171 replies to this topic

[Zomp]

I can't believe I'm about to root for Portugal, but anybody but Spain will do.

[ifmanis5]

I can't believe I'm about to root for Portugal, but anybody but Spain will do.

(*Deep sigh*) Yeah, there are no winners here.

[soxfan121]

If Paulo Bento hasn't been in constant communication with Jose Mourinho and watching Real-Barca tapes (specifically, the most recent one) I'd be shocked. Portugal's counter-attacking style suits them against Spain's possession game and Portugal's defenders (specifically, Pepe) have plenty of experience dealing with the tiki-taka. Veloso & Moutinho should be locks to start - I'd go for the more defensively oriented Custodio (what a name!) in place of Meireles but Custodio's got like 3 total caps, so that might be asking too much of the youngster.

In any case, the key is Pretty Ronaldo. If he can finish one of the chances he will get along the way, Spain might need to actually play-to-score, as opposed to playing-for-possession. Pretty has the opportunity to own the spotlight, especially if he scores to take down Spain after taking down Barca on the club level this season. I called Portugal before the tourney started and they've played well enough to earn this matchup. I think Pretty Ronaldo has enough quality and desire to score 1 for country - can Portugal defend patiently? Can Ronaldo convert two chances to goals and make Spain play from behind for the first time in 5+ years?

Fascinating game...cannot wait.

[DLew On Roids]

Custódio says Portugal will play their normal game.

With a name like that, he should be a sweeper.

[SoxFanInPdx]

I'm going to have to take a shower after rooting for Portugal in this match.

[soxfan121]

Custódio says Portugal will play their normal game.

With a name like that, he should be a sweeper.

Holding/defensive midfielder. Great fucking name, agreed.

[Vinho Tinto]

I'd go for the more defensively oriented Custodio (what a name!) in place of Meireles but Custodio's got like 3 total caps, so that might be asking too much of the youngster.

He's 29. So he's not that young and has enough club experience to not expect him being overwhelmed by the moment; but the only lineup change will be Hugo Almeida/Nelson Oliveira for Postiga (Out with a thigh injury).

To add on your Ronaldo comments: Will be interesting to see how they have Arbeloa defend him. Will they try one on one, or have Busquets/Pique cheat to that side. If they do overload their right, does Nani exploit? Oliveira is more adapt at mirroring Postiga in being able to switch positions with Ronaldo. Not sure if that will play into PB's thoughts.

[MentalDisabldLst]

I've rooted for Spain ever since they took out the cheap-shotting Dutch in the 2010 WC title game. Aside from those who don't like watching the "midfielders playing hackysack" style of play, is there any particular reason to hate Spain that I'm not aware of as a casual fan?

[soxfan121]

They don't sing their own national anthem, the ungrateful bastards.

Oh, and because any team that wins, a lot, becomes the villain. Spain has won the last two major tournaments, which makes them the Yankees or the Canadiens or the Celtics of the 60s or the Patriots of the early 2000s. It's a general principles thing - no one likes a dominant team except their own long terms fans. Win, a lot, and you'll attract haters.

[SoxFanInCali]

If Portugal wins, I'll be in great shape in our ESPN Bracket Challenge.

It was hard enough rooting for a team featuring Wayne Rooney and John Terry. Now I have to root for Ronaldo and Nani?

(shudder)

[Dummy Hoy]

They don't sing their own national anthem, the ungrateful bastards.

Oh, and because any team that wins, a lot, becomes the villain. Spain has won the last two major tournaments, which makes them the Yankees or the Canadiens or the Celtics of the 60s or the Patriots of the early 2000s. It's a general principles thing - no one likes a dominant team except their own long terms fans. Win, a lot, and you'll attract haters.

This is always the excuse...jealousy. Some of us just don't like the teams for reasons other than their awesomeness (and Spain is awesome).

[Vinho Tinto]

A compilation of 19 year old Ronaldo vs Spain in Euro '04.

Edited by Vinho Tinto, 25 June 2012 - 09:27 PM.

[Snakebauer007]

He played so much wider early in his career

[Zomp]

He's so incredible.

Whatever, I get that its fun to hate him, and I do it to. But god damn. He's transformed into the ultimate attacker. He can still play wide, lead the line, play through the middle. He can finish with both feet, is deadly in the air, and on free kicks.

What a combination.

[Dummy Hoy]

He's so incredible.

Whatever, I get that its fun to hate him, and I do it to. But god damn. He's transformed into the ultimate attacker. He can still play wide, lead the line, play through the middle. He can finish with both feet, is deadly in the air, and on free kicks.

What a combination.

All true, and I think he's gotten less bitchy and floppy over the course of this season.

[teddykgb]

His speed is so striking in that video. He's still got it, but he uses it so much more measured now. In that video he's just in top gear on every run, at times to ball control detriment and good play, but my god is it fun to watch. Also pretty stark to see him playing on the right, I've gotten so used to him on the left or central.

[DLew On Roids]

He's so incredible.

Whatever, I get that its fun to hate him, and I do it to. But god damn. He's transformed into the ultimate attacker. He can still play wide, lead the line, play through the middle. He can finish with both feet, is deadly in the air, and on free kicks.

What a combination.

If it weren't for the vanity and the playing for the two most hated clubs in the two highest-profile leagues, he'd be more popular than Messi. He's everything you said, plus he's really tough. I love to root against him, but I have nothing but respect for him as a player.

[Tony the Pony]

it's a fuckin cunt.

[Dummy Hoy]

it's a fuckin cunt.

Well, yes, but an incredibly gifted one.

[cjdmadcow]

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo.
Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Postiga, Beto.

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Negredo, Iniesta.
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Negredo in for Fabregas for Spain, Almeida in for Postiga for Portugal.

Edited by cjdmadcow, 27 June 2012 - 01:24 PM.

[teddykgb]

Negredo seems like a surprise inclusion....is he?

[Dummy Hoy]

I just want Portugal to score early so that Spain has to try to move the ball towards the goal.

[teddykgb]

Portugal not sitting deep, but you often see a team come out strong in the first 10-15 and then get run over, so we'll have to see

Edited by teddykgb, 27 June 2012 - 01:52 PM.

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Do you think that an assistant referee who has made it to this level will ever call a player off side just because a defender raised his arm?

It's hard to run and play defense when you're waiving your arm in the air. Just carry on and play football. They are going to call what they call. Plus, replay shows you're almost always wrong.

well in most cases it's more a desperate plea than it is a serious expectation of influencing the referee

Yeah, those I get. But Portugal have done it twice when they could have simply kept playing defense -- the defender was right next to the player but took time to raise his hand instead of just knuckling down.

Edited by DennyDoyle'sBoil, 27 June 2012 - 02:04 PM.

[teddykgb]

well in most cases it's more a desperate plea than it is a serious expectation of influencing the referee

[Dummy Hoy]

Fucking Nani. If he stays on his feet he's through, instead he defaults to flop. Yeah he was held, fight through it. What a shitbag.

[DLew On Roids]

That must have been impossible to officiate. You have the dirtiest defender on the biggest drama queen. Who to believe?

On the other hand:

"You must be joking, Macca."

I love Sir Ian.

Edited by DLew On Roids, 27 June 2012 - 02:07 PM.

[teddykgb]

game has been pretty damn even thus far, very good

[teddykgb]

jesus, what is the ref doing?

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Spain's clearances in their own end have been poor. Coentrao really has been controlling his side of the field.

[JayMags71]

On the other hand:

"You must be joking, Macca."

I love Sir Ian.

As do I, but I believe he was wrong on that play. That was more flop than anything.

[Dummy Hoy]

game has been pretty damn even thus far, very good

I love that Portugal is not backing down, but playing their game. Their lack of fear with the ball at their feet and their patience has created some good chances, while their pressure has forced Spain into some mistakes.

[teddykgb]

the problem is that spain have created two or three very good chances almost on accident thus far, so Portugal has to be on their toes

[soxfan121]

Portugal aggressively closing down the midfield, forcing more long balls in the first half than Spain has played in the whole tournament thus far. Brilliant tactical plan by Bento, thus far.

The referee is making himself part of the story - that is not good for a tournament that has blessedly been controversy-free thus far. The Nani-Pepe conundrum is one thing - that whistle on a clear advantage play is quite another.

ETA: Nani makes it near impossible to root for his team. What a floppy dick.

Edited by soxfan121, 27 June 2012 - 02:21 PM.

[Harry Hooper]

Get up you puke.

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

ETA: Nani makes it near impossible to root for his team. What a floppy dick.

He also does his team no favors -- why require the trainers to come out and take yourself off the pitch when all you want is a drink.

[soxfan121]

Does Bruno Alves play his club football in the Portuguese Penal League?

[Dummy Hoy]

the problem is that spain have created two or three very good chances almost on accident thus far, so Portugal has to be on their toes

That's the problem with Spain, isn't it? They were held fairly stagnant for stretches in '10, then one pass to David Villa and it's game. I may not like them very much, but their talent and skill is undeniable. Certainly the best international football team I've seen for an extended period.

[Dummy Hoy]

That's a great foul. That could have gotten ugly if Ronaldo got by him clean.

[Hendu's Gait]

this game needs more Cesc appeal

[soxfan121]

Almeda has been complete shit so far.

ETA: Coentrao gets a yellow for something off-camera and off-the-ball. The ref is making himself an issue.

Edited by soxfan121, 27 June 2012 - 02:32 PM.

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

That's the problem with Spain, isn't it? They were held fairly stagnant for stretches in '10, then one pass to David Villa and it's game.

This is where coaches earn their money. I agree and think, no matter what's gone on before, Spain remains the more dangerous side. They have the capacity to turn nothing into something better than Portugal. If it goes another 15 minutes like this, with Portugal arguably "outplaying" Spain, does del Bosque feel the need to tweak for more offense?

[LondonSox]

I still can't understand macca as the color commentator. I mean English people can barely understand him and he's a frickin moron. I mean I loved him as a player but seriously, this is your guy to present football.
Ian is great but macca I mean come on he's terrible AND a scouser the accent is not foreign fan friendly

edit: the choice of him I mean to be clear

Edited by LondonSox, 27 June 2012 - 02:51 PM.

[Joe D Reid]

As a Portagee, I laugh every time I see the team drag the other team into joylessness. The ideal Portuguese holding midfielder would be a mourning 83 y/o widow dressed in black crepe.

[soxfan121]

Back to the 4-6-0 - yay. Cesc on, Negredo off.

[Dummy Hoy]

This is where coaches earn their money. I agree and think, no matter what's gone on before, Spain remains the more dangerous side. They have the capacity to turn nothing into something better than Portugal. If it goes another 15 minutes like this, with Portugal arguably "outplaying" Spain, does del Bosque feel the need to tweak for more offense?

Fabergas coming on addresses this, no?

[Wills Eeks]

Almeda has been complete shit so far.

ETA: Coentrao gets a yellow for something off-camera and off-the-ball. The ref is making himself an issue.

Per Google news, Coentrao got one for "dissent." Awesome.

[DLew On Roids]

I've never had a problem understanding Macca's accent. I think most Americans wouldn't be able to differentiate between a Scouse accent and RP, so maybe it's one of those things that's harder on the ear for the English.

Who does Llorente have to blow to get a game?

[soxfan121]

3-on-3 break and Alemda takes a 25 yard "shot".

Please, get him off the pitch and bring on someone with a pulse and who understands where the ball should go when Portgual has possession. (i.e. to CR)

ETA: Busquets gets carded for bitching to the ref. Good.

And why, when Xabi Alonso gets fouled, does the man take a legitimate SHOT to his body? The DeJong cleating, the Pepe kidney shot...

Edited by soxfan121, 27 June 2012 - 03:04 PM.

[DLew On Roids]

I think Del Bosque misread the problem when he took off Negredo. He isn't dominating midfield because Portugal's been unwilling to roll over, and because his team hasn't been pressing as much as usual.