To be honest, Beckham going off was the best thing that could have happened to England. With Lennon on the pitch, we looked like the better team, and bizarrely enough, continued to look the most likely to score even when down to ten men. The fact is that most teams don't like someone running at their left back and taking them on, especially at pace. (Interestingly, England are probably happier with people running at their left back than their right back. Ashley Cole's a much better defensive player than Gary Neville) It would have been even better if Sean Wright Phillips had actually had some games last season and gone, because he has lennon's pace combined with trickery, a good cross and a touch of the striker's instinct.
As for penalties, you have to say that while, yes, Ricardo guessed right all 4 times, the three that were saved were poorly struck, 2 of whom you'd expect to score 99 times out of 100 from the spot, and one who was brought on specifically to take a penalty. Sometimes I think it's mental strength. If we had more of that, we would have won that shootout.
Finally, about the red card. I have no idea what was going on there. The ref had given the free kick, showing no intention of even booking Rooney, then he's surrounded by portuguese players, Rooney pushes Ronaldo away, saying something, and the ref immediately calls him over and sends him off. Normally, I'd say, fair enough, maybe a touch harsh, but within the rules. The odd bit comes from the fact that Sven asked the ref in his dressing room after the game what the red card was for, and he claimed it was for the stamp.
In my mind this suggests that one of two things happened. Either he sent Rooney off for the push and what he said, and then either he saw a replay or talked to the other officials and decided to say it was for the stamp instead because it was more believable, or he changed his mind about whether or not to card Rooney because of the Portuguese reaction.
Either way, the stamp was accidental and didn't deserve a red, and would never have happened if the ref had given any of the 3 or 4 fouls committed on Rooney in the seconds leading up to it...
I'm glad Eriksson's gone now, maybe McLaren can show some of the tactical and man management nous he must have picked up from being Sir Alex Ferguson's number two during the Man Utd glory years.
Edit: Also, on a personal note, it seems my heart's a better predictor than my head. My heart had 3 correct results, whereas my head had just the 2.
As for penalties, you have to say that while, yes, Ricardo guessed right all 4 times, the three that were saved were poorly struck, 2 of whom you'd expect to score 99 times out of 100 from the spot, and one who was brought on specifically to take a penalty. Sometimes I think it's mental strength. If we had more of that, we would have won that shootout.
Finally, about the red card. I have no idea what was going on there. The ref had given the free kick, showing no intention of even booking Rooney, then he's surrounded by portuguese players, Rooney pushes Ronaldo away, saying something, and the ref immediately calls him over and sends him off. Normally, I'd say, fair enough, maybe a touch harsh, but within the rules. The odd bit comes from the fact that Sven asked the ref in his dressing room after the game what the red card was for, and he claimed it was for the stamp.
In my mind this suggests that one of two things happened. Either he sent Rooney off for the push and what he said, and then either he saw a replay or talked to the other officials and decided to say it was for the stamp instead because it was more believable, or he changed his mind about whether or not to card Rooney because of the Portuguese reaction.
Either way, the stamp was accidental and didn't deserve a red, and would never have happened if the ref had given any of the 3 or 4 fouls committed on Rooney in the seconds leading up to it...
I'm glad Eriksson's gone now, maybe McLaren can show some of the tactical and man management nous he must have picked up from being Sir Alex Ferguson's number two during the Man Utd glory years.
Edit: Also, on a personal note, it seems my heart's a better predictor than my head. My heart had 3 correct results, whereas my head had just the 2.
