Euro Cup 2004
06-17-2004, 10:42 AM
#81
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Thread Starter
LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Italy's star playmaker Francesco Totti received a three-match ban from UEFA on Thursday for spitting in the face of a Danish opponent in the team's Euro 2004 opener.
``We're fairly satisfied. Now we will see if we will make an appeal. We have to read the decision now,'' said Giulia Bongiorno, who was flown in from Italy on Wednesday night to lead Totti's high profile legal team.
The Italian Soccer Federation's chief lawyer Mario Gallavotti was also present at the hearing at a downtown Lisbon hotel.
Italy has 24 hours to appeal the decision. It still remained possible, albeit unlikely, that Totti will be allowed to play Friday in a key Group C match against Sweden.
William Gaillard, UEFA's chief spokesman, said it all depended on if the appeals commission has time to meet before the match if Italy appeals.
``We will try to gather the appeals body as soon as possible,'' he said. ``It could happen. Anything is possible.''
As is, Totti will miss games against Sweden and Bulgaria, and the quarter-finals if Italy qualifies.
Gaillard said that UEFA's in-house prosecutors had recommended a four-match ban and that Italy argued for a one or two-game suspension.
The verdict was based on three factors, Gaillard said.
``First, the player's admission of guilt. Second, the circumstances of the tournament, the importance and the length - if the tournament was longer, the decision may have been different. Third, the gravity of the offence,'' Gaillard said.
``We will not tolerate this type of behaviour. We have not in the past and we will not in the future.''
Totti showed up for the hearing in a blue tracksuit and did not speak to a massive throng of reporters at any point. He was escorted by his lawyers and personal trainer from AS Roma and close friend Vito Scala, who is working for the Italian team during the tournament.
On Wednesday, a Danish TV station showed footage of Totti spitting in the face of Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in the 50th minute of Monday's 0-0 draw between the two teams.
Poulsen did not appear before the disciplinary commission, and Denmark submitted a written complaint instead.
In an interview with Italian private TV station TG5, Poulsen said that Totti spat on him ``more than once.''
``It was humiliating for me,'' he said. ``These are things that should not happen on a soccer pitch.''
Bongiorno, a lawyer who has previously represented ex-Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti in criminal cases, said that Totti had ``asked to be publicly excused for what happened,''
``He told me: 'I, Francesco Totti, do not know the Francesco Totti seen in that video. That was another personality. Francesco Totti is a sensible and socially responsible person who has helped people in difficulties,'' she said, referring to the player's two joke books, for which profits went to charity.
Bongiorno said there was a Danish TV camera at the stadium following only Totti's movements for the full 90 minutes of the match.
``I told the committee that this was a set-up,'' she said. ``If you film only one player for 90 minutes you will always find illicit behaviour.''
The suspension is a major blow to Italy, as Totti is widely considered the team's best player and coach Giovanni Trapattoni has built his entire offence around him.
Trapattoni said last week that Totti was the one player his team ``really counts on.''
While his performance was not extraordinary against Denmark, Totti was coming off a spectacular season at AS Roma, marked by a career-high 20 goals and he seemed especially motivated for the Euros after Roma finished second to AC Milan in Serie A.
Without Totti, Trapattoni is likely to move Alessandro Del Piero into the playmaker role and add Antonio Cassano as a striker alongside Christian Vieri.
Italy was already preparing for such a development in Wednesday afternoon's practice session, with Del Piero directing Cassano and Vieri in an intrasquad scrimmage.
There were also some changes in midfield, with Cristiano Zanetti and Gennaro Gattuso surrounding Andrea Pirlo in what looked like Trapattoni's new 4-3-1-2 formation.
It wasn't just Italians who were picking Totti to have a great tournament.
Soccer legends like Pele and Michel Platini, among others, had said that Totti's performance in Portugal would earn him the Golden Ball award as best player in Europe.
Totti finished 18th in last year's Golden Ball voting and was determined to win this year's award.
``We're fairly satisfied. Now we will see if we will make an appeal. We have to read the decision now,'' said Giulia Bongiorno, who was flown in from Italy on Wednesday night to lead Totti's high profile legal team.
The Italian Soccer Federation's chief lawyer Mario Gallavotti was also present at the hearing at a downtown Lisbon hotel.
Italy has 24 hours to appeal the decision. It still remained possible, albeit unlikely, that Totti will be allowed to play Friday in a key Group C match against Sweden.
William Gaillard, UEFA's chief spokesman, said it all depended on if the appeals commission has time to meet before the match if Italy appeals.
``We will try to gather the appeals body as soon as possible,'' he said. ``It could happen. Anything is possible.''
As is, Totti will miss games against Sweden and Bulgaria, and the quarter-finals if Italy qualifies.
Gaillard said that UEFA's in-house prosecutors had recommended a four-match ban and that Italy argued for a one or two-game suspension.
The verdict was based on three factors, Gaillard said.
``First, the player's admission of guilt. Second, the circumstances of the tournament, the importance and the length - if the tournament was longer, the decision may have been different. Third, the gravity of the offence,'' Gaillard said.
``We will not tolerate this type of behaviour. We have not in the past and we will not in the future.''
Totti showed up for the hearing in a blue tracksuit and did not speak to a massive throng of reporters at any point. He was escorted by his lawyers and personal trainer from AS Roma and close friend Vito Scala, who is working for the Italian team during the tournament.
On Wednesday, a Danish TV station showed footage of Totti spitting in the face of Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in the 50th minute of Monday's 0-0 draw between the two teams.
Poulsen did not appear before the disciplinary commission, and Denmark submitted a written complaint instead.
In an interview with Italian private TV station TG5, Poulsen said that Totti spat on him ``more than once.''
``It was humiliating for me,'' he said. ``These are things that should not happen on a soccer pitch.''
Bongiorno, a lawyer who has previously represented ex-Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti in criminal cases, said that Totti had ``asked to be publicly excused for what happened,''
``He told me: 'I, Francesco Totti, do not know the Francesco Totti seen in that video. That was another personality. Francesco Totti is a sensible and socially responsible person who has helped people in difficulties,'' she said, referring to the player's two joke books, for which profits went to charity.
Bongiorno said there was a Danish TV camera at the stadium following only Totti's movements for the full 90 minutes of the match.
``I told the committee that this was a set-up,'' she said. ``If you film only one player for 90 minutes you will always find illicit behaviour.''
The suspension is a major blow to Italy, as Totti is widely considered the team's best player and coach Giovanni Trapattoni has built his entire offence around him.
Trapattoni said last week that Totti was the one player his team ``really counts on.''
While his performance was not extraordinary against Denmark, Totti was coming off a spectacular season at AS Roma, marked by a career-high 20 goals and he seemed especially motivated for the Euros after Roma finished second to AC Milan in Serie A.
Without Totti, Trapattoni is likely to move Alessandro Del Piero into the playmaker role and add Antonio Cassano as a striker alongside Christian Vieri.
Italy was already preparing for such a development in Wednesday afternoon's practice session, with Del Piero directing Cassano and Vieri in an intrasquad scrimmage.
There were also some changes in midfield, with Cristiano Zanetti and Gennaro Gattuso surrounding Andrea Pirlo in what looked like Trapattoni's new 4-3-1-2 formation.
It wasn't just Italians who were picking Totti to have a great tournament.
Soccer legends like Pele and Michel Platini, among others, had said that Totti's performance in Portugal would earn him the Golden Ball award as best player in Europe.
Totti finished 18th in last year's Golden Ball voting and was determined to win this year's award.
Idiot.
You wait four years to redeem yourself and your team and then pull that. Unbelievable.
domn, who hasn't been this mad in a long time.
06-17-2004, 11:49 AM
#82
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England leads one-nil at the break, on a goal my Rooney.
The commentator says that the Swiss have been pretty good in possession and that the english goal was a fluke... seems like everything england does these days is a fluke.
Junkster, whose leaving at 12:45 MST for the Frenchie game
The commentator says that the Swiss have been pretty good in possession and that the english goal was a fluke... seems like everything england does these days is a fluke.
Junkster, whose leaving at 12:45 MST for the Frenchie game
06-17-2004, 12:41 PM
#84
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update: 3-nil england... must be an ugly game, because that's the main world that keeps coming up during the commentary. They need the points, that's for sure.
Junkster, who thinks english luck will run out in the knock out round
Junkster, who thinks english luck will run out in the knock out round
06-17-2004, 04:12 PM
#90
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first off, damn you domn!!! I'll catch you yet...
The game:
The croats looked suspect at the beginning, with the French totally dominating the first half. A free kick from the left by Zidane bounced off a Croat defender and bounced in...
But the goal was not the highlight of the first half... A short corner to the near post by Henry, which was then heel tapped magically by Zidane ALMOST found itself in the back of the net via a header. Oh, that's gonna be on every highlight tonight...
Second half was more of the same at the beginning, but then Silvestre had a unfortunate call in the box and the Croatian striker evened up the game. Than, with the croat crowd in a dizzying frenzy with their chants, got their second goal from another french defensive blunder to clear the ball in their box... Croats 2-1!!!
But, that same Croat defender who had an own goal, lazily backpassed to his goalie, which was picked off by Trezguet who evened the game... what a blunder indeedy. Replay showed incidental handball by Trez, but it didn't much matter.
The same croat defender almost cost them what they could salvage when he failed to clear well with a header and almost put it in his own goal...
three minutes of injury time, and in the third minute, the croats almost capitalized on a counter attack when the strike from 3 to 5 yards away from goal was defended by the defence...
Croats showed the rest of the teams just how vulnerable the French defence is... with Bathez being such a risk taker, teams can take advantage as long as the French are not on the offensive, and you're strikers can get passed the midfield...
Congrats to Croats, who now are a win away from taking the second spot of the group!!! They just have to beat England!!!
Junkster, whose also watching the Italy game tommorow
The game:
The croats looked suspect at the beginning, with the French totally dominating the first half. A free kick from the left by Zidane bounced off a Croat defender and bounced in...
But the goal was not the highlight of the first half... A short corner to the near post by Henry, which was then heel tapped magically by Zidane ALMOST found itself in the back of the net via a header. Oh, that's gonna be on every highlight tonight...
Second half was more of the same at the beginning, but then Silvestre had a unfortunate call in the box and the Croatian striker evened up the game. Than, with the croat crowd in a dizzying frenzy with their chants, got their second goal from another french defensive blunder to clear the ball in their box... Croats 2-1!!!
But, that same Croat defender who had an own goal, lazily backpassed to his goalie, which was picked off by Trezguet who evened the game... what a blunder indeedy. Replay showed incidental handball by Trez, but it didn't much matter.
The same croat defender almost cost them what they could salvage when he failed to clear well with a header and almost put it in his own goal...
three minutes of injury time, and in the third minute, the croats almost capitalized on a counter attack when the strike from 3 to 5 yards away from goal was defended by the defence...
Croats showed the rest of the teams just how vulnerable the French defence is... with Bathez being such a risk taker, teams can take advantage as long as the French are not on the offensive, and you're strikers can get passed the midfield...
Congrats to Croats, who now are a win away from taking the second spot of the group!!! They just have to beat England!!!
Junkster, whose also watching the Italy game tommorow
06-17-2004, 04:17 PM
#91
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Junkster
first off, damn you domn!!! I'll catch you yet...
The game:
The croats looked suspect at the beginning, with the French totally dominating the first half. A free kick from the left by Zidane bounced off a Croat defender and bounced in...
But the goal was not the highlight of the first half... A short corner to the near post by Henry, which was then heel tapped magically by Zidane ALMOST found itself in the back of the net via a header. Oh, that's gonna be on every highlight tonight...
Second half was more of the same at the beginning, but then Silvestre had a unfortunate call in the box and the Croatian striker evened up the game. Than, with the croat crowd in a dizzying frenzy with their chants, got their second goal from another french defensive blunder to clear the ball in their box... Croats 2-1!!!
But, that same Croat defender who had an own goal, lazily backpassed to his goalie, which was picked off by Trezguet who evened the game... what a blunder indeedy. Replay showed incidental handball by Trez, but it didn't much matter.
The same croat defender almost cost them what they could salvage when he failed to clear well with a header and almost put it in his own goal...
three minutes of injury time, and in the third minute, the croats almost capitalized on a counter attack when the strike from 3 to 5 yards away from goal was defended by the defence...
Croats showed the rest of the teams just how vulnerable the French defence is... with Bathez being such a risk taker, teams can take advantage as long as the French are not on the offensive, and you're strikers can get passed the midfield...
Congrats to Croats, who now are a win away from taking the second spot of the group!!! They just have to beat England!!!
Junkster, whose also watching the Italy game tommorow
The game:
The croats looked suspect at the beginning, with the French totally dominating the first half. A free kick from the left by Zidane bounced off a Croat defender and bounced in...
But the goal was not the highlight of the first half... A short corner to the near post by Henry, which was then heel tapped magically by Zidane ALMOST found itself in the back of the net via a header. Oh, that's gonna be on every highlight tonight...
Second half was more of the same at the beginning, but then Silvestre had a unfortunate call in the box and the Croatian striker evened up the game. Than, with the croat crowd in a dizzying frenzy with their chants, got their second goal from another french defensive blunder to clear the ball in their box... Croats 2-1!!!
But, that same Croat defender who had an own goal, lazily backpassed to his goalie, which was picked off by Trezguet who evened the game... what a blunder indeedy. Replay showed incidental handball by Trez, but it didn't much matter.
The same croat defender almost cost them what they could salvage when he failed to clear well with a header and almost put it in his own goal...
three minutes of injury time, and in the third minute, the croats almost capitalized on a counter attack when the strike from 3 to 5 yards away from goal was defended by the defence...
Croats showed the rest of the teams just how vulnerable the French defence is... with Bathez being such a risk taker, teams can take advantage as long as the French are not on the offensive, and you're strikers can get passed the midfield...
Congrats to Croats, who now are a win away from taking the second spot of the group!!! They just have to beat England!!!
Junkster, whose also watching the Italy game tommorow
I'm hoping that France and Croatia advance. I've had it withthe english holligans on and off the feild.
Then again, both are better than Totti that idiot. They should send him hom regardless of how far they make it.
06-22-2004, 11:41 AM
#92
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I just PM'ed this to fdl but was wondering if anyone else knew.
Can someone explain something to me if you can. I got these quotes from tsn.ca. It says if Sweden and Denmark draw to 2-2 or higher then Italy is out no matter what the out come is. I don't get it. Right now Denmark has 2 goals to Italy's 1. Now if they tie Sweden 2-2 that gives them 4. Now if Italy scores 3 they also have 4, so why would Italy be out? At the same time if the danes tie 1-1 that gives them 3 goals and if Italy wins 2-0 they also have 3 so who goes through?
"If the two Scandinavian teams draw 2-2 or higher, they will both advance, sending Italy home. If Italy wins and either team wins the other match, Italy will advance. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw between Denmark and Sweden coupled with a big enough Italian win would also qualify Italy."
and
"Either Sweden or Denmark will advance to the quarter-finals with a win. But they could also knock out Italy with a 2-2 draw, regardless of how well the Azzurri perform against Bulgaria in their last group match."
Can someone explain something to me if you can. I got these quotes from tsn.ca. It says if Sweden and Denmark draw to 2-2 or higher then Italy is out no matter what the out come is. I don't get it. Right now Denmark has 2 goals to Italy's 1. Now if they tie Sweden 2-2 that gives them 4. Now if Italy scores 3 they also have 4, so why would Italy be out? At the same time if the danes tie 1-1 that gives them 3 goals and if Italy wins 2-0 they also have 3 so who goes through?
"If the two Scandinavian teams draw 2-2 or higher, they will both advance, sending Italy home. If Italy wins and either team wins the other match, Italy will advance. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw between Denmark and Sweden coupled with a big enough Italian win would also qualify Italy."
and
"Either Sweden or Denmark will advance to the quarter-finals with a win. But they could also knock out Italy with a 2-2 draw, regardless of how well the Azzurri perform against Bulgaria in their last group match."
06-22-2004, 12:39 PM
#93
Senior Moderator
Hopefully Italy advances today. The first half they played against sweeden was some of the best soccer I have seen in years. Amazing. But after their 1-0 lead they make the same mistakes they always do and sit on the lead and play hardcore defense
They have so much potential, as long as trapatoni doesnt start pulling out their star strikers. IMO he is the one and only problem with this team.
BTW, dom i pmèd you about the draw thing.
They have so much potential, as long as trapatoni doesnt start pulling out their star strikers. IMO he is the one and only problem with this team.
BTW, dom i pmèd you about the draw thing.
06-22-2004, 02:28 PM
#98
Senior Moderator
Hey dom, where you getting your updates? the minute by minute descriptions on euro2004.com seem to be run through a computer translator. Its hilarious
and makes no sense.
and makes no sense.
38' Corradi (Italy) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
Del Piero and Cassano combine well to work an opportunity that comes to nothing as the striker moves too soon.
36' Martin Petrov (Bulgaria) misses the target.
The set-piece balloons over the bar.
Del Piero and Cassano combine well to work an opportunity that comes to nothing as the striker moves too soon.
36' Martin Petrov (Bulgaria) misses the target.
The set-piece balloons over the bar.
06-22-2004, 02:28 PM
#99
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Originally Posted by domn
I just PM'ed this to fdl but was wondering if anyone else knew.
Can someone explain something to me if you can. I got these quotes from tsn.ca. It says if Sweden and Denmark draw to 2-2 or higher then Italy is out no matter what the out come is. I don't get it. Right now Denmark has 2 goals to Italy's 1. Now if they tie Sweden 2-2 that gives them 4. Now if Italy scores 3 they also have 4, so why would Italy be out? At the same time if the danes tie 1-1 that gives them 3 goals and if Italy wins 2-0 they also have 3 so who goes through?
"If the two Scandinavian teams draw 2-2 or higher, they will both advance, sending Italy home. If Italy wins and either team wins the other match, Italy will advance. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw between Denmark and Sweden coupled with a big enough Italian win would also qualify Italy."
and
"Either Sweden or Denmark will advance to the quarter-finals with a win. But they could also knock out Italy with a 2-2 draw, regardless of how well the Azzurri perform against Bulgaria in their last group match."
Can someone explain something to me if you can. I got these quotes from tsn.ca. It says if Sweden and Denmark draw to 2-2 or higher then Italy is out no matter what the out come is. I don't get it. Right now Denmark has 2 goals to Italy's 1. Now if they tie Sweden 2-2 that gives them 4. Now if Italy scores 3 they also have 4, so why would Italy be out? At the same time if the danes tie 1-1 that gives them 3 goals and if Italy wins 2-0 they also have 3 so who goes through?
"If the two Scandinavian teams draw 2-2 or higher, they will both advance, sending Italy home. If Italy wins and either team wins the other match, Italy will advance. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw between Denmark and Sweden coupled with a big enough Italian win would also qualify Italy."
and
"Either Sweden or Denmark will advance to the quarter-finals with a win. But they could also knock out Italy with a 2-2 draw, regardless of how well the Azzurri perform against Bulgaria in their last group match."
I read the answer in Yahoo Sports. Goals against Bulgaria have lowest priority because Bulgaria is already disqualified. So that means goals that count are those vs. Denmark and vs. Sweden. So no matter how much Italy scores against Bulgaria does not really matter (they don't count on goal difference) - well only the win will matter if sweden and denmark didn't draw 2-2 or higher.
06-22-2004, 02:32 PM
#101
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by wingwing
I read the answer in Yahoo Sports. Goals against Bulgaria have lowest priority because Bulgaria is already disqualified. So that means goals that count are those vs. Denmark and vs. Sweden. So no matter how much Italy scores against Bulgaria does not really matter (they don't count on goal difference) - well only the win will matter if sweden and denmark didn't draw 2-2 or higher.
So then the goals that sweden and denmark scored against bulgaria shoudlnt matter either? So everyones goals for will be 0 since noone has beaten a team other than bulgaria?
06-22-2004, 02:34 PM
#103
Senior Moderator
I think it was a penalty shot goal
Marco Materazzi comited the foul. Was he replacing Carnavale who is out with a red card? Stupid ref from last game :sqntfawk:
Marco Materazzi comited the foul. Was he replacing Carnavale who is out with a red card? Stupid ref from last game :sqntfawk:
06-22-2004, 02:39 PM
#104
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I'm getting the updates from euro2004.com as well.
All I can say to that score is :shakehd:
"Tie breakers
If teams finish level on points, then the winner of the match between the sides in question will finish highest, or should they have drawn, goal difference, followed by goals scored, qualifying record for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2004™, a fair play ranking and finally either a penalty shoot-out or drawing of lots.
If teams finish level on points, then the winner of the match between the sides in question will finish highest, or should they have drawn, goal difference, followed by goals scored, qualifying record for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2004™, a fair play ranking and finally either a penalty shoot-out or drawing of lots.
06-22-2004, 03:09 PM
#111
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
"Vieri (Italy) misses the target. The forward joins the party by getting on the end of the set-piece, but his header flies centimetres over the bar."
Sound familiar.
Sound familiar.
06-22-2004, 03:10 PM
#112
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
"64' Kotev (in) - Pazin (out) (Bulgaria) Bulgaria rearrange their defence in an attempt to stem the constant Italian attacks."
Score for f sakes
Score for f sakes
06-22-2004, 03:13 PM
#114
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by domn
Denmark would be +2 and Italy + 1 so Denmark.
Veiri is in.
Veiri is in.
Dam, so denmark and sweden are gonna just sit on their tie.
It looks like italy is getting tons of shots / chances. They just need to put the ball in the net.
If they lose to bulgaria they have no business advancing.
06-22-2004, 03:14 PM
#116
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by domn
2-1 Danes
Italy must score, NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Italy must score, NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good news. Then again if sweden scores we have the dreaded 2-2 tie which supposedly will seal the deal on italy being out.