Agreed on that! Netherlands-Portugal was exciting, and Switzerland-Ukraine was fodder for anyone who thinks soccer/football is a dull game.

Brasil plays in an hour. I will watch it in its entirety as an extended "lunch" break. They are always an antidote to any suggestion of dullness. When they play the world dances.


>Mike, I thought the game was far too aggressive by both sides. Possibly Holland being the more agressive because they were down one goal. Funnily enough though, I also thought it was one of the more interesting / exciting games because both sides played with such emotion and drive that there was something happening all the time, unlike the Swiss vs. Ukraine game which was boring beyond belief.
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>>Walter,
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>>I agree with you that game was a farce, but I sure hope you aren't saying the only "foul play" was on the part of the Portuguese. I watched it pretty much neutrally, if anything cheering for your team, and thought the dirtier football was played by the Netherlands.
>>
>>The story of the game, of course, was the referee. That guy was in so far over his head he couldn't even see the water's surface from there. That should never happen at this level. I am the referee administrator of a dippy little youth soccer league here and know I have half a dozen refs, at least, who would have done a better job. The referee should never become the story of the game. The less you're noticed (including errors of omission), the better you're doing.
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>>>Did you see Portugal against The netherlands,
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>>>That defnitately did not have anything to do with football.
>>>4 red cards, 16? yellow. The second half their were either cards or a portugese players down on the ground.
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>>>Walter,
>>>
>>>
>>>>There have been a number of dubious ref calls in the series todate.
>>>>Maybe the ref saw an opportunity not to go into extra time.
>>>>
>>>>>A dubious penalty in the last few seconds of stoppage time? Give me a break!
>>>>>Should have gone to extension.