The Last of the Ouarter Finalist... who will it be.
posted by United We Stand @ 3:04 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- Brazil vs. Ghana
- Switzerland vs. Ukraine
- Italy vs. Australia
- Holland vs. Portugal
- England vs. Ecuador Live!
- Argentina vs. Mexico
- Next time, bring Kryptonite!
- Germany vs. Sweden
- World Cup Predictions Game Update
- France vs. Togo/Switzerland vs. Korea
32 Comments:
Nice graphic, United. I'm predicting a Spanish win here today, although it should be closer than predicted.
As I expected Aragones has gone back to the first eleven that ripped it up against Ukraine and Tunisia and was rested in the third match. And Domenech hasn't had the balls to resist the temptation to give Zizou his final hurrah. Trez is dropped after lively match against Togo.
This one has started at a Premiership style pace. I'm pulling for Les Bleus and they've started well. Much more lively. Even Zizou looks up for it; he's all over the pitch.
Lovely stuff from Zidane. He chipped it out wide to Sagnol, who slid it across the area. Both Ribery and Vieira missed. Where was TH-14.
France is creating some lovely stuff, but without Trez, they don't seem to have that sharp edge. At some point, they must throw him on for Ribery, who wastes a lot of chances.
On closer inspection, the Spanish have made a couple of changes. Raul is on as well as Cesc Fabregas.
A terrible, terrible penalty call there. Pablo took an outrageous dive when he felt some contact from Sagnol. Despicable!
And David Villa dispatches the penalty. It's his third - interestingly, a free kick and two penalties after dodgy calls. Hardly something to be proud about if you're a striker.
An interesting stat. - Spain has never missed a penalty at a World Cup.
The French look as if they're losing their heads a bit after falling behind to that rotten decision by the ref. Let's hope that that doesn't settle this match as it did for the Italians yesterday. If anything, this was an even softer decision than the one yesterday.
The ref really needs to get a grip on this match. The tackles are really flying in from the Spanish. This is a really different team from the one that delighted us in the first round.
GOAL: 1-1; Ribery on a break-away from a through ball from Vieira, rounds the keeper and slides in. I was worried that he might bottle it for a moment, but he kept his nerve well. Game on!
That's got to be a confidence builder for the kid, who got a lot of stick from the French press for missing lots of chances in the last couple of matches.
Torres takes a tumble in the box and the referee waves him off. I'll have to get a better look at that.
On the replay, it was yet ANOTHER disgraceful dive from a Spanish player - Torres this time. This has got to be stamped out by the refs or it's gonna ruin the whole tournament.
Half-time 1-1.
Second half starting....Allez Les Bleus!
Henry is offside for about the thousandth time. His timing is off tonight.
No changes so far at the half; Domenech must go with Trez at some point to break the deadlock. This may go all the way. I just hope the winner comes from open play and is deserved, not based on a refereeing decision.
Spanish warming Luis Garcia and Reyes on the touchline. We may see some changes soon.
The Spanish are pressing it a bit more in the early going of the second half.
Great throughball from Zizou breaks the Spanish defense but it's an awkward volley for Malouda saved by Casillas.
The ref finally seems to have Torres's number. He dives again and the ref waves it on. Time to book him, ref!
End to end stuff now.
David Villa is coming off to be replaced by the tasty winger Joaquin. Also Raul is coming off for Luis Garcia. Raul had done nothing tonight. Some Golden Boy!
This is really the first big test for this young Spanish side and we're seeing the result. They're just don't have the gas to finish a big tournament, but they could be scary by Euro 2008.
The fascinating thing about this match is that it really could go either way, like the Portugal/Holland match the other night - but without all the red cards.
Half an hour to go and still deadlocked.
Yellow card for Vieira. The Spanish go close through Luis Garcia. Henry offside again!
Fabregas has been immense in this second period. He looks twice his age. Amazing player!
The French seem to be running straight into the Spanish offside trap again and again. Puyol is a little more wily than the Ghanaian center backs.
Senna is coming on for Xavi - that's their last sub.
Sidney Gouvet has replaced Florent Malouda for the French - it's their first change. No Trez yet; maybe waiting for extra time?
Fifteen minutes left and the Spanish have already used all of their subs. They might regret that. Interestingly, the bloke that's taken all of their penalties - David Villa - has already gone off. Confident stuff from Aragones.
Sergio Ramos flops on the wing and gets waved off by the ref. Should've booked him. Joaquin goes close at the near post. Gallas is down injured.
Puyol picks up a yellow card for a nasty elbow on Henry - that could've been red.
GOAL: 2-1; France! Incredible scenes here as Patrick Vieira heads in what looks like a winner. It came from that Carlos Puyol foul on Henry.
Four minutes to go; Wiltord is up off the bench to come on. He may not be needed.
Franck Ribery gets a yellow for kicking the ball away - silly boy!
GOAL: 3-1; The perfect ending to a great, great match. Zizou takes a throughball, jinks past two and slides home. What a goal from the maestro!
Full-time: 3-1; Marvelous game and result. After a stuttering opening few games, Les Bleus came good tonight. They looked up for it right from the start. On this form they'll give Brazil a hell of a match.
And the Spanish...true to form. Good stuff in the group stages and bottled it at the first knockout hurdle. I'm happy about that because they looked cynical tonight rather than the free-flowing team of the first round.
It's restored my faith after a couple of days of seeing teams go through on cynical play, gamesmanship and referee mistakes. It's also tremendous news for the England team. That's another frightening team knocked out. Now there's only Argentina and Brazil to fear.
Bring on those Portuguese cheaters!
Wasn't that a cracking game, AZ? I'm glad you got to catch the end of it. I'll be taking a break over the next two days but will be back for the Quarterfinals on Friday.
Post a Comment
<< Home