French midfielder Samir Nasri turned 25 on Tuesday but according to the sports daily L'Equipe, he had better make the most of any celebrations, as he faces potentially a long ban from the national side.His behaviour at Euro 2012, which included two outbursts at journalists and being deemed by several team-mates as a disruptive influence, is the reason why the squad's 100,000 euros ($125,000, 80,000 pounds) a player bonuses are now under the scanner.Nasri has also put at risk sponsorship money paid to the French Football Federation (FFF) based on independent polling about the behaviour and popularity of "Les Bleus" during major competitions.The FFF had already seen each sponsor reduce its contribution by two million euros after the 2010 World Cup, which saw players go on strike and then exit at the first stage, and a threat of a 20 percent reduction if the team's popularity dipped more.The results of the latest poll are unlikely to make happy reading for either the French football authorities or the players.L'Equipe estimates that with FFF president Noel Le Graet up for re-election in December, he will want to make an example of Nasri and the Manchester City star could face a ban of up to two years, ruling him out of the next World Cup finals.
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 08:37 (eleven years ago) link
Ozil has 49 assists in two seasons at Real. Xavi has 19 in the last two years for Barca. Clearly that only shows a very, very partial element of their overall contributions, and Xavi is probably still the superior player, but Ozil is super-effective at club level.
― Temporarily Famous In The Czech Republic (ShariVari), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 08:43 (eleven years ago) link
Pretty sure one of the team-mates who cites Nasri as a 'disruptive influence' is Malouda. They'd be better served making sure he never finds his way into the National squad again.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 08:58 (eleven years ago) link
I always feel assists are a bit of a difficult thing to measure. Like how often has Xavi picked the through ball that opened a team up for e.g. Iniesta to square a ball for Messi to tap in? Messi gets the goal and Iniesta gets the assist but Xavi created the chance iykwim. Barcelona's rotation of possession in front of a defence probing for gaps means that assists will be spread more evenly across the team.
― onimo, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 09:08 (eleven years ago) link
Ozil has been killing it for my FFL team as well, he's been very effective for Germany this tournament. He's not at Xavi level but hey he might well get there.
Nasri is a nasty punchable little shit and I revel in his misfortune.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 09:10 (eleven years ago) link
I always feel assists are a bit of a difficult thing to measure
totally. they are completely unmeasurable in fact. it's impossible to say who was responsible for a goal other than the scorer. "assists" seem to me like a stats-obsessed American's take on football.
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:04 (eleven years ago) link
also because it helps that every man and his dawg has a ff team now, although maybe that is an imported american thing too
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:06 (eleven years ago) link
I have a weird thing with Samir Nasri where I'm always surprised to see him turn up in any team he plays for. I spent large parts of last season watching Man City and going "huh? Nasri? He's there?" despite knowing full well he plays for them. I do the same when I see him for France. I think my brain just refuses to accept his existence.
re. Larsson, there's some of his autobiography quoted here, which covers his departure from Feyenoord: http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s302/st37269.htm
― ailsa, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:08 (eleven years ago) link
nasri being a dick who often doesn't perform when you want him to? p old news surely
/embittered arsenal fan
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:13 (eleven years ago) link
in ten years you'll have him in a top 20 list
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:14 (eleven years ago) link
Three lines into your link, ailsa, and there's a horrible "always given 110%" :(
I shall persevere against my better judgement.
― onimo, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:20 (eleven years ago) link
Four lines in and the author has confused reign and rein :(
― ailsa, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:23 (eleven years ago) link
After that it's c&p all book extracts - Henrik has a better editor. I just sneaked a peak at his 3rd place play off goal in the '94 World Cup - proper Henrik goal - springs the offside, touches round the keeper, dummies to put the defender on his arse, rolls the ball into the empty net and reels away celebrating.
― onimo, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:31 (eleven years ago) link
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 11:14 (23 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
top 20 players city wasted their money on?
― Smothered, Covered and Chunked!!! (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:38 (eleven years ago) link
that's a tough field already
― onimo, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:44 (eleven years ago) link
top 20 players focussed on winning titles
― Rosie 47 (ken c), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:44 (eleven years ago) link
all strong zing
― Ну, там твое место, там сабе будь! (darraghmac), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:53 (eleven years ago) link
nasri aside this is a good q
― ogmor, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:19 (eleven years ago) link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B4 imo
― you can't stream a pancake (onimo), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:21 (eleven years ago) link
it's between him and Santa Cruz
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
He should have had J%C3%B4 on the back of his shirt.
― boxall, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:29 (eleven years ago) link
don't forget benjani
― ogmor, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:32 (eleven years ago) link
negredo eh, who saw that coming?
― second only to popcorn (or something), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 17:36 (eleven years ago) link
Predicting a pretty boring game - Spain will dominate possession and Portugal will defend to fuck and then win 1-0 through something amazing from Ronaldo.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 17:48 (eleven years ago) link
That sounds like the opposite of boring tbh
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 17:49 (eleven years ago) link
I think 2-1 to someone, probably Spain. I'm a bit torn tbh, admired Spain for years but the possession without penetration they're often exhibiting in this tournament is boring me. Portugal much more willing in attack on recent evidence and Cron seems to be on a mission to prove he's better than some wee guy on his holidays. Still think Spain vs Germany would be the best final so idk :/
― you can't stream a pancake (onimo), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:05 (eleven years ago) link
Think Portugal will try to come and play a little bit rather than just sit back. They were v passive vs Germany and they lost that game. Destroyed Spain in a friendly.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:05 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, I want a Spain-Germany Final. I'm still on a liking Spain bandwagon.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:07 (eleven years ago) link
remember this?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExL-u9zJLsk
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:08 (eleven years ago) link
This Gaby vt is woeful
― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:12 (eleven years ago) link
I love his tantrums. It wasn't even offside!
― you can't stream a pancake (onimo), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:12 (eleven years ago) link
did anyone just watch that terrible shit?
― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:13 (eleven years ago) link
gaby trying to make it seem like roy took over a village team and organised them in 4 weeks.
― pandemic, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:16 (eleven years ago) link
Liam Brady predicting Arbeloa and Ramos are going to "do" Ronaldo
― Number None, Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:16 (eleven years ago) link
I fear that Almeida will not be as useful as Postiga but I hope I'm wrong
― Love Max Ophüls of us all (Michael White), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:18 (eleven years ago) link
The music and everything was so odd, xpost.
― Know how Roo feel (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:18 (eleven years ago) link
I love the received wisdom that you can "do" or mark* the best footballers in the world out of games. Like no-one's tried that while they were becoming the best in the world.
*I do know this can be done, I just think it's passed off as too simple by pundits
― you can't stream a pancake (onimo), Wednesday, 27 June 2012 18:19 (eleven years ago) link
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