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Post by Velkontés on Jun 28, 2016 2:14:26 GMT -5
I couldn't believe how England managed to let themselves get mugged like that after taking the lead. It's as if they remembered they were supposed to muck things up so everyone could get their pitchforks out. Can't help but feel sorry for the players to some extent. They know they are always one step away from ridicule and scorn, and that must weigh on their minds. I thought if they didn't get a second goal before half time they might bottle it in the second half and Iceland would hold on. You have to admit though, Iceland did play well. Oh, Iceland played great. The better team won. When England scored first I thought it might be a bit more open but then Iceland scored 3 seconds later. Then they scored another and I laughed. Then in the 2nd half England completely fell apart and couldn't even string 2 passes together or deliver a meaningful free kick into the area. It's a shock result but I do find it ridiculous how people are acting like Iceland are jobbers like San Marino or Andorra. Yeah they're not 1970 Brazil but they're a good team. They beat Netherlands twice in qualifying. And yes they only have a population of 330,000 people, a point they've been hammering into the ground, but 330,000 is enough to generate decent players in a good year with the right grass-roots organisation, which by all accounts Iceland have put in place in the last decade or so (artificial pitches and all that). Some of the commentators are OUTRAGED that England lost to puny Iceland. We're not even paying them respect after they beat us fair and square.
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Post by MasterSnit on Jun 29, 2016 16:17:59 GMT -5
It's kinda funny looking at that picture posted about England at a tournament. Point four states that expectations begin to soar to unreasonably high levels when they beat Lidl 4-0. Funny how a defeat to Iceland takes things back to point one. I'm with you though, Iceland got to where they are because they are a good team. It doesn't matter how many volcanoes you have, or professional teams, or whatever. If you are a good them then you're a good team. Simple as that. If Catalonia were an independant country they would be amongst the favourites and nobody would grumble about them being a small nation. Oh, and Scotland and England are in the same group for the World Cup qualifiers. 6 gimme points right there! ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png)
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Post by Velkontés on Jul 3, 2016 16:25:23 GMT -5
Funny how Portugal can play lousy all tournament and make the semi-final, whereas whenever England do that... you know, never mind.
Wales did a number on Belgium, including an incredible second goal by someone deemed expendable by Reading football club. Life is funny sometimes. The bookmakers seem to think that Portugal are strong favourites in that semi-final. However the bookmakers also thought the UK would vote to remain in the European Union, so fuck them. I can totally see Wales squeaking past them.
At some point in the 3rd Quarter Final Italy's manager, Erico Bischoffoni, decided "hey lads, let's play for penalties against Germany". Great plan there. Someone pointed out that all the English-based players in that shootout missed their penalty.
And Iceland finally came off the rails against France. It really is a shame that they couldn't at least hold the game at 0-2 until half time, but at least they got the HONOUR and PRIVILEGE of getting to play the mighty ENGLAND in a game of association football!
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Post by MasterSnit on Jul 7, 2016 17:36:44 GMT -5
LOL. That shoot-out had some good comedy in it too.
Iceland got well beat but they still went out swinging and grabbed a couple of goals. Also, I don't remember who it was that made the comment about Iceland earning the prize of playing England, but didn't you just know that he had jinxed it right there?
So France vs Portugal in the final. If the Germany game is anything to go by, the Football Gods are with France. Then again, Portugal have won one game in 90mins and are in the final. Suppose I'll go with France in the final. 2-0.
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Post by Velkontés on Jul 10, 2016 17:12:23 GMT -5
If the Germany game is anything to go by, the Football Gods are with France. Ho ho ho. On paper this looked like an uninspiring match-up. But then Ronaldo got injured, and all of a sudden there was an incredibly compelling storyline: can Portugal get the job done without that preening motherfucker and make France job in their hometown. And they did. And then, despite having only played 15 minutes of a 120 minute match, Ronaldo went up and lifted the trophy himself like a true heel. Life really is funny sometimes. This tournament was way, way, way too long. The next one is being split up between a number of different cities. I like that idea, but it should be a straight knockout. I mean, I can understand a group stage at the World Cup, because you get to play nations you wouldn't usually play (like Costa Rica and Uruguay for England last time), but there is no need for a World Cup II with only European teams.
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Post by MasterSnit on Jul 17, 2016 8:54:38 GMT -5
Yeah, I wasn't too thrilled by the tournament. Too long and too boring.
I'm not sure how the next tournament will work. There is going to be a lot of travelling for some teams. Come the semi-finals there will likely be one team who have been from Dublin to Baku to Saint Petersburg, while the team they play have played mainly in central Europe. Maybe not, but I can see the "miles travelled" excuse being brought out by some teams. That being said, both semi-finals and the final are at Wembley. That'll give Scotland a big advantage over their potential opponents.
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Post by Velkontés on Jul 18, 2016 15:00:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I wasn't too thrilled by the tournament. Too long and too boring. I'm not sure how the next tournament will work. There is going to be a lot of travelling for some teams. Come the semi-finals there will likely be one team who have been from Dublin to Baku to Saint Petersburg, while the team they play have played mainly in central Europe. Maybe not, but I can see the "miles travelled" excuse being brought out by some teams. I think the idea is that each city will hold a group, and a 1st round knockout. So if you win your group you get to stay in Baku for 4 games. Then you fly off somewhere for the QF. Then it's London for the SF and Final. So there will actually be an incentive to finish 1st rather than draw all your matches, sneak through as a 3rd place team, and then win the whole fucking tournament. Well, makes sense to have a neutral venue hold the semi-finals and final
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