The College Dropout

He's so poor.

Fabregas has been ill. He'll probably go in for Iniesta in the latter games. He shouldn't though imo, I rate Iniesta higher. I just can't agree with that statement they are different types of player.... but Fabregas is better. And I think Adam is being overly harsh on the media... nobody would say he should start instead of Senna or Xavi really but Iniesta, yes.

The Champions League if we where in it regularly.. like 3 seasons back to back.. would put us in a position where we can consistently challenge for trophies anyway..

Fabregas has been ill. He'll probably go in for Iniesta in the latter games.

We know all that man, but equally, an attacker could shoulder charge a defender off the pitch and (assuming he's not penalised) ensure that there is no chance of being offside. If there is no foul given what would be wrong with that? Well, the goal last night, for one. The defender didn't leave the pitch under his own volition, he was pushed off the pitch and his team was penalised for it. Gianluigi was the one who pushed him.. had it been a Dutch player it would be a freekick.

We know all that man, but equally, an attacker could shoulder charge a defender off the pitch and (assuming he's not penalised) ensure that there is no chance of being offside. If he could shoulder charge him he wouldn't be offside anyway lol.

If someone is injured the ref can stop play at any time. It would be farcical for the referee not to stop play. In the Premiership didn't we introduce a rule that means players must keep playing until if someone is injured until the ref blows his whistle nh?

Truth.

Does the rule say anything about intentions? Seems like its a blanket rule. He was onside.

can't see how you can say that like. I think any of spain, holand, portugal and germany will win it. spain or germany at a push. if russia wern't almost certain to play holland in the quatre's then spain in the semi's i'd have given them a chance of making the final as well. Football is gay like that... Honestly that's the only reason I say it..

Seriously? I thought the France/Romania and Switzerland/Czech games, in-particular, had referees that were petty as f***. Only really referring to this match and the Italy/Holland to be honest.. I didn't watch the whole of those 2 other games, some major paint drying action in the other room.

Neither Holland/Spain or Portugal will win it.

I've liked the refereeing so far in this tournament.. not too picky at all

Finally a consolation goal.

In Spain he was better. Villa has only come to my attention in the last 3/4 years so he started to really develop around the age Torres is currently. Torres has been supreme this season I though.. took me by surprise.

He speaks a lot of sense but his English is poor and his phrases are hilarious. For sure.

Holland have probably had better players than both teams and have never won the world cup. Not necessarily as a team however, I think the dutch have had some outstading individuals but they've also had some fillers in there too. while as England and Spain have had much more depth too their squads, which is unstandable considering the population of each nation. The Dutch have also won the Euros before and twice been in World cup finals. Spain, have won nowt, while England have won one world cup on home soil, with just 2 semi final appereances in major tournements. For two nations with such a footbal culture, those records are quite frankly pathetic. I'd say the last world cup is the only time in recent years we've had a team that could really compete. Euro 96 apart I don't think we have had the overall team/squad to compete.. I mean Heskey ffs. Defensively we've been solid for some years but have lacked creatively in midfield. Can't deny the class of Spain though. All 3 teams have had considerably better first teams than than the back-to-back Final/Semi finals of those jammy German bastards. lol @ Adam not placing a bet.

Holland have probably had better players than both teams and have never won the world cup.

Spain have the best pair of strikers in the tournament. Both very good all round. i didn't rate Torres that high before his move... silenced me.

Wilhelmson or whatever has looked pretty good for Sweden when ever i've seen them play tbf.

The current first XI isn't all that good and they are ageing. I'd like 2 first team central defenders, a new midfield partnership, a right sided attacking midfielder and another striker. That's 6. I'd like any number of cheap youngsters with ability and potential.

Xavi isn't better than Fabregas i'm sorry. Xavi is an excellent player no doubt but Fabregas plays a larger role for his club than Xavi does. Fabregas is the epicentre of Arsenal's play. But Fabregas has look knackered for awhile now.. Arsene plays him in every match he's fit for except the League Cup.. i remember thinking that he's running on empty when Arsenal faced L'Pool in the Quarter finals. I don't think he misssed a single game after that either. If they beat Russia without him, i'd consider not playing him until the final group game.

Imo it's the overall mind frame of the participants that really count not 1 or 2 individual teams.

eh? Needless step overs remind me of a certain C. I was talking about the Dutch right winger.

Italy looking real old and tired.