World Cup 2006 QFs Day 2
From Benny's Report on Quarterfinals Day 2:
1 July 2006
BRAZIL 0-1 FRANCE
Henry 56
Ronaldo passed up what was by most forwards standards a great chance from a
Ronaldinho free kick but then in the air he's about as useless as Henry. On the
stroke of half time Zidane received possession on the edge of his box and burst
forward, pushing the ball wide of Lucio's despairing sliding tackle and leaping
over Gilberto's dangerous challenge before threading a pass through the heart of
the Brazil defence but Vieira's run was cynically brought to an end by Juan.
Early in the second half another chance went begging for Vieira when he headed
an immaculate Zidane free kick wide of a post. However it seemed only a matter
of time before the French would make their dominance count and in the 56th
minute they broke through. Zidane, standing on the left touchline, floated a
free kick towards the back post and the unmarked Henry slammed the ball into the
roof of the net, Zidane's first ever assist to Henry in a France shirt. Ribery
mugged Lucio on the left touchline, rolling the ball away from the powerful
defender before firing the ball across the face of goal and as Juan tried to
clear he almost sliced into his own net. Dida saved at the feet of Ribery on a
Henry lead counter attack. Govou and Saha wasted chances on the break and it
would have been a travesty had Ze Roberto equalised in injury time but he
volleyed substitute Cicinho's driving low cross well wide of a post.
A magnificent performance from a France side in which Zidane was at his
enchanting best. Vieira and Makelele absolutely massacred the Brazilian midfield
with an awesome display of power. France should have won by a larger margin and
playing football of this quality who would begrudge them a second World Cup?
It's ironic to see Brazil repeat the EXACT same mistake as France did 4 years
ago by continuing to field past it's like Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo
(record of nor record) with better alternatives on the bench (Gilberto, Cicinho
and Fred) and more left at home.
Attendance : 48,000
Assist : Zidane (fk)
ENGLAND 0-0 PORTUGAL
Lennon came on for the injured Beckham on 51 minutes and manufactured the games
first genuine chance. Running inside from the right flank, he skinned Valente,
took the ball past Carvalho and Meira, let it roll to Rooney who miss-kicked
horribly, the ball fell to Cole and he ballooned high over the bar. TWAT. Rooney
stamped on Carvalho's bollocks after the defender wrestled him to the ground. He
appeared to be sent off after Ronaldo had a word with the ref, which was
irrelevant as he deserved to go. The Portuguese, who were even less of an
attacking threat then 10 man England finally drew a good save from Robinson when
Figo almost caught him out with a clever first time shot. A minute later
Portugal's joke of a 'keeper Ricardo (yes he's good on penalties but he's
hopeless at everything else) parried a Lampard free kick up into the air but
substitute Lennon's weak follow-up was easily saved. Miguel made a fantastic
clearance as Crouch, who was climbing all over him, was about to head in a
Gerrard cross.
Penalty Shoot Out
Simao drills the ball low into the bottom corner
Lampard. What did I say about the player most likely to miss a penalty?
Telegraphed, low, right of centre and not hit with enough pace
Viana strikes the outside of a post
Hargreaves strikes a firm penalty low to the left, in off a post
Petit goes to the left and, just like Viana, hits a post
Gerrard. Despite shouts of 'Come on Gerad you bastad' from my 2 year old (don't
let toddlers in the room when watching shoot-outs) Liverpool's captain hits an
awful penalty too centrally and at a poor height, no challenge for a penalty
expert like Ricardo
(Benny teach you children some manners!!)
Postiga sends Robinson the wrong way. Robinson is FAT and needs to go on a diet
Carragher scores but has to re-take as the ref hadn't blown his whistle.
Predictably his second effort is saved
Ronaldo curls the ball over Robinson who finally tries something different by
actually diving but misses completely
Portugal win 3-1 on penalties
England bottled it and despite playing with ten men had the chances to win the
match, well two of them. I was disappointed in Scolari's negative approach but
that isn't going to work against France. What must be galling for England is
that this is a decidedly average Portugal team who were missing their best
player (Deco) and they still couldn't take advantage. Typical of the
limp-wristed performances we have come to expect of England under Eriksson. On
the bright side they've sparred themselves a through thrashing from the French
in the semi-finals and Hargreaves was great.
Attendance : 52,000
Assist : n/a
http://soccer-europe.com
Chat room : http://www.lhcw.net/WorldCup
Rss feed : http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml
End result, France vs Portugal
1 July 2006
BRAZIL 0-1 FRANCE
Henry 56
Ronaldo passed up what was by most forwards standards a great chance from a
Ronaldinho free kick but then in the air he's about as useless as Henry. On the
stroke of half time Zidane received possession on the edge of his box and burst
forward, pushing the ball wide of Lucio's despairing sliding tackle and leaping
over Gilberto's dangerous challenge before threading a pass through the heart of
the Brazil defence but Vieira's run was cynically brought to an end by Juan.
Early in the second half another chance went begging for Vieira when he headed
an immaculate Zidane free kick wide of a post. However it seemed only a matter
of time before the French would make their dominance count and in the 56th
minute they broke through. Zidane, standing on the left touchline, floated a
free kick towards the back post and the unmarked Henry slammed the ball into the
roof of the net, Zidane's first ever assist to Henry in a France shirt. Ribery
mugged Lucio on the left touchline, rolling the ball away from the powerful
defender before firing the ball across the face of goal and as Juan tried to
clear he almost sliced into his own net. Dida saved at the feet of Ribery on a
Henry lead counter attack. Govou and Saha wasted chances on the break and it
would have been a travesty had Ze Roberto equalised in injury time but he
volleyed substitute Cicinho's driving low cross well wide of a post.
A magnificent performance from a France side in which Zidane was at his
enchanting best. Vieira and Makelele absolutely massacred the Brazilian midfield
with an awesome display of power. France should have won by a larger margin and
playing football of this quality who would begrudge them a second World Cup?
It's ironic to see Brazil repeat the EXACT same mistake as France did 4 years
ago by continuing to field past it's like Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo
(record of nor record) with better alternatives on the bench (Gilberto, Cicinho
and Fred) and more left at home.
Attendance : 48,000
Assist : Zidane (fk)
ENGLAND 0-0 PORTUGAL
Lennon came on for the injured Beckham on 51 minutes and manufactured the games
first genuine chance. Running inside from the right flank, he skinned Valente,
took the ball past Carvalho and Meira, let it roll to Rooney who miss-kicked
horribly, the ball fell to Cole and he ballooned high over the bar. TWAT. Rooney
stamped on Carvalho's bollocks after the defender wrestled him to the ground. He
appeared to be sent off after Ronaldo had a word with the ref, which was
irrelevant as he deserved to go. The Portuguese, who were even less of an
attacking threat then 10 man England finally drew a good save from Robinson when
Figo almost caught him out with a clever first time shot. A minute later
Portugal's joke of a 'keeper Ricardo (yes he's good on penalties but he's
hopeless at everything else) parried a Lampard free kick up into the air but
substitute Lennon's weak follow-up was easily saved. Miguel made a fantastic
clearance as Crouch, who was climbing all over him, was about to head in a
Gerrard cross.
Penalty Shoot Out
Simao drills the ball low into the bottom corner
Lampard. What did I say about the player most likely to miss a penalty?
Telegraphed, low, right of centre and not hit with enough pace
Viana strikes the outside of a post
Hargreaves strikes a firm penalty low to the left, in off a post
Petit goes to the left and, just like Viana, hits a post
Gerrard. Despite shouts of 'Come on Gerad you bastad' from my 2 year old (don't
let toddlers in the room when watching shoot-outs) Liverpool's captain hits an
awful penalty too centrally and at a poor height, no challenge for a penalty
expert like Ricardo
(Benny teach you children some manners!!)
Postiga sends Robinson the wrong way. Robinson is FAT and needs to go on a diet
Carragher scores but has to re-take as the ref hadn't blown his whistle.
Predictably his second effort is saved
Ronaldo curls the ball over Robinson who finally tries something different by
actually diving but misses completely
Portugal win 3-1 on penalties
England bottled it and despite playing with ten men had the chances to win the
match, well two of them. I was disappointed in Scolari's negative approach but
that isn't going to work against France. What must be galling for England is
that this is a decidedly average Portugal team who were missing their best
player (Deco) and they still couldn't take advantage. Typical of the
limp-wristed performances we have come to expect of England under Eriksson. On
the bright side they've sparred themselves a through thrashing from the French
in the semi-finals and Hargreaves was great.
Attendance : 52,000
Assist : n/a
http://soccer-europe.com
Chat room : http://www.lhcw.net/WorldCup
Rss feed : http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml
End result, France vs Portugal
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