Although saying that, I just typed 'Charlie Adam cultured midfielder' into Google as an experiment and was aghast at the number of entries.

I think there's something in their contracts that they have to play a certain number of games in each shirt.

If that is indeed the case, it's one more thing about modern day football I deplore.

On the other hand, the referees can wear a lovely shade of fuchsia.

That's a penalty, another decision goes there way.

It seems like Wales are up against a different level of oppo this evening. Bookings and conceding free kicks will be a risk to Wales. European reffing is less tolerant of physicality and counts against home nations.

Excellent headlock on Cronaldo by the Professor.

The referee must be a Messi fan

Any news on Bale's bald patch, btw?

Bale a bit greedy there

Cédric has got a pretty good delivery with both feet - impressive.

Nice gesture by the Wales federation to invite Gary Speed's family to watch in person. The Wales team wouldn't be where they are without Gary Speed.

Mark Hughes and Ian Rush also among the FAW guests in the stadium. I wonder if they feel a tinge of envy watching these players in a tournament they never qualified for despite being such great players.

Bale a bit greedy there

Rightfully so. If he had crossed, I doubt Wales would have forced a save.

Edited July 6, 201610 yr by offside

Wales are clogging up the middle of the pitch pretty well; so often Portugal's final ball has come from their full-backs.

 

Ha! Beautifully held up by Andy King there!

Edited July 6, 201610 yr by PloKoon13

Also I never thought I'd hear the sentence "Chris Coleman has emerged as the model manager".

Both teams need to be much better in the final to have any chance against France or Germany.

This is crap.

It feels like Wales need to get to half time with the score 0-0 at worst. They will have chances but Portugal are gradually stepping up possession.

This is crap.

It's not very captivating, that's for sure.

It's not very captivating, that's for sure.

I think it's okay actually. The standards are very low this tournament.

It's not very captivating, that's for sure.

 

I think you're right (neither side has really created much of anything) but I wouldn't say this has been a bad game by any means.

With that performance, both of the teams don't deserve to play in the final. The only one who is trying to do something is Renato Sanchez...

That was a terrible half.

Any news on Bale's bald patch, btw?

I actually researched this because my husband is developing a bald patch. It's harder to do hair transplants for balding of the crown (top) as Gareth Bale has. Balding from the hairline (front), as you see with Harry Kane, is easier for hair transplants. That's why Wayne Rooney's transplant was successful, though he is getting another one to cover the parts that have gone bald since the last time.

Of course Gareth Bale will have access to the best hair transplant experts, but there's only so much you can do with current technology.

Medicines for baldness work decently for crown balding in its early stages, better than they work for hairline recession, but they have side effects that would be unacceptable for a professional athlete.

I get that Bale is ashamed of his balding, but he should be even more ashamed of his decision to use sumo wrestler hair. That's worse than any bald patch could be.

The world is unfair. If there were justice in this world, Nainggolan and Arturo Vidal would be balding instead of Bale.

Allen needs to calm down. He's on a yellow.

It had to be him didn't it ?

Get in.

Game over