International Football thread

[budgetmeansbudget]

Its pretty embarrassing when you think about it that England should look so technically inferior to the Norway team

Since when have England (men's or women's) teams looked technically better than teams from Europe? Can't really feel embarrassed when it's been the norm for many years.

Besides, hardly anyone is taking a blind bit of notice of the tournament in this country. I guess the Norwegian nation will feel more disappointment at the team going out at this stage than the English nation will when their team eventually succumbs.

[sussexpob]

The BBC commentator said that the Norwegian Womens teams season had just ended, and the English womens was just starting

Since when did BBC commentators know what they were talking about? I assure you, they started in March and currently have a month long break for the world cup.

[sussexpob]

Its pretty embarrassing when you think about it that England should look so technically inferior to the Norway team

Besides, hardly anyone is taking a blind bit of notice of the tournament in this country. I guess the Norwegian nation will feel more disappointment at the team going out at this stage than the English nation will when their team eventually succumbs.

For a country this small, any sport that the country competes at internationally to a half decent standard is followed well in the press, and will gain some attention. Since the end of the Germany game the Norway press have been getting more confident, so I guess there will be some disappointment that the team got knocked out so soon.

There is an interesting article this morning in the Alftenposten about the drop in Norway's ladies success after Olympic Gold, European Champions and World Champions at one stage. It seems to slightly agree with my assessment, that as women's football has become more professional, the ladies game here no longer has a natural advantage in facilities and money over countries.

[sussexpob]

The back page also came with the headline (in English).....

"Morten Harket, Edvard Munch, Henrik Ibsen. Your team took a helluva beating"

At least they have lost their sense of humour.

[budgetmeansbudget]

The BBC commentator said that the Norwegian Womens teams season had just ended, and the English womens was just starting

Since when did BBC commentators know what they were talking about? I assure you, they started in March and currently have a month long break for the world cup.

Spot on there, the BBC have such an insignificant budget for sports coverage compared to the big hitters these days, I can only imagine that the amount they pay their commentators doesn't cover them doing much pre match research into the opposition.

[Aidan11]

Quite a goal that settled it last night.

Our first ever win in the knockout stages.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Quite a goal that settled it last night.

Our first ever win in the knockout stages.

I heard it was a long range thunderbolt, then I heard it was on the edge of the box.

I'm now imagining it was a looper from 12 yards which dipped over the 5 foot 3 inch goalkeeper!

[sussexpob]

Quite a goal that settled it last night.

Our first ever win in the knockout stages.

I heard it was a long range thunderbolt, then I heard it was on the edge of the box.

I'm now imagining it was a looper from 12 yards which dipped over the 5 foot 3 inch goalkeeper!

I would hazard a guess that 95% of male goalkeepers would have comfortably saved the shot.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Quite a goal that settled it last night.

Our first ever win in the knockout stages.

I heard it was a long range thunderbolt, then I heard it was on the edge of the box.

I'm now imagining it was a looper from 12 yards which dipped over the 5 foot 3 inch goalkeeper!

I would hazard a guess that 95% of male goalkeepers would have comfortably saved the shot.

Just watched it, I would say 99%.

[Gingerfinch]

The technique was good in the strike, though I agree, most male keepers playing pro football would have saved it. Maybe not David Seaman, who somehow managed to let in nearly everything that was hit from outside of the box.

[budgetmeansbudget]

The technique was good in the strike, though I agree, most male keepers playing pro football would have saved it. Maybe not David Seaman, who somehow managed to let in nearly everything that was hit from outside of the box.

Funny you should mention David Love Juice, I was just thinking the very same thing. For a top international keeper he did have some dodgy judgement at times, plus his wrists weren't always the best, evidenced by a Gary Lineker goal that he let in against Spurs in one cup final I seem to remember.

[Gingerfinch]

The technique was good in the strike, though I agree, most male keepers playing pro football would have saved it. Maybe not David Seaman, who somehow managed to let in nearly everything that was hit from outside of the box.

Funny you should mention David Love Juice, I was just thinking the very same thing. For a top international keeper he did have some dodgy judgement at times, plus his wrists weren't always the best, evidenced by a Gary Lineker goal that he let in against Spurs in one cup final I seem to remember.

And

Hamann
Koeman
Nayim
Gazza
Ronaldinhio

Will all agree.

[Aidan11]

I still have nightmares over that Ronaldinho goal.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Peter Shilton was pretty overrated as well. Pathetic attempts to save those penalites in the 1990 semi final against Germany come to mind, and the howler against Poland in 1973 which contributed to us failing to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

[Gingerfinch]

He was about 40 in 1990. There's a clip on I-Player where Pearce jokingly, though with some truth blamed Shilton for our exit.