Match #31 :: The Final :: Sunday 29 June [R]

[Alberto]

Uhm, just letting you know the correct spelling. Using quotes is appropiate in this case placing focuse on "Higuita" the name, as opposed to "Higuita" the man...:rolleyes:

As far as "imbecil", tu mismo!! Como diablos lograste ser un MOD aqui pues nunca lo sabre...

Hurray for the quality of B.S. it apparently can only get better!

Pues porque no le das una vista o visita al foro de arbitraje. Bienvendio y no lo digo de broma.

The quality of the referee board that I moderate is quite good. Also, when polled, the majority of responses relative to my and my co-moderator are always excellent or very good. We are viewed as fair, and unlike some other boards, we engage in civil discussions on topics affecting refereeing.

You may not agree with my assessment of how Germany has played in the past, but I presented examples to support my arguments. You are free to disagree. I also, did not unlike a number of other German or German supporters here resort to calling me ill-informed because I come from the USA or because I used the word soccer in a number of posts. Of course I also used the term football a fact that did not deter another poster from having a go at my comments. As if using the term soccer makes one a novice in their knowledge of football. Then you try to discredit me by pointing out I misspelled Higuita's last name. What does that have to do with my comments that World Cup 1990, was the worst World Cup. Did I disagree with Caesar that West Germany attacked in group play, no, but I did point out that nine of their goals came against the UAE and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has had quality teams in the past, but played poorly in several games. and the UAE, that was a fluff opponent. The teams in the knock out phase played negative football. This includes Germany.

The fact remains that in the past Germany has employed hard football and have always had hard men. That does not diminish from the skill and tactics that are the hallmark of German football, but rather an observation that German football like those of many other successful footballing nations is not without it's negative aspects. Frings is the one leftover German hardman on this team.

Lastly, the one thing that has bothered me the most of German football, was the last match of group play in 1982, when West Germany played Austria and to assure Germany would go through to the next round, both teams kicked the ball back and forth for 90 minutes for a 1-0 West German victory. It caused FIFA to change the rules of competition for future World Cups so that the last round of group play matches start simultaneously to avoid a repetition of this action. It was in my mind next to Argentina's pay off of Peru, the worst action I have seen in the world cup.

Germany are in the final, not Italy. So don't be so sensitive about critizicism of German football. If it was another team and there were aspects of their play that bothered me I would be critical of them.

I expect and hope for an exciting final. Though I imagine the opening 10-15 minutes will be tight with both teams feeling each other out.

[Equilibrium]

Of course, FIFA rankings are good for very little, but c'mon... Spain had to get through the reigning Euro and WC champs plus the other top teams of the Group of Death.Lets be honest here, reece was the weakest team in the tournament and an embarrassment of Euro Champions. Sweden is a decent team, yet it's the same one that Germany owned 2 years ago, the group wasn't that much harder than Germany's. Italy may have been World Champions, but without Pirlo and Cannavaro, they basically let Spain put one foot in the semis. Just because the last title, doesn't mean they were anywhere near as good which proved to be the case with both these teams.

[Cris 09]

The quality of the referee board that I moderate is quite good. You may not agree with my assessment of how Germany has played in the past, but I presented examples to support my arguments. You are free to disagree.

No gracias? Para que me llames "imbecil" a mi y a los que tengan una opinion diferente a la tuya? No thanks...I'll stick to the topics I feel comfortble discussing.

By the way...you stated your biased views that helped you form an opinion, that doesn't mean they are all of the sudden "facts".

Now back on topic please!

[HerrRupert]

Pues porque no le das una vista o visita al foro de arbitraje. Bienvendio y no lo digo de broma.

The quality of the referee board that I moderate is quite good. Also, when polled, the majority of responses relative to my and my co-moderator are always excellent or very good. We are viewed as fair, and unlike some other boards, we engage in civil discussions on topics affecting refereeing.

You may not agree with my assessment of how Germany has played in the past, but I presented examples to support my arguments. You are free to disagree. I also, did not unlike a number of other German or German supporters here resort to calling me ill-informed because I come from the USA or because I used the word soccer in a number of posts. Of course I also used the term football a fact that did not deter another poster from having a go at my comments. As if using the term soccer makes one a novice in their knowledge of football. Then you try to discredit me by pointing out I misspelled Higuita's last name. What does that have to do with my comments that World Cup 1990, was the worst World Cup. Did I disagree with Caesar that West Germany attacked in group play, no, but I did point out that nine of their goals came against the UAE and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has had quality teams in the past, but played poorly in several games. The teams in the knock out phase played negative football. This includes Germany.

The fact remains that in the past Germany has employed hard football and have always had hard men. That does not diminish from the skill and tactics that are the hallmark of German football, but rather an observation that German football like those of many other successful footballing nations is not without it's negative aspects. Frings is the one leftover German hardman on this team.

Germany are in the final, not Italy. So don't be so sensitive about critizicism of German football. If it was another team and there were aspects of their play that bothered me I would be critical of them.

I expect and hope for an exciting final. Though I imagine the opening 10-15 minutes will be tight with both teams feeling each other out.

whats neg about "hard men" football? it aint for girls maybe u should watch womens soccer eh?

[Alberto]

No gracias? Para que me llames "imbecil" a mi y a los que tengan una opinion diferente a la tuya? No thanks...I'll stick to the topics I feel comfortble discussing.

By the way...you stated your biased views that helped you form an opinion, that doesn't mean they are all of the sudden "facts".

Now back on topic please!

Ok, lets agree to disagree.

So where did you learn to write Spanish or did your next door neighbor help you out?

[Cris 09]

Ok, lets agree to disagree.

So where did you learn to write Spanish or did your next door neighbor help you out?

I've lived in Ecuador for 10 years and my mother is from Quito. Dad is from Bremen!!

[Alberto]

I've lived in Ecuador for 10 years and my mother is from Quito. Dad is from Bremen!!

Buena suerte esta noche. Que temperatura y como va estar el tiempo para la final?

[HerrRupert]

I've lived in Ecuador for 10 years and my mother is from Quito. Dad is from Bremen!!



ah quito i once was at fiesta de quito nice bullfights


http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,562822,00.html

lets hope this is true

[Cris 09]

Buena suerte esta noche. Que temperatura y como va estar el tiempo para la final?

Gracias.

No se, ahora estoy viviendo en Portland, Maine. :D

ah quito i once was at fiesta de quito nice bullfights


http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,562822,00.html

lets hope this is true

Quito is great but I spent most of my time between Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands due to my job!! Not to bad, not to bad!

Back to the game;
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa221/crismerz09/ballack_michael5.jpg?t=1214750598

[Wotan]

whats neg about "hard men" football? it aint for girls maybe u should watch womens soccer eh?

Nice post, Herr Rupert, And so true! ;) But, many people take it as pejorative referring to "hard men". I think it is a compliment to German footballers! (Not like those wimpy Italian guys who take more "dives" than a drunken sailor & who whine & complain...but, I'd better be careful...& YES..i am a FULL BLOODED...3rd generation Italian/American--! Both maternal & paternal grand parents emigrated from..."Sicilia....provincia di Enna"....

So-- is it "OK" if i like the German football team?:confused:

Wotan (btw--STILL---NO word on Ballack! To me...no news is good news!
Tommy Smyth--on ESPN this morning says .h feels strongly tht Ballack is starting--tho he's not sure if at 100% effectivness.
Don't you think if he were going to be out--we'd have heard it by...NOW? It's nearly 6 PM....in Switzerland....! Any late word from anyone with connections to the German press?) -- GO DEUTSCHLAND! Wotan

[superfrantheman]

i dont give any score yet... but i hope this final will be better than last WC's and that can be also better than the last copa america's final

[Cris 09]

Any late word from anyone with connections to the German press?) -- GO DEUTSCHLAND! Wotan

Bild, usually reliable with German football, has him in the line-up.

[footyfan1]

Bild, usually reliable with German football, has him in the line-up.

"Bild" - usually reliable?

Are you f#cking kidding me?? :D

Dude, Ballack was always going to play.

Ballack will have to be unable to run not to play tonight.

"Bild" is just stating what everyone already knew.

Just not sure how long he will play. Call it Germany going for the "Willis Reed Effect....." ;)

[cuyseco]

In my TV already have started the game...Gollllll from Torres....:eek:

[Cris 09]

"Bild" - usually reliable?

Are you f#cking kidding me?? :D

Dude, Ballack was always going to play.

Ballack will have to be unable to run not to play tonight.

"Bild" is just stating what everyone already knew.

Just not sure how long he will play. Call it Germany going for the "Willis Reed Effect....." ;)

Yeah, but they seem to get it right when it comes to the NT pretty often. Club football and the other shit they print is another story.

I actually believed Ballack to play as well though...

[Cris 09]

In my TV already have started the game...Gollllll from Torres....:eek:

I ordered it but haven't gotten it yet...so, how is Euro2008 for the PS3?? ;)

[Wotan]

Yeah, but they seem to get it right when it comes to the NT pretty often. Club football and the other shit they print is another story.

I actually believed Ballack to play as well though...

OK---to all my friends at BIG SOCCER. What I have been SAYING & WRITING on this board for the last day--has been confirmed!:D

NOW....everyone is coming out of the wood work! WHERE were you all...when i wrote (check my earlier post out)--that Ballack WOULD play! That...in my 50 yrs of sporting experience...when a guy is gonna be out for sure--they say it! This..."we'll see how it goes"....hour by hour only confirmed my feelings!

I think some of you naysayers & pessimists ....should give me some "credit"....! (No...i'm not looking for "kudos"...just that I posted...on how.."pessimistic" Germans..."tend" to be.....a little.."predisposition":D

Even one or two of the moderators....were saying "no way he plays"..."Calf injuries are bad". I wrte ...about having utmost faith in:
1) The excellent German medical team...&
2) The courageous "character".....in the German make up.

Let's go Germany! "Ballack scores two as Germany captures Euro Cup"!

How's THAT for a headline! "Optimistic Italian/American guy In Philadelphia"......Wotan!

[gold.field]

The third place game meant something back in the day. It was not the glorified friendly it has become today.


No it didn't. I was alive back then so your "I'm old so you have to belive me" stick doesn't work here. It only means somthing if you also believe the Confederations Cup or the Club World Cup is important.


If you read my post carefully, I stated that 1990 was the world cup with the most negative football. As to West Germany, they scored 9 of those goals in two games against Yugoslavia and that world power the United Arab Emirates.


Yugoslavia was a very good squad back then. You know, Red Star Belgrad won the Champions Cup in 1991? But remind me again how that inspiring squad Argentina played them in the QF... Germany's game against the Netherlands was also much more entertaining than anything Italy or Argentina did in the KO stage.


Back in 1990, if the match remained tied, after the two extra periods, there would be a replay the following Monday. Argentina did not have Caniggia for the final. They were playing for the tie and a replay on Monday. It would have been a much more interesting match than the bore fest the final was.


Wow, and now you're actually making stuff up! No, there would have been penalty kicks. The time of replay games have long gone by.

And you know what? Missing Cannigia is much less worse than missing Gascoigne in that all so important 3rd place match. But I guess bunkering for 90 minutes because one of your players is missing counts as skilled in your world.


West Germany, could also not score and produced little positive football.
They were with all sincerity gifted the penalty by Edgardo Codesal of Mexico.


They tried a lot harder than Argentina that's for sure.

[HerrRupert]

Nice post, Herr Rupert, And so true! ;) But, many people take it as pejorative referring to "hard men". I think it is a compliment to German footballers! (Not like those wimpy Italian guys who take more "dives" than a drunken sailor & who whine & complain...but, I'd better be careful...& YES..i am a FULL BLOODED...3rd generation Italian/American--! Both maternal & paternal grand parents emigrated from..."Sicilia....provincia di Enna"....

So-- is it "OK" if i like the German football team?:confused:

Wotan (btw--STILL---NO word on Ballack! To me...no news is good news!
Tommy Smyth--on ESPN this morning says .h feels strongly tht Ballack is starting--tho he's not sure if at 100% effectivness.
Don't you think if he were going to be out--we'd have heard it by...NOW? It's nearly 6 PM....in Switzerland....! Any late word from anyone with connections to the German press?) -- GO DEUTSCHLAND! Wotan


http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,562822,00.html

ballack plays it seems its all over german press

[Sebo43]

If Germany plays like against Turkey the will be beaten by Spain!
I´ll that Spain win the Euro 2008 :)
2:0 for Espana! Torres and David Silva score the goals!
I will wear my Spain Jersey tomorrow on work, so good luck to Spain!
Vamos equipo! ;)