Netherlands vs Russia Quarterfinal- Euro, 2008 [R]

[Neuwerld]

Great game by the Russians. No offense to the Netherlands or their fans, but I enjoyed seeing the favorites lose. They looked like shoo-ins into at least the semis based on their group stage performance.

[XaviandXabi]

In football, the psychological factor is important. The Portuguese are usually defeated by the Germans, so they came out expecting defeat and they got just that.

The Croats tend to have bad luck, so they got exactly their bad luck. And today the Dutch remembered they always choke before the semis and they did.

Tomorrow the Spanish will dominate Italy until they remember they are supposed to shoot themselves in the foot, and they'll score an own goal and that will be it.

It's just a bunch of self-fulfilling prophecies.

lmao

so what about England?

[Todorov]

I've got to say that Lubos Michel was crap today. He was inconsistent in his foul calls and I think that Holland has a lot to gripe about. Because a majority of decisions that appeared to me to be fouls went against Holland. It was surprising. Also, Michel and his jr AR made a meal of the Caution non-caution on Kolodin. Was the ball over for a goal kick or was it in? The AR was still running to the corner flag when the ball was at the goal line.

Well, I know the referee "forgave" a penalty against Holland in E.T.

[fh 1]

lmao

so what about England?
Easy, England gets to penalty and loses 99,9% (if they qualify, of course)

[Suyuntuy]

lmao

so what about England?
I think they're scared to death of their own press and fans.

Can't blame them. I'd lose too, just to get the heck out of it as soon as possible.

[benztown]

Well, I know the referee "forgave" a penalty against Holland in E.T.

Don't give us facts, they don't mean anything. We listen to our gut. It's called truthiness.

[SetPeace]

To borrow the line from Musical Youth, I guess you could say Russia passed the Dutchie from the left hand side ;)!

[JeremyEritrea]

I told my son before the match the final score would be 3-1, but in favor of Holland. I also mentioned to a soccer buddy of his not to be so enamored of Holland that they always disappoint. I thought it would happen in the semi's or finals.

Van Basten should have considered Roben.

Robben was hurt.

[Zaknaf3in]

I've got to say that Lubos Michel was crap today. He was inconsistent in his foul calls and I think that Holland has a lot to gripe about. Because a majority of decisions that appeared to me to be fouls went against Holland. It was surprising. Also, Michel and his jr AR made a meal of the Caution non-caution on Kolodin. Was the ball over for a goal kick or was it in? The AR was still running to the corner flag when the ball was at the goal line.

Even if it was out, a "rough foul" isn't cancelled by the ball being out.
So either he meant it to be a tactical foul, while the ball was out, or he meant it to be no foul at all, which he didn't signal to the players.
Of course, that's the way Urs Meier explained it in the german TV - he was not sure at all, what Michel tried to do there.

[JeremyEritrea]

I've got to say that Lubos Michel was crap today. He was inconsistent in his foul calls and I think that Holland has a lot to gripe about. Because a majority of decisions that appeared to me to be fouls went against Holland. It was surprising. Also, Michel and his jr AR made a meal of the Caution non-caution on Kolodin. Was the ball over for a goal kick or was it in? The AR was still running to the corner flag when the ball was at the goal line.
I completely disagree. I thought Michel called a great game.

[code1390]

Even if it was out, a "rough foul" isn't cancelled by the ball being out.


You can't commit a foul when the ball is out of play. Only misconduct.

[Erwin6174]

The Russians took advantage of our dreadful defense, unlike France and Italy. They were the better team, so congrats. Still, it doesn't make this loss any less sour, but we were simply outplayed today.

[fh 1]

I think Michel made an error and perceived himself, when he saw that such a dumb and absolutely unimportant foul (if it was a foul), would change totally the match and him were responsible for it.
Maybe he also did not realize immediately that this Russian player already was booked and that second card meant red and out.

I think it was a good decision of the ref, though happens rarely that a ref changes his mind, but was OK in this case. One should not be holier than the Pope.

[UEFA2008]

I just noticed...

REMATCH....

Guus Hiddink vs Italy or Spain. Hiddink has won one and lost once against each of them.

Now we will see which one of those two are in conditions to face Hiddink again.

[Alberto]

Even if it was out, a "rough foul" isn't cancelled by the ball being out.
So either he meant it to be a tactical foul, while the ball was out, or he meant it to be no foul at all, which he didn't signal to the players.
Of course, that's the way Urs Meier explained it in the german TV - he was not sure at all, what Michel tried to do there.

Well, I would disagree with Urs Meier. The fact the ball is ruled to have gone over the goal line cancels the foul. There would be no foul in that instance since the ball is no longer in play. There could be misconduct if he felt the Russian player was striking the Dutch player before the restart of play. Bu the fact that the players thought the ball was in play and that the Russian player was making an attempt to play the ball weighed heavily in his decision to rescind the caution.

I think Michel made a meal of the whole thing. It came out very amateurish to say the least. The communication with the AR was bad and he never looked back to see if the AR was signaling for a goal kick. He had to run over and speak to him about it. He should have looked at his AR. He should have used the communication device before pulling the caution card so quickly. It was a rash decision.

[XaviandXabi]

I just noticed...

REMATCH....

Guus Hiddink vs Italy or Spain. Hiddink has won one and lost once against each of them.

Now we will see which one of those two are in conditions to face Hiddink again.

well, I think even Italians would think Hiddink can most definitly out coach Donadoni.

[EstebanLugo]

Motto for this quarterfinals should be "playing good football backfires". All the good teams are being kicked out!

[Alberto]

I think Michel made an error and perceived himself, when he saw that such a dumb and absolutely unimportant foul (if it was a foul), would change totally the match and him were responsible for it.
Maybe he also did not realize immediately that this Russian player already was booked and that second card meant red and out.

I think it was a good decision of the ref, though happens rarely that a ref changes his mind, but was OK in this case. One should not be holier than the Pope.

If you see at as a caution, and so decisively pull out and show the card indicates the fact the player already has a caution should not enter into the equation. I agree that the foul if it was in real time looked a lot worse than in slow motion. In slow motion the Russian player barely made contact.

[JeremyEritrea]

Well, I would disagree with Urs Meier. The fact the ball is ruled to have gone over the goal line cancels the foul. There would be no foul in that instance since the ball is no longer in play. There could be misconduct if he felt the Russian player was striking the Dutch player before the restart of play. Bu the fact that the players thought the ball was in play and that the Russian player was making an attempt to play the ball weighed heavily in his decision to rescind the caution.

I think Michel made a meal of the whole thing. It came out very amateurish to say the least. The communication with the AR was bad and he never looked back to see if the AR was signaling for a goal kick. He had to run over and speak to him about it. He should have looked at his AR. He should have used the communication device before pulling the caution card so quickly. It was a rash decision.

Good refs consult their ARs when they're in doubt. Bad refs just go ahead with the call and don't consult with their ARs no matter the situation.

[JeremyEritrea]

Motto for this quarterfinals should be "playing good football backfires". All the good teams are being kicked out!

Uh, what? I'd argue that Turkey, Germany, Russia, Spain and Italy are all excellent teams.