UEFA Euro 2004 - Portugal

SJC,

It's called the six yard box in English.

Was it a foul? Yes and no. Fouls like that are consistently called in favour of goalkeepers. I personally don't think they should be, and that keepers get too much protection from referees.

Having said that, I don't think that England can be surprised at the decision. It was certainly an expected one, and would be given 99 times out of 100 in modern football.

 

Thanks!

Actually, you are right, the German reporter said he thinks maybe in the Premier League, it would have had a slight chance of being allowed (since they allow a bit more), but everywhere else, it would have been disallowed...

 

The Czech's B-team beat Germany in a game they didn't need...that pretty much sold me on them to win it all.

France doesn't look strong enough, the Scandinavians just don't have the talent, though I do like Denmark's style, and Holland seems like a team headed for a good, yet tragic end to the tournament, ala England.

Portugal may ride the euphoria going on there all the way to a title, and I do really like Deco, Figo and Ronaldo, but they don't seem to have that knack for finishing that you would expect of a team with their fluidity.

 

The English are such sore losers...even in the picture that is in the article, you can see how the other player is holding the goalie down...they just ignore that .

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004291561,00.html


Robbed ... by reffin' half-wit





By NICK PARKER,
NEIL SYSON and
TOM CARLIN

ENGLAND were robbed of Euro 2004 glory last night by a heartbreaking refereeing decision.

Swiss ref Urs Meier ruled out a headed goal by Sol Campbell in the 89th minute, condemning our battling boys to extra time and a dreaded penalty shoot-out.

After a night of high drama in Lisbon, England finished 6-5 losers on penalties, with captain David Beckham blazing his spot-kick over the bar.

But BBC TV pundit Peter Reid later summed up the mood of the nation when he said of the disallowed goal: “We’ve been cheated.”

And fans were quick to point out that ref Meier’s Switzerland were hammered 3-0 by England last week.

Paul Roach, 35, from Leicester, said: “I was right behind the goal when Sol scored. I could see nothing wrong.”



Have you my Urs ... Swiss referee Urs Meier disallows Campbell's
goal, indicating that he thought there had been pushing



Manchester businessman Paul James, 56, said: “The Swiss referee was a joke for disallowing Sol’s goal. I could still clearly see there was nothing wrong with his challenge on the keeper.

“If it wasn’t for that ref we would now be marching into the semi-finals. It’s heartbreaking.”

Nicky Mortimer, 39, a secretary from Chelmsford, Essex, rang The Sun to say: “That referee is more bent than one of Uri Geller’s spoons.”

And caller Gemma White, 25, an administrator from Christchurch, Dorset, said: “The ref was bang out of order and he should be sacked. He was terrible.”

Devastated England coach Sven Goran Eriksson said of the goal: “From the bench it looked all right. We were not lucky with some things out there tonight.”

England went ahead in the 3rd minute with a goal by Michael Owen.

Fans went wild, dancing jigs of glee as they cried: “We’re not going home.”



I've scored the winner ... Sol Campbell is sure he's scored as he rises above John Terry and Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo to head the ball across the line



Sadly, they were. Things began to look bleak from the moment wonderboy Wayne Rooney went off with a broken foot.

The 18-year-old striker was rushed to hospital for an X-ray after defender Jorge Andrade trod on him.

Although Beckham and Co played their hearts out after Rooney’s departure, slick Portugal gradually got on top.

And in the 83rd minute Spurs player Helder Postiga headed home the equaliser.

England could have sealed victory if the ref had not disallowed Campbell’s goal.

But after 90 minutes the sides were level. And five minutes into the second period of extra time Rui Costa scored the second for Portugal.

Then with five minutes to go Frank Lampard made it 2-2 and English hopes rose again. But the agony of the penalty shoot-out was waiting for them.



It ends in tears ... Darius Vassell, far left, and David Beckham,
who missed their penalties, cry as they leave the pitch



First David Beckham and then Darius Vassell missed from the spot.

England felt they suffered from the state of the penalty spots, which were covered in sand.

Peter Reid revealed the England camp had complained about the problem before the game.

Michael Owen later admitted: “Going out on penalties is a bitter blow.”

He added: “I also couldn’t see anything wrong with Sol’s goal.”

Three Lions fans in Lisbon’s stunning Stadium of Light wept as their dreams of glory evaporated.

Tom Preston, a 40-year-old engineer from Boston, Lincs, said: “I really thought we were good enough to have gone all the way but it just wasn’t to be.”

The England players saluted their travelling supporters before trooping off in misery as millions cried into their beer back home.



Ouch ... Sven winces as Portugal score



England’s defeat was greeted with despair and disbelief by a huge TV audience estimated at up to 30million.

Earlier fans had been on their best behaviour in the bars and squares of Lisbon.

Thousands also had a ball in the stadium — playfully punting The Sun’s England beach balls around the stands.

The 35,000 loyal fans sang themselves hoarse in a bid to lift the team and covered more than half the stadium with St George cross banners.

They drowned out their Portuguese hosts with chants of “You’re supposed to be at home.”

Wayne Rooney’s grandad Bill Morrey, 74, arrived at the stadium to find no ticket had been set aside for him and was in danger of missing the match until UEFA officials stepped in.

They produced a ticket at the last minutes and he took pride of place in an official UEFA observer’s seat.

Victoria Beckham had flown from England to see the match after going home to watch son Brooklyn, five, in a school play.

Prince William, 22, watched the big game in The Tunnel House Inn pub, at Coates, near Highgrove.

Like all fans, he went home knowing the dream was over.

YOU can tell bungling ref Meier just what you think of his decision — on his own website.
Go to www.ursmeier.ch/referee/ and click on the feedback section. Under “vorname” enter your first name, under “nachname” enter your surname. Then fill in your email address — and let rip.

 

Everyone at work is telling me that I'm just anti-English, because I keep pointing out that Terry has his arm over the keeper.

Holding him down though? Not really. Like I said earlier, keepers get too much protection. Terry's contact most likely had no effect on his ability to jump for the ball. But still, these fouls are given all the time. It's not a surprise.

 

I can't see him holding him down at all.....it looks like the guy in back has elevated, and the keeper is being screened off.

Where is the foul?

The only question is where is the guy on the grounds left arm?

DD

 

On the keeper's shoulder, holding him down.

 

"Being screened off" is called obstruction in football, and an offense.

His arm is on the keeper's shoulder. Holding him down? Hardly.

 

Rivaldo, what did you think about the disallowed goal?

 

Sorry for the ignorant post, but is this tournament the qualifying tournament for the next world cup, or just a yearly European championship thing?

 

European championship thing, it is a tournament that takes place every four years. Qualification for the next world cup starts after this tournament (which is independent from world cup qualification) is over.

 

There's really no debate. There is a clear rule that you are not allowed to make any contact WHATSOEVER with the goalkeeper in the six yard box.

None. Nada.

Personally, I couldn't decide who I was supporting throughout the game but it was EASILY the best game of the tournament, with Rui Costa netting the best goal as well.

Great game. Too bad for England.


I hate Beckham will all my heart. He's a real disgrace to soccer. But did anyone else notice that the penalty spot was screwed up, and read that Eriksson complained about it before the game to no avail?

 

If you want to get real technical, world cup qualification has already started almost everywhere else.

 

I have never heard of this rule.

 

I thought that there was pretty significant contact on the play and can understand why the call was made. it's a close call but i think the refs got it right.

 

I meant for the European teams, of course.

 

it's was a great match, and I love postiga(sp?) penalty kick, what an a-hole, hahaha.. and at that kind of time?

I am not going to comment on sol campbell's goal... but soccer is just like life, that's why it's so exciting, and even though I love basketball... I think soccer is the best sport in the world.

finally, let me remind all of you that I pick portugal to win it all.. you can look back on my earlier post