Euro: R16: Croatia vs. Portugal, 6/25/2016

cgf

FireBednarsSuccessor
Oct 15, 2010
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It's true for today's football, regardless of origin. Just look at the last CL. It was awful quality. The two finalists played either awful football or just play all-out defensive football.

When you see a guy like Ben Arfa blamed by DD for losing balls when he tries to dribble... :facepalm:

What coaches want nowadays is either a Messi/Ronaldo/Ibra (someone who scores 50 goals a year) or forwards that track back like crazy.

While it's IMO a big bonus to have someone who can also make defensive play (see Cavani for instance), forwards are here to creat danger and offense. This should come as first priority.


You can't use the 3rd place **** as an excuse. It's elimination time and teams are still playing 10 men defense.

This was also an unfortunate year for the CL. Barca and Bayern both ran into the premier anti-football team and barely went out, despite playing beautiful football. While Dortmund where just getting started under Tuchel and BMG making their CL debut under this generation. There's a lot of anti football around, and a lot of more physical pressing football; but that's always been true. The teams who try to play beautiful football have always been rarer. DD being an idiot isn't an different from what previous generations had to deal with.

This has been an ugly year for football, but it's just one year; not a longer arching trend IMO.

As far as the 3rd place thing, of course that's a factor. If a team focuses on a negative strategy in the lead up to the tourney and the group stage, it's tough to expect them to suddenly change that up in the elimination rounds once they've been rewarded for playing so negatively.
 

Evilo

Registered User
Mar 17, 2002
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It was bad. Just think of the semis. Any good game? And the quarters? Awful games all around !
 

Evilo

Registered User
Mar 17, 2002
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France
Stop thinking every german team plays beautiful football.
Bayern's display against Benfica was embarassing.

And no, you always had 3, 4 offensive teams per league AT LEAST. Nowadays? It's tough to find 2.
 

Deficient Mode

Registered User
Mar 25, 2011
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Stop thinking every german team plays beautiful football.
Bayern's display against Benfica was embarassing.

And no, you always had 3, 4 offensive teams per league AT LEAST. Nowadays? It's tough to find 2.

Who said that? :rolleyes:
 

Live in the Now

Registered User
Dec 17, 2005
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Portugal should be playing anyone else as #9 so Ronaldo can have the ball more. He's hardly had a touch closer than 40 yards from goal.
 

SeawaterOnIce

Being invaded again.
Aug 28, 2011
15,389
18,307
He stands around and complains for just about the whole match.

Also saying he has nobody when people are trying to claim he's the best tin the world is just dumb. If he was the best, then it wouldn't matter that he has no support (which he has plenty of)

I think Messi is the best player in the world, but you cannot discount the strength of the supporting cast... Pastore, Banega, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuain, Lavezzi....

Portugal is the definition of mediocre, Nani and Moutinho are the only decent players upfront.
 

cgf

FireBednarsSuccessor
Oct 15, 2010
59,988
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w/ Renly's Peach
It was bad. Just think of the semis. Any good game? And the quarters? Awful games all around !

It's a shame Athletico won, but I thought the ties with both Barca and Bayern yielded some absolutely spectacular football; even if the goals totals didn't match up.
 

Evilo

Registered User
Mar 17, 2002
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I think Messi is the best player in the world, but you cannot discount that he has a good supporting cast... Pastore, Banega, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuain, Lavezzi....

Portugal is the definition of mediocre, Nani and Moutinho are the only decent players upfront.
Again, not close to true.
 

Cin

Eurosnob.
Feb 29, 2008
6,879
2
Austin, TX
I think Messi is the best player in the world, but you cannot discount that he has a good supporting cast... Pastore, Banega, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuain, Lavezzi....

Portugal is the definition of mediocre, Nani and Moutinho are the only decent players upfront.

I agree with your first point, but Portugal has tons of talent too!
 

cgf

FireBednarsSuccessor
Oct 15, 2010
59,988
19,060
w/ Renly's Peach
Stop thinking every german team plays beautiful football.
Bayern's display against Benfica was embarassing.

And no, you always had 3, 4 offensive teams per league AT LEAST. Nowadays? It's tough to find 2.

I don't. Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Schalke and Augsburg were all ugly representatives that we sent to europe. Bayern, Dortmund, Gladbach, Hoffenheim (after Nagelsmann took over), and (at-times) Werder played genuinely attractive football in germany. Of those 1 was firmly midtable come season's end and one was in the relegation battle; fortunately the other 3 ended up in CL spots...and Schalke now have better management/coaching to go with all of that young talent.
 

Just Win

Registered User
Nov 3, 2008
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Stuttgart
It's a shame Athletico won, but I thought the ties with both Barca and Bayern yield some absolutely spectacular football; even if the goals totals didn't match up.

From a tactical viewpoint for sure, also high tension because of close results but in terms of exciting offensive plays/creativity those game were dreadful.
 

Live in the Now

Registered User
Dec 17, 2005
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Portugal is one of the most talented teams in this. The problem is that Ronaldo can't play #9 unless every single midfielder/attacker is world class. To have these tactics is insanity.
 

Deficient Mode

Registered User
Mar 25, 2011
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No it wasn't. Handball game allright. One team bended and prayed, the other lacked finishing.

You're selling it terribly short. Atletico didn't bend vs. any other team. It was an intense smartly played match between two extremely skilled teams. Afterward you said it was a great match.

Spain, Italy, and Germany all have at least 3-4 teams that play entertaining attacking football. Spain has a lot more. Not our fault that you watch French and English leagues the most.
 

Just Win

Registered User
Nov 3, 2008
12,507
113
Stuttgart
I don't. Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Schalke and Augsburg were all ugly representatives that we sent to europe. Bayern, Dortmund, Gladbach, Hoffenheim (after Nagelsmann took over), and (at-times) Werder played genuinely attractive football in germany. Of those 1 was firmly midtable come season's end and one was in the relegation battle; fortunately the other 3 ended up in CL spots.

Yeah, both Leverkusen - Roma/Lazio games and the second BATE game were so hard to watch.:sarcasm:

Your hate for Leverkusen is becoming retarted.
 

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