I think the eleventh dive of the second half... no?? LOOOOOOOOL

Congratulations to the winners. France did a better job at holding than Portugal did at scoring. That's the way the game goes.

The french as the all world saw were the ones that dive in that penalty. The all world also saw Ronaldo being kept behind in the big area. But you just see what you want, and the game is over. I´m really not interested in crucvify the referee. We should have score but we dind´t, that´s what matters now. What realy amuses me is to have won against England. People like you make me feel that way. Go France. Show that you deserve to win without penalties nex time. Go Italy show what latin players value.

Hey man dont all gang up on one man just cause he is telling the truth. Yes today the ref did seem to be on frances side. But portugal deserve that scince the ref was in their favour when they played the english. And they still needed pens against a side with one less player. And scince france beat the odds on favourite to win the tournament ( Brazil ) i do believe they deserve to get to the final ahead a bunch of cheats.

I also think they deserve but not for today´s match. And by the way, Brasil this WC didn´t play ANYTHING, even Portugal would beat it. But that doens´t mean France doesn´t deserve to be here. To play against a team with one man less means nothing. With holland we played almost everygame in disadvantage and win the same. Those are bad arguments.

i must be the only person posting who thought it was a pen
he clearly caught henrys trailing leg
but even if it wasnt portugal deserved it to go against them
fat phil scolari was a joke at the end
so was ronaldos diving in the box but he did play well
anyway im glad portugal didnt go through diving and cheating is endemic in their game and needs
to be stamped out
seeing ronaldo crying made me feel slightly better i laughed my head off
see ya portugal

I can see it's a real war in this forum about cheats and dives! lol About that, during that match, Arsène Wenger (who was one of the french commentators of that match) said a funny thing! After a dive from a portuguese player, he said: "that portuguese team have risen with Maradona's hand of god", that was funny! Hey, now that I'm on earth, thinking about that, I wonder if Miguel has not injured himself while diving (I'm not joking!). It would be funny, maybe he has condemned his team himself, but we will see that tomorrow in a retrospective of the match.

Anyway, Portugal doesn't need to do those little things to be a good team, C.Ronaldo is a great player, he doesn't need to do such things, what a deception! It was clear that Portugal was a good team with very good midfielders!!! But unfortunatly, they miss real strikers to finish their actions...

Yeah, Wenger should tell his taem to cut out the diving. Mind you, Fabregas will be at Real next season

I think it was a penalty, Well done to the french!

Congrats to France, I'm really happy for Zizou (who is a great and modest player with many sympathizers even in Germany) to play the final on Sunday!



Sorry, but I didn't see a "great match" tonight and also no "powerful" and "spectacular" Portuguese team! In my eyes they played harmless without any risk, even after the lag (only 1 striker against that strong defence from France)... I admit they were cheated by the referee (you simply can't give such a ridiculous penalty in a WC semi final!)...but nevertheless they didn't play good enough to reach the final.

France didn't impress me, too, this evening as they only defended their lucky lead. If they want to beat Italy, they'll have to improve a lot!


PS: Portugal has got some great divers.

What makes me laugh is that when some of us were saying that the england portugal match was unfair we got moaned at, saying, you lost, get over it, we didnt cheat etc... but now france have beaten portugal the tables have turned, hypocrits... pur hypocracy... oh that wasn't a penalty, bla bla bla... The better team won, why is there no merit in winning from pentalty, its all part of the game. surely if there is no merit in that, then there is no merit in winning from pso's??!! when two hours of game was played, and, half was played with a man down... Viva La France! hahaha

Portugal is good team, they have dominated all the second half but if they have continued their actions instead of diving, they could have scored. Really don't understand what they try, because the referees have certainly watched their matchs against Holland and England, and they have probably a bad opinion. For me, it's a mistake, and they are responsable of their defeat by always try to have a penalty instead of continue their actions.

"LIBERTÉ, EGUALITÉ E VANCIFUDÊ!"

Which means???

You don´t want to know...

Hi RC Lens! I agree with you, it's stupid always trying to dive. I sometimes reproch players not to continue their actions even after being throw off balance, because sometimes there are still advantage...

That avatar of yours.... scares the hell out of me... how can that guy be so ugly? I guess he won the award of the uglier player in the world...

Oh

For me he is not ugly, i had a style, and i think he was more charismatic than many players and i like him because he gives all of his heart like the inhabitants of the north of France that he is.

Hi superkiwi !

on est en finale ! on est en finale !

I´m portuguese and I congratulate France for their win. I think we played quite well until the penalty, with moments of true brilliance, but after that with was just a showdown of diving and cheating. Let me say to all the people that we, portuguese fans, do not buy that way of playing football and we hate to see our players in such miserable displays.It´s not our fault that the manager allows his players to dive without punishment, so dont take it as being a cultural issue.

As per the game itself, Portugal just demonstrate how a poor striker can ruin the entire team´s work.Pauleta is a kind of player that just not deliver in the big occasion.Maniche played very well (for me a man-of-the-match performance) Ronaldo apart from the dives did well but it was just about it. Deco was completely out of the game´s pace just as Costinha and Figo suffered the lack of a decent striker in the box. France didn´t show a great deal either but when it came to defend the advantage they did it perfectly.And that´s what is all about. Congratulations to the winners, good luck for the final (Henry is a bit tired don´t you think? )

P.S.- Being Portuguese doesn´t mean i cant see things properly and try to find excuses or scaping-goats for our defeats. I think you englishman should make an effort in that direction to avoid in the future, humilliating rants as those against Cristiano Ronaldo.

I think i agree here: neither team was brilliant but the French did outclass Portugal but I expected that. i wish it had not been a penalty shot that was the only goal - it was a pretty small penalty. I have really supported Portugal so far (partly because they are young and trying hard and partly because they were considered underdogs) but I didn't like the way they played the first half - too cheap and dirty.

HOWEVER I would like to point out that blaming the players is kinda silly. A coach like Scolari is a dictator. If he didn't want them diving, they wouldn't be. Cristiano Ronaldo is a brilliant player and I think we would all cry in losing a big game like that. And I repeat what i said earlier in a different forum: Rooney was at fault not Ronaldo. Booing a rising young star is truly bad form and the crowd should be ashamed. As far as Portugal's effort goes, Ronaldo played a first class game, and worked his butt off to get something going. Too bad Deco was invisible and Scolari too stubborn to put in an extra striker.

Vive la France! Vive Zizou!

Thanks Jarara

Pauleta is not a bad striker, he's the best striker in France and he was always good in french championship. If he can't score with portugal team, it's because he is too alone in the attack that's my opinion.

Good post! 100% agree with you.

How about going to the newcomer's section to introduce yourself.

I just want to have a quick say on the matter:
1) I think the penalty was legal. Ricardo Carvalho was kicking air really and he was nowhere near the ball. Replays will show you that his trailing leg did indeed caught Thierry Henry.

2) I'm very disappointed with Portugal. Pauleta clearly does not score in big games. I think he needs to really play better in the important matches.

3) I think Portugal took diving to a new level really. Before anyone post anything about me being biased, I am not English. From Singapore as you can see. I believe I offer something objective here. Fact of the matter is you did dive. Yes I know other teams do it too but unfortunately in life, two wrongs do not make a right. And this is sad. Your team has talented players. I would rather see them use their talent to break down the defence instead of trying to put the referee in difficult situations. What did Helder Postiga do when he came on? He took a tumble. God gave you guys talent. Use it.

Carry on discussing. Keep it polite though!

Kind regards,
yeek

regarding ribery he had a horrible car accident when he was young that disfigured him...there is no reason to take the [beep!]

he is great

man it may sound cowardly but i fear the french ...