Just whistle
World Cup 2006: almost there
Made sure the chicken was eaten in good time for tonight's match. After last night's it was always going to be slight letdown. Much cooler today at home, thanks to occasional showers all day. I had a haircut, which will form a separate entry.
France 1 Portugal 0
John Motson called France "the most offensive team" of the opening moments of this semi final. I know what he meant, but Portugal were far more offensive, not least Ronaldo, whose every touch was greeted with pantomime booing and whistling from elements of the crowd. (Were they England fans who'd already bought their Munich tickets, making their own entertainment? If so, there were either a lot of them, or they were very good at booing and whistling.) I couldn't help but smile - and perhaps even wink - each time the Ronaldo chorus rang out. It should have got annoying. It didn't. I was hoping for a better performance by my favourite team, but they comprehesively failed to dominate the first half. Portugal had more shots. However, they were up to their usual tricks, appealing for free kicks incessantly, melodramatically throwing themselves in front of the Uraguayan ref, who was having none of it, and, frankly, fouling. Ironically, it was what looked like an accidental trip-up on Henry that gave France the penalty, which Zidane skilfully put home, aged 33, in the 33rd minute (his 30th goal for France). Scolari was going nuts. But not as nuts as he went after the final whistle. In the second half, I'm unhappy to say, France defended their one goal like Italians, but it was Portugal's failing in the end not to equalise. Unfortunately for them, they spent too much energy on diving, and not enough on playing football. Ronaldo, trailing boos and whistles like Pigpen used to trail dust on Charlie Brown, was the most blatant offender, and yet no yellow card was forthcoming for this pathetic tactic. It almost went their way in the final few minutes, when even Ricardo left his goal to help jam the French box for two successive corners, risking much, but getting away with it. I'm not sure what Scolari was specifically aggrieved about come the whistle, perhaps the offside flag that disallowed Portugal's final chance from Ronaldo, which Barthez saved anyway, but he made a tit of himself harraguing the ref when his players were doing manly hugs through their tears. If only the German TV director wasn't obsessed with showing shots of the old French manager in the stands.
So, France Italy final. Should be interesting. France looked a bit knackered come the end of this one, not least Zidane. Get some sleep.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 8:51 PM
11 Comments
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11 Comments:
The smallest country dominated the Gigantic France! where was Henry? and Zidane? and Ribery? yeah.. you criticized the atittude of the portuguese players, yet it was France who won the game faking a penalty!! Not fair...
Football? Pah! I have been listening to Big Finish's 'Live 34' , starring one Mr. Andrew Collins. Hmmm... he sppears to be playing an alternate world version of himself but he does it so well.
So it's all shaping up for an intriguing showdown this weekend, on one side, strong, sexy iconic powerhouses, fully reinvigorated for today's game, and on the other side, the older boys, seemingly back from the dead, but re-energised and ready for the battle.
There'll no doubt be tears before bedtime, and people are going to be hurt, but I'm placing my money on the Cybermen.
And Italy.
I think you'll find that I did say it was ironic that France got that penalty, Anonymous. And anyway, Portugal were the poorer side. Fair.
That's now twice Henry has been fouled where he has unjustly been accused of diving. Carvalho clearly takes his leg. Yes he could possibly ave stayed up, but he was genuinely fouled. Similarly, while his Rivaldo-esque swan-dive against Spain looked bad, Puyol did genuinely obstruct him - whatever Henry did, France deserved the free kick.
The worst thing about Ronaldo's diving today was it seemed to be his primary tactic. He would launch himself into a contest only to dive, not to win a header or a pass, and the French defenders learned the best thing was simply to stand back and let him fall.
Actually, correct the above. The WORST thing about Ronaldo's diving is that he is not very good at it. He is a B-grade actor.
Also, where was Deco? Cowering behind the wall of hype? At least Figo did something, even if the poor old man ran out of legs early.
I am afraid for France. Domenech doesn't seem that bright.
As long as the evil Italians lose, all will be well. It's kinda like the 1967 European Cup Final.
Nice Pigpen metaphor. ;-)
Sorry to be picky but it was a Pigpen simile rather than a metaphor...
Congrats on keeping the football commentary going Andrew, our blog seems to have self destructed the minute England went out, which is a very poor show.
It was sooo not a fake penalty. It was a clumsy tackle in the box, he missed the ball and caught Henry's leg - how can that not be a foul? And a foul in the box is a penalty.
France's av. age is 30 - that's pretty much prime age for international football. Commentators keep saying the older players will suffer the longer a match goes on but most distance athletes are in their prime in their 30s. Oh and Linford Christie won Olympic 100m in his 30s. It could be that players don't do enough stamina work. Crouch said he was exhausted after the last match, he's 25 and how long did he play for?
Apologies Clive. My poor excuse is that it was early!
Yes, Andrew, I liked the Pigpen metaphor / simile , whatever. Have you seen the FIFA young player of the tournament vote? It seems that some dastardly England fans have been voting in huge numbers for Ecuador's Valencia, to ensure that our favourite Portuguese, Ronaldo, does not win. Shocking, simply shocking, though not as bizarre as the fact that the infant Theo has amassed over 4000 votes.
Is anybody else following the Tour de France, or is it just me & British Eurosport ???
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