Yet another non-game with Spain involved. Can we ban them yet?

Indeed.

Thats why the only manager interested in one of the biggest clubs in the world was some ex championship manager who steared his current club to the dizzy heights of mid table

How spooky was that penalty shoot-out?
You could have substituted Portugal with England.
Losing the toss.
Sides that go first are at an advantage.
Having an early advantage (ie a missed penalty) that was then squandered.
Hitting the bar.
Having a cheeky dink right down the centre of the goal against you.

So it's not just us.

That chart someone posted of Liverpool fans' bullishness could easily be substituted for far too many England fans' views of how 'good' England are. England have been dreadful for almost my entire life.

Where does - Best player not taking a penalty- feature?

Couldn't be more wrong.

Yeah, don't forget the manager that just managed to scrape his team to Premiership safety with a few decent results at the end of the season!!!

Also, we didn't have a player interrupting a fellow penalty-taker because that player went out of turn and leaving that player to stew in his embarrassment with disastrous consequences.
There are others ......but these are mere details.

Not true. It didn't work out for him at Liverpool. I still like the guy and wish him all the best for England. It'll be interesting to see how he brings England [i'out of their shell'[/i against weaker opponents in WC Qualifying.

Iker Casilla's girlfriend and Telecinco 'reporter', Sara Carbonero interviewing Andrés Iniesta after the game last night.

Carbonero - "Would you have liked to have taken a penalty?"
Iniesta - "Well... err... I took the second one."


Youtube - Sara Carbonero entrevista a Iniesta

According to 'Arry, England have "good players who everyone keeps underestimating' and "Hodgson has to start getting them playing some football". Easy job from your armchair, isn't it?

It was dire, wasn't it??.....Yes, I can agree with Mr Roddy that its all very tidy and even involves some skill, but the sheer tedium of it all matches anything that Hodgson's England conjured up in this tournament.

It does show what a great player Messi truly is, because Barca without him would be identical....He is the man who puts the excitement into them, because he is actually positive and direct - Spain lack this type of player, and oh how it shows.

If there's any justice, the Germans will take this tournament....Skill and positive intent, it makes for good watching.

That David Villa ain't bad, like.

I agree, and his absence is highly noticable...... Last night was awful, and the Portuguese also definitely confirmed my opinion, that they only come out to play when the opponents are lightweight.

Wonder if Vilanova will do the same as Guardiola and play him out of position on the left, so as to fit him in the team.

2-0 to the Italians against Germany! Take a bow Ballotelli!

didnt expect italy to race into a 2-0 lead. however, if germany can nick one back soonish, i can see them taking it to extra time.

Balotelli is class. Did fancy Italy tonight, impressed me against England, well disciplined, organised and resilliant. And as shown tonight, they have Balo for fire power and wow factor.

I wonder if the Spain squad are sat around the table at their hotel wishing they played more like the Germans?

When will Villa be back? Will Villa stay if that's the case? There was talk of him getting sick of playing on the left when he's arguably the best 'striker' in the world (I never count Messi as a striker, he's a God).

Did Barca ever bother signing Drogba or what?

You seem a bit confused....People who are not convinced by Spain and their insipid football, don't deny that they are efficient or that it gets them results, they just find them incredibly dull. Even their biggest fans can't say they have been enthralled by their football in the last 3 weeks.

It wouldn't surprise me if they end up as champions, but this side won't even be remembered for good football, never mind entertaining stuff.

I'm sure Villa is back in training so I'd imagine he'll make an appearance in the European charity shield, or whatever it's called. It'll be interesting as Afellay was out for most of the season, Alexis Sánchez was settling in while Pedro and Thiago were not used regularly. Add into that Cuenca and of course Messi and Villa could have a job on his hands getting back into the starting eleven.
I saw something about Barça signing Drogba, but it was days after I'd read he was signing for a Chinese club so didn't pay any attention.

Whether he's played in the middle or not Villa will usually drift out to the left and cut in onto his right foot. It's his little set move and gets him a lot of goals.

Of course, but I think it's more than just about a set move for Villa. He wants - and is good enough - to be the man that the attack creates for. He's playing second fiddle to Messi, maybe not even that now. He's won everything there is to win, I'd move on if I was him and enjoy the rest of my career trying out a new league or two.