The final contest of the Round of 16 kicks off at 2:30pm ET–an intra-Iberian matchup involving powerhouses Portugal and Spain. The winner will get slotted into the remaining quarterfinal match, taking on surprise quarterfinalist Paraguay on Saturday.
We’ll be watching the game from the awesome PlayBeautifulNYC popup virtual stadium in Soho/Nolita. We’re not sure if they have wifi–if so, we’ll be liveblogging from there; if not, we’ll try to post to the comment thread from our phones, but we’ll count on you to provide most of the color commentary!
We are 45 minutes from kickoff. Starting lineups and the ever-present comment box after the jump!
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[liveblog]23[/liveblog]
Starting lineups: [not available as of 2pm ET]
Spain:
Portugal:
35 comments
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 2:24 PM
on a non-soccer note, did you see the size of those earrings that C. Ronaldo had on. Rubbies that were probably more than my annual income.
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 2:29 PM
I think the graphic ESPN had in pre-match hype was interesting in showing that C. Ronaldo hasn’t taken many shots (only 2) from inside the 18. This suggests that he’s not taking players on in the final 1/3 and that his teammates aren’t finding him through into dangerous positions. This suggests that they aren’t in rhythm with him on his runs.
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 2:59 PM
wow viscious free kick by Ronaldo, esp. good idea given the field is wet
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Spain really seems to think it can do well striking from distance
antu
June 29, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Good game I think — as expected
Eggblogg
June 29, 2010 at 3:06 PM
It seems that Portugal is sitting back again & focusing on defending ala against Brazil. Both teams are playing safe which is making for a slightly boring match at this moment. Somebody needs to step it up because if I recall, whoever loses goes home.
Eggblogg
June 29, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Who’s that dreamy guy in your lead photo?
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 3:13 PM
Ok, so it’s seems pretty clear that these two teams do not like each other much. Play is becoming somewhat burdened by cheap fouls . . .
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:15 PM
spain is being too patient and allowing portugual to get all numbers back behind ball! even pretty boy is behind ball and defending and that is why it seems spain is trying to strike from distance, which obviously can’t happen when you are trying to crack through players. shows you have too much respect for other team! damn just go forward and attack! stop sitting back and playing safe!
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:17 PM
totally agree with you Amy! Spain looks like thos old dutch teams that maintained possession forever, but never got the goal.
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:23 PM
listen to stupid alexsii lalas talking about spain waiting for that break! they are making it hard for themselves! there were sooo many times when they could have gone forward but literally turned around and played it all the way back to rebuild in order for port to regroup and defend! lol how is that waiting for a break when you are allowing your opponent to set up and entire fleet of defense against you?????
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:25 PM
and simon, you’re right! what is maintaining possession prove if you never put one in the net to win! and as eggblog reminds us above ummmmm hello, losers go HOME!!!!!!
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Lalas is a giant idiot . . . it’s hard to believe he ever played. Wait, he played for the U.S., never mind.
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:28 PM
eggblog, that dreamy guy dreams of himself he’s so vain!! and good point on caption, his hair is incredible! it NEVER moves! but i am a fan of puyol’s wild and crazy product FREE hair! 😉
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:29 PM
hahahahaha!!! ligocki you are so right! yes he is! i cringe every time he comments! and yea, he played, but he’s like carrot-top, his hair was his only novelty!
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Amy, I agree with your assessment. I’ll add that it seems that both Spain and Portugal are placing too much effort into the prevention of a counter-attack and consequently not bringing their respective backs into play up the field (as is typical for each). This is creating problems for each team with regard to penetration (haha – I said penetration!!).
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:47 PM
its interesting to compare todays two games, so much more caution than in the other round of 16 matches
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:48 PM
wow surprised that they’re taking off el nino torres for llorente
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 3:48 PM
What the hell . . . how do you take Torres off the pitch at this point in the game?!
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:51 PM
true ligocki…..which in essence is preventing their own counter attack/penetration haha~ FINALLY!!!!!! SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
amy
June 29, 2010 at 3:54 PM
ok spain, with all those chances, you scored! stop sitting back now and attack attack! make port come out of their defensive shell too and let’s make the game interestingly intense!!!
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:54 PM
lovely build up by Spain, now lets see if pretty boy can create anything to answer. I vote no. If Portugal pulls it out, I think it will be Simao that doesn the work for the portugese side
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 3:58 PM
porntastic commentary “capdevilla was part of a portugeese player sandwich”
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 4:01 PM
I don’t think removing Simao was a good decision for Portugal
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Simon, I agree. Portugal looks defeated at the moment.
Eggblogg
June 29, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Not looking good for Portugal.
amy
June 29, 2010 at 4:10 PM
simon i don’t think i matters at this point! simao or pretty boy! and pretty boy is content with pretending to want to chase the spanish defenders while they possess the ball around him! he is nonexistent in all capacities right now! silenced and stifled! and yes port is defeated for sure! spain is putting on a clinic right now, but i wanna see villa crack another, although it would be nice to see ramos get one on his runs from the back!
Suman
June 29, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Sean is liveblogging from his iPhone, I am in the backroom with Ashok, now on my laptop. Just bottle-fed Ashok…
Tommy
June 29, 2010 at 4:11 PM
Simon, you’ve been in Cali too long. You hear “Portuguese Sandwich” and think manporn. I hear it (sitting at Billy Goat on Wells) and think pork and cheese on bread. You need to get home, Jefe.
Suman
June 29, 2010 at 4:14 PM
It is true that Ashok in his green “All Star” soccer top does look like he’s a Portugal supporter..but I’m counteracting that with my Barca T. Can’t wait to see Villa playing for Barcelona this fall..that’s going to be bananas
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Couldn’t agree with you more Tommy, if I can get an academic job at a UofI, UIC, Loyola, Northwestern or UofC I’d be back in a heartbeat.
Simon
June 29, 2010 at 4:19 PM
Amy you’re right they were done before the red card
amy
June 29, 2010 at 4:24 PM
yea the second half was spains! good win!
Ligocki
June 29, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Spain dominated, but they are still having trouble finding the back of the net. The next match will not be as forgiving perhaps.
amy
June 29, 2010 at 4:31 PM
agreed ligocki…..like said above, possession will get you nowhere if you aren’t putting it in the back of the net…..it took them an entire half to start attacking fully. can’t rely on that if you are going to meet a team like brazil or netherlands in future rounds! let alone look past paraguay in next!
Comments are closed.