All things Football (soccer) related

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Now that we have established that Australia and Qatar are not in North/Central America...

Best wishes,
Steve

warspite1

That is so typical of you shunwick. How very dare you assume Australia's geographic position vis a vis the imperialist notion of what is or isn't a continent.

If Australia wants to be South American then that is their right.

Imperialist notion? Is that some SJW indoctrination or have you been hitting the bottle again?

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

So... the Swiss did so well and then lost their nerve in the penalty shootout.

They are going to be distraught tonight. Despite that, however, they can return home with their heads held high. Cracking tournament for the Swiss.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

Yesterday I got my second shot of the Moderna vaccine so today I'm bedded with a fever and sore bones - which means that I'll be able to watch a Italy match live from start to finish, yay!

Lot's of customers in the restaurant. My brother in-law is helping my wife. I hope they will not forget the First Directive: NEVER put yourself between the tables and the GIGASCREEN. Experience shows that if you do something very important will happen in that very moment. Well, go Azzurri!

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

Yesterday I got my second shot of the Moderna vaccine so today I'm bedded with a fever and sore bones - which means that I'll be able to watch a Italy match live from start to finish, yay!

Lot's of customers in the restaurant. My brother in-law is helping my wife. I hope they will not forget the First Directive: NEVER put yourself between the tables and the GIGASCREEN. Experience shows that if you do something very important will happen in that very moment. Well, go Azzurri!

hope the win left you feeling better [:)]

[warspite1]

Bad luck to the Swiss - they were more than a little unfortunate.

‘The Golden Generation’..... where have we heard that before? Definitely Italy were the better team - Spinazolla is a bad loss for them, but Belgium were disappointing. Lukaku disappears in a big game again.

Cracking semi-final with Spain ahead.

[warspite1]

As for tomorrow, once again no comment on the second q/f, but Denmark - provided they haven’t lost any more key players - should be too much for Czech Republic.

[gamer78]

Switzerland did play well but how unnecessary was red card. Swiss coach was ex Samsunspor coach, Vladamir Petkoviç. Our president wouldn't hire as Fenerbahçe coach but was very successfull. Italy going to final.

I won't comment much about how South Africa and Quatar are football countries -with huge fan base with their domestics clubs- and they make organizaitons. Luckly FIFA or UEFA is not corrupted as CONMEBOL someone mentioned. really. [:D]

[shunwick]

Belgium 1 Italy 2 was most watchable.

So, the Italians go though to a semi-final meeting with Spain. And the Belgians go home. It's nearly again for Belgium and fine margins at this level of football. The Italians will be well happy with their performance and they are on a roll.

Spain v Italy should be a cracker.

In the Copa America:

Peru 3 Paraguay 3 with Peru winning on the penalty shootout. So close for Paraguayans. So close.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Copa America 2021

Quarter Finals

In the early hours of the morning (UK time) Brazil Faijoada edged passed Chile Cazuela 1-0 to go through to the semi-final.

Todays game: Uruguay Chivito v Colombia Bandeja Paisa

Euro 2020

Quarter Finals

Czech Republic v Denmark
Ukraine v England.

In their 1992 Euros campaign, Denmark became European Champions and they didn't even qualify for the tournament. Yugoslavia (who had a impressive crop of players in the late 80's early 90) won their qualifying group ahead of a good though youngish Denmark and was breaking up into it's component parts after the death of Tito. It was not an orderly process. UEFA kicked Yugoslavia out of Euro 92 and Denmark took their place. The Danes were sitting on beach catching them rays when they were told the were playing in the Tournament. It was an almighty scramble to the Danish squad together and prepared.

I relate all this because it seems to me that when you have a bunch of Danes with their backs against the wall.... it takes a brave man to bet against them.

Luiz Suarez and Edison Cavani have for a few years now been one of the most potent strike partnerships in international football. But they are getting on a bit. So, last swansong or a tournament too far?

Uruguay, Denmark, and England are the teams I would like to see to see prevail.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: loki100

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

Yesterday I got my second shot of the Moderna vaccine so today I'm bedded with a fever and sore bones - which means that I'll be able to watch a Italy match live from start to finish, yay!

Lot's of customers in the restaurant. My brother in-law is helping my wife. I hope they will not forget the First Directive: NEVER put yourself between the tables and the GIGASCREEN. Experience shows that if you do something very important will happen in that very moment. Well, go Azzurri!

hope the win left you feeling better [:)]

I could have done without the extra fever in the second half, but today I'm actually fine and back on my feet [:)]

It seems that Italy always needs to score a goal before firing with all cylinders. Belgium was a very solid team and the Azzurri weren't able to play their fast, dominating soccer until well into the first half. The first goal was justly disallowed but Italy grew from there and was able to pull one of their one-two punches (with two very beautiful goals BTW).

I disagreed with the penalty at the end of the first half. It was a very generous gesture from the referee for Belgium. This led to a second half where Italy switched to defensive play and played like the Italy(es?) of old. A key tactic was ball control, with long stretches where Belgium was denied the possibility to play. Still, Belgium came this close to scoring at least a couple of times, with Spinazzola's last inch save on Lukaku bordering on a miracle and Donnarumma denying some more opportunities.

Talking of Spinazzola, not only his injury was a sad moment, but it deprives Italy of what has been, up to that very moment, our best player. Luckily we do seem to have a good bench with not really a "A" and a "B" team.

[And, sorry Belgium, but your supporters whistling and booing while Spinazzola was crying on the ground was a big no-no. [:-] There is the extra time for when something like this happens.]

Anyway, this was the kind of match I like to watch, no matter if Italy is or isn't involved. It was sparkling, tense and full of gasping moments (I'm still bleeding from the nose for the boredom of Germany - England). Mancini most famously said that his first rule is that a team must have fun. For sure I had. [:)]

[warspite1]

The best and worst of Italian football on display yesterday. Great victory, were better than the Belgians as a unit and as individuals, and then this rubbish....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWk8WxQ6Wk

Hilarious [:D] in a depressing, cheating sort of way [:(]

Their time-wasting in the last 10 minutes was pretty poor too. The guy not standing back 10 yards for a free-kick... twice.... Takes you back to the bad old days of the late 70's.

[TulliusDetritus]

Because only Italian players fake injuries, eh? Late 70s? Football players stopped faking injuries in the early 80s then?

For all I care, number 17 should have been redcarded and gulaged, not necessarily in that order.

Number 17s are universal so pay attention.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

The best and worst of Italian football on display yesterday. Great victory, were better than the Belgians as a unit and as individuals, and then this rubbish....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWk8WxQ6Wk

Hilarious [:D] in a depressing, cheating sort of way [:(]

Their time-wasting in the last 10 minutes was pretty poor too. The guy not standing back 10 yards for a free-kick... twice.... Takes you back to the bad old days of the late 70's.

You will like this...

Italian Soccer Practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ukFUEI5qz8

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Because only Italian players fake injuries, eh? Late 70s? Football players stopped faking injuries in the early 80s then?

For all I care, number 17 should have been redcarded and gulaged, not necessarily in that order.

Number 17s are universal so pay attention.

warspite1

[8|][>:]

What are you banging on about? Who said only Italian players do this? So what are you saying - that this sort of playacting did not happen in the late 70's?

And what the hell is all that rubbish about no.17's being universal and sent to gulags? No, please don't answer that, I couldn't care less.

[RangerJoe]

There are some injuries that may be hard to fake.

[TulliusDetritus]

You cannot even read the number on the player's shirt from your video, dailymailesque little englander (you call what I say "rubbish" = you get this)? These attitudes are universal (Ronaldo, Robben, Busquets and a looong etcetera) or did you start watching football yesterday?

Green buttoned, now for real [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

As for tomorrow, once again no comment on the second q/f, but Denmark - provided they haven’t lost any more key players - should be too much for Czech Republic.

warspite1

If we are lucky enough to beat Ukraine, I am seriously worried by Denmark. They have been so good in the last 3.5 matches......

[Orm]

I thought both team played well. Although Denmark was the better team, and won well deservedly.

[Orm]

England has a good chance of going to the finals. Unless, of course, the players themselves begin to think that way.

[warspite1]

Half time
England 1-0 Ukraine

What a steaming pile of cack. Walker, Shaw just get off. We don't need to replace you, simply get off the pitch.

How many times can we play the ball to these bozos, just so they can step on the ball and pass it back from whence it came.....

There is a vicious rumour that Mount is on the pitch? Is this true?

Slow, sideways, backwards... so boring. Ukraine are dangerous on the break and we need another goal....