The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
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Spain are definitely worthy winners and I think all this talk that they've been playing boring is just wrong. Italy did deserve better than lose with 4 goals however but they've been the biggest surprise in this tournament.
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I've paid my dues.... time after time.... Myself www.oliversanz.com/wearethechampions.mp3
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What a match. Spain's show and even Italy show sometimes. But especially Spain's who, as the best showmen, has left the biggest number for the end. Legendary match, when it come to final of national teams. I can only compare it to the Brazil 4 - Italy 1 in 1970. Spains does what no team has done EuroCup+WorldCup+EuroCup. Sets in stone themselves as the best team in results and probably the best team in play, with Pele's Brazil. One of these days I will see again the World Cup's final in 1970 and this match so I can compare. I didn't think Spain could reach that level. Anyway, great day for football, cause show, beautiful football has won. I guess more teams would be still more likely to play this way, as people copies winners.
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Spain were worthy winners but to say they walked it is embarrassing.they were nothing special. First 2 goals were shocking defending. The other 2 wouldn't have happened if Italy had 11 men.for 25 mins of he first half, Italy were the better team and they started the 2 nd half much better.
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CMackbird:
Spain were worthy winners but to say they walked it is embarrassing.they were nothing special. First 2 goals were shocking defending. The other 2 wouldn't have happened if Italy had 11 men.for 25 mins of he first half, Italy were the better team and they started the 2 nd half much better.
You've got to be joking?
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My personal assesssment of the match is it all came down to passing skills. When the Spanish were on the ball they were sharp in passing it along, often one-touch. When the Italians tried something similar they were excruciatingly slow selecting the next pass, clearly dithering as to whom, why and where the ball should go next. Time and again they were dispossessed while on the ball due to that dither delay. To me. it seems this encapsulates the principle of "team". The Spanish must practice this time, time and again to make this type of flowing passing game so effective. Before the game, I remarked at work that whenever I watch Spain play it appears there at least 15 players on the pitch, such is their speed of passing and movement off the ball. And this game reinforced that viewpoint again. Enjoyable match and worthy winners. Martin
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cfergoid:
CMackbird:
Spain were worthy winners but to say they walked it is embarrassing.they were nothing special. First 2 goals were shocking defending. The other 2 wouldn't have happened if Italy had 11 men.for 25 mins of he first half, Italy were the better team and they started the 2 nd half much better.
You've got to be joking?
Nope. I wasn't bowled over by them, they weren't as good as 08 or 10. Before the final they hadn't played as well as others.
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Martin, that's "The Passing/Passing Around Game" about. All about the skill of pass and the vision and wit to do it. I'm a fan of that from long time ago. Ten years ago some people called me "Guardiola" when I played football, cause I wanted to play like that, passing and passing... In the end it was only me and sometimes others who did that, just like Guardiola in the field. (Still he was not a coach, only sort of a player-coach). 1970's Brazil scored their 4 goals to Italy with crossing and heading and long shots. And Spain did their 4 goals to Italy yesterday just passing and passing. BTW, my neighbour has been choosed as best player of the tournament (and also man of the match of yesterday). So we've got in this town the MVP of both the basketball and football EURO championships. http://news.yahoo.com/iniesta-wins-euro-2012-player-award-100718728--sow.html
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Final Standings of The Macca Board Fantasy Football, UEFA EURO 2012 Rank Team's name Nick Points yesterday Total points 1 www.oliversanz.com 21st Century Paul 73 323 2 La Furia Blaugrana unclesox 63 312 3 Three Lions XI Daniel 60 249 What an epic between unclesox and me! I won just by 11 points in the end. I ended in the top 1 %, unclesox in the top 3% and Daniel in top third. I understand people doesn't want to join us in our leagues, they're tough. Daniel and unclesox have crushed me when I've played with them in tournaments that were not World Cup, Euro Cup of the Champions League (like Europa League, Under 21 tournaments). I need some kind of a prize... hmmm.... Well, once again... www.oliversanz.com/wearethechampions.mp3 (I guess this thread activity will fade to zero soon, see you next time) 2:
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dont fall for all the nostalgic nonsense that spain might not be a match for the 1970 brazil team. the truth is that every one of the 16 qualified teams [yes including the dire english] would beat the 1970 brazil team easily. of course that brazil team where skillfull as where many great teams of the past. however like most sports standards only get better [i.e fitness]. a 1970s mens sprinter gold medalist wouldnt even qualify for an olympic final these days with his 1970s times [which of course where great for the time]. its the same in other sports aswell.progress only gets better..look at non athletic sports like golf and snooker..standards only get better ,not worse. the 1970 brazil team would not have a chance in modern day football. so yes the spanish team ARE the greatest national team ever..without a doubt. and they where VERY worthy winners..the future of football is in great hands..the longball teams like england and sweden ,ireland e.t.c all failed miserably...now that is always good for the game!
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Great game by Spain yesterday. Worthy winners. I'm pretty sure, they will win the World Cup 2014 too.
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dance-tonight:
Great game by Spain yesterday. Worthy winners. I'm pretty sure, they will win the World Cup 2014 too.
I reckon 2014 will belong to Argentina. That's my hunch.
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CMackbird:
dance-tonight:
Great game by Spain yesterday. Worthy winners. I'm pretty sure, they will win the World Cup 2014 too.
I reckon 2014 will belong to Argentina. That's my hunch.
Could be also Italy, Brazil or Germany. We'll see.
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Well, fitness is only a part of football. Sure Spain hasn't won because of being the most fit team. They played in a different way, they didn't run all time, but played most of time walking, sprinting only sometimes. That's just how Xavi plays for instance, now in 2012!. And he's the quintaessence of the Spanish playing style. Not that I saw that Brazil play, I've only seen some videos and the final against Italy, and sure they were good on the ball. The 2 "defensive midfielders" sure were better with the ball than Busquets and Alonso (The 2 defensive Spain ones). Gerson moved the team like Xavi and that Clodoaldo did all kinds of things with the ball, kind of like Iniesta. For me, part of the beauty of the 4-1 is that Italy scores after a mistake of Clodoaldo because he does kind of a flourish in a place where he's not supposed to do it. But he didn't care. (Kind of like Spain's passing the ball where they're not supposed to do it) And they didn't shot when in the rival's area. They kept passing the ball even when inside the other's area... . These Spain are better passers but they were better on dribbling and ball control. That football was art too.
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... and the Spain's show is only finished after the Pepe Reina speaking show, one million people there Pepe Reina speaking show, 2012 Part One and Two
About Brazil 1970, it's like if one band was considered the best band of the last 40 years... the only thing remaining is comparing them with The Beatles. 2: -
dance-tonight:
Great game by Spain yesterday. Worthy winners. I'm pretty sure, they will win the World Cup 2014 too.
Yeah I think that'll prob be the case.
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Darth_McCartney:
dance-tonight:
Great game by Spain yesterday. Worthy winners. I'm pretty sure, they will win the World Cup 2014 too.
Yeah I think that'll prob be the case.
I will let you guys know nearer the time who will win the 2014 world cup, in the meantime i've got to go and save Penelope Pitstop from the evil Dick Dastardly, until next time my fellow football fans 2:
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Olympic Games Association Football Final Mexico 1 - 0 Brazil after 30 seconds...... Martin
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Congrats to Mexico for capturing Olympic gold. Brazil still searching for that elusive Olympic title, the only tournament their national teams have yet to win. Great opportunity will come four years from now when they host the Games in Rio. Before that they'll be hosting the World Cup so big opportunities in both competitions but with it comes great expectations which in turn means tremendous pressure. Can't wait to see how they handle it all. FIFA international date on Wednesday followed by the return of league football. I must admit I'm still a bit worn down from last season and the EUROs. Part of it is that Guardiola is no longer at Barcelona although Tito Villanova appears capable of continuing the project. And after getting relegated last season Cologne have begun their second division campaign without a win after two matches... not to mention that they're missing out on the celebrations of the 50th Bundesliga season.
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The thought of overpaid, pampered, preening footballers kicking a rubber and plastic sphere all over a pitch for £30,000 - £150,000 a week after watching real sporting stars at the Olympics is putting me off watching footie this season....think I've had enough. Might nip off and watch some non-league stuff instead.