OT: Euro04

Originally posted by minipol:
Beckham should convert a penalty NO excuses. Everybody misses a penalty from time to time but it didn't look like a good effort to me.
Badly placed.

I don't think Beckham's penalty technique is very good. If you look at Sunday's one, or the one he scored against Argentina in the World Cup, they're all power and no placement. Michael Owen is (or was) technically much better.

But since Owen missed five in a row for Liverpool, it seems that there's nobody in the England team apart from Beckham who's prepared to take on the responsibility.

[minipol]

Yeah, taking penalties in important games can be very stressing even for professionals.
The Netherlands are a team that have been "cursed" when it comes to penalties. They still seem to drag that along with them.

Anyway, a long time ago when i still played soccer, i wasn't a good penalty kicker but i could kick a decent free kick. I scored a lot of goals on free kicks.

But back to Beckham: would nobody else have considered taking the penalty?

[Rollo]

I agree, the penalty kick was not a good one. I am even surprised that they let Beckham make the attempt. He missed the Last one against Turkey.
But the more important reason somebody else should have kicked is that Beckham and Barthez played for many years in the same club. Thus they know each other, giving an advantage to the goalie.

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by Rollo:
I agree, the penalty kick was not a good one. I am even surprised that they let Beckham make the attempt. He missed the Last one against Turkey.
But the more important reason somebody else should have kicked is that Beckham and Barthez played for many years in the same club. Thus they know each other, giving an advantage to the goalie.

Why advantage to the goalie, doesn't Beckham know as much about the goalie?
I'd belive it'd give none of them any advantage.

[oleg]

Because it is for striker to score, not for goalie to save. Striker bears more responcibility and expectations. He must strike well and accurate. No mistakes are allowed. But all goalie should do is to guess the direction correctly and hope for the best.

[primitive]

When the striker and the goalie know each other, the smartest one will usually win.

Now Bartez might not be of rocket scientist material, but Beckham

The blame for this miss must go to the Swede (not you Ruatha, the other one). He should have known better

[gravey101]

I didn't think it was an awful penalty at the time. Barthez guessed right and saved well. When I saw Zindines though I realized how average Beckham's was. I'd have Lampard or Rooney take penalties from now on.

[Alneyan]

*Crosses fingers* Croatia is leading to France for now, so perhaps my mad prevision will come to reality. Switerzland would need to win against France, and England against Croatia, and then France would not make it to the next stage of the competition.

What's the word for it? Oh yes, wishful thinking. But I may dream, can't I?

Edit: And add "Croatia has still to win against France" to the list.

[ June 17, 2004, 20:11: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

[Intimidator]

Originally posted by Alneyan:
*Crosses fingers* Croatia is leading to France for now, so perhaps my mad prevision will come to reality. Switerzland would need to win against France, and England against Croatia, and then France would not make it to the next stage of the competition.

What's the word for it? Oh yes, wishful thinking. But I may dream, can't I?

Edit: And add "Croatia has still to win against France" to the list.

Sorry 2-2 now

[Alneyan]

Indeed, hence my edit. Though I guess I am responsible, as France scores only when I am writing they are losing, and not before. (Sadly it happened as well in a certain other game against England. *Sighs* It hurts quite a lot when you leave with England leading, and comes back a few minutes later to see you have just lost the game. )