But I don't think anybody gives a shit here. I mean you put the blame on coaching, fine, who doesn't do it ? As external audience of this Euro, we just watch the games and judge you on what we see. We're not supposed to know about everything your coach is doing. And it is absolutly normal that people criticize your team since you have been unable to win a single game and provide good football. Now, is it bad for you ? No. You were unlucky in some past competitions while providing good football, so you can enjoy being in the semis with a big smile now. No matter how you came here. Compensates for some bad luck. Just understand...Holland 2010 has been criticized by almost everybody for playing poor, while reaching the finale and winning every single game in the regular time. 6 games, 6 victories in the regular time to reach the finale, including beating Brazil and Uruguay, and people were calling it the ugly Holland. Even dutch fans were complaining about the quality of games. You haven't won a single game and you had a relatively easy route, of course people are gonna criticize you and you should do the same, while remaining happy to be still in the course. It's not ignorance, it's reality. Bar Ronaldo who is doing great in the portuguese football right now ? Nobody has been impressed by your new domestic league players except by Renato of course. You didn't have a great squad in 2014, right, but would you say your squad is better now than it was in 2006,2008,2012... It's not. You have been the dark horse of Holland for years and we were scared of you in 2012 while being the WC finalist. So it says a lot. Now if this portuguese team had to play against Holland 2010, I would put my bank account on Holland. Nobody said "Lolz" about Croatia. I actually bet some money that you would qualify against them. You're right, you were a bit better than them just like you were also a bit above Poland yesterday. You had more control in both games. That being said, Croatia and Poland are two good teams, that rely mainly on some individualities. Wales belongs to the same package. What if you had to play against France or Germany before ? I don't believe you would have more control.
Fair enough. Although tbh football is too much of a noise already about perspective rather than context. It's "why" rather than buying whatever you see in terms of stats and taking it as a granted outcome. It should be the exception rather than the norm. Netherlands had the quality to be in the knockout stages in this tournament despite having read in random places that they rightfully stayed home. I'm pretty sure that a great majority of the football fan base don't know the reasons to why Netherlands failed to qualify. Is it that to be expected? Yes, unfortunately. Is every football fan obliged to have a deep understanding of the game in order to have an opinion? No, they don't. However, if someone sheds an insight as to why, then that should rather be contemplated than torn apart. When I read comments like "agree to disagree" or going on a rant about such a person is a fanboy, then it kills any shred of interesting conversation that would be better spent on the beautiful game rather than a tribal petty angle. This is far from what is happening with you, but like in every major tournament, it's a downward spiral to find people to relate to on this matter. Hence the semi rant. It all comes down to individual comparison from our previous squad in 2012 and we're definitely stronger quality wise. We are still in a transition period. R. Guerreiro and R. Sanches got nice new deals now with Bernardo Silva and some others getting some nice moves in the past year. It will take some time to consolidate such reputation. A golden generation isn't one until it effectively earns some club pedigree. If that's your perspective, then you're right. However have in mind that even at club level this squad is slightly better than the squad in 2012. Again, our national team performances shouldn't be any indication of such as there million other examples out there. If you're not knowledgeable about most of our players at a club level then how can you be sure that they'll never deliver? As for pitching this team against your 2010 version is something that I'm not quite sure why you brought up and how is that relevant. At least that team you mentioned knew what they were doing on the field, this one doesn't. Let's be honest here. Most people were predicting that Croatia would go through based on their win vs Spain. Kudos to you though. Considering the circunstances it's the enough to go through to the final. Winning it? Remote chances at best. Everybody here knows that though. Not to say we'll overcome Wales though, it's not a dead giveaway. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we do manage to win by playing ugly again. Portugal is never going to convince until the end of their stay in the competition. I made peace with that. Just to give you a visual clue to why we're playing bad in the offensive transition: Imagine you have 2 MCs playing on the wings and 2 wingers adapted as strikers that don't come down in the support in the middle. The diamond would make the most sense based on our quality batch of MCs and yet this is the magnificent formation that he went with (the side defenders are the ones beside the DM and MC respectively). Anyway, sorry for invading your space (for real), good luck to the oranje in the next Qfyings!
Germany had maybe 75% possession and only one goal. Just no creativity at all in the scoring third of the pitch. PKs now
Lol, do the Germans want to lose to Italy or something? Anyway the Krauts to the semis with one of their worst penalty series.
Still props to Italy. They just lack quality, still put up good fights against Belgium, Spain and pushed Germany to penalties. Good for them, it was not to be.
I have come to know your line of thinking. Do you think there was doping involved in this particular game on the part of the Germans?
In terms of fitness this was one of the very best Italy teams. Honestly. (btw, Italy has been quite a non factor in governance of the game for some while)
The yellow and red card system really needs to be changed. It's ridiculous how players are suspended for the semi finals for a small mistake or infraction in a previous match. The team that was fouled doesn't gain a benefit, yet the next opponent does. And it hurts the quality of the tournament. How would it have gone if Belgium could have used Vermaelen? I'm not sure he would have been fooled as easily at the 2nd goal.
When is the last time both teams missed 3 out of the first 5 PK? When is the last time it took 9 PK to decide? Perhaps it is time for me to root for Wales-Iceland final?
Chellini fouled before by ellbowing Boateng into the stomach with a reaction time of 0. It looked as if he was trying to show hes been fouled
You have to draw the line somewhere. They already made it 'impossible' to be suspended for the final. You cannot extend that logic indefinitely (including to straight reds).