Originally posted by AikoI'd agree apart from Deco's second - scandalous. I think the main problem was the ref not ensuring fair play was observed during that re-start between Figo and the Dutch guy, which immediately led to Deco's first card. It all pretty much kicked off after that. Yeah the Dutch guy who went down after Figo breathed on him has the honour and dignity of a slug, but them's the modern day rules and Figo had to be booked. 😞
I don't think the referee was that bad. The children were just too naughty, not the nanny.
Almost all cards were deserved to be.
I can't agree that the ref ruined the game. The players pretty much did that all on their own.
The first three send-offs were all thoroughly deserved for a combination of bad fouls and complete stupidity (surely they ALL know by now you don't pick up the ball when it's the other team's free kick?!). The main reason I'm not sure about the fourth is I don't remember van Bronckhorst's first yellow - there were so many by then, I lost track.
Things started going haywire when Figo was elbowed in the face, but it was the failure by a Dutch player (Heitinga? not sure of spelling) to observe normal etiquette and return the ball after an injury that really caused the disaster. I replayed that part on video, and you can SEE one of the other Dutch players pointing to tell him to return the ball. Deco was furious enough to stupidly hack Heitinga down, arguing and shoving erupted... and that was pretty much the end of the football.
Originally posted by Loose ScrewNow you may feel the USA's pain 😞.
First of all congratulations to Portugal with there 1-0 win over Holland.
Second of all what a [CENSORED] [CENSORED] [CENSORED] [CENSORED] a referree!!!!!!
Unbelieveble I wanted to see a good and exiting football game and the only thing I saw were stupid yellow and red card game. 😠
Originally posted by orfeoElbowed? you mean he ran into an elbow, then acted like someone hit him in the face with a baseball bat. I thought it was completely understandable that Heitinga didn't return the ball after that. 'injury'? More like drama.
Things started going haywire when Figo was elbowed in the face, but it was the failure by a Dutch player (Heitinga? not sure of spelling) to observe normal etiquette and return the ball after an injury that really caused the disaster. I replayed that part on video, and you can SEE one of the other Dutch players pointing to tell him to return the ball. Deco ...[text shortened]... Heitinga down, arguing and shoving erupted... and that was pretty much the end of the football.
Congratulations to Portugal, the most effective team. We got our chances, but failed to score.
The game was a disgrace for the sport. I mean, was it a card game or football?
Originally posted by schakuhr1. Figo must have been running amazingly fast, seeing as how he had a visible mark on his face afterwards. I could see it when he was being treated.
Elbowed? you mean he ran into an elbow, then acted like someone hit him in the face with a baseball bat. I thought it was completely understandable that Heitinga didn't return the ball after that. 'injury'? More like drama.
Congratulations to Portugal, the most effective team. We got our chances, but failed to score.
The game was a disgrace for the sport. I mean, was it a card game or football?
And I'm not biased in this - I'm a neutral and I actually tipped Netherlands to win.
2. Heitinga not returning the ball was NOT after the elbow to the face. It was after a Portuguese defender (Carvalho? spelling again) got injured in a perfectly legitimate clash where there was no free kick and no claim for one.
