Portugal and France

Just for a change, England lose on penalties and once again, Brazil seems to have had something put in the food before playing against France. Some strange decisions by the referee in this game also raise suspicions that the Fifa World Cup is loaded in favour of some and against others.

Photo: Portugal and France

England 0 – Portugal 0 a.e.t.

Penalties

Hargreaves Simão Sabrosa

Postiga

Ronaldo

England had two chances to close the scoreboard before the ninety minutes, on 53’ and 58’, Lampard stubbornly insisting on missing the target from ten and seven yards respectively. Rooney’s sending off on the hour for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho did not help England’s cause but England’s ten men held off Portugal’s eleven until the penalties, in which as usual, England was incapable of using to their advantage.

Full marks to Ricardo for his three saves against Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher but there are those who claim that a well taken penalty has no possible defence.

Brazil 0 France 1

Henry 57’

Once again Brazil seemed to have been drugged against France, playing this time not at home but in their neighbour’s yard. Brazil never managed to impose its game due to pressure by France, which could have doubled the scoreline on 70’, when Dida came out and blocked Ribery. How Ronaldo could get a yellow card for handball when he was standing in the defensive wall, defies logic.

France and Portugal play on Wednesday in the semi-finals.

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Pravda.Ru