Belgium won 4-0. You see, there is more to this game than trying to please the viewer. What we had to do wasn't pretty, out of respect to Croatia. We just understand that we have to play to the opposition, not to win over fans.
Nothing wrong with appreciating good football but you should follow your own teams before you follow another nations. Barcelona represents the Catalan people not someone from Kuwait. Have we forgotten why clubs were started? It was to represent the people of an area.
Kuwait had it's own Golden Generation in early 80's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_national_football_team They were in Spain 1982 World Cup and they became title holders of AFC Asian Cup. The problems started for Kuwait after the year 1984. Also they were in quarter finals of Summer Olympics in 1980. So they were active on all three main fronts with memorabilia achievement. They also participate in the Gulf Cup. They are the first title holders, something like Uruguay in 1930. Uruguay has 15 titles of Copa America and Kuwait has 10 titles of Gulf Cup. Advantage of Kuwait is that they achieved these results in much shorter time interval. All titles came in the period since 1970 until 2010. Tournament where Kuwait is still dominant is West Asian Games. Their last Gulf Cup: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Gulf_Cup_of_Nations Kuwait was in the group with Qatar (World Cup 2022 carrier from the Pot 1), Saudi Arabia (almost constant participant of World Cups, their goalkeeper Mohamed Abdullaziz Al-Deayea holds the record in participations), slightly weaker team is Yemen. In the knock out stage, they have met Iraq. In a dramatic match with 2-2 in 120 minutes, they have entered in a roulette of penalty shoot out by winning 5-4. In the finals, which was held on the 5th December (day before the St. Nicholas Day), they managed to win against Saudi Arabia in additional time, 93rd minute. Sad thing is that Kuwait became disqualified for the upcoming World Cup 2018. http://www.fifa.com/governance/news...-the-kuwait-football-association-2717726.html Injustice for the youth, adolescents who try to carry their football dreams which could be held at the major scene of the World Cup. If we observe their squad, we can meet 2,3 most frequent clubs where they play. Advantage of this is that they are well balanced and prepared, they have the sense of their co-players. Al-Kuwait SC, Qadsia SC, Al-Arabi, Al-Jahra SC should not give up in creating the youth incubators of perspective players in the future. Their key players are: Musaed Neda Al-Enazi - Staff commander and resolute defensive player with experience and quality in reviewing games. Abdulaziz Ahmad Al Masha'an Al Enezi - The power of creativity, restlessness for every defence, guarantees the success of any team. Bader Ahmed Al-Mutawa - Sixth sense is in his iconic personality, pillar of the team, he makes every keeper inconsolable and unsuccessful.
Amazing team needs attention. Where were Portugal and Croatia in 1982? At home, they have watched Kuwait at the World Cup.
A lot of clubs became global clubs. I don't like this. Everything is focused around the brand and revenues through that global exposure. Personally, areal clubs were nice thing. Real Madrid did something sad once, just because of that global presence. From their coat of arm, they have removed the small cross from the crown, so that Real Madrid becomes an integrated part of one global desire and popularity. Jersey colours, coat of arm, history, players, social importance should be the priority. I also don't like those green, yellow, pink jersey colours, since they don't represent the club history. Everything has changed.
This post is both a great venture into research, and a complete waste of time as Kuwait is irrelevant to the world game in modern footy.
Anyway, Croatian fans came to the airport to see the players who came from France. http://net.hr/sport/nogomet/masa-na...im-spektakularni-docek-nismo-se-ovome-nadali/ Some fans obviously think that they did nice job. With such players and the clubs where they play - only 9-16 position. Modest achievement. Nobody will remember those nicer three matches. Saudade por una gloria de EURO, mais forca Croacia... Au revoir Deauville
I will personally always remember. I'm happy Portugal won not because we just got further, but because we exacuted a excellent game plan against a very strong team.
Yes, sadness is a part of the football. If you don't win titles, all teams end with the sorrow. The happiest fan groups are the groups of Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, France... It's nice to be the first in Europe and in the World. Several countries have that status, others are dealing with their weakness and tactical errors. I remember Portuguese fans with tears in the eyes. Portugal lost some important semi-finals, finals. For some reason I think that Portugal will be in the final.
Agreed that Croatia had a team good enough to reach the final. For me, no player at this tournament commanded/dictated play better than Modric has. He was spectacular. Croatia's problem was that they were too tired and couldn't keep up for the 120 minutes. I also agree they were hobbled. It wasn't just the number of fouls, but the fact that Portugal made a number of challenges with their studs. Croatians were stepped on more than a couple of occasions and the Portuguese made those challenges look innocuous enough to get away with it. Cacic probably should have kept Rakitic on the bench at the start of the match, allowing Kovacic the start. A refreshed Rakitic should have been brought in later in the match considering Croatia opted to play cautiously from the very start. Also Croatia essentially opted not to go to penalties. The decisions they made, just prior to conceding, proved very risky. They figured Portugal was tired and had a half-mind to go for penalties. They opened up a lot as a result and that played into Portugal's hands. Strinic looked vulnerable to begin with and was unable to compete for 120 minutes. It was Strinic's error that allowed the break that led to the goal. Cacic should have subbed him off after Quaresma was subbed in. Santos by contrast made changes to freshen up the team (e.g., Fonte for Carvalho). Most important of all, Santos changed the balance of the game in the second half when he subbed on the very young and energetic Renato, which allowed Portugal to wear down an already hobbled and tired Croatian midfield. Renato, along with William, helped to better protect the Portuguese wing-backs. If Croatia stood a chance of beating Portugal, it was on the wings through their pace and direct runs or from set-pieces won on the wings. Portugal were very conservative even though they had the quality to play a more open game, but they were weary of how Spain had lost to Croatia. To their credit they hustled harder after the ball and they were rewarded for their patience in the end.
I wish all Bigsoccer posts were more like the above and less like "omg boring cus no goals", "i want that team to lose because lolz" or "you played like this then you're strong or weak because I'm an imbecile who obviously can't take more than 5 minutes to research a team and its staff" How can these morons claim to enjoy football is beyond me.
You brought up Kuwait we were discussing the Euro, Kuwait has won a continental cup Portugal didnt so get off your high horse and be modest for once.
When I say personality, I mean personality in football not in private life. Beyond that I don't comment on people I don't know personally. In football it is fair to have an opinion on how a player interacts with referees, his team mates, the opponents and the fans. In this way Ronaldo has a poor reputation in my opinion considering how blessed he is with talent and success. I mean this is the guy that was quoted saying "People hate me because I'm rich and handsome." There's a long history of arrogance, disrespect, diving and manipulating referees. He is better than he was when he was young, and there's certainly no shortage of a$$holes in football in general. But out of the elite players in the world he seems to be one of the most 'complicated' ...
Portugal executed a game plan for sure. But speaking purely as a neutral, I feel like there is real talent on the Portuguese side (albeit a lot of it very young and still raw) and that was the disappointing aspect of their performance. Croatia to be fair also played timidly, perhaps they believed their own hype, perhaps they believed the draw was such that Portugal would be their biggest test until the semis and maybe a more pragmatic approach was called for. Even as someone who appreciates the art of defending, both teams played more to avoid defeat than playing for a win, which should always be a bit disappointing for us football fans. Kudos to Portugal for advancing, but I personally just hope Santos doesn't decide that the way they attack the tournament is to play this style. Too much talent and I'd hate to believe that even the teams blessed with attacking talent resort to negative tactics consistently. FYI - And yes I did cheer when Trinidad & Tobago played defensively to hold Sweden to a 0-0 in World Cup 2006. Kenwyne Jones led our line, not an all-time talent like Ronaldo. All teams are not created equal on talent
No offence but you shouldn't be bragging about an Asian Cup triumph in the 1980's. Last I checked, Kuwait haven't done anything in the last decade. Did you guys even qualify for the Asian Cup 2015 in Australia? If you did, I can't even remember you guys making an impact.
As much as I love the raw young talent and the potential for flair and goals, as a fan though, I'm more inclined to say that if playing pragmatic, defensive football brings us our first international trophy, then back it up and park that bus in front of goal and counter
We're not talking about anyone that is highly detrimental to society as a racist, criminal and so on. He could be the biggest douchebag in the world and the simple fact that you wish anything to happen on an individual based on his personality (along with the team he plays for) is petty and sad. Try watching a football game and enjoy what they deliver on the field. Be it him, Ibra, Messi and so on. Just enjoy their talent and forget these little observations that seem more proper of a girl teens show. I think of people like you and many others who make such comments as a frustrated mass that have nothing more constructive to do with their time. How can anyone claim to enjoy football when they're more focused in shit that has nothing to do with the sport?! It's so easy to picture any of these egocentric players as jerks. One hot headed or brainless remark and they're scrutinized in public. They're football players, not the most intellectual minded people around. I'd rather watch what they do on the field than listen to wtv they have to say. This sport hasn't (and probably never will) reach the same standard of education in Rugby.
Not sure how you can separate the attitude from the football. I mean when you watch a player play you can't pretend you don't see the negative body language, gesticulating to team mates, crying to referees, diving, hysterics etc .... All that stuff just takes away from the spectacle of football. Maybe it's old fashioned, but I'm not going to apologize for preferring athletes that have a little more sportsmanship.
The Asian Cup, I'm Australian and to hang your hat on an Asian cup win is hilarious. Didn't take Australia long to be the dominant force in Asia with a pretty ordinary side. I found the playing the gulf states that while they are technically very good, mentally they are as weak as piss. Score a goal and be a little physical and they fall to pieces.