The Sports Thread
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France predicably went through last night (and thank God they did!), although the match itself wasn’t a firecracker. I don’t have high hopes for Spain-Belgium tonight either, but hopefully they can up their ante a notch from their last matches.
It’s a very weird atmosphere right now.
I’m sitting at home, on the balcony, in a relatively quiet part of Oslo. In the distance, I can hear a private party with cheering people. But mostly, it’s quiet. And then, just 1 km away from where I am, I know that it’s teeming with life. Pubs, restaurants, open squares, stadiums….they all have thousands upon thousands of rabid Norway fans waiting for the match. Lots of noise, endless amounts of beer, coloured outfits, expectations.
Personally, I’m 99% certain that we will lose to England. Brazil was a fluke (because of their weird tactic), England is a bridge too far. But of course, I would like to be proven wrong. Just being realistic. My heart is always with the fatherland.
The first advert break suited Norway, who were timid for 23 minutes, but livelier after. Fluke goal (cross cum shot) sparked the game into life.
Very good equaliser from the Bell-End.
Game on!!Can’t help thinking that the footballing gods have let us into the semifinal just so we can manage our usual self-immolation against the Argentinians. I wonder what lies in store for us this time…
I get nostalgia (by proxy as I was too young to be aware of it) for when Argie players were sent off for “the look in his eyes”.
Where Norway won last night is in the members of the crowd whom the camera-operators chose to feature. Must visit there one day!
Some weird referee decisions, to put it mildly (like the high wire stunts, or the Haaland incident where be barely pushed that defender). But I’m not going to hold that against them. England WAS the best team, even if only barely. So it’s deserved.
Two days now without any football. Again, I’m feeling withdrawal symptoms.
It’s a bit weird with all the hooplah surrounding Haaland, by the way. I grew up with his dad, Alf-Inge, as part of the previous “Golden Generation” of Norwegian footballers, at a time where we were ranked no. 2 in the world. He wasn’t brilliant, nowhere near his son, but he was part of that crowd. I think Alf-Inge played for Leeds too, or am I misremembering, Tall Guy?
Two days now without any football. Again, I’m feeling withdrawal symptoms.
Norwegian club football has started again.
“I think Alf-Inge played for Leeds too, or am I misremembering”
I will answer for the absent one.
Yes, Leeds Utd and Man City and he was involved in two famous incidents involving Roy Keane of Man Ure.
Haaland injured Keane in the first incident, but stood over Keane shouting and accusing him of feigning injury.
Keane recovered and much later, exacted revenge by targeting his knee, in a deliberate challenge which led to Keane standing over Haaland shouting whatever, before being sent off for the deliberate challenge. All very unsavoury.Thanks for the info! Yes, those were pretty wild days, with rascals like Keane and Vinne Jones on the field.
We exited in the quarter final, but the players were received yesterday as if they’d won the whole thing. 150 000+ people in the streets, the team and the fans “rowing” to the drumbeat of our crown prince outside the castle. I didn’t go there myself – too hot, and too big a crowd. But impressive sight.
I root for France, but they’ve not been able to play their offensive play. Credit to Spain, I suppose, for dismantling it.
Yes, Leeds Utd and Man City and he was involved in two famous incidents involving Roy Keane of Man Ure.
Haaland injured Keane in the first incident, but stood over Keane shouting and accusing him of feigning injury.
Keane recovered and much later, exacted revenge by targeting his knee, in a deliberate challenge which led to Keane standing over Haaland shouting whatever, before being sent off for the deliberate challenge. All very unsavoury.That’s mostly but not entirely true, as you can establish by watching the first incident on YouTube.
In the first incident Haaland ran past Keane from behind him, and whether by accident or design, Keane clipped Haaland’s ankle, bringing him down and injuring himself. Haaland remonstrated briefly with Keane for what Haaland felt was a dangerous tackle on him, not realising how badly Keane was injured. Leeds keeper Nigel Martin ushered Alfie away. No blame whatsoever on Alfie’s part.
Keene’s misplaced and appalling revenge should have resulted in a lifetime ban, if not a criminal charge. It wasn’t a footballing incident, it was premeditated actual bodily harm. He’s another tosser who shouldn’t get a penny of income from TV punditry. (See also Jamie Carragher.)
Wow – is everyone shocked into silence that I not only managed to quote Kev but also embed YouTube?
Heh – come on England! You’re not Leeds United, of course, but I’d still quite like you to win 😁
Wow – is everyone shocked into silence that I not only managed to quote Kev but also embed YouTube?
Yes, amazing. And thanks to you both for that reminder, the Keane-Alfie incident.
Lots of temperature in the match so far, not a lot of great play.
Good way of putting it. Clever Argentina players, very good at just staying out of the ref’s book while winding up the opposition. Then crying when the tables are turned.
Looks like you’re through, chaps! Argentina is banging their head against Hadrian’s Wall at the moment, trying to get that equalizer. But I doubt they’ll manage.
Anybody else heard that rumor or conspiracy theory that Argentina is already agreed secretly to win the cup?
No, but I heard something about the arranging of the logistics, so that they were secured four major teams in the semis. I don’t believe it.
I didn’t doubt it at all… Argentina won exactly the way saw it coming here. But I rooted for England till the final seconds. Would have loved Spain-England finale.
But now we have England-France in the bronze final. Lots of history there too.
And the Mbappé-Messi competition isn’t over yet — they both have chance to get that all-time top scorer title. But last chance for Messi, Mbappé has a few more.
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