Football thread 2014/15 season

[The Fox]

Yeah I was gonna go for Stig Tofting but then remembered he's Danish too.

[JamesTW]

Frode Kippe (don't ask)

[Dude Ranch]

The numbers mentioned here, if correct, are scandalous. How on Earth can that he justified?

Full details of West Ham's "secret" deal as tenants of the Olympic Stadium should be made public, says former Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn.

The cost of transforming the venue into a stadium ready for football has reached £272m.

West Ham will contribute £15m but the rent they will pay - reported to be £2m a year - has not been made public.

[SaintM]

It's a disgrace so much public money is being used in that way.

[Naysonymous]

To be fair we will get all of the money back in just 136 years.

[Fry Crayola]

THAT GIRL FROM AQUA

Already mentioned her, bud.

[ryodi]

It's a disgrace so much public money is being used in that way.

Everyone could see it coming as soon as Boris decided that converting into an athletics stadium as per the original plan wasn't good enough so they had to try and stick a roof on it that it was never designed for.

[toythatkills]

England U21's look like they'll be on the way home soon.

Future not so bright.

[Sirloin]

Is Ward-Prowse injured? Thought he was the best midfielder in the squad by a distance.

[SaintM]

Because Southgate.

[PaB]

"We need more experience of tournaments at this level".....

What like those secret tournaments that all the other teams play in but we aren't invited to?

[Fry Crayola]

Like the Olympics?

(I jest).

[ryodi]

France just missed a sitter in the first minute of their Quarter Final against Germany.

[Mr Do 71]

France just missed a sitter in the first minute of their Quarter Final against Germany.

Then the ref gets in the way of a good chance for France, from a free-kick

[Gabe]

The ref has been pretty rubbish throughout, she's got in the way of play, missed hand-balls (all over the pitch), got a bit card happy...

Bit harsh for the penalty, too, but France have been trying to run the clock down since they scored and sat deeper and deeper whilst doing it so it just allows the pressure to build.

And the bounce on the pitch continues to really, really annoy me. Feel sorry for the players.

Edit: Ha, and a terrible dive there that goes unpunished.

[ryodi]

How the hell did she miss that?

[Gabe]

It's not been a game of great quality by any stretch, but it wasn't a bad watch with plenty of ebb and flow.

[ryodi]

Lucky lucky Germany. France missed two absolute sitters in that match and should have been home and dry before Germany won the penalty at the end.

[Fry Crayola]

Couldn't help but feel sorry for Lavogez at the end, despite her terrible dive earlier in the match. It's not an easy way to lose a game you really should have won.

In the other match, China were undone by having nothing up front. I don't think they had a single effort from inside the box, anything that hit the target was just a weak float into Solo's hands. The US didn't create many clear chances either, though they did miss an absolute sitter in the first minute (not quite as bad as Thiney's, mind you). They were just more threatening in general, getting into or around the box more, causing problems.

Germany v USA on Tuesday should be very interesting.

[ryodi]

Japan made hard work of that. Australia were solid but never really threatened and a scrappy goal from a poorly defended corner has sent them though. I imagine the Canada England game won't be much better as a spectacle from how those teams have played so far.

[Tourist]

Watching the Japan/Australia game, Australia got a little bit dirty after going behind I thought. I wonder why Australian soccer teams are so dirty.

[Gabe]

That was a rubbish game to watch, frankly. I'm sure the heat was a factor, but neither team really did a great deal with the ball and it was very short on action.

[hellsbells]

Couple of shocking pens from Brazil as they lose to Paraguay at the QF stage of the Copa America once again.

At least they didn't miss all of them this time!

[Sirloin]

Brazil deservedly out against Paraguay. Firmino a waste of space again.

[ryodi]

England lead! And the game is watchable which is rare for an England game in this tournament.

Edit: 2-0!

[hellsbells]

Bloody hell, 2-0. Both great finishes.

[Gabe]

Yep, 2 very well taken goals. I'd like to see them try and slow the game down a bit though, everybody is just running at full pelt everywhere. Needs a but of composure.

[jonamok]

Needs a but of composure.

Would watch.

[Gabe]

Anyway, another mistake from the 'keeper allowing the Canadians back into it, good time to score too. Need to see more from the midfield in the second half if they are to progress.

[hellsbells]

Pretty poor after such a good start. We keep kicking it away unnecessarily. Properly in the balance after that Canada goal.