The FOOTBALL thread

[Sawyer]

Oh I'm sorry. I forgot that Arda (Atletico Madrid), Altintop and Sahin (Both formerly Real Madrid, the latter now BVB) and the three top clubs from Turkey are that bad. As mentioned, we might not have been the greatest in terms of World Cup/Euro (Losing close to teams like Germany, Spain, Brazil, you name it) but at least we don't play full-defensive for over a decade just because it got you one trophy. But hey, in almost an entire century and numerous generations, you could only beat us once. Oh and if I remember well, your country's most valuable player, except for the eyebrow-plucking faggot Mitroglou, is a benchwarmer caused by his many faults and mistakes. But hey, no hard feelings.

Additional note: I'm not hating on Greece at all.

Congratulations MCFC. I'm just hoping that Arsenal is going to use their chance to win a trophy after years...

I have to admit that Arda is a truly skilled and strong player, none is saying otherwise. Plus I can remember a bunch of turkish players having an european career such as Tuncay Sanli(if that's right), Emre, Nihat..

Answering your question about our full-defensive play. Maybe defensive play yes, but full-defensive? No way. We have/had a great team spirit, a tone of passion and teamwork. What are you talking about? Over the decade we've been destroying EVERYONE in Euro / World Cup qualifications except Bosnia this year. We've made it to quarter-finals in Poland and we repeatedly manage to participate anywhere in national level. Now that's what I call success.

I might not have a world-class player but I have a namelist of successful ones too; Dellas(Roma), Kyrgiakos(Liverpool), Sokratis(Dortmund), Papadopoulos (Schalke), Katsouranis (Benfica), Karagounis (Fulham), Torosidis(Roma), Charisteas(Ajax), Samaras(Celtic).

At least we have a bunch of players in a same middle-skilled level. Turkey always used to have 3-4 maybe 5 good players but the rest of the players usually are low skilled ones.

I still burst into tears watching the video. 

[Emre]

I have to admit that Arda is a truly skilled and strong player, none is saying otherwise. Plus I can remember a bunch of turkish players having an european career such as Tuncay Sanli(if that's right), Emre, Nihat..

Answering your question about our full-defensive play. Maybe defensive play yes, but full-defensive? No way. We have/had a great team spirit, a tone of passion and teamwork. What are you talking about? Over the decade we've been destroying EVERYONE in Euro / World Cup qualifications except Bosnia this year. We've made it to quarter-finals in Poland and we repeatedly manage to participate anywhere in national level. Now that's what I call success.

I might not have a world-class player but I have a namelist of successful ones too; Dellas(Roma), Kyrgiakos(Liverpool), Sokratis(Dortmund), Papadopoulos (Schalke), Katsouranis (Benfica), Karagounis (Fulham), Torosidis(Roma), Charisteas(Ajax), Samaras(Celtic).

At least we have a bunch of players in a same middle-skilled level. Turkey always used to have 3-4 maybe 5 good players but the rest of the players usually are low skilled ones.

I still burst into tears watching the video. 

<video>

Tuncay(You had it right) is not even supposed to be mentioned, he was .. meeh... when Nihat had his shot at Euro 2008, Tuncay as almost entirely off the screen. Nihat was a short time wonder. But at least we can be proud of (former) players like Hakan Sükür, Servet Cetin, Selcuk Inan who are tough as a rock.

It's either me remembering wrong or I'm completely mistaken, but I thought Greece used to get kicked out in like... almost every qualification stage. A precise example would be the WC 2006 qualifying, since we beat you guys... only to be... well... beaten by Switzerland.

I guess our points of view differ, but I get most of your points.

[Rick.]

Seems like England is taking the same approach as Germany when they brought all of their young inexperienced players to the world cup.

[Antonio.]

And FC SEVILLA are the champions!!!!! Oh, Benfica, poor you, another final down the drain. :'(

Spaniards dominating football. Spain winning the world cup would be the icing on the cake.

[Archie]

Sevilla deserved it. Congratulations.

[Tanker]

BENFICA 2 - 0 Now, This one is on our hands. 2 more to go.

Or not ahah, shit happens, nice game Sevilla.

[Aca]

Benfica's cursed.

[Bruce.]

Benfica's cursed.

I heard some shit about this, like a ex coach cursed benfica to not win anything in Europe in 100 years, and since that moment benfica lost 8 finals :P

Anyway it was a really nice game from both teams.

[Antonio.]

I heard some shit about this, like a ex coach cursed benfica to not win anything in Europe in 100 years, and since that moment benfica lost 8 finals :P

It was Hungarian coach Bela Guttman. He cursed them to not win a European competition in the next 100 years, just after he left/got sacked for demanding a pay-rise and being turned down. Guttman won the European Cup with Benfica in two consecutive years (1961 and 1962) and beat both Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

[Sawyer]

No Benfica is not cursed. Those idiots can't shoot a proper penalty kick. I mean.. Rodrigo's one? Comon.

Lallana is so much linked to Liverpool.

[Rick.]

City to complete free signing of Sagna after FA Cup Final, according to many websites. Good backup if Richards leaves but if he doesn't.. uhh..

[Antonio.]

City to complete free signing of Sagna after FA Cup Final, according to many websites. Good backup if Richards leaves but if he doesn't.. uhh..

Worth it?

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2014/05/16/4822685/manchester-city-fined-60m-by-uefa-for-breaching-ffp

[Rick.]

Worth it?

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2014/05/16/4822685/manchester-city-fined-60m-by-uefa-for-breaching-ffp

City have a cap of around 44 million euros this summer, and Sagna is out of his contract in the summer. He would be arriving for free.

[Sawyer]

Yeah but still Sagna lost his touch a long time now. Not even half of his real ability has been shown the last years. Same for Gael Clichy. City should better buy Carvajal or Azlipicueta, those two truely are one of the best right backs this year.

[Tanker]

No Benfica is not cursed. Those idiots can't shoot a proper penalty kick. I mean.. Rodrigo's one? Comon.

First talk about Cardozo's one, Rodrigo had all that pressure on him.