España -v- Portugal, Tues 7:30pm RTE & BBC HD

_Bella_

Fabregas always looks so frustrated on the bench

Useless match

Pighead

Graham Taylor has just made me vomit.

"Twice now, probably more, Alonso has mis-controlled the ball. But his desire to win it back is absolutely first-class. I can only assume he learnt that in the Premier League."

What a load of nonsense.

Mars Bar

Ouch, that looked sore!

cruiserweight

Headshot wrote: »

Ronaldo got kicked by puyol and he was obstructed by a Spanish player
far from soft

I think they were frees, but they could be preceived as the player playing for it or in some way soft (the obstruction not the trip). Most referees would have given Casillas a free for the challenge from Almedia, which I don't think was a free, but this one did not. Maybe he is reffing on reputation, but he definitely is not going to give anything that could be seen as being soft

cruiserweight

Pighead wrote: »

Graham Taylor has just made me vomit.

"Twice now, probably more, Alonso has mis-controlled the ball. But his desire to win it back is absolutely first-class. I can only assume he learnt that in the Premier League."

What a load of nonsense.

Up there with the "British" goal that Juan scored for Brazil yesterday

_Bella_

Is it just me or has the charm of watching Spain gone. In Euro 2008 they were exciting and they always seemed to find the perfect pass. This year though the passing has been boring to watch. We have seen that the drive to win by 3 or 4 goals have gone. Portugal on the other hand are exciting with Conetraos quick feet, Ronaldos free kicks and their quick breaks. I would far prefer Portugal to go through then Spain,

Portugal are a very strong team.

Top defending by them

Esse85

Torres is having a similiar WC to Rooney, they both look a shadow of themselves

mike65

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Iniesta should cause plenty of problems for Ricardo Costa. He didn't look at all comfortable against Brazil.

Iniesta is having a torrid time of it, Portugal are bullying the Spanish central midfield somewhat after an uncertain start.

Ray Houghton stating the bleeding obvious about Torres! That said he deffo looks a bit livelier, just not quite there yet.

Esse85

Esse85 wrote: »

Torres is having a similiar WC to Rooney, they both look a shadow of themselves

He looks far from fit tbh. He won't last til 60 mins.

skeleton_boy

Did Ray Houghton just call David Villa, David James?

skeleton_boy

skeleton_boy wrote: »

Did Ray Houghton just call David Villa, David James?

You say Villa, I hear James.

Mr.Nice Guy

mike65 wrote: »

Iniesta is having a torrid time of it, Portugal are bullying the Spanish central midfield somewhat after an uncertain start.

Yeah I thought things looked promising for Spain in the opening few minutes but they've struggled since. Getting worried now.

Optimalprimerib

skeleton_boy wrote: »

Did Ray Houghton just call David Villa, David James?

I can see the resemblance.. They are both terrible in goals.

Here all week ladies and gentlemen

CorkMan

Wexler12 wrote: »

Ronaldo you disgrace, ive never seen a player who plays less for the team.

Take Torres and Alonso off, bring Silva and Navas on

Leave off Navas, and bring Torres off for Silva. Possibly bring Fabregas on for Iniesta near the end cos he isn't great, too many overhit passes.

IMO 2 Possibilities:

1) I still think Spain will get 1 goal and the Portoguese will have to come out, with Spain scoring more

2) or else Portugal will get too much confidence from their chances and start coming forward more, with spain punishing them. I don't want more than 2 options

Degag

Optimalprimerib wrote: »

I can see the resemblance.. They are both terrible in goals.

Here all week ladies and gentlemen

For all you know, Villa could be very good in goals!

Essien

I'd be bringing on Silva for Torres and sticking Villa up front on his own.

Spain look all out of ideas when they can't simply pass it through a defence. When they play a side who stand off them and can keep their defensive shape they don't really seem to have an abundance of creavity that can open them up. Villa looks like the only player capable of taking on a defender.

Michael Collins

What did George just say about Ray Houghton scoring? I missed that bit...

Mr.Nice Guy

If this was Aragones in charge I'm certain he'd take off Torres and go with just Villa up top. He'd bring on Fabregas or Silva or maybe both.

Something needs to change anyway if things continue to stagnate.

Cypher_sounds

Great refereeing, Puyol ya spanner head:D

_Bella_

Almost an own goal

Mweelrea

That could have gone either way, a warning for the spanish

baalthor

_Bella_ wrote: »

Is it just me or has the charm of watching Spain gone. In Euro 2008 they were exciting and they always seemed to find the perfect pass. This year though the passing has been boring to watch.

They have definitely declined. Of course they had Senna then and Torres was on top form. Fabregas got more game time in 08 and had a much bigger impact when he did play.
Really, only Villa is producing the same kind of performances ...

Peyton Manning

Spain's diving antics are utterly pathetic.

gimmick

Llorente? Interesting. looks like Spain are going to try go a bit more direct so.

Id take off Alonso now for Fabregas as well.

Torres off pre 60 again.

He needs a long long rest.

_Bella_

Wow what a save!

Edit: After seeing the replays Llorente is an idiot, whole goal to aim at but hits it into the goalkeepers hand

Peyton Manning

That's a sitter.

kingshankly

_Bella_ wrote: »

Wow what a save!

he couldn't help but save it

gimmick

He was stretching to get at it in fairness. Not as easy a chance as the commentators make it sound.

_Bella_

1-0 Spain!

redout

Villa Villa Villa, Villa Maravilla

gimmick

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

Villa you legend !!!

Kev_ps3

Bout time..

TouchingVirus

F*ck sake Houghten, Florente didn't believe he would score from 6 yards away? Shut up.

Mr.Nice Guy

YESSSSSSSSSSS

I love that guy.

_Bella_

Portugal have to go for it now

Podge2k7

1-0, Villa

_Bella_

Haha Llorente shirt got torn!

Mr.Nice Guy

Keeper was unlucky. Made another good save from Villa initially.

eagle eye

Just hit me there now just how awesome the Barca attack will be next year with Villa, Messi and Ibra.

Stevecw

Deserved. Just hope to see Portugal wake up a bit now, but hasn't happened yet since the goal.

Pighead

Question for the Spanish footie experts. What sort of level is Llorente considered to be at? Is he a consistent yet unspectacular striker like Defoe or is he one of the great white hopes for the future?

2smiggy

Villa looked offside when i looked back on sky plus ? any one else think so

Aidric

That's a quite brilliant save. Excellent from Ramos.

gimmick

Pighead wrote: »

Question for the Spanish footie experts. What sort of level is Llorente considered to be at? Is he a consistent yet unspectacular striker like Defoe or is he one of the great white hopes for the future?

Both really. I would liken him to Ibra somewhat. Take from that what you may. He is far better that the likes of Defoe though. An excellent target man and a deadly finisher...

Stevecw

Good save, that could have finished it there

the_monkey

lucky lucky spain .... f*cking catalans are Spanish when it suits them ...