Postduifje

To get back on this, it just led to the Dutch government resigning for new elections edit: article

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I'm no scripting-geek. Just maybe I can enter with a walk-over team

What, what, what? No football today??? What to do now, this means I actually have to study for my final exams.... edit: on a side note, there is somewhat of a reasonable explanation of the lesser quality play; A lot of the big teams are 'in between' two generations of players and have to adapt to their new capabilities. Some others think all it takes is putting all the stars on the field without any concept for a team, but we've always had that.

This adds another one to my list. Let's hope Spain will show something tonight, or else only Argentina and to lesser extend Germany have my sympathy. Damn it, I want to see great football!

Damn, 2-0 after terrible play by Brazil and joyful and brave play by Ghana. That last goal was pretty offside btw. Go Ghana!

I feel kinda sorry for the Swiss team, knocked out in the second round after 4 matches in which no single goals were scored against them. It wasn't really spectacular either, so I hope they improve further and are able to show something at the next big tournament in their home country

yep, especially for people from Australia or Italy, they have to be used to something... It's just the way Italy plays. They play extremely defensive to start with, so with one man off they just block the match and make football impossible, hoping for one moment in a counter. well, with all these teams going thru I really don't like, I'm actually starting to become a fan of.... Germany! Go Mannschaft, zum Weltmeistershaft!

Well... that's what I call an anti-climax. Italy goes on, totally undeserved because of a dubious penalty far in extra time.

I hope you are not referring to the incident with Boulahrouz and Figo, if so you have been fooled by a first class actor. I really have no problem losing because the team is outclassed by a better opponent, but last nights match leaves a strange feeling of anger and disappointment at the behavior of our own team, but moreover the behavior of the Portuguese and the ref. I agree with Albert that blaming the ref is not a good way of trying to solve your disappointment, but I can't help wondering what might have happened if he didn't stick his head up Figo's ass right at the moment the match was on a turning point.

Damn, now I don't know who to cheer for in the Portugal-England match. It would be an embarrassment for the quality of the tournament to have this English team in the semi-finals, but I hope the great actors of Portugal get send home as soon as possible too. Well, let's just hope Brazil or Spain send whoever survives home.

I don't know if it was deliberate tactic of the dutch to punch out Ronaldo or play unfair overall, (even though that act from Boulahrouz was unforgivable), but the Portuguese (especially Figo and that coach) did also influence the match too much by diving, acting unfair and screaming yellow cards out of the ref, which actually gave them... both teams deserve to be disqualified, especially since the match was never played out the fully 90 minutes; after the card spree nobody could play football anymore.

That situation with Kuyt sliding was indeed pretty nasty, but I don't think he did anything on purpose. It was a big chance so he went for it. Ricardo had to do a save so he went for it. They naturally bumped into each other, and Kuyt went in feet first because he wanted to hit the ball. I didn't see any foul there, of course in slow motion everything looks much worse and on purpose.

Damn, what a match... can't we just scratch this one and let England proceed to the semi-finals? A combination of foul play, extreme diving and a horrible ref (although many of the calls were pretty justified, he totally lost control) made this one a thriller we won't forget soon. edit: Indeed k@voven, what do you mean? He may be butt ugly, but I didn't see him do anything wrong. I thought the dive by Figo was the most disgusting act on the field. Did anyone keep track of how many minutes they actually played in the second half? Must be somewhere around 20-30 or so

Well, that wasn't very impressive... again. It's really a shame a team with that many great individual players adds up to such poor play. If this really is Englands year, we have a boring tournament ahead of us

It's a bit confusing to watch Germany cause we don't know what they are fully capable of, because they have yet to face a proper opponent. I mean the group phase was a laugh, and the already unimpressive Swedes with only 10 on the pitch (red card wasn't necessary) isn't that much of a resistance either. I'm sure we will know much more after the Germany-Argentina game. All in all a good first 20 minutes or so, after that the match was decided. Their defence remains the weakest link though, and you can't have that against Argentina

Damn, can't we just pick a third team from poule C or E and let only Spain proceed from poule H? The others do not deserve to proceed any further with what they are showing today...

Could the referee have just realized or been told that a red card should have been given to Simunic so he held up the yellow card again before giving the red card to show that that's how Simunic got the red card? Maybe, but it didn't look like it. Is seemed like he gave him a third yellow for heavy protesting. Nonetheless, he left a man on the field for a couple of minutes who should have been showering already. All in all I think the Croatians where more lucky (had more advantage by the poor referee) than the Australians.

Actually, I think the victory was well deserved. Australia has a decent team, maybe a but too tough. The keeper was really poor though. But most of all, they have the magic maker Hiddink (will he reach the semi-final for the third time in a row with 3 different teams?). The ref on the other hand lost total control of the match, what a horrible performance of that man. He missed 2 hands balls in the box, gave 3 yellow cards to one person and gave the fouls to the wrong side time after time...

haha, what a match! Australia got one penalty, but should have got 3 or 4. 3 red cards, of which one consisting of 3 (! loose yellow cards, the last one after the final whistle...

Congratulations Ghana! Sorry to see Czech Republic go, they made quite an impression in their first match, but their other two matches were just too poor. Damn, I really liked to see Czech Republic and Ghana proceed, much more attractive football...

Congratulations BIS with your little kid and thanks for the ongoing support. So, I see the pregnancy of its little sister is due for Q3?

Happy Birthday OFP!

Well, that figures, one goal too much is the trend of today

Ah, damn you Raedor, don't leave me alone down here!

hehe, I agree completely, we could use some help