The Eurocup QF Thread: Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Vaarwel, Adeus, and...Goodbye to Croatia

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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Ouch. On replay, he easily could have broken a finger there. I don't see the foul, but I do think he's actually hurt.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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Pretty much everything I don't like about soccer can be summarized by the last 5 minutes of this Italian team.
 

jcaz

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Jun 8, 2009
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This is unwatchable and I’m an Italy supporter. The Belgians are owed about 8 more minutes.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
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Apr 15, 2006
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Somers, CT
This has been egregious, but why do folks pretend this is a problem with Italy? Portugal combines it with even dirtier play. Every South American team and most in CONCACAF are no different. It sucks and it needs to be stamped out, but it’s not just these guys.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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Don't like the end-game shenanigans, but (1) pretty much everyone does stuff like that, and (2) Italy outplayed Belgium all game long. They deserved the win.
 

mic99

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Jul 18, 2005
490
Italy has been fantastic to watch most of the tournament and are the most likely team to beat England, so I am on board.

Wish they weren't celebrating with the crowd considering COVID and all.....
 

nolasoxfan

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Jun 11, 2004
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Displaced
Full credit to Italy, they outplayed Belgium.

On the bright side, an Italy-Spain semi guarantees me a team to root against in the final. So, there is that…
 

BelgianSoxFan

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Nov 11, 2003
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Very disappointed obviously, but not a heartbreak. Italy played well, and they play a beautiful game, when they are up right. A bit of luck was missing for Belgium, but that is why you play the game.

It shows how hard it is to win a major tournament, even with a golden generation, the competition is also very good.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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With the World Cup so close, and the next Euro only 3 years from now, Belgium can still make it happen. The window hasn’t closed yet.
 

Verryfunny2

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Jul 22, 2005
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Leeuwarden
Belgium need to move on. Great players will fade away. Dutch did it with Sneijder, Robben, van Persie, van der Vaart. Watching a great team on the decline is never fun, better too rip off the bandaid and be done with it.
 

Section30

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Aug 2, 2010
1,260
Portland OR
This has been egregious, but why do folks pretend this is a problem with Italy? Portugal combines it with even dirtier play. Every South American team and most in CONCACAF are no different. It sucks and it needs to be stamped out, but it’s not just these guys.
Because they are a top team. They don't need to writhe on the ground and cry like children to ref. It re-enforces the prejudice against the game by the casual fans watching a supposed the champion caliber team acting out like 5 year olds.
When called out for it they immediately jump up act like they are going fight.

My hope is a change in the rules.
Red card for obvious and clear dive.
3-5 game suspension if the player is red carded twice in the season for diving. Three times out for the season.
Red card for simulating a head injury. You should not have gamesmanship with such a serious injury.


A Guardian spoof ad. But it is based on videotape of an Italian national team practice in the 90's where the team practiced diving onto mattresses while throwing their arms in the air.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl2F6P8bw9w
 

67YAZ

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BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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I dunno. In every game this Euro tournament that I've watched, I've seen players on every team do this kind of thing. The slightest contact and they fall to the ground like they were shot by a sniper. Then after a minute or two they get up and sprint away like nothing ever happened.

I mean it's hilarious to watch any youtube soccer flops compilation. This stuff is a pandemic in the global soccer world. It's not at ALL just Italy.
 

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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It re-enforces the prejudice against the game by the casual fans watching a supposed the champion caliber team acting out like 5 year olds.
So you’re offended on behalf of casual viewers? Very noble.

That video is <chef’s kiss like a House of Pizza guy>.
 

slamminsammya

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Jul 31, 2006
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Dumb question but don't they eliminate time wasting if they just shifted to pausing the clock during deadballs? Do that and theres no more incentive for time wasting.
 

swiftaw

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Jan 31, 2009
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Dumb question but don't they eliminate time wasting if they just shifted to pausing the clock during deadballs? Do that and theres no more incentive for time wasting.
Or, if they don’t want to do that, have the time added on total visible all the game so that everyone can see it being added to as the game progresses.