Mike,

>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.

Nope, I am not. The dutch played awfull and I'm not going to say here that we did not deserve to lose. I have no problem with that.

>I watched it pretty much neutrally, if anything cheering for your team, and thought the dirtier football was played by the Netherlands.

Not sure, Of course, I can hardly be neutral, but the portuguese and the referee did about everything to prevent the a normal game in the second half and delay things.

>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.

I agree,

Walter,