English referee, Howard Webb. We applaud you.

Howard Webb is not like most other English football professionals. He actually did make it to Euro 2008!

Not only did he make it but he is doing rather well there too.

Last night in a tight, highly charged game between Austria and Poland he awarded an injury time penalty to the joint hosts which gave them an equalizer against the Poles.

Many people where quick to comment on the penalty award, of course the Poles believed that they where victims in some sort of conspiracy to ensure one of the host nations at least had another meaningful game in the tournament.

I think it was an excellent decision. Just seconds before Mr. Webb had warned the Poles about their jostling and shirt pulling in the box and they, as most professional footballers these days, paid absolutely no attention to the official and immediately grabbed the shirt of his opponent once again.

Yes I know we see this game in game out without punishment but the fact is it’s a foul. And the only reason we do see it game in game out is because referees don’t have the guts to punish the players as Howard Webb did.

I am thrilled to see UEFA have backed him up and agree he was in the right to do as he did.

I think Mr Webb will now be regarded and respected during games by players much as Mr Colina was for many years.

Footballers need to learn the rules and abide by them, yelling and screaming at referees should be an instant red card in my opinion. Never in rugby union would you see an official stand for any such abuse.

So I just wanted to say well done Howard Webb, Sideline Soccer salutes you.

I was just searching for a video of the penalty award and was going to ask you all to comment on what you thought of the decision. I searched you tube and it just resulted in many abusive videos compiled by Poles (most of them probably living in the UK!!) launching hate messages at Mr Webb.
Isn’t it funny how they seem to have forgotten that they where totally outplayed in the first half and their own goal was clearly offside. IDIOTS!

Please comment on the decision.

Portugal too good to win Euro 2008?

Well it’s started! Euro 2008 got under way with a better game than I expected actually. The Czech’s where a lot worse than I expected but the Swiss were spirited and it was an, as expected, even game. The swiss for me where the better team and I felt for them as they ended up coming from the game with nothing.

The second match saw Turkey play many people’s favourites Portugal.
I had tipped Turkey to cause an opening day upset, but from the kick off it looked very unlikely.

Portugal where too fast, too organised and overall just too good for the Turks to live with. There could have been several more goals against them with Portugal putting the ball in the net two times only to be dissallowed by the referee and they hit the woodwork I think three or four times.

They made it a good game Portugal, despite never really being in any trouble. They entertained and set
the bar high for any teams that where watching them looking at who is in with a chance and who’s not.

As I am writing this Germany have just scored against Poland. From memory I do not think Poland have ever beat Germany and from what I have seen so far here tonight, there’s little chance of that changing any time soon.

Germany are the tournament favourites. From what I’ve seen so far they don’t move as well as the Portuguese, they don’t pass as well as the Portuguese, they don’t seem to have the sparkling, twinkle toed approach as the Portuguese but they have something. Something I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it’s just the knowledge that everyone still seems to dislike them, maybe it’s a certain amount of German ignorance, I’m not sure, but there is something there that tells me they look like they could win this thing!

You may ask yourselves why I keep overlooking the Portuguese, if they look so good why won’t I turn around and say I think they will win it? Well the answer is this. I think they are too good. I think recent history shows it’s not the best team in the tournament that wins it, it’s a bit of an underdog which is why, as I have said for the past few weeks I still think it will be Italy who win it. I wonder when the last time a team that is World Champions went into a tournament without even being amongst the top 5 favourites to win it?

So with half time approaching in the Germany Poland game I’m going to grab myself a beer and get ready for the second half and I reckon Germany could get another 2 goals yet!