Ramos doesn't even play on the same side of defence as Arbeloa, Pique does.
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:24 (eleven years ago) link
Arbeloa's a fine defender but I bet Del Bosque wishes he had a Jordi Alba attacking style right-back, to get in behind Ronaldo who likely will not track back much.
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
Most teams managed it with Messi at the last World Cup, but that was by putting two defenders on him most of the time and leaving space open elsewhere.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:27 (eleven years ago) link
i wish he would play ramos at rb and martinez or someone as cbxp
― mizzell, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:33 (eleven years ago) link
Portugal haven't been all that good in the tourney so far. Thought they looked at their best going frwd vs Denmark and only just squeaked that one. Czech Rep were similar to France vs Spain in that they had zero ambition to cause the other side defensive problems. They did quite well vs Holland but that dutch MF was disastrous.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:34 (eleven years ago) link
I think Portugal are pretty good and could win tonight. Good defence and they gave Germany a tough time when they abandoned their negativity.
― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
Okay what was with the speeches.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:43 (eleven years ago) link
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
― Fas Ro Duh (Gukbe), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:43 (eleven years ago) link
I would be all down with Aretha in midfield.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:44 (eleven years ago) link
Ronaldo as much of a diva etc etc
― Fas Ro Duh (Gukbe), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:46 (eleven years ago) link
can't be any worse than Diana Ross
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:46 (eleven years ago) link
Portugal caused a bit of panic vs Germany with their corners.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:48 (eleven years ago) link
Otis Redding did have a try-out for Sporting Lisbon.
I am excited for this match but Real haven't done well in most recent clasicos and Barca look a lot better on paper tonight.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:48 (eleven years ago) link
iniesta you magnificent bastard.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:52 (eleven years ago) link
oof arbeloa, should have kept that down.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:55 (eleven years ago) link
Excellent from Ronaldo, I'm right up for a bit of that tonight
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:59 (eleven years ago) link
Bullshit FK
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
otm
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
ref having a nightmare both ways imo
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:05 (eleven years ago) link
This is much better than I expected it to be.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:07 (eleven years ago) link
rather see cesc as a false 9 than negredo doing nothing.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:09 (eleven years ago) link
Portugal look good
― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:13 (eleven years ago) link
Terrible crossing, but everything else A+
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:13 (eleven years ago) link
pique with 3 miscues in a row.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:13 (eleven years ago) link
Best passage of the tournament, this. Could do with some proper crowd noise overdubs.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:15 (eleven years ago) link
Nani is having an incredible game but he apparently slept with the ref's wife or something because he's had two opportunities scuppered now.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:16 (eleven years ago) link
Pique ... hasn't looked right for nine months now.
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:20 (eleven years ago) link
this has been the best performance v. spain or barca i've seen in years. xavi and iniesta have been nullified with such ease. sure inter and chelsea made it past them and real won the last clasico and portugal may still lose but this has been so well planned and executed so far.
wtf did nani do to this ref to be treated like this?
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:21 (eleven years ago) link
He's been fine in the tourney up to tonight imoxp
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:21 (eleven years ago) link
nani never fouled there FFS
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:22 (eleven years ago) link
gonna be heartbreaking when portugal lose this
― jabba hands, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:22 (eleven years ago) link
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:20 (27 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Word is he was getting back to form at the end of the season, no? And he's been fine up until tonight. Maybe Shakira is in attendance. Either way off-form Pique is still better than most centre-halves.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:23 (eleven years ago) link
not for me! I'm firmly with Spainxp
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:23 (eleven years ago) link
Ramos is getting dicked on tonight. He could easily get sent off.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:27 (eleven years ago) link
I thought he was awful in the CL semifinals, though I didn't particularly notice him against Italy or France in this tournament.
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:29 (eleven years ago) link
perriera is an "angry man" apparently. In general not just on occasion.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:31 (eleven years ago) link
Klinnsman's English is so American, now.
― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:43 (eleven years ago) link
Is Almeida a ringer for ilx's Lord Soto or am I imagining it?
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:43 (eleven years ago) link
Ref shite. Game good.
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:44 (eleven years ago) link
Why are the beeb studio guys constantly all talking at once tonight? so weird.
― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:47 (eleven years ago) link
ignorance/ego
― you can't stream a pancake (onimo), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:55 (eleven years ago) link
Ronaldo whets their fancy?
― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:56 (eleven years ago) link
Negredo was a terrible choice.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:56 (eleven years ago) link
Fabulous touches in that break. This deserves a better audience.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 19:59 (eleven years ago) link
No reds please ref
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:03 (eleven years ago) link
This is getting kinda weird.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:06 (eleven years ago) link
this ref is ruining what is a fine match.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:07 (eleven years ago) link
He reads and stuff and has a nice beard and plays a v. ilx friendly way and all but the one thing I really do love about Xabi Alonso is his one attempt per game to lob a keeper from the half way line.
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:10 (eleven years ago) link
Portugal getting squeezed in the middle now
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:11 (eleven years ago) link
cheap free kick
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 20:13 (eleven years ago) link