That was an absolutely beautiful goal (Ronaldo, 50th minute).
My shoulder is aching from pumping my fist so hard – it’s after 3 am here so everyone else is asleep and I had to celebrate quietly.
…And I thought I’d share. (Incredible save by Rustu on Ronaldo’s next attempt, as I type this.) Anyone else up late or early or whenever, watching the game?
I love 'em - can’t be a World Cup without Brazil and whenever they go out, the tournament seems to lose something for me.
It’s just beautiful to watch, everything football should be about…
BTW, it’s 11.20am here and the goal looked just as good !
Great game indeed. Turkey are my tip for World Cup dark horses – like Romania used to be. Mind you, Brazil are looking lethal (and I have Ronaldinho and Cafu in my work fantasy league, so I’m happy with that).
Have the FIFA rules changed in the last few years? On that last free kick Turkey took, Lucio was clearly within 10 yards of the ball before it was kicked, and he appeared to have been warned by the referee prior to the Turkish player taking the kick. Do they just ignore infractions of this nature in World Cup football?
No, it’s just the Korean referee not wanting to book a Brazilian. IMHO.
Has it seemed that way to you too? I thought it was just me – I don’t get a chance to see much football on tv, so it’s hard to judge.
I’m so happy they’re showing Italy vs Ecuador next, I wasn’t sure if they would. Thank goodness my cable provider carries ESPN2.
Any predictions for the final 15 minutes?
4 mins to go…Penalty ! :D…err, from outside the box. And…GOAL !!
Rivaldo. What a cheating scumbag. Standing at the corner flag, ball catches him gently in the chest. He throws himself to the ground, clutching his face, and the referee sends off Unsal.
Spoiled the match.
Wonderful game! That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is everything football should be about.
Yep, I just hated that incident at the end - Rivaldo should have been, at least, booked for faking it at the corner kick. Why do it ???
I agree that it spoiled the match, although it looked to me as if the ball caught him in the thigh. Turkey are somewhat screwed at this point, too. Playing 2 men down is no fun. Who are they playing next?
As to speculation on the first red card and penalty kick – I think the red card was really sketchy. Seems like the ESPN announcers are somewhat biased as well, as they repeatedly said that while the penalty kick was the wrong call, the red card was appropriate. And yet they question the red card against Croatia where the tackle was much harder and much more clearly directed at the player.
I thought the red was because Alpay was effectively the last man?
That’s what I think…clear (through) scoring opportunity = red card.
Obviously the second red card came after he’d already been booked earlier in the game.
I don’t have any problems with those decisions…even the penalty that wasn’t was only ‘justice’, IMHO.
Just wish the linesman had had the balls to point out how Rivaldo was faking, although the refereee probably saw it anyway. Very distasteful.
Turkish Fan Checking In
Well, it was a great game.
Our team played well, so if the game had ended a draw, it would have been a well deserved score. But I am convinced that we are strong enough to make it to the Quarter Finals.
As for the referees, I am holding my comments to myself because this is not the pit.
:wally
And here I am, following the minute-by-minute reports through uefa.com. You rotten, jobless bastards! 
Ooh! Italy - Ecuador in 4 minutes. Clickety-click!
Turkey still get to have 11 players in the next game; it’s just that the guys who were sent off are suspended.
Rivaldo has made a complete arse of himself; did it not ossur to him that there were about 600 TV cameras in the stadium, and that at least one would reveal the truth? It’s going to be months if not years before people stop associating him with that moment. What with Ronaldo’s revival, Rivaldo is no longer the hero he was before the game.
Oh no! The summariser for the Italy game in Britain is Graham Taylor! Do we not like that?
Yep, you should see the stadium ! Great looking place…
No one’s working here (in theory), Coldie. It’s the Queen’s Jubilee weekend. Same tomorrow !!
Ozzy Osbourne’s gigging at Buck Palace tonight !
How’d the speech go ? :eek:
I dunno, ask Spiny or Shayna. 
Went well, allegedly. I did hear a little humour crept into it.
BTW, do you have a Grolsch ad in Holland at the moment with a Dutch guy in it ?
Errrr, well I guess we do. Any particular ad you’re refering to?
And any connection this might have with either Brazil or Turkey?
No connection but it would explain why I now feel obligated to refer to you as…
**Mr Tickley **