Ronaldo has a knee sprain and may be out for a month or so.

Did other teams start to play the way we did to win the CL? People seem to forget how we won that cup.

You win the way you can.

We didn't scrape through the groups on a technicality, then beat Napoli from 3-1 down, Benfica twice, arguably the best club side of all time over 2 legs and Bayern in Munich. Just feels good to type out again. 

We didn't scrape through the groups on a technicality, then beat Napoli from 3-1 down, Benfica twice, arguably the best club side of all time over 2 legs and Bayern in Munich. Just feels good to type out again.

He was talking about the way Portugal played which wasn't really very different from the way we did. We sat back with 10 players and hit on the counter. We had to beat some big teams and we djd with our resoluteness and mental toughness. Not with flair. Similar to Portugal.

It was drab but i never complain. We won it fair and square, so who cares. All other fans had the exact comments about anti-football that some guys on here have now.

We didn't scrape through the groups on a technicality, then beat Napoli from 3-1 down, Benfica twice, arguably the best club side of all time over 2 legs and Bayern in Munich. Just feels good to type out again.

It was an amazing underdog story but we were underdogs for a reason and that's because we were a very ordinary side, the whole squad had two profiles, either ex great player who was past it or rubbish player.

Cech the only one anywhere near his prime and up until April was having the worst season of his career (JT looked past his best at the time).

Sheer determination and the gods got us that trophy, we got hammered by Barca and Bayern, I still to this day can't think of an explanation of how we won, but we did, and honestly it makes the victory better, but still, was a total underdog miracle and bar Greece 04, Leicester last year and possibly Liverpool 05, most unlikely triumph at the top level.

Edited July 10, 201610 yr by Argo

He was talking about the way Portugal played which wasn't really very different from the way we did. We sat back with 10 players and hit on the counter. We had to beat some big teams and we djd with our resoluteness and mental toughness. Not with flair. Similar to Portugal.

It was drab but i never complain. We won it fair and square, so who cares. All other fans had the exact comments about anti-football that some guys on here have now.

 

Here in the States you had Ian Darke & Steve McManaman complaining on Nationwide TV how negative & disappointing Portugal were & how Portugal are not deserved Champions. It's an embarrassment really. Maybe England should take a note from Portugal on how to play in the Euros. Maybe England wouldn't lose to minnows like Iceland on the Big Stage.

Man, i remember Ryan Bertrand and jose bosingwa started the finals. Talk about absolute lack of quality that we had.

Edited July 10, 201610 yr by JoseBlues

First of all, congratulations Portugal. They deserved to win the tournament having taken advantage of France not showing up today.

Clearly, this format doesn't really work, though I heard Linekar say that they want to extend the tournament to even more teams. That actually could save it a little. If it were 32 teams, you could do away with qualifiers almost. The top 8 from the previous tournament could automatically qualify and then the remaining 48 teams or so play a seeded two leg qualifier (so a lot of teams end up getting a by playing the likes of Luxembourg and San Marino).

The tournament would then play out more like the champions league with clear favourites in groups but the odd surprise coming second. I'd rather go back to 16 teams, through that clearly isn't going to happen. This way everybody wins as more minnows get to the tournament and the clubs will be happy as there are less international games in the season.

Win win for all if you ask me (so long as you accept the 16 team format isn't coming back)

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A finals that will be remembered for overachieving underdogs rather than good teams playing good football.

I'm actually one of the few out there who's happy for Ronaldo, he deserves the trophy, he's earned it with 10+ years of absolute excellence as a footballer. He's vain and childish sometimes, but he's a serious professional, and a proper role model for kids watching the game, his work ethic and determination to be the best is incredible, I have a lot of respect for him. Fair play to Portugal putting in some very solid team performances, they were far from entertaining, but they were functional. 

 

Chuffed for Ronaldo and Portugal, there is now no debate about who is the greatest of this generation.

Chuffed for Ronaldo and Portugal, there is now no debate about who is the greatest of this generation.

 

Yup, still Messi.

 

I will admit Ronaldo's gotten real close though when it looked liked Messi would easily pull away at one point. Got to respect him for that.

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by footballoholic

ronaldo after he was subbed lol. gotta love his passion. 

 

https://streamable.com/ys48

Chuffed for Ronaldo and Portugal, there is now no debate about who is the greatest of this generation.

I don't know if you watched the Copa America. Messi's performance there was worlds better than Ronaldo's performance at Euros. It's unfortunate that he missed the penalty in the final. Other than that, what he did in the tournament was more impressive than what Ronaldo did. Then again, Messi had better teammates than Ronaldo did.

I'm not even sure Ronaldo was Portugal's best player in the tournament, though he was their best player when they really needed him to be. He also performed well in a tournament where other big club scorers (Lewandowski, Muller, Kane etc) were awful, to put it mildly.

I also get the impression that Ronaldo was more of a team player than he has been in the past.

ronaldo after he was subbed lol. gotta love his passion.

https://streamable.com/ys48

Too bad Conte wasn't coaching Portugal. With the two of them, what a touchline sight that would have been!

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by offside

He was talking about the way Portugal played which wasn't really very different from the way we did. We sat back with 10 players and hit on the counter. We had to beat some big teams and we djd with our resoluteness and mental toughness. Not with flair. Similar to Portugal.

It was drab but i never complain. We won it fair and square, so who cares. All other fans had the exact comments about anti-football that some guys on here have now.

Yes, that's what I meant. I'm afraid other teams will use this as a blueprint for how to win or advance in a tournament without being that good.

For the few people who have insinuated that Ronaldo was exaggerating his injury, this should settle things. Looks like a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. Will probably need an MRI to see how serious it is.

I've put it in a spoiler tag for those who are squeamish.

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by offside

For the few people who have insinuated that Ronaldo was exaggerating his injury, this should settle things. Looks like a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. Will probably need an MRI to see how serious it is.

I've put it in a spoiler tag for those who are squeamish.

 

Unbelievable he tried to play on a for a good 5 minutes after his upper and lower leg had been twisted in opposite directions, Messi probably would have retired on the spot.

For the few people who have insinuated that Ronaldo was exaggerating his injury, this should settle things. Looks like a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. Will probably need an MRI to see how serious it is.

I've put it in a spoiler tag for those who are squeamish.

Same injury I had several years ago, a collision injury that hurts like a bar steward. Your knee feels like its empty when you try and walk no it, just horrible. 

 

As for the abuse he gets, I wish our so called superstar players had half the commitment and will to win that he has. 

Well that was a strange end, roll on season start.

I wonder if Zouma would have started ahead of Umtiti if he was fit. 

Decades from now, what moments will you remember from this tournament?

I'll remember that Wales and Iceland got far, but I won't remember any specific moments from their games. I'm already having trouble recalling their games.

I'll remember the hooliganism, but sadly I have a feeling it'll be forgotten within 2 years because Russia will be so much worse.

There were no gripping games or performances that will be remembered even a couple years from now.

The only moment I think will go down as a classic is the hilarious penalty shootout between Germany and Italy.

Pretty awful.

Decades from now, what moments will you remember from this tournament?

 

Decades from now, what moments will you remember from this tournament?

 

Robbie Brady's goal against Italy, with the titanic music in the background. And getting soaked in beer when it went in. And getting soaked in beer when Ireland got the early penalty against France. So basically i'll remember being soaked in beer but being too happy to care. 

The moment Ronaldo takes out his frustration about his left knee by jabbing the left knee of Adrien Silva (with a marker? Can't tell what that thing in his hand is)

...forgetting that Silva is also on the bench due to an injury to his left knee

I'll remember this guy!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQXbhdriWU

After tonight?

 

Maybe the fact that it was a safe one.