World Cup 2006: Round of 16 - Portugal v Netherlands discussion thread

[Anarcho-Socialist]

Match already underway. This will be a good match, they're quite evenly matched.

[dorktv]

1. I want the lamer team to advance so England wins the quarters.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Yes, but if England wins the Cup, but didn't have to play the best teams

in order to do so, wouldn't it be a hollow victory? :shrug:

You don't have to answer that, LOL.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

3. I don't think that will happen...

...To get to the final, England will have to face quality opposition. Both Portugal and Netherlands are good teams, and beyond that the winner of the quarter-final will be scheduled to meet Brazil in the semi-finals.

In the World Cup, usually by the time you get to the last-8 there are no weak teams left.

[dorktv]

5. I just want them to make it to the semis.

[billyskank]

16. Hey, I'll take it

:7

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. GOAL Portugal!! 23' Maniche

Strike in 18-yard box beats 'keeper

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. Portugal 1-0 Netherlands (Half-time)

Portugal seem to be the stronger team, but I hope the Netherlands come out aggressively in the second-half, I want to see a good match.

[Karenina]

7. Hmm....

Second half should be getting underway right about now. Think I'll amble on down to the corner.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. Deco sent-off for Portugal, second booking 78'

I'm not quite sure what the second booking was for. Netherlands have a chance.

[Dude_CalmDown]

10. He was carded because

the ref is an ass.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

11. Yes, that was it

[GOPisEvil]

9. This referee is a complete joke.

He's lost control of this game and missed many calls. He's just awful. I thought the NBA had horrible officiating...

[Anarcho-Socialist]

12. Portugal 1-0 Netherlands (Final score)

These referees need to calm down.

[meow2u3]

13. Portugal isn't going to have Deco nor Costinha

because of their red cards.


I think it's going to be a good game between the Brits and the Portuguese.

[Kellanved]

14. Let's hope so

The English are the weakest and most boring "favorite". Against a full-strength Portugal they wouldn't stand a chance, but against the weakened team, the match should be about even.

[Haole Girl]

15. Unfortunately, Portugal won't be full strength

I may be wrong, but at the end of this last match, I thought I heard they have 2 players out.

I'm just glad Portugal could hang on, because I feared the Russian ref favored Netherlands team (he was even speaking Dutch!). Why don't they get referees from whole other parts of the world for these European match-ups, anyway?

[Kellanved]

17. Fifa should just stop the BS with the refs

The game and the rules are approaching a level where it is no longer possible for three amateurs to watch over the rules. Some of the rules are beyond human cognitive capabilities, others are too easy to twist.

IMHO, FIFA should
-use professional refs
-allow (even demand) the use of videos as base for difficult decisions in professional and/or international competitions
-allow teams to veto/deny a chosen ref

But the Fifa is a very conservative organization, opposed to all technical help for refs which would increase accountability.

[Haole Girl]

18. Sounds logical to me

A friend of mine asked me if I think the ref from Uruguay might be wearing Italian suits, Italian shoes, and drinking Italian wine about now? I got a kick out of that. She's from Germany, too!

This guy is as crooked as they come (I guess he didn't make enough money on a clerk's salary):




LARRIONDA Jorge

Nationality: Uruguay
Role: Referee
Date of birth: 9 March 1968
Height: 176 (cm)
Weight: 74 (kg)
Referee since: 1 January 1998
First international : Chile v Bolivia (20 June 1999)
Place of residence: MONTEVIDEO
Country of residence: Uruguay
Mother language: Spanish
Other languages: English
Occupation: Clerk
General interests: Breeding animals (birds, dogs, parrots, etc)
Best memory: FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003 semi-final: France v Turkey; 2004 Olympic Football Tournament Bronze Medal Match: Italy v Iraq