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Hahahahahahahahahaha.
England got exactly what they deserve. The lot of them were fucking abject (except Gerrard *shudders* and Welbeck).
P.s. Pirlo is a fucking god. I want a gif of the penalty on repeat.
If only England had an older player who can distribute the ball like him... 
Only person I feel sorry for is Roy Hodgson. Still a gentleman in defeat too. Class act.
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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Ah we played poorly. I suppose Italy had to make up for De Rossi's four yard miss one way or another. Still, on the bright side we actually looked like a bit more of a team in this tournament, and generally didn't play too badly. Young was disappointing in every match but I feel sorry for him for the amount of abuse he's getting/gonna get for that penalty miss.
Still, at least (hopefully) the Germans will take Italy apart. It's nice knowing England aren't entering the jaws of the kraken of the football world. Although I'm a bit sick of seeing statuses and tweets going up saying 'typical England' and people trying to be all high and mighty about us going out. And it also pisses me off that quite a few people I know are supporting teams like Spain and Germany (and the Dutch, until they fell flat on their faces, hah) simply because they get results. Get behind your fucking team for god's sake.
Small change got rained on with his own thirty-eight, and nobody flinched, down by the arcade.
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Corruption :
It's nice knowing England aren't entering the jaws of the kraken of the football world.
This is literally (but then in Dutch) what I said the general feeling in the UK would be the minute Diamanti's penalty went in. I think it's a bit sad, it's what teams have done against Spain and Germany throughout these qualifications and some even in this tournament, and it pretty much guarantees a loss. Truth is no (national) side is invincible, not even Barcelona or the Spain of two years ago. And I think it's shit Chelsea got rewarded for reasoning like that.
9 out of the 16 participants had the quality to win this tournament: Russia, Germany, Portugal, Holland, Spain, Italy, Croatia, France and England. Five of those have played negative football at one point (two choked because of it) and the other four reached the semi-finals. I am convinced neither Portugal nor Italy will give up on the belief in their own abilities and play the way the losing quarter finalists did. All the great nations have been there so many times before, and there are few players who have not been in (semi-)finals before. I'm not saying you should not reconsider your tactics as a manager when you face a stronger opponent, but you should at least always remain convinced that you have the players to create opportunities and finish them if you're one of the aforementioned nine teams.
And AFA support is concerned: If you're happy your team does not advance to the next round because they're heavy underdogs in that fixture, why support them in the first place?
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Pirlo, you're my hero.
King Of The Late Night Thread
Ilse.. 
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Corruption :
And it also pisses me off that quite a few people I know are supporting teams like Spain and Germany (and the Dutch, until they fell flat on their faces, hah) simply because they get results. Get behind your fucking team for god's sake.
This, so much.
I remember in 2006 when Germany were the favourites and Italy were the underdogs, but they sure as hell showed them. Also, everybody take note of Germany's history of failing in the semi-finals. The past few tournaments, they've done so well and then lose in the semi finals.
Also, I'm loving the Pirlo praise. Well deserved.
Band page - facebook.com/petersdenial or petersdenial.net
Check it out if you have nothing better to do.
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Italy should never of even got to the quaters in '06.
There win was tainted, they showed nobody.
Not bitter or anything. 
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Young was shit. Pretty sure I said that before the tournament started. Not too pleased with his performances and the penalty miss will only make him a complete scapegoat.
Anyway, not fussed either way, I got Germany in the sweepstake at work.
Love is a shadow in the brightness it dies.
I want to scream one last death medley.
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A priest God never paid :
And AFA support is concerned: If you're happy your team does not advance to the next round because they're heavy underdogs in that fixture, why support them in the first place?
Good point, but it's more a joking pessimism. Just like I take the piss out of my home team all the time, I still believe in them and go to the games and consider myself to be a proper supporter. Supporting a team doesn't necessarily mean blind faith in them. I had a feeling Coventry City would finally go down this year, and I used to joke about the fact that we were the only team in the entire football league not to have won an away game however many months into the season, but I supported them no less. And I will continue to do so. Yeah, I don't think they have the quality to get back into the Championship, but I can hope. I even take the piss out of myself all the time - that doesn't necessarily mean I don't like myself or believe in myself. I'm taking the Germany thing as a mock silver lining. I didn't exactly go into the Italy game hoping that we wouldn't get through to Germany in the semis. I would've loved that, more than anything, simply because we'd have made it that far and were one step closer to the final. I just hate the way some people condemn even the thought that England might have a chance at winning something. There's jokey pessimism and then there's just cuntish pessimism.
Small change got rained on with his own thirty-eight, and nobody flinched, down by the arcade.
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You'd think Young would be the scapegoat, after all he was wank yet from what I'm seeing it's all Rooney's fault. Fair call he did fuck all but he got you that far to begin with, it really wasn't his fault.
It was Woy's if anything.
Seriously all shitting aside England should of beat Italy as the Italians are a lot shitter than they used to be.
Fuck that England should be in the top 5 challenging for titles, you all know it. There is something fundamentally wrong however. Yeah the past performances have been shit so you are entitled to say that you are not good enogh to win squat but it shouldn't be the case.
With the bskyb deal giving clubs more money it's only going to get worse too.
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Yeah based on the squad generally we should be challenging for cups but we're not because the team is barely a unit. I reckon if Hodgson utilises our players - in the same way as he has done recently - over the next couple of years, we'll look pretty good in the World Cup. Winning it is still a long shot I suppose, but we've looked more like a team recently than we have done in the past few years. Considering Hodgson has only been managing England for a couple of months it would've been hard for him to change things around enough for us to really challenge for the tournament. I don't think we would've played as well under Capello, anywho.
Small change got rained on with his own thirty-eight, and nobody flinched, down by the arcade.
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Young was poor. Then again so were Milner and Downing.
The only people who did the team any justice were Gerrard, Lescott (surprisingly) was okay and Welbeck.
I don't see how everyone keeps raving about Terry having a good tournament. Especially when they keep raving about his blocks etc...it's normally his piss poor marking/inability to maintain an offside line that created the problem in the first place.
And England will improve, once Terry and a few of the older guard are weeded out and replaced with some fresher players, who gain cohesion over the next couple of years, they'll be a decent unit for the next world cup. May not be world beaters, but won't be quite so diabolical.
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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I have no doubt if Hodgeson is kept the squad will become tighter and better but will Hodgeson improve his squad selection and negative tactics?
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Until and it's a big IF aswell regarding if Cleverley, Wilshire, Oxlade develop, England just don't have the players with which to set up any other way.
Parker is praised and he puts in a shift, but until we realise that effort and diving around and having a good engine are not in themselves sufficient and we actually get a new player akin to Scholes, with an excellent first touch and range of passing and/or someone who can dribble and retain possession, we can't play much differently.
Parker is an okay player, but his passing was appalling (as was every midfielder bar Gerrard), which makes it infinitely harder for the strikers, who are starved of the ball and have to drop back.
This, by Tropical on twitter sums up my opinion on Parker well enough...
"As his admirers point out, without Parker, who'd make all the vital blocks necessitated by sacrificing possession in order to play Parker?"
So no, he probably won't change tactics. Mainly due to the fact that they're the tactics are current team are best suited to.
As for selection...it's all down to 'footballing reasons.' I think he'll pick the best team in the upcoming years (hopefully JT retires and the giant elephant in the room retires with him).
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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musefansam2 :
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Chris2901 :
c) Ashley Young is useless
You mean the player who has scored 4 in his last 5 England games and got the assist last night? 
I CALLED IT.
Plus England can't do jackshit with the new kids compared to Italy or the older ones too.
Pirlo is just above the rest.
Love is a shadow in the brightness it dies.
I want to scream one last death medley.
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Yes, if only England had a player with similar quality, vision and range of passing. Who was also written off a few seasons ago, but is currently regarded as being as good as ever.
(note...we do, he's ginger.)
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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Scholes isn't fit to lace Pirlo's boots. He's so overrated by United fans its embarrassing.
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RandomJ :
Scholes isn't fit to lace Pirlo's boots. He's so overrated by United fans its embarrassing.
Ridiculous statement.
"In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn't give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more." - Xavi
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." - Zinedine Zidane
"Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation." - Zinedine Zidane
"Rooney is one of the best players in the world and I love watching him play. But if you had to pick out only one...it would have to be Paul Scholes" - Andres Iniesta
"I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is." Edgar Davids
"Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him." - Pep Guardiola
"The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes." - Patrick Vieira
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." - Cesc Fabregas
"I can’t understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t seek the limelight like some of the other ‘stars’." - Thierry Henry
"For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He’s incredible. He has always been under-rated throughout his career. He’s a team player, a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play." - Thierry Henry
"Scholes is one of the most complete footballers I’ve ever seen. His one-touch play is phenomenal. Whenever I have played against him, I never felt I could get close to him." - Eidur Gudjohnsen
"Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him." - Jose Mourinho
"Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance." - Marcello Lippi
"He’s always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder – when he’s fit, he’s the best. Some go missing but he’s in the right place at the right time. He’s my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it’s a goal, isn’t it?" - Micah Richards
"He’s the best one- or two-touch passer in the country. He sees the game unlike any other player." - Terry Venables
"If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. He can tackle, and his passing and shooting is of the highest level. He’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time." - Alan Shearer
"Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You’d probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes. When the ball arrives at his feet he could tell you where every player on that pitch is at that moment. His awareness is superb." - Gordon Strachan
"There isn’t a player of his mould anywhere in the world." - Glen Hoddle
Fuck it a few United related ones too...
"Paul Scholes had the best football brain I’d ever seen in a kid. Let’s face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of its own." - Brian Kidd
"England have lost their best player." - George Best (when Scholes stopped internationals)
"I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player." - Laurent Blanc
"For me, it’s Paul Scholes. He’ll do ridiculous things in training like say, “You see that tree over there?” – it’ll be 40 yards away – “I’m going to hit it”. And he’ll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best.” - Rio Ferdinand
"I wouldn’t swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best." - Gary Neville
"Nobody else in the world can play the way Scholes does. The passes he produces all over the field and the way he changes the game is brilliant. Every manager would like him." - Dimitar Berbatov
Yeah, it's only United fans and associates that rate him isn't it? That's probably not even half the quotes I could get stating similar...mostly from persons not involved with United.
Both are amazing, unbelievable footballers, that controlled their respective teams' midfields for well over a decade.
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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Did Alan Shearer seriously say that Scholes could tackle?
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I probably rate Scholes as one of the best English players of the last 20 years. He is criminally underrated despite having so much said about him.
@
He doesnt row.
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Fucking jammy, greasy, spanish cunts.
I hope Germany (or Italy I suppose), fucking paste them in the final.
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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If it's Italy I won't even bother watchng and all will be for shit.
Fuck it I could of been watching Game of Thrones.
At least Germany are the only one playing actual football, fucking beautiful football too.
It'd be a crime if Spain won somehow.
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Germany have pretty much got this tournament won unless Pirlo has an absolute blinder and Balotelli finds his shooting boots.
Also got a master class in free kick taking from Ronaldo tonight. Either smash it into the wall or miles over the bar.
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Blimey. Would've liked Portugal to win that but Spain battled through and improved over the course of the game, in fairness to them. They haven't been particularly delightful to watch but they've kept their composure so bloody well. As much as I want to dislike them, they've got some fucking wonderful players. Although not all of them turned up tonight. Ronaldo was disappointing, after all that build-up. Not particularly surprised. Although I have no idea why they didn't put him up to take a pen earlier. I assume there were tactical reasons (saving him for a more important/pressure-facing penalty later on?) but if you've got players who can take good penalties, put them on earlier for god's sake.
Small change got rained on with his own thirty-eight, and nobody flinched, down by the arcade.
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Ronaldo really proved that he is a poor international player. His free kicks were awful, he missed arguably the best chance Portugal had all game, he didn't even get to take his penalty at the end, and his attitude on the field was poor. He would get the ball taken off of him, dive, and then bitch until the ref gave him a free kick. Spain had a good amount of dives and bad attitude as well on the pitch. Still, Ronaldo not taking a penalty earlier was shocking. They should've made him kick third, if they wanted to save him for whatever reason. He's the captain of the team, to not take a penalty in a shootout is just sad.
Most people say the Italians are bad and dirty and whatever, but I thought todays game made Italy look good. I just really didn't like today's game.
I'm still rooting for Italy tomorrow, Germany have shit luck in semi-final matches and they have shit luck against Italy. Should be better than today's game!
Band page - facebook.com/petersdenial or petersdenial.net
Check it out if you have nothing better to do.
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Ronaldo wasn't that bad, he had Spain on the back foot for the majority of the game when he got the ball. He just faded out, as did all the Portugal team, as time went on, due to the Spanish style playing into that. It works alot better as teams tire. And they held their nerve...fair fucks.
His free kicks were poor and he missed that chance, indeed. But he's been immense over the entire tournament.
As for the penalty, he took the 4th in 04 and the 5th in 06. Scoring both (winning the shootout in 06). Gerrard (Liverpool captain) took the 5th v Milan in the CL final and Drogba took the 5th this year. It worked for them, it's a shame it didn't for Portugal.
Also Nani is comfortably a better penalty taker than Ronaldo (I remember him missing one...ever, v Fulham), hence why he was 3rd.
Manchester M.E.N - 11.11.06
Teignmouth Den - 05.09.09
Sheffield Arena - 04.11.09
Old Trafford L.C.C.C. - 4.9.10
Leeds Festival - 26.8.11
Could that scrotum tickler be one Matt Bellamy of Muse? :P
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