Euro 2008

LOL.

And, as for your "if Sepp Blatter says it, then it must be true argument" Suck it, part deux.

 

Blatter is an idiot, no matter how you look at what he says.


Good example:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jan/16/football.gender

 

vp, at some point are you going to admit that you were wrong when you said that Blatter's amendment was never implemented?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/06/13/mexico_second/
http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/law/summary.html
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19991007/isp07056.html

 

It wasn't ever implemented. All tackles from behind are not automatic reds.

At this point, I would suggest that you start working on your lengthy mea culpa and apology.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/06/13/mexico_second/

"LYON, France (CNN/SI) -- FIFA's decision to change the rules on tackles from behind was designed to provoke more scoring and protect the offensive player. Mexico provided FIFA with the perfect demonstration tape on Saturday. Benefiting from a man-advantage after a South Korean player was given a red card for just such a tackle, Mexico came back from a one-goal deficit to score three times in the second half for a 3-1 victory and its first World Cup match win in Europe."


http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/law/summary.html

"The game's Law-makers then struck another blow against cynicism in 1998 when the fierce tackle from behind became a red-card offence. With a new century approaching, the commitment to forward-thinking football could not have been clearer."


http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19991007/isp07056.html

"The campaign to eliminate tackles from behind began with France '98, including a stern warning to referees by Blattermidway through the first round to strictly follow the new rules intrepation. The result was a flurry of red cards and some obvious instances where defenders pulled up instead of challenging for the ball."


http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpa...6A15755C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

"After 36 first-round games in France, the men in black had issued 15 red cards, which signify automatic expulsion. In 1994, when the last World Cup finals were held in the United States and dangerous tackling was already being actively discouraged, referees issued 15 red cards in the entire tournament, which comprised 52 matches. The number of yellow cards, or cautions, is also up from the last World Cup, with an average of 3.61 a game.
...
What quickly became known as ''Red Thursday'' came the day after Blatter said referees were not consistently penalizing tackles from behind. Michel Platini, the co-president of France's organizing committee who will soon join Blatter at FIFA, already had stated that ''referees who don't apply the rules will be sent home.''


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world_cup_98/meet_the_bbc_team/84767.stm

"France is hosting 32 nations - more than any previous World Cup finals. It is a safe bet it will have more red cards too. Football's law-maker, FIFA, has sanctioned that tackling from behind will be a sending-off offence and that is bound to cause controversy.

FIFA's decision was influenced by injuries to players like the former European Player of the Year, Dutchman Marco Van Basten, who was forced into premature retirement three years ago damaged ankles.

The ruling favours forwards with defenders wary of diving in. But it could also have a serious impact on tough-tackling midfielders like England's David Batty and Brazilian Dunga.

It was originally thought that only dangerous tackles from behind would mean an early bath. But FIFA has now made it clear that all tackles from behind will be red card offences, and referees will have no room for discretion"


http://www.rediff.com/sports/2002/may/06wc2.htm

"Such pressure meant that by the 1998 World Cup the tackle from behind had suddenly become an automatic red card offence, causing a series of highly controversial dismissals, particularly in the first round, as players and officials struggled to find common ground. "


http://www.planetworldcup.com/GUESTS/peter20020706.html

"[SIZE=-1]The all-time high for red cards was 1998, perhaps because that was the year FIFA decided to crack down on the tackle from behind.[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]"


http://www.chezenterprises.co.uk/bl...riumph-but-something-ails-our-beautiful-game/

"In the 1998 World Cup, FIFA deemed tackles from behind to be worthy of a straight red card."


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980618/ai_n14151901

"Blatter added that the rules demanding that tackles from behind should result in a red card had been fully ratified and referees been instructed to follow it. "A Fifa study showed that 60 per cent of injuries suffered by players are ankle or Achilles injuries which usually result from tackles from behind," he said."


http://www.oleole.com/fifa/competitions/fifaworldcup/history/ehi9d1.html

"The tournament also featured an important rule change – tackles from behind would now be given a straight red card. "
[/SIZE]

Uh huh. Tell me again how Elric doesn't agree with me either because he's not posting every five seconds to say so.

 

O give me a break. Just because Torres doesnt score a goal in every match doesnt make him invisible. Jesus H. Christ, did you watch the tournament at all? He set up Villa with a tap in game one. Made the run that opened the pass for Inesta to find Villa wide open for goal 2. Got substituted shortly after and when Villa scored goal 3 made a point to go to the bench to acknowledge Torres' contribution. Game 2 he scores, game 3 the whole team sat. The Italy match was a 0-0 game that went to penalties. He was subbed in that game also. Against Russia his movement was excellant and it was only the bounce of the ball the prevented him from scoring about 3 times, he was unlucky that day. He also got pulled off in that game when it looked like it was only a matter of time before he scored, Spain was running rampant. And then to the final where his finishing on 33 minutes was world class, far from a gimme. Lahm actually had the line but he pulled up slightly and with Torres' determination and world class speed he got between Lahm and Lehman and executed a delicate little chip of sublime beauty. That after a wonderfull header that had Lehman beaten and struck the post. Plus, he almost repeated that first goal step for step in the second half.

And while Tommy Smyth might be annoying as hell can we please leave out the Irish idiot part and just say idiot. He is a Scum supporter through and through and like Andy Gray (Everton) it is painfull for them to say anything good about Liverpool. But even Andy had to admit Torres class during the Euros, it was nice not to hear so much blue nose shite from him for a change.

But the American commentators are really wowfull, they still use football and baseball terms during the match.

 

Wow, i cant stand Chelsea myself but even i wouldnt go that far with reguards to Ballack. He did take some time adjusting the the English prem but last year he was probably their best player after Christmas. But he certaintly didnt have his best game in the final.

Schweinsteiger showed alot of flair when he wasnt getting red carded. Made some lovely moves down both wings. But again, another German that didnt show up in the finals.

 

Torres was invisible compared to his club form for Liverpool. He's extremely talented but I felt Fabregas, Silva, and Villa all outshined him.

 

I wasn't that impressed with him during the World Cup or Champions League with Bayern Munich. He's simply not very good in possession, and while he is an asset on free kicks and headers, I don't find his performance equal to his paycheck or hype.

Silva and Villa, sure, but Fabregas didn't play more and had about the same results. You could make the same complaint that his play didn't equal his quality for Arsenal.

 

When Fabregas stepped onto the field he was electric. I honestly disagree that he didn't step up to his club level form. Yes, he didn't play as much as Torres or Villa, but he was dangerous in the middle.

Fabregas carved up the midfield the entire tourney with his signature passing. I'm no Arsenal fan but I believe he's one of the best young players in the world. He sure looked like he belonged in the Starting XI.

Spain has it made if he and Guiza couldn't even make the starting XI. Thats what I call depth.