2006 WORLD CUP -- Semifinals -- FRANCE vs. PORTUGAL

FIFAworldcup.com ^ | 7-5-06 | FIFAworldcup.com

[soccer_maniac]

Portugal takes on France at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN) in Munich.

Discuss.

[soccer_maniac]

[soccer_maniac]

World Cup Ping!

[Bikers4Bush]

There's not a single team left that I would like to see win.

[IronJack]

So it's the winner of the Portugal-France match against Italy for the final?

I hate to say it, but France is looking mighty strong this year.

[TopoGigio]

Anyone wanna bet me $50 bucks that Portugal wins?

[soccer_maniac]

Yep. If I was I betting man, I'd bet on France.

[starfish923]

There's not a single team left that I would like to see win.

Me neither.

I would like to see Italy and France lose. But, I don't really care.

[soccer_maniac]

Yes.

Italy - France final would be quite interesting.

[Fighting Irish]

Go Ireland!

[Doogle]

All Portugal has to do is paint a white flag on the ball and France will be penalized for "handball" in the 18 yd box...
And Portugal SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!!


Doogle

[cartan]

Hard to choose a side here. I think the bookies are underestimating the Portuguese, so perhaps I'll bet a small amount on them and root for Portugal.

[sushiman]

I really don't give a flying fack ...but Go Portugal !

[TopoGigio]

Soccer_maniac...Ok, thats a bet! I'll take Portugal, you take France.

[BaBaStooey]

Vive les bleus!

[billbears]

Discuss.

Discuss? What's to discuss?!? England lost. May as well turn off the TV and go back to work. The only good thing that came after that was that Germany lost too. I'd like to see France repeat though, especially after some of the coverage earlier that said they had no chance at all. So I'll probably being semi-rooting for them.

[Fighting Irish]

I really don't give a flying fack ...but Go Portugal !

Slante'!

Go Portugal

[elc]

If it's a Portugal v Italy final, as I think it will be, what's the over under on red cards during the final?

[Vaquero]

French Supporter:

[Stallone]

Speaking entirely objectively, with NO consideration of my own heritage, and no bias whatsoever as I am above such suspicion and need not justify, it is my pompous statement of fact that Italy will be crowned 2006 world champion of soccer, and will be as deserving of the title as any team who has ever earned the honor.
/cbs journalism 101

[You Dirty Rats]

I'd like to see France win, because they play attacking football, are entertaining and Zizou is terrific.

[chris_ab]

Brazil should be in that match... The Brazil France game was such a set up. It was worse than WWF and Hulk Hogan.

How can such a loaded team as Brazil be beaten by an 1 old guy... Zidane... He can't win it for them this time. He will flounder.

Back to the loaded team of Brazil.... We had Ronaldinho - 2 times Best World Player... He wasn't used correctly. We had KAKA, CAFU, Ronaldo, Robinho... and the other super stars...

How could they have lost?

Answer: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ They were paid off. The MOB and MAFIA have money and powerful influence. At least that is what I'm hearing from Brazil.

If you don't believe me think about Ronaldo, the worst actor on the planet, falling down on his face without anyone touching him. It's a wonder he didn't open laugh at the falls he was taking.

Also, the Brazilians didn't cry like babies after their lose. Tells me something.

[DanDenDar]

Portugal have been the dirtiest team in the tournament. But on the other hand, how can anyone root for France?

I guess I'll root for a bloodbath, with four or five red cards, so the winner is easier meat for Italy.

[Andy from Beaverton]

Something just seems so gay about soccer...

[Aquinasfan]

Portugal is my last hope...

I can't stand Italy, but I have to admit that yesterday they were the better team. I like their offense.

[KarlInOhio]

How did Italy win in today's Portugal vs. France game. That's what the bracket is showing as a result.

I was hoping for an England vs. Germany final just so I could watch a Dresden like firestorm.

[Corvair]

Two words: Who cares?
I just don't get the whole fascination with soccer. I find it incredibly boring and a waste of time. Let them use their hands already. Soccer was always for the kids who had no hand/eye coordination but hey, they can run after a ball! To me it just reeks of multi-culturalism. Shorten the field and have a narrower goal, than it might be interesting but until then....BORING!
Bill

[MAD-AS-HELL]

HAHA, I agree!

[KarlInOhio]

My biggest problem is the offside rule. I don't know how many times I've seen where an exciting play started when one player headed to the goal and received a pass, only to have a sideline ref blow his whistle and wave a flag to put an end to any fun in the game.

[Perdogg]

National Anthems (played before each match) of France and Portugal. as performed by the US Navy band.

[Rummenigge]

many girls have problems with that

[Poodlebrain]

If Portugal puts on another display of the diving and injury faking against France, I'll hope France beats them soundly. The Portuguese are very skilled players, but they got away with way too many obvious dives and fake injuries to delay the match against England that they should be without several players who should have been carded. They really got a break from the referee in the England match who was hesitant to call obvious violations against Portugal, maybe it was due to the carryover cards from their Netherlands match.

And who'd have thought that the only country the U.S. played, and did not lose to, and actually outplayed for major portions of the match, would advance to the World Cup Final? I'm not sure what sort of perspective it puts on the U.S.'s performance or potential, but it does show that Group E was pretty tough.

[OldFriend]

Zidane against the arguably the best goalie in the games.

[OldFriend]

The saga of the cards is OVER!

Unless there is some egregiously dangerous play the game will continue.

These are soccer games, not hollyweird tryouts.

[Rummenigge]

Well - I didn't until minute 118.

[elc]

Over since when?

[OldFriend]

And you are on this thread because you have no life.

[Buckeye McFrog]

so sad that England did not make it past Portugal and into this final....France-England is the kind of rivalry that Yankees-Red Sox could potentially develop into (in a thousand years or so.......)

[OldFriend]

Since yesterday's semi final game. Or didn't you notice.

[Rummenigge]

If Brazil didn't buy the game how could france buy it ?

The Cup is worth much more in Brazil and they played crap from the very beginning.

[starfish923]

Looking in the stands after Brazil's loss....I saw LOTS of fans crying, but most WERE women. (I DO know what you mean, though, whining about losing.)

However, NO one wins all the time and many Brazilians believed that they, as usual, would win, especially since they were so heavily favored. But their fans are no different....crybabies abound throughout the world, even in Fußball.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I vote for Portugal.

[Fair Paul]

One of the sportswriters in the NY Post was wondering if France played Germany in the final, would France surrender?

[Mac1]

LOL!!!

[Betis70]

>>Also, the Brazilians didn't cry like babies after their lose. Tells me something.

Taking up the slack for them?

[Niteranger68]

I'm not really a soccer fan, but I have enjoyed this WC. Maybe it's the HD broadcast. Maybe it's the early afternoon start times. Or maybe I just love sports. The Italy vs Germany game yesterday was fantastic! I watched every single second. Am I alone?

[chris_ab]

Look at the scandal in Italy. It's widespread and causing the loss of fans.

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Italy's biggest sports trial considered match-fixing charges against four top soccer clubs and 26 officials on Thursday before a string of procedural motions forced an adjournment until next Monday.

Champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio, four of soccer-mad Italy's elite teams, risk being forced out of the nation's Serie A league and European competition if found guilty of conspiring with referees to rig matches.

[Rummenigge]

another poster not having heared the famous questions:

1: Does anybody care what you don't know or do not care about ? Have you ever found somebody interested in the things you don't care about or not know how to contribute too ?

2: Why post then ? Don't you have a live ? If you write about and spend time with things you don't care about - what's the meaning of time for you ? Are you immortal ?

[snowman_returns]

Very sad indeed but as England we must take out retribution on Portugal for the disgraceful conduct of Cristiano Ronaldo by any means how.

And that means (I can't believe I'm saying this) for the first time ever I'll be routing for France.

What have I done????

[ßuddaßudd]

¡ F I G O !