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| REFEREES As the second round takes shape a number of issues have come to everyones attention. The first and most obvious one, unfortunatey, does not involve football. The English have managed to find their way to the Low Countries just to have a riot. Of course everyone knows it is the minority who are mindless idiots so i dont want to say much about it...after all this website is for football fans not hooligans. Of course the tournament was always going to be marred by bad refereeing and Hugh Dallas of 10p-on-the-head-from-mad-Celtic-fan fame didn't let us down awarding a penalty to Fillipo Inzaghi of i'm-never-off-the-bloody-ground fame of all people. "What for?" i hear you cry! The thing is, no one round here has come up with an answer for that yet. The opening match set the tone as Mpenza of Belgium scored after clearly handling the ball on his way to goal. Dallas then managed to lose all control of the next match he took control of Yugoslavia VS Norway. I could go on and on about referees but just watch a match, any match and you will see what i mean. And as for assistant refs....don't even start me! SUBS One thing that has came to prominence in Euro 2000 is the use of subs. Already we have seen managers making tactical changes before the end of the first half. The most important of these was when Yugoslavia played Slovenia and Dejan Stankovic came off after 35 minutes, showing no signs of any injury. On came the veteran Stojkovic who has played since then in all of Yugoslavias games. He remains a key figure for them even at 35, much like Hagi carries Romania. The substituution to make most headlines was that of Tugay, the Turk who reacted angrily when he was taken off against Belgium. Turkish coach Denizli promptly sent the player home. Finally look at England. Keegan withdrew Owen at half time against Portugal, although this looked a good move it usually pays not to bring on a striker who never scores- Emile Heskey. Then against Romania the king of perms decided that Gareth Southgate would be a good midfield man for the last 20 minutes to keep it tight. The fact that he is a centre back says everything about Englands wish not to keep the ball from the Romanians but just to defend with hearts on sleeves. The Jayman ihatebigfatseaman@hotmail.com |