Who thinks the French have made a pact with Satan?

I reckon they've been sticking pins in Del Piero's effigy too!

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Answers

Canny game; not great. Wanted the Italians to win: thought they did really well, and should have won it. However, credit the Frogs for going right to the end, and their Manager for throwing on attacking players; can't agree with the pundits who felt they were lucky
I don't begrudge them their victory - but what made me puke was having to watch Le Poof, who contributed bog all, and My Little Pony prancing around like big soft lasses at the end. Tossers!

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Dust and ashes. I feel sick. At least Totti showed what he can do.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Just saw Trezeguet's goal on a Sports News program....WOW! Listening to the game, I was wondering if Poofy and Pony were prancing around like they're all that. At least Pony played a significant part in the tournament. How much time did Poofy spend picking splinters out of his le bum? I bet Big Al is looking forward to kicking him around the pitch again next season. >:-)

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Just wait for Toldo's first opportunity to come out and punch with Trezeuguet anyway nearby: little, baldy heed with revolting goatee seen rolling into touch methinks. Dirty French git.

I am sure Lebouef's single appearance in the reserve lineup will not prevent him blathering on constantly about how he has a European and World Cup winner's medal.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Aye it's a cruel game alright.

I am sick as the proverbial.

Btw the officials were tossers tonight. Missed 2 elbows (Desailly and Viera), and Nesta's constant attempts to swap shirts before the end of the match.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

As I had drawn France in not one but TWO Euro 2000 sweeps and have won the grand total of #47 as a result you will understand why I am highly delighted by the outcome (even if I still think they are a bunch of arrogant, whingeing gits!!!)

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Where did the 4 minutes of extra time come from? It was the ManUre rules of play, play extra time until they score then go on to win.

I don't know if I agree with the Golden Goal anymore, and everything just stoped. But its got to be better then penalties.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

I suppose it was the 4 minutes where they tried to stick the goalies nose back onto his face.

I do think that the French are the most physical team in Europe. They constantly barge players off the ball and obstruct. Not averse to a well placed elbow either as we saw tonight.

It hacks me off that they always get away with it.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

If you want a laugh go to soccernet.com and have a look at the EUro2000 message board.

I particularly liked the Italian one tonight and the posting "Aren't French people sons of b@tches" - that's it, no message.

Also the Poll: "Who should have won" and the two choices - Italy or Italy

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

The dirty kick in the face was during extra time, only stoppages in second half were while the Italians celebrated a beautiful goal and for substitutions. Even Dugarry's broken nose was in the first half. Disgraceful.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

I can't stand the arrogance of some of the French team but I really disliked the Italian way of killing the game. On numerous occasions last night, Italy counterattacked after gaining possession - then when France tried to counterattack, an Italian player would foul the man in possession. It was always done subtly, in non-dangerous areas, but deliberately to slow the play down and allow Italy to get 10 men behind the ball again.

I'd rather see the French win with open attacking football, than ever see a team win by killing the game using those tactics.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Regarding the four minutes of 'injury' time......it seems that this particular referee always adds on 30 seconds for each substitution and given that there were six substitutions this amounts to three of the four minutes.

This is seemingly something that FIFA and EUFA have sanctioned where ref's think the teams are deliberately timewasting in that form, but this guy assumes that all teams making substitutions are time wasting.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

My understanding Ken is that the PL do something similar, not necessarily to counter time-wasting, but as it takes a defininate amount of time to make a substitution. Managers were using this to kill some time towards the end of games.
This seems entirely reasonable to me, in fact I like to see additional measures taken to offset the effect of time-wasting - for instance, by goalkeepers at goal kicks, feigned or exaggerated injuries, etc. In general, I feel refs are far too reluctant to add time on for things that are simply another form of cheating.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

I concur with Clarky. How many times did the Eyties go crashing to the floor and roll 10 - 20 times and as soon as the ref said play on they were up and running after the ball.

There were many stoppages during the game, I was expecting 3 - 4 minutes of extra time. Mind you I was expecting Henry to score the first goal as well!!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

The best solution for timekeeping is simply to stop the clock when the ball is dead. I first heard this idea from Glenn Hoddle but he may have got the idea elsewhere. He suggested games of 35 min each way with the clock stopping every time the ball is out of play or the ref blows his whistle. This seems like a very accurate method rather than thgis arbitrary nonsense of 30 secs per substition or whatever.

I don't know if 35 mins each way is the right figure or not. It's surprising if during 90 mins you actually only see 70 mins of play. If I was really sad I'd get a stopwatch and check this out.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Stop bliddy clicking that thing will you? It's driving me roond the twist!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Jonno,
I can't recall where, but I saw some statistics on this once, and I think you'd be amazed at how little play you actually see in say 95 minutes of supposed 'play'.
I seem to recall the figure was something like 50 mins when the ball was actually in play.
I think your/Glenda's idea is a good one; however, it introduces the issue of who would keep the official time? I think it would be difficult for the referee to do so, and if he did the communication of the time remaining to the players and the crowd would then become crucial. I think it would need to be an external official timekeeper, which then introduces some other potential issues.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

several points (or gibberish):

My 11yr old and I sat down to watch the game.
Me: Who do you want to win son?
Matt: France
Me: why?
Matt: 'cos Italy are diving, cheating scum

Now I'm not sure where he picked that up from[;-))] but it was dead accurate. I don't care how talented players are but I lose all respect if they cheat (including Shearer diving for England). I'd rather we lost than cheated.

Nesta was clearly suffering a balance disorder where he had to hold on to something or he'd fall over. Did someone elbow him? If so then he bloody well deserved it!

The kick to Toldo's head was part of the game. The ball was there to be won and the "kick" was pulled. If he'd wanted to lay the keeper out it would have been very easy. Nowt wrong with the forward going for that ball.

Anyho..... I hate Italian footballers. Prima Donna tossers of the highest order. Magnificent skill but a complete disregard for the sporting ethic.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

So Geordie....if the Toon were to go in for Del Piero, Maldini or Toldo you would be against them signing?

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

"Anyho..... I hate Italian footballers. Prima Donna tossers of the highest order. Magnificent skill but a complete disregard for the sporting ethic."

As opposed to Marcel 'Elbows' Dessailly, Didier 'Ankle-biter' Deschamps, Thierry 'Handball' Henry, Patric 'GBH' Viera, FRanck 'Dieing Swan' Lebouef, Zinedine 'Stamping' Zidane and Nicolas 'No nickname required' Anelka....I'm surprised you could tell them apart :-)

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Who said I liked the French??? Can't stand them! I wanted both sides to lose. Not too keen on those Spaniards either. In fact I don't like many people outside our street.. and I'm not too sure of half of them!! (Courtesy of The Likely Lads) ;-))

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Softie, you omitted David 'you're gonna get your f*@king head kicked-in" Treziuget (sp.)!!!???

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000