That’s a Wrap

Dear English friends,

We have to join our efforts and kick Portugal out in Euro 2008. Against us, the game was awful, and I believe that if it had been a more peaceful game, we had won.

Against England, I must say that both teams were playing very bad. It was a shame that you tried to go to penalties… Then it is almost a lottery. Nevertheless, you missed too many penalties and, so, I don’t think you can complaint a lot with the referee or players. You have, however, a pretty good team. Like us!! Van Basten will kick Portugal next time and if we meet you in the way… we’ll see!

Cheers!

M.

Posted from  Netherlands

Till I hear something about that *directly* from Rooneys mouth, I won´t let myself be spoonfed by the likes of Sun, Mirror, etc.

Ronaldo also said that Rooney told him not to believe anything that came out in the English press. The press (of course) left that out.

Wait till you see a press conference. The press are always out to get a scapegoat when something goes south for England. As a Portuguese supporter I can say that, whithout a doubt, if it had been the other way around, I wouldn´t even dream that an English player would be to blame for a red card. It´s silly really.

PS.: About the infamous “wink”: I might be very naive, but during the incident I kept shouting at the TV: “Get the f**k out of there kid!” – you know why? In the 2 preparation matches before the WC Ronaldo had 2 red card offenses for losing his temper in situations like this. There was talk before the competition started that he might be too hot-headed and immature to play at this level. I understood the wink as someone telling him: “Take a chill pill”. The wink would mean “Ok”. That was my reading. Of course, we weren´t there. The (English) Newspapers “deduce” that Ronaldo asked for a card – I can´t see that in any image. I can only guess that they “deduce” that Rooney is mad at Ronaldo. As they “deduced” that Pauleta spoke ill of Robbo (already a confirmed lie).

As I said earlier – till I hear something direct from Rooneys mouth (some sort of press conference or something) I´ll have to “deduce” that Sun, Mirror, Telegraph, etc. – are full of s**t.

PS.: England played a great game. This sort of scapegoat finding belittles the effort of all those players.

Peace out – see you in 08

Posted from  Portugal

Great interview with Rooney himself in The Mail, read it online.

Posted from  Japan

Couldn´t find it. Can you give me a link?

However, I´ll be sceptical of anything the English press prints.

The only official writings on it are the official press release, which the tabloids choose to try and read between the lines.

PS.: Just to make it clear – I think that the red card was bogus, because I really don´t think there was intent on Rooneys part behind the movement. But I find it a leap of faith to claim that Ronaldo is involved in the red card. It´s also a leap of faith to say that the red card cost the English team the match. After the red card, the Portuguese Team came forward and the English buttoned up but had some space to create some chances, which they did. Before the red card, no team had a clear goal oppurtunity. I was saddened by the red card. I like it when teams have the oppurtunity to play level, and it eliminates this scapegoating in the end of the match. You just have to think after that red card: “There´s England´s excuse now.”

Posted from  Portugal

Rooney may have been set up. But he took the bait! The idiot!!

As bad as Beckham vs Argentina.

No self control.

If he had stayed on we would have won by the final whistle.

Posted from  United Kingdom

what’s the name of an Englishman in a final? referee

Posted from  United States

Toast just go the internet and ask for daily mail uk, it is there under WC2006.

I don’t think England need any excuse, if this had been a league game it would have ended 0-0 which England would have achieved with 10 men however as we all know it doesn;t work that way in WC. I truly believe had 11 men remained on the pitch we would have won. It is so sad really because we will never know.

Posted from  Japan

Toast for info only.

Rooney’s statement in full

OBVIOUSLY I’m bitterly disappointed to have been sent off in a World Cup finals match for England.
I remember the incident clearly and have seen it several times since on TV. I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time — that what happened didn’t warrant a red card.

If anything, I feel we should have had a free-kick for the fouls committed on me during the same incident.

I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Ricardo Carvalho.

He slid in from behind me and unfortunately ended up in a positioning where my foot was inevitably going to end up as I kept my balance. That’s all there was to it.

If you ask any player — and indeed almost any fan — they will tell you that I am straight and honest in the way I play.

From what I’ve seen in the World Cup, most players would have gone to ground at the slightest contact, but my only thought then was to keep possession for England.

When the referee produced the red card I was amazed — gobsmacked. I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed that he chose to get involved.

I suppose I do, though, have to remember that on that particular occasion we were not team-mates.

I thought the England lads were awesome after I went off and the effort they put in was amazing.

Truly, if there was any justice England would now be preparing for a World Cup semi-final. Sadly, however, that is not to be in 2006.

I want again to thank my team-mates for the unbelievable effort they put into the game and for all the support and encouragement they gave me after it.

I will also always be indebted to everyone who, after my injury, helped make it possible for me to begin to fulfil a boyhood dream by representing my country in the finals of a World Cup.

Finally, I want to say how sorry I am to see Sven go and to see David step down as captain.

I will always be grateful to Sven for his guidance and the faith he showed in me, and to David for being a great captain and great friend.

Posted from  Japan

Dia:

If you were referring to the “I´m the victim” piece, I already read it.

It isn´t really an interview, it´s more an assortment of quotes with commentary in between.

I basically sum it up as:
. Rooney doesn´t have hard feeling regarding Ronaldo, but was surprised that he got involved.
. Rooney states that he stepped on Carvalho accidentaly (which I believe he did) – and so, the red card was unfair – with which I agree wholeheartdly.
. Rooney shares your oppinion that the red card caused the English team to be unable to solve the game without going to a (dreaded by the English) PK Shootout.

You´re right Dia, we will never know what would have happened if the red card hadn´t happened.

For my part, I think that there is no substitute for Deco in the Portuguese NT, and that we had no chance to score once England was reduced to 10 and would play defense and hit us on the counter. Maybe a Maniche long ball or a Simão free-kick, but nothing really “flairy” (Ronaldo is clearly hurt, as is Figo – and Pauleta never stood a chance with Rio and Terry).

Our teams will meet again in the future, there will be some bad-blood (I blame the press for that) but maybe it will be a nice game and we can find out who will be the better team. Last Saturday, Portugal bested an excellent English side. Next time the story might be different.

Cheers

Posted from  Portugal

Alex, I do hope you know what is unfair! Read again what you have critized me! I think here’s for England worldcup blog. I didn’t know England fans are not welcomed here!

Posted from  Hong Kong

Hi Winner, you have your team and I have mine. People can ask England go home, I can ask Portugal go home. There’s nothing personal.

Posted from  Hong Kong

we beat u fare n square!!hehehehehhe..portugal 2 the top..
well even tho if we loose(inshallah not) our hopes will still b held high cuz we went up 2 the semi finalz all in the blink of an eye..
England got muthin 2 proove,
cuz they lost n held home 2 snooze,portugal got it all,
the praise the style n even the goal,..POrtugal 2 the top…
heh!! u loose u snooze…mwah cristiano. u the bomm..deco..ur a hero but what can i say about rooney well i guess ur a zero!!(4 sheezo!!)
PORTUGAL to the top..^__^..yo’ll cant handle this ai??
PEACEAMOUT

Posted from  United Republic Of Tanzania

one BIG UP 2 all u portugese fans

Posted from  United Republic Of Tanzania

Rooney’s statement is hysterical. I’m sure he “accidentally” stepped on Carvahlo. Yeah, that’s plausible.

England was set up by a boring 4-5-1 formation with a Rooney that can’t control his temper and has no business playing as a sole striker.

That being said, England fans talk the most shit of anyone. Everytime I watch them play it is painful, the team is a bunch of muppets and hachetmen, and watching Lampard miss that penalty will be my favorite moment from this World Cup.

UK: don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk.

Posted from  Dominican Republic

England were down to 10 men for the best part of an hour and still denied Portugal whilst almost scoring on many occasions.

Portugal is a good team? No doubt about it. Portugal is an excellent team? Hell no…

Posted from  United Kingdom

And also some of your comments are so pathetic it’s quite worrying…

“I cried with joy that you [England] are out of the World Cup now”

“watching Lampard miss that penalty will be my favorite moment from this World Cup”

Get a life. No, seriously.

Posted from  United Kingdom

u suck great england

Posted from  United States

Would you England bashing morons show some respect for Beckham please. He is a great player. Unfortunately things did not go the way they were expected to go, meaning ENG and GER in the finals. Meanwhile I am humming my ode to England “Wish you were here”.

Posted from  United States

Don’t be downhearted. A true sport would not have its major competition decided by a penalty knockout. May as well toss a coin.

Soccer is not a sport, its a celebrity fundgathering exercise.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Hello, I am Portuguese and I want to send my greetings to all the English fans. Your team is very good and if you had won, with Brazil out, I would be supporting you.

I must confess that for us it was a blessing that Rooney was sent out and that we had more luck at the penalties.

Still, please do not overshadow our progress with that antics myth… It is really annoying and a proof of weakness!

Take a look at the words of Valentin Ivanov about the game with Holland: http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1807675,00.html

And also Elizondo:
http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.aspx?hlid=400442&CPID=4&clid=114&lid=13&title=Elizondo+clears+Ronaldo

With four referees in the stadium (one with TV), those that believe in such rare acting skills from the Portuguese are suggesting that either the referees are really dumb or the Portuguese unusually smart!!

It is a mix of luck (which is part of the game) and bravery that takes teams to the last stages of these competitions! Some very good teams had stayed behind (see Argentina, Brasil and England, for example), but that’s sports! Cheers mates!

Posted from  Netherlands

i hope roonie hurt that portugal balls cheating ronaldo all cheats learn to play by the rules playing by the rules is class football which portugal only have talent for diving

Posted from  United Kingdom

ronaldo ronaldo what a little winker you are wink wink play shhhhhhhhhh if it was me i would of decked him there and then

Posted from  United Kingdom

no matter what countrie your from people should respect teams and players black or white or friends it is not about the war years ago i was not born then nothing to do with me i like clean football to injoy they should work harder on the pitch also all that money they get payed to play football my 7 year old got 15 tropheys and plays his little heart out cause he loves football he won he tornament and he dont get a bean they sould play from the heart what they love not for money

Posted from  United Kingdom

i like portugal they are good but what ronaldo did is shame roonie did nothing to him (why)ronaldo has great skills,why do that, if he got great skills

Posted from  United Kingdom

NOW YOU GUYS CAN GO BACK TO YOUR CHIPS WITH VINEGAR..YUCK.!!!
ROONEY IS A HOOLIGAN..!!!..HOW DID HE GET INTO GERMANY..!!!
ENGLAND SHOULD BE ASHAMED SENDING A MAN LIKE ROONEY TO REPRESENT THEM.!!
DONT CRY FOR ME INGLATERRA..!!!!
GO SUCK AN EGG..!!

Posted from  Antigua And Barbuda