Euro 2004: Quarterfinals Portugal v England

[Lambert Simnel]

First of all, blaming the ref is nonsense. England were pathetic...getting a goal, trying to sit back for the rest of the match, and then...deja vu.

Secondly, regardless of what replays show, I go to the football every week. Every week I will see similar things disallowed. It may not always end up in the net, but nevertheless, we know goalkeepers are untouchable these days. If the ref sees something like that - the crowd around the keeper, he's always going to use his whistle. It's just a fact of the modern day game.

Here you can see yet again why England can be so hated. Have you ever seen such sore losers? The ref was bribed? Portugal are buying the tournament? Of course...

Phoenix, I totally agree with you about Campbell's disallowed goal, and I sympathise with your comment on sore losers - some of the reactions here are close to hysterical. But we shouldn't tar all the English with the same brush, and you've got to have some sympathy for anyone going out of the tournament in such a gut-wrenchingly awful way....

 

[MCdread]

This thead has some of the most ridiculous replies ever seen in this forum. Anyway, what an epic! I can't even realise the full scale of it, because it was very very intense in my living room. Like a friend of mine was saying after the game, he was so affected by it that when they showed images of the game, he suddenly found himself thinking we still had to win it. The game started with two faces for England: lucky at first in a terrible mistake by Costinha (but Owen's finishing was brilliant) and unlucky immediatly loosing Rooney by injuree. Portugal played a good first half and it was poor finishing, especially at free kicks that kept the score. In the second half England locked the door better and Portugal was loosing objectivity. I agree with those who say that Cole was good, but only in defence. But Ronaldo was not bad either and he was still unning at full speed after 120 minutes.
But finally we deservedly got the equaliser, in a period when all the substitutions had been made, and Portugal had only 3 defenders and 6 attacking players, whilw England was in the opposite situation. Nuno Gomes couldn't even walk anymore, and Deco was better playing at right back than in the playmaker role, where he sucked today. Figo sucked too, and I'm not sure I want to see him back with the portuguese shirt for the way he behaved when he saw that he was the one to be replaced. Correct decision in disallowing Campbell's goal, and only the english think otherwise.

The extra time was incredible, and Portugal kept pushing, although England also had their chances. Rui Costa should have settled it, but then anothe defensive mistake and it was 2-2. I couldn't believe. And there we went to penalties. One thing was sure: our penalties were taken with much more class than the english ones. But after Rui Costa's redemption with a great goal, he missed a penalty. I thought Ricardo was doing a poor job there, jumping too early and always too much close to the ground. But then what a save without gloves and what a well taken penalty immediatly after. That was something worthy too see, and the weight of the world came out of our shoulders in that living room.

Then I went to the streets to celebrate and I can confirm that the majority of the legions of english fans we met were no sore loosers at all, unlike some others...

 

[Grisu]

'The grocer from Zurich certainly weighed his scales in Portugal's favour'

So true, BBC commentator, so true

well, except for the fact that he isn't from Zurich and that's obviously not the only fact the BBC commentator got wrong

 

[Aggie]

Yes, I wanted England to win. I wanted all big football nations to stay in the competition as far as possible. I think it's good for the show... but that's not the only point. Indeed, the teams which are qualified for the quarters deserve to be there and they will be extremely hard to beat. However, if France is beaten by Greece, no matter how organized they can play, we will consider that as less excusable than if we are beaten by Germany, which played a lot worse... but has 3 stars on its shirt.

Portugal, Denmark, Holland, Czechia, Sweden are big football nations. It's absurd to claim something else. Just look at their results in the world cup and european cup over the years. Only Greece hasn't shown it with their national squad until now, but football is extremely populair there as well.

I rather watch Denmark than Germany for show. The Danish squad simply is stronger.

 

[zenga]

Got to say the team that played the best, most attacking, football went through last night. Well done Portugal.

As for the disallowed goal argument, it could have been called either way but the referee got it wrong anyway. The free kick should have been given for OFFSIDE against Terry. He was a yard off at the time of the initial header (by Owen?) and clearly interfered with play, never mind whether a foul was committed or not. So it was the linesman's fault!

 

[El Sop]

Congratulations to the Portuguese they deserved to go through. Ubelievable all this whining about the disallowed goal, IMO a correct decision, and it seems the English audience here complains a lot more than the English players did (as far as I saw).

Figo sucked too, and I'm not sure I want to see him back with the portuguese shirt for the way he behaved when he saw that he was the one to be replaced.

Figo didn't play well, but I was amazed he was substituted when Portugal was still down 0-1. If it would have stayed that way I think Scolari would have been lynched for that decision (as Advocaat was after the infamous Robben substitution in the Czech Rep match). As it turned out it was a very lucky decision of course.

Weird by the way seeing Scolari running around with a Brazilian flag after the match. Will Rehagel run around with a German flag if Greece beat France ?? At leat the Germans would have something to celebrate

 

[Karasu]

Well... what a game!

I enjoyed watching it. When it comes to penalties, it is always a nightmare -good that Italy is already out and I can watch the rest of the tournament in a comfortably neutral position...

On the match, the general comments from italian commentators (for what they are worth, of course, which is very close to nothing) were:

1. Portugal deserved quite more yellow cards that they got. There was a debate on the free kick on Rooney due to his loosing a boot or something, but I was in the kitchen at the moment, busy with my dessert

2. England stopped attacking too early. Especially in the second half, they clearly tried to kill the game on 1-0. That did in fact look like some kind of catenaccio with impossibly long balls to the isolated strikers...

3. Ashley Cole played an extraordinary match on Ronaldo -who actually tried playing on the other side quite a few times. Vassel was somewhat criticized for a poor performance (even apart from the penalty).

4. They were also wondering why Rui Costa was not sent in a lot earlier, possibly for Deco (but then, you know, mine is a nation of football coaches).
Most commented that Portugal attacked a lot and generally outplayed England, but they didn't really know what to do when they reached the english box, and they equalized on one of the very few defensive mistakes of their adversaries (on a cross...).

4. Ehm... The general consensus over here seems to be that Terry's play on Ricardo *was* a foul

5. The ball moved a little just as Beckham hit it on the penalty; either he touched it slightly with his left foot or the grass gave way somewhat.
Was it intentional tampering by Ricardo? The striker should have been more careful, and it was wondered why does he keep on taking penalties anyway...

6. Playing too much defense on a single goal advantage, loosing and blaming the referee sounds a lot like the italian way of managing football tournaments (yes, loosing on penalties is also foreseen in our national football competition procedures ). Good to see that people are the same wherever you go...


P.S.: I didn't comment much on Italy's game because there was very little to say. Unfortunately, all the worst and silliest things that I read about Italy were well deserved.
They played horrible football, and -as usual- players, trainers, commentators and the bosses of our football federation superbly managed to transmit the worst possible image of our country...

 

[El Sop]

P.S.: I didn't comment much on Italy's game because there was very little to say. Unfortunately, all the worst and silliest things that I read about Italy were well deserved.
They played horrible football, and -as usual- players, trainers, commentators and the bosses of our football federation superbly managed to transmit the worst possible image of our country...

The "welcome home"-images of the Italians (Panucci I think it was) were quite sad to see as well.

 

[Dr Jimbo]

Well, it's taken a while to catch up. I watched the game through a smoke-free Guinness haze, so here, quite subjectively, are some comments

I think Portugal have tried to buy this tournament, and this game!

Before kick off..

1. Portgual gets an extra day to prepare
2. A Swiss referee - is that the most neutral they could find?
3. Ronaldo is grinning like a school boy who has just got away with lying

1. Eh, that's the way the tournament was scheduled. It's not like they changed it halfway through. If England wanted an extra day's rest, they should have won their group.
2. The Swiss are renowned for their partisanship
3. The cheeky scamp!

If England don't win now I'm gonna petition the government to "beat the **** out of Europe."

It's call the UKIP

England played defensive because Rooney was fouled and taken out of the match; their entire game plan was wrecked by one of the worst fouls in footy history. It's very difficult to work out a new plan in the middle of the game with all the players already chosen

So now England are a one-trick pony?

Why is it always penalties? Why?

Because, despite reportedly having practised them, English players still seem to be rubbish at them.

Yes, I wanted England to win. I wanted all big football nations to stay in the competition as far as possible. I think it's good for the show...

Marla, what's with this population obsession? It's a football tournament, not a breeding competition. What do you want to do, give the World Cup to China every time?

 

[AVN]

This thead has some of the most ridiculous replies ever seen in this forum. Anyway, what an epic! I can't even realise the full scale of it, because it was very very intense in my living room. Like a friend of mine was saying after the game, he was so affected by it that when they showed images of the game, he suddenly found himself thinking we still had to win it. The game started with two faces for England: lucky at first in a terrible mistake by Costinha (but Owen's finishing was brilliant) and unlucky immediatly loosing Rooney by injuree. Portugal played a good first half and it was poor finishing, especially at free kicks that kept the score. In the second half England locked the door better and Portugal was loosing objectivity. I agree with those who say that Cole was good, but only in defence. But Ronaldo was not bad either and he was still unning at full speed after 120 minutes.
But finally we deservedly got the equaliser, in a period when all the substitutions had been made, and Portugal had only 3 defenders and 6 attacking players, whilw England was in the opposite situation. Nuno Gomes couldn't even walk anymore, and Deco was better playing at right back than in the playmaker role, where he sucked today. Figo sucked too, and I'm not sure I want to see him back with the portuguese shirt for the way he behaved when he saw that he was the one to be replaced. Correct decision in disallowing Campbell's goal, and only the english think otherwise.

The extra time was incredible, and Portugal kept pushing, although England also had their chances. Rui Costa should have settled it, but then anothe defensive mistake and it was 2-2. I couldn't believe. And there we went to penalties. One thing was sure: our penalties were taken with much more class than the english ones. But after Rui Costa's redemption with a great goal, he missed a penalty. I thought Ricardo was doing a poor job there, jumping too early and always too much close to the ground. But then what a save without gloves and what a well taken penalty immediatly after. That was something worthy too see, and the weight of the world came out of our shoulders in that living room.

Then I went to the streets to celebrate and I can confirm that the majority of the legions of english fans we met were no sore loosers at all, unlike some others...

Great analysis of this game.
I couldn't have said it better

Congratulations Portugal, I hope we will see you in the Semi-Finals

 

[raen]

Weird by the way seeing Scolari running around with a Brazilian flag after the match.

With Brazilian and Portuguese flag, the two ones!!! you want to know why? because Brazilian ppl are with us when our team play and we are with their when they play, we are friends !! And you never seen this in Portugal, ppl putting their flags in windows and everywhere, Scolari has helped to it too.

 

[El Sop]

With Brazilian and Portuguese flag, the two ones!!! you want to know why? because Brazilian ppl are with us when our team play and we are with their when they play, we are friends !! And you never seen this in Portugal, ppl putting their flags in windows and everywhere, Scolari has helped to it too.

Well, it's good somebody strapped a Portuguese flag around his neck as well, otherwise it would have been pretty embarassing! It's good this is a European tournament, because if there would have been a Por-Bra match this man would go , and .

 

[phil87]

Marla, what's with this population obsession? It's a football tournament, not a breeding competition. What do you want to do, give the World Cup to China every time?

BTW I think the main problem is every time england play well for a few games the media here hype the team up so much so that we all expect to win which means we are extra dissapointed when we lose and therefore people see us as sore losers.

 

[-0blivion-]

Did you know that the referee for the match is working in the premiership next season

 

[Rhye]

With Brazilian and Portuguese flag, the two ones!!! you want to know why? because Brazilian ppl are with us when our team play and we are with their when they play, we are friends !! And you never seen this in Portugal, ppl putting their flags in windows and everywhere, Scolari has helped to it too.

I didn't know that. I instead know that Brazilians hate Portuguese

 

[Dell19]

Did you know that the referee for the match is working in the premiership next season

He will have a few fun games to start the season with... Any English club going to try and sign Ricardo?

Then I went to the streets to celebrate and I can confirm that the majority of the legions of english fans we met were no sore loosers at all, unlike some others...

Glad to see that you didn't encounter the minority of trouble makers...

 

[raen]

I didn't know that. I instead know that Brazilians hate Portuguese

Maybe in the past, someones still hate tough(in both sides), but in general they like Portugal, and we like them. Celebrations also in East Timor, Moçambique, etc....

We have our language, that is a great connection!!

See my sig, I talk alot with Brazilian Civ players and I consider them my friends and they too.

 

[Hitro]

Did you know that the referee for the match is working in the premiership next season

The Swiss one?!?

 

[raen]

Glad to see that you didn't encounter the minority of trouble makers...

Me too, English fans in stadium were very nice, and many party with the Portuguese outside the stadium and in the streets. One English tryed to pass false euros to have beer for free, but nothing more

In algarve were arrested some English, but also some Portuguese and a Swedish person, 10 in total. This is really nothing comparing with the total of fans that were there.

This was a great game!! and the majority of English can see when a team is better and deserve to win.

 

[-0blivion-]

Yep Portugal deserved to win. Its just a bit frustrating when you see a goal disallowed..

Yea Hitro, the Swiss one..Suicidal, eh?