england v czech republic final

[graz126]

i seriously believe we have as much chance of winning this than anyone else does. that is not getting carried away and saying we are gonna win it.
lets get behind the team and at least believe we have a chance.
i look at every team in this tournament and think they all have a few players that wouldnt get into our team. ok there are a few players better than what we have like, zidane, nedved, ronaldo, deco, vieri and viera. then we have players that would get into any other team like, gerrard, beckham, rooney, campbell and cole. so whjy carnt we win it. portugal is gonna be a massive test because they are the host nation and are technically very good, but we can rise to it. and if we knock them out it will take a brave person to say we will not win it.
just a shame we were robbed of rio ferdinand when he only missed his drug test. croatias player failed his but was ok to play. good job we kicked him out for rios sake.

 

[Gwylan]

just a shame we were robbed of rio ferdinand when he only missed his drug test. croatias player failed his but was ok to play. good job we kicked him out for rios sake.

This is bollocks. We weren't 'robbed' of Ferdinand. He failed to turn up for a drug test, which is the same as failing one as far as the authorities are concerned. If you fail a test, then you get banned, the players know the rules.

The Croatian player was cleared to play because it wasn't his fault. The team doctor failed to fill in the right form to say that the player was being treated. The doctor made a cock-up, Olic was innocent. You couldn't say the same for Ferdinand.

 

[aftershavedave]

i love all this nonsense about "winning it for rio"

put yourselves in his shoes: apart from being english and wanting us to win, presumably his secretly hoping we don't because he might not get back into a euro championship side...

 

[Simster]

I have a feeling France's luck is going to run out at some point. I can see the Czechs beating them. I am worried about Portugal - they looked great against Spain, though maybe Spain let them.

If we're to win this, both Beckham & Owen need to start playing. Also, John Terry seriously needs to improve

Spain were toilet against Portugal. They finished up with 4 strikers and no-one in midfield to give them the ball - their manager made Kevin Keegan look like a tactical genius. I really don't think Portgual are to be feared even if they do have home advantage.

You're right about the 3 England players though. Terry has looked very poor since rejoining the side, and Beckham has been very disappointing. It's hard to criticise Owen though because he has been instrumental in England being leading scorers in the tournament even if he hasn't scored himself.

 

[graz126]

This is bollocks. We weren't 'robbed' of Ferdinand. He failed to turn up for a drug test, which is the same as failing one as far as the authorities are concerned. If you fail a test, then you get banned, the players know the rules.

The Croatian player was cleared to play because it wasn't his fault. The team doctor failed to fill in the right form to say that the player was being treated. The doctor made a cock-up, Olic was innocent. You couldn't say the same for Ferdinand.

sorry i did not know what the croatian players appeal was, if that is the case fair point. he is not guilty. but i still think rio was banned for far too long. the fa drug testers didnt wait around for his return though did they. they failed because they should not let any player out of their sight after a game, before a test.
they were still at old trafford when he phoned up saying he would come back. basically he was told not to bother.
i hope they lost their jobs over this. because they could havestopped rio from winning the only bit of silverware he would ever win with his country.
no im not a big fan of rio and i hate man utd, i just think its a shame for england that he is not playing in this tournament. thats why i think the punishment is a bit harsh on him.

 

[pasty]

ashley cole is gonna need to have a good game on thursday to keep ronaldo quiet

Doesn't Ronaldo normally play on the left? In which case, I sincerely hope Ashley Cole is nowhere near him !

 

[zefarelly]

Doesn't Ronaldo normally play on the left? In which case, I sincerely hope Ashley Cole is nowhere near him !

a minor technicality pasty . . .dont be so pernickety

Ashley Cole wont be anywhere near him anyway he'll still be trotting back over the halfway line

 

[JJ McClure]

Hmmm. We never beat the Swedes...

ain't that the truth

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

Doesn't Ronaldo normally play on the left? In which case, I sincerely hope Ashley Cole is nowhere near him !

He and Figo tend to swap over several times a match, although he'll start on the left, and should be up against Neville most of the time. Hopefully he'll be in his 100-stepovers-before-I-knock-it-past-you mood