Did Thierry Henry go down too easily to win the penalty in the 33rd minute?
TOHARI PAIJAN: Looking at the replays, there is no doubt that Ricardo Carvalho's trailing leg made contact with Henry.
But the striker went down theatrically even though contact was minimal. It was not a malicious challenge. Carvalho had carelessly tripped him but Henry tumbled inside the box, looking for the advantage.
That proved to be the difference as Zinedine Zidane stepped up and converted the winning penalty.
Carvalho will feel really hard done by. He did not mean to hack Henry. And you could see him still arguing with the referee even after half-time. But the official's decision is final.
Do you feel sorry for the Portuguese?
France's goalkeeper Fabien Barthez celebrates with Thierry Henry after their defeat of Portugal.--Picture:AP
Not really. Portugal's reputation for diving really came back to haunt them.
Cristiano Ronaldo was guilty of a blatant dive in the 37th minute when he went down dramatically as Luis Figo delivered a cross. There was hardly any contact from Willy Sagnol, yet Ronaldo tumbled as if he had been shot.
Again, in the 80th minute, the winger took another dive as he jostled with Sagnol to meet Paulo Ferreira's cross even though he was the one tugging the defender's shirt.
Helder Postiga was another guilty one. His simulation in the 75th minute was totally uncalled for. Nobody touched him inside the box as Nuno Valente drilled in a low cross and yet the striker went down dramatically.
After what had happened in the earlier games against Holland and England, I have no doubts that Portugal are marked by referees. In contrast, France are not known for simulations and that's why Henry got the benefit of the doubt from referee Jorge Larrionda.
Portugal have created an unwanted name for themselves with their diving, gamesmanship and bad temper. They are their own worst enemies and they really shot themselves in the foot with these antics.
And this morning, they paid a heavy price for that.
If Portugal deserved to go out, do France deserve to be in the final?
Kudos to Les Bleus. They are the underdogs but they had come so far by playing a very clever tactical game.
They know they are not young anymore. Their average age is 30. They hardly have the legs to last 90 minutes. And had the game gone into extra-time, they would have been finished.
But Raymond Domenech is a smarter coach than most people would give him credit for. He is very smart in emulating Arsenal's Champions League tactics for the national team.
He realised the limitations of his Dad's Army and relied more on a counter-attacking team. They wanted to finish the game within 90 minutes. They went in search of the first goal and after they got it through Zidane's penalty, they just closed shop and defended.
Credit to the French backline. They were simply outstanding. And Lilian Thuram gave a performance that was equal to Fabio Cannavaro's in Italy's 2-0 win over Germany the previous day. He was like a general out there in the Allianz Arena.
Portugal had all the possession but never made their chances count. In contrast, France were always dangerous on the break, just like Arsenal. The creativity of Zidane and Franck Ribery, combined with Henry's deadly pace, really kept the Portuguese on their toes.
Will we see a negative final, now that two outstanding defences in France and Italy will face each other?
I doubt so.
France want to end everything in 90 minutes. They simply do not have the energy to go into extra-time and penalties. Furthermore, Domenech knows that Italy have better quality reserves in Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino.
It will be a gripping game. Both sides know that the first goal will win the Final as both teams have phenomenal defences.
Also, Italy have superior firepower in the shape of Luca Toni, Francesco Totti and Fabio Grosso. The Azzurri have also shown that they had learnt from the bitter lesson of Euro 2000, where France equalised in the last minute and scored a Golden Goal. Against Germany, they never stopped fighting even though penalties were inevitable and they got their reward with those late goals from Fabio Grosso and Del Piero.
If there is one thing that could decide the outcome, it will have to be the goalkeepers.
While Gianluigi Buffon has been world class so far, Fabien Barthez really gave us a few heart-stopping moments. His poor handling of Ronaldo's 78th-minute free-kick nearly gave an equaliser to Portugal had Figo been more clinical with his header.
And three minutes into stoppage time, his poor throw, combined with Claude Makelele's losing possession, nearly caused another embarrassment but the offside flag came to their rescue.
Barthez simply cannot afford to be the clown again.
tenshi01 wrote: Luthiel no Edge : I'll be waiting for those piccys. You didn't eat since the match? zomg, get something in your system, you need strength for the finals!
I finally got them but I have a hard time uploading them. I managed to upload only three of 'em ! =O
Tenshi01 & Tu_triky >> There's 4 more pictures to come! I still have plenty of others but they are a little too much dark (although I put the flash), I don't have any photos skills to lighten them up a little.
At 2:00 am, it was the Apocalypse! They called the CRS, POLICE & RAID ! You can see it, they were fully prepared to charge (trust me, it was frightening, even for a big boy like me =) :
At 2:00 am, it was the Apocalypse! They called the CRS, POLICE & RAID ! You can see it, they were fully prepared to charge (trust me, it was frightening, even for a big boy like me =) :
CenturyLover wrote:Just read yesterday that Miguel wont be playing because of some knee injury. So ppl should not even start talking about him diving :shakehead:
Ahh well, some Germany players wont play either, Ballack is one of them. Seems like they changed their goalie too, Kahn is being one today.
perhaps but he wasn't FOULED...must have injuryed himself on his own like Michael Owen. in any event, every one else is diving on that squad...have you read the articles since the portgual v. france game?
it's all over the press from England to Asia.
Even Scolari was quoted as saying, "Like other players don't dive?" That's like justifying criminal behavior by saying "what other ppl don't commit crimes...since they do it's okay if i do!" of course other players dive....they just don't dive every 3.5 seconds when they're not touched :doh:
Crap ballack isn't playing,and lehmann being replaced. NOOO! At least klose isn't out. Ah, I can't wait till today's and tomorrow's match. Sad it's almost over T_T
tenshi01 wrote:Crap ballack isn't playing,and lehmann being replaced. NOOO! At least klose isn't out. Ah, I can't wait till today's and tomorrow's match. Sad it's almost over T_T
ballack never had superb game fitness in the last few games....i think the over time games just wore him out too.
perhaps but he wasn't FOULED...must have injuryed himself on his own like Michael Owen. in any event, every one else is diving on that squad...have you read the articles since the portgual v. france game?
Never said he was fouled. But I said before that he might have just injured himself and I was right. I remember others said he dove so just wanted to make the thing clear..
Never said he was fouled. But I said before that he might have just injured himself and I was right. I remember others said he dove so just wanted to make the thing clear..
true. we'll see how things turn out this afternoon....germany should win.....they've played a much higher level of socceer than the portuguese....that last game could easily have gone the other way.
It wasn't an issue of Miquel faking a dive or not, it was more of an issue that Pauleta screamed murder n death after when he went down (as if he was fouled) watch that youtube movie again I posted :hehe: there was no contact at all.
Yatta! Germany derserved that win. Portugal's coach made a bad decision by not lettting Figo start the game, also I don't think Portugal cared for a win as much as Germany did. Oh well, this made my day :victory:
Ahh, what a great match. This is the kinda football I want to see in tomorrow's match! Germany didnt stop trying to make a goal after they were leading 3-0, if it had been France, they wouldve just played time after they made one goal. Portugal played very well too! They just should have had Figo in the court earlier... since Portugal made a goal after he was swapped. That goal was just great^^
I feel sorry for Petit though, making an own goal :shakehead:
I also want to give credit to Kahn. That old man XD was great as a goalie.
Just one thing I want to say....... THOSE F*CKING GERMAN FANS COULD JUST SHUT UP! I still dont get it why Ronaldo gets whistled and booed on every time he touches the ball :shakehead: All the whistlers can consider theirselves as idiots who dont deserve to watch soccer. :beatyou: :beatyou: :beatyou:
tenshi01 wrote:Yatta! Germany derserved that win. Portugal's coach made a bad decision by not lettting Figo start the game, also I don't think Portugal cared for a win as much as Germany did. Oh well, this made my day :victory:
an exciting match.....portugual only scored two NON-PK's in the entire second round....one v. holland and the goal against germany today...they are WEAKSAUCE.
just heard on the radio how a guy who'd stolen someone's ticket for the brazil v australia game got caught. he actually went to the game and sat in the allocated seat next to the husband of the woman who he'd stolen the ticket from!! :hehe: :hehe:
kenjilina wrote:just heard on the radio how a guy who'd stolen someone's ticket for the brazil v australia game got caught. he actually went to the game and sat in the allocated seat next to the husband of the woman who he'd stolen the ticket from!! :hehe: :hehe:
what an idiot!!
what a fool. :shakehead:
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