Portugal vs Netherlands: Who Will Win?

[BobG]

Figo was struck in the face, but accidently. No yellow card should have been shown to the dutch player because the elbow wasnt that high when you consider that Figo was leaning forward at the time trying to sprint after the ball. Just an unfortunate incident. Deco on the other hand should have received a straight red card for his first tackle, it was late, high and very reckless. Enjoyable game but i was disapointed holland didnt take it to extra time, could have done with some more suspended players!

It evens out. Boularouz should have gotten red for his tackle on CRonaldo. He got off easy on one and harsh on the other. Personally, if I were refereeing, I'd have a yellow with Boularouz's name on it at the start of every game. The guy's a hack and the quicker he's taken care of, the better.

Deco was the one that took down Heitinga for not sending the ball to the Portugese keeper? I agree. That should have been a red. But then again, the tackle should have been a lot more violent. Was Heitinga really that clueless? Did he not remember why play was stopped and who had the ball? Didn't the fact that Portugal didn't contest the drop ball provide him at least a clue?

As it was, there could have been a few more cards. The player that threw the Portugese player down when he wouldn't give up the ball should have gotten a caution. A few more could have been handed out for the altercations occurring during bookings - at least one more player (the one that went barreling through the cluster of players) and at least one or two on players on the Portugese bench.

As many cards that were given, it was almost as if the referee wore down and just couldn't keep up. Should have been about 20 cards, with two being straight reds. He either wore down or was afraid of getting below the minimum number of players in the event the game went into extra time. With thirty more minutes and no more substitutes, there would have been a real possibility of the game having to be stopped because one of the teams had less than 7 players.

 

[shmoe]

Deco was the one that took down Heitinga for not sending the ball to the Portugese keeper?

Yes he was. A yellow wasn't unreasonable- I don't remember it being terribly violent, but I wouldn't have disagreed if it was a red either. I haven't seen replays though.

What was Deco's second yellow for?

Enjoyable game but i was disapointed holland didnt take it to extra time, could have done with some more suspended players!

I shamefully admit I was hoping for the same thing.

 

[BobG]

Yes he was. A yellow wasn't unreasonable- I don't remember it being terribly violent, but I wouldn't have disagreed if it was a red either. I haven't seen replays though.

What was Deco's second yellow for?



I shamefully admit I was hoping for the same thing.

Deco was the guy that wouldn't give up the ball when Netherlands had a free kick. Kind of a dumb decision for a guy already carrying a caution.

Yeah, things are looking good for England. Costinha and Deco are definitely out, and Ronaldo won't be full strength if he can play at all. The only good news for Portugal is that Figo won't be suspended for the head butt. That's probably fair, since I don't think it was a violent head butt - it was more like Figo got in his opponent's face a little too close. He was still lucky not to get a red just on general principle.

 

[J77]

Everyone's taking their flags down in Amsterdam

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

I'm really dissapointed I didn't see this game, but just from hearing about it I'm pleased that the ref flashed his card around so much, maybe this'll serve as an example to all those teams who think gamesmanship is going to advantage them if they keep on playing like dishonourable goats.

Personally I tihnk the captain of each team should be hung up by the neck until virtually unconscious and then dragged around the stadium to the derision of a baying crowd until there bought back to the block where there disembowled and then there heads and legs removed, the body should be quartered and then each body part placed at the four corners of the city to serve as a warning to others, but that's most likely just me.

Bring back some honour into the game, get up you primadonna, this isn't the damn Oscar performance of your life, a triple back summersault with a half twist is not warranted when someone wafts gently at your leg!

Still at least Protugal have a few less players to pit against us English on Saturday.

 

[Anttech]

I'm really dissapointed I didn't see this game, but just from hearing about it I'm pleased that the ref flashed his card around so much, maybe this'll serve as an example to all those teams who think gamesmanship is going to advantage them if they keep on playing like dishonourable goats.

Errmmm... No The ref was on LSD or something, 16 yellows and 4 reds in one game. Football is football, if you touch someone, they will jump. EVERYONE does it. If the ref can't handle that then he shouldn't be refering. The Ref killed this game, it was a disgrace, and I hope he won't be back

Deco was the guy that wouldn't give up the ball when Netherlands had a free kick. Kind of a dumb decision for a guy already carrying a caution.

Deco held onto the ball for ~2 secs, do u honestly think he should have been sent off?

Wow that was pathetic. The Portugeuse players flopped so much they made the Italians look tough. This is why so many people hate soccer. Take a note from the Americans (they may suck, but they're not pansies).

First of all, its called Association football. If you had a clue about what you were talking about, you would know that the art of diving was INVENTED in the "Americas" they call it "Fuball." This game was not over run by players diving, it was overrun by a stupid ref.. Whom has refed his last game.. The FIFA technical board said (Paraphrasing) "The ref should have given himself a yellow card."

 

[Anttech]

On a side note, the better team won anyway. Robben maybe good, but he needs to start playing like he has a team round him.. Same old story for the Netherlands, good players (lots of new ones this time as well) but no team play

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

Errmmm... No The ref was on LSD or something, 16 yellows and 4 reds in one game. Football is football, if you touch someone, they will jump. EVERYONE does it. If the ref can't handle that then he shouldn't be refering. The Ref killed this game, it was a disgrace, and I hope he won't be back

Good serves them right I have no tolerance of weak moralled players who will do anything and everything to bring dishonour on the game, zero tolerance is precisely how it shopuld be, good on you ref. If it takes a ruined game to buck up players who have all the honour and fairplay of a cockroach then so be it. I don't mind it happening ocasionaly but as far as I'm concerned if Enlgand and or Portugal try the same sort of lame arse acting and frigging around as Holland and portugal I hope there are as many red and yellow cards, this pathetic oscar hunting needs to weeded out before it becomes an integral part of the game, and football turns into some stupid gamesmanship orientated loserfest. We are diametrically opposed you think it's all part of the game I think it's all totally lame.

 

[Anttech]

Its not 'weak moralled' its part of the tactics of football. It si everywhere, in every league, in every country. You invite players to fowl you, and you dive when they do. Mate this isn't Rugby!

By the way, do you think England would have won last week if it wasnt for these tactics you so much hate... Doubt it.

if you don't like it, go watch Rugby :)

 

[LeBrad]

Its not 'weak moralled' its part of the tactics of football. It si everywhere, in every league, in every country. You invite players to fowl you, and you dive when they do. Mate this isn't Rugby!

By the way, do you think England would have won last week if it wasnt for these tactics you so much hate... Doubt it.

if you don't like it, go watch Rugby :)

I can't believe you're actually defending this type of play. I want to like soccer, I really do. I like to play soccer, the matches can be exciting, and at times it's a beautiful game to watch. But please, give me players with some integrity. I cannot endorse a sport where flopping is a tactic.

And it's nice to see the Italy-Australia match turned out exactly as I predicted: Italian player flops, ref makes a bad call, outcome of the game is decided by the bad call. Is anyone surprised?

There should be no excuse for this type of play at this level. Add more refs, add replay officials, do something.

 

[marlon]

And it's nice to see the Italy-Australia match turned out exactly as I predicted: Italian player flops, ref makes a bad call, outcome of the game is decided by the bad call. Is anyone surprised?

You are completely right. Italy should have been OUT. thanks to their Divina Commedia and unjust refereeing they go on to the next round. Pfff, what losers

marlon

 

[Anttech]

And it's nice to see the Italy-Australia match turned out exactly as I predicted: Italian player flops, ref makes a bad call, outcome of the game is decided by the bad call. Is anyone surprised?

Honestly I don't care if you don't like football, really I don't care... if you don't understand the rules, then u don't need to comment..

That Italian player didnt 'flop' , u don't go down in the box as a defender and side into someone, that player is going to invite a penalty..

 

[Anttech]

You are completely right. Italy should have been OUT. thanks to their Divina Commedia and unjust refereeing they go on to the next round. Pfff, what losers

marlon

marlon, why was it unjust? Go read the rules!

 

[marlon]

That Italian player didnt 'flop' , u don't go down in the box as a defender and side into someone, that player is going to invite a penalty..

That is not what happened.

You don't just fall down to take advantage of a bad and incompetent referee. This is just like taking advantage of the handicapped.

VERGOGNA ITALIA, VERGOGNA !

marlon

ps : Besides, didn't LeBrad say that he liked soccer ?

 

[BobG]

Personally I tihnk the captain of each team should be hung up by the neck until virtually unconscious and then dragged around the stadium to the derision of a baying crowd until there bought back to the block where there disembowled and then there heads and legs removed, the body should be quartered and then each body part placed at the four corners of the city to serve as a warning to others, but that's most likely just me.

Now that's an old school practice that would boost attendance.

As for Deco holding the ball, it was a yellow, not a red. The red was because it was his second yellow. He surely knew it would bring a caution if it was his first. Holding the ball in that situation is just a dare, "There's no way you're going to issue a second caution for something like this." He was wrong.

I don't think the referee did a great job, mainly because the players obviously wore him down towards the end of the game and he lost control of what was happening - evidenced by all the bs going on at every stoppage. The refeee's booking one offense and a gang of players are going at each other across the field.

Still, the ugliness of this game had a lot more to do with the players than the referee. They deserved more cards instead of less.

 

[BobG]

Honestly I don't care if you don't like football, really I don't care... if you don't understand the rules, then u don't need to comment..

That Italian player didnt 'flop' , u don't go down in the box as a defender and side into someone, that player is going to invite a penalty..

Actually, the player's slide never made contact with the Italian, thanks to a nice move. The Australian player was left on the ground and I think he actually tried to keep from being stepped on or kicked. The Italian player only had to jump over the defender to keep going.

The defender was badly humiliated, but he didn't foul the Italian. Shouldn't have been a PK.

 

[Anttech]

That is not what happened.

You don't just fall down to take advantage of a bad and incompetent referee. This is just like taking advantage of the handicapped.

VERGOGNA ITALIA, VERGOGNA !

marlon

ps : Besides, didn't LeBrad say that he liked soccer ?

marlon, get the chip of from your shoulder, its impeding you abilty to be coherant and balanced

 

[Anttech]

The defender was badly humiliated, but he didn't foul the Italian. Shouldn't have been a PK.

Its the rules...

 

[marlon]

marlon, get the chip of from your shoulder, its impeding you abilty to be coherant and balanced

Please refrain from making useless remarks that are not taken seriously by nobody. I suggest you read the last post of BobG...

marlon

 

[marlon]

Its the rules...

No it's NOT. Didn't you read BobG's last post ? Stop acting as if soccer is exact science. There always is a context within which one needs to judge and referee. Don't tell me you don't know this.

marlon

 

[Anttech]

marlon, I suggest you go and read the rules. You are sprouting utter nonsence and have been doing so since your first post here.

It is the rules. Every time I have asked you to back your 'statements' with some facts, you have been unable to do so.. in so much as you just ignore them totally. you are beginning to really get on my nerves, and suffice to say I won't be participating in your little sledging game moving forward. if you want to debate then at least debate properly.

 

[NateTG]

Deco held onto the ball for ~2 secs, do u honestly think he should have been sent off?

The ref had no choice but to give that second card, since FIFA has ruled from on high that delaying free kicks is an automatic caution. The problem isn't so much that Deco held on to the ball, but that he kept it away (with a blatant stiff arm no less) from the dutch player who had the free kick.

 

[Anttech]

Yes I know.. It was still WAY over the top...

 

[shmoe]

Good serves them right I have no tolerance of weak moralled players who will do anything and everything to bring dishonour on the game, zero tolerance is precisely how it shopuld be, good on you ref...

There were no diving cards that I remember, many were dodgy challenges followed by someone falling over, the challenger ending up with a card that may or may not have been deserved (many were though). This refereee did not do much in the way of penalising the dishonourable. He lost control of the game. Admitedly the players had a large part in sending it out of control, but it should never have made it that far.


The Aussie penalty- what a shame. I'm of the opinion that the striker should continue to do everything possible to put the ball in the net, whether fouled or not, instead of falling down. It had the potential to be a gorgeous goal rather than a dodgy penalty.

 

[shmoe]

Yes I know.. It was still WAY over the top...

Why? It's in the rules right? Do you disagree with the rule or the decision?

 

[Anttech]

To send somebody off the pitch for holding on to the ball for 2 secs is 'over the top.' He wasnt time wasting so much, anyway, if he was add more time at the end.

The rules state you can be booked for time wasting, correct, but a ref has to be able to look at every situation with its own merit. IMO this time that did not desevere a red card (Second yellow)

 

[BobG]

It is the rules. Every time I have asked you to back your 'statements' with some facts, you have been unable to do so.. in so much as you just ignore them totally. you are beginning to really get on my nerves, and suffice to say I won't be participating in your little sledging game moving forward. if you want to debate then at least debate properly.

No. Tripping, as a foul, is in the laws, but deciding what is a trip, what is impeding (obstruction), and what is just laying on the ground in humiliation is referee judgement. The Australian player made no attempt to trip the Italian. The Italian chose to be too clumsy to step over the prone defender.

 

[Anttech]

The Italian chose to be too clumsy to step over the prone defender.

Exactly, if you are on the floor in the box, you can expect this... He played for the foul, and understandabley so, got it.

 

[marlon]

marlon, I suggest you go and read the rules. You are sprouting utter nonsence and have been doing so since your first post here.

It is the rules. Every time I have asked you to back your 'statements' with some facts, you have been unable to do so..

Really, give me one example where that happened. Besides other then saying "It's the rules" your contribution is nihil. Anyhow, my opinion in this matter is completely similar to BobG's so there is no point in me stating the exact same thing as he does. I already made several references to his posts and yet you have never replied to that. Please do so. Also, to counter your Germany bashing posts i have given many examples to show where you are wrong. With respect to the star-players in a team i have countered that argument by asking you what France, etc etc achieved up till now in this WCup. Still no answer from your part. Why is that , my dear friend ?

iyou are beginning to really get on my nerves, and suffice to say I won't be participating in your little sledging game moving forward.

Well, sorry but the fact that i am getting on your nerves is your problem, not mine. Besides, you should not mention that because who cares ? What is your point. If you don't want to debate anymore or you don't want to answer my posts then please, by all means, be my guest. We all know what quitting stands for, no ?

if you want to debate then at least debate properly.

marlon

 

[marlon]

No. Tripping, as a foul, is in the laws, but deciding what is a trip, what is impeding (obstruction), and what is just laying on the ground in humiliation is referee judgement. The Australian player made no attempt to trip the Italian. The Italian chose to be too clumsy to step over the prone defender.

Indeed, that's exactly what i mean by : "one cannot just apply the rules but one always has to look at the context of a certain situation". The Italian player was not tripped. No penalty should have been called.

marlon