OT: Euro04

#1 June 24th, 2004, 07:41 PM

It's 7.43pm BST, the national anthems have just finished, and I'm feeling a bit nervous...

Come on England!

7.48 1-0 to England (Owen)

And the first half finishes with the score still 1-0 to England. It's been a very exciting game so far, and I think I can speak for most football fans when I say that excitement is over-rated...

2-2 after extra time. So it'll be penalties then

[ June 24, 2004, 21:11: Message edited by: Mark the Merciful ]

Alneyan · #2 June 24th, 2004, 10:33 PM

I... feel the pain. My sympathy to Mark and Oleg. *Drows in sorrow*

Rollo · #3 June 24th, 2004, 10:58 PM

POR-TU-GAL!

Clearly the best game so far. What a fantastic match!
It was a hard one to watch for me as those were my two favorite teams playing against each other. Good to see that the better team won. England was way to passive for 80 minutes of the regular playing time. I hope that Rooney isn't too badly hurt.
Now I hope that Portugal makes it all the way to the title. It will be the Last chance for the players of the 'golden generation' (Figo, Rui Costa, Couto, et al.)

[ June 24, 2004, 21:59: Message edited by: Rollo ]

gravey101 · #4 June 24th, 2004, 11:02 PM

Oh, well, better team won to be honest, but there was nothing wrong with England's goal at the end of regular time and we should have won the match there and then. The referee mad a bad mistake in my opinion.

oleg · #5 June 25th, 2004, 01:28 AM

Yeah, it was pathetic.

Once ahead, pull midfield players back into penalty box. Kick longballs to isolated forwards and hope for the best. Does not work against quality teams like France or Portugal

I actually think referee was right - Terry held goalie down with his hand over shoulder. You can not do that inside the box. Even if you honestly go for the ball, goalie has a right of way.

primitive · #6 June 25th, 2004, 09:49 AM

Good call by the ref. Most refs would have missed the stiff arm by Terry.

gravey101 · #7 June 26th, 2004, 01:23 AM

I will admit to being biased here but I would argue that the photo does not sum up the entire situation. The keeper was out of position after the initial header hit the bar. Terry stood his ground next to Campbell and the keeper vainly tried to get past him, which is what you are seeing here. No stiff arm. If you watch the TV footage, which I am sure you have, you can see that there is no contact worthy of the name between Terry and keeper. Terry is entitled to hold his position in the box once he has got there in a legal manner which he did. In any case, the ref was on the other side of the players and a good ways down the field. He didn't see it at all. He saw a scamble in the box and gave a foul in the heat of the moment. The linesman had a better view and gave the goal. I think it was a shocking decision, but such is football. As I have said already, Portugal were the better side and sometimes luck favours the best.

[ June 25, 2004, 12:24: Message edited by: gravey101 ]