i did not watch the Ire-Alb game but read the following from sporting life: "There were scenes of great celebration as the final whistle sounded and very few handshakes from the Albanians. They felt the Irish should have given them back possession when they kicked out the ball so that Tare could receive treatment, but instead Ireland went on to score." iS it the truth? if yes then i am pretty dissapointed Also is Duff defently out against us,Georgia ? Cheers Ika
Yes as far as I remember that is what happened. However, there was a fair bit of play acting and time wasting by the Albanians. (I saw players being carried off three or four times). I think this is waht Kerr said at the press conference too. So it's a bit rich of the Albanians to complain about Ireland's lack of fair play when their players were not practising it themselves.
I am still hoarse after attending that match yesterday, and I must say the majority of my shouting was directed at the Albanians because of their appaling time wasting. Time and again they hit the deck and screamed in agony at the slightest touch. Ireland didn't give the ball back to them? So what. In my book that's a minor indiscretion compared to the outright cheating some of those guys were indulging in. The sooner FIFA legislate against this kind of thing the better - it really is beginning to affect a lot of people's enjoyment of football. Sadly however I fear that it is a natural part of the game in many countries and only a few (Ireland and the British countries mainly) view it with absolute disgust. I will reserve comment on the match itself for when I've calmed down!
Yeah, it's a bit rich for the Albanians to moan, as Kerr said, they got what they deserved. Also, I think Doherty said they did the same thing earlier, not returning possesion after an injury, and it upset the Irish camp. I don't remember that but if it's true then them moaning is a joke.
The Albanians were engaging in some disgusting gamesmanship.... the whole last 10 minutes they were diving and rolling around in feigned agony to waste time. The reason the ball was kicked out was for an Albanian doing just that, Irish lads knew he was just playacting to waste time so they kept the ball. It's amazing how fast yer man was up and running around after we scored the goal. You have to understand that in Ireland (and the UK too for the most part) that kind of diving and gamesmanship is looked upon as the lowest most morally deficient type of activity... look at the UEFA cup final between Porto and Celtic, most people in Ireland and Scotland were thoroughly disgusted with the crap that Porto players pulled in that game. For some reason it is looked upon as acceptable in other countries... but not where we come from. So we feel that the Albanians got their just deserts. Regarding Duff.... I just heard on the radio that it's NOT a torn Hamstring, but a bruised tendon in the back of his knee... so there is a chance he will play against Georgia on Wed.
I know what u are trying to say . but if a team playes dirty ,then do u a) play twice harder and beat them to show them lesson or b) go the same level and win the game the same way as they tried to do? i also watched uefa cup final and hated the way Porto players acted, but Celtic did not do the same.they continued to play theier hard tackling game, and at the end of the day no Celtic fan was ashamed of them. i hope it will be a great game on wensday and may the better team win . Nmesadze is doubtfull for the game cheers Ika
To be fair, how do you beat a team like that 'fair and square' when the ball isn't in play because of their play-acting. I can fully understand the Irish team's desire to get the ball at any cost. If you don't have it, you're relying on the ref to add on the correct amount of added time, which almost never happens especally if the opposition is still rolling around in stoppage time. You need some rhythm and continuity if you want to score a goal - you aren't going to get that if the opposition keeps kicking the ball into touch to break up play for a fake injury. I say give the ball back to them 3 times. If they keep doing it and suffer more than 3 'serious' injuries they're obviously faking it and deserve no reciprocated sportsmanship. For the record, I'm not a Celtic fan but think they would have beaten Porto if the Portugese players hadn't kept diving and wasting time. But who's laughing now? Celtic on their moral high ground, or Porto with the UEFA Cup and the attendant money in their bank account?
2 Nigel i agree i hope they wont be stuff like that in our game with Irish from anyteam. referees should be more strict with this stuff . although they add time its still breaking the rithm just as u said. celtic were shown yellows and red for thier tacles i dont think any porto player was shown anything for theier acting . i am so exited, only 1 day to go...... cheers Ika
yes I watched the game and before ireland took that throw in I was imploring them not to give it back. there was a scramble in the albanian goalmouth and the player who went down (tare) wasn't even involved in the main action he was clearly playacting. the albanians kicked the ball out simply to waste time. they got what they deserved. They will think twice before they feign injury again. I hope they have been taught a lesson. by the way the goal did not come immediately after the throw in they had plenty of time to regroup.