As I said, I'm not a football fan, so I have no idea what he plays like for his club, (or even who his club is! 🙂 ), but frankly, he was a waste of space in the England team- tripping over the ball and his own feet, loosing the ball, jumping for headers at completely the wrong time. What happened to that tall skinny bloke who used to score all the time? Surely he isn't too old?
Oh, and how come the keeper can carry the ball around all day? I thought they could only take three steps with it? And why, oh why, do keepers just boot the ball straight down the field to the opposition at a goal kick? Why not just pass it to your own chaps and work it up the field? I could go on... 😀
One problem with english football is that they did once have a typical way of playing which is known as 'hoof & hope' ie defend with ten men (incl. the goalie) and one lone striker.
Whoever gets the ball hoofs it blindly forward in the hope that the ball might fall near the striker allowing him to score.
Consequently the english have difficulties accepting that there is such a thing as a 'midfield' or that midfield players could possibly be of any importance.
This strategy has been much maligned over the last two or three decades as it makes for very ugly football. In the english premier league they circumnavigated that problem by importing foreign players which works on club level but not for the national team.
However this very strategy sometimes allows mediocre teams to punch above the weight for example for Ireland under Jack Charlton and it works against the traditional german way of playing as the dutch once knew. The last time the dutch beat Germany they played this way for the last 30 minutes during which time they scored.
PS: Rooney is the top striker for a club known around here as ManUre. They came second in the premiership this season. The main striker of the team which came first plays his international football for Italy.
Whoever gets the ball hoofs it blindly forward in the hope that the ball might fall near the striker allowing him to score.
Consequently the english have difficulties accepting that there is such a thing as a 'midfield' or that midfield players could possibly be of any importance.
This strategy has been much maligned over the last two or three decades as it makes for very ugly football. In the english premier league they circumnavigated that problem by importing foreign players which works on club level but not for the national team.
However this very strategy sometimes allows mediocre teams to punch above the weight for example for Ireland under Jack Charlton and it works against the traditional german way of playing as the dutch once knew. The last time the dutch beat Germany they played this way for the last 30 minutes during which time they scored.
PS: Rooney is the top striker for a club known around here as ManUre. They came second in the premiership this season. The main striker of the team which came first plays his international football for Italy.
I'm likely not seeing the subtleties of what you're describing, but isn't that what Italy were doing with that Battotelli chap? 🙂
Against poor competition, like that provided by England last night, the italian game can look like that but still Italy's most valuable player is Pirlo, a midfield player. It is he who builds every attack by whatever means (or players) are open to him and all italian players can pass and keep possession.
English players tend to be not very good at either.
Given a chance Italy will pass the ball through the midfield quickly with pinpoint accuracy while english players prefer to hoof the ball over the midfield entirely and hope for the best.
That Ballotelli chap is the very guy that helped Manchester City to the Premiership title this year.
Married a manufactured singer with an eating disorder and moved to this side of the pond where his diminished skills are not so much a concern.
Where ya bin? It's now the 6 second rule.
FIFA.com - The Laws of the Game
Please do, you have some of us on the edge of our seats. 🙂
😀😀😀 Germany-Portugal final, with Portugal winning. 
Maybe we can convince Germany to pay our debts. 😀😀😀 😎
Err that is our corrupt politians deb........😉
Maybe we can convince Germany to pay our debts. 😀😀😀 😎
Err that is our corrupt politians deb........😉
I think it would be more fun if they took the ball away and just let the players kick each other.
Agreed, thats why I prefer rugby, especially the way it was played back in the 70 and 80s, plenty of kicking and bruising going about. Excellent stress therapy. 😀
Now if we could just get a couple of these politicians on the field ............
The English commentary is hilarious , England is playing no worst or any different than they have for the last 30 yrs .... 🙂 and yes Italy is an enigma , beautiful women , lovely cars, bad football .
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I think the whole game is a laugh, its all about prima-donnahs and money. Nothing to do with skill any more. I'm just glad they put it on at 22:00, it gives me an excuse to go to bed and read a decent book.
regards to england fall down game
Not to be unpatriotic.. but. england sure did suck that game.
roony tryed his fancy upside down kick, but loafed it up, like a bafoon. and italy had the ball most of the time, definatly the better team, deserved to win. england are a "boot it at random and hope for the best" kinda team.
I have also observed that football players seem to go over like little girls whenever it is benefical to them. but if there about to score, they seem to regain balance against any odds.
if they spent less time training to a fall over at the right time to fool the referee and more time trainingplay the game they might have won
the game was a joke to watch, im glad i dont really care about football
one other note, the italian players all sounded like something you would have on a pizza, not on a football field
Not to be unpatriotic.. but. england sure did suck that game.
roony tryed his fancy upside down kick, but loafed it up, like a bafoon. and italy had the ball most of the time, definatly the better team, deserved to win. england are a "boot it at random and hope for the best" kinda team.
I have also observed that football players seem to go over like little girls whenever it is benefical to them. but if there about to score, they seem to regain balance against any odds.
if they spent less time training to a fall over at the right time to fool the referee and more time trainingplay the game they might have won
the game was a joke to watch, im glad i dont really care about football
one other note, the italian players all sounded like something you would have on a pizza, not on a football field
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Yes I agree, embellishment is a very dark cloud on the game.
Yet you chose to post about it.
Seriously? Making fun of peoples names?
Not quite the quality of xenophobia the media led me to expect. Could even pass for the kind of playful nationalism that should be acceptable at a footall match. However, considering Italy won, it seems a bit pathetic after the event.
Italy won because they are quite good at soccer and can chase every ball for a whole match without getting puffed out and giving up after 20 minutes.
Gerrard is the wrong kind of hero. Hopefully England have built the foundations of a side that can do without the "play the game" mentality and its belief in honourable defeat. The old guard would soon change their attitude if the team only got paid for winning.
C'mon fellas....whether it's basketball, tennis, hockey, Canadian-American football, golf, etc....there is more than enough theatrics, embellishment and hype in all these sports, football (soccer) is hardly the worst. At least I don't have to suffer through interminable TV breaks and all manner of play by play buffoonery.
There has been some tremendous soccer during this year's Euro...better than most...many of the teams that provided some wonderful moments didn't progress Denmark, Sweden, Ukraine, Russia etc....
For those who really love the game...the coaching can be one of the most fascinating elements of the game....in Holland vs Germany it was like watching a two-year-old (van Marwijk) vs. an adult (Joachim Löw )
I pity the coaches of some of the national teams...having to deal with the over-inflated egos of selfish players and their agents...
There has been some tremendous soccer during this year's Euro...better than most...many of the teams that provided some wonderful moments didn't progress Denmark, Sweden, Ukraine, Russia etc....
For those who really love the game...the coaching can be one of the most fascinating elements of the game....in Holland vs Germany it was like watching a two-year-old (van Marwijk) vs. an adult (Joachim Löw )
I pity the coaches of some of the national teams...having to deal with the over-inflated egos of selfish players and their agents...
A problem for many coaches is that they are flogging dead horses.
Underlying the event is the search for a strategy that will beat Spain, who have managed to combine "beautiful game" and "total football" into something transcendental. Now Germany have got their new machine in working order, perhaps it can be beautiful too.
Germany v Spain could be the best final for many years, and set a new standard.
Interestingly, the Germans sing their national anthem, whereas the Spanish team didn't last time I watched. They have rather different conceptions of national identity, but seemingly equal determination to win.
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