BS: World Cup 2010

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 07:24 AM

The Slovenes may be blowing these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divje_Babe_flute

The Jive Babe Flute, great name!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 07:55 AM

Yes, Mr. Happy, they, too, could be moulded in their millions - and more than one note, I noticed.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 07:59 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit - PM
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 04:24 AM

"No one expects the US to play as badly against them as England did!
In view of what our side has achieved so far, I think we England fans had better maintain a discreet silence... "

hi

alanabit

I agree that the USA should win today. England's sorry displays so far leaves them in a hazardous position.,,,,,,however.... badly as we have played we have not really had any chances made by the opposition to score in either game. The goal scored against us was a momentous error by Green but other than that there has only been one other chance created against us.

We have to keep that up but score at least a couple of goals and put some passion and feeling into our play.

It's wake-up time England !!!

They have the ability now it's time to show it.

I believe they can do it.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 08:29 AM

there is acompletely different way of looking at Englands performances, They are unbeaten

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 09:11 AM

The team
England team v Slovenia: James; Johnson, Terry, Upson, A Cole; Milner, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard; Defoe, Rooney

I think I might have been tempted to leave Lampard out and put Crouch in. It's shit or bust. We have to get goals. Rooney, Defoe and Crouch would give their defence a tough time.

I hope England make my 65th birthday a wonderful one, by getting into the next round.

Come on England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 09:29 AM

Happy Birthday Arfa!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 10:32 AM

Ingerland uno pointe, Slovenia nil pointe!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 11:48 AM

Thanks BWM

James Millner man of the match.

Great result for my birthday. Thankyou thankyou thankyou :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 12:17 PM

I kept telling Capello to start with Defoe but would he listen? And well done the USA also - Donovan is a real star. Unfortunately the US has knocked us into second spot and no doubt Germany will be waiting for us on Sunday - that should be known after tonight's games. Well, we've beaten Germany 5-1 before now but that's when Owen was in his prime.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 12:21 PM

Germany - think world war 2 and we will win :-)
Don't mention the war :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 02:30 PM

Well done England and USA!!!

My throat is sore. I get rather, ahhhh, "interactive" when I watch the games.

What's up with Rooney? I don't mean His not finishing as it was obvious he did what he could on target... that last one was an amazing save by the tender, just barely getting his fingers where they needed to be for the deflection. I mean his eyes, his demeanour, his body language. He just seemed to be distant... disinterested. Is he still pissed about the England fans booing?

If he is, I can't say as I blame him. I know others have said they had every right to boo, but I disagree. Not one of the people booing were on the pitch. To me, it's the old saying, "If you can do better, you are welcome to take my place." And, being a Canuck with attitude and no manners, I would add, "Or fuck off." Which was what I saw on his face today.... I wonder???

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 02:46 PM

BTW. During the England game shown live here (Canada) on CBC TV, the vuvuzelas were nearly silent. On the same network, the US game, already played and then shown recorded, they were very loud.

Odd to me.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 02:50 PM

hi

"what's up with Rooney??"

I said below that as a long-time Manchester United supporter who watches them live most weeks, I have never seen Rooney as inneffective as he is at the World Cup.

This is not normal for him. He is usually the opposite. When the team is losing Rooney chases everywhere all the match and his attitude and ability rubs off on his colleagues. He has pulled many games out of the fire by his total involvement.

In South Africa he is but a shadow of his self and has been so ever since he got injured three month's ago. He is so important to the team that he has been played when he is not fit and although he played better today than in the first two games I still maintain he is not fully fit.

If I am right it is nonsense to try and patch him up to play if he is not 100% fit. It is not fair to Rooney nor to his team-mates. At this level of football you have to be totally fit both in mind and body.

But we won and although the score was close wwe should have won much more easily. Bring on the Germans.....if they manage to get through !!!

Congratulations to USA they fully deserved to qualify as top of the Group.

Last but not least Happy Birthdat Arthur....

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 03:22 PM

Thanks for the happy birthday thingies hic.
I decided to have an evening of drinking wine hic. Back on the straight and narrow tomorrow.
My daughter bought me a bottle of Rioja Reserva. It were alroight loik

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 03:33 PM

Happies, Art.

MikeL2... there is another aspect about Rooney that perhaps I shouldn't broach. The injury and all the negative thoughts about England going all the way. Certainly, these could combine to make Rooney "take stock" of the possibility of getting injured again. There is a lot at stake for him, his club and his fans.

One would expect ALL for Queen and country, but if you get booed, it might make you think twice.

In any case, it's all conjecture, but I think you have made the best case.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 04:42 PM

Yes I am mighty relieved that England made it through. The USA thoroughly deserved to get through. They could make it to the quarter final because they are much more likely to beat Ghana than England are to beat Germany. Germany this evening looked everything that England are not. They support each other on the ball, change their angles of attack fluidly and close down space quickly when they have lost the ball. I can't imagine England being much of an obstacle to their progress - not unless an awful lot changes between now and Sunday. They will also have their first choice pairing of strikers back together as well.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 05:01 PM

I think the USA has a decent chance but they can't give up the early goal as they have been prone to do. The bookies might have the edge to the USA but they are certainly underdogs playing the only African team left and they will be hard put to find their own supporters in a crowd of cheering Africans! The underdog role though will provide any impetus the USA needs and its a role they enjoy playing.

If this WC has shown anything though, I think that it has been a great lift to the entire African continent. I'd bet that by the next time around we see major progress from many of those nations.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:22 AM

Better start practising our penalties for Sunday then.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:28 AM

hi arthur

Hope you enjoyed your Rioja.

I am rather partial to Spanish reds myself. I have spent quite a lot of time in Spain and Menorca and have got to know their wines very well !!!

These days as well as Rioja the other Spanish regions produce very drinkable wine at a lower price than many other countries.

I raised a couple of glasses of red to England's performance, nail biting though it was. They always seem to take the most difficult route and make things hard for themselves.

I don't think that they will worry too much that they have to play Germany. I think that they will suit England's style more than Ghana would, although England have never been beaten by an Africa team.

Keep the Rioja on hand on Sunday !!

Regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 08:58 AM

The Rioja was great Mike.

We need this to stir our English hearts and souls for Sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfl6Lu3xQW0

Come on England :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 09:12 AM

Just need to repeat this next Sunday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovjcs3lVGlw&feature=related

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 01:16 PM

And now for my other favourite International team.

Holland

Hopefully they will play well tonight and show us how skillful they are.
Mind you, they really don't have to do much having already got through.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 01:36 PM

NED has the luxury of resting and protecting it's best players whilst allowing others and younger players game time and experience. An enviable postion.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 02:15 PM

First of course, I want to belatedly wish Arthur a very happy birthday. England cheered me up a little yesterday. They were not great or particularly fluent, but they were competitive and coherent. Before we get too carried away with delusions of granduer about our supposed rivalry with the Germans, we should read more articles like this one.
I had been hoping the Aussies and Kiwis would make it to the second round too. They put up a bloody good challenge this time around. The Kiwis actually finished ahead of Italy!
I think I shall watch as much as I can of the Dutch game tonight. If they get up a head of steam, they could give anyone a game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bainbo
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 04:22 PM

Weren't Japan great? With France and Italy out, and Germany through but playing like carthorses, I think it might be worth me risking a few bob on them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 04:25 PM

Thanks Alanabit

Easy peasy for Holland. They did as much as they needed to and no more.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 04:26 PM

Yes, indeed! They were great. A joy to watch. I shall not miss another JPN game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 05:51 AM

England are playing in all red again on Sunday. Whenever England have played in a red shirt, they've never lost a match. Makes you wonder why we don't always don a red shirt then doesn't it? Aren't statistics wonderful? Wasn't there a statistic before the Slovenia match that whenever Rooney and Defoe have started together, neither ever scores and Defoe is always substituted? As the saying goes, there are lies, damn lies and statistics!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 06:10 AM

I've said before that English sportsmen, whatever game they're playing, switch their brains off whenever they put on a white jersey. Maybe the English can only fulfil their potential if they think they're Welshmen!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 07:31 AM

And the Welsh national football team has been in the World Cup Finals how many times Dave? Oh yes, none - two less than Scotland! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Allan C
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 08:06 AM

"And the Welsh national football team has been in the World Cup Finals how many times Dave? Oh yes, none - two less than Scotland!"

Scotland have actually qualified for the World Cup Finals 9 times though the SFA chose not to attend in 1950 after coming second to England in the Home Championships, so they have appeared 8 times in all. Actually from 1974 to 1990 they never missed a finals qualifying for it 5 times in succession. They've never made the knock out stages though they have only just missed out on that on various occassions. With comparable sized nations Scotland's qualifying record for the Finals stands up favourably against just about everyone. I think Wales have qualified only the once.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 03:26 PM

'Psychic' octopus predicts Germany victory over England

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 04:36 PM

But is Paul making any money on the games?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 05:07 PM

Whoever wins on Sunday can expect to be hammered by Argentina anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 05:20 PM

What about the PRK goalie? Poorrr bugger! 12 was it? I felt so sorry for him, even tho I realize the defense was a tad lacking.

As for England, I shall not give up hope until all hope is whistled dead after stoppage time.

And... keep yer eyes on Japan. They are the first team I have seen that shows promise AND appears to be able to "control" the new ball to some extent. Those two free kick goals yesterday were bang on and beautiful.... and by different players.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 05:49 PM

I will not give up hope until the end of 120 minutes (if England are lucky enough to get that far) either. However, I am a realist and realise that Germany will probably do the job comfortably in ninety minutes. When push comes to shove, Germany always know that they will win and they do win. If that has to be - and it probably does - I hope it is over in ninety minutes this time, so that there can be no pretence that "we nearly won". We were played off the park in all the previous encounters and the Germans thoroughly deserved their victories - as they almost certainly will on Sunday. It is very rare that England has as many first choice players available as they do this time. The Germans have lost their captain Ballack and possibly also Bastian Schweinsteiger. The match will also probably be played in what are unusually favourable conditions (for a World Cup) for a European side. England have no excuses.
I would hate to contradict the usually shrewd McGrath on the subject of Germany's quarter final with Argentina. I will take the liberty of adding a caveat however. In the past two World Cups, Argentina were eliminated by teams with inferior football talent but with iron discipline and superb concentration. Those teams were England (2002) and Germany (2006).

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 06:04 PM

"120 minutes"

Is there a rule I am not familiar with?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 06:17 PM

I haven't a clue how many times Wales and Scotland have been in the World Cup Finals - I don't watch that much soccer. I lost interest when Willie Bauld stopped playing Centre Forward for Hearts. On Sunday I'll be in Wrexham watching Crusaders v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:24 AM

Gnu, the extra thirty minutes refers to extra time, which is played if the score is all square after ninety minutes. All four of the major Germany vs England games (1966, 1970, 1990 and 1996) went into extra time. I have my doubts that this England side can force extra time tomorrow, but they may well raise their game. The likelihood is that Germany will win convincingly by the end of normal time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 06:07 AM

hi

After all the hype and analysis when England & Germany kick off the truth will start to unfold.

The poertents are not in England's favour but we are a very perverse nation and enjoy destroying form.

Remember this - England are still unbeaten and have aonly conceded that freak goal. Germany were well beaten in one of their games although they did look good in the other two.

May the best team win and may that team be England.

Rooney for a hat-trick....anyone ???

cheers

Mikel2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 06:25 AM

I did not know that extra time was used beginning at the start of the final 16... or, more likely, I had brain fart.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 07:18 AM

I'm at an all day folk event on Sunday. Fortunately it's being held at a pub so whilst the music fans are sweltering in the garden, the footie fans will be inside watching the match on the pub tv. I don't expect us to repeat our 5-1 thrashing of Germany, but will settle for 2-1 this time. Bring on Argentina - we've beaten them before and can do it again. That would be just reward for their manager's blatant hand-ball goal.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 07:35 AM

I am beside myself... it appears from the TV listings that the England game will not be televised today. %^(%^$##$$!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 09:27 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 09:39 AM

DOUBLE brain fart!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 11:58 AM

Well done Uruguay - a close run game against South Korea in the pouring rain and on a disgraceful pitch - almost as bad as Wembley. I think it may be the first time Uruguay have made the quarter-finals - will check later. Suarez scored both goals and the second one was a beauty. It's the American's turn tonight - should be a good match against Ghana. They are not pushovers and may well give the US team a real fright. It's an evening kick-off so I suppose that's daytime viewing in the States?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 01:15 PM

14:30 EST (eastern seaboard of the US).

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 02:39 PM

The Villa need to sign Suarez

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 03:25 PM

How long is it gonna take USA to wake up to the fact that that GHA can RUN! PASS! SET UP PLAYS! and SCORE!

The Yanks look like they are flatfooted... as if surpised. And the open wings... no support... it's like they are tired from the get go. Overconfident or what?

I hope the coach knocks some sense into them at the half.

Of course, it's also obvious from watching the wonderfully executed passing, pace and field vision of GHA that they have what it takes to win this game... a joy to watch such precision.

I would say GO USA! but at the moment I'll say GET THE LEAD OUT OF YER ARSE!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 04:42 PM

In the first half of extra time 13 minutes out of 15 USA 1 Ghana 2