I followed this one via the Guardian.

Of all the days for ESPN's live feed to crap out, this has to be the one . . .

Congratulations Sunlore, your boys will take some beating. Although I'd still be a little concerned they're peaking too early.

Commiserations Mr Bug.

I fear that late goal may put France out. Assuming the Dutch beat Romania (not a foregone conclusion) then France would have only needed a draw to go through on goal difference. As it is, a draw would (I think) put Italy through on goals scored in the France/Italy/Romania mini group.

I think.

Do you guys agree that there should have been a penalty kick when Henry shot and orange stopped the ball with his arm at 1 - 0?

4 - 1 is severe. Holland scored 4 goals out of 5 shots.

Sly Bug wrote:Do you guys agree that there should have been a penalty kick when Henry shot and orange stopped the ball with his arm at 1 - 0?

Yep, I think it was a penalty.

I do enjoy Henry's hurt, hand clasped "you, referee, are so beneath me" pose though.

Both Italy and France reacted too strongly to their poor opening games. I feel they would have been better changing one or maybe two players each and giving the bulk of the first choice players the chance to correct their early mistakes, rather than bringing in whole ranks of new players 'cold'. For example, all indications are that Benzema is a great player but froze in his first major championship match. Where was his chance to correct that tonight?

Holland are great and I am happy, I have long since been a fan of the Dutch attitude to football (I know I've mentioned, there is a framed photograph of Cruyff in my hallway). They have destroyed the last World Cup finalists in consecutive games. This, she is not argue with. Only Spain have been as good so far and that was against Russia, not Italy or France.

Meanwhile, Buffon's save:



...I am loving everything about this tournament that isn't Greece. It is really fucking good so far. My mum is being very brave by holding her 60th birthday party on the same night as the third quarter-final.

If the Dutch beat beat Romania 3-0 and France Italy draw 0-0, the group could end up like this...

P F A D Pts
Holland 3 9 1 6 9
Italy 3 1 4 -3 2
France 3 1 4 -3 2
Romania 3 1 4 -3 2

Sort that one out UEFA.

I guess they would disregard the results against Holland, leaving it like so...

P F A D Pts
Italy 3 1 1 0 2
France 3 0 0 0 2
Romania 3 1 1 0 2

France would go out because they haven't scored agianst the other two, but what would they do to seperate Italy and Romania?








Christ, I need a girlfriend.

Sly Bug wrote:Do you guys agree that there should have been a penalty kick when Henry shot and orange stopped the ball with his arm at 1 - 0?

4 - 1 is severe. Holland scored 4 goals out of 5 shots.

No Sly, it has to be intentional hand ball. That was not. The ball struck the arm and the arm was behind the player at the time.


Four from five is a pretty good return!

Josef K wrote:

Sly Bug wrote:Do you guys agree that there should have been a penalty kick when Henry shot and orange stopped the ball with his arm at 1 - 0?

4 - 1 is severe. Holland scored 4 goals out of 5 shots.

No Sly, it has to be intentional hand ball. That was not. The ball struck the arm and the arm was behind the player at the time.

Oh, come on.

Josef K wrote:No Sly, it has to be intentional hand ball. That was not. The ball struck the arm and the arm was behind the player at the time.


Four from five is a pretty good return!

Josef,

This is a "school yard" rule. If the hand ball is intentional or not doesn't matter at all.
What matters is if the hand/arm is hold against the body or not. Do you see what I mean? It wasn't the case: it should have been a penalty kick. No doubt, especially if the goal would have been scored without that arm.