Quote ="Robbie Rotten"So what? That's 'cause they play underdog every game and defend non-stop. Paraguay have beaten Brazil, Paraguay were very good in qualifying, whilst they've had to do without Santa Cruz for most of the past year due to injury, and one of their other good strikers - Cabanas - has been shot in the head. They're a better team than America, America had a good confederations cup last year but only because they could play their defensive football without any expectation to attack. Same with against us, they were gash and people seem to think they were good 'cause they kept us out, all they done is what the likes of Fulham, Stoke and Everton do every ">week.'" It doesn't matter how you get results. It's the results that count. USA have been better at getting results than paraguay hence they are 17 places above them in the FIFA ranking. They are a better team. Your opinion can go to hell.

Quote ="Robbie Rotten"So what? That's 'cause they play underdog every game and defend non-stop. Paraguay have beaten Brazil, Paraguay were very good in qualifying, whilst they've had to do without Santa Cruz for most of the past year due to injury, and one of their other good strikers - Cabanas - has been shot in the head. They're a better team than America, America had a good confederations cup last year but only because they could play their defensive football without any expectation to attack. Same with against us, they were gash and people seem to think they were good 'cause they kept us out, all they done is what the likes of Fulham, Stoke and Everton do every ">week.'" It doesn't matter how you get results. It's the results that count. USA have been better at getting results than paraguay hence they are 17 places above them in the FIFA ranking. They are a better team. Your opinion can go to hell.

Quote ="Dead Man Walking"Roll on Euro 2012 in Poland and The Ukraine. Germany and Spain must be favourites for that one ">already.'" The French will be back with a bang. Easily the second best side in Europe on paper, with an actual manager in charge now and the old heads gone, I think (if the draw's possible) they'll be against Spain in the final.

Quote ="Dead Man Walking"Roll on Euro 2012 in Poland and The Ukraine. Germany and Spain must be favourites for that one ">already.'" The French will be back with a bang. Easily the second best side in Europe on paper, with an actual manager in charge now and the old heads gone, I think (if the draw's possible) they'll be against Spain in the final.

As a football fan the fascinating thing for me now is who are the team that come along and replace Spain as the number one team in the world, and how they do it.



Thankfully the tactics of the likes of Portugal (defend defend defend and hope for penalties) and Holland's attempts to foul them into submission haven't worked, and they were able to see them both off eventually.



History would suggest it is unlikely Spain will retain the European Championships, nevermind the next World Cup, it is just to be hoped that the team who eventually do work out the way to beat them when it matters do it by playing a bit more football than the likes of Portugal and Holland attempted.

But unlike Eurovision it makes a truckload of money to offset that, TBF. And the prospect of repeat tournaments would make it quite appealing, as there wouldn't be the high set-up costs again.

Quote ="GCM1980"It would have been decided much earlier if the Dutch had been reduced to 10 men in the first half, as they should have been. How it took so long I'll never know. The Dutch tried to spoil it and deserved to lose regardless of the ">circumstances.'" Realy ugly game. I thought Webb should have booked Van Persie for the first challenge and sent off De Jong and Van Bommel in the first half. That might have calmed things down but equally the attitude of the players was such that the match could have completely degenerated. Does the rule that there must be at least 8 players per side apply to the WC? It would have been interesting if they'd had to abandon WC final.

Quote ="GCM1980"It would have been decided much earlier if the Dutch had been reduced to 10 men in the first half, as they should have been. How it took so long I'll never know. The Dutch tried to spoil it and deserved to lose regardless of the ">circumstances.'" Realy ugly game. I thought Webb should have booked Van Persie for the first challenge and sent off De Jong and Van Bommel in the first half. That might have calmed things down but equally the attitude of the players was such that the match could have completely degenerated. Does the rule that there must be at least 8 players per side apply to the WC? It would have been interesting if they'd had to abandon WC final.

Quote ="Dally"Shame the biggest football match in 4 years was effectively decided by a major refereeing ">blunder.'" It wasnt really tho just a load of kerfuffle from the dutch who are sore loosers. after that minor blunder the game carried on for 3 or 4 mins and 20 odd passes later they score. if the dutch wanna talk about errors look at the mistakes they made in the match not other peoples they should have been down to 9 by half time

Quote ="Dally"Shame the biggest football match in 4 years was effectively decided by a major refereeing ">blunder.'" It wasnt really tho just a load of kerfuffle from the dutch who are sore loosers. after that minor blunder the game carried on for 3 or 4 mins and 20 odd passes later they score. if the dutch wanna talk about errors look at the mistakes they made in the match not other peoples they should have been down to 9 by half time