The Football Thread

[titoli]

Italy 1 Teutschland 0

[Banjo]

Any thoughts on who should be the next England captain?I'd prefer Steven Gerrard bearing in mind the way he inspired Liverpool to turn over last years European Champions League Final and also this years FA Cup final.John Terry would be a good second choice but as for Gary Neville-i don't trust his temperament

[titoli]

Let's be it Rooney: maybe he will straighten up.

[Banjo]

Let's be it Rooney: maybe he will straighten up.

Well if everyone follows his example we'll be down to 5 a side
In retrospect Titoli,if England hadn't have taken injury doubts Rooney  and Owen no doubt we'd be in the semi's now.With Rooneys temperment i have my doubts about how much of an asset he actually is

[Banjo]

For tommorow Italy 1 Germany 1(Germany win on penalties-i hope im wrong Titoli )

[Le Bon]

I would prefer Terry as captain myself.  Can you imagine Rooney    Tomorrow i think Germany will find Italy's defence hard to break down so i am going for...

Italy 1 Germany 0

[titoli]

To make a well-gifted but temperamental player a captain is usually the way to calm him down. This is a common truth in football.
About Italy's performance, there's a good percentage of people (20-30%?) rooting against it because they cannot stand the manager (he was the manager of Juventus when this team made intensive use of doping; and said in a debate that the football system had to be accepted the (dirty) way it was). Infact, should we make it to the end, I would turn off the tv set not to see those faces smiling: that is a perspective that makes me puke.
Also there's a fear  that if we win the tournament that will serve as an excuse to save most of the teams and people involved in the scandal.
If I were sure this is what is going to happen I would root against the team myself. 

[Half Soldier]

Italy 1 Germany 2

... and if I don't get the chance later

France 3 Portugal 0

[Le Bon]

To make a well-gifted but temperamental player a captain is usually the way to calm him down. This is a common truth in football.

I understand what you are saying. In fact you could say it helped Beckham who was red carded at a world cup when he was younger. But for Rooney i would still wait a few years more.

[titoli]

Some requests of the prosecutor at the trial:

Juventus F.C. relegated in 2nd division with -6 points.
Milan F.C. relegated in 1st division  with -3 points
Fiorentina F.C. relegated in 1st division with -15 points
Lazio S.S. relegated in 1st division with -15 points

[Marco Leone]

Titoli, are those YOUR requests to the trial, or those being made by the prosecuter?  I agree 100% that if wrong has been done, then punishment has to be delivered along the lines of those you have stated.  However, surely this is going to have a big BIG impact on the commercial aspects of Seria A.  Will the TV revenue (particularly foreign market) still be there if 4 of its biggest clubs are relegated?  I am watching with interest as to how this turns out.

As for the games.....

Italy 1 Germany 1 (Germany on pens)
France 1 Portugal 0

[Banjo]

France 2 Potugal 0

[titoli]

Yes, my english wasn't up to the task: those are the very requests the prosecutor made this morning at the trial. Actually I was uncorrect about the request he made about Juventus. He didn't request relegation in 2nd division but in a league below the 1st. So it could be anything up to the half-amateurs.
About the TV revenues, as the lion share was made by Milan and Juventus I couldn't care less.  This is Murdoch's problem. He probably will make new contracts and have the same teams in a inferior league saving money. Anyway, these are just the requests. The verdict will be served next week. 

 

[Marco Leone]

titoli, italy were fantastic tonight!  a great great game.

[Le Bon]

PHEW...Follow that!!

What a game!! It was looking like going to penalties and you would fancy the Germans for that. But then those two late goals.

For tomorrow

France 2 portugal 1