BS: Football World Cup 2006

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:44 PM

Hello, Phil. Greetings from Sunny Newton Aycliffe. To-day's Cup Final was great (after the first 20 minutes) I'm with Alanabit there. Gerrard must be preserved (preserved ?).
The 'Boro didn't do too well, mind. I'll be thinking of you with friendly envy if you're watching the World Cup while I'm at work.
PS "Football isnae a metter of life and death. It's much more important than that" Bill Shankly.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Bill D
Date: 13 May 06 - 07:31 PM

well....I notice back up there that someone actually noticed that the USA is in the tournament *grin*...we actually won a couple games in the past, so who knows?

The Cup, with the temporary configuration of players just for this tournament, is always fascinating, but the winner is not always the best...one header missed by inches, one lucky bounce, or one inadvertant foul can change the entire direction of a group, and ultimately, the final outcome.

I do hope most of the games go fairly and well, and that injuries and fouls are infrequent.....and that all teams can take pride that they did their best...

(and no, I'm NOT placing any large bets on the USA...*grin*...much as I'd like them to do well.)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 13 May 06 - 08:02 PM

The FA Cup was one of the best 0speaking as a neutral) in many years, dama to the last. I too was worrieed about Gerrard!

Bill, I think the USA will do fine. They are very fit players and, like American athletes in general, don't know the word quit.

Hi Charlie!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 May 06 - 08:27 PM

I wonder where I can get one of these to freak out my next door neighbour before the first match England is due to play...

I was talking about all this to my son, for whom football is also a religion. He reckons that for real fans the club is everything, the national team by comparison is insignificant. His only worry is that if England gets knocked out early, the TV coverage of the tournament will get scaled down dramatically. He just wants to see the football - who wins in this tournament is a minor matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 May 06 - 01:35 PM

When the England team qualifies for the finals I am always torn.

I either want them to get knocked-our early - so I can enjoy the football.

Or I want them to win. ............This time I think they will win.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 14 May 06 - 02:34 PM

I loved the comment from Dwight York, who said, "We're [Trinidad & Tobago] are not just going to make up the numbers; we're going there to win."

Good luch T&T ... please make your mark against Sweden (not England!)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 May 06 - 03:08 PM

Don't they have Shaka Hislop in goal?

BTW I so love that name.........

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 06 - 04:49 PM

Please don't delude yourselves, they will take an early bath as they always do. They couldn't play tig !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 May 06 - 05:31 PM

I don't think that Trinidad & Tobago have qualified before have they?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 May 06 - 09:28 PM

No, but they came close twice. Here's the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors World Cup Football site, with lots of good stuff, including music videos (and football videos too, of course).

Best of luck to them when they play Sweden. Given they are ranked 47 and Sweden is ranked 16 they'll need it. But then I see the USA is ranked 4, well ahead of Argentina and France for example, so those rankings are pretty clearly rather questionable. (You get stuff like that on the Fifa World Cup site.)

And I see they've got Budweiser down as the official beer sponsor of the World Cup? Good grief. In Germany? I somehow don't think there'll be too much of that stuff being drunk there, unless they are giving it away as a promotion...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 15 May 06 - 11:49 AM

Actually Kevin, the desperate liquid, which our American friends have to live with, is apparently most unlike the beer, which you can get here. Budweis is the German name for the Southern Czech town of Ceske Budejovice. Now if you come to Köln, I can take you down to Schwejk in the Altstadt and buy you a glass of real lager. (What the English call lager does not taste anything like the Czech original either). Real Budweiser is a beer among beers.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 May 06 - 07:35 PM

True enough, real Czech Budweiser is a beautiful beer. (Like all Czech lager I have ever come across). And we can buy it in English supermarkets now ("Budweiser Budvas"), and it even very occasionally turns up on draught in some pubs here.

But the sponsorship deal which gives rise to the laughable claim that the company responsible produces "the beer of the World Cup" is with the American company that makes that stuff that has made so many people believe that lager is a term for pricy dishwater, and that all American Beer is terrible.   Neither of which is the case.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 16 May 06 - 02:41 AM

Thanks for the warning. I'll drink my lager in Schwejk!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 May 06 - 03:26 AM

Have the World Cup wall charts hit the newspapers yet - or is it too early?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 06 - 03:54 AM

Last weekend, \i believe.


   I'm just lookingforward to seeing some great football and wonderful refereeing.


   \Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 16 May 06 - 08:52 AM

To be fair, you do see good refereeing. In the first minute of the 1974 World Cup Final, Jack Taylor (quite rightly) awarded a penalty against the Germans in their own München Stadium. In another incident, I think in the last World Cup, some fool of a striker dived theatrically in the opposing penalty area. His reward was instant - a yellow card. I enjoyed that!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 May 06 - 12:22 PM

My championship favourite is Italy.

My prediction for Germany is that they will (for the first time after the war) not survive the first round.
Why? They have only two players of international class (Ballack and each of the two goalkeepers), they have a young defense as full of holes as a Swiss cheese, and they do not have any longer the physical advantage of earlier years. So winning a lost game by fighting spirit (Germany holds the world record by far for coming back after a 0:2) is nothing that can be expected by that team. Last time, they did meet the first really strong opponent in the final, one cannot expect a similar luck this time.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 16 May 06 - 03:03 PM

Not a soccer fan, but good luck to every team. I hope the supporters in England have a great summer of sporting entertainment ahead of them.
Sport brings people together and this is a major event for a lot of you.
Good luck from this end.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: autolycus
Date: 16 May 06 - 04:31 PM

Yes Alanabit, i know there is good refereeing - that's why I'm looking forward to it.


   I won't be predicting for a simple reason - football is a funny game (altho' a fellow astrologer correctly predicted the Man.U./Bayern final outcome, and has had other successes with big matches.


   And I hope they make as fine a film of the tournament for subsequent showing as was done with the 1966 one (with a superb commentary from the great Brian Glanville)


   Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 16 May 06 - 04:45 PM

   I won't be predicting for a simple reason - football is a funny game (altho' a fellow astrologer correctly predicted the Man.U./Bayern final outcome, and has had other successes with big matches.

I'd be interested in seeing predictions from your fellow astrologer; or indeed any astrologer. (Before the tournament begins, of course). Meet me at Ladbroke's ...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 May 06 - 08:41 PM

The flags are coming out. Today I saw a block of flats with an English Flag and a Trinidad and Tobago flag in adjoining windows.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,tam the man
Date: 16 May 06 - 11:11 PM

Come on Aussie, I'm a Scot by the way

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Cats at Work
Date: 17 May 06 - 09:29 AM

I am actively looking for something else to watch while the world cup is on. Can't stand football. The only link I have with World Cup is that I used to take Pickles, the dog who found the Jules Remee Trophy in 1966, out for his walks when he moved to our village after finding it and I used to babysit for Dave, his owner. Lovely doggie he was....

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 May 06 - 09:30 AM

No Irish team this year of course - but the Ivory Coast is in there with a flag that is the same as an Irish tricolour, except it's the other way round. (With the Orange next to the flagpole instead of the green.)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 May 06 - 10:56 AM

Every good BS thread must have GWBush mentioned, so let me do it now (and then forget him for the duration of this thread):

One of our newspapers carries a series about what the fans of the different guest countries are being told (or warned about) before coming to Germany. It always makes me laugh about them and about us. Today we were informed about the warnings the US supporters get to prepare them for the hard life in Germany.

- not to wear a swimsuit in the Sauna
- not to be surprised that the locals consider violence in films as a good reason not to show them to children whereas they do not consider nakedness as a good reason to prevent children seeing the film
- not to lean on cars that do not belong to them
....
and
- not to show open support for Bush's politics unless they want a really nasty quarrel with the German they are talking to.

So don't forget: Never lean on the oven in the sauna with body parts not covered by a swimsuit even if you are asurprised by seeing several nonviolent bushes in the sauna.

Over to football

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 May 06 - 10:59 AM

and don't mention the war.....

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 May 06 - 04:43 PM

Well, last time it actually played a role in football World Cup was in 1950.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 21 May 06 - 05:35 PM

Yes. And when Germany returned in 1954, they won it!
The form book says Germany are rank outsiders this time too, even on their home ground. Still, if the weather remains as it has been this week, the form book could go the way of the Cologne summer...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 06 - 05:53 PM

The BBC documentary World Cup Stories - on the French, shown tonight cites the France v W Germany semi-final as being the reason for the French team winning in 1998.

It also makes the point that the incident in that match where the German goalkeeper ignored the ball and decided to clatter the French forward instead and incurred no punishment for this - did rather rekindle a lot of the old WW2 hostilties between the two countries.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 21 May 06 - 06:09 PM

I shall be supporting Spain as well as England. Perpetual underachievers they have been for many a year - but the portents are good. (Although the teams that are doing well in Europe are a a cultural mis-mash).

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 22 May 06 - 02:58 AM

I think the real reason the French won in 1998 is because they were the greatest side of modern times. They passed the ball better than anyone else and at stunningly high speed. They always found a little bit extra flair and imagination when they were in trouble. It was not just their recognised strikers, who came up with the important goals. They also had the most prodigiously gifted footballer I have ever seen in Zidane. He could do things we saw from Pele, Zico, Cryuff and Maradonna, but much much faster. He was probably also the greatest tactician I have ever seen. He could make a defence run to the right when he had already passed a ball twenty metres to the left. He was a clever boy.
Wouldn't it be great if a team like that emerged again? I am still praying for England. Oh please God let nothing bad happen to Michael Owen or Steve Gerrard...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 06 - 07:10 AM

I would tend to agree that they were a great side in 1998 and for the reasons stated but they were pretty much the same side that lost to Senegal and went out of the next competition in the early stages....

The BBC film stopped in 1998 and did not explore the reasons for this failure.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 22 May 06 - 07:52 AM

I think I would have enjoyed it anyway Roger. The fact is, that Senegal game has passed into mythology. The French chased them all over the park but did not get a goal. The French were not inspired, but they were not as bad as everyone said either.
Argentina never really fired on all cylinders in that competition. A determined and well disciplined England beat them and deserved to. I always called the last World Cup the year of the failures. Germany only had one real game - and they lost it. I will be surprised - and disappointed - if so few of the top sides really get going this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 06 - 11:56 AM

The French were not inspired, but they were not as bad as everyone said either.

I think their record speaks for itself. I don't think they managed to score did they?

Brazil certainly did not fail in 2002.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 22 May 06 - 12:25 PM

True again Roger, but I think only two sides gave Brazil a real game that I saw. England had a crack at them in the quarter final and Germany had a go in the final. Indeed, the better team came out on top both times, but I felt that nobody really played to their full potential last time around. To some extent, even the most talented sides only play as well as they need to. It was not much fun watching teams dying on their feet in the midday sun, was it?
Now if the World Cup produces a few games like the Czech Republic against Holland in the last European Championship or even the England Croatia game, I will enjoy it a lot more.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 06 - 01:54 PM

To some extent, even the most talented sides only play as well as they need to.

I think that what we saw then was that all sides are now more talented (and possibly that playing in extreme conditions add to this). The 7 - 0 strolls by the bigger names are now very rare, for this reason.

The great joy of world Cups to me is watching minnows like the South Koreans playing far beyond everyone's expectations as well as teams like Brazil and France playing 'champagne' football.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,abdul mazid
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:41 AM

Football is the most shittest game ever, who wants to see half naked men running around for the football. it is the most dangerous game ever.



THE GAME IS THE MOST BORINGEST GAME EVER

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 24 May 06 - 10:03 AM

Beautifully reasoned and presented Abdul.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Autolycos
Date: 24 May 06 - 10:46 AM

Roger, couldn't agree with you more.


   And several have given a basic reason the competition is unpredictable, namely, who knows now which teams are not going to be playing at their best this summer?




    Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:14 AM

I get the distinct impression that Fergie does not want Wayne Rooney to go to Germany - no matter what the doctors are saying about his chances of recovery.

Poor old Sven can't do anything right either. He is said to be cold and unadventurous and then when he does do something bold - like picking young Walcott - he is accused of acting out of character...

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: autolycus
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:43 AM

Of course Fergie doesn't want Rooney to go - they have the Premiership to win. Just the old club v. country conundrum.


   As for Sven, "you can't please all the people all the time." Whatever anyone in the public eye does, there will be someone criticising what they do. I think it's important to say each time WHO is making the criticism. If it's a tabloid journalist, I'd fall back in amazement.    Not. If it's a Phd in Football Studies, a football supporter, a manager, a psychologist etc.etc., well that matters in evaluating the comments.

   And people are tricky. Someone at work asked me who I thought would win the World Cup. I said Brazil. He replied "You're not very patriotic". I was answering the question he asked , not who did I want to win.

Later the same chap asked a Portuguese who he thought would win, and on getting the reply"Portugal", he replied,"That's just a pipe-dream."

That's why we shouldn't worry overly over every criticism.


   


       Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 25 May 06 - 07:14 AM

Quite right. I want England to win it, but hand on heart, I can't see it happening. Brazil have the most exceptional players and they have reserves for all of them. I am not saying they are unbeatable, just that they are likely to beat anyone on a sunny pitch given normal luck.
At the moment, Germany is cold and windy and rainy. If it stays like this for all of England's games, I for one, will not be complaining!
Alex Ferguson is a Scot, whose job it is to win the League with Manchester United. He does not want one of his most precious assets risked on England's behalf in any event.
Let's just hope Michael Owen has recovered and stays injury free.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 May 06 - 03:01 PM

Last I heard young Rooney's going to miss the first few games. Let's hope there's a second few games for him to be wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:16 PM

I was talking to my son about this - the main thing for him is that the players from the club he supports should do well, whichever country they are playing for. Club loyalties tend to be much stronger than national loyalties.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 May 06 - 05:53 AM

I love the Kellogs world cup bowls - must get some!

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 06 - 03:01 AM

Watch ebay, they are turning up there already !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 May 06 - 09:22 PM

You mean the ones you get for free if you buy a couple of packs of cornflakes? I'd have thought postage on ebay would come to more than that.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 29 May 06 - 10:42 AM

Is it just me or was Belarus trying to injure the England players? I only caught highlinght snippets, but I was wishing Keane (is he even on the squad? must check it out) and Rooney had been on the pitch to give them Ruskies back some of their thuggery.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 29 May 06 - 10:49 AM

I checked... nope. I see that Rooney's scan has been upped to June 7 so he can be replaced if not healthy. That doesn't sound too good to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 29 May 06 - 11:51 AM

Keane (I presume you're refering to Roy that played for ManU and now Celtic and not Robbie who plays for Tottenham) is an Irishman, gnu, so he wouldn't be in the squad. Robbie's Irish too ;o)