Portugal vs France

Astronuc

This should be a great match up!

Portugal hope for third time lucky against French
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060704/1/8j88.html

The duel - Luis Figo v Zinedine Zidane? Maybe. We'll see.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060705/1/8kxb.html

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060703/1/8j63.html

Les Bleus are equally determined.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060704/1/8kc4.html

marlon

Olala, you are very fast Astronuc...:) Just be patient for another 6 hours...

regards
marlon

Anttech

5 hrs 48 mins I make it :) hehe

Come on France!

Gokul43201

I thought Figo was out for this game. Or is it someone else? Deco was out for the England game, and is back for this one, right?

Anttech

Deco is back.. Its a one match Ban (AFAIK). Figo probably needed a hip replacement, along with Zidan so perhaps they are out.

NateTG

Well, Germany hasn't beaten Italy in a world cup game either, but several of their encounters have been classic, and, yesterday's semi is currently considered the match of the tournament.

Let's hope for another good referee.

Astronuc

Just like on the football field.

The game between Germany and Italy reminded me of one I played in during university. My team was in the finals, and it ended up in the shoot outs after two overtimes, and it was scoreless up to that point. We lost by one goal (like 2-3 in the shoot out). The pressure on the goalies and kickers was immense.

Our goalie let one through his legs. Ouch, that was painful to watch! And our team captain, who wanted to be one of the kickers, kicked the ball over the cross-bar.

My best game was against a Korean team where I scored 4 of 5 goals, and I was a mid-fielder. The Korean players couldn't get out of my way fast enough. A couple of times, I had to literally pick up one of them so I didn't run over him. And, one goal, I dribbled into the goal.

Astronuc

Here are the rosters (squads), but I don't know if they are current.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/...h=07&year=2006

siddharth

I don't like penalties for that reason. It's a bad way to decide a game. I played in 5 penalty shootouts for my school team, and we lost all five.

Astronuc

And they're off! Line ups at start of game (FIFAWorld, Yahoo)

Portugal
1. RICARDO
5. FERNANDO MEIRA
6. COSTINHA
7. LUIS FIGO (C)
9. PAULETA
13. MIGUEL
14. NUNO VALENTE (C)
16. RICARDO CARVALHO
17. CRISTIANO RONALDO
18. MANICHE
20. DECO

France
16. BARTHEZ Fabien
3. ABIDAL Eric
4. VIEIRA Patrick
5. GALLAS William
6. MAKELELE Claude
7. MALOUDA Florent
10. ZIDANE Zinedine
12. HENRY Thierry
15. THURAM Lilian
19. SAGNOL Willy
22. RIBERY Frank

Sisyphus

I'd really hate to see this game end with that penalty :(

On a side note, all the booing going on in this game is pretty funny

Astronuc

I think Ricardo Carvalho slipped and Thierry just stepped into his leg. Looking at the replay, it does not look like an intentional tackle or trip.

Tough call by the ref.

About 5 minutes to go, and Portugal needs a goal to go to OT.

NateTG

As an admittedly partisan Germany supporter, I'm left wondering why that was a PK when the handball over Podowski in the other semi ended up being a free kick...

<cynical>I suppose this game just isn't as good, so they're trying to get it over with?</cynical>

Astronuc

Extended by 4 minutes!

PPonte

Oh, I can't believe we lost! Damn ref!!!

Astronuc

My condolensces, but this is a binary situation. There is one winner and one non-winner. Of course, everyone wants their particular favorite to win.

Great game though.

As a consolation, Portugal has a chance to beat Germany.

DM

It's a pity Portugal didn't produce as much as they should've had. My strong belief of a better strategic formation of 4-4-2 was quite simply vindicated towards the end. I never liked Portugal's 4-5-1 playing system since Euro 2004 as it forced many of our midfield players to shoot far too many balls from the outside area.

In particular against strong teams such as France, it's just not a matter of shooting from long distances and hoping to score, it is I'm afraid, much more than that.

I'm disappointed with how Scholari read the game, especially by ONLY applying the 4-4-2 formation tactic towards the end (we visibly played much better). Nonetheless, as a Portuguese fan, I do thank him for all the work put towards the team.

I can only hope he recognises this mistake and makes up his mind to play a 4-4-2 formation against Germany.