Soccer/Football - Part 3

[ran]

During the Germany v. Greece game one of the talking heads mentioned that Germany has made it to the semi-finals 18 out of 24 tournaments , something like that. That's an amazing figure. That they can play three new players up front and still win is even more amazing. The number 9 that played on the left , would look good in a Man United kit.

I've been on about how this toun.. has been good. The quarter-finals have shown what happens when teams play not to lose. Be that as it may I never once thought in my life that I would see an Italian team play with a three man back line. I hope what ever happens tom. it is a good game.

[Uli]

New page. This thread works again for me.

suspense suspense




Balotelli: "I am moved to wear this shirt
Celebrations? First I have to score"
Milano, 23 June 2012
The man of the moment: "I had been trying to score for some time and I am happy that I scored against Ireland, but I have never had my arse in the nutella. It will be fun to play against my City team-mates"

In order to describe Mario Balotelli in front of a microphone you need to borrow a phrase from the film Forrest Gump and replace the word "life" with "Mario", and a bit later: "It is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get". And this is what happened in the press conference in Kiev, on the eve of the crucial match against England, which is worth a place in the semifinals of Euro 2012, where he made people both laugh and raise their eyebrows. Just as he does on the pitch, even though he did not answer this question. "Will I entertain you or make you angry tomorrow evening? I will give everything, then it is up to you to have a laugh or get angry. I don't need to show the person Mario to anyone. Those people who know me know who I am. On the pitch it was important for me to score the goal against Ireland – I had been trying for some time. It wasn't a problem, but I just somehow didn't manage to score a goal. How will I celebrate if I score? Let me score first, then we will see".

FRIENDS-ENEMIES — "It will be fun to play against my team-mates from Manchester City and I hope to win and therefore that they lose. Milner, Hart and Barry are good friends, but I don't fear anybody". Hart (the England goalkeeper) says that there are two Balotellis, one who is fantastic and the other who can get himself sent off? He is lucky to know two of them. My agent Raiola says that I am Peter Pan? He says that in a nice way, but I am more of a man than Peter Pan (a young boy). The criticism? There is always criticism because on the pitch you can make mistakes. But that is how you get better".

CLOSING REMARK — But just when it seemed that the press conference, where Balotelli was sat next to Barzagli, with Prandelli if you metres away, was about to finish without any problems, he came out with one of his famous remarks: "Even as a child I was moved about wearing the Italy shirt, but this has not affected me in these European Championships. I've never had problems off the pitch, not even when I didn't score. I didn't have as some journalist put it "my arse in the nutella" (perhaps a reference to a lack of physical form - Prandelli and Barzagli also looked rather perplexed). And that is how he finished the press conference, leaving everyone totally surprised. We hope he does that on the pitch tomorrow against England.

from our correspondent Riccardo Pratesi

http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/...23651177.shtml

[Uli]

It looks like you have put a little spell on my man Nasri, Monte. Wasup with that? I don't get all the fuzz with the bleus. Courseing out a journalist seems like a natural to me.

Looking forward to both semis. spain and germany seem to be the favorites. But imho both italy and portugal mite be able to keep it close and might even be good for a surprise.

in German articles Spains new way to play is called tiki-takanaccio. This heatmap from the game against France shows that there is not much penetration into the penalty area.





Cristiano Ronaldo's heat map against the Tcheknians

[ran]

In my mind the best 4 teams have made it to the semi-finals.

As much as I have an affinity to the English. They didn't deserve it. Italy's Pirlo , who I've always held in high regard and presently who I feel has seen better days , made himself to be a player aged 26-27 years old.

I think the England team needs to re-evaluate the 4-4-2. It's not a reactionary opinion on my part , I've always felt that England more then most teams tend to play the best players as opposed to the best team. They got lucky this time with Lampard being injured.

[Monte Smith]

Yup. There was no sting in England's falling at the penalties. Seen it before and they didn't deserve a result that exceeded the brilliance of their play (which was small). Of course, I listened to the game on radio and maybe if I saw it there was a visual dynamism to the team that left the commentators speechless, har har.

Maybe Portugal can raise its level of play the way England (and France) could not and defeat this technically gifted generation of Spaniards. I hope so. Love to see some new hands lift a trophy. I don't hold out hope for the Italians v Germany. They couldn't break down England. Regardless, we have a semi-final of all former fascist countries which only proves what I have been saying all along, that democracy is a farce. Cheers. Arrivederci it's one-on-one.

[Uli]

Balotelli!

[Uli]

Balotelli!

[ran]

What a wonderful game that was. As much shit as I give the Italians they played beautifully today. It should be a grand final.

[Monte Smith]

I guess I will have to start rating Balotelli. He turns up for the big games unlike Ronaldo or Rooney.

Spain v Italy is not a bad final. They can't pay their bills or run an economy but such things are unimportant. Football is what matters.

[ran]

This run by the Italians reminds of 82 when Rossi went crazy. I want to see a really special game and if the group stage was any indication , maybe , just maybe it will be. Who ever wins (outside of a real crazy call ) will have deserved it.

[Monte Smith]

Spain up by two. I am in Akron, OH at a 4th of July party watching the game with a parrot and an 88 year old woman. I suspect the woman is here for the air conditioning.

[Uli]

Spain up by two. I am in Akron, OH at a 4th of July party watching the game with a parrot and an 88 year old woman. I suspect the woman is here for the air conditioning.

Maybe she is just afraid of not making it to the 4th. Yeah it's gonna be a tough 2nd for Italia.

[rollhead]

[Uli]

Barcelona Sign Nine Year-Old Dublin Wonderkid, Have The Catalan Giants Nabbed The New Glenn Whelan?By Alan Duffy




Nine-year-old Zak Gilsenan from Castleknock in Dublin could, one day, follow in the footsteps of Dublin-born footballing greats such as Liam Brady, Johnny Giles and er, Glenn Whelan, after signing on the dotted line for La Liga giants Barcelona.

The youngster shone in midfield in a trial with the Blaugrana back in May and will now move to sunny Spain with his family in tow, where he’ll take his place at the famous FCBEscola football academy. Dad Stephan explains:

“We were living in Australia when Zak was spotted by Spurs, who were running football camps over there. We came home with the intention of letting Zak go to Spurs, but in the meantime we had a call from Barcelona. One of their former players saw him playing in Oz and recommended him to Barca.”

“They offered Zak a trial in May and it was a great experience. It consisted of over 400 boys from all over the world. He was asked back in June when it was cut down to 90.”

“Then in a match between the top 16 players, Zak just ran riot and scored seven goals. He was phenomenal. Then we heard back two weeks ago and they offered him a spot.”

So there you have it – the (somewhat distant) future for the Boys in Green may involve more tika-taka and less hoofy-hoofy. Oh, and when you add in young John Joe Patrick Finn, another nine-year-old who was signed by Real Madrid back in May, the future is even greener!

On a personal note, having grown up just down the road from Castleknock, it somewhat irks me that Barca never came across my outstanding left-wing skills as a kid. Their loss, I guess.

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/la_li...nn-whelan.html

[spacebull1]

hahahah..They are the greatest..

[ran]

In anticipation of the new season. Do we continue to use this thread or start a new one ? It doesn't matter to me , I'm just asking.

[Monte Smith]

In anticipation of the new season. Do we continue to use this thread or start a new one ? It doesn't matter to me , I'm just asking.

We keep this one.



It is about to kick off.

[Uli]

It is about to kick off.

The excitement is on! Swansea in the lead. The Manchester clubs are both loaded with stars. Watching Chelsea right now which most pundits pick for an outsider chance. Next up my ManCity.

[Monte Smith]

Week 2 has just concluded and the action picks up as we left it last season. Already several players have had to answer charges and some fans have been arrested for the racist content of their tweets. I love this game! Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go.

[Uli]

Only Balotelli has changed.

[ran]

To early to say anything with any meaning. But I'd like to know something.

When they , sky sports , add the transfer fees and say that its 480-million pound worth of activity. I'm assuming that it's just in England. But is it just buying ? As an example allow me to use Tottenham.

They sold and they bought , I'm no book keeper ( unlike my scouse friends ) but is all of that activity counted as one. So they sold 35 million and they bought 35 million , does that mean that its 70 million of the 480 million that's been reported ?

It's late and I'm stupid.

[ran]

So the stupid part of the early season has ended.

I think anyone could go back on these pages and see how highly I think of a Liverpool v. Man United match is.

So Sunday they battle once more. I don't know all that there is know about the Hils. incident. But from what I do know , I'll be disappointed if the United faithful show a lack of respect for this moment. It's bigger then the game. I do know that much.

[ran]

Richard , is this race issue playing out the way you wanted it too ?

[Uli]

So the stupid part of the early season has ended.

I think anyone could go back on these pages and see how highly I think of a Liverpool v. Man United match is.

So Sunday they battle once more. I don't know all that there is know about the Hils. incident. But from what I do know , I'll be disappointed if the United faithful show a lack of respect for this moment. It's bigger then the game. I do know that much.

I was not aware of the historic significance of the Liverpool/Manu rivalry and looked it up on the net. There is a specific wiki entry dedicated to it. You may find the following funny: "The fixture is usually played at midday due to media interest and to discourage fans from drinking before the game" I am gonna root with you for Manu as Liverpool beat my Young Boys badly this week in an entertaining Euroleague game.

Looking forward to City/Arsenal and Bayern/Schalke as well.

[Monte Smith]

Yes, Hillsborough is bigger than the game, but is it bigger than racist tweets being bigger than the game? That's the question. I'd like to see a penalty shoot-out between the Hillsborough tragedy and ribald comments made via social media that reflect badly on a player's complexion. Only then will justice and equality, &c., oh JUST PLAY THE GAME.

Best game from midweek was Madrid v City. Fiery stuff. Loved to see Ronaldo put the shiv between City ribs at the death. Well done, son. I have to confess that I love Ronaldo ("He's bigger than the game.") The sulking, the drama, the hair gel. He's a bit of a prick, isn't he? Bam! Back of the net and hearts are broken.

United have looked wobbly in every game thus far, but then historically they are crap til Christmas.

[ran]

Break up Liverpool !!!

Ah , what to say about my beloved United. There are some serious cracks on this team. Aside from the injuries there seems to me to be a lack of being tough. For the life of me I don't know why clubs go to Ol Trafford and play half a game on top of letting United dominate 60 yards of the pitch. Today , Tot. had them on the ropes after their third goal. As bad as United were on the day and for the first 45 min. they were awful. Tot. was lucky to leave with a win. And very little of it had to do with what United did. That United did play better in the 2nd half wasn't completely due to United , though they did play better , it was primarily because Tot. was willing to let the game come to them and as bad as United were , Tot. were the lucky ones today.

I think it's time to play Rooney where he should be played. He should play in the hole behind the striker. It would allow United to be less dependent on Scholes. Speaking of Scholes , watching him today and forgiving him for some errant passes , he is still among the elite players , forget his age , show me anyone at any age that still does what he does ? My god , I want to know what all these England coaches were thinking when they put him on the left or right but never where he should have been, what a waste.

[Monte Smith]

The second half at Old Trafford yesterday was fun to watch, even if United did fail to get the equalizer. And then the win. And then one more as insult. Sigh.

This afternoon I shall be cheering on mighty West Brom in the Midlands derby. So there's that.

Where's Richard to tell us how the real United are doing? Where is Uli to yell Schweinsteiger? Come on, fellas, the season is on.

[Uli]

The second half at Old Trafford yesterday was fun to watch, even if United did fail to get the equalizer. And then the win. And then one more as insult. Sigh.

This afternoon I shall be cheering on mighty West Brom in the Midlands derby. So there's that.

Where's Richard to tell us how the real United are doing? Where is Uli to yell Schweinsteiger? Come on, fellas, the season is on.

"

Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!

As you see I am still here right with you watching the Midlands Derby. I admit that I missed the Manu/Spurs excitment yesterday After an entertaining Chelsea/Arsemal and the 2:0 lead I lost a bit of focus. It's almost too much for me especially since I am also trying to watch some Bundesliga games on goltv. Even trying to keep rooting for ManCity is like rooting for two or three teams now. Hopefully I can yell Schweinsteiger in the upcoming Eurochamps game against Bate, whoever they are.

Hey, they set a monument for the incident that was talked bout quite a lot here, iirc

[Monte Smith]

ZIIIIIIIIIIIDAAAAAAAAAANE!

[Monte Smith]

I'll be the first one to admit that there were some dodgy calls in the Chelsea-United contest at Stamford Bridge, but now Chelski FC is lodging a formal complaint against the ref and claiming he used racial abuse (against a white player). This racism business has done the impossible and become stupider even than it was. It's getting to the point where I think every British person needs to be stood up and told exactly what color of tw*t they are by Luis Suarez and John Terry. Maybe that will be enough to break the spell and end this mammoth onslaught of dumb.