Euro 2004

[Lazy Z]

Campbell's goal looked like a foul to me. And what is it with English players and penalty shoot-outs? Beckham's shot was one of the worst one's I've ever seen. Plus Ricardo could have saved more if he had been a bit more careful.

Greece Vs. France tomorrow... I guess we'll find out if miracles still happen.

[Pumaman]

I'm still laughing at Rooney to this very moment.

TheDude, why are you so insanely jealous of England? I mean, it's only natural for Scots (and Welshmen, of course) to be moderately jealous, but the extent of your obsession is a bit odd.

Anyway, well done to Portugal - they did play better, but that disallowed goal was really not on. I sure hope the ref gets sacked for that one.

As for Beckham's missed penalty, it was due to the dodgy penalty spot, obviously 

[LucasFan]

Fantastic! What a thriller!! Congratulations Portugal!Ã, 

[Primus]

Thank you very much, Privateer Puddin': your fair play is a great joy for me, even more than the victory.

[Privateer Puddin']

Sand based pitch was the reason for the penalty spot troubles (not just beckham, every player had a kick at it after)

[Lazy Z]

Hmm, I saw the dissalowed goal again, and I'm pretty sure it's a foul. Terry is holding the keeper down, and that's always a foul.

Dodgy penalty spots are not much of an excuse Beckham should have noticed it, and many other shots were pretty poor by any standards. It's just weird that England always does so bad at shoot-outs. Does anyone remember if they have ever won?

[Privateer Puddin']

Looked like the ball had gone past the keeper by the time Terry went near to 'holding' the keeper down

[Pumaman]

Yeah, Terry 'landed' on the keeper after the ball had been headed, if I recall correctly.

[Barcik]

Common English, don't be like the Italians. Deco seemed to have no problems at all with his first shot despite not doing anything with the spot, and Terry oh so obviously prevented Ricardo from jumping to the ball. And Rooney is a bulldozer.

A very interesting match, that was. Non of the teams played on an extremely high level but the pace was so intense. From the top of my head, I don't remember a game where the ball moved so fast and so much from one edge to the other. Both teams were playing on roughly the same level, and the 2-2 is a score that suits this match. But, as we all know, there must be a winner. The truth is I thought England will win, but it's halfway a lottery anyway.

And a little comment from me: I hate it when players start their run and then stop when shooting a penalty. This is not allowed. Both Ronaldo and Simao did it today and I was fuming. Luckily, Figo was off. The son of a bitch always does that, and I shoot poison when I see that.

[Privateer Puddin']

I just saw it again, i swear Terry was not making any major contact (ie something to stop him jumping) before the ball had crossed the line

[Barcik]

Oh, Common. The ball was above Campbell, and Terry was between him and Ricardo. In that case, there is really no way the goalkeeper can reach the goal, and when it happens in the Small Box its a foul.

[Minimi]

Awww... I was for England.. and now the stupid Portugal reaches last 4... the bastards. Now The Netherlands has to face the stupidity itself if they win from Sweden...  :

[Primus]

... the stupid Portugal
... the bastardsÃ, 
has to face the stupidity itself

[Nacho]

Stay calm Primus... that's just another show of Minimi's cristian charity...

[Lazy Z]

I just saw it again, i swear Terry was not making any major contact (ie something to stop him jumping) before the ball had crossed the line

Did you see it through the camera behind the goal? Through that one, you can clearly see that Terry is holding him down, and if I recall correctly, he does that before Campbell does the header. Plus, anytime a player even so much as touches the goalie inside the small box is a foul.

I hate it when players start their run and then stop when shooting a penalty. This is not allowed

Is that an official rule? I didn't know that. But you know, goalkeepers are supposed to stand exactly on the goal line and not move until the other player shoots, but no one keeps that either.

[Sam.]

i thought a foul was only with like, malicious intent. and terry did not once take his eyes off the ball. ricardo fell and terry fell on top of him. they just got tangled up together. I'm not saying anything against portugal because they played really well. but that goal should have been allowed and we should have won the game

[Lazy Z]

Normally a foul is like that, yeah. But there's an exception to that rule in the case of the goalkeeper inside the small box. In that case, any contact between an attacking player and the goalkeeper of the opposing side is an offensive foul, no matter what the intent.

Anyway, let's not fill this thread with football rules, let's talk about the actual matches again.

[Spyros]

I support the English team since 1982 World Cup.
This was the first time I believed that they could win the Cup.
But yesterday they played a "Gay" football.
Scored in the 3rd minute, had some opportunities and then for 60 minutes there were 10 english players in their box. Especially in the second half I don't remember if they passed the half line once.
When they needed to score (after the 2-1) they showed that they could play more offensive.
I hope that the greeks will play better tonight 

[Igor]

I was for Portugal. Not because i would think they are better players or, worse, would have something against England... but simply because they were showing much more passion and will to win this game than England.
Congrats for great show to both teams, though. It was a real drama

[Barcik]

I was for Portugal. Not because i would think they are better players or, worse, would have something against England... but simply because they were showing much more passion and will to win this game than England.

You can say many things about England, but you can't say they lack passion. In fact, no team in this tournament has more passion and spirit their England. Look how hard Lampard works, Beckham works, Gerarrd works, Rooney works. Without their passion, we would have seen much more of their somewhat mediocre football skills.