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VIVA Chile!!!

I'm guessing everyone bet on The Machine to win Europe?

Jagdtiger, I bet on Germany... But I am starting to think that Italy might prevail after all. And France plays at home. Tough choice!

Orm, yes, I guess playing abroad can be instructive. You get to know other styles and your potential "enemies".

Orm, yes, I guess playing abroad can be instructive. You get to know other styles and your potential "enemies".

Indeed.

But then, in my humble opinion, it follows that the English can not be suffering from to many foreigners in their own league. That should let them know other styles and potential opposition on the home field.

I rather think that the answer to the foreigner question is that more young English players should seek teams abroad, where they get to play and diversify their football skills.

ORIGINAL: Orm
I rather think that the answer to the foreigner question is that more young English players should seek teams abroad, where they get to play and diversify their football skills.

Well, there is another option: playing with your club international competitions too: Champions League, UEFA Cup. But of course these English top clubs must have a fair number of English players.

Anyway, not sure this is the most important part. I am an extremist [:D] If Russians or English are out it's because they are not good enough. Let's hope they can produce better players. I'm sure they can do that. They did it in the past.

Jagdtiger, I bet on Germany... But I am starting to think that Italy might prevail after all. And France plays at home. Tough choice!

Yea, I don't really care about soccer too much, but that last World Cup was f'ing awesome! I read one of Italy's players (some guy named De Rossi) will be out for the game with Germany?

So glad Chile beat Argentina! I don't know which team I despise more...any team from Argentina or FC Barcelona.

Go...ah...Mainz! Does Miami have a team?

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Orm
I rather think that the answer to the foreigner question is that more young English players should seek teams abroad, where they get to play and diversify their football skills.

Well, there is another option: playing with your club international competitions too: Champions League, UEFA Cup. But of course these English top clubs must have a fair number of English players.

Anyway, not sure this is the most important part. I am an extremist [:D] If Russians or English are out it's because they are not good enough. Let's hope they can produce better players. I'm sure they can do that. They did it in the past.

I was thinking of the young, promising, talented, players that have yet to take a starting position in a top club. To many seek their way to top clubs and end up sitting on the bench. Or, perhaps, they play in a lower division and stagnate in their development.

I was merely trying to point out that there are less competitive leagues in Europe where they would both get play time and play in international competitions. I see way to many Swedish talents go away to England and Italy and so on, just to play in their development teams. And a few years later they are no longer a talent. If they stayed in Sweden they would not have earned as much but they would still play matches. Or they could have moved to decent team in a league less glorious than Premier League but where they will play and grow.

When Zlatan left Sweden he went to a Dutch team and he evolved to a world star there. Same with Henrik Larsson. No one can say for sure what would have happened to them if they would have gone directly from the Swedish league to Premier league but I rather suspect they would have spent most of their time on the bench.

Lucky again... although no team real deserved to win.

ORIGINAL: VPaulus

Lucky again... although no team real deserved to win.

Yep, I agree. We were again fortunate, but as I said before we (Portugal) are not used to being lucky...[:D]

Anyhow, here we are, at the semi-finals, limping along...[X(]

Our defense, except for the 2 minute "surprise" goal, played very well overall. Pepe made a great game. Midfield was most of the time a mess, and in the front we had the now usual clumsy Ronaldo...[8|].

Renato Sanches showed again to have the potential to be in a few years a top world-class player, IMHO, although he kind of "disappeared" as the game went along. But with 18 years, what a goal, and what coolness at the penalty![&o]

We lost William Carvalho for the semi final match, and although he is no genius, I fear his stabilizing function will be missed...specially if, as I fear, we lock horns with Belgium...

A friendly reminder that Football Manager 2016 is on sale for $16 on Steam. I think I will get it and study this thread and try to become a "fan". It's hard, as I don't own a TV and am not familiar with all the star players.

Have fun!

Come on Wales!

Remember, you are not England and thus making a total arse of proceedings is not compulsory.

What a half!!

1-1 - Wales have to be careful with three defenders booked already but what a performance they are giving against the highly fancied Belgians....

I really, really, was not expecting this !! [X(]

And, now, I don't know what is more amazing, but either Portugal or Wales will reach the final game...[:D]

Congratulations to Wales [&o]

[X(]

That was a loooooooooong 35 minutes. I'm shattered.

The quality of the goals though - what a performance from Pele er sorry, I mean Hal Robson-Kanu [&o]

They are going to miss Ben Davies and Ramsey, but I'm looking forward to Wednesday already - Ronaldo vs Bale [:)]

that was quite amazing ... [;)]

Well the dust has settled, allowing a bit of reflection.

Wow! What a performance. I am not too happy that certain people seem to be getting a bit carried away, because lets face it, Portugal is going to be one tough game - Ronaldo, Nani, Sanches..... And the Welsh will have to play it without Ramsay and Davies.

But anyway, back to last night. Sure the Welsh were hanging on a bit for a time, but for the majority of the game they were every bit as good as anything the fancied Belgians (and their golden generation [8|]) could offer. This wasn't some plucky underdog getting a lead and then hanging on like grim death.

What was really surprising to me was the skill on display. They had plenty of possession - and not just mucking around in your own half possession.

The set-pieces (in total contrast to another team I could mention) looked like they were worked on. They had a plan. Ashley Williams equaliser being an obvious example. And funnily enough, Robson-Kanu was not taking corners. Go figure.

Robson-Kanu's goal is a contender for goal of the tournament. It wasn't just the Cruyff turn and the silky finish. The build up - Bale's pin point accurate pass and Ramsey's run into space, pulling the defenders apart were crucial. I was screaming at the TV for HRK to pass it to Taylor - and of course that is exactly what three Belgian defenders thought he would do.....

Equally for the 3rd goal, you had Chris Gunter (ex-Spurs [:(]) doing what Walker was doing against Russia, taking people on, getting a cross in - the difference was that Wales had a striker in the box - and what a great finish from Vokes (a much more difficult header than either Fellaini or Lukaku had).

Great match. Great display.

Now, the small matter of Germany vs Italy - and apparently the Germans have never beaten Italy in tournament football.......

And to think HRK doesn't even have a club to play for when this is all over!

ORIGINAL: warspite1

....

Now, the small matter of Germany vs Italy - and apparently the Germans have never beaten Italy in tournament football.......

I rather fancy Italy to win again. Conte has rebuilt their traditional approach of being downright hard to play against without just being over-defensive. Should be the classic match of the tournament so far (there, that is that doomed to a sterile 0-0 and penalties [;)])

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Great match. Great display.

I only partly concur.[;)] Our Red Devils were bad, really bad. Bad play, individually. Bad play, as a team. Bad tactic. No spirit. No excuse.

But Wales ! Where to begin ? That's a TEAM ! And so much for the so-called lack of technicians, the best moves were done by Welsh players. At least, nobody may say that Wales won because Belgium badly played, they were fantastic on their own and fully deserve their victory. And thank to them for the show. I'll be rooting for them against Portugal.

ORIGINAL: Ambassador

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Great match. Great display.

I only partly concur.[;)] Our Red Devils were bad, really bad. Bad play, individually. Bad play, as a team. Bad tactic. No spirit. No excuse.

But Wales ! Where to begin ? That's a TEAM ! And so much for the so-called lack of technicians, the best moves were done by Welsh players. At least, nobody may say that Wales won because Belgium badly played, they were fantastic on their own and fully deserve their victory. And thank to them for the show. I'll be rooting for them against Portugal.

warspite1

I've mentioned before, this is now two tournaments that the Belgians have flattered to deceive. They ARE the England of the 2000's. Look at the Belgians on paper. There is little weakness - Hazard, Courtois, Dembele, De Bruyne, Alderweirald, Vertonghen - the list goes on. These are seriously good footballers. But just like the England of Gerrard, Scholes, Cole, Beckham etc; come a tournament and.......

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Ambassador

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Great match. Great display.

I only partly concur.[;)] Our Red Devils were bad, really bad. Bad play, individually. Bad play, as a team. Bad tactic. No spirit. No excuse.

But Wales ! Where to begin ? That's a TEAM ! And so much for the so-called lack of technicians, the best moves were done by Welsh players. At least, nobody may say that Wales won because Belgium badly played, they were fantastic on their own and fully deserve their victory. And thank to them for the show. I'll be rooting for them against Portugal.

warspite1

I've mentioned before, this is now two tournaments that the Belgians have flattered to deceive. They ARE the England of the 2000's. Look at the Belgians on paper. There is little weakness - Hazard, Courtois, Dembele, De Bruyne, Alderweirald, Vertonghen - the list goes on. These are seriously good footballers. But just like the England of Gerrard, Scholes, Cole, Beckham etc; come a tournament and.......

Indeed. Players who do great in a regular club, but can't play as well together in a national team. When they individually play well, they make illusion, like against Eire and Hungary - but the opposition was not as good as other teams. And when they play badly, like yesterday...

In short, very good against sub-par nations, where individual actions can make the difference. But even while #1 at FIFA ranking, unable to beat nations of the top, or rather, unable to beat nations solid as a block where team cohesion and tactic are needed.

A what a collection of spoilt kids who won't make efforts when not at their preferred position, like De Bruyne showed against Italy and earlier during the preparation. And how come that Lukaku is so prolific with Everton but mute with the Red Devils ? I'm more and more pushed to think it's a question of will.