Spain v Portugal...

[wfc4ever]

Is everyone hoping Portgual score first so we don't see Spain playing keep ball for most of the game in their own half?

Or will Ronaldo and co give the Spainish more problems in defence given its a semi-final and probably some national pride too given they are neighbours.

[Defunct]

According to talk sport this morning we're idiots if we call Spain boring and know nothing about football.

Spain aren't boring, but watching them play is like watching paint dry, a kettle boil or waiting for a cancelled train.

I'm looking forward to the match tomorrow night.

[wfc4ever]

I just think they can attack more which ofcourse can still be done by passing the ball nicely...as proved against Ireland.

TBH France made so little effort it wouldn't surprise me if the Spainish players once going a goal up just thought what's the point in rushing around trying to score goals when it doesn't matter.

[wfcmoog]

I don't dislike watching Spain play. I fancy Portugal to do them though. Nobody's gone at Spain yet and I wonder how they will cope.

[The PozzMan]

I know it's only friendlies, but they collapsed when teams did that such as Argentina, shortly after they won the world cup if I remember?

[Layton]

Portugal will withdraw into the team that played the first game against Germany , and will hope to beat Spain on the counter = bore fest , i`m going to to Boxing as i usually do on a wednesday and come back in time for the 2nd half , when at least something has to happen

[Smudger]

I know it's only friendlies, but they collapsed when teams did that such as Argentina, shortly after they won the world cup if I remember?

They hit the woodwork twice in that game and both teams missed several chances but Argentina had the balls and skills to attack them and it was very exciting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qnl5baq1E

That said it was a friendly. Competitive games are the only games that count. Unfortunately FIFA like to add friendly results into their ranking equations which is one reason why England is so grossly overinflated.

If Portugual attack like Italy did then it will be an exciting Iberian affair otherwise Spain will do what they do. I think Bento will hope to get one on the counter though.

Spain should attack the flank Cristina operates on as he never bothers to track back. Hopefully we may see Llorente on at some stage as in the WC and Navas would be a good option to deploy against Joao Pereira or Coentrao.

[99mph]

Getting ready for commentators and pundits to orgasm over every Ronaldo touch

[NathWFC]

Hope Ronaldo tears them apart. Spain bore the sh*t out of me.

[nascot]

Spain rattling at the back.

[LPC213]

Ref's been pretty poor so far, but I'm pleased to see that Spain aren't having any fun out there.

I've had a few bets on Portugal so far (including outright winners and Ronaldo golden boot) and it's admittedly more fluke than real football knowledge but this is the Portugal I expected to see. Coentrao looks a great player and I'd love to see him over here. Nani, Meireles and Ronaldo as I expected.

[LPC213]

P.S. Yes, Spain irritate me. The talksport thing this morning was ridiculous. Yes, Spain are boring because they do not make games entertaining. Sure they may be good at sideways football but the rest of it is awful.

[Defunct]

Good game so far, happy to admit I was wrong. Might put a couple of quid on penalties.

[nascot]

Another crap Ronaldo freekick yet the commentators still have a w*nk about it.

[lendal]

Boooored

[99mph]

*Portugese freekick*

"Well, how many times has Ronaldo scores from here. Big chance"

*Ronaldo shoots too high (again)*

Keown "Well I think it was too close for him"

Stop hyping everything up and looking for some sort of soundbite if they score

[SM#16]

Ronaldo, what a ****.

[El distraído]

What an incredible chance that was for Portugal on the break there. V poor pass to Ronaldo though, but an even worse miss.

[SM#16]

This game is shyte.

[matimbers]

zzzzzzzzz. So bad I nearly switched over to Midsummer Murders!

[Birdydoug]

" A bit like a game of chess this " M K struggles to find page 2 of the BBC pundit phrase book.

[domthehornet]

zzzzzzzzz. So bad I nearly switched over to Midsummer Murders!

Good episode tonight!

[99mph]

" A bit like a game of chess this " M K struggles to find page 2 of the BBC pundit phrase book.

Followed up with "Who will blink first?"

Because that's how Chess is won

[wfc4ever]

Least the penalties should see some shots on goal.

TBF Portgual have done what France didn't do.

Unsettled Spain and not let them dominate.

[nascot]

Excellent first save

[wfc4ever]

Bit jammy with that one Fabregas!

Mind you a few were close to missing...

[LPC213]

inches in it at the end for Bruno Alves and Fabregas... Really disappointed, Portugal Germany final would have been fantastic. Probably wind up being Spain and Italy...

[oxhey67]

What a selfish ***** Ronaldo is!

Wanting the 'Kodak Moment' of taking the 5th penalty so if Portugal win it on that one he gets the glory.

But..

It doesn't even get to the Portugese 5th penalty so can't be blamed for the loss.

Best player in the world? **** Off!!

That miss in the 90th minute was awful. Had that been ANY English player all and sundry would have come down on him like a ton of bricks.
But no, it's the chosen one. Apparently the shot was awkward because it was going away from him. JEEEES-USSS!!

Ego. Ego. Ego.
As good as he undoubtedly is his ego gets in the way.

[rojiblancohorizontal]

What a selfish ***** Ronaldo is!

Wanting the 'Kodak Moment' of taking the 5th penalty so if Portugal win it on that one he gets the glory.

But..

It doesn't even get to the Portugese 5th penalty so can't be blamed for the loss.

Best player in the world? **** Off!!

That miss in the 90th minute was awful. Had that been ANY English player all and sundry would have come down on him like a ton of bricks.
But no, it's the chosen one. Apparently the shot was awkward because it was going away from him. JEEEES-USSS!!

Ego. Ego. Ego.
As good as he undoubtedly is his ego gets in the way.

I just want to agree that a hundred times :)

Spain is at the final thanks to Iker, Iniesta, Ramos, Pique and Cesc... Del Bosque seems to be trying to make Spain loose

[Udinese]

What a selfish ***** Ronaldo is!

Wanting the 'Kodak Moment' of taking the 5th penalty so if Portugal win it on that one he gets the glory.

But..

It doesn't even get to the Portugese 5th penalty so can't be blamed for the loss.

Best player in the world? **** Off!!

That miss in the 90th minute was awful. Had that been ANY English player all and sundry would have come down on him like a ton of bricks.
But no, it's the chosen one. Apparently the shot was awkward because it was going away from him. JEEEES-USSS!!

Ego. Ego. Ego.
As good as he undoubtedly is his ego gets in the way.
I too agree 100%

[Defunct]

Spain to win on penalties 8-1, Portugal to win on penalties 9-1, both odds offered at half time.
Thank you very much :sign15:.

[Birdydoug]

Another classic from M K " A goal now will change the game dramaticaly"

[Layton]

well , i wasnt far wrong there , and that was just watching 2nd half onwards

Spains continued arrogance in not playing strikers is really grating on me , they are the international version of Arsenal or something , i will be rooting for Germany tonight , and again Sunday

[J.B]

I don't like the guy but I can't believe the stick Ronaldo is getting for being down to take the fifth penalty.

It would have been a decision made in advance of this game by the manager and putting your best penalty taker down to take the fifth is a common method. Drogba took the fifth penalty for Chelsea in the CL final and didn't get called selfish etc.

[wfcmoog]

Followed up with "Who will blink first?"

Because that's how Chess is won

Post of the day

[wfcmoog]

I don't like the guy but I can't believe the stick Ronaldo is getting for being down to take the fifth penalty.

It would have been a decision made in advance of this game by the manager and putting your best penalty taker down to take the fifth is a common method. Drogba took the fifth penalty for Chelsea in the CL final and didn't get called selfish etc.

I agree about the penalty, however, in such a big game, Ronaldo didn't deliver. He was Portugal's Rooney last night.

[GoingDown]

Drogba isn't Chelsea's normal penalty taker. Lampard is, who went first in the CL final I believe.

[J.B]

I agree about the penalty, however, in such a big game, Ronaldo didn't deliver. He was Portugal's Rooney last night.

Agreed, he was poor when it really mattered.


Drogba isn't Chelsea's normal penalty taker. Lampard is, who went first in the CL final I believe.

It was actually Mata who took Chelsea's first penalty. Lampard went third when the shootout could have been virtually over.

Regardless of that though if people are going by the theory that your best penalty takers should be first to take one then Drogba should have gone before the likes of Ashley Cole and David Luiz and not fifth.

[Smudger]

Post of the day

Chess is won by not blinking first ? It's won by mental analysis and deep thinking and spatial awareness built over thousands of games.

Anyway thoroughly merited win for Spain. Theyhad the better chances throughout from Arbeloa and Iniesta. Ronaldo flip flopped again with his oppurtunity. BBC's appalling commentary continued. When Cristina shot wide no problem, when Almeida did the exact same thing, he's useless.

del Bosque handicapped Spain . Silva is in poor form and has been for a few months. Negredo ??????

Has Llorente done something personal to del Bosque ? Is it because he is Basque ? Martinez has had one subsitute appearance and Muniain wasn't even picked. Or Iraola at rghtback.

He must play Navas/Pedro either one and Llorente in the final. The defensive unit is fine. The pathetic excuse that England's abysmal display is down to fatigue is thoroughly demolished by the fact this Spanish team comprise players who have been playing almost non stop for three seasons.

How Woy would long for a defensive midfielder who can pass eighty yards with accuracy, perform roulette turns and sleight of foot as well as get stuck in or a defender who can take free kicks with accuracy (better than Cristina) and penalties as well as being a bloody good defender to boot.

Viva La Furia Roja (so long as they aren't playing Argentina).

[rojiblancohorizontal]

@Smudger We don't know if Llorente did something to Del Bosque, but Spain is calling him to be in the starter team. He is the best forward we have right now. Maybe because he is Basque, is not a silly theory.

Arbeloa... We have Juanfran, better player, but... ARBELOA PLAYS ON MADRID! (And Del Bosque can't do anything bad to Madrid or Barcelona).

He also has an obsessive love to Navas, he don't like Silva too much, neither Mata...

[Smudger]

Juanfran deserved a shot at it but del Bosque's mind may be clouded by loyalties to his club.

Silva hasn't really been playing well at all for several months. Maybe he is carrying a nagging injury that needs looking at or is just flat for some other reason.

I was wondering if the Basque contingent might have been left out because of the system they play under Bielsa that requires an immense amount of effort and they were exhausted by the end of the season as seen in the Copa del Rey.

Then again the same should be expected for the Barca players in the work they do off the ball so that doesn't compute.

Alba and Juanfran are both converted wingers which is an interesting trend and seems to be becoming more prevalent. And this idea of defensive midfielders being shuffled into centrebacks like Javi Martinez to build from the back.

A Bielsa idea passed onto Pep but one that only works if the player like Martinez is technically adept and physically capable.

For the final I'd go with:
------------------------Casillas--------------------------
-Arbeloa------Ramos----------Pique----------Alba--------
-----------------Alonso-----Busquets---------------------
-------------------------Xavi----------------------------
------Iniesta-----------------------------------Pedro----
-----------------------Llorente--------------------------

This would give del Bosque full room to play with 3 subsitutes. I felt that against Portugual he effectively wasted 2 spots by playing players that should not be there. However whether it is complacency on his part or a slight fear he may well go again with the same system.

[rojiblancohorizontal]

By the way: alba is new Barcelona's player. 14M€

[Smudger]

By the way: alba is new Barcelona's player. 14M€

Seems a popular way for Barca to do business. Sell player from La Masia who they think won't get an oppurtunity then welcome them back a few seasons later albeit having to pay for the privilege.

Valencia need the money and they've got Mathieu. Not as good but still pretty solid.

Who do you think is next in line to return to Barca ? ;) Romeu ? Might be a while though before that happens.

[rojiblancohorizontal]

I think Romeu is the only one who may come back after some year, although they improve more players from barcelona B that re-buy them, Madrid is the one that domain that haha There's a thing we say in Spain: "If you are good at Real Madrid Castilla (the B team), you may improve to Getafe CF". But its hard Romeo come back, there are more midfielders that try to get a place on first time (what a surprise, midfielders!) as Jonathan Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto, Delofeu (crack!)...

Let me say that now, Valencia wants Siqueira, but Pina refused a 4M offer, he wants at least 8M (Manchester U is also behind Siqueira)

[wfcmoog]

Chess is won by not blinking first ? It's won by mental analysis and deep thinking and spatial awareness built over thousands of games.

That was the point. We were mocking Keown, not agreeing with his summary of chess.

[Smudger]

That was the point. We were mocking Keown, not agreeing with his summary of chess.

My dear fellow you are more ITK than the said Keown ;) . By the way here is a family portrait of Keown's ancestors:

http://img128.imagevenue.com/loc97/th_043520552_0_122_97lo.jpg (http://img128.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=043520552_0_122_97lo.jpg)


Roji have you any word in the Spanish press regarding Mateo Musacchio staying in Spain or moving abroad ?

[rojiblancohorizontal]

It seems he will leave Villarreal, but is not sure yet.