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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Jul 9, 2006 5:35:30 GMT -5
Podolski has been named young player of the tournament. WOrd on the street was that Ronaldo had it in the bag, but the backlash across Europe after his behaviour against Holland, England and France has led to even respected French sports daily L'Equipe asking 'Why does Ronaldo cheat so much?' and FIFA decided he was too tainted by his diving to pick up the award. Wow, I really hope this is true. For me he was probably the player of the whole tourney outside of Zidane, Cannefloppo, and Klose, but it's just hard to justify giving him anything after his antics. World class football at its absolute best and its absolute worst. FIFA confirmed it pretty much, reading the interview with the head of the technical study group. He said they gave it to Podolski because there were many categories for scoring, and that 'fair play and good sportsmanship' were a part of that. Ronaldo has demanded a transfer from Man Utd though, which is a shame. It's good to have talents like that in the EPL, and also cool to have a panto villain to jeer. Man Utd will be much weaker without him. |
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Post by maarts on Jul 9, 2006 5:42:38 GMT -5
Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't done himself any favours though. Watching him throughout the third place playoff he couldn't help himself and had two dives without any defender laying a hand/foot on him. He got punished though as some reasonable fouls against him (obstruction in the second half) didn't yield a free kick as the ref dismissed them as being insincere.
Rooney must be thanking the heavens though that the Ronaldo-saga has diverted some of the lightining that was heading his way after the red card. Petulant little wank he was, throwing his boots of after he got substituted. You wonder if he'll ever grow up and complete his journey from a talent to a superstar. People will love him anyway. Hope he doesn't turn into another Gazza, playing fourth division soccer in China at the end of his career.
Podolski is a safe choice for best young player and I cannot really argue why he shouldn't get the award. Good goals and worked very neatly off Klose. Would have liked Spain to progress a bit further so that a David Vila or a Fernandes got put in a claim in for that award for i thought they were excellent too.
Best player of the tournament for me, outside of Zidane would probably be Zambrotta. I thought he was awesome. But yeah, defenders aren't worthy of praise even though defense has been the main course during every match.
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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Jul 9, 2006 5:48:08 GMT -5
Yeah, Zambrotta is by miles the best full back in the world. COmpletely two-footed as well, and just as good at left back as at right back. A fantastic athlete with a huge engine. He has good technique, strength, pace, power, and his crossing, short and medium passing, tackling and shooting are all top class. He also has a tremendous football brain, so his defensive positioning is always excellent. That makes him a very useful midfielder too, when the need arises at Juve. Only in heading, long passing and dribbling does he fall into the average range.
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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Jul 9, 2006 5:51:28 GMT -5
Cannavaro is also unbelievably good. As is his usual centre back partner Alessandro Nesta, but of course Nesta has been missing with injury. I actually think Nesta is better than Cannavaro, if anything.
Those Italians always produce great defenders, eh?
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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Jul 9, 2006 6:00:19 GMT -5
My team of the tournament:
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Manager: Lippi
.................................... Buffon .....................................
Zambrotta ..... Cannavaro ....... Ayala ............... Lahm
C. Ronaldo .......... Pirlo .......... Gattuso ...... Maxi Rodriguez
.............................................Zidane...............................
......................... Klose ...................................................
That's 5 Italians, 2 Germans, 2 Argies, 1 Frenchie and 1 Portugese
Subs:
Cassilas (Spa)
Sagnol (Fra)
Marquez (Mex)
Vieira (Fra)
Ribery (Fra)
Torres (Spa)
Podolski (Ger)
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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Jul 9, 2006 6:03:21 GMT -5
Let's get a team of flops together as well.
I suggest that Aussie keeper who came in against Croatia, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, and Ronaldinho.
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Post by maarts on Jul 9, 2006 6:15:19 GMT -5
Good squad you have there, Jesus. I'd substitute Cristiano Ronaldo for Ribery though. Not for the whingeing-factor but the fact that he'll play his lungs out for 75 minutes and backs up well in defense.
And Vieira in my starting lineup for Gattuso. G works hard for the money but Vieira backing upfront just adds a whole new dimension. If it wasn't for him scoring that goal against Togo the French would have been packing their bags after the group stages. he really set them up for a great world Cup.
The Aussie keeper, Big Spider is named Zejlko Kalac. I'd add Wesley Sneijder and Ruud Van Nistelrooij to the list also (as much as it pains me).
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Post by phil on Jul 9, 2006 15:33:09 GMT -5
Looks like the World Cup will be decided by penalty kicks ... !
How predictable ...
They should have started with those
and save us the 2 hours snooze fest !!
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Post by kool on Jul 9, 2006 16:21:36 GMT -5
Not only that, but the Italians who were 90% responsible for the snoozefest ended up winning.
btw, what was with Zidane's headbut to the poor Italian's chest? I'm a fan of his and all, but when I saw that, I was like "get that fucker out of there". I was actually hoping the French would win, since they played a much better game, but that made me become indifferent to who would end up taking the cup.
Anyone here who can lip-read italian? I wonder what he told him to piss him off like that.
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Post by NdY on Jul 9, 2006 16:39:44 GMT -5
Yeah, seriously. 75 minutes of cowardly Italian football to end the game. It's no coincidence that they've now gone to penalties in their last 2 WC finals.
Great match though for the most part, particularly on the French side. Phil apparently didn't watch the game or completely has his head up his ass. He thinks it's predictable when it's now only happened twice in history. That's logic for ya.
I'll reserve judgement on Zidane's headbutt until I hear an explanation. Pretty brutal stuff.
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Post by NdY on Jul 9, 2006 16:43:21 GMT -5
Straight gangsta.  |
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Post by kool on Jul 9, 2006 16:52:58 GMT -5
Well, now that I see it again, it looks like Italiano is coming right at him... but unless he told Zidane to go fuck his mother, there's really no excuse. I'm pretty sure he'll admit he fucked up here and attribute it to stress/anger/pressure etc.
Not much of role model for his little fans here. Not to mention a horrible way to end his career. I always thought of him as class act, and I always will, but this pissed me off.
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Post by phil on Jul 9, 2006 18:04:31 GMT -5
Great match though for the most part, particularly on the French side. Phil apparently didn't watch the game or completely has his head up his ass. He thinks it's predictable when it's now only happened twice in history. That's logic for ya.
How many games in this tournament were decided on penalty kicks ??
Is there a link where I can see the statistics
on how many goals were scored and how they were scored ... ?
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Post by NdY on Jul 9, 2006 18:26:43 GMT -5
I don't know. 3 or 4 in this tourney? Or how about 'who cares'?
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Post by RocDoc on Jul 9, 2006 20:57:18 GMT -5
Dude! Phil!
I can be a wet irritating fucking blanket on some bands that I don't 'get' at all...ie the almighty Clash and the revered Replacements for just two of 'em....
But fuck, leave alone something you just don't understand here.
These folks love this shit.
This is sorta senseless.
And especially on the heels of 'Copa Mondial'...
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