2006 WORLD CUP -- Semifinals -- FRANCE vs. PORTUGAL

;) Ole, Ole, Ole!

We are doing the pizza dance now.

81 posted on 07/05/2006 8:32:58 AM PDT by romanesq (.)

I did read about it. In fact, I was in Europe (Italy for 2 weeks, Germany, Austria, etc., for 2 more weeks) last month. I was INUNDATED with it and got very caught up in it.
That's why I wanted Germany to win, Brazil, Argentina and Italy to lose. I knew the U.S.A. and England couldn't win....also Germany, because their teams really weren't strong enough.

I was delighted that Germany got as far as it did. They can hold their heads up high for their effort. I was also delighted to see Mexico do as well as it did. They did themselves proud too.

82 posted on 07/05/2006 8:33:05 AM PDT by starfish923 ( Socrates: It's never right to do wrong.)

As I said - they should not dare to win against germany and then mess up the easy one.

83 posted on 07/05/2006 8:36:47 AM PDT by Rummenigge

I share all political bias against France, but they woke up and played a very good quality football against Spain and Brazil. They well deserved advancing to where they are now. If they are going to play as strong as they can, and if Portugal will play as strong as they can, it should be a magnificent show.

This World Cup displayed a big inconsistency in play by many teams. So all IFs above are still IFs. Lets wait and see. I root for both teams to show all their best, and as many here want Zidane to put on a show in one of his very last games ever. I believe he is in the top 10 of all times, so it is a great moment to watch one of the greatest players to leave the game with fireworks.

84 posted on 07/05/2006 8:37:05 AM PDT by Tolik

pff

dance all you like - I am boycotting ferrari now.

85 posted on 07/05/2006 8:38:25 AM PDT by Rummenigge

Brasil had a bad tournament and lost. Sometimes the more talented team doesn't bring their A game.

Sorta like the US in basketball when we lost to Argentina in the Olympics.

Well I can see how the first part might be true but the second idea...

American Basketball players are worth more than Argentinian players... American basketball players openly state they will not represent the USA in the Olympic to avoid injury. This was not the case with Brazil and the 2006 World Cup.

86 posted on 07/05/2006 8:47:41 AM PDT by chris_ab

I've watched several games and they do not live up to the hype.
This is a sport that is in serious need of a makeover to have any real appeal. First off look at the scores in the games: 0-0 in one final, 0-2 (a blowout!), 1-1. So you are watching people pass a soccer ball around, mostly to no avail, for 90 minutes.

You have just explained what your problem is: You don't understand what's going on during a game. That's why you're bored. If you didn't grow up with a particular sport, getting into it isn't entirely trivial. Perhaps try reading a book first. Something like this, perhaps:

87 posted on 07/05/2006 8:50:28 AM PDT by cartan

To: soccer_maniac

Win or lose, I wonder how much rioting will occur in France today?

88 posted on 07/05/2006 8:52:58 AM PDT by Catholic Canadian (Formerly Ashamed Canadian - thank you Stephen Harper!)

Its not difficult to understand the rules of cricket.

89 posted on 07/05/2006 8:55:36 AM PDT by BaBaStooey (I heart Emma Caulfield.)

Was just joking. My kids are really really into sports. Between them they have probably played every sport on land.

Both played rugby in college. Talk about a blood sport.....yikes. Never did see so many blood soaked shirts.......and broken bones too.

But of course, soccer is king!

Both kids have been to Word Cup games.....my son just spent a week in Germany......getting to see England, Portugal, and Iran play.

90 posted on 07/05/2006 8:56:00 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)

No but I could have done without the last 120 seconds.

I understand, but I'm glad it didn't come down to penalty kicks.

91 posted on 07/05/2006 8:56:27 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Behead the liberal media!)

"i'll kill myself if portugal doesn't win" - homer simpson

92 posted on 07/05/2006 9:05:31 AM PDT by Gaetano

93 posted on 07/05/2006 9:09:05 AM PDT by TopoGigio

you're giving Prodi, D'Alema, et. al., more faith than they merit.

94 posted on 07/05/2006 9:21:24 AM PDT by Gaetano

Portugal (probable): Ricardo, Miguel, Carvalho, Meira, Valente, Costinha, Maniche, Deco, Figo, Ronaldo, Pauleta.

France (probable): Barthez, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Vieira, Makelele, Ribery, Zidane, Malouda, Henry.

95 posted on 07/05/2006 9:30:15 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)

Head-to-heads

Portugal and France have met on 21 previous occasions. France have won 15 and Portugal five. These teams have only met twice competitively, both times in the semi-finals of a European Championship. In 1984, France won 3-2 after extra time with Michel Platini scoring the winner in the 119th minute. At Euro 2000, France were again victorious by a 2-1 margin, thanks to a golden goal by Zinedine Zidane in the 117th minute. On both occasions, France went on to win the trophy.

Costinha, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes are the only players in the Portugese squad who also played against France in 2000. Gomes was banned for seven months for his involvement in a melee at the end of the match. The French squad contains seven players involved in that clash six years ago - Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

Youri Djorkaeff, Sylvain Wiltord, Mikael Silvestre and Thierry Henry all got on the score sheet when these teams last faced each other - France winning a friendly 4-0 on 25 April 2001. That took France's winning run against Portugal to seven matches, since the Portuguese beat them 2-0 in 1975.

Team facts - Portugal

Portugal have reached the World Cup semi-finals for the second time and the first time in 40 years. In 1966 they were knocked out by eventual winners England, and finished third.

Portugal are now unbeaten in 17 competitive matches. Their last competitive defeat dates back to the final of Euro 2004 when they succumbed lost to Greece (1-0).

Team facts - France

France are taking part in the World Cup for the 12th time. Their best performance came in 1998 when they were crowned world champions in their own country.

This is their 50th World Cup match. In Portugal, France face the third consecutive opponent who navigated the group phase with a 100% record, following Spain and Brazil. France have conceded two goals in five matches at this tournament - Portugal have leaked just one goal.

Player facts - Portugal

Portugal midfielder Petit is suspended for this match, having been booked twice in the knock-out phase. Maniche, Nuno Valente, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo and Luis Figo will be suspended if booked.

If he figures, Nuno Gomes will be playing on his 30th birthday. Ricardo Carvalho, Fernando Meira and Ricardo have played every minute of every match for Portugal so far.

Player facts - France

Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Louis Saha, Willy Sagnol and Lilian Thuram will miss a potential final match if they receive a yellow card against Portugal.

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will break the record of Maxime Bossis as France's most capped player at the World Cup if he takes his place between the sticks. It will be his 16th appearance in World Cup finals. Barthez, William Gallas, Claude Makelele, Sagnol and Thuram have played every minute of every match for France so far.

Miscellaneous Info

Portugal are the only semi-finalists led by a foreign coach. The World Cup has never been won by a team with a foreign coach. Luiz Felipe Scolari is attempting to become the first to win the competition with two different nations, after leading Brazil to the title in 2002. He's undefeated in all 12 of his matches at the World Cup (11 wins, one draw - the draw being 0-0 with England in the quarter-finals last Saturday, which Portugal eventually won on penalties of course).

If selected, William Gallas and Claude Makelele will face Chelsea team mates Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche. Cristiano Ronaldo could run into Manchester United colleagues Mikael Silvestre and Louis Saha, while Portuguese striker Pauleta may go head-to-head with fellow Paris Saint-Germain employees Mickael Landreau and Vikash Dhorasoo. Tiago may face no fewer than five of his Olympique Lyon clubmates - Gregory Coupet, Eric Abidal, Florent Malouda, Sidney Govou and Sylvain Wiltord.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

96 posted on 07/05/2006 9:31:37 AM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)

Go Portugal! I don't care who wins as long as the Frogs get well and truly stuffed!!

97 posted on 07/05/2006 9:35:23 AM PDT by Legallyhere1 (Which part of Illegal do you not get?)

To: Andy from Beaverton

Methinks the honeymoon is over for those two.

98 posted on 07/05/2006 9:36:10 AM PDT by dfwgator

Prodi and such are merely transitory figures in the bigger battle.
They shall pass quickly enough.

99 posted on 07/05/2006 9:39:09 AM PDT by romanesq (.)

"The Italy vs Germany game yesterday was fantastic! I watched every single second. Am I alone?"

Fantastic game, indeed.

And, NO, you're not alone as 1,300 millions people around the world are watching the sport that completes life.

I predicted a 2-0 Italy win against Germany and a France win (forgot the score) on a previous thread, with Italy the ultimate winner in the final.

Yellow cards:

France: Thuram, Sagnal, Vieira, Zidane, Ribery, Saha.
Portugal: Ricardo, Carvalho, Valente, Maniche, Figo. Petit, either injured or red carded.

Italy has only one yellow (Camoranesi), but it's irrelevant as he will be able to play the final. Ergo, Italy will play the final in full. Whereas, France, if as I predict will beat Portugal, could have two or more of their star players not able to play the final, depending on the ref.

Forza Azzurri! Make the world bite their tongues!

100 posted on 07/05/2006 9:49:27 AM PDT by Marcaurelio

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