BS: Football World Cup 2006

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:24 PM

Owen Hargreaves played really well. I wondered why he'd been in the team on previous occasions, but this World Cup he played with .

I think the question was not why he had been in the team before but why he was ever excluded from it.

For it tends to be forgotten that up to and during the European Championship finals - he was a regular first choice team member and playing with skill and conviction, until he was injured early on. After that - for some reason - he was thought only good enough for bit parts, mainly playing out of position and as a result, not getting very good write ups.

I suppose international managers have many problems that club ones do not. The first option is to always choose the best and in form players in their favoured position or to attempt to build a team (and team spirit) from players who get on and who can adapt.

The second option is the best one for teams with fewer players to choose from. England's problem is always that it has enough players to provide at least two equally talented sides but now seems unable to produce the one great one.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:08 PM

Never saw TheBigPinkLad as quiet.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:04 PM

i'M SO GLAD THAT THIS BUNCH OF OVERPAID UNDER TALENTED WANKERS ARE OUT!!!

Is that a reference to Brazil, Spain, Agentina, etc? All of whom were not good enough to progress beyond the quarter finals.

i don't think I have any insight as to why it was so terrible. But I didn't think it was , as you suggest a good team playing at full stretch. they seemed more like good players functioning badly. Some will say that just how they were made to look by better sides, but I never really felt thay faced great sides.

I agree that England did not face great sides and they never looked as if they were going to be able to beat any. But perhaps their exit is easier for England fans to accept than it is for those of Agentina, Spain, Brazil etc - who did look as if they were going all the way?

England and Argentina - unlike the others who have gone out can at least claim to be unbeaten. But however you judge the quality of the opposition at this level - you have to accept that no team - however limited - are ever going to make it easy for the other team to win (with the exception perhaps of Sweden).

The fact that England appeared to look like good players functioning badly - could be due to unrealistic expectations. I suggest this is more likely to be the case, as the effort from the players was certainly there. England showed they were good players - but they were playing equally good players.

The fact is that England, like Brazil and Spain (this time) were simply lacking that extra something required to progress - the edge that makes the difference. Perhaps it is just as simple as not having the required good luck - with injuries and form?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 02:29 PM

Literate and polite in equal measure I see..

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 12:53 PM

I agree with everything you say except about learning from the Italians Dave. In most of the big games over the past few years, England have gone ahead early and then tried to defend the lead. We should be seeing a more confident England taking the ball into the opposing half and keeping it there until the goals come. Heroic defence is all well and good when one is forced back into one's own half. With the power available to England at the moment, this ought not really to be happening very often.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 09:38 AM

The fact is when we look at our players the team as a whole was lesser than the sum of the parts. For this I can only blame the manager. The turnip was on a reputed £4,000,000. He made so many mistakes in the run-up to the quarter-final like not taking enough forwards; like taking unfit forwards; like taking Walcott; like not knowing his best formation.

Some things need structurally improving. When we arrange friendlies McClaren needs to tell managers who will not release players to get stuffed. We need to use friendlies as practise matches for the full team and not KEEP making substitutes for the sake of it.

We need to choose a team (built around Gerrard/Hargreaves perhaps, both of whom should probably be there next time) with a formation that suits, and stick to it through friendlies and through the European Championships. Cole, Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry are all young enough to be in the next World Cup team as well and ought to have improved by then. I cannot see Crouch in a team despite his good game yesterday. Hi is too easily played out of the game to my way of thinking.

We need to chose players who are the best for a team, not just the best players, as Ramsey did with Jack Charlton.

We need to stop making basic errors - like the goalie hitting long balls to a lone striker, like hitting "Hollywood" passes to well-marked wingers. We need to know how to keep the ball and play through midfield. These players (Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves) do it for their clubs.

We need to watch videos of the Italians defending and learn from them.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 08:51 AM

BTW - Anyone noticed a distinct similarity of features between Mr R, a chimp and GWB?

Wonder if he is an illegitimate offspring?

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Les from Hull
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 08:23 AM

Thoughts on England's (lack of) performance:

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. We needed a lot more effort from players like Gerrard and Lampard, who on the whole, were poor.

Owen Hargreaves played really well. I wondered why he'd been in the team on previous occasions, but this World Cup he played with skill and conviction.

Our defence on the whole performed exceptionally well (except against Sweden on set pieces).

Defeat in the quarterfinal can be laid at the door of that stupid tuber-headed scally. England never pressed hard enough to get the goal, and the players capable of scoring it were not playing well, or not playing at all (injured or left out of the team for a kid who was never going to play). Lampard's many unsuccessful attempts at goal will probably bring a new word or phrase into the Englash language ('he's having a Lampard' or 'I Lamparded it').

In the end we weren't good enough.

One compalint. FIFA promised us a clampdown on 'simulation', but that hasn't happened. The one referee who did try a tighter control of a game (the infamous Netherlands Portugal game) was lampooned by press, pundits and everyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:56 AM

Good points Dave The Gnome. Superscally shouldn't have fouled but as Alan Shearer said he might "stick one on" slyboots Ronaldo back at Old Trafford.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Ally
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:52 AM

Luiz Felipe Scolari has proven he is one of the finest managers in the game. History will record him up there with the late great Ally McLeod.

Scolari could have been the next manager of England if the English press had left him alone. The red tops are to blame.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,Ally
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:42 AM

good old shrek.There was f... all wrong with his foot when he was sticking it into the portugal players Henry Halls !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: captainbirdseye
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:35 AM

I have backed Portugal MY reasoning is that they have a good squad of players,but they have the best coach/manager,They are now through to the semi final and I think that their coach will be able by usingSPOILING tactics to shackle zidane physically, AND be able to tactically outwit the french.DickMiles

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:25 AM

well a point of view, like i say, i know sod all. I have the feeling however that on various occasions I've seen those players play better.

there has to be an explanation for that, when the expectations of the nation were raised so high, somehow nothing worked.

Sending a quarter of the team injured was (I think) unforgiveable. there is simply no shortage of footballers in England - and good ones at that.

i don't think I have any insight as to why it was so terrible. But I didn't think it was , as you suggest a good team playing at full stretch. they seemed more like good players functioning badly. Some will say that just how they were made to look by better sides, but I never really felt thay faced great sides.

however i'm willing to stand corrected.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 07:09 AM

Whoever said it was not Ronaldo that got Rooney sent off needs to look at the incident again. Rooney was definitely Yellow card fodder - No doubt. But remember Ronaldo came running over to the ref shouting and waving his arms about. And did you see the sly wink immediatley after? Ronaldo knows Rooney very well and knew exactly what buttons to press to get him going.

He should indeed have had more self control but Rooney, on seeing a 'team mate' who had already had been goading him, pushing even further, did what most of us would have done. Pushed back - much in the same way he must have done hundreds of times in training. My bet is that the ref was going to yellow him but on seeing the blatant push - another yellow - gave him the red.

As I said before I would be very surprised if we see Ronaldo playing at Old Trafford for much longer. Either he or Rooney will have to go. And I don't think Alex Ferguson would be daft enough to ingnore the England fans.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 06:59 AM

They were every bit as bad as their worse critics were saying.

No they were still good enough to get as far as they have and all the players deserve credit for that. And not (generally) resorting to the play acting tactics used by many other teams like Portugal.

The sides who reach this level are all well matched. It is only the sides who can and who dare to show that little bit extra who will go on to win. Engalnd's players could not do this.

But I am not making any unrealistic claims for the England team. It is those in the press and who are now their worse critics - who having been making these claims.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 06:42 AM

I am not aware that any of you have seen the UK papers this morning some of them are blaming the Argentina referee for sending Rooney off, while others are advising Ronaldo to get out of Man Utd. Have a look at some of the one-eyed letters on Teletex again accusing the referee of bias against England. Rooney for all of his talent is a thug and nothing will remove that from his system,unless he encounters the odd Argentine referee.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 06:40 AM

See Beckham has decided to step down as England captain. 120 England fans arrested in Gelsenkirchen. More England fans arrested in Jersey as they attacked Portugese owned businesses and shops. Ten per cent of Jersey's population is Portuguese. It's the second time in the island's history riot police were employed, and the second time the Island was invaded !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 06:12 AM

Oh come on Shambles. Owen, beckham, rooney...it was more like a bus trip to Lourdes.

They were every bit as bad as their worse critics were saying.

The players who impressed me were joe Cole and Lennon.

I simply refuse to believe that there was any necessity or advantage in taking players who should have been convalescing. It wasn't fair to all the English supporters or come to that, caring enough about the players, as people.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 05:21 AM

The formations chosen by the England manager were largely irelevant. As good (or great) players with the will and belief to win, should always be able to lift their performance above any such imposed limitations.

But apart from those forced by injury - the strange formations were chosen largely to try to accomodate what the press told us were two of England's world class players. And had any manager left out Lampard or Gerard (and to a lesser extent Beckham) the press would have howled.

Lampard looked knackered and Gerrard looked nothing like world class. The fact that they were both thought too good to replace - does tend to suggest where the main problem lies. An unfit Beckham at least made a contribution but the England midfield (even with the fine efforts of the much criticised Hargreaves) did not work.   

It seemed that it was either Carrick or Hargreaves - who both played well when they had the chance, but the thought of replacing Lampard and Gerard with them both was not an option. Whatever the formation - the team selected to play should be made from the best players who are playing well and doing what is asked of them. A description that could not be applied to either Lampard or Gerard, who perhaps should not have been selected until this description did fit?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:42 AM

No, but it does seem to be helping the home team.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:39 AM

no, but all these things were aids to my personal development.

and take my word for it, we are all better people.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:27 AM

Hey! Now all you football fans can take the "I am a moron" flags off your cars, shut up about f...ing football and give us all some peace!

I know that this is a bit of a difficult concept for you lot to grasp but all the silly flags, air horns, getting drunk and shouting at each other (usually in the middle of the night, in my part of the world) didn't help the 11 grossly overpaid and overhyped prima donnas win, did it?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:06 AM

Catherine, the simple answer is there is no excuse at all. No one here is defending what Wayne Rooney did. He was rightly sent off and FIFA should also ban him for several more matches.
This was probably the most talented England squad of players we have ever had. It just never all came together. When Wayne Rooney's foot healed quicker than expected, many of us were optimistic that England would play with two world class strikers for the first time in our history. We overlooked the fact that Michael Owen was not fully recovered. That was probably a factor in his new injury, which will certainly take some of his speed and effectively spells the end of his time as a top quality international striker. Peter Crouch gave everything he had. It was never going to be enough at this level.
It is quickly forgotten that in England's case, the penalty shoot outs have always delivered the correct result. Portugal certainly deserved to win last night. They were able to carry out their game plan from start to finish. (If England had one, it was to hide in their own half or to boot the ball into touch as often as possible). They also forced England to play nearly the entire game in their own half. England were good on heroics but were found lacking in confidence, imagination and stamina. That was the same story in all the other heroic failures. Perhaps what England need is a sound thrashing to teach us never to try and play like that again. The penalty shoot outs have always left us room to claim we were unlucky. Truth is, in all of these matches the opposition were very unlucky not to win well in ordinary time. We were beaten by Portugal's reserves last night - and they deserved to win.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Cathie
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:46 AM

How does an old woman like me instill in 8 - 10 year old boys that it is not OK to kick out at others when things aren't going their way on the football pitch, when their heroes do just that?

I can't wait to hear all the excuses that they will have been fed to justify his and ultimately their behaviour.

And if your child had been hospitalised with a broken nose? What would be your reaction?

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:31 AM

I don't think you can blame Potugal for getting Rooney sent off. He did that himself. He deliberately tried to damage that guys knackers and right in front of the referee. Dumb or not dumb.
I am a staunch England fan and am unhappy that they are not through to the last 4.
We lost becuase we were not good enough. Why oh why do so many people have to use sour grapes to excuse the poor performance of England. Stop blaming the opposition and look deeper at the reasons why England were incapable of producing entertaining football with what looks like an excellent team on paper, but as usual, unable to do it on the park.
IMHO, Rooney lost the match for England with his childish reaction. As somebody said above, he needs to grow up and use his talents to win games. He just can't be trusted to do the job for us.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:00 AM

I confidently predict that all of my confident predictions from now on - will be wrong. France 0 Portugal 7.

France v Brazil was a breath of fresh air and almost managed to lift me from my gloom. Credit to Brazil (and their current manager) for letting France play and to France for taking the opportunity to do it.

I am afraid that very little credit is due to Portugal. They were shown (in their last two games) to be poor side with a manager who encouraged his players that the way to win was to cheat and try and get the opposition sent off. The sad thing is that Scolari so nearly was England's next manager.

The greatest irony is that even by the use of these tactics when they had managed to get only a marginally better England side reduced to 10 men - they still could not win and Ronaldo, the scorer of the last penalty, could have taught Jacque Cousteu how to dive. Ronaldo was a disgrace and should have been sent off long before the Rooney incident and the shoot-out.

If I were living in Portugal and they were kind enough to let me stay there, I am sure that the TV pundits there would have a different view and will see Ronaldo as a hero. TV coverage does tend to be biased towards the home sides. This is a rather obvious fact. And rather than complain about this - I could always move back to my home country where I could expect the TV coverage to reflect my own bias.   

England's players have shown that they are a good Quarter final team. Most of us thought this side was better than that - but the fact that must be faced is that those who thought this - were proved wrong. It would be nice to say that England lost to a better side (as is usually the case) but sadly I do not think that to be the case this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 12:13 AM

I'm not slagging here, but I haven't seen anything in this tournament to support the much-touted Beckham's rep as one of the world's best players. And Rooney - please, grow up and then come back to play with men.

Brazil are a disappointment, as well. Not anywhere near their previous form.

I am impressed with France, and Argentina deserved a better outcome. And while I think it silly to try to predict the outcomes of games, I feel that Germany-France may be a likely final match.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Escamillo
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:28 PM

A World Cup of surprises, eh? Argentina defeated, Brazil defeated, England defeated, Portugal candidate to championship, our team horribly managed at the last moments (Coach called CRUZ who did nothing and was known to be able of nothing, CAMBIASSO who was too nervous, and reserved the briliant MESSI for a hypothetical semifinal or some misterious reason). Ok, matches of this importance should not end in a penalty series, they should be continued in another match.

99% Argentinians' symphaties now go to Portugal, for their first championship.

Wolfgang, I owe you a virtual beer and my congratulations.
Un abrazo - Andrés in Buenos Aires

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:23 PM

Interesting discussion about practise and luck in penalty shootouts in this old thread (from 2002)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:21 PM

Oh fuck, I've lost a very long post by wrong keying. So in a nutshell:

I've seen two good games today.
Zidane the best Brazilian by far (somehow he played with the wrong jersey).
Very deserved win for the French.
Hargreaves deservedly player of the match.
England as good as Portugal even with 10 (an exciting 0:0).
England has now joined Italy with three lost penalty shootouts.
The only English player scoring has German genes (not that I would believe in that; I believe in practise).
Why didn't he opt for Germany when he had the choice (he would be an improvement on Schweinsteiger?

I confidently predict that the semi finals will be Agentina v Italy and England v Brazil. (Shambles)
Not quite as good as throwing a coin, but better than all wrong.

Italy beats France in the final.
Germany beats Portugal for third place.
How do I know this? Well, Klose will likely be top scorer and most often the top scorer has come from the third place team.

Wolfgang (hoping to be nearly as good as a coin throw)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:01 PM

All much more exciting than the Olympic Games anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 05:58 PM

German French final with Germany winning 2-1

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 05:17 PM

I think I will go and buy some of the half price Italy shirts. Any orders?

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 05:06 PM

At last a fine game from France and Brazil, the French were deserving winners, Zidane was superb, and the French defence was rock solid, and an all European last four, who would have forecast that.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Tootler
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 04:58 PM

England are out and quite deservedly so. They really should have gone earlier.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:41 PM

Best idea is to go and buy them flags etc for a knock down price and sell them in four years time at a massive markup

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: harpmaker
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:38 PM

...them stupid cheap flags that are on cars/vans/houses..everywhere, can now at last be taken down.
....if I was you lot that bought them...I would ask for my money back.
Bahh-humbug.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:28 PM

Didn't Murray do well.

Us English will support him, unlike Scots who don't support England :-)

Lived up in Scotland long enough to know how the Scots feel about the English. Like nicking their oil, beef, jobs etc.

The Scots are a nice lot really and I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 years in Scotland. Met a lot of nice people up there.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:27 PM

Its not fair. You're all saying nasty things about our gallant lads. One had a poorly foot. The foreigners were absolutely frightful as usual - pretending to be hurt when they got kicked in the goolies, eating garlic and winning penalty shoot outs.

if there was any justice, they would award us a world cup for being decent chaps, and admit that they cheated.

I think I'll drink a warm beer, and watch One of Our Aircraft is Missing to calm down.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:12 PM

Murray is a Scot and made his views about England very clear !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 03:00 PM

Wouldn't like to be in Ronaldo's shoes when he gets back to training at Old Trafford. He may find that Rooney could well be the thug he cracked him up to be:-)

Shame - Regardless of what the dissenters say - Best gane England had played in a long time. Pity it had to go to Penalties. I reckon seeing as England always seem to fare well on 10 men the next manager should take advantage of it. Put on a real bruiser. "Now then {inset name here} get yourself sent off by taking out the knees of their best striker"...;-)

Well done lads. Shame you buggered up my Germany 4-2 England in extra time prediction! At least we will see Portugal get wiped out on Wednesday.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:59 PM

The writing was on the wall before they set out for the World Cup, what team other than England would have stated that they would win the World Cup after losing to Northern Ireland, enough said.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:52 PM

Come on Murray. He is British isn't he :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:47 PM

Raw nerve struck !

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:47 PM

When oh when are English players going to be taught how to make killing passes in the last half of the pitch. It is woeful.
Yes they tried hard, but it just wasn't good enough.

As for Rooney, he deserved to be sent off. Absolutely disgraceful. He is a truly gifted player, but needs to learn how to control his frustration.

I personnally think that Sven should not have given him that role. His frustration got the better of him. Crouch (who I do not like) was far more effective up front on his own.

Having fought for so long with 10 men, I never ever thought that penalties was in England's best interest.

At the end of the day Sven did no worse than most England managers. Are we ever going to get the message that we are a top 8 side buit not much better.

Watching this Scottish (John McEnroe whinger style gobby) play some wonderful tennis against Roddick at Wimbledon - 2 sets up - 1 all in third set. Have us English got to support a Scot LOL :-)

Come on Murray :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:36 PM

You always have the pundits on English TV going on about how it's impossible to prepare for a penalty shootout.

If you do not like this - you could always just piss off and watch Irish TV.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:31 PM

You always have the pundits on English TV going on about how it's impossible to prepare for a penalty shootout. Ignoring the fact that the last time anyone in the German side missed a penalty in a major championship was in 1976.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:30 PM

A pathetic World Cup emphasized by another truly awful game, England`s displays have been boring all of there games were devoid of good football.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: alanabit
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:30 PM

The future looks bleak for England, as this was almost cetainly the last time in my lifetime, that they could send a squad, which had a realistic chance of winning the competition. I don't know why, and no doubt they don't either, but they never found any rhythm and they never dominated a single game - not even against Trinidad and Tobago. They were completely outplayed by a Portugal side, which was considerably weakened by suspensions and injuries.               
England's outstanding players were all playing in their last World Cup - Beckham, Campbell, Owen, Gerrard and Lampard. There is no one of comparable quality coming through, although it is of small comfort that England's best performances generally came from their youngest players.
The cretinous decision to appoint an English coach to replace Sven Goran Eriksson will be rued for generations. Only the chiefs of the FA are stupid enough to believe that a team can win the World Cup by playing First Division football. England did not participate in the World Cup finals between 1970 and 1982. I can see a similar disaster looming.
In Germany, most people are delighted to see the back of this England side, who contributed so little to the competition. It is a day of rejoicing for those who dislike England and their satisfaction will be complete in view of the ignominious end of yet another poor challenge.

Subject: RE: BS: Football World Cup 2006
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:22 PM

Ahhh... excuse me? Balking is allowed on a penalty kick? Seems like cheating to me.

Speaking of cheating, if my "buddy" ran up and appealed to the ref that I had purposefully stomped someone in the nuts when I was off balance (I watched it a half dozen times in slo-mo and at regular speed - no way that was on purpose) I might have done what Rooney did. And, I might have gone a bit further if I had known a wee shove would get me ejected.

I might be completely wrong... probably am.