i was deeply ashamed :(

the first yellow card (i think it was the first?) for the attack on c. ronaldo was very bad .. should have been red .. and totally not needed (if a foul this bad can ever bee needed :()

but i was most ashamed of the behaviour of the players after a card was given (again) .. they tumbled over another to start a fight and to earn a new card (this happened on both sides) ... there was so much need for 'revenge' .. it was no fun.
especially the dutch players should have known better .. they were behind in score .. and (for some time) with 1 more player .. so they should have used all the time they had and not throw away fighting like little children.
they lost more than 15 minutes fighting and only got 6 minutes extra .. thats a real loss
but the worst part of it was that it ruined the game .. there were only short moments of soccer .. but thats hard to remember after so many 'situations'

the referees (sp?) have been given orders to be more strict .. the players are trying to take advantage of it .. thats a bad path to go :( .. referees are using their power a lot .. players notice this and try to use it in their advantage ... making the referees take more actions .. etc.

in the old days (and i am not even that old) players were tackled .. but tried to stay on foot and battle for the ball (not for the ground, or worst damage to do to your opponent) .. they would run on ... keep the ball with them .. and try to play the game

on another board i read players nowadays are more like cows .. they see grass .. the dive for it .. and stay down (to eat?) .. or like dogs being given a commando to play dead .. they feel something .. they think it might work .. and they drop dead (and so does the match, dead at once)

soccer isnt about skills with the ball or team play anymore .. its about acting

portugal has more individual class and skills .. the netherlands players are more team players

sometimes the game was exciting .. portugal defended very well .. the netherlands failed to score .. portugal did .. and won :)

my prediction is that portugal will win against england, and then lose against brasil (or maybe spain) .. then the final which either brasil or argentina or spain will win

my dream final will be australia portugal though ;)