Thierry Henry!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guys is so underrated all hes scored is like 3 goals in the cup so far. That is more than ourr shitty US team for three games.
I sometimes wonder if I'm watching the same World Cup as everyone else - Germany have a good defence? France are playing an England style long ball game? England drew with Trinny? No stand out strikers in the last four? Germany couldn't defend a sandcastle. Against Brasil (and I'll grant you I was drunk for that one), I saw France play a beautiful style of football with Ribery and Malouda making as many runs from wide positions with the ball at their feet as they hit long balls over the top to Henry - in fact, at the time, I believe what I said was "See! That's why you (England) lot are shit - you get the ball in your own third and Rio hits it 80 yards to... NO ONE! France are just walking it out nicely and spreading it around." I think someone else got the T&T Sweden thing (it was Sweden, wasn't it?). As for the no stand out strikers: Klose (the top German scorer in the Bundesliga last season) has scored five so far, and Podolski has scored three - as has Henry, who, even if you don't like him, has to be thought of as a "stand out" player (when he's not falling down). For what it's worth (which, in my case is about 90 if they do it), Germany will win, beating France late in the final (when Zizou's legs finally give up on him and long after Henry has confirmed that he's a bottler as he did in te European Cup final - he's very, very good, but he's not great and he never will be).
France was great against Brazil, and it was wonderful to see Zidane in such good form - and Ribery as well. But I think their hands are going to be full with Portugal, and I don't think Figo will be denied. And love him or hate him - I think he's an embarrassment - Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the top 3 or 4 players in the tournament so far and I expect him to be in top form. On the other side, I think Italy has been a revelation simply because they're NOT the using most cynical and negative game plan, as Italy is prone to do most of the time. In fact against the US I even saw multiple Azzuri forget to dive in the box! I think notwithstanding that however, Germany will have a hefty push from their hometown supporters and they are clearly on form regardless. So - Germany - Portugal, with Germany probably taking the trophy at the end.
This is going to sound bad, with my history of even-handed comments about Michael Flatley Ronaldo, but how exactly has he been one of the top three or four players in the tournament so far?
He can do stepovers. Onthe same basis, Joe Cole is the top player of the tournament - he does them even when there's no one near him to do them at. England were lucky he wasn't on the pitch to take a penalty at the end. He'd still be stepping over it now.
Maybe we could ditch penalties and go straight to a stepover competition. The Brazilians would have had Denilson in their squad for sure then.
Ronaldo has some flashy moves on the ball, but I have YET to see anyone one of his dances result in his gaining an advantage on a defender. I could be mistaken, but his fancy footwork all for show. I have seen Aaron Lennon blow past more defenders in his limited use role for England, than C. Ronaldo has in his starter's role all tournament. Denilson, same bs. I can't stand that crap. It looks great, but ultimately does absolutely nothing.
The only player who seems to make it actually wrongfoot defenders is the real Ronaldo. But he's 48 stone now, so it doesn't work quite as well as it used to.
Well...looking at France, they have to be the favorite to advance on their half of the bracket. France v. Germany anyone? Or will it be France v. Italy?
they (Italy)got lucky in surviving their group with two seperate 2-0 victories and the ill-fated tie against the US, Italy were anything but lucky to advance. They were in a little lucky to not go to penalties against Australia, but up until this point Buffon has still only allowed one goal, and that was off an Azzuri boot. It may take a little more work to shut out Germany but Italy are looking the favorites to take it all for me.
I'm with the Beatles. Ronaldo isn't even the best drummer in the band. He looks marginally less silly than Denilson, who would have tried a step over while taking a throw-in, if he could, but even Shep Messing has worked out that Ronaldo's tricks "look pretty, but achieve nothing."
Never really watched soccer before, but seeing several World Cup matches has been fascinating. However, riddle me this: When a player of the opposite team is writhing on the ground, the team with the ball will purposely kick it out of bounds to stop play. Yet these same noble players will roll on the ground like wussies when they barely get touched. On one hand they show mercy to the opponent, but on the other hand they try for an unfair advantage. I don't get it.
When a player of the opposite team is writhing on the ground, the team with the ball will purposely kick it out of bounds to stop play. This is considered gentlemanly play, though is not codified in the rule book anywhere. Arsenal once gave Sheffield Utd a replay of a match in 1999 because Arsenal scored the winning goal after a SheffU player went down the team was expecting Arsenal to put it into touch. Wenger and the other manager (Bruce?) decreed that it was the right thing to do replay the match, which Arsenal won, if memory serves. One thing that bothered me about the ENG-POR match was that the the Portugal players seemed to be taking dives (among other reasons) to breakup England runs at the Portugal goal. It made it justifiable for England to start ignoring these dives. That's the problem with cheating, once you start down that road, it ruins the game for everyone.
Maybe we could ditch penalties and go straight to a stepover competition. Michael Flatley would make the Cup his own.
Thierry Henry!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guys is so underrated all hes scored is like 3 goals in the cup so far. Don't follow football much do you Big Dookie? Henry is one of the most highly regarded players in the world, deservedly so. He's caught some flack in this WC for his hands on the face dive against Spain, deservedly so, but I don't think anyone's ever said he isn't great. In case you miscontrued my earlier comments, let me make it clear, I think he is one of the best finishers in the world. I also think he's a whiner and a pussy for diving in the WC.
How about that Italian defense today? Germany stands straight for 118 minutes and then collapse. Klinsmann--staying or the new USA coach? I'm not picking them, mind you, but I'm rooting for Italy Sunday.
