Quarter Finals

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Cevno

Btw, i am a bit surprised no team so far has tried to do what the Dutch did to Spain in the WC final with relative success. I.e Roughen them up and get at them physically besides playing on the counter.

The only reason the Dutch approach worked was because Howard Webb refused to referee the game properly.

[Cevno]

Originally Posted by sledger

You're annoying.

Good to know, i am still part of the responding in kind effectively world at least.

[PhoenixFire]

Ripping on someone who types near perfect English, when it isn't their first language, because they get a few apostrophes wrong is pretty weak.

[sledger]

Nah.

[Cevno]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

The only reason the Dutch approach worked was because Howard Webb refused to referee the game properly.

A referee cautious to send someone off on a big occasion is hardly a surprise. Except for the De Jong Kung fu kick, the dutch pushed the limit cleverly (with certain players backing off after receiving a yellow) and baited Spain into retaliating and entering the game they wanted to play. At the end it created a scrappy match, where Iniesta was lucky again thanks to Howard Webb to even remain on the pitch before he scored the winner.

Not talking about replicating the exact same tactics of the Dutch either, but am surprised no one has just got stuck into them physically even to a lesser degree to let them know of a contest.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by sledger

Your annoying.

fixed

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Cevno

A referee cautious to send someone off on a big occasion is hardly a surprise. Except for the De Jong Kung fu kick, the dutch pushed the limit cleverly (with certain players backing off after receiving a yellow) and baited Spain into retaliating and entering the game they wanted to play. At the end it created a scrappy match, where Iniesta was lucky again thanks to Howard Webb to even remain on the pitch before he scored the winner.

Not talking about replicating the exact same tactics of the Dutch either, but am surprised no one has just got stuck into them physically even to a lesser degree to let them know of a contest.

van Bommel spent the entire first half hacking

[Cevno]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

van Bommel spent the entire World cup hacking tactically and cleverly.

Fixed.

[cpr]

Originally Posted by Uppercut

Not a total gaffe but I thought it was pretty poor and it annoys me how the commentators don't pick up on keepers' positional errors at all.

What got me about the goal is Lloris and Givet were basically in a line. Fair enough Givet was rushing accross to cover, but Lloris had himself in a position where he couldn't see Alonso at the point he headed it, so didn't know where it was going until it was almost on it.

He'd moved too far over to the left, left a gaping big target back accross goal which he was too off balance to cover. It was only logical Alonso would head back accross the goal, as that was the larger target, trying to head to (his) bottom right would probably be blocked by Givet, or sliced. Lloris needs to take a look at that goal and hold his hands up

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Martinez letting the neutral mask slip a bit. Spanish games are good to watch because "you want to watch winners", not if the games are as ball-crushingly tedious as that we don't, Bob.

Would explain why the DW's been half empty all season Bobby....

Originally Posted by Scaly piscine

That's been the only down-side of Germany being in transition over the last 4 years. I would back a typical Germany side to beat Spain. They wouldn't bottle it like the other sides have done. You can get at Spain, just teams don't keep the ball long enough to do it, or when they get the chances they miss. France had numerous promising positions in the earlier stages of the second half, they just messed them up with poor passing.

Reminds me of the Arsenal Invincibles, in that half the battle was the reputation, teams stood off and allowed them to play their game. Mentally many teams are already beaten. We showed that year if a team plays in their face and at least tries to disrupt their flow (even if slightly underhand with niggly fouls), they can be ruffled and frustrated. Question is, are England good enough to do it?

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by cpr

Question is, are England good enough to do it?

Irrelevant.

[sledger]

Originally Posted by cpr

What got me about the goal is Lloris and Givet were basically in a line.

As Givet is probably off holidaying in Monaco or somewhere at the moment, that would certainly explain Lloris' poor positioning.

[cpr]

Glichy even....

Begins with G, is crap. Same difference

[Pothas]

How **** were France?

I know it's now popular to hate on Spain and they have been very frustrating at times but they are still remarkably proficient at what they do. I would rather see the 08 version for sure but I'm sure they won't give a **** what people think if they win again.

[sledger]

Worryingly, I'm actually looking forward to the England game tonight. Surely this is not healthy behaviour.

[grecian]

I'm just wondering if it's too early to start drinking yet. It's always a tricky calculation, can't get too drunk before the match, but need to be nicely deadened to it all.