Fernando Couto is a ****head. I always knew him to be a hard player. Now I would never have guessed that he, who knocked out some 100 players by dirty means over his career, started acting like a douche.

And even worse, it would have been 1-0 for Turkey, because Hakan Sukur was NOT offside. Well, I've never seen a tournament with so many games decided by Refs.

At Euro 96 the games sucked. Now fianlly the esprit is back, but how to relish it fully with such Refs?????????

Perhaps I should've posted a topic saying, Italian not watching the game !
Firstly, the sending off was harsh, but the turkish player did raise his arm and retaliate, even comparable with Beckham's little kick in the WC'98, although the kick in the face of Couto worsened things for him
(turkish).
Secondly, what Sukur offside ?? Not once was Sukur blown for offside where he had the ball in the net, so how can you say it should've been 1-0 ??
And where should Couto have received a second yellow ?? If you mean the penalty incident then you have really not been watching the game at all.
Oh, and by the way, I'm not pro-portugal, just anti-people who don't give the whole story but only the side they want people to hear.

ok, the ref favouring Portugal is BULLSH1T, the ref gave out tons of yellow cards to Portuguese players for tackles that didn't deserve it, and he gave Turkey a penalty and not Portugal who could have had a couple penalties go thier way. Portugal outclassed Turkey from start to finish. So if you don't like it, tough sh!t

And another thing....instead of complaining about the ref, turkish fans should just be happy the score wasn't 10-0! which it could have been if it wasn't for Rustu.

I just hope turkish fans don't start trouble with peaceful Portuguese fans who are there to just enjoy the football, not run wild in the streets stabbing people. God damn right!

First off all ...... Turkey would have never gotten the penalty if Okun had not pulled his three second delayed dive (44th minute). Second off .... Turkish players were diving left right and centre. There were at least two yellows given to Portugal for Turkish dives. (Couto and Sousa) .... so Couto should not have been in a postion to get his second yellow, and he did not deserve one for the tackle on Erdim. He went for the ball, and he missed. It is not malicious and the Turkish players actually had the nerve to try to convince the ref to send him off. I am glad Turkey lost that game, because the way they acted today was dispicable. They showed no class. I have seen all four Portugal games, and I have yet to see a Portugese player dive in this tournament.

I hope they win their semi ..... Portugal - Holland/France would be a great final!!

BTW ..... Figo is the man, he is what happens when the football Gods really try.

Alas, Portugal can't play France in the final. If France defeat Spain tomorrow, it will be Portugal v France.

Speaking of Turkish players diving, Hakan Sukur made a dive very late in the match which, if the game had still been in reach or perhaps a group match, he probably would have been given a yellow card for. Portugal really did outclass Turkey today, there was absolutely no question.

-dsh
www.footballrank.com

ok look, i really don't have a problem with players diving unless they go against my team (of course, hehehehehe). sorry, but i'm a diehard fanatic and that's how fanatics think. anything for our team.

it's a part of the game, and if you don't catch up with the times, tough. face the consequences.

He was totally free infront of Baia, and when he heard the whistle he hit the ball with his heal.
Sorry, I seriously doubt that a goleador like Hakan Sukur would have failed that shot.

But again, Portugal won with full merit, they have the best midfield, I think they'll beat France and then who knows=

I just didn't dig Couto's acting and on-court play. He plays dirty and shouldn't act like a wimp.
I've I offended you by this topic, I'm sorry, but to me the ref was by far the worst man on the pitch.

Have not read a word..but I agree with Zambrotta.. http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif

(He told me so...)

Btw, the ref ( if he now really was a "ref" ) WAS TERRIBLE!!!

Hmmm, don't think he was in favour for any of the teams, he made stupid calls almost all the time...

Zamrotta, face facts the Turks got beaten by abetter team.

You're probably sh*tting bricks (that means sh*t scared) in case Portugal whip Italy in the final.

The Turks deserved to go out, they were always making those hand gestures trying to get the Portugese booked or sent off.

For that alone, they deserved tolouse

chris

Good job by **** Jol, Portugal and Tureky are just 2 sides that need to be booked a lot, becuase they don't know how to tackle properly.
Portugal will get their skinny a$$e$ kicked by some real competition like France or the Netherlands.

What do u mean by be scared for Italy being whipped by portugal .First of all ,that never happens to Italy in major tournaments ,it could happen where they would lose 1-0 ,but not scores like 3-0 or 4-0 .BTw ,why should we be scared of portugal ,we beat them in the friendly match in a convincing fashion and Italy's defense is very strong ,I doubt that they will conceive more than 2 goals ,especially that no team has done it so far .Plus,just like Portugal,we are in a winning streak ,so u can say we are equal .

I'm a die-hard Portuguese fan so this is my opinion!!

The Red Turkey recieved shouldn't have been a red. It should of been a yellow cause he swung. I don't think Couto was faking either. I believe his own team mate hit him in th face.

The yellow Joao Pinto got should of never been, the turkish player takes two steps and dives. what about that player N#20 that dove when Figo got by him and set up Nuno Gomes!!

The penalty should of never been!!!

The Sukur offside was an offside, I saw the bloody replay!!! And he didn't give up on the play cause he tried a heel pass to his team mate.

Portugal should of won by more, I give the Turks a round of applause cause they put up a great fight with ten men!!

And the ref is a bloddy idiot!!

And for the Italians in this forum, don't take Portugal too lightly cause it might come back to haunt you, you might say we beat Portugal in the pre-euro friendlys but don't forget Belgium beat you in those and you still won. And for who ever said Italy beat Portugal very easliy, what I read and heard it was anybody's game until the last ten minutes or so.

Well that's all folks, can't wait to get bitched by somebody

I never said that Italy cant lose to portugal,I just said that it is almost impossible for them to lose with more than 2 goals or get their ass whipped like someone said .Both team are almost equal and both team play differently .Portugal is more dangerous in midfield than Italy ,but Italy is very solid in defense .

To make things clear:
After the 44th I turned off my tv as I was damn angry.

So 'bout the penalty: It was a 50-50. Next error by the ref: He should have booked Couto again.

This whole thing sucks: 1st the stupid sending off, then the Ref tried to compensate, and look at the outcome.

However Portugal deserves this win, Figo is the best player in the world.

Figo is the man.

no turkish fan here can honestly say that turkish players didnt dive.....
i could say lots of things about them but i think they got what they deserved when Figo got around the Turk defender and instead of chasing him he decided to fall down like the panzy he is.....
and this lead to a goal

justice!

Ps. to prove im not biased against Turkey Alpay shouldnt have been sent off

Pss. Figo has a penalty in the seconf half that wasnt given but the game was over at this stage

chrishaz: please go on and count how many times in this thread I say that Portugal is a great squad and won with full merit. please!?!?!

And if Italy faced Portugal (what I think ain't gonna happen; Ned-Fra) I'd have no problem with that, as from now on Italy can only "win" (I thought they'd not even make round 2...).
I remeber a very good friendlyl 3 months ago Ita-Por.

Congratulations to Portugal,

I think they won properly

but we must admit that the red card and the missed penalty destroyed the Turkish team

I'm happy it's over for Turkey because our coach is a sure looser,

all of you said Portugal played with their B team against Germany, but did you know: Turkey is playing for years with their B teams, because the two clubs of Istanbul (GS and Fenerbahce) are more important than the Turkish National Team, at least 6-7 players shouldn't have played one minute in this team because they just didn't deserved it.

I hope our new coach will change our mentality

I wish Mustafa Denizli good luck by his new team Fenerbahce I give him 2 months then he will get fired.

I agree with Zambrotta, the refs ruined both games on saturday, maybe no big deal to you if you watched the game for free but if you and your friends shell out 40 US dollars for these 2 games(like we did) you have every right to be upset.

The one that bugged me the worst was the b.s. sending off in 30th minute in the Turkey game. And Hagi getting send off for diving, come on ref he knew it was second yellow could be please show some liniancy for the good of the game, dammit!

Now I want to make clear I wanted Portugal to win, but that still doesnt change the facts that I felt cheated out of getting a nice saturday of football by the damn refs!!!!

Polish ive had to pay for it aswell but i was happy cause of how good Portugal played!
i know it was against a undermined Turkish team but still the game doesnt have to be even for it to be enjoyable!
liek the Holland- Yugo game!