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I agree Sam,but this is the stahe of the tournament where the under-performers like Germany and Italy could get dangerous,a bit like France,who were lucky to get to the world cup final in 2006.

But i'm sure that Scolari has been doing his homework on the Germans,whilst 'supposedly' picking his Chelsea wishlist for next season !whistle!

So,i'm still sticking with a Portugal win.Sam Slater wrote:

> Podolski aside, the German attack haven't impressed me in the
> slightest. Klose hasn't had much service and Gomez hasn't been
> able to hit a barn door from 3 yards upto now.
>
> I'm saying Portugal will win 2-0.......or Germany will hold out
> and go through on penalties!
>
>

Mmm..Portugal to win this 1/4 final at 3/1 with Paddypower..worth a sixpence methinks.

Oh so predictable in many ways but i did tip Portugal 3-2

Never bet against the Germans in Europe

I'd back against Croatia to beat Turkey, who I think are very fortunate to make it this far, and Germany to beat the Croatians to make it to the final, On the other side, Spain really haven't impressed me too much, I expect the Italians have a bit more class than them. Other than that I believe we haven't seen the best of Russia yet, but I'm not sure they'll beat the Dutch.

Indeed.A night i'd rather forget,betting wise.The Germans deserved to win and Loew was tactically spot on by throwing another man in midfield to support Ballack who was free to roam despite Fring's absence through injury and his deputy,Hitzelsberger did a great job.

Portugal are paying the price for complacencey and their suicide defending.Unless the Portuguese find a prolific hitman in the vein of the Villa's,Torres's and Podolski's of this world,they'll always continue to be the nearly men of Europe.

I can already see the anti-Chelsea brigade already sharpening their knives as Scolari prepares to take on a new adventure in 10 days time.

Scolari is still seething over Ballacks goal but as one commentator put it if the centrehalfs had been marking the 2 most dangerous heading specialists Balack & Klose 2 goals from the set pieces wouldn't have been scored...schoolboy defending cost them the game

I agree their attack has always lacked that killer edge.Greece proved how impotent it was at Euro 2004 twice when they were at their peak

There was a definite push by Ballack, but the best team won on the night, and he had a great game. Between the goalie and the defence, at least two goals were gifted---and even some of their attacking players lacked imagination at times, taking riduclously ambitious pot shots from well outside the box when there were better options.

Wonder how much of the Portuguese performance can be put down to morale in the camp after last week's completely unnecessary disruption.

What?,you agree the media should of left C Ronaldo alone? !whistle!Caractacus wrote:


>
> Wonder how much of the Portuguese performance can be put down
> to morale in the camp after last week's completely unnecessary
> disruption.

On the evidence of Croatia and Russias showing in this tournament maybe Mclaren was unfairly treated when we didnt qualify.

Why not give credit to the opposition sometimes instead of thinking we have a god given right to qualify, call me mad but with a full strenght side i think we could have done well in this tournament had we got there

Caractacus wrote:

> There was a definite push by Ballack, but the best team won on
> the night, and he had a great game.

Was a push, but the kind of push that's always going on at those kind of freekicks, and which refs often let go unpunished. I mean, if it had been the other way around, with the defender pushing in this way, would the ref have given a penalty? I doubt it.