Yup, France had game,set,match point right there. Both teams have a bright future though. Now bury the hatchet and get players like Benzema back.
a defensive scheme must be executed to near perfection for it to work all tournament and with offensive efficiency. Portugal just did it to perfection, they lost back then with Luis Felipe Scolari. And they learned well from their nemesis Greece in 2004.
Portugal played like **** but credit to them for toughing it out. Moreso after CR's departure. Let's face it. This was about the only way Portugal could have beaten France, a smash and grab. The game would have been over by half time if Portugal tried to play more attacking
Agreed. Just a bit ironic that a team becomes Champion that has been 3rd in a Group behind Hungary and Iceland and didn't win a single game in 90 minutes until the semis. But anyway, like I said... maybe it just was their time.
:grin: this again Eder has been the biggest underachiever all season at club level that is an understatement would have at least wanted a PK shootout
Honest question from an admittedly ignorant, very casual soccer fan. What is it about soccer that seems to make it the one sport where there is so much emphasis put on how a team wins versus just whether or not they win? If this sporting event were taking place in America, I feel like the media here would laud that performance we just saw from Portugal as being "gritty, tough, and opportunistic" and they would say that they "just did what they had to do and took advantage of the path in front of them" rather than being excoriated for their style being "negative." Again, not suggesting that one take on it is right or wrong, just find it interesting that there is such as a different approach to explaining a performance like that and I'm curious about what makes that so.
It's nickname is The Beautiful Game. That should shed some light on importance of "how' you played is.
It's funny that our ( the American's ) character is defined as never quitting ( because we are always losing, lol ).
The beautiful game is only nicknamed in Portuguese but by the Brazilians. South Americans used to play it. Europeans always have been about tactics, strategy and game plan.
The 82 Brazilian WC team was the closest thing I've ever seen to poetry in motion, flawless football.
And yet, two teams playing rather ugly football ended up in the final in that world cup :grin:. The match between Germany and France 1982 is probably still the most epic match I have ever watched.
Disappointed with the tournament in general, to be honest. The quality just wasn't there - or was it just me? Maybe I'm just bitter as Holland wasn't there this time
Very likely but I do not think back then they would have played young players like Renato Sanches, Kimmich, Coman, Mor or Jordan Lukaku. It is a nice trend to watch 18-21 year old players on the pitch.
