I know it was a penalty - but, I did feel sorry for the Portugese. I`ve been really impressed with that little striker, I would have loved them to put France out of the tournament. (:o(

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Answers

Absolutely tragic for the Portugese who were excellent.However, it was definitely a penalty, and the subsequent behaviour of the Portugese players was highly regrettable. At least three of them should have been red-carded.
I find myself disliking the arrogant French more with every game, although you just have to admire ZZ.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Agreed!

You just have to admire him - but you don't want to and you'll hate yourself in the morning!

I was really rooting for Portugal too. :(

Come on Holland!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Although I agree that the final scenes were disgraceful....you could almost understand the reaction. It was very harsh. At least the Portugese looked as though they wanted to go through....I thought most of the game the French were content to sit back and just wait for the shoot-out.

I hope the Italians go through cos I really can't see Holland beating France, but I can see the Italians doing it....the are looking awesome at the moment.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

I had to laugh when, with two minutes left of normal time a Portugese defender resisted making a lunge at a French forward in the penalty area and one of the commentators said something like:

"There was no way he was going to be drawn into making a tackle there" Hmmm!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

It was particurlarly galling that the French won after they kept playing the ball with Figo injured - but with Chelsea players in the camp what should we expect?

Thought Aber Xavier was excellent throughout, save his goalkeeping exploits - at least he had the balls to stand up and say sorry for giving away the penno. A touch Dabizas-esque I felt too...brilliant defending play, nearly gets the winning goal then gives away the game at the end :-)

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Having drawn France in both the Euro 2000 sweeps I'm in I'm on the verge of needing psychiatric treatment. I want them to win but will hate the whingeing gits if they do!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000