France played well despite the Ref.
Ronaldhino had a dreadful tournament. Nice to see Brazil knocked out.
France should beat Portugal so we could have a very nice final. France v. Germany or Italy.
I think Germany will do it so I predict the Germans to win it all.
That was fucking bullshit. Of all the fucking offences Rooney might’ve been sent off for, that was a fucking travesty. The boy’s been maturity personified throughout the tournament, and the fucking ref gives that a straight red? Fucking rubbish. Refereeing has fucking ruined this tournament.
And yes I say that as a pissed (and Pissed) England fan, but I fucking stand by it; this tournament has been absolutely fucking ruined by the refereeing. Fuck Sepp Blatter. I hope he gets kicked in the head by, well, someone who can kick someone in the head. Hard. I don’t give a shit who wins this now, and that’s not just bitterness. Fucking France can win it for all I care. Fuck.
I apologise for the swearing in a family forum, but fuck. Fuck.
I’m still a bit unsure about the red card. The announcer on the feed I was watching was saying that he was sent off for the push. That seems like a ridiculously harsh penalty for that push. However it wasn’t until I just went to a few websites now that I see people saying he was carded for stepping on the Portugal player. Watching the game it didn’t occur to me that he did this on purpose, but I certainly could be wrong. It just looked like Rooney was fighting for the ball with the Portugese players, and happened to step where the player had fallen.
Anyway good on England for what I thought was quite a well-played game, especially after the sending off. And I’ll just say it’s a bit unfortunate how the QF matchups turned out - I don’t think either Portugal or Italy have been among the 4 best teams in the tournament.
I don’t understand why FIFA selected an Argentinian referee for a game involving England. Actually, I do understand. But we can’t blame one dodgy ref for our overall poor performance in this tournament. I believe that better teams get better treatment from refs. Portugal’s desperate cynicism is enough to get them past mediocre teams like England and Holland but will be no use against France. They will actually have to play some good football to win that one.
Are you kidding me? He deliberately stomped on the guy’s genitals in full-view of the referee and not more than four feet away from him. The referee was calmly waiting to restore order before giving Looney his red card when Looney lost it further and shoved someone. Even then the referee was calm and deliberate about issuing the card.
Looney has done this sort of thing before. He’s young, hot-headed, and immature. Ask Ferguson.
I think you have been watching the slow motion replays too much. The players have to put their feet somewhere, else they’d fall over. At the time it just looked like two players contesting possession. Before the fracas that followed there was no suggestion that the referee was going to award anything more than a free kick. A yellow card for Rooney would have been harsh, a red card was ridiculous.
Definetely looks to me like he forcefully shoved his foot in Portugal players groin. Notice how he stepped backwards.
Anyone care to predict the headlines in England tomorrow? Perhaps:
Ten brave lions, one stupid ref
After watching the video, I’m willing to give the refs the benefit of the doubt. It definately looks like he shoved his foot in there.
I think you’re English. 
I think you have never played football. Where’s he supposed to stand? Is he supposed to ask Carvalho permission first?
Something I haven’t heard or read anyone mention: the effect of Carragher’s terrible decision to take his PK before the referee had blown his whistle. In doing so he tipped his hand, such that when he retook the PK he had to decide whether to take the same shot or try another. He made the right decision the first time, but wasted it; the re-take was the wrong decision, he looked unconfident, and he allowed Ricardo a second and informed chance. Carragher’s gaff seemed to symbolize England’s overall performance in this tournament, and was really the final nail in the coffin. Ronaldo’s PK was just the wreath on the coffin.
I’ve played since 1970. I was twice a starter on the state championship runners-up. I also played in college and on two teams that toured Europe. Both teams had winning records against English clubs.
I know you’re angry, but show a little class.
Angry? I have already described the English team as “mediocre” in this thread, thereby displaying typical English good sportsmanship. I have not crowed about some irrelevant game against a pub team in the 1970s.
You crassly accuse me of having never played, and when I respond by saying I have, you crassly accuse me of “crow[ing].” That’s just petty—your claim to “typical English good sportsmanship” notwithstanding. In any case, this is ridiculous. Find another sparring partner. Good night/morning.
Morning. Calmer now (apologies to all again for the thunderclouds earlier :)), and trying to type very quietly.
I dunno; I think the story’s in Rooney’s eyes - when he makes the alleged stamp they’re firmly on the ball. I really think he’s just continuing to play, and is turning to face it; it just doesn’t look like a stamp to me. Still, at no point did we ever play like a team that could win the World Cup, so you can’t really complain. We will, of course, but we shouldn’t.
So, with a nearly untarnished tally of failed predictions thus far, I am going to doom both Germany and France by calling their respective games 2-0 in their favour.
We discussed the Rooney incident ad nauseum last night at a party. Apart from myself all the participants were English (and well-oiled) but without an exception all agreed Rooney had to walk. There was some sympathy for him though, with the general feeling that he was hard done by with the team format playing Rooney alone up front.
Watching my recording of France v Brazil this morning I’m not surprised France won. I’ve thought Brazil were overrated from the start.
And I still have Italy as one of my finalists intact.
There’s a loose ball in front of him that he’s anxious to get to. He steps back to push himself forward in order to get to the ball. Maybe. It could’ve been intentional (it is Rooney after all), but that’s far from clear. I tend to think the red was harsh.
Well the first few times I saw it, I thought it was obvious. But the more I watch it, the less I’m sure.
And if it was intentional, Rooney has some great aim.
I personally think the red was absolutely deserved, without a question. He stomped the dude in the nuts. That’s fucked up.