EURO 2012

No way are Portugal finishing with eleven men imo, that'll be what settles it

spain didn't have an off day (bar negredo), they were played out of the game.

I'm not watching BBC but Spain are having an off day to an extent, even though Portugal have been very good

MW – Spain still kept possession like 60% of the time, didn't they?

It's precisely Lineker's attitutde that makes the English nat'l side tend to play below top standards

Sure, remy but to what effect?

Holding Spain to 60% is an achievement xxp.

If I thought any side was more likely to score in this game it would have been Portugal. It ain't over and Spain may nick one in the end but this isn't the dumbest tactical approach to take to Spain.

This hasn't actually been that entertaining though has it?

Second half at least.

Yeah, 60% is actually pretty damn low if I think about the rest of the cup. Typed before I thought it out.

It's precisely Lineker's attitutde that makes the English nat'l side tend to play below top standards

― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 21:40 (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh this is wipespread on tv and in papers, bar the guardian with their michael cox's and jonathon wilson's.

matt this has been one of the most entertaining games of the tournament imo.

It got bitty but was always compelling.

I thought Lineker was being sarcastic at first, 'til the full horror dawned.

second half less so because the ref upped the crazy

If Portugal's attacking players had been better over the last 45 this could have been so much better. "Intense tactics" don't mean much when your attackers fluff their chances.

Iniesta did well there but that's so not a free kick

lol <3 pepe

I know it was observed when APOEL was making its Champions League run that "Ivan Trickovski" is the ideal name for a clever, pacy Eastern European winger. I think "Custodio" is the equivalent for a no-nonsense Latin/Luso defensive midfielder.

nominative determinism

what a save

aw poor alba, that deserved a goal

wow

spain really hate corners don't they

not sure it'll go to gerards

Portugal are done in, they've given it a right good go though

Spain have been a lot better in ET. Still cant call a winner though. ive enjoyed this game.

How long 'til Custodio gets booked?

Spain have been better because Portugal have run themselves into the ground. Kinda hoping for penalties now.

yeah spain should win this now. as long as they don't get any corners. then portugal are in with a chance.

oh this is wipespread on tv and in papers

I didn't mean him particularly, but the popular English attitude to soccer and tactics and 'how it should be played' and why they're tactically so predictable and technically, merely adequate. It's as if English nationalism would rather lose than ever learn anything from those damned foreigners, either that or they're just to thick to learn anything or none of the smart ones play football.

wipespread heh heh.

a little of all that tbh

BACKPASS

well, yes mw.

lol backpass. hansen would be proud.

portugal to win it on pens, i'm calling it.

Not really true Michael, I doubt even the dumbest English commentators would say no to a great Brazil/France/Holland team of the past right now.

ok i have no idea how that became wipespread. d and p are nowhere close on a keyboard.

thought that was it

brilliant pass by Fabregas

did any of these guys get yellows in the qf? the ref just handed out his 9th or 10th, someone has to be missing the final

amnesty after the QFs

Amnesty after the quarters I thought

ref otm with the yellows, his job's not to avoid booking players

pedro fouled in the box there imo

throw the fuckin head at it son ffs

Portugal deserve that I think

his job's not to avoid booking players

I didn't find him unreasonable

amnesty after the QFs

― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 22:08 (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

the fuck is the point of this? it just means that players could dick around here with no risk.

Better than players missing out on the final imo

Ismael, I agree. If they'd merely played a defensive game, I might be somewhat less sanguine about it, but they took some chances. It was, all in all, a better game than the Spain vs France game, for example.

Yeah, 60% is actually pretty damn low if I think about the rest of the cup. Typed before I thought it out.

― indian rope trick (remy bean), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 21:44 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It should get lower towards the final as the opposition/occasion becomes more difficult to cope with - it's still v high by anyone else's standards.

Pepe's "MY FUCKING BALL" throughout that game was excellent.

Spain to take it on pens, CRon to CRy.

They risk giving up free-kicks and being booked twice and sent off. xps