±«Óătv

I missed the interactive footage after the coverage today, is there any way to get hold of that post match analysis? Is it available on the site somewhere? I'll go looking now in hope...

A question - will the 3rd/4th play-off be shown live on TV? It seems to be the 'forgotten' match of this tournament, often escaping TV coverage. Are ITV or ±«Óătv (or both) going to give it to us live?

Alan Shearer was talking utter rubbish, you see that crowding around the referee stuff from players every week in the premiership.

Also, what was with Shearer, Hansen and Wright dismissing Porutgal as an average side before the match? Creates completly unrealistic expectations.

The England/Portugal Match

I have said this several times, Rooney is a thug and a violent and rude player. He knew how important the world cup was, yet he bahaved stupidly and caused England to lose the game. I squarely blame Rooney for England lose.
Victor, USA

Rooney is a very nice guy!
Actually I only posted this because my 165 previous comments were refused.

Sven - Wayne you let me down today.

Thug - but I only kicked the ball(s)

England had the advantage. You played against a Portugal without Deco and Costinha. It was clear that Tiago or Petit war far less eficient.
Then Beckham was injured and that balanced things. Then Rooney sent off, we had the advantage.
The game was always under control but our atack was inefective after Figo had to leave. About the penalties, its not a matter of luck. It has to do with confidence and technique and a good goalie. You canot defend well scored penaltie. Technique guives confidence also. English players have not so good technique except the likes of Owen or Beckham, but the main reason is the criticism and pressure they had on their shoulders, particulary against Sven, like everyone expected them to be a real world cup candidate.

Wake up: they are not and never were! So its really very good to reach quarters. But no, every one thinks "we lost the World cup"!

Portugal is also not a World Cup candidate, to reach the semis is already something historical. Scolari said, having reached the quarters, that he had nothing more to ask from his players. From now on, they are surpassing all expectations from them. And the funny thing ist that Portugal is a better team than England.

And if you look at the 4 teams left, all, except Germany, had very litle pressure of reaching this far...

As usual, the England team is incapable of playing with any flair and soul, so they have forced the pundits to get over emotional when they should be more rational. A non-British pundit should have been in the studio.

Im gutted but not suprised with our early exit. The starting performance again lacked the passion that id expect from a team in the quarter finals (don't give me that heat rubbish again).

We were always going to be up against it in this match. FIFA's decission to use an Argentinian ref who we have a history with AND his team got knocked out the day before in my opinion was unacceptable, referees for late stages should all be from countries who exited long ago. The rooney decision was correct for his reaction but that Ronaldo is a cheating, diving, greasy haired, chinless git and we all know it. He deserved a card at least twice in that game for his diving antics, ill be interested to see the reception he gets at Man Utd next season.

Furthermore you can't blame Rooney for losing because England played the best football of the tournament after he went off. Hargreaves for me was a mountain on that pitch, he gave it 150% and I was pleased that he scored his penalty. The other penalties as usual sucked, power, power and more power, England can't place penalties so why for the love of football don't they just blast them.

The pundits didn't bother me (I went outside for Fresh air at half time). But John Motsons commentary annoyed the hell out of me. Is he a secret Portugal fan? When are ±«Óătv going to retire this negative, anti-England relic? For the entire game there was nothing but negative comments, negative statistics, negative predictions spewing from his mouth. He got passionate when Portugal were on the ball, his voice dropped when England got it. An absolute disgrace, send him on a course to watch some South American football matches with their commentators, I don't want impartial, I want someone who loves their country.

Oh well back to tiling my bathroom, another year another penalty loss, getting a bit tired of being here.

Typical England! We all get hyped up for a major tournament, we have probably the best squad of footballers in the world, but we just can't play as a team! The team never played well in one match, despite good individual performences on occasions. The players gave their all, but Sven only picking two unfit strikers, a kid who has never played in the premiership and Peter Crouch as his strike force is diabolical! I think we have a real chance of doing well ar Euro 2008, McLaren should sort things out. We still have the experienced heads of Gary Neville and David Bechkham, and also the more matured young threat of Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott.

Why does the ±«Óătv never show pictures of Posh et al when England are defeated?
A Pox on "WAG-CULTURE"

just wondering if any one can tell me the song used at the end of the montage yesterday??

Hello Paul, well done on producing the first football blog that isn’t PR or waffle.

The Boro supporters are right, their side don’t get a decent crack of the whip on MOTD. Having to watch the whole programme to catch your team can be very irritating, why don’t you publish the running times at the start of the show?

Assuming we all want to watch extended highlights of MU, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool is exactly that.

The only decent pundit on ±«Óătv television was Leonardo.
The best presenter, Adrian Chilles.

The Liverpool mafia spit out their usual diatribe.

Best pundits on Radio Five, by a long way: Graham Taylor and Paul Jewell.

---------

Regarding England.

A few lines from John Lennon's "God":

The dream is over
What can I say?
the Dream is Over
Yesterday
So dear friends
you'll just have to carry on
The Dream is over

And from Noel Gallagher:

Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don't you know you might find
A better place to play....

.....Don't look back in anger
At least not today

I think all the hype in England is the problem, this raises the expectations to totally unrealistic things.

Anyway, the way the team perfomed in the games can only mean two things to me:

1)The players are just exhausted after a season which is just way too long. I know this sounds like nonsense to you and we have the same arguments here in Germany, saying 20 years ago we had the same amount of games. But look how football has changed the last 20 years! The speed of the game was much slower!

2)The english world class players are just not world class. Let me tell you why: all favorites were considered to have world class players. If that would have been the case they would have reached at least the semifinals, since that was not the case, the players cannot be world class. I agree one game does not mean anything, but England went out in the quarters three times in a row, so as an English fan I would ask myself, are our players really world class? I would say England has outstanding players, but world class is just a different league, like Zidane showed yesterday against Brazil! English players and the media should understand that good games in Champions League do not make a player world class, you must prove it in a big tournament like a WC!!

I am not saying Germany or Portugal have world class players, they just have a very good team. Which is of course a necessary condition for a player to show he is a world class player. And for some reason England did not even have a good team, like Brazil.

Anyway, I hope to see a stronger and better English team in 2008 and 2010! Good luck! And I hope the FA finally draws the right consequences now.

Having listened to the commentary on Radio 5 during the first half, I was quite astounded to see Owen Hargreaves being rubbished at half time by the TV pundits. He and Gerrard were our best players in yesterdays game. Hargreaves was particularly excellent in the first half setting the tempo of the match.
I don't know what game they were watching but it was not the one I was. Radio 5 were more spot on with their comments.

Like the passing of Beckham as captain, its time for the likes of Hansen and Wright to be let out to pasture for England games. Wrighty is a fan at heart, but he's never got past the fact that Shaun was not in the squad and Hansen appears to jump on any passing bandwagon.

Promote Lee Dixon to the panel.

Oh and another thing, the non-attendance of Graham Le Saux during the tournament on both TV and Radio has never been explained. I thought his comments in England games as a summeriser was excellent. Did the Beeb have a falling out with Graham.

got to admitt the portoguese have been great cheats!

come to think of it, the general attitude of the chelsea (team + coach) does add up after all.

and they are indeed rubbing it off on to other players and teams as they see it working and getting away without punnishment themselves.

FIFA fair play? Dont think So!

FIFA fairplay?

No way!

English footballing culture seems to find violence more acceptable that the forms of foul play they clearly perceive as feminine.

Instead of attacking Ronaldo, who didn't seem to ask for a red card, why not try to learn some things from him. The importance of individual inner confidence and the ability to play football your way, whatever critics say.

The writing was on the wall for England from day one,the wrong squad was taken, flair over substance indeed. How could Sven select his team without Johnson, Dafoe and Bent. Bent score the most goal as an English player this year for god's sake.why these three players were not good enough to represent England at the WC is a mystery! replaced by a kid two injured player and a six foot seven joker who after finally scoring his first goal for Liverpool was seen as an hero and that day a national holiday sort of. Two in the back of my head or this english squad, the dicision is easy, a no brainer if you would. Reality is what it is, you got what you deserved. Any team that playes one striker in this high level game doesn't deserved to win, it's a shameful display from England, you are not Trinidad and Tobago. Mr rooney you are a thug, and someone have to be brave enough to call you out, and stop providing sooo much excuse to cover up all his short comings, his reputation preceded him, he is a bully first, foot baller second. If you love this bloke then chastise him, what an ass, is this the attitude you want young english player to emulate ? This guy is so over rated and such a dunce, he needs more than a kick in his ass to wake him up, else he is going to hurt someone eventually an cost his club or Country games...help him to save his career, don't pat him on his ass.... kick him.

The writing was on the wall for England from day one,the wrong squad was taken, flair over substance indeed. How could Sven select his team without Johnson, Dafoe and Bent. Bent score the most goal as an English player this year for god's sake.why these three players were not good enough to represent England at the WC is a mystery! replaced by a kid two injured player and a six foot seven joker who after finally scoring his first goal for Liverpool was seen as an hero and that day a national holiday sort of. Two in the back of my head or this english squad, the dicision is easy, a no brainer if you would. Reality is what it is, you got what you deserved. Any team that playes one striker in this high level game doesn't deserved to win, it's a shameful display from England, you are not Trinidad and Tobago. Mr rooney you are a thug, and someone have to be brave enough to call you out, and stop providing sooo much excuse to cover up all his short comings, his reputation preceded him, he is a bully first, foot baller second. If you love this bloke then chastise him, what an ass, is this the attitude you want young english player to emulate ? This guy is so over rated and such a dunce, he needs more than a kick in his ass to wake him up, else he is going to hurt someone eventually an cost his club or Country games...help him to save his career, don't pat him on his ass.... kick him.

What will they do now? All ITV ever do pre/post match and half time of all the games they show, is talk about England and go live to Baden Baden.

With England out they will be lost! Maybe they can actually talk about the match in progress like the far superior ±«Óătv do.

Rooney has again practiced his usual behavior that he is frequently used to do that makes the whole country stoned as their dream to turn the 1966 has gone for the four years. For the England team injury has been the main enemy for this world cup. It is questionable that why Mr, Sven did not use his surprise inclusion Theo Wallcot as Rooney was not totally fit.

Forgot to mention above the full marks that should be awarded to the Radio 5 Live team for their excellent commentary & analysis - the ±«Óătv Commentary was yet again spoiled by John Motson. He must be made to step down and let fresh talent go forward - after all, he was commentating in the clips of the 1986 ENG-POR World Cup clash!

Oh dear what a shame. England go out on Penalties again!

Well for the rest of the country all I can can say is thank goodnes. No more 1966, Bobby Moore, England Expects. Now we can cut throgh the ridiculous hype, the over expectation and basically the arrogance that with a forward line consisting of 2 crocs an under-19 player and a guy who scores once a decade England would stroll to the WOrld Cup.

The team looked underprepared and tatically niave. They got as far as their collective talent deserved. Class is permanent as they say and Zidane shows it, No England player ever showed the ability to drive a game like that.

So ITV and ±«Óătv can you know comment on any of the games without talking about England now?

Normal rational service can now presume!

So, England's out. Dig deep and push aside all emotion, then ask...Is it really such a surprise? C'mon! Seven Borin' Erikkson's system was never going to work at such an intensive trial as the WC. In fact, the only reason it has "worked" in the past is due to the real quality that exists in the English team (this coming from a Scotsman). I also knew, as sure as night follows day, that Roo would make a fool of himself on the WC stage. Too immature, too edgy, too ruthless and way too pressured.

I didn't shed any tears on England's departure, but I genuinely felt sorry for the likes of John Terry and Steve Gerrard (and a couple of others) who play with such heart and soul that you'd have to be a total eejit not to admire them.

Lastly, Beckham's captaincy should have been over a couple of years back. Keeping your team in it by the skin of your teeth isn't sufficient qualification for captaincy. I haven't seen any tangible evidence of his ability to motivate and lead by example for ages.

Sven's out and you'll have a new captain - You guys have quite a bit to look forawrd too!

Hi Nick,(and hundreds of others who have emailed to ask!)
The music at the end of the England v Portugal match was a song called Numb from the Pet Shop Boys album Fundamental.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks
Bridge

If you really want to take something away from this experience check out the comment by terenceterence above.

Additionally, 9 preparatory games - the LEAST for any nation entering this World Cup, and over ÂŁ2 Million - the MOST any manager was paid for his "services" at this World Cup are a common sense reminder of the incompetence of your FA.

I'd like to say I don't care, but as I watched silently from my Edinburgh flat listening to the hoots of satisfaction from neighbouring windows (a minority I assure you) as Ronaldo confidently slotted the winning penalty, I pondered on what could genuinely have been with a manager of insight and passion at the helm.

People like Robson and Hoddle - gems levered out for spurious reasons who were crafting skillful football, and O'Neill who was inexplicably rejected by a selection committee intent on seeking out the mediocre, and in the case of Sven, downright illogical.

My own nation's footballing malaise is as terminal as its beer swilling, queer-bashing patriarchal culture.

So stop frustrating me and put some pressure on your FA to employ intelligent ex-footballers. That way you'll stand a chance of selecting a decent coach next time...not a decent waffler.

I think the bbc Pundit thinks that we the fans knows nothing about football and that some of us their listeners hasn’t kick or play a ball before if they don’t know how to analyze a match they should please keep quiet rather than berating my best player in England team Owen Hargreaves. England lost the game yesterday because of the press and also the coach that has nothing to offer. He is not brave enough to take off the so call big player lampard was not in this world cup and he has not been substituted in all the games he play shame sham with the new coach I don’t think he will do any magic because he was part and parcel of the back room staff of Erickson I hope he proves me wrong

I feel a bit sad for the team, but then I remembered that there cumulative WEEKLY pay would be equal to the GDP of several Afican countries. Tears, passion, effort. Dry up and get back to what they really are good at-a complete swindle of the ordinary fan. Lead by incompetence masquerading as shrewd stragedy. Tradegy too right. At least the ±«Óătv are impartial in their commenatry (if not half-time analysis) and not pathetically patronising like ITV.

The ±«Óătv seems to forget that not only England supporters are watching their programmes but many people from lots of other countries. And it is a shame that the TV commentators -especially Alan Hansen- are constantly mocking other teams and players...I'm very disappointed so far and pretty fed up with these low quality comments.

The way the English media has been covering the world cup is thirld worldish.

Newpapers had alwayd bashed their own team during the whole of the English campaign, as if the world owed them the cup and then when they loose, they make these articles how amazed they are for englands knockout.

Ok the English lost in their finest hour but this whole masochist mediatic circus arround the players grief and dramatic self career busting is geting pathetic realy.

When portugal had a refereed decision after 10 minute interruption agains France wich dictated its exit in the Euro 2000 I think we mourned for about 3 days, but recieved the players with cheers.

When porto and benfica gets Mn UTD and Liverpool, or portugal eleminates england all we hear is bashings for weeks as if they should always win.

what gives?

This Canadian is glad to see a player with roots in Canada, (Owen Hargreaves) score the only goal for England. Oh Canada!

ITV's studio commentators have been downright patronising and I have expected better quality analysis from the ±«Óătv. However, Ian Wright is simply unable to bring us anything but "England will win" (deos he work for the SUN?) and then when we lose, it's "a disgrace" (does he work for the SUN?. ±«Óătv programme editors should consider carefully who to invite to their studio discussions. We want and sometimes need insightful and considered analaysis not jingositic and knee jerk reactions. Please ask the panel to re-look at Hargreaves performance in the first half and assess their own performance. After all they are being paid to watch the game. It's seems obvious that they were not. Yellow cards - at least, for Hansen, Shearer and the joke one.

Best commentator in Germany - ±«Óătv's Steve Wilson.

Best analysis - Martin O'Neill by a mile

MikeK - Yes; Ian Wright does work for the Sun...