Hi everyone,
What about the possibility of Portugal winning the World Cup !! What is the atmosphere like for the matches? They play England tomorrow (they haven't exactly been setting the world on fire) and I believe they will beat them and when you get to the last four anything can happen. I also believe that they are on the weaker side of the draw. They are missing a lot of good players tomorrow but if they get over England they will be back for the semi. I hope they keep going at least until the final because I will be there from 7th July and the final is on 9th. The party would last for months if they win it !!!!
Regards and see you soon
Robbie

I am sure Brazil would love to hear that they are the weaker side of the draw

Hiya Robbie & Maddi
I was watching our local news tonight..as you know, we have a large Portuguese community here in Lincolnshire and they were having a real rave up, high spirits, flag waving, but all very friendly.
One lad said, he thought they would beat England tomorrow and he said but whoever wins,that team would become world champs?!
Well done to Germany today..and I wonder what the outcome will be tomorrow between France & Brazil?
nite nite

Looking forward to watching the game this afternoon! I wish i could be there in Carvoeiro - split loyalities!
Both our teams in the draw at work got knocked out yesterday - Argentina and Ukraine - so no money riding on the outcome of this one!
Hope it is a fair game and the ref is ok!! not like the last time Portugal played!
All Utd players to have a good game!

Roll on August 27th!

Julie & John

Lets hope they can go all the way now.


Tricky

They'll need to play an awful lot better than they did against an England side with only 10 men, no captain and no supposed goal scoring players.

Ive never seen a more 'disinterested' looking manager than Sven..he looked as though he'd rather be somewhere else, all through the tournament!Thought the match was scrappy.
and what was the point of taking young Theo Walcott along?
Im not a betting woman but if I was, I'd lay odds that Germany will lift the World Cup!

P.S. Really enjoyed the France v Brazil game tonight....well done the Frenchies!
How about a Germany v France final?
nite

Its looking a bit more likely now !!!! In reply to the comment regarding having to play a lot better than they did against England I would agree but they were missing some influential players most especially Deco who is a real play maker and I don't think France are anything special. (sorry all Frenchy's out there) On a more serious note it has been scientifically proven that any country that wins a major tournament such as a World Cup, Rugby World Cup etc. sees a distinct growth in their economy in the immediate aftermath. There are many reasons for this including the feel good factor etc. but here's hoping !!!
Roll on Friday evening, I'll be sitting on the terrace eating some lightly toasted garlic bread and enjoying some Lagoa red wine.
Regards
Robbie

Commiserations on not making the final but I think Portugal would have won far more friends had they not resorted to trying to con the referees. Portugal are the worst offenders - with the talent they have at their disposal (Deco, Ronaldo, Figo etc) it beggars belief why they don't try to win games through skill instead of cheating.

I agree - they dont do themselves any favours and Scolari should know better than to encourage that kind of behaviour. They did well to get this far but should concentrate on their skills and not dirty tactics.

I agree with you Jenny & Croeso (nice to see you here)....
I just don't understand 'why' they were reduced to such dirty play, when they have such skill?
The French crowd didn't let Ronaldo forget his bad sportsmanship against England did they?
and after the match, Scolari really showed himself up..
is it correct that because of all this, the powers that be are considering 2 refs for future big international games?
I was sorry to see Ronaldo in tears at the end, but it was 'poetic justice'..and he still has lovely legs

I don't watch a lot of soccer and this is the first year I have really gotten into watching some of the world cup games in full. But it is my impression that the players on all teams play dirty and take dives as a standard matter. It reminds me of how hockey was affected over here when European players first began playing here. They developed a terrible rep for dirty play and grandstand dives. Now, I see where they got it from.

How did this take root? Doesn't it really spoil the game for you as a spectator? It does me.

As for Portugal, they came a long way and it's a shame they are out on what was a very questionable call by some very erratic refs in the game with France.

I knew that would provoke a response.....I was expecting Hoser
So SHOWWWIE dear..its all our fault, we Europeans is it?

I have heard that the powers that be, are also thinking of bringing in a 'sinbin' in to footie..as they have in Hockey.

I still don't know why Im getting involved..I know nothing of football and much prefer the big guys game

So all I have to say is 'Vive la France! ' ( that should get Peter Bel. going again.....only teasing Peter xx)

Apparently Ellie, a good chunk of the crowd were England fans who had optimistically bought semi-final tickets. The French joined in.

Showwwie, have you seen Slap Shot. Hilarious 1977 film, read about it here
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076723/