All things Football (soccer) related

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Italy 2-1 Austria

The Austrians pushed the Italians to the end. This result perhaps says more about Italy than anything from the group stage.

They didn't play well in the second half but rode their luck a little and dug in to grind out the result. They have a lot of quality options on the bench too.

Yes, Italy are contenders for Euro 2020.

Unlucky Austria though.

Hmmm...

I don't know much more about the Italians than I did after the first game they played. Decent team. Getatable. Still don't know if they are semi-final candidates although I am sure they will try. It's a breath of fresh air to see a Italian team go into games with a positive mental attitude. I wish them well.

Austria won a lot of friends last night. Overall, they are going home with their heads held high. And that's a good thing.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Games today in the last sixteen....

Netherland's Stamppot take on Czech Republic's Vepro-knedlo-zelo
Belgium's Moules-Frites versus Portugal's Bacalhau

A feast! The Netherlands game should be interesting and I want to more from both the Dutch and the Czechs. Belgium v Portugal is probably pick of the day... a tussle between two teams that have gone to seed a little bit. So, predilections are invited or predictions if you must.

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Games today in the last sixteen....

Netherland's Stamppot take on Czech Republic's Vepro-knedlo-zelo
Belgium's Moules-Frites versus Portugal's Bacalhau

A feast! The Netherlands game should be interesting and I want to more from both the Dutch and the Czechs. Belgium v Portugal is probably pick of the day... a tussle between two teams that have gone to seed a little bit. So, predilections are invited or predictions if you must.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Well, I have a predilection for the Dutch - thanks to Holland 1974 and 1978, don't mind the Czechs, while I used to like Belgium (unlucky in 1986) and Portugal (1966, Britain's oldest ally, Red and Green, and all that) but dislike both football nations now...

But predictions?

The Dutch are probably favourites, but I don't think the Czechs are pushovers and the Dutch do have de Boer in charge [X(].

This is a difficult one to call, and frankly I have more concerns that the game will even be finished let alone thinking about the score. I'll say no more on that as it will stray into politics, so assuming the match does complete, I am just leaning toward a Dutch victory.

Belgium vs Portugal should be tasty - so will probably be a drab affair [8|].

Both teams have quality in attack, but are suspect in defence. The two Belgian central defenders have a combined age of 115. So I will predict both teams will attack and we will have a 3-2. Who to? I am going to go with Belgium I think.... but as I'm writing this I'm thinking that the Ronaldo story probably has more to go.....

Ahhhh I don't know....Belgium.. no Portugal...er Belgium...no, Portugal....

Let's go with Belgium.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Games today in the last sixteen....

Netherland's Stamppot take on Czech Republic's Vepro-knedlo-zelo
Belgium's Moules-Frites versus Portugal's Bacalhau

A feast! The Netherlands game should be interesting and I want to more from both the Dutch and the Czechs. Belgium v Portugal is probably pick of the day... a tussle between two teams that have gone to seed a little bit. So, predilections are invited or predictions if you must.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Well, I have a predilection for the Dutch - thanks to Holland 1974 and 1978...

Like you, I had soft spot for the Dutch from 74 and 78 teams. They lost that good will in the 2010 World Cup Final though. One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery that I do not forgive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPX4EDY4hw

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Games today in the last sixteen....

Netherland's Stamppot take on Czech Republic's Vepro-knedlo-zelo
Belgium's Moules-Frites versus Portugal's Bacalhau

A feast! The Netherlands game should be interesting and I want to more from both the Dutch and the Czechs. Belgium v Portugal is probably pick of the day... a tussle between two teams that have gone to seed a little bit. So, predilections are invited or predictions if you must.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Well, I have a predilection for the Dutch - thanks to Holland 1974 and 1978...

... One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery...

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Tres, tres true. But I am not sure there are any players left from then and certainly not the coach who decided that assaulting the Spanish was the way to go.

So I understand your view, but that horror show from 11 years ago can't, for me at least, negate, Neeskens, Rep, Krol, Cruyff etc.

I was only 9 but remember the Dutch beating the Brazilians 2-0 so clearly even after all these years. Wonderful memories.

[warspite1]

....and then the flippin' Germans went and spoiled it - just like with Hungary in 1954.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

warspite1

Well, I have a predilection for the Dutch - thanks to Holland 1974 and 1978...

... One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery...

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Tres, tres true. But I am not sure there are any players left from then and certainly not the coach who decided that assaulting the Spanish was the way to go.

So I understand your view, but that horror show from 11 years ago can't, for me at least, negate, Neeskens, Rep, Krol, Cruyff etc.

I was only 9 but remember the Dutch beating the Brazilians 2-0 so clearly even after all these years. Wonderful memories.

Frank de Boer was assistant Dutch coach at the 2010 World Cup.

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick


... One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery...

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Tres, tres true. But I am not sure there are any players left from then and certainly not the coach who decided that assaulting the Spanish was the way to go.

So I understand your view, but that horror show from 11 years ago can't, for me at least, negate, Neeskens, Rep, Krol, Cruyff etc.

I was only 9 but remember the Dutch beating the Brazilians 2-0 so clearly even after all these years. Wonderful memories.

Frank de Boer was assistant Dutch coach at the 2010 World Cup.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Fair enough - but as assistant I doubt it was his plan. But either way, and even if he was it doesn't trump my memories of 74 and 78 so I'll typically root for the Dutch. But that is just my personal view.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: warspite1

warspite1

Tres, tres true. But I am not sure there are any players left from then and certainly not the coach who decided that assaulting the Spanish was the way to go.

So I understand your view, but that horror show from 11 years ago can't, for me at least, negate, Neeskens, Rep, Krol, Cruyff etc.

I was only 9 but remember the Dutch beating the Brazilians 2-0 so clearly even after all these years. Wonderful memories.

Frank de Boer was assistant Dutch coach at the 2010 World Cup.

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

Fair enough - but as assistant I doubt it was his plan. But either way, and even if he was it doesn't trump my memories of 74 and 78 so I'll typically root for the Dutch. But that is just my personal view.

Yes, I am not trying to change your mind merely to explain why I am ambivalent towards the Dutch. Karma came for the Dutch in the embarrassment at the Euro 2012 tournament. They got absolutely slaughtered by the press at home. Sentence served as far as I am concerned. They just no longer hold a soft spot in my heart.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

Re: Italy - Austria, extra time means extra time for customers in the restaurant and extra alcohol/other orders (two dudes even ordered two new whole pizzas). So, extra time is good for business [:D]

I barely followed the match. From what I saw, Austria second biggest merit was to be able to play like Italy, passing often and trying to keep control of the ball. There was a symmetry between the two teams, which resulted in very few scoring opportunities.

Italy reminded me of the standard German squad in ASL: they never break, but when they do break they are difficult to rally. The team smashed right against Austria biggest merit: stamina. Everybody was sure that Austria couldn't sustain Italy's usual tempo. When they did, Italy almost panicked.

Austra was robbed twice by sheer misfortune. I'm glad that VAR now exists, but Austria was denied both a goal and a penalty by a question of centimeters, not by the ability of the Italian defenders.

Extra time was very tense. People started to relax after Italy's second goal. Big mistake. Austria struggled until the very end, scoring a deserved goal and leading to a frenzied finale.

Austria was quite better than expected while Italy underperformed. I feel that 2-1 for Italy reflects the overall performances, but had luck fallen the other way in a couple of moments we would have Austria facing either Portugal or Belgium.

I hope that this will be a good scare for Italy. Less complacency and more hard work.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

Re: Italy - Austria, extra time means extra time for customers in the restaurant and extra alcohol/other orders (two dudes even ordered two new whole pizzas). So, extra time is good for business [:D]

I barely followed the match. From what I saw, Austria second biggest merit was to be able to play like Italy, passing often and trying to keep control of the ball. There was a symmetry between the two teams, which resulted in very few scoring opportunities.

Italy reminded me of the standard German squad in ASL: they never break, but when they do break they are difficult to rally. The team smashed right against Austria biggest merit: stamina. Everybody was sure that Austria couldn't sustain Italy's usual tempo. When they did, Italy almost panicked.

Austra was robbed twice by sheer misfortune. I'm glad that VAR now exists, but Austria was denied both a goal and a penalty by a question of centimeters, not by the ability of the Italian defenders.

Extra time was very tense. People started to relax after Italy's second goal. Big mistake. Austria struggled until the very end, scoring a deserved goal and leading to a frenzied finale.

Austria was quite better than expected while Italy underperformed. I feel that 2-1 for Italy reflects the overall performances, but had luck fallen the other way in a couple of moments we would have Austria facing either Portugal or Belgium.

I hope that this will be a good scare for Italy. Less complacency and more hard work.

For your sake, I hope that Italy keeps playing nail biters with lots of extra time!

[Orm]

A well deserved win for the Czech Republic. That is, of course, in my humble opinion.

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Like you, I had soft spot for the Dutch from 74 and 78 teams. They lost that good will in the 2010 World Cup Final though. One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery that I do not forgive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPX4EDY4hw

Nothing, however, will ever match "The Battle of Santiago" between Italy and Chile, with expelled players having to be pulled of the pitch by the Police (!), liberal use of kung-fu kicks, broken noses, further interventions by the Police (!!) and general violence for 90 uninterrupted minutes. It was so brutal than the referee, Ken Aston, ended up inventing the red and yellow cards. Think about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... World_Cup)

The introduction to the match by BBC's David Coleman remains legendary. [:D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jVMSlpZhg

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Like you, I had soft spot for the Dutch from 74 and 78 teams. They lost that good will in the 2010 World Cup Final though. One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery that I do not forgive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPX4EDY4hw

Nothing, however, will ever match "The Battle of Santiago" between Italy and Chile, with expelled players having to be pulled of the pitch by the Police (!), liberal use of kung-fu kicks, broken noses, further interventions by the Police (!!) and general violence for 90 uninterrupted minutes. It was so brutal than the referee, Ken Aston, ended up inventing the red and yellow cards. Think about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... World_Cup)

The introduction to the match by BBC's David Coleman remains legendary. [:D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jVMSlpZhg

Those clips remind me of hockey in the USA and Canada.

[TulliusDetritus]

I stick to what I said, either France or England will be bagging this thing. Belgium made it: their golden generation is dying (their last chance to deliver?), I'd like to see them lifting the title. Talent deserves a reward.

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

I stick to what I said, either France or England will be bagging this thing. Belgium made it: their golden generation is dying (their last chance to deliver?)

What about the World Cup right next year?

We lost track of time a bit, but COVID compressed the timing between a lot of sport events.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Like you, I had soft spot for the Dutch from 74 and 78 teams. They lost that good will in the 2010 World Cup Final though. One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery that I do not forgive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPX4EDY4hw

Nothing, however, will ever match "The Battle of Santiago" between Italy and Chile, with expelled players having to be pulled of the pitch by the Police (!), liberal use of kung-fu kicks, broken noses, further interventions by the Police (!!) and general violence for 90 uninterrupted minutes. It was so brutal than the referee, Ken Aston, ended up inventing the red and yellow cards. Think about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... World_Cup)

The introduction to the match by BBC's David Coleman remains legendary. [:D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jVMSlpZhg

Yep. But, let's face it... that game was bloody hilarious. [:)]

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

So... the Czech's go through 2-0 against Netherlands to meet Denmark in the quarter finals and Belgium see off Portugal 1-0 to go through to meet Italy.

The Czechs made their advantage count after de Ligt's red card but overall worthy quarter finalists. Looking forward to the Denmark game. The Belgians rode their luck a bit and Lukaku was quiet and injuries to de Bruyne and Eden Hazard might be significant if they miss the Italy game. Portugal huffed and puffed but failed, in the end, to blow the Belgian house down. A very nice strike by Thorgan Hazard was the only goal of the game.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Like you, I had soft spot for the Dutch from 74 and 78 teams. They lost that good will in the 2010 World Cup Final though. One of the disgraceful displays of thuggery that I do not forgive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPX4EDY4hw

Nothing, however, will ever match "The Battle of Santiago" between Italy and Chile, with expelled players having to be pulled of the pitch by the Police (!), liberal use of kung-fu kicks, broken noses, further interventions by the Police (!!) and general violence for 90 uninterrupted minutes. It was so brutal than the referee, Ken Aston, ended up inventing the red and yellow cards. Think about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... World_Cup)

The introduction to the match by BBC's David Coleman remains legendary. [:D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jVMSlpZhg

Yep. But, let's face it... that game was bloody hilarious. [:)]

I wonder if our British friends remember "The Battle of Highbury", in 1934, when the then World Champion Italy came to England to challenge the locals (who didn't play at the World Cup because they were "above such things"). It was a manhunt from both parts disguised as a soccer match, with players valiantly staying in the pitch even with cerebral concussions and broken bones (there were no substitutions at the time: everytime a player had to go out the team lost a member).

At the end England won 3-2 and everybody was happy. England for winning and Italy for getting a good result (and almost drawing) in "hostile territory".

It is remembered as maybe the only time that the newspaper published "war bulletins" listing the endless casualties (basically everybody) and the kind of injury they got.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITlcbqGgag

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

ORIGINAL: shunwick

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69




Nothing, however, will ever match "The Battle of Santiago" between Italy and Chile, with expelled players having to be pulled of the pitch by the Police (!), liberal use of kung-fu kicks, broken noses, further interventions by the Police (!!) and general violence for 90 uninterrupted minutes. It was so brutal than the referee, Ken Aston, ended up inventing the red and yellow cards. Think about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... World_Cup)

The introduction to the match by BBC's David Coleman remains legendary. [:D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jVMSlpZhg

Yep. But, let's face it... that game was bloody hilarious. [:)]

I wonder if our British friends remember "The Battle of Highbury", in 1934, when the then World Champion Italy came to England to challenge the locals (who didn't play at the World Cup because they were "above such things"). It was a manhunt from both parts disguised as a soccer match, with players valiantly staying in the pitch even with cerebral concussions and broken bones (there were no substitutions at the time: everytime a player had to go out the team lost a member).

At the end England won 3-2 and everybody was happy. England for winning and Italy for getting a good result (and almost drawing) in "hostile territory".

It is remembered as maybe the only time that the newspaper published "war bulletins" listing the endless casualties (basically everybody) and the kind of injury they got.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITlcbqGgag

Yep. The Battle of Highbury 1934 was a bloodbath. It is generally regarded as the most violent match ever although I am fairly sure it's possible to find a game somewhere in the world or from any era that make even that look like a Sunday picnic.

"...didn't play at the World Cup because they were "above such things..."

The English FA (or rather the "British FA" since it was an agreement of the FA's of all the home nations) resigned from FIFA in 1928 because of a dispute involving payment to amateur players. England didn't play in the 1930, 1934, and 1938 World Cups because they were not, at that time, members of FIFA.

Best wishes,
Steve