Tom Hark Preston Park
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- Jul 6, 2003
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Greece came pretty close to doing that in Euro 2004.
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Biggest Fluke in Football: Portugal reaching the Euro 2016 semi finals
- Thread starter perth seagull
- Start date
Greece came pretty close to doing that in Euro 2004.
The Albion Roar
97.2FM
Portugal being 'poor' is no reflection of how good or bad England are.
England are (or rather, the performances were) awful. Portgual are mediocre, at best, for the final stages of a major international tournament.
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,269
Portugal deserve credit for what they have achieved with a pretty ordinary present day vintage.
I don't see many of their 2016 team getting into their 2004 side which included greats such as Fernando Couto, Figo, Rui Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche and Deco, yet if Wales can edge Belgium tonight - and with no Vertonghen and Vermaelen they have a chance - then I fancy Portugal will make it into the final.
I don't see many of their 2016 team getting into their 2004 side which included greats such as Fernando Couto, Figo, Rui Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche and Deco, yet if Wales can edge Belgium tonight - and with no Vertonghen and Vermaelen they have a chance - then I fancy Portugal will make it into the final.
Nixonator
Well-known member
They are hard to beat which is what you need in a tournament. I disagree that they have been mediocre, they've played well in a couple of games, just lack the cutting edge.
Ronaldo missed a hatful in the group stages, and beating a very solid Croatian side is nothing to sneer at.
You say 'major international tournament' as if the euros are something to go wild about, they have nearly always been very run of the mill, even moreso now.
Tom Hark Preston Park
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- Jul 6, 2003
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Looking very much like Germany will win the thing just by grinding out results in an efficient uninspiring manner .
The Albion Roar
97.2FM
Of course the Euros are a major tournament. It's the only continental competition for nations - held every four years.
The fact that English players evidently find it a drag takes little away from it. It's a major tournament across Europe.
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atfc village
Well-known member
They also beat World Champions Argentina before the Brazil game.
They haven't been all that good overall. Yes, they put away five good penalties, but they seem to lack any real passion or drive. Ronaldo does seem to actually care, but I'm not sure I'd say the same about the rest of their squad.
Also if they get to the final or win by grinding out results in the knock out stages, it'll make Ronaldo's comments about Iceland look even more daft.
Also if they get to the final or win by grinding out results in the knock out stages, it'll make Ronaldo's comments about Iceland look even more daft.
- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,929
The Greeks scored in every match of that tournament.
DavidRyder
Well-known member
- Jul 23, 2013
- 2,930
Glad to see the need for the team to get through was upper most in their minds by putting their best penalty taker up first (Ronaldo) - rather than Ronaldo taking the 5th for his own personal glory - as happened v Spain I think (they lost before he could have his go)
Tom Hark Preston Park
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- Jul 6, 2003
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Tho mainly a single goal from a corner eh?
- Apr 5, 2014
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Well, yes, except in the opening match.
turienzo's lovechild
New member
- Oct 25, 2003
- 23,964
in euro 2004 greece played:
Portugal
Spain
Russia
France
Czech Republic
and then Portugal again in the final
not sure you can call that a 'fluke'. It was simply a very unfancied team who completely played to their strengths and managed to outsmart several very strong sides. Portugal have played Iceland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Poland which to me seems more like a pretty average team who have been fortunate enough to have had a really easy run to the semi's and have been helped massively by the format of the competition.
Some people have said Denmark who of course were fortunate to be at the tournament to begin with but once they were there they did pretty well. It was an 8 team tournament in 1992 so it was very strong and they came out of a group with Sweden, France and England before defeating Netherlands (the holders) and Germany (the world champions) in the semi's and final. Pretty impressive.
Portugal
Spain
Russia
France
Czech Republic
and then Portugal again in the final
not sure you can call that a 'fluke'. It was simply a very unfancied team who completely played to their strengths and managed to outsmart several very strong sides. Portugal have played Iceland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Poland which to me seems more like a pretty average team who have been fortunate enough to have had a really easy run to the semi's and have been helped massively by the format of the competition.
Some people have said Denmark who of course were fortunate to be at the tournament to begin with but once they were there they did pretty well. It was an 8 team tournament in 1992 so it was very strong and they came out of a group with Sweden, France and England before defeating Netherlands (the holders) and Germany (the world champions) in the semi's and final. Pretty impressive.
That's right. Draws with Peru, Poland And Cameroon if memory serves me right. They only went through on the most goals scored rule as goal differences were the same.
joeinbrighton
New member
In the 1990 World Cup, England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup by winning only 1 match in normal time, an edgy 1-0 win over Egypt. Yet that team and campaign is often looked back upon with misty-eyed sentimentality.
Portugal haven't been fluent so far, but equally they have been a very difficult nut to crack, give or take the defensive errors they made against Hungary. They were very resilient against a Croatian side that had arguably been the best team in the group stage and which came into the match off the back of an outstanding win over Spain. They rode their luck but they were a threat on the counter-attack and eventually took their chance. I would also say that they shaded last night's match against Poland.
They have now made the semi-finals in 4 out of the last 5 European Championships, which for a country of their size is actually pretty good going. They do not have as many good individuals as some of those sides from 10-12 years ago, but you could argue that they function better as a team. And in Renato Sanches they have a player who is going to be a star in the not too distant future.
Portugal haven't been fluent so far, but equally they have been a very difficult nut to crack, give or take the defensive errors they made against Hungary. They were very resilient against a Croatian side that had arguably been the best team in the group stage and which came into the match off the back of an outstanding win over Spain. They rode their luck but they were a threat on the counter-attack and eventually took their chance. I would also say that they shaded last night's match against Poland.
They have now made the semi-finals in 4 out of the last 5 European Championships, which for a country of their size is actually pretty good going. They do not have as many good individuals as some of those sides from 10-12 years ago, but you could argue that they function better as a team. And in Renato Sanches they have a player who is going to be a star in the not too distant future.
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
And got out of their group with won none, drew three, lost none. Sound familiar?
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
Argentina reached the 1990 World Cup Final, winning 2 games in 90 minutes out of the 7 they played in the tournament as well. They lost 2 in 90 minutes, drew 1 and the other 2 were penalty shoot out wins.
Republic of Ireland, drew all 3 group games and reached the Quarter finals that year without winning a game in 90 minutes too.