BS: World Cup 2010

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 09:18 AM

Paraguay are showing us how it should be done - they're 2-0 up against Slovakia with only minutes to go. They're playing like they believe in themselves and the whole team seem full of energy and enthusiasm.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 05:00 AM

The England team went to visit an orphanage in South Africa this morning. "It's good to put a smile on the faces of people with no hope, constantly struggling and facing the impossible" said Jamal Umboto aged 6. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 04:59 AM

hi GGS

I agree with what you say.....they England fans at the game have paid thousands of pounds to travel and to see their team play.

The stuff served up by England thus far is unacceptable and they have the right to show their displeasure.

With regards to your experience on a folk night in a pub can I say that most of these people are NOT football supporters - they are using the World Cup as a partying exercise and of course the alcohol can take over.

Here where I live there are hundreds of houses and cars bedecked with flags and banners. IMHO these are not football supporters. They are blindly following what they think is a show of national pride.
I have no problem with this....but please don't confuse this with true football fans.

I am willing to bet that none of the people who "wrecked" your evening have ever been to a live football game.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 02:22 PM

The game game starts soon... surely now all hopes have been dashed by Cameroon/Denmark in the final ninety minutes. Nothing short a of a miracle goal by Cameroon/Denmark could turn this game into a glimmer of a hope of going through...

Yeah, I can mute that shite along with the vuvuzelas.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 12:59 PM

No, fans pay money they have every right to boo.
when I play in folk clubs, I dont get booed, because I make a professional attempt to sing and play well, if i got ratted and couldnt play well people would have aright to boo, but I do not.
having had one gig wrecked by football supporters[here Iam being utterly selfish] I will be glad when England are eliminated, and people can get to folk clubs without having to fight their way[as they enter the pub] through football crowds scoving and roaring and shoving and bawling.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 12:30 PM

Good Soldier Schweik... I agree about Cole; might have even started him. But not about Rooney. And Crouch, well he seems to be a bit of a penalty draw... a loose canon. He's very effective at certain aspects, but not well rounded enough to be plyed too early because of the penalty possibility.

Have said that, I didn't catch much Premiership this year so if my comments are inappropriate, please ignor my ignorance.

In any case, I still think the England fans should have shut up rather than booing their team off. That just just makes the situation worse.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 11:22 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 10:58 AM

"It seemed to me like Algeria was playing for the draw"

Hi Neil

I agree....a draw was a great result for them...after the game Steven Gerrard said that this was like them winning the World Cup !!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 10:58 AM

It seemed to me like Algeria was playing for the draw.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 08:41 AM

hi

I agree with most of the comments posted here about England's sorry performance last night. They were dreadful.

However there is something seriously wrong here - a team does not become a bad team overnight nor do worldclass players either.

I have watched Wayne Rooney since he was a young boy and I have never ever see him play when he didn't appear to be interested in the game. Last night he just did not try. Normally when the team is not doing well he chases around everywhere trying to inject enthusiasm ( occasionally he overdoes this !!!) Last night he just did not get involved and he was missing out on balls that were 70-30 in his favour. That is NOT the Wayne Rooney that I know. He is either injured and playing when he shouldn't or there is something awry in the camp. This would explain why so many other players eg Gerrard,Lampard,Cole Terry etc all had bad games.

Perhaps they don't agree with the way they are being asked to play.

If you look at the body language of both the players and the staff there is obvious tension there.

Having played the way we have we don't really deserve to be in a postion where we can still qualify with one good result.

A "normal" England team are more than capable of beating Slovenia easily and would be normally expected to do so. Indeed they did beat them a few months ago !!

The issue here is one that is much more simple than the alternatives proffered above.

If England beat Slovenia they qualify...end of story.

That is the thought that England must take into the game.

Capello must select a team and a strategy that will enable this to happen. eg if Rooney is injured or not fit we can't play him. Play Defoe and Crouch. Joe Cole has talent to set up the play for them....he must be given a chance now.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 07:32 AM

I'm not a sports fan and couldn't care less who wins some silly ball kicking thing, but I am into fair play, and I didn't see any yesterday. That re. should have been kicked off the field his call was so out in left field.
If you can't beat a guy, cheat! And then call it a win? If I were English I'd be embarrassed.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 07:26 AM

a substitution that should have been tried was Rooney off, too be replaced with either defoe or crouch.
joe cole could also have been brought on at 60 minutes instead of Heskey.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Joybringer
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 07:05 AM

What can you say about this England team ! I am still laughing my ass off at it.

England need a win, so they have offered "Iceland" a match. If they win it they will play "Tesco´s" next week.

It´s been a funny old week. "13 dead, but not forgotten. England team sunk faster than Mountbatten".

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 06:23 AM

200 and counting down til they come home !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 05:51 AM

GSS - I know that Heskey worked his socks off last night, but to what effect? He needs to feed the ball to Rooney, and as Rooney was AWOL again, that strategy just didn't work. At least Crouch is a proven goal-scorer, and I'd start with him every time. James did well in goal, and we are now left to wonder what would have happened if he'd played against the USA - we may now have 4 pts instead of only 2. Rooney isn't going to last long against Slovenia - the first time they wrestle him to the ground he's going to retaliate and be red-carded. Still, we're not out of the competition yet, and there's always Euro 2012 to look forward to...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 05:22 AM

The Ref involved with the bad call and other infractions in the USA game is undergoing an early scrutiny and may be headed for his own early dismissal from the WC........Story HERE


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 03:56 AM

Last night they all looked tired and as if they needed a holiday. After the Slovenia match next week, that is what they are likely to get. I think Slovenia and the USA will go through as they deserve to. Good luck to both of them. England have looked like the weakest side in a group which they were supposed to cruise through.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 03:24 AM

It's not that we have a bad manager. We have a set of players that do not know how to hold the ball and make passes tell.

We are used to the foriegn players doing that for us in the Premiership.

English players are used to kick and rush. It's exciting even if we don't always win.

Capello is trying to teach them to play a style of football that they are clearly not up to.

Sooooo .....

Lets get back to running your little legs off and playing the high ball game in the last match. Can't be any worse than the style of football they are trying to do at the moment.

Lets start with Rooney (assuming he is fit) and Crouch and just go for it. Crouch is the highest goalscorer for England. How many minutes has he played so far.

Could it just be that the English players are good when they are playing with intelligent foreign players that make them look good. When we put the English players together, they no longer have the brains of the team there. So they make a pass and think it's one of their foreign team mates......

Anyway, playing like last night, isn't going to win them friends.

I feel really sorry (or are they just stupid) for the fans that have spent a fortune to go and see them.

Ah well back to the next match with hope in our heart and expectations beyond our wildest dreams :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bainbo
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 02:25 AM

Well, we still have one Englishman out there in South Africa capable of getting past defences. Sadly he's being sought by Fifa's security ...

Apparently ITV were flooded with complaints last night for not showing adverts over the game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 01:11 AM

it was jolly bad form by the other side not wanting to lose.......
its just not cricket old chaps!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 08:02 PM

Which year was the England song 'Its Coming Home' ? I think it needs a Word change -- 'THEY're coming home' !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:36 PM

McGrath... the only reason I can see for a new ball is that the Africans have used it for several years and it is a disadvantage to all the teams who have played with the "official ball" for many more years.

In other words, can anyone profer another explanation?

Seriously... why change the ball?

I think the official ball should be written into the rule books and that be the end of it.

Oh, an the noise makers should be written OUT! Only human noises from now on. Imagine paying big coin for a seat and having some asshole blowing a horn or beating a drum next to you all game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:26 PM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator - PM
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:15 PM

All England need to do is
(1) draw 4-4 with Slovenia with Algeria/USA scoring 0-0
(2) beat Slovenia with Algeria/USA being a draw
(3) beat Slovenia with Algeria beating USA
(4) beat Slovenia and if USA beats Algeria, and have a higher goal difference than one of the other two.


all easy really
it would be easy, if they had a decent manager and good enough players.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:23 PM

What puzzles me is why they have "a new ball" anyway, apart maybe from the look. The way the ball is built- weight and pressure and material - should be fixed permanently.

Of course if they'd done that to start with they'd still be using leather balls the weight of a brick, which I suppose would cause a few problems, but there's no point in continuing to innovate by this time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Tootler
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:09 PM

All England need to do is
(1) draw 4-4 with Slovenia with Algeria/USA scoring 0-0
(2) beat Slovenia with Algeria/USA being a draw
(3) beat Slovenia with Algeria beating USA
(4) beat Slovenia and if USA beats Algeria, and have a higher goal difference than one of the other two.

Which all adds up to:
England will be on the plane home as soon as their next game is over and their early exit will be thoroughly deserved. Maybe the football powers that be in England will start to recognise the reality after umpteen years, that we do not have the players to compete with the best in the world and start to address the fundamental failings in the game at home.

Dream on!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:56 PM

All USA needs to do is score a couple of goals and beat Algeria....*grin*

Sure would be interesting to actually get somewhere for once.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:33 PM

No sweat then!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:15 PM

All England need to do is
(1) draw 4-4 with Slovenia with Algeria/USA scoring 0-0
(2) beat Slovenia with Algeria/USA being a draw
(3) beat Slovenia with Algeria beating USA
(4) beat Slovenia and if USA beats Algeria, and have a higher goal difference than one of the other two.


all easy really

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:09 PM

There was so much wrong with England that it is hard to know where to start. If they can not play a lot better than that next time out we can hope that England go out quickly, quietly and embarrass us no longer! Rooney looked willing but either knackered or in pain. Maybe he will not be in the starting line up next game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 04:53 PM

I agree Spaw... there is far too much "spread" on how refs ref a game. I was taken aback several times in The England game by the reffing.

Speaking of that game, I was VERY taken aback by the lack of coordination by England... perhaps I am missing sommat as I don't watch football a lot, but, it would seem to me that a team should play for the event of a cross field ball, intended or simply as a vent for control. Same problem with corners.

Algeria did it well and they also played their corners smartly while England played their corners as if they were playing with the same old ball... same with the strikes.

Seems to me England refuses to adapt to the new ball. If they don't do it soon, they will be toast.

Re the cross field play and corners, I think they need a Canuck hockey coach to teach them sommat about "covering the wing". The Algerians did it reasonably well but so many times the English were dispossessed of the ball because there was no backup on the wings.

And, some of the "stopping short" I saw by the "wingers" (sorry, I don't know the terms... forwards?) would earn them a spot on the bench in hockey. But, perhaps that's part of football of which I know not... some kind of defensive strategy where you are worried about being out of a defending position?

Seems odd to me but there it is... if you can't defend with one man less who could get back up the field if need be, you need to find players who can run a clip.

Or am I just a dumb Canuck who don't know shit about football?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bainbo
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 04:47 PM

Oh dear. Taxi for Mr Capello!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 04:36 PM

heskey was englands best player, at least he put some effort in, he is being criticised when others such as rooney were hopeless, capello is clueless.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 04:28 PM

Ouch, that was diabolical from England. Algeria worked hard and snuffed out England.

England's passing is just about the worst I have seen for a very long time.

Hello, where were Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard?

Words fail me. Maybe we have too much expectation for a team that promises a lot but very seldom deliver.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 02:41 PM

REfs need power in any game but the line of judgement is very thin. It seems that most sports need a kick in the ref every once in awhile. There have been a lot of questionable calls in the WC so far and some really bad ones as witnessed today with Germany and the USA.

Hopefully they'll put the refs on notice before this one goes too far astray.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 02:25 PM

From my observation in the last 2-3 cups, the Serbs and Slovenians seem to consider blatant fouls as a major part of their defense strategy.
We HAVE a form of football in the US where it's perfectly legal to grab certain players around the shoulders. Some of these guys are in the wrong sport.

*I* think there needs to be some sort of protest and/or replay allowed...at least for match deciding plays.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 02:21 PM

I reckon England need to win both games, or they could be out.

They will not know the result of the third match as they are playing at the same time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 01:44 PM

Oh, yeah... GO ENGLAND!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Roberto
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 01:38 PM

alanabit: the Serbian defender was ... Slovenian.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 01:30 PM

Missed the USA game... drat.

Green is out...

http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=8/day=1/match=300061464/index.html

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 12:17 PM

Yes, the USA were robbed. Not only was a perfectly good goal disallowed, but even if the striker had missed, there was a blatant foul on Clint Dempsey, which should have seen a penalty and a card for the Serbian defender, who obviously does not know the difference between football and wrestling.
In the Germany match the referee seemed to believe that football is a non contact sport. Schweinsteiger was booked for a perfectly fair tackle and Phillip Lahm had a free kick awarded against him for another. Germany were effectively forbidden from tackling to get the ball.
I hope England do not get that referee. If we do, Steve Gerrard will be back in the changing room almost before he has left it!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 11:57 AM

hi

Phew !!!!!! USA 2 Slovenia 2

Best game in the series so far. Very thrilling USA down 2-0 and in my book should have won 3-2.
Referee made a completely wrong decision to rule out what was a perfectly good goal by USA.

England MUST win tonight.

Fingers crossed

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:51 AM

hi

Well well !!

France & Germany losing to supposed much weaker opposition.

France were just not up to play. There are obvious problems in the squad and with the Team Management. Their body language said it all.

Mexico although they had less possession looked far more dangerous when they did attack. Hernandez took his goal very well. As a Manchester United supporter it was nice to see - he joined us just before the end of the season.

Intriguingly now if Uruguay v Mexico is a draw they will both go through regardless of how France do against South Africa. Any bets on a draw here??

Germany did not have their own way against a determined but not very skilful Serbia. A sending off that looked a bit doubtful left Germany to play one man short. Shortly afterwards Serbia scored. After this, inexplicably Serbia retreated in defence and let Germany do all the pressing. This nearly came unstuck and only a bad penalty miss saved their faces.

With regard to tonight's England game I too heard that Green will not play and Heskey will. But this is just rumour. Capellow has not announced his team yet.

Surely England will get together and produce a performance like they did many times when qualifying.

As for the comment about England not beating Germany in the next round.....NEITHER team are sure to be there!!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:27 AM

Only when they're due to play England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:23 AM

And Germany missed a penalty - don't they ever practise them?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:38 AM

Not sure how this news has leaked out

Easy - it's just a guess. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 06:29 AM

Just read an online report that says Green is dropped for tonight's match and James will be between the sticks. Not sure how this news has leaked out, given that Capello refuses to name his team until 2hrs before the match. If this is true, then it won't do Green's confidence any good if we need him later on in the tournament. I'd like to see Defoe start up front tonight in place of Heskey to avoid this long-ball/loss of possession issue discussed above. Above all, we need a win!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:12 AM

The 2005 edition of the Laws of the Game included a new International Football Association Board decision that stated being " nearer to an opponent's goal line" meant that "any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (the last opponent typically being the goalkeeper). The arms are not included in this definition."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:44 PM

I didn't think France were so bad. It was just one of those nights when it did not happen for them. Well done Mexico though. Uruguay looked good yesterday. I wonder if they will be Germany's opponents in the quarter final?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:30 PM

That was hard to watch. What an embarrassment for France. I would have never expected such sloppy play from them.

As for the "offside", if the attacker's foot is on the ground onside, does it matter if any part of his body is offside? That's how it works in North American football... where the feet (or other parts of the body) touch the ground.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:22 PM

What a wonderful match.

France 0 Mexico 2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:20 PM

The French got a drubbing from the boys in green. Henri did not have a hand in this game!