Gunners in EURO '04/EURO '04 analysis (R)

[billyho96]

2-1 to the French FT

Zizou with a double in stoppage time. Brillant free kick and a penalty won by Henry.

Becks missed a penalty in the later part of the second half.


great game to watch

[jegerpenge]

Yes, it was a great game to watch. I wish I had taped it. Did anyone notice the only player on the French team capable of catching Rooney in the buildup to the England penalty. Leave it to a ManUre player to ******** it all up. At least Barthez pulled a magnificent save out of his ass.

[Dave_M]

Im gutted. Really gutted. Once again Heskey plays an integral part in our demise. I thought Sven had finally seen sense by not playing him in the starting 11, but his subsitution, and typical ******** up mean that I no longer have ANY confidence in Sven as a manager.

Clueless idiot. You know the defenition of insanity is performing the same action over and over again and expecting different results. Well it seems sven seems intent of dashing a nations hopes every 2 years by playing the "Heskey" card to counter the "garaunteed to at least draw" manouver.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGg.

Luckily the other two teams in the group are weak so hopefull we will still pull through. Lets just hope someone tells Sven to stop being a tard in the meantime eh

[jegerpenge]

That's why I have written an entire post on my site dedicated to the immense black hole that is Emille Heskey. And I mean that in the way of "Ball goes in, doesn't come out" sense, not racially. I also got a couple of punches in on Silvestre.

[VaVaVoom]

Absolutely unbelievable. I do not like Heskey, and was surprised that he took Rooney off because he was playing so well. That said, I can understand the substitution. Personally, with how deep they were defending for the last 30 minutes, I would have put Butt on for Rooney. But Heskey, although a disappointing striker, is a decent team player who does a good job of getting to long balls, holding up the ball, as well as contributing on the defensive end. Since Engalnd were really hoofing it for the last 1/4 of the game, I can understand what he was trying to do. But it backfired. It's too easy to criticise with hindsight.

Very, very unlucky. Silvestre should have been sent off for his foul on Rooney. He was the last man, and even if he wasn't, it was a cynical/professional foul as he didn't even go after the ball and it was a clear goal-scoring opportunity. I'm sure the finish would have been completely different if this happened. Beckham's penalty wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. Bartez guessed right and made a good save. Zidane's free kick was very good, but James went the wrong way (his wall was covering the short side, yet he also went in that direction instead of trusting the wall and covering the other side of the net). Finally, I don't think Gerrard will make another mistake like that in his entire career. Again, it just absolutely unbelievable that all these things should happen in the final few minutes of the match.

I think England will still qualify because Switzerland and Croatia looked horrible. I'm sure the papers will be all over Sven, Heskey & Gerrard. However, what happened was bizarre. I think over-analysing what happened will be detrimental. Similar to when a golfer shanks a shot, the typical advice it to just put it behind you and don't even try to figure out what happened. It's sport, and sometimes strange things happen. Have confidence in your ability and just move forward.

[TAKK]

Im gutted. Really gutted. Once again Heskey plays an integral part in our demise. I thought Sven had finally seen sense by not playing him in the starting 11, but his subsitution, and typical ******** up mean that I no longer have ANY confidence in Sven as a manager.

Clueless idiot. You know the defenition of insanity is performing the same action over and over again and expecting different results. Well it seems sven seems intent of dashing a nations hopes every 2 years by playing the "Heskey" card to counter the "garaunteed to at least draw" manouver.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGg.

Luckily the other two teams in the group are weak so hopefull we will still pull through. Lets just hope someone tells Sven to stop being a tard in the meantime eh

This is not a wind up, and I agree on Heskey 100%, but it seems like England has been dashing everyone's hopes every two years for quite a while now - clueless Sven or not.
Now we know what Bayern felt like.

[loublaze]

Im gutted. Really gutted. Once again Heskey plays an integral part in our demise. I thought Sven had finally seen sense by not playing him in the starting 11, but his subsitution, and typical ******** up mean that I no longer have ANY confidence in Sven as a manager.

Clueless idiot. You know the defenition of insanity is performing the same action over and over again and expecting different results. Well it seems sven seems intent of dashing a nations hopes every 2 years by playing the "Heskey" card to counter the "garaunteed to at least draw" manouver.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGg.

Luckily the other two teams in the group are weak so hopefull we will still pull through. Lets just hope someone tells Sven to stop being a tard in the meantime eh

That's the problem with you English people. Always looking ofr scapegoats! He made a mistake but he can't take blame for your loss. Heskey did more in 5 minutes than Owen did all game. Owen was just a spectator! Blame him as he's your star striker and did absolutely nothing! Not even track back like Heskey did.

[mixmastermatt]

owen was ******** so was hekey!

wankers both of them!

on the plus side was rooney and king

[loublaze]

owen was ******** so was hekey!

wankers both of them!

on the plus side was rooney and king

Rooney did play well. King was amazing. Heskey had a few nice one-two touches with Becks and Darious. Owen and David Trezeguet never got back on the pitch for the second half

[dwinkler]

Very, very unlucky. Silvestre should have been sent off for his foul on Rooney. And James shouldn't have been sent off for his foul? And what about ugly Neville's handball? Or several reckless challenges that went uncarded, even noted by England shill Sir Doddering Old Fool?

I think Rooney was taken off because he was on the verge of doing something unspeakably stupid - he did have 12 yellows this season and he was prodding Makalele and elbowing him. But instead of Rooney screwing up, it was Europe's Best Young Central Midfielder® who was up to the task.

And for those who complain about Sven, he's much better than anyone England's had in the recent past, so you should appreciate what he's done with a slightly-above average international team. Seriously...when James is your starting keeper and your three subs are Heskey, Vassell and Hargreaves, your talent pool isn't exactly overflowing. You want Keegan back? Or Hoddle?

Sol and Paddy were the two best Arsenal players on the field, although Ashley played well, too. Thierry was pretty poor in the first half, much better in the second. Pires was so-so, and Wiltord was a +2.

[mad theory]

I know im a gooner and all by for tonight I absolutely hate henry, what an arrogant prat, see him trying to wind up the english fans...
Now I hate the french even more, just hope we meet in the final and we get our revenge..

But Rooney was absolutely brilliant..********ing class infact!!

ROOOOOONEY!

[mad theory]

Now we know how the Italians felt in 2000..

[jegerpenge]

I could say "At least Henry didn't throw a bottle into the crowd like some nationalities would." But that wouldn't be right. So I don't think that hating the French is very right. I suppose the English would have been perfect gentlemen if they had won and not done a single thing aimed towards the French. Or put the English in their position. I think they can be excused for losing their heads in celebration after snatching a game from the jaws of death and probably having to endure the taunts of English fans from the stands for 90 minutes.

[counterattack]

Once again the Kingdom of England, part of a nation known as the United Kingdom fields its own team that can not win the top matches.

France plays as one nation. Germany now plays as one nation, everyone plays as one nation but the brain dead of the United Kingdom. They will never admit that the 19th Century is now over, that Queen Victoria is dead, and the Empire is no more. Last time I looked, the UK was a modern nation, except for this small football detail. If you don't think it matters, think about the exceptional players from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, who over the years would have made a real difference. Good enough to die with in battle, not good enought to play football as one.

Good on ya, France. Teach these idiots another lesson.

[Przybylinski]

That just ruined my day. They had it all the way until the 90th minute. Defensively they were playing a strong game. They just fell apart at the wrong time. Beckham hit that penalty pretty good, judt needed about 12 inches higher - unlucky.

Rooney rocked. Even getting his buttons pushed, he played a great game and didn't let it get him.

Heskey played a stupid one, but Zidane really nailed it.

Unlucky - still there's a chance to make it up. The Swiss v Croatia game was horrible - I practically fell asleep. They still have a chance to move on. I hope they do.

[mad theory]

75% of the French squad isn't even naturally french..

[jegerpenge]

In such a racist country that is a good, unifying detail about the team. Sour grapes?

[billyho96]

I just thought France were the better side. England plays much better as a team, but the French were dangerous in every spot. When Henry is not your star, your an amazing outfit. Everytime I think Zidane is overrated, he reminds me I'm a moron for the thought.

Trezequet looks like a player we need. Hes a real fox, and dangerous in the air, one thing the Gunners aren't so great at.

If Wiltord would do for us what he does for France, play midfield and shut up, he have a career at highbury.

England seems blindly loyal to Owen. The midfield was awesome, the finishing was poor, I do think that Rooney could be one for the ages if he learns to calm himself some, I hope he doesn't have to have a national embarassment like Becks did in 98 to cool the temper.

Take heart my English friends, I do not see you failing to advance out of this group. The only danger would be a scoreless draw against Croatia, the attack just isn't there.

I did think Becks took a good penalty, it was just a rare moment of Brillance from Barthez, the ball was headed to the top corner.

[Scottish_Morton]

Rooney rocked. Even getting his buttons pushed, he played a great game and didn't let it get him.

U missed his elbow on makelele a minute later then? He did play well though.

[yossarian]

I did think Becks took a good penalty, it was just a rare moment of Brillance from Barthez, the ball was headed to the top corner.

Beckham's penalty was decent. Zidane's was unstoppable. And in the end, that was the difference.