Hi

Michael- I couldn't agree more about the shirt pulling and pants tugging that goes on unstopped by officials. Add to that body checking -this does sometimes get recognised but often they get it wrong.

In the England game there was some blatant body checking ( by both sides) they went unpunished and then when Gerrard made a perfectly legal shoulder to shoulder charge he was pulled up !!!

As you are an ex goalkeeper you will no doubt remember that shoulder charging the goalkeeper was perfectly legal ( provided his feet were on the ground). And of course the keeper had to bounce the ball as he ran to the edge of the penalty area to kick out. We did not have the lovely playing surfaces that we have now either. Often the ball would just stick in the mud. Got a few fingers kicked and stood for this.

Foreign teams did not like this and the rule was changed so that now even staring too hard at the keeper can result in a foul.

So now the goalkeepers are protected but anything goes for the rest of the players.

Tonight I will watch quite relaxed. Don't care who wins !!

My brother-in-law who lives in Spain has just told me that he fancies an England v Portugal final. But then he does drink too much in the daytime.

Would be nice though Rooney v Ronaldo!!!

Cheers

MikeL2