The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Not happy with it myself. The 'Geese were the ultraviolent in their last match...why should I be suprised that it wouldn't continue. Flopping and fouling their way into the finals. Good on ya mates...

I have nothing much to say about England yesterday, so I thought I'd look at a few comments I made earlier in this thread:

And that's before we've even started to discuss the possible violent consequences on the pitch, if somebody winds up our own Wayne Rooney just a little too far.

It may be a little early to say this, but I'm going to risk it. Zinedine Zidane is finished, a spent force. Still has some magic in him, but unlikely to impact a game like he used to. Should never have come out of retirement. There, now I've said that, he'll probably be the player of the tournament!

This is shaping up to be a typical England World Cup campaign - labour to an unconvincing place in the second round, proceed onwards until encountering top quality opposition, and then produce your best performance whilst losing gallantly and returning home with honour intact.

I've said it before though, and I'll say it again now: no team has ever been given the World Cup for playing the best football of the group stages. Argentina have made themselves favourites, but the knockout stages will bring a whole new pressure to games - fluent and carefree teams can soon become stifled and lacklustre.

...and England will grind to a halt in the quarter finals.

If Zidane continues to play like he did yesterday, then I say "allez les bleues". But really, at this point in time, I don't give a stuff who wins, as long as it isn't the Portugese or the Germans.

I never knew before this tournament that in order to play for the Portugese... you had to stuff your genitalia clean up inside of you and roll around on the ground and cry like a schoolgirl.

Congrats to the Geese on going through... too bad you've made a mockery of yourselves and the game in the process.

What an embarassment... but I guess if you can 'embarass' yourselves all the way to the final... the joke's on the rest of us.

What a WORTHLESS group of four teams made it to the final.

It is VERY difficult to define whom I dislike LEAST. What a disappointing finish to a World Cup plagued with poor officiating and STUPID theatrical rules.

I am not watching games from now on. If acting in Just for laughs (for stupidity) was worth any award, these four teams would deserve an Award. being the World Cup, they deserve to pack their bags and forfeit the Cup.

What a bunch of losers and actors. FIFA destroyed this Cup.

My prediction: Germany will win the Cup. Why? They play with 14 players on the field and the whole organization FIFA behind. It is a predetermined result. What a boring piece of worthless crap.

Shame on them.

Sad indeed, maybe the italians win it all.... what an outcome to a bad cup, with some italian players, team owners and officials being indicted for fixing games. In fact, I hope they win to see fifa's reaction.....

Gus

Crikey, I thought I was down after England's game, but seeing how miserable you guys are has really cheered me up.

Of the teams left in the tournament; Germany absolutely deserve to be in the semis. The Italians were lucky to get Ukraine in the quarters, France have really turned it up a notch, and Portugal aren't worth wasting my keyboard on.

Of the teams that got knocked out in the quarters; Brazil were rubbish, Argentina blew it (and disgraced themselves in the process), Ukraine didn't turn up, and England did what they always do (gallant, plucky, and futile).

France must be favourites now based on their recent form, but the Germans remain tough to bet against. Portugal should never have got past Holland in the last 16, and personally I'd be happy to see the Spanish army marching into Lisbon by the weekend. Italy - who knows?

Redskin in Canada wrote:My prediction: Germany will win the Cup. Why? They play with 14 players on the field and the whole organization FIFA behind. It is a predetermined result. What a boring piece of worthless crap.

Shame on them.

Care to elaborate RiC?

Well, for all the doom and gloom about the teams left in the tournament, I have to say that the Italy-Germany semi final was fantastic. Both teams wanted to play good football and attack. No diving around, well handled by the referee, and the right result at the end of the game. It was so refreshing to see an Italian team displaying their undoubted talents for playing attractive football, rather than diving, kicking and shirt pulling for the 90 minutes. I hope they play like that in the final.

Let's hope that Portugal get badly beaten by France tonight, because the way they have played in this tournament has been a disgrace. I'd hate to see these scumbags in the final. It would also be great to see Zinadine Zidane in the final, if he continues to play as he has in the last couple of games.

And then there were 2. Not the two I would have wished...but it should be an entertaining match-up, nonetheless. I've really enjoyed watching France come on strong lately...lot of momentum going into the final match. Let's just hope the I-ties play football and keep their mitts to themselves.

We loved the sight of two (count'em two...) Portuguese players falling (simultaneously) in the box, howling, raising thier plaintive faces, as the ref let the French play the ball upfield. Both Portuguese players were running behind the defenders, so the only way the Frenchmen could have fouled them was by mental telepathy.

Numerous other pathetic dives by the Portuguese. One near mid-field in which the Portuguse player wacked a Frenchman from behind with his forearm and fell face-down from the effort.

the portuguese should have been going for an oscar instead of the fifa world cup. so glad to see them out.

Gus,

welch wrote:We loved the sight of two (count'em two...) Portuguese players falling (simultaneously) in the box, howling, raising thier plaintive faces, as the ref let the French play the ball upfield. Both Portuguese players were running behind the defenders, so the only way the Frenchmen could have fouled them was by mental telepathy.

Numerous other pathetic dives by the Portuguese. One near mid-field in which the Portuguse player wacked a Frenchman from behind with his forearm and fell face-down from the effort.

I've never seen a Portuguese or Italian player make any effort to keep their balance. I try not to judge a sport by players like that, but the American football fan in has a different mentality when it comes to contact sports. . .

I must say I find it extremely justified that now that portugal is out... they're left with nothing but the taste of defeat coupled with the sweet smell of disgrace.

Their antics drew them nothing but the ire and disgust of the rest of the world.

Congratulations Portugal. You're on your way home and with your heads firmly inserted up your back sides.



Normally I would be horrified to see a France/Italy final... but as long as the Geese have been sent south... I'm just looking forward to a similar display of the form that the two teams have shown to get here. They both deserve their place in the final.

As an England fan, I can't help but look at the two teams that are left, and wonder why the hell we aren' there. This is the most average World Cup for a while, with no team rising above the mediocre, and proclaiming themselves the best in the world.

Italy deserve their place because of the way they played in the semi final, whilst France deserve their place because of their performance against Brazil. To my eyes, France looked out on their feet against the Portugese. Now, they may have been trying to keep something in reserve for the final, but it's also possible that this ageing team will find the final to be a game too far, and I therefore tip the Italians to sneak it on Sunday. It will take a vintage performance from Zidane (and a long overdue starring role from Henry) to see France home.

Everytime I pick France, then change my mind and they win, so Go France!

The final will come down to golkeeping and Bufon is the best in the world and Barthez has made some very erratical plays, saved only by luck or a great defense.



Gus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QSHB-AQ ... =1&t=t&f=b


portugal's dives... great video

That's pathetic.

Pittiful.

Italian World Cup training camp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRO626Im ... aly%20dive

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH soooo good!! man i love soccer

Wonderful video summary of the Portuguese team. They so completely deserved the loss today to Germany.

Only question: of those caught on video, which was the wimpiest dive?

- C. Ronaldo leaping on the corner? Barely waiting for the ball to be kicked before he threw himself in the air....

- the two Portuguese players who fell in the box at the same time, neither one within a yard or so of a French player?

- Miguel, who lost the ball and fell down, rolled on the ground, covered his eye like he'd been stuck, hobbled off, and was zipping around, as good as new, about 30 seconds later?

OK, I know there's very little interest in the World Cup now, but somebody out there must have something to say about Zinadine Zidane. Can anybody think of anything more bizarre that they've seen on a football field? I mean - zut alors! (probable dreadful French spelling here).

If you were on a different planet, then take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHW5-zMC97I&search=Zidane

OK, so the Italian guy probably said something that warranted a thump on the chin, but at least wait until after your last game has finished, and go and find the guy afterwards.

UK Skins Fan wrote:OK, I know there's very little interest in the World Cup now, but somebody out there must have something to say about Zinadine Zidane. Can anybody think of anything more bizarre that they've seen on a football field? I mean - zut alors! (probable dreadful French spelling here).

If you were on a different planet, then take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHW5-zMC97I&search=Zidane

OK, so the Italian guy probably said something that warranted a thump on the chin, but at least wait until after your last game has finished, and go and find the guy afterwards.

No kidding! I was rooting for the French, just because of Zidane. Now I'm glad Italy won.

That was definitely one of the weirdest things I've seen in a long time. I can't wait to find out what the Italian said to set Zidane off, though it's not the first time Zidane has head-butted someone.