Euro 2016

[Amsterhammer]

Re:

Man, I do hope Wales will destroy Portugal......... Too much hope and not enough reality perhaps. Anyway game on.

'Destroy' is unlikely, but I join you in hoping for a Welsh win, especially with a Hammer on the pitch.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Come on, Portugal!

 

[the delgados]

Re:

So the winner of Germany-France has to play on thursday AND on sunday? That's crazy.

So says any rider in Le Tour. Madness.
I know next to nothing about the "beautiful game," so forgive me for asking why it's crazy to think a soccer player can't play a 90 minute match on two day's rest.

 

[BigMac]

Return of the Yawn™

 

[Flamin]

This whole tournament has been yawn. Euro 2016 = Giro 2012.

 

[Netserk]

Italy - Spain was a very good game imho.

 

[Flamin]

And to make things even worse, Portugal in the finale. Though we might get to see Ronaldo cry again, that would upgrade the tournament to a Giro 2015.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Italy - Spain was a very good game imho.

Some (a clear minority) were good of course, but a lot of games were pure sheisz.

 

[lenric]

In Fernando Saints we trust.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

And to make things even worse, Portugal in the finale. Though we might get to see Ronaldo cry again, that would upgrade the tournament to a Giro 2015.

So much bitterness. Portugal delivered one of the best matches this tournament against Hungary.



Good second half, we totally deserved it. Props to Wales for reaching this far.

Vamos!

 

[Sem Travões]

Just to make things perfect now, a Portugal - France final with Portugal winning 2-0, one goal from Adrien Silva and another one from Raphael Guerreiro, it would be perfection

 

[BigMac]

Yeah, Adrien Silva man of the match in my opinion. Such class, this coming from a Benfica fan.

Regarding a final against France, I'd rather we win with an off-side goal on the 119th minute. Just to troll their press and that imbecile Guy Roux. Sanches scoring it would be the cherry on top of the cake.

But let's be focused, humble and not get carried away.

 

[Red Rick]

The Wales fairytale is at an end. Deserving for Portugal, they finally won a game in 90 minutes .

Regardless of who they play, I'll root for them in the finals. They've gone quite deep a number of times over the last years, whereas I remember nothing of the French after 2006, and the Germans are German. I do think they're the underdog though, especially if they are to play France.

 

[Brullnux]

Portugal deserved to win, not so much to be in the final but they deserved to win today. Talk. about scraping through, though. Prior to today they hadn't won a single 90-minute game.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Portugal deserved to win, not so much to be in the final but they deserved to win today. Talk. about scraping through, though. Prior to today they hadn't won a single 90-minute game.

I can see where people are coming from with the ''they didn't win a single game in 90 minutes and therefore should not be here at this stage'', but that doesn't mean much without context: Portugal were the superior team in 5 of our 6 games so far, only against Croatia did this not happen, but the Croats were not great themselves. It was an even match that one. So while I understand it, I think it is a bit dishonest to say we're not deserving finalists.

Not having a go at you, mind. You've been very fair in all your analysis so far.

Cheers.

 

[Sem Travões]

And again another clear as water penalty that wasn't given, we survive everything:
A bad game against Iceland
Ronaldo missing a penalty against Austria
Against Hungary every kick the hungarian players did a goal after three or four deflections in our players
A clear penalty agiasnt Croatia
Another clear penalty against Poland
Winning penaltys against Poland
We survive everything they throw at us

BRAÇO AS ARMAS FEITO

VIVA PORTUGAL

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Portugal deserved to win, not so much to be in the final but they deserved to win today. Talk. about scraping through, though. Prior to today they hadn't won a single 90-minute game.

I can see where people are coming from with the ''they didn't win a single game in 90 minutes and therefore should not be here at this stage'', but that doesn't mean much without context: Portugal were the superior team in 5 of our 6 games so far, only against Croatia did this not happen, but the Croats were not great themselves. It was an even match that one. So while I understand it, I think it is a bit dishonest to say we're not deserving finalists.

Not having a go at you, mind. You've been very fair in all your analysis so far.

Cheers.

Thanks. There is nothing wrong with scraping through, but a part of me feels that Italy, Germany and France are more 'deserving' finalists i.e they have played better. Before tonight, I'd have said Wales deserved it but today Portugal showed they are the better side, without ever seeming in any danger. All of the top draw sides have been aided by an easier draw, mind. OTOH you can only beat what is in front of you, in whatever way you can, and Portugal have done just that to get to the final. Without the beating part

 

[gooner]

Re:

Yeah, Adrien Silva man of the match in my opinion. Such class, this coming from a Benfica fan.

Regarding a final against France, I'd rather we win with an off-side goal on the 119th minute. Just to troll their press and that imbecile Guy Roux.Sanches scoring it would be the cherry on top of the cake.

But let's be focused, humble and not get carried away.

I liked Guy Roux as a manager but that was a ridiculous thing to say. Sanches is now taking legal action against him.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Portugal deserved to win, not so much to be in the final but they deserved to win today. Talk. about scraping through, though. Prior to today they hadn't won a single 90-minute game.

I can see where people are coming from with the ''they didn't win a single game in 90 minutes and therefore should not be here at this stage'', but that doesn't mean much without context: Portugal were the superior team in 5 of our 6 games so far, only against Croatia did this not happen, but the Croats were not great themselves. It was an even match that one. So while I understand it, I think it is a bit dishonest to say we're not deserving finalists.

Not having a go at you, mind. You've been very fair in all your analysis so far.

Cheers.

You are right to point out that the Hungary game was very good, but for the most part a lot of the criticism of Portugal has been rightly targeting the fact that for a team with such a high number of highly skilled players, they have played some really negative and dull football. Being the better team doesn't always mean playing up to your ability (England were clearly better than Russia or Slovakia, but played some really poor football, while Germany and Italy had been two of the best and most impressive teams in the tournament, and produced an absolute borefest of a match); in the Croatia game, the goal - in the 117th minute - was Portugal's first shot on target. They are also bearing a lot of criticism following on from Ronaldo's whining about the Icelanders at the start of the tournament, basically moaning that the team with fewer skilled stars didn't try to play expansive football and instead played to their strengths. Now it finally seems like they're starting to click as a team and work out how to break those teams down that they'd been struggling with earlier in the tournament - and are lucky they've been able to stay in the tournament long enough to do so.

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

This whole tournament has been yawn. Euro 2016 = Giro 2012.

Loving this post. Good to see the most disappointing gt ever get some hate and this Euro has sucked too.

 

[Archibald]

Re: Re:

...Belgium's path to final seems obvious and straightforward and they are getting better themselves.

I keep seeing that Belgium are a shoe-in for the final, while no one mentions Portugal. Are opinions that low of Portugal ...

ten chars

 

[sniper]

Bale was again world class yesterday.
I also like how he encourages his teammates. Always positive coaching from him.
The contrast with Ronaldo in that department is enormous.

Ronaldo's goal yesterday was spectacular though. No discussion.
To jump so high, not even using his elbows or arms to push off a defender.
Still, I think France or Germany won't have a hard time neutralizing him.

Fitness could now be Portugal's friend though, having one extra day to recover.

btw, what was the referee thinking yellow-carding Ronaldo? Imagine Ronaldo getting a second yellow and missing out on the finale.
That would be end of carreer.
For the ref, i mean.

 

[Brullnux]

@sniper

Yellow cards were wiped at the end of the last round, so anyone could get a yellow today.

 

[sniper]

thanks, didnt know that.
still, what if Ronaldo had scored another and pulled off his shirt?

 

[Põhja Konn]

Re: Re:

...Belgium's path to final seems obvious and straightforward and they are getting better themselves.

I keep seeing that Belgium are a shoe-in for the final, while no one mentions Portugal. Are opinions that low of Portugal ...

ten chars

Well played

Back then I hoped and expected Poland to beat Portugal. Somehow (deflected strike and penalties) Portugal instead prevailed. Also Belgium looked to have got them some momentum after two comfortable wins, which made their capitulation very surprising,even considering their well known deficiencies as a team.