HEADLINES from GB
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GreatBriton @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:56 am
Get lost Ronaldo!
English football will be better without the antics of this devious, diving, spiteful boy
IAN LADYMAN reports from Gelsenkirchen
It's a sly wink to the Portugal bench from Cristiano Ronaldo
The Old Trafford manager will, however, be alone in his regret. English football audiences have never really taken to Ronaldo and now, after his loathsome performance against England here on Saturday, they will hope that a move will be sealed as quickly as possible.
The player has said he wants to move to Real Madrid, but confusion over who will take over as president at the Bernabeu puts his move to Spain in doubt.
With Ronaldo all but admitting to journalists in Germany this weekend that he wishes to leave Old Trafford, it would appear that Ferguson will be largely powerless to prevent the 21-year-old winger from quitting the club that has done so much to help him over the past three years.
And while Ronaldo's desire to leave England is just another example of an ungrateful young footballer spitting in the faces of those to whom he owes so much, on this occasion most people would be happy to see him leave.
While Ronaldo is skilful, exciting and talented, he has refused to grow out of a tendency to dive, act and whinge.
Ferguson has certainly done his best. The Scot has mollycoddled, cajoled and educated Ronaldo. He has defended him vigorously, sometimes with justification and often with none.
'In one sneaky gesture, Ronaldo said it all'
But even British football's master man-manager has his limitations and Ronaldo's excesses have exceeded them. By a good distance.
After beginning his goading of club-mate Wayne Rooney with a playful nuzzle in the tunnel before Saturday's game, the Portugal winger secured a numerical advantage for his country midway through the second half by seemingly encouraging the referee to send the England forward off.
Afterwards came a wink to the bench. In one sneaky gesture, Ronaldo said it all. Job done.
Following the game, England's Frank Lampard said: 'People who go to the referee and ask for a yellow or a red card should get a card themselves.
'A lot of their players did that but it was Wayne who got the red. And Ronaldo winking to his team-mates? That's not nice, is it? He's supposed to be a team-mate of Wayne's.
'A lot has been made of trying to make fair play — and that was certainly not fair play. But it's up to him, I guess.'
As Ronaldo was pursued and harangued by English journalists, he eventually gave his version of events. Not surprisingly, he felt he had done nothing wrong.
He said: 'People are saying that the referee gave a red card because I spoke with him and asked him to, but that is not true. It was not my fault. I did-n't get him sent off. That is not true.
'I spoke with Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville and they did not have a problem with me. I did not get the chance to speak to Wayne but I will telephone him. Why would I feel sorry for him? I don't feel sorry for Wayne. I think this is a time to congratulate Portugal and celebrate our victory. We will enjoy this party.'
Ronaldo's reception back at United's Carrington training ground in three weeks will certainly be interesting, if indeed he ever goes back. Never the most popular, he has fallen out with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs recently.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer was even moved to say that he would not be surprised if Rooney did not 'stick one on him'.
But Luiz Felipe Scolari must take his share of the blame for his expert teaching of gamesmanship.
Indeed, referee Valentin Ivanov, in charge of the combustible Portugal-Holland game in which four were sent off, alluded to the coach's black arts when he said: 'You would expect some dirty tricks from the Portuguese as they are known for time-wasting or hitting from behind.'
So what of Ronaldo's future? On Saturday, he could not even be up-front about that.
He said: 'I said that I liked Real Madrid. Do I want to leave Manchester United? I don't know — maybe. We'll see what happens after the World Cup. The deal is not done, we have to sign it first and then we will talk about it after the World Cup.'
dailymail.co.uk
neil_king @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:07 am
$1:
Portuguese cissy got Rooney sent off during the World Cup Quarter Final game
I thought it was because he stood on a players balls? The Daily Mail is a tory rag, but it's really funny to hear their excuses justnow.
Arctic_Menace @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:23 am
Wayne Rooney is the Tie Domi of Football....
Hester @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:22 pm
Eriksson takes blame in England:
$1:
It was the team's failings from the penalty spot that the Daily Telegraph pondered as it said: "England's inability to hold their nerve when wound up by opponents, and then when walking up for penalties, provides the reason behind another premature tournament exit... Portugal's goalkeeper (Ricardo) was good but England's spot-kicks were really poor, barring one from (Owen) Hargreaves, the England international educated in Germany."
Writing in the same paper, Alan Ball, one of England's 1966 heroes, turned the microscope on the five "potentially world-class performers" in Eriksson's squad – David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney – and concluded: "All but Ferdinand, who could be proud of his displays, fell short."
In the case of Rooney, much of the reaction to his red card focused on the role of his Manchester United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo. He raced over to confront the England player after his clash with Ricardo Carvalho and was caught on camera winking at the Portuguese bench after Rooney's dismissal.
The Times offered the full range of English arguments – including that "Rooney was more fouled against than fouling, that he was not actually aiming at Carvalho's crotch, that Cristiano Ronaldo's intervention was unforgivable" - but reached the conclusion: "The fact is that Rooney lost control. He lost his temper on the pitch and got sent off."
Writing in the same paper, Alan Ball, one of England's 1966 heroes, turned the microscope on the five "potentially world-class performers" in Eriksson's squad – David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney – and concluded: "All but Ferdinand, who could be proud of his displays, fell short."
In the case of Rooney, much of the reaction to his red card focused on the role of his Manchester United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo. He raced over to confront the England player after his clash with Ricardo Carvalho and was caught on camera winking at the Portuguese bench after Rooney's dismissal.
The Times offered the full range of English arguments – including that "Rooney was more fouled against than fouling, that he was not actually aiming at Carvalho's crotch, that Cristiano Ronaldo's intervention was unforgivable" - but reached the conclusion: "The fact is that Rooney lost control. He lost his temper on the pitch and got sent off."
Again, just for Great Briton:
The Man of the Match, the only England player to score on his penalty kick, was a Canadian who plays in Germany.
You have to blame the coach, but you have to also blame all the players - none of which stepped up when it mattered most. England showed complete disinterest in all five games they played. They played like Italians - but even they have come together and are gelling as a team.
GreatBriton @ Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:33 am
UK Support for the London 2012 Games Continues to Grow
London 2012, 4 July 2006
The world's best stadium will be completed in 2011
One year on and support for the Games is higher than ever, according to Sports Marketing Surveys, the company that conducted research immediately after the announcement in Singapore last year and again just two weeks ago.
In 2005, the research indicated 53% of people felt that hosting the Games in 2012 would positively transform British sport and 33% of people felt that hosting the Games would encourage children to do more sport in the next 12 months.
In this year's research, 59% of people questioned believe that winning the Olympic and Paralympic Games is already encouraging children to play more sport.
"The vision we took to Singapore was to reach young people all around the world, to connect them with the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport," said London 2012 Organising Committee Chief Executive Paul Deighton. "It is encouraging that people believe this is already happening. We hope to see more and more children being inspired to choose sport as we move towards 2012."
The current research also showed a strong belief that the London 2012 Games would have an impact across the whole of the UK with 81% of respondents agreeing with this statement.
"While London is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, these Games are for the whole of the UK," said Deighton. "The London 2012 Roadshow that will be traveling around the UK in July will help to reinforce this message and show people in all nations and regions how they can become part of 2012 and really benefit from the Games."
The survey also showed a widespread belief that businesses will benefit from the Games, with 91% of people agreeing that many companies and brands will want to sponsor the Games. This is very much reflected in the strong interest that London 2012 has already received from companies about the business opportunities and benefits that partnering the Games can offer.
CEO of London 2012 Paul Deighton said, "Just one year on from winning the bid to host the 2012 Games, it is great to learn that people share the view that the Games are for everyone and that specific groups such as children are already being inspired to get more involved in sport. This definitely fits with the reactions I get from people around the country who are overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic about how the Games can be a real catalyst for change."
britainusa.com
GreatBriton @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:21 pm
Portugal 0-1 France
WORLD CUP FINAL
ITALY VS FRANCE
The first all-European World Cup Final since 1982.
-------------------------------------------
3rd/4th place play-off - Germany VS Portugal
Goodbye Ronaldo, you little diving dweeb.
Ronaldo was booed by the crowd throughout the whole game. Is it just me or are the Portuguese even dirtier than the Italians? These players must have dived at least 20 times during this game, and Ronaldo was up to his usual dirty tricks. In my opinion, the referee didn't show enough yellow cards to the Portuguese.
Ronaldo just has to hope that he doesn't meet Wayne Rooney in a dark alleyway.
xerxes @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:39 pm
Are you still obsessing over him? Get over it. If England had actually played better, then Rooney's sending off wouldn't have mattered.
Wullu @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:53 pm
Yo GB, newsflash. No one shone in this so called tournament. Seen less diving at an Olympic diving competition. No wonder this game can't catch on in any real way in North America.
twister @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:04 pm
GreatBriton GreatBriton:
Portugal 0-1 France
WORLD CUP FINAL
ITALY VS FRANCE
The first all-European World Cup Final since 1982.
-------------------------------------------
3rd/4th place play-off - Germany VS Portugal
Goodbye Ronaldo, you little diving dweeb.
Ronaldo was booed by the crowd throughout the whole game. Is it just me or are the Portuguese even dirtier than the Italians? These players must have dived at least 20 times during this game, and Ronaldo was up to his usual dirty tricks. In my opinion, the referee didn't show enough yellow cards to the Portuguese.
Ronaldo just has to hope that he doesn't meet Wayne Rooney in a dark alleyway.
WORLD CUP FINAL
ITALY VS FRANCE
The first all-European World Cup Final since 1982.
-------------------------------------------
3rd/4th place play-off - Germany VS Portugal
Goodbye Ronaldo, you little diving dweeb.
Ronaldo was booed by the crowd throughout the whole game. Is it just me or are the Portuguese even dirtier than the Italians? These players must have dived at least 20 times during this game, and Ronaldo was up to his usual dirty tricks. In my opinion, the referee didn't show enough yellow cards to the Portuguese.
Ronaldo just has to hope that he doesn't meet Wayne Rooney in a dark alleyway.
who do I cheer for now.. can't stand France can't bring myself to cheer for Italy...
hwacker @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:09 pm
ITALY VS FRANCE ha
It's
Northern Africa Vs Italy
Only 6 french born players, thats not France.
MissT @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:28 pm
Allez la France!!!
Rooney.. what an idiot. Shoving right under the ref's nose. Ronaldo didn't do anything more than every other player always does any time their team mate gets hurt. He didn't do the wave-the-imaginary-red-card like other players have been doing all tournament.
England. Bah. Allez la France! I'll support Arsenal over England any day.
What a great tournament for Arsenal by they way eh? Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva, Ashley Cole, Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljundberg, Tomas Rosicky etc... We can practically have a team of world cup players, and ones who've played well at that.
Hester @ Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:19 pm
Van Persie, Fabregas, Senderos, Campbell, Adebayor, Eboue, Toure, (and Walcott?)
Arsenal had a very strong World Cup presence.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would not mind if Italy or France win on Sunday. Italy had a great game yesterday, and France is looking good too. I don't even know I would cheer for.
OPP @ Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:00 am
Hester Hester:
Again, just for Great Briton:
The Man of the Match, the only England player to score on his penalty kick, was a Canadian who plays in Germany.
You have to blame the coach, but you have to also blame all the players - none of which stepped up when it mattered most. England showed complete disinterest in all five games they played. They played like Italians - but even they have come together and are gelling as a team.
The Man of the Match, the only England player to score on his penalty kick, was a Canadian who plays in Germany.
You have to blame the coach, but you have to also blame all the players - none of which stepped up when it mattered most. England showed complete disinterest in all five games they played. They played like Italians - but even they have come together and are gelling as a team.
England played as a team in all their games. They're just a poor team! They don't have what it takes to go all the way!
OPP @ Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:03 am
hwacker hwacker:
ITALY VS FRANCE ha
It's
Northern Africa Vs Italy
Only 6 french born players, thats not France.
It's
Northern Africa Vs Italy
Only 6 french born players, thats not France.
That's why you don't have to feel ashamed cheering for them!
OPP @ Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:07 am
MissT MissT:
Allez la France!!!
England. Bah. Allez la France! I'll support Arsenal over England any day.
What a great tournament for Arsenal by they way eh? Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva, Ashley Cole, Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljundberg, Tomas Rosicky etc... We can practically have a team of world cup players, and ones who've played well at that.
England. Bah. Allez la France! I'll support Arsenal over England any day.
What a great tournament for Arsenal by they way eh? Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva, Ashley Cole, Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljundberg, Tomas Rosicky etc... We can practically have a team of world cup players, and ones who've played well at that.
Gunners!!!!!!!!!!
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