Made of Iron! PT 1 – 0 HL

Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for next saturday, just saw an interview, his injury thank goodness didn’t result in a ruptured muscle but a bruise. so some ice should do the trick, and speaking of which it will be delightful to see him dance around England’s defence.
Pra frente Portugal o espirito lusitano a bater forte no nosso coracao.

Silveira:

You do know your soccer – to be truthful, I would like to see Spain get to the finals.

Posted from  Canada

Sylvia,

The idea was that whenever Romania and England met at either World Cup or European Cup finals, England lost (they only met twice, I admit, last time at euro 2000). Portugal is a much better side than Romania at the moment and I’m pretty confident Portugal can easily beat England with a good game plan because the talent is there and the heart and the will.

Tim:

I tell ‘em as I see ‘em.

For the record… the first World Cup I watched was back in 1978.

i was at the Azteca stadium to see Maradona shred England and Belgium to pieces before giving that wonderful pass to Burruchaga at the finals (which I also watched live at the Azteca).

Don’t come give me that condescending crap. I’m giving my honest opinion. England plays ugly, plain and simple. Today, they won more out of luck (both and getting that free kick and facing a very mediocre team) than because of their superb gameplay.

Yes, Rooney made a couple of good plays, but if the defense of a very limited team was able to stop him, imagine what a more established defense will do.

England has no creativity. They depend on long passes to Rooney to see if the guy can get anything done. If Owen was still around, they would have a bit more of a chance, but if they plan to put the same typeof formation like they did today, Ricardo is going to be mostly watching the seated.

Go read ANY newspaper outside of England, and you will see every expert agrees. Can they win? Sure… in the world cup everything can happen. Do I find it likely? No. And it is not because these players are not capable of playing great, but they have a mediocre coach with a mediocre and extremely conservative mentality.

Posted from  United States

Sylvia & Tim what a pair of …

I’m an Argentina fan .Portugual quite clearly played the more fluid football.Holland seemed to have lost this.And they have no central playmaker of years gone by .

It was a very dirty game but as has been said before Boularouz should have been red carded straight away.

Just focus on the QF.Forget about potential yellow cards for the SF.

This England team apart from Rooney & Cole lack any creativity at all.They are dull as ditchwater to watch.

Just play as you have before keeping the ball & the chances will come.

Its quit sad here in England as to how they are desperately hoping Figo wont play.

As for Costinha Petit & Tiago are more than capable replacements & Simao for Deco.

Forca Portugual. We all want at team that can play football unlike the clodhoppers from England to win footballs greatest trophy.

And Rene I envy you.Azteca 86 to see that live !

Posted from  United States

Everything about the portuguese national football team in this game was disgusting to watch from a neutral perspective. Holland were not saints either, but portugal lives and breathes everything that is wrong witht he game today.

This game alone can make the case for instant replay… if teams like this continue to shame the game of football, you will all get an americanized version of football not too far in the future. With a game clock that starts and stops, and a fifth official in the press box doing instant replay. That is the only way to cleanse the game of this disgusting behaviour.

Posted from  Canada

FORCA PORTUGAL VALENTE!
And to all of the Holland supporters…this victory was even sweater than the Euro2004 that you all cling to!

FORCA PORTUGAL!

Posted from  United States

OPKO: Instant replay is an imposibility given the fluidity of a soccer match. We have no interruptions for commercials like American football does, and we would like to keep it that way.

Plus, don’t blame the Portuguese alone. The Dutch were out to hunt C. Ronaldo since the first minute, and injured him, so you could say they brought this on themselves.

Once again a very bad referee today. Two days ago a Brazilian (this must be a joke -imagine this poor guy’s complexes), yesterday a Russian (…), today a Sevillan… A ghost penalty, a ghost red card. Which did cost more?????
Congrats for Italy, but NOT because they won…

IT’S ABOUT TIME THE DINOSAURS OF FIFA GET IT: VIDEO IS USEFUL! AND FAIR. IF THEY WANT FAIRPLAY, THEY SHOULD CHECK THER REFEREES AND THEIR RULES.

OPKO is right!

Adios!

Posted from  Finland

england will be simple to beat, they plain suck!
Portugal 3
englan 1

Posted from  United States

OPKO – mean no offense dude, but your analysis means nada. We create we don’t destroy. Our kind of play is offensive and free flowing by nature. We gain nothing from playing yesterday’s type of game. Portugal hasn’t had a red card since 2002. You obviosly aren’t much of a scholar. What ever it is you have against us, seek therapy!

Forca Portugal!

Posted from  United States

the dutchies played awfully disgusting and cowardly…I say the tackle on ronaldo wasn’t an accident..not at 5mins of the game!

well, I’m still supporting portugal and am praying for them to go to the finals!

Posted from  Belgium

Sadly, Latino countries like Portugal, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil will always have an unfair advantage in the WC. Why? Because they are all very emotional people, great artists, and faking injury and diving is what they do best, so it is too dificult for refs to overlook. Then when the crying and screaming in faked pain is added, the ref gets convinced enough to influence the game.

The world knows that faking injury began with the Portuguese, and this game was no different.

Let me remind you of what happened–

(1) Bohlaurouz fouls Ronaldo (Yellow)-

-This was a bad challenge and i truly do feel sorry for Ronaldo, and people should not dump crap on him about crying, i would be very upset if i thought that my world cup campaign was over after so many years of waiting and training.

(2) Maniche recieves yellow for foul on Van Bommell

-The ref then gives the PORTUGESE a free kick after this incident????? Why, i don’t know. Van Bommell DID NOT dive. (Remember: He is not from an emotionally unstable country)

(3) Maniche scores- fair enough but not deserved

(4)Costinia recieves yellow for foul on Cocu

-This was deserved

(5)Costinia kicks Oijer in the ankle

-This certainly should have been a second yellow and Portugal should now be down to 10 men.

(6) Robben is kicked, studs out, in the chest within the Portugese box.

-This should be a direct penalty and the Dutch (most likely) would be equal.

-How the Ref missed this is beyond belief…. and then he gives the Portugese a penalty?!?!? Once again, i have no idea why.

(7) Costinia deliberatly intercepts a well placed pass with his hands (2nd Yellow)

-Portugese are down to 10 men…. justice was done…. better late than never i suppose.

(8) Kuyt was brought down in the box while waiting for a pass

-should be a yellow card and another penalty in the box but the ref seems oblivious.

(9)Petit fouls Van Bommell (yellow card)

(10) Van Bronkhourst fouls Deco (yellow card)

(11) Figo headbutts Van Bommell(yellow card)

-this should be an automatic red

-Portugal should now be down to 9 men

(12) Bolahrouz recieves yellow for ‘elbowing’ Figo

-this was a soft booking, should not have been sent off nor should he recieve a yellow. Figo was squatting and his head was almost at elbow height… how can Bolahrouz know that this is the case, he is simply blocking Figo and unfortunatly Figo got his big head in the way?

Figo should already have been off, so this would not have happened and Boula would not have been sent off.

-Netherlands are down to 10, (should still be 11)

(13) Fight breaks out and the Portugese bench (aswell as those on the field) attack Oijer— no cards or penalty?!?!? Once again, i don’t know why!

(13) Carvala is hurt, dutch gift posession to Portugal and quit play as the Portugese go for goal

(14) Drop ball and the Dutch win it and continue to play….. rightly so….

(15) Deco brings down Heitinga (yellow card)

(16) Sneijder, (the smallest man on the feild) flattens Petit who was starting the dutch players…. HA HA HA HA (yellow card)

(17) Van der Vaart recieves yellow card for arguing….. yeah, like none of the Portugese were arguing..

(18)Valentia fouls Van Persie (recieves yellow)

(19) Deco recieves 2nd yellow for with-holding the ball

-Portugal are down to 9…. should be 8.

(20) Ricardo wastes about 2 hours flailing around after a soft, soft touch…

(21) Simaou kicks Van der Sar in the face….

Did not recieve a card?!?!?!?

(22) Tiago, on the field for 5 mins falls to the ground for about 2 hours because he has cramps? Yeah, right…..

(23) 6 mins of extra time are added…. Should be at least 12

(24) Van Bronkhurst recieves 2nd yellow card

This was certainly not a yellow card offence.

Dutch are down to 9 men

(25) And to sum up the Dutch night, in the dying minute, the Ref gives the Portugese a corner after Tiago shoots wide without any touch from a Dutch player…….

That match was a complete disgrace from both teams, but for the Portugese to sit and claim that they deserved that win is just silly.

Posted from  Canada

Arbitrator,
I won’t waist everyone one’s time like you have above. I will put it to you short and sweet. Portugal was the better team and we capitalized with a beautiful goal! Did you see it?
your goalie didn’t? he he he

You really should take up writing sopa operas!

there is always 08

Forca Portugal!
Nacao Valente e Unida

Posted from  United States

PASS THE DUTCHIE FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE…BO DIDLY BONG…LOL
LEIRIA IN THE HOUSE…
PRIMEIRO A LARANJADA E AGORA VAMOS ASSAR OS BIFES!!!!
the world better keep their eyes open “os lusitanos” are coming.
FORCA TUGAS.

Mostly I do agree with Arbitrator comment, but i do think Bouhlarouz should have got a red card for that foul on Ronaldo.

And I can understand Heitinga didn’t gave the ball back, because he was so annoyed by that unsportive time delaying en acting of Portugal’s side(but that’s my opinium).

Too bad for The Netherlands, but good luck to portugal

Posted from  Netherlands

OJ…Arbi couldn’t be more wrong, but thank you for your civility.

Posted from  United States

MANICHE………GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Viva Portugal
Nacao Valente e Unida

Posted from  United States

Arbitrator,
Italy, Portugal and Spain are Latino countries??? the Portuguese invented faking injuries and have an unfair advantage in the WC???
You must be two people! not one person can be that stupid! and thanks for the racial profiling you ignorant clown. As a proud Canadian of Portuguese decent, it truly makes me sad to know that we have racist idiots like you living in our great land.
Please Abritrator! lay off the stupid pills.

Posted from  Canada

What is this about all respect for Holland? Most of you people here werent even around during that time, allot of you people here go to uni or school. Comeon, be serious. Losing respect now, because the performance in 74-78 was alot better? It shows that some people think they know everything about football.. Portugal played with heart, as Holland, They played equally disgusting, but i found the match hiliarious. Have a Problem, come visit Holland and express your feelings openly, i would love to see how you get back to portugal. It was the best game to watch so far in a world cup. Both teams left a mark, and eventhough being dutch, i couldnt care less that we are out. This team is project 2008, as marco described when he got charge of the Dutch team, and because we had a good qualifying, people got there hopes up, and, thats aloud isnt it? I bid you good luck against England, and god speed. Cheers

Posted from  Oman

Arbi:

Thanks for the time you took in your write-up.

I don´t agree with several of your affirmations. But don´t perpetuate the “ref stole a penalty” lie. The game was stopped for offside on Robben when the incident happened.

All I´ll remember about this match 10 years from now will be: “It was a scrapper, ref was lowsy, Portugal won”.

Posted from  Portugal

Jose:

Don’t try pull the “Race Card” on me. Nothing I said was racist. I described these nations as great artists and emotional people – how can that be considered racist? Sorry that the truth hurts.

Posted from  Canada

Arbi – I mean no offense and I don’t think you meant it this way, but “emotional people” has been used in the past to suggest that we can’t think or act rationally that for some reason, just because we are passionate, we are closer to wild animals then humans. Just for your consideration.

Again, not suggesting that is what you meant, but it could be interpreted as ’soft racism’.

We are emotional and we showed it proudly!

Forca Portugal!

Posted from  United States

Jose: great comment back to Arbitrator…Portugal and Italy as Latino countries??? go back to elementary school and learn some stuff Arbitrator…

Arbitrator: great little commentary up there…but i have to disagree, if you wanna start with what should have happened, that Dutch thug that hit Ronaldo 5 minutes in (after Ronaldo had been taken down everytime he touched the ball…game plan maybe???) should have been given a red…studs up at the upper thigh??? red card and thats that, the sillyness is over…

Why did Portugal get a freekick when Robben was murdered in the box by Valente, Portugal was lucky cause Kuyt was offsides, watch the game buddy!

Next, the name is Carvalho not Carvala??? and when he got hurt, the Dutch didnt give the ball to Portugal, it bounced out and Portugal were on the counter, then the ref noticed an injury right when Deco broke free to goal and stopped play…the idiot Heitinga should have played the ball back just as the entire Dutch side thought he would do as they stood watching…he took off and Deco took him out, rightfully so, so if he would have played the ball back Deco never would have gotten his first yellow card…

but anyways, im tired of writing this long entry and wasting everyones reading time as you did above, i apologize to all the smart fans out there reading this..but Arbitrator, stop being so biased and get over it, Portugal beat Holland AGAIN! just as they should…and to say we are divers when you guys have Robben on your side is just flat out hypocritical…

Silveira

Posted from  United States

WE WON THAT MATCH! let’s move on! One more + under our belt against Holland.
Van Beasten couldn’t bring anything other then his arrogance to the pitch!

Posted from  United States