won even with him there)
Watch and listen to the second clip. You are mistaken. Simple as that.



5. The game I watched Portugal basically camped in England's half after the red card and it was a question of when were they going to score. Even as an English fan you must admit the viewing public is better off watching Portugal than England?

And despite all this we created the best scoring opportunities over the 120 mins.


6. Penalties are know as a "lottery", teams which don't trust themselves on the field rather prefer them to playing. If you were not so keen on penalties and wanted to win it in normal play would you have subbed Joe Cole? England basically defended with everyone except for Crouch and if this isn't a ploy to get a draw then I don't know what is.

It doesnt make sense to me that we would want to go to penalties when we know we are so bad at them. The sending off dictated the way we had to play from then on.

7. You must remember that even Assistant coach Mclaren has a lot of influence, maybe these tactics are a sign of things to come since he is now the new coach? I certainly hope not. This is not how he ran thins so successfully at Middlesbro...


8. You deserved to go out in 90 minutes, penalties flattered you.
Clearly teams, and players dont always get what they deserved...

[icyrus]

Ok time for some logic: if Rooney really did stamp on his nuts intentionally I can assure you that carvalhio would not have played any further part in the match.

[hj2k_x]

Ok time for some logic: if Rooney really did stamp on his nuts intentionally I can assure you that carvalhio would not have played any further part in the match.
:D

[Angelo]

Ok time for some logic: if Rooney really did stamp on his nuts intentionally I can assure you that carvalhio would not have played any further part in the match.
Logic huh? I wild tackle will result in a red card, the tackle doesn't have to break a leg for the card to be justified. Ever heard of intent?

[hj2k_x]

Logic huh? I wild tackle will result in a red card, the tackle doesn't have to break a leg for the card to be justified. Ever heard of intent?
Have you watched that second clip yet, Angelo? You see that pre-match incident right at the end??

[dominic]

Ok time for some logic: if Rooney really did stamp on his nuts intentionally I can assure you that carvalhio would not have played any further part in the match.maybe he is Ricardhino Carvalho now?

[icyrus]

Logic huh? I wild tackle will result in a red card, the tackle doesn't have to break a leg for the card to be justified. Ever heard of intent?

I have indeed, but if Rooney intented to stamp on him he would have done so. He was in a prety good position to stamp on his nuts really. Are you saying he intended to stamp on him but missed?

[Highflyer_GP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylMqeyMgsxs&mode=related&search=rooney%20portugal

Much better clip with stepbystep analysis of the clip in english.
That clip has some very biased and irritating English people analyzing it, I had to turn off the sound to watch it again. From what I can make of it, Rooney was weighted on his right leg, he could have landed his left leg anywhere but chose the guys balls. You can actually see him stamping his foot in it and rubbing it in a bit. Not to mention stretching out his hands before the incident and holding two players back which is a foul in itself.

Now comes the whole commotion that followed after that. All the players gather around the ref to appeal for a card for the nuts incident, that's what opposing players would do. It's up to the ref to take into consideration whether their appeal is valid or not. Who knows, the ref may well have only given him a yellow for the original foul, but then the push in front of the ref would translate into a 2nd yellow which is a red.

Whatever way you look at it, it's in the past now, no point in still crying about it. Australia went out to the cheaters Italy, they're not still moaning about it.

[mooK]

Alan Shearer was commentating on that clip, and he's like Rooney's mentor so obviously he's gonna be on his side. Damn, what an annoying and biased commentary, at first I thought it was a few English chavs commentating on it...

"Oi, now we don't never be doing anything like that! Watch how they run around the ref trying to tell him there being a foul, now that just ain't be very gentlemanly and sportsmanlike now, in'nit? Us English fellas are above all dat. Rooney was just being TENACIOUS, IN'NIT?!?"

[icyrus]

Not to mention stretching out his hands before the incident and holding two players back which is a foul in itself.

Haven't watched the clip again but holding players off when in control of the ball is not always a foul, as seen often near the end of the game when players hold the ball up in the corner.


Whatever way you look at it, it's in the past now, no point in still crying about it. Australia went out to the cheaters Italy, they're not still moaning about it.

Obviously you don't know any Aussies :D

[icyrus]

Alan Shearer was commentating on that clip, and he's like Rooney's mentor

Just wondering where you came up with that?

[mooK]

icyrus, he was extending his arms to their fullest degree holding them back, watch the clip.

EDIT: Icyrus, I've seen an interview with Rooney, he said Shearer was like his hero and inspiration,etc.

[hj2k_x]

You guys are missing the point : If Ronaldo hadnt run up to the ref, nothing would have happened.

Rooney was sent off for the 'push' and nothing else.

Whatever, it is indeed over now. Just sad to see a team go out to cheating again.

[mooK]

If Ronaldo hadnt run up to the ref, nothing would have happened.

Dude, you're leaping to that conclusion, and that's basically what this debate is about. So if you agree that you're just speculating based on the ref's body language, we can all come to an agreement I think.

Let me just say this... Ronaldo is smarter than Rooney! Ronaldo ownz0red him! muahaha! Snap!

[hj2k_x]

Ok, Call it specualtion if u will, so that we can all agree :)

[Highflyer_GP]

Haven't watched the clip again but holding players off when in control of the ball is not always a foul, as seen often near the end of the game when players hold the ball up in the corner.

This obviously wasn't just trying to protect ball possession, he's practically holding onto the two guys in an effort to either get up, or hold his balance, or deliberately foul them. Either way it's a foul.

[Highflyer_GP]

You guys are missing the point : If Ronaldo hadnt run up to the ref, nothing would have happened.

Rooney was sent off for the 'push' and nothing else.

Whatever, it is indeed over now. Just sad to see a team go out to cheating again.
Don't blame Ronaldo for appealing, any opponent would appeal. England appeal to the refs all the time. Blame Rooney for reacting like a dumbass chav and pushing the guy. Rooney was provoked, but instead of walking away and apologising to the guy for tramping his balls (accidental or not), he chose to show his true breed. Stop looking for scapegoats!

Cheating? The outcome of the match was NOT determined by any particular incident (as with the Italy vs. Aus game). It was determined by England's inability to take a penalty. And as far as I can remember, there was no deliberate dive which led to a goal or whatever. It was a player appealing to a ref (would you call that cheating? If so then every game England plays from now on where they appeal to refs, they too should be labelled cheaters.), and then another player who can't control his temper because of the chav that he is.

[mooK]

Fcking peasant chav scum earning over R1million a week!

[hj2k_x]

Rooney was sent off for the 'push' and nothing else.



Sick to death of saying this.

[Highflyer_GP]

Then stop saying it when it's so obviously flawed! He wouldnt have been sent off if he had any common sense! Bottom line: blame him for letting you guys down

[mooK]

So stop saying it, it's bull**** anyway.

[hj2k_x]

What are you guys on? What do you think he was sent off for then?

[mooK]

A combination of it all, the push was just the final nail in the coffin. I think the major foul was the foot in the groin tho, you can tell how frustrated Rooney was at that point, and when he gets frustrated he gets pissed off and goes chavsane.

[hj2k_x]

A combination of it all, the push was just the final nail in the coffin. I think the major foul was the foot in the groin tho, you can tell how frustrated Rooney was at that point, and when he gets frustrated he gets pissed off and goes chavsane.
Ok, then we need not take this any further cos i will never agree to that.

[Highflyer_GP]

Who gives a flying stuff what he was carded for? We all know it's for the push. We all know it was a bit harsh. But then to label the opposition cheaters because of something that's your teams fault, or because your team lost - that's acting like a sore loser.

English fans: England lost because Portugal cheated by appealing to the ref which provoked Rooney to push and get red-carded. We didn't lose because of our **** ability to take a simple penalty.

Everybody else: Rooney should have apologised for the stamping incident, walked away and let Portugal appeal all they wanted to the ref. It would have saved him from being carded and stopped all the English from the continuous bitching and crying.

Do you have any idea how retarded the English argument sounds?

[hj2k_x]

We all know it's for the push. We all know it was a bit harsh.
Thank you.

The defence rests.

[mooK]

Of course you can't, you're English and seem to be unable to be objective. There's no way in hell you could possibly lay the blame on Ronaldo and try to act like Rooney is innocent in this case.

I've got a pretty good idea what you'd be saying if the whole thing had Ronaldo and Rooney interchanged, and Ronaldo had stepped on the dude's groin and been sent off.

[derekc]

Rooney didnt deserve a red card but it's debatable.

both teams deserved to win but portugal won at the end of the day.

Thing is the portuguese are babies. They moan about everything and slightest touch on them they fall down like they've run into a bulldozer. drama queens they are.

[mooK]

They're all babies.

[hj2k_x]

Of course you can't, you're English and seem to be unable to be objective. There's no way in hell you could possibly lay the blame on Ronaldo and try to act like Rooney is innocent in this case.

I've got a pretty good idea what you'd be saying if the whole thing had Ronaldo and Rooney interchanged, and Ronaldo had stepped on the dude's groin and been sent off.
I am being objective. You guys are getting all bent out of shape. Get over yourselves.

[Highflyer_GP]

Get over yourselves.
Would be nice if you could take your own advice :)

[hj2k_x]

I dont known why we are still talking about this - it is clear that we will never really agree.

[mooK]

I wonder if we can get this thread locked if we carry on like this, we can show the other guys on the forum that not even politics can get as ugly as football rivalry.

[Highflyer_GP]

haha count me in mooK. I wonder how many times I can call an englishman a chav before it gets locked.

[hj2k_x]

LOL, who do u guys support just out of interest??

[mooK]

I support the underdog, put 5 quid on Portugal winning the WC. What the hell, I'm going there in 2 weeks.

[hj2k_x]

I support the underdog, put 5 quid on Portugal winning the WC. What the hell, I'm going there in 2 weeks.
So you do not have a Nationality? :p

[Highflyer_GP]

Germany and Spain, but I still like to be neutral. If Germany and Spain plays crap then they deserve to lose. No making excuses and putting the blame elsewhere. I know mooK will probably support the team with the highest odds :D

[mooK]

I'm a citizen of the world, I don't believe in national pride as such, it's a thing of the past. Just a bit of sentiment, that's all.

[hj2k_x]

I'm a citizen of the world, I don't believe in national pride as such, it's a thing of the past. Just a bit of sentiment, that's all.
I see. Well that could explain a lot.

[hj2k_x]

Germany and Spain, but I still like to be neutral. If Germany and Spain plays crap then they deserve to lose. No making excuses and putting the blame elsewhere. I know mooK will probably support the team with the highest odds :D
Its easy to be neutral. You dont take sides, so 'your team' never loses but you still get to tune people when their team does not do well. I know it well. :p

[mooK]

How's that? I just support whoever I feel deserves it, even sometimes when SA's playing. I prefer seeing a good game than just seeing "my team" win, all that matters is my personal entertainment. To hell with everyone else.

[hj2k_x]

How's that? I just support whoever I feel deserves it, even sometimes when SA's playing.
Are you from here?

[Highflyer_GP]

Its easy to be neutral. You dont take sides, so 'your team' never loses but you still get to tune people when their team does not do well. I know it well. :p
Exactly ;) But I'm a big fan of the Bundesliga so yeah I'd probably say Germany. And their records at WC's are superb.

[mooK]

Are you from here?

I'm South African, yeah.

[derekc]

was an England supporter...now prob have to go with Germany and Italy..they are the teams I hate the least.

[hj2k_x]

Exactly ;) But I'm a big fan of the Bundesliga so yeah I'd probably say Germany. And their records at WC's are superb.
Trust me, i went to the German School for 8 years. All my mates and gf are german, i speak it fluently. You dont have to tell me how good they are :(

[hj2k_x]

was an England supporter...now prob have to go with Germany and Italy..they are the teams I hate the least.
Where you from? Here as well?

[derekc]

Yeah, South African...

All the teams I like have been eliminated...wanted argentina to win. They had a good team and they don't cry or moan as much as the porras.

[hj2k_x]

I guess it is tough to pick sides if South Africa are not in it. You think Bafana will have any chance at 2010, assuming we still get to host it? :(

[mooK]

A chance at 2010? What exactly are you referring to? Round 2?

[Highflyer_GP]

Bafana still needs 20 years of training before they can make it to the 2nd round

[hj2k_x]

A chance at 2010? What exactly are you referring to? Round 2?
I was thinking more along the lines of not being as embarrassing as they were in the Cup of Nations...:(

[Angelo]

I was thinking more along the lines of not being as embarrassing as they were in the Cup of Nations...:(
If the head honchos can get a proper coach and allow him to select his own players and play his own tactics then possibly yes.

It pains me to see our national team humiliated and singing the praises of players like Ronaldinho, Zidane etc wheras we have players just as talented if not better.:(

[mooK]

So all we need is a good coach and we can win the world cup?

[hj2k_x]

So all we need is a good coach and we can win the world cup?
Well it would be a good start :)

[lewstherin]

About the Rooney thing.
I don't really care much for either team, but I do think Rooney has a lot to learn about WC soccer.
He needs to realise that players like Ronaldo exist and that aggroing is all part of their game (hell its a big part of his own game!). Whether or not he fouled on purpose, or was getting fouled, he found himself in that situation with Ronaldo in his face. Instead of keeping his hands to himself and backing out, he chose to take it further and paid the price.
When he can get his temper under control, he'll be a better player for it.

[derekc]

Rooney has a lot to learn abt soccer. Not just WC.

As for SA doing well...hmm..hope we don't lose our first game. That's all. Cant remember the last time the host has lost their first game. Maybe in USA94

[Highflyer_GP]

He needs to realise that players like Ronaldo exist and that aggroing is all part of their game (hell its a big part of his own game!). Whether or not he fouled on purpose, or was getting fouled, he found himself in that situation with Ronaldo in his face. Instead of keeping his hands to himself and backing out, he chose to take it further and paid the price.
When he can get his temper under control, he'll be a better player for it.
That's my point, but then again once a chav always a chav...

[Angelo]

So all we need is a good coach and we can win the world cup?
Not just a good coach, but a coach that would be given a enough powers.

But for the long term we need to reform SAFA, it's full of people who are destroying our football.

[ignacio]

Not just a good coach, but a coach that would be given a enough powers.

But for the long term we need to reform SAFA, it's full of people who are destroying our football.Not just a coach - but dedicated and passionate players... ones who actually feel like they are playing for the country and not themselves. Who will do the hard work. Who will show up to practice and WELCOME and learn from the instructions of a good coach. The first thing is to humble themselves enough to realise they know nothing about soccer - the occasional fancy piece of footwork doesn't make you a succesful soccer team. Why are we world class in sports that only a small portion of the country play (cricket and rugby)? Maybe resources for a large part... but also lot of passion, dedication and hard work by the players - even patriotism. All of which are sorely lacking in bafana bafana.

[stepper]

Not just a coach - but dedicated and passionate players... ones who actually feel like they are playing for the country and not themselves. Who will do the hard work. Who will show up to practice and WELCOME and learn from the instructions of a good coach. The first thing is to humble themselves enough to realise they know nothing about soccer - the occasional fancy piece of footwork doesn't make you a succesful soccer team. Why are we world class in sports that only a small portion of the country play (cricket and rugby)? Maybe resources for a large part... but also lot of passion, dedication and hard work by the players - even patriotism. All of which are sorely lacking in bafana bafana.
I like this post!
About rugby and cricket: Players get what they are promised, its not a question of passion bar Quinton Fortune and few others but ADMINISTRATION as Angelo has said.

[hj2k_x]

About the Rooney thing.
I don't really care much for either team, but I do think Rooney has a lot to learn about WC soccer.
He needs to realise that players like Ronaldo exist and that aggroing is all part of their game (hell its a big part of his own game!). Whether or not he fouled on purpose, or was getting fouled, he found himself in that situation with Ronaldo in his face. Instead of keeping his hands to himself and backing out, he chose to take it further and paid the price.
When he can get his temper under control, he'll be a better player for it.
A last word on the subject from me :
From the Sun:

Furious Wayne Rooney has threatened to “split Cristiano Ronaldo in two” when they next meet. The England striker says the slippery Portuguese winker got him sent off in Saturday’s World Cup clash.

Troubled Rooney, 20, blew his top and branded Man United team-mate Ronaldo, 21, a “pretty boy” in talks with pals. The looming showdown is a major crisis for Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney’s blast at Ronaldo was revealed by a top FA source. The insider said:

"At breakfast in the hotel this morning, Wayne said he would split him in two and smack him in the head. Who can blame him?

"He is determined to settle the score in his own way and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

"Wayne is sure Ronaldo set out to get him sent off — and yet he believed the banter at the beginning of the game was just that. He is now sickened that a team-mate set out to destroy him.

"Wayne knows Fergie will try to convince him to make peace with Ronaldo for the good of United but that won’t wash with him."

I'd love to see him 'split in half' :D

[mooK]

Ronaldo's the puppet master.

Anyway, Rooney's just emphasizing his childishness here, it was his mistake, his weakness, his problem. It's not Ronaldo's fault that Roony's an anti-social chav peasant.

[bb_matt]

Erm - wake up call !

This was reported by The Sun - if you believe what you read in that rag, well ...

BTW, the "fallout" has been really meek over here, thank G0d - people are just getting on with life, more interested in the heatwave and their summer hols than England out of the World Cup.

Of course, stupid rags like The Sun will try to get more Scoops out of it, but most people aren't paying attention - I think we all secretly knew in our hearts we wouldn't make it to the final four :D

[hj2k_x]

Erm - wake up call !

This was reported by The Sun - if you believe what you read in that rag, well ...

BTW, the "fallout" has been really meek over here, thank G0d - people are just getting on with life, more interested in the heatwave and their summer hols than England out of the World Cup.

Of course, stupid rags like The Sun will try to get more Scoops out of it, but most people aren't paying attention - I think we all secretly knew in our hearts we wouldn't make it to the final four :D

Getting all too familiar is it? :(

If we had got to the semis like we shouldve then we were in with a shout... Oh well.

[Highflyer_GP]

If we had got to the semis like we shouldve then we were in with a shout... Oh well.
Eish dude don't go down this road again

[Angelo]

Getting all too familiar is it? :(

If we had got to the semis like we shouldve then we were in with a shout... Oh well.
You didn't deserve to go to the semis, you wouldn't even have made the second round if it wasn't for the easy Trinidad and Tobago group.

[hj2k_x]

But Argentinian ref Elizondo has confirmed the fiery Rooney was dismissed for the original foul.

He told The Times: 'It was violent play and therefore he got a red card.

'People can say what they want (about Ronaldo) but this had absolutely no influence.

'In general I don't pay much attention to that sort of thing because I don't care about the pressure on my shoulders during a match.

'For me it was a clear red card, so I didn't react to the Portuguese players. There was pushing and shoving on both sides but for me it wasn't a reason to caution anybody.'

Still not what it looked like to me, but i guess the ref did say it himself.

[Angelo]

"Like a mug punter at an Essex car lot, I bought into the idea that this England team was the best in a generation before the tournament began.

But as it stuttered and choked its way through the group stages, bits falling off at every turn, it became clear that I'd been sold a Ford Mondeo tarted up to look like a Ferrari."

- Ben Dirs, BBC Sport

Now here's an honest Englishman. :D

[PCW]

"Like a mug punter at an Essex car lot, I bought into the idea that this England team was the best in a generation before the tournament began.

But as it stuttered and choked its way through the group stages, bits falling off at every turn, it became clear that I'd been sold a Ford Mondeo tarted up to look like a Ferrari."

- Ben Dirs, BBC Sport

Now here's an honest Englishman. :D

Regretably for England it was their Golden Generation. The midfield quartet was arguably the best at the WC. Then a Swedish guy stuffed up the tactics.

It won't improve. McLaren , the replacement for Sven , is utterly useless.

[Angelo]

Regretably for England it was their Golden Generation. The midfield quartet was arguably the best at the WC. Then a Swedish guy stuffed up the tactics.

It won't improve. McLaren , the replacement for Sven , is utterly useless.
And he was very instrumental in the decisions that were made in the English bench, a sign of things to come.

I'm not sure celebrities Lampard, Beckham, Rooney and co would have played any better if the tactics were "right" as you claim.

[Angelo]

The English are pathetic hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

1. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-the_sun.jpg
2. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-prayingformercy.jpg
3. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-making-it-up(1).jpg
4. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-gun.jpg

:D

to Hj2k: wanna add one of your own?

[PCW]

Sven had never ever played 4-5-1. Then he does it in the World Cup with Rooney up front alone. Even a two year old knows Rooney cannot play with his back to goal. The warnign signs were there against lowly Ecuador and he repeats his tactics against Big Phil. How Phil must have laughed when he saw the team sheet.

McLaren is a disaster. Many times it seemed as he was the coach already looking at him talking to Sven on the bench.

[hj2k_x]

The English are pathetic hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

1. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-the_sun.jpg
2. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-prayingformercy.jpg
3. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-making-it-up(1).jpg
4. http://www.ihateronaldo.com/images/ronaldo-gun.jpg

:D

to Hj2k: wanna add one of your own?
Yes, well that is all a bit pathetic really. Typical of the silly tabloids like the Sun though.

[Angelo]

Yes, well that is all a bit pathetic really. Typical of the silly tabloids like the Sun though.
What you need is a fiery Scotsman coach who won't tolerate massaging the egos of Lampard, Beckham and Rooney.

[hj2k_x]

What you need is a fiery Scotsman coach who won't tolerate massaging the egos of Lampard, Beckham and Rooney.
Agree with u there man!

Still, i will give McClaren a chance before i go lambasting him...Hope the press do as well. Euro2008 is a while off yet...

[hj2k_x]

FIFA President Sepp Blatter must be a happy man after complaining last week that England were playing boring football despite being considered one of the favourites.

And what a man he is! :
http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,7983_1316033,00.html

[Angelo]

And what a man he is! :
http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,7983_1316033,00.html
Please don't tell me you are dragging Blatter into Rooney's petulance?

[ignacio]

Please don't tell me you are dragging Blatter into Rooney's petulance?You just can't convince some people that England was mediocre at best and in no way deserving of a semi-final spot.

[hj2k_x]

Please don't tell me you are dragging Blatter into Rooney's petulance?
No, this is about Blatter.

[hj2k_x]

You just can't convince some people that England was mediocre at best and in no way deserving of a semi-final spot.
LOL! I wasnt dragging anyone into anything...

[hj2k_x]

Rooney handed two match ban for stamp.

http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,8501_1322971,00.html

Harsh if you ask me.

[feo]

I don't like England...half the people say the stamp was deliberate and the other half say not but in my opinion he deserves it..
And those fines don't do anything to stop that kind of play in the future...footballers are stinking rich and a 10000swiss franc fine isn't going to even put a dent in their pockets.

[hj2k_x]

I am in the half that say it wasnt ;)

[hj2k_x]

England striker Wayne Rooney insists his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho during the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal was not deliberate.


Rooney, 20, was dismissed after the challenge on the Chelsea centre-back and a subsequent confrontation with Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

England held on to a goalless draw against Portugal but went on to lose on penalties.

In his book serialised in the Mail on Sunday, Rooney said: 'In being forced back, I had trod on the player on the ground.

'It turned out to be Carvalho. And I was aware that my foot had landed between his legs, which, of course, is about the nastiest place to get hurt, but it was an accident.

'I couldn't believe that the ref, who was so near, hadn't realised that. Perhaps he was too near.'

Rooney added: 'I'll go to my grave and still maintain it was a complete accident. I hadn't intended to do it. I had my back to the player. I couldn't see him, or where I was putting my foot.

'If you think about it, if I'd done it deliberately, if it had been a definite stamp meant to harm him, the fella would still be in hospital to this day. But he was up on his feet in minutes, no worse for wear.'






:) And i believe him

[Jongi]

Ther's a chance it wasn't. His rep precedes him though.