BS: World Cup 2010

Subject: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Arnie
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 08:33 AM

For a while there it looked like England might not have been seeded for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, after a bit of suspense, FIFA decided on some exotic seeding ruling and we got our seeding in the end at the expense of France. It was thought that France would be seeded ahead of England, but by some FIFA sleight of hand, they ended up unseeded - just reward for 'Handball Henri' and his mates as they could now face Brazil, Italy or Spain at the Group stage and I don't think Henri's cheating will be of much help there. I know that the other home nations support whoever is playing England, but I for one am genuinely sad that no other home nation will be joining us next year - Ireland were robbed anyway and I'm sure would have won a replay against a French side who are a shadow of past French sides who never had to cheat to win a game. Nice to see that the good old US of A will be there also - there seems to be a growing number of American players in the UK league, including Mike Grella, a New Yorker who plays up front for my team.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 08:48 AM

FIFA should change the rule such that managers can only manage their OWN nation - if managers are not important to the COMPETITION, why are foreign managers employed?! And, as I've said in verse, club football should be regulated back to how it was - mostly locals in MEANINGFUL competition.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 05:56 PM

As an American soccer fan who has followed the national team for a long time, I fully expect through some FIFA magic that the USA will get a bad draw. We ususally get a superpower and/ or a host country.Friday will tell.From a non-neutral point of view I also feel we get more than our fair share of bad referee calls. I think there may be a subtle undercurrent that does not want to see the USA succeed in International soccer. Having said that I further think the glamour national sides get the benefit of questionable calls much more than they should. The competition is not a level playing field.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 07:31 PM

Can someone please explai what "seeding" means? I don't understand the labyrinthine workings of FIFA at all.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 07:42 PM

It's the same as in tennis - stop the top players/teams meeting at early stages of the competition in order to (theoretically) ensure that the final will between the two best ones. To keept to the tennis analogy, no one would want Federer to play Nadal in the first round of the US Open - save that for the final.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 12:44 AM

... so that, to explain the term, the top teams are planted, like 'seeds', among the various groups [or, in tennis, at certain pre-determined points in the draw] to prevent their playing one another [assuming they win their earlier matches which of course doesn't always happen - 'Seed Loses' a frequent headline early in competition] too early on in the tournament.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:18 AM

Ah thanks, I get it now.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:53 AM

I'd like to seed the ass of every South African with an exploding vuvuzela.........THe fact that the FIFA is going to allow that damned noise shows the true arrogance of the organization. I'd love to see the TV folks refuse to televise if they persist. Like a lot of others, I'll be watching with the sound off.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 02:18 AM

Once again we agree, Spaw - must be something in the water! I have long thought they should clamp down also on these full brass bands with trumpets & trombones & drums [oh no, not that!] who are suffered to play on the terraces thruout the game. Must be hellish distracting for players & officials, apart from all else...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Stu
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:23 AM

I like the bands; they add a sense of fun to the proceedings. If some bloke paid £75k a week can't concentrate because some muso's are playing The Great Escape he shouldn't be on the pitch. I'd much rather see FIFA spend their time getting video feedback for a fifth official and sorting out the bloody offside law so it's utterly unambiguous.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:57 AM

2nd thoughts, Sugarfoot — I take it back re the bands: part of the folkie ambience indeed, like the songs. Still agree with Spaw, tho, about the distracting strident vuvu-wotsits...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 06:11 AM

Yeah.....Bands are one thing but those vuvus need to gogo. Music and noise are not the same thing........LOL....well, at least in most cases!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:31 AM

If the seedings are related to past performances in the World Cup surely France having won it in 1998 an were finalists in 2006 would have earned a seeding this record far exceeds England who last won their one and only competition in 1966.
                           
I know the seedings are earned on meaningless friendlies, and in relation to seeding surely the most underhand form of this was the quarter final seedings two weeks before the games were played, this to ensure the so-called stronger nations avoided each other in the draw.
Blatter and Platini along with the rest of their con-men committee should be voted out next time round.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Stu
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:20 AM

Er, wot's vuvu's then?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:20 AM

France had to qualify via the play-offs whereas England had one of the best records in the qualifying matches. That's why France are not seeded.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:59 AM

Sugarfoot - google VUVUZELA. You will find it is a sort of long plastic trumpet which makes a sort of amplified strident raspberry noise; much beloved, for some reason, of S African footie crowds.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:25 PM

The French view on the seedings,
Former France coach Michel Hidalgo, who was in charge of the Michel Platini-inspired side which won the 1984 European title, wa

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:28 PM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:29 PM

Former France coach Michel Hidalgo, who was in charge of the Michel Platini-inspired side which won the 1984 European title, was

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:33 PM

That didn`t work, the jist of the article was on the same lines as my previous post, Michael Hidalgo suggested that Fifa changed the rules this time around, and had the previous system remained France with their recent World Cup record would have been seeded.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:38 PM

But 'their previous World Cup record' was four years ago - surely the seedings should be based on current form and England had a better qualifying record than France (who only got through because of Henry's dexterity).

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 02:24 PM

"What is noise?" That's maybe a thread that could run and run...

So being seeded means you are less likely to have tough opponents in the earlier stages. And your opponents are more likely to have tough opponents.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Arnie
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 09:39 AM

I've just heard one of those vuvuzela's whilst listening to a report from S Africa before this evening's World Cup draw. I certainly would not want to be sitting near one of those during a match! A S African football official said that the vuvuzela is an integral part of S African celebrations and no match would be complete without a few of them. Fair comment - if we award the World Cup to S Africa then they're quite entitled to celebrate in the S African way. We'll know whose in our group in a few hours time - so far they've had 3 practice draws and we've ended up in the same group as Australia each time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 01:12 PM

England v USA!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 01:29 PM

We will beat the USA 2 -1 :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 02:56 PM

hi This is in answer to Guest Meadow Muskrat,s
< As an American soccer fan who has followed the national team for a long time, I fully expect through some FIFA magic that the USA will get a bad draw. We ususally get a superpower and/ or a host country.Friday will tell.From a non-neutral point of view I also feel we get more than our fair share of bad referee calls. I think there may be a subtle undercurrent that does not want to see the USA succeed in International soccer. Having said that I further think the glamour national sides get the benefit of questionable calls much more than they should. The competition is not a level playing field. >

Well the "FIFA magic " has worked again. You drew England !!!! lol

By the way USA can't usually draw a "super power and a Host country....this is what the seeding prevents !!

And you certainly can't get all the bad referee decisions because WE always get them....lol

You are making the very same complaints that every football ( soccer ) fan makes in every country when they are not winning. We are all alike.

Seriously though I do look forward to watching next June and of course I will be anxiously watching England as they play USA. I made a remark when the draw was made " easy peasy" but my Dad reminded me that USA beat England in the 1950 competition !!

May the best team win - AS LONG AS IT IS ENGLAND   lol

regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 03:02 PM

he he

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: CLETUS HARDDINGER
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 03:06 PM

Iz thiz tha kinda futball yall pplay in short pantz?
CLETUS

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 04:56 PM

In response to MikeL2, I was pleasantly surprised at the draw. I hope both the UK and USA go through, but I would prefer if you draw Germany in the round of 16. In the USA's brief recent WC history we drew host Italy and the Czechs in 1990. We were hosts in 1994, but still drew Colombia-one of the pre -tournament favorites. In 1998 we got Germany and Yugoslavia.In 2002 we drew host S.Koreans as well as another favorite Portugal.In 2006 we once again drew Italy and the Czechs.Perhaps you can see why I was a bit dubious about the selection process.
As far as the bad referee decisions , while it is a common and admiitedly slanted view , if you had seen some of the WC qualifiers in Central America you might understand my point of view.
I figure if you like soccer and presumably folk music you are an OK person. Best of luck.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MikeL2
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 06:31 AM

Hi Meadow-muskrat

I agree that USA have had some difficult draws in the past. It will have been all a part of a difficult learning curve because by World standards the USA are still "junior" brothers.

Here in England we do have a number of US players these days. Indeed my own club Manchester United won our FA Cup with Tim Howard in goal. At that time Tim was the first American player to win a major trophy here in England.

Remember too that David Beckham (ex Manchester United ) went to Galaxy with a view to try to strengthen the standing of Soccer in the US so that they will be able to feature among the real World leading nations. But I guess you have far more competition over there with Football, Basketball and Baseball.

Thanks for the final compliment which I reurn to you because you are also a fellow soccer and folk lover.

Oh by the way.....we are ENGLAND not UK ....!!!!!!! UK would be a combined team of England, Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Arnie
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 06:29 AM

A great draw from England's point of view. According to John Motson, who knows everything about football, England have never played Algeria, even in a friendly. They've got a few players in the English divisions but should not pose a problem for the national team. Ditto Slovenia, although they have beaten Gus Hiddink's Russia in the qualifiers. That only leaves the USA and on paper we are the stronger team - but you never know!! However, I think the outcome at the group stage will be England and USA going through in 1st and 2nd places respectively. What happens after that will be the interesting part....

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,AllanC
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 06:44 PM

"We are England not the UK"

I'm glad you pointed that one out Mike. There would have been a few Scottish PC screens getting spluttered on after Muskrat's post. The one worse thing than Scotland being crap is Scotland, England and the others not existing :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 04:04 PM

Am I right in believing that in recent World Cups, the USA's record is at least as good as England's? On form over the past year, the USA did better against both Spain and Brazil than England did - and that is the yardstick. As I pointed out in the other thread, the USA will go into the game with more time to acclimatise to the altitude and with players who have not been playing up to the last minute in all competitions. They will almost certainly have a better goalkeeper. England should still have enough talent to beat them - but we had better not get complacent. I hope that both teams go through to the second round. If it means England get Germany, so be it. You can not win the World Cup - or even make a credible challenge - unless you can stand up to that sort of opposition. Germany will probably be very difficult to beat, but England should have enough talent on display to give them a game - and so should the USA come to that.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 04:22 PM

Sorry about the UK-England mistake -which begs the question- Are you going to field a UK side for the London Olympics? I heard it was a hot topic.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 04:48 PM

It's a very hot topic - thin end of the wedge and all that. If it could happen for the Olympics, why not for the World Cup? The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are well aware of this.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,AllanC
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 06:23 PM

"UK team at the Olympics"

There is supposedly going to be a UK team competing but it does not have the backing of the four Football Associations. The SFA have stated categorically that they will not be taking part. I'm not 100% sure but I thing the Irish and Welsh are veering towards not being involved too.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Arnie
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 05:29 AM

The Everton v Spurs match provided a bit of an ominous portent this weekend. Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper saved a penalty from Defoe. There's every possibility that Defoe will be facing Howard again in S Africa next year when England play the USA in their opening game, so I hope he gets some penalty shooting practice in before then! Shame Tim Howard can't become a naturalised Brit 'cos we could do with a goalie of his standard - he's streets ahead of the bunch of second-rate England keepers that Capello has to choose from.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 09:17 AM

hi meadows=muskrat

Are we going to field a Uk soccer team in the 2112 Olympics ???

As I understand it, this is most unlikely to happen.

There is a move to try to make it happen and if you believe the media, they have already approach Sir Alec Ferguson to act as Manager of the team. From the same dubious sources it is suggested that he said " NO".

England have always entered teams in the past Olympics but they have stayed true to the original amateur ideals of the Olympics. Of course they don't have a snowball in Hell's chance against the top professional sides.

Another suggested reason why the other UK countries don't support a combined team in the World Cup is that it would probably only contain England players if it was selected purely on ability.

There is some truth in this and I believe that trying to include others in the England side would certainly not strengthen it.

I agree with some of the comments here about the possible way in which the games might go, but again I believe that it shouldn't matter who you get; if you are a great side then you should be able to beat anyone who comes up against you.

Having said that it is nice to get any easy start.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 10:50 AM

I don't understand why the 4 football associations don't jump at the chance to field a one time only team for the Olympics. Are they afraid of losing future autonomy? It is very puzzling on this side of the pond. I can't imagine a host country not fielding a side in a sport they invented.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:09 AM

'Are they afraid of losing future autonomy?' Yes, most definitely. Remember, all the other footballing nations are sovereign states. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are parts of a sovereign state, the UK. Simple, really!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:59 AM

Without wishing to stir things up (honestly), which Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish player could expect to play in a UK team? Why would the other Associations want to join in a UK team dominated by England players?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 12:47 PM

Without wishing to stir things up (honestly), which Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish player could expect to play in a UK team? Why would the other Associations want to join in a UK team dominated by England players?===

Ryan Giggs?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 01:26 PM

Would you trust a 'guarantee' from FIFA?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: ard mhacha
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 02:12 PM

Dear Guest please don`t make that statement to a Scot, or for that matter a Welshman or an Irishman. We may be down on our luck at the minute but all the Celts need are four or five class players and we will battle the best.
The most absurd situation is two Irish teams, neither association will
bend, it is money and politics, and you cannot get a worse combination than those two obstacles.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:38 PM

ard mhaca-that was me that made the statement prior to your entry. I forgot to enter my code name. I'm not sure what statement I made you would object to, or what the current state of the national sides has to do with it. I'm just suggesting it seems very strange if the host country doesn't field a team in their national sport. Hasn't it occurred to anyone that exposure of younger players to this type of competition could only help in the future when they may rejoin their respective national sides? I'm curious what the reaction to the London Olympics in general is in Scotland .Wales and Northern Ireland ? If I lived that close to the competition. I could hardly wait for it to begin.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: allanc
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:43 PM

"I don't understand why the 4 footballing nations don't jump at the chance"

Basically what one has to remember is that England and Scotland are the oldest teams in international football. The Welsh and Irish joined the fray within a few years. There is not much problem as far as Europe goes but many in the rest of the world wish to see the end of the special status accorded to the various UK teams. There is a long held view that under these circumstances competing as a single entity would set a precedent. The SFA have been given mixed messages from FIFA. One time being told there is no problem the next time being told it would endanger Scotland's existence. Why would they after almost 140 years risk all for an event which doesn't even involve full strength international squads and which has had no previous massive interest from the public? The Scots originally suggested that the 4 teams could run a competition and the winners would go on to represent the UK but the English FA did not go for that. As it stands at the moment I don't think the SFA could stop any individual from accepting a place in the Olympic squad but the individual would probably be banned from competing for Scotland again. The public here in Scotland seem to be firmly against a UK team.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: allanc
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:47 PM

"reaction in Scotland to Olympics"

To tell you the truth I don't think there is much excitement here about it at all at the moment. I imagine that will change once the games get closer though.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:40 PM

It's a matter of tradition. The four [or five if you count Republic of Ireland] home nation teams have always had separate footballing identities, preceding the very existence of any such entity as FIFA, Euro, or any such: & this separateness has always been recognised by such international bodies. It could be compromised if a UK team were to be entered for Olympics, tho that will be the badge under which other sports will be entered [if Andy Murray enters the tennis, e.g., it will surely be as a UK, not a Scotland, representative].

And, as I say, tradition is all part of it. A sort of analogy might be drawn with a popular TV quiz over here called University Challenge, in which the various colleges of the ancient universities of Oxford & Cambridge, whose colleges are recognised as part of a federal university but as having their own traditions & identities, enter separate teams; as do the colleges of London University which, unlike the Ox&Cam ones, which are small, are monolithic foundations big enough to form their own universities if they wanted; while all other teams just represent the whole of their parent university. Pragmatically, it seems to work.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: allanc
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:45 AM

"matter of tradition"

You're absolutely correct. I don't think there is much opposition within UEFA(ie the European Confederation) to the 4 British team's individual status - but there is from other parts of the world and in particular Africa. The idea that the oldest competing teams should be disbanded, and in Scotland and England's cases we are talking about the founders of the game as we know it, is a complete lack of respect for both footballing tradition and for British tradition. It may be just a matter of time before our other special status is done away with though. When FIFA was desperate to get the Home nations to join they made various special concessions. One is that of the 8 vice-presidents only one member is not voted in by the confederations of the various continents. The 4 Home nations vote for one of their members as vice-president. So the UK has permanent membership of the ruling council. It may be harder to defend that one in the modern game. Of course we also have 4 votes within UEFA rather than 1 but like I say the Europeans seem happy with that.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:10 AM

There's also the point that there is no UK wide football league. All four nations have their own leagues and although there are a couple of anomalies (three Welsh teams in the English leagues, one English team in the Scottish leagues) these are tolerated for historic reasons. It all serves to maintain the 'difference' between the UK and the rest of the football world.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 07:40 AM

Yes, I knew — just thought he might be persuaded back for such an occasion - even tho he will of course be 3 years older by then. Heigh-ho alas, just a dream...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: gnu
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:10 PM

Not far off.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: gnu
Date: 17 May 10 - 03:14 PM

Would it be useful to change the title of the thread now Arnie?
"World Cup 2010"? Your call.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: Arnie
Date: 18 May 10 - 10:29 AM

gnu - yes I agree it would be better to change the thread title to 'World Cup 2010' as we're pretty close to the start of proceedings in SA now and no doubt this thread will run for a while. Could a helpful elf please make the change??

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup seedings
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 02:35 PM

I have just asked one... I assume it may be done soon.

---

Just like magic! -Mod

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 08:59 AM

And who were all these people who said that Heskey wouldn't do anything in this World Cup?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 12:26 PM

What has he done then Les, apart from tackling Ferdinand?

I saw him miss a wide open goal this afternoon. I also saw Millner decide to cross the ball to Rooney instead of Heskey - I guess he knew who was most likely to score.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 12:32 PM

LOL just seen the advert from Nationwide with the Little Britian pair. Very funny.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 02:02 PM

I was referring to him causing the National Team's Captain to sit out the rest of the competition. But I'm not surprisied about him missing an open goal.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 05:41 PM

What a donkey Eh!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 07:59 AM

By the law of averages even Emile Heskey must score an open goal one day. As he has missed so frequently recently, could he not suddenly get lucky at just the right time?
I think England will go out to Germany on the 26th or 27th in the second round. One of those teams will come second in their group making the pairing almost inevitable. There is no reason why Autralia should not top Germany's group and there is equally no reason why the USA should not top group C - especially if they win on Saturday, which they could.
England are sending a weaker squad this time, so it will all come down to whether they quickly develop a bit of momentum or not. I don't think they have a prayer against Brazil or Spain or an in form Germany or Holland. Argentina can be beaten by a team with iron discipline as was shown in the last two World Cups against England and Germany, when they lost to less talented players on both occasions. A disciplined Argentina side would be terrifying.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 05:30 PM

There is no reason why Australia should not top Germany's group

I can think of a couple. But anything's possible, that's what makes it fun.

Good piece in the Guardian today about not being too locked into supporting anyone - Come on you Ghana, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Korea, Italy… And of course Cote d'Ivoire, which has a national flag as near as damn it to the Irish one...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 12:27 PM

David Cameron has said he will fly the flag of St George over No 10 during the football World Cup in South Africa.

Well done David Cameron. You are leading the way. Let's lobby for a bank holiday for St George's day. For England and English Folk Music.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 06:22 PM

If they gave us St George's Day they'd take away the one a week later on the closest Monday to May Day.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 01:11 AM

We would have to keep that one McGoH

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 05:53 AM

hi A

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus - PM
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 12:27 PM

"David Cameron has said he will fly the flag of St George over No 10 during the football World Cup in South Africa."

There ya go, Cameron is already copying Blair...!!
Blair did in previous Worls Cups....got us nowhere !!

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 06:47 AM

Yes, but Blair told lies :-)

I'll get me coat.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 10:57 AM

Oh, is it one of those sheepskin ones as approved by Motty?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 02:24 PM

A Professor has found that there are two sizes of penis amongst UK men. There are those which fall within the normal size range and those which are less than two inches while erect. The professor has appealed for help to continue his research.


Could all men in the UK with extremely small penises make themselves known over the next six weeks by flying a white flag with a red cross from their cars?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 05:48 PM

So, what happened with that stuff about the incessant druming and horns and shit? Anything? I thought there was a move afloat to ban that idiocy.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 09:59 AM

Nothing... that's enough to drive a guy crazy... sounds like a nest of angry bees. LOUD f'ing bees!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 10:06 AM

Phew I am glad you mentioned that gnu. I was about to call the local bee keeper in.

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

Why women hate World Cup soccer

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 11:02 AM

Why Woman Hate Soccer Part 3

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 07:25 PM

Buy A Vuvuzela Online -

Look just like a yard glass of ale. Someone is going to make a fortune importing them. Here's a page with an elephant playing one. I reckon South Africans must have lungs like elephants to manage it.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 07:35 PM

Properly tuned and coordinated they could sound pretty good I reckon. Here's a clip suggesting how this could work

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 07:36 PM

I turned the volume way down during the U/F game and could still hear the names of the players but the buzzErds were acceptable.

I hope that after this Cup, the problem is adressed immediately. No "noise makers" next time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 08:43 PM

Way back up this thread I suggested the South Africans shove the fuckin' horns up their asses and I am very disappointed that there are not thousands and thousands of South Africans without a vuvupoovoozelawela horn tootling from their bungholes. The TV folks should have put their foot down on this one from the gitgo.

Send your vuvupieceuvshit to Conrad Pissant and have him make horn pants so that wearing them gives you a blow job.......


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 12:33 AM

Well, whilst you guys are complaining about horns, and watching why women hate soccar, I saw a couple of pretty darn good matches today. Uruguay, especially, played a tenacious defensive game, frustrating France at every possession, it seems. Mexico v RSA was outstanding, also.

I'm going to try to be home tomorrow for UK/USA, a friendly over the pond rivalry.

Cheers!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 01:33 AM

I enjoyed the Mexico v RSA match.

Tonight's the night.

England v USA - Let's just hope that it's a good clean game with England winning. :-) On paper they should win, but I don't think you can underestimate any team that has managed to get to this point. Let's just hope that Rooney keeps his cool and nets a few goals. I would be pleased if Heskey did as well, but not holding my breath on that one.

Come on England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:14 AM

I have a feeling it is going to be a draw against the USA - possibly with England having to grab a last ditch equaliser. It is going to be a close thing either way. Along with Brazil, the USA is one of the few countries, which has got a 100% record against England in the World Cup. I hope that changes tonight!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:18 AM

I hope North Korea knock England out of the world cup!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:46 AM

Quote
I hope North Korea knock England out of the world cup!!!!!
Unquote

As long as they don't use torpedo's

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 07:32 AM

I shall root for England because I am not familiar with the US team. If either can carry on I will be pleased.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 07:37 AM

England have three Yorkshiremen in the team so that's got to be a good omen. Predictably The Star has the headline 'Spank the Yanks' - bet that took some thinking up. The papers reckon that Heskey will start tonight, despite only scoring 7 goals in 58 games - I didn't even know it was that many. If Heskey scores tonight then Capello is obviously a genius - if he doesn't then Capello is an idiot and should have started with Defoe or Crouch up front. Should be a good match all the same.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 09:08 AM

Quote
If Heskey scores tonight then Capello is obviously a genius
Unquote

Well Arnie, it really depends wether it's a goal for England or an own goal!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 09:28 AM

World Cup 2010 - Surreal Goal (Emile Heskey)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: kendall
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 09:39 AM

I am surrounded by Brits here; my wife, her daughter, her son in law and her grandson all rooting for England.
If England wins I will fly the cross of St. George from the flag pole. If America wins, I'll just hide...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:02 AM

You just watch they don't slip any arsenic in your drink, if the USA win Kendall.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:37 AM

Just read the US roster.. donovan is the only one I recognize. Fine player.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:38 AM

hi

I am surrounded by Brits here as well....but then I am in England...

The streets are all decked out with the England flags and buntings etc.

If they don't win tonight we will all hide......!!!!

To the Heskey critics, he is not selected because of his scoring abilities, he takes the weight of players that are...

Let's hope he does his job....if not Crouch will come on for the last half hour.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 01:19 PM

I guess I'm the only one here rooting for the Stars and Stripes. Netherlands would be my second choice in the tournament, as my son lives there. The Mother Country is my third choice.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 01:47 PM

Hmmm Not sure if the selection of the team is that good.

Gerrard and Lampard - how many times do we have to see them fail together.

I am worried that Millner will not be fit enough after his illness.

Rooney would rather be on his own, but Heskey is going to be his mate.

Got to get my dinner.

Come on England - stuff it up those yankees. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 01:59 PM

John on the Sunset coast

I am USAer living in the UK, married to an Englishman.

Currently there is an England flag hanging out of the lounge window and taped on the inside above it, a printout of the US flag.

At the moment we are watching Grand Prix qualifying, then will turn to UK/US game.

As for which team I am supporting.... I am torn.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 03:27 PM

Well there you go.

Emile Heskey made a brilliant pass to Gerrard to get the first goal.

Once again the dread of English goalkeepers hit us again.

I don't know about Calamity James, but Green is just as bad. That guy earns a fortune and he makes such a twat of himself in letting the yanks get a goal. How do you substantiate such high earnings for such poor goalkeeping.

Rooney hasn't been in the game.

Mistake to play Millner after his illness.

Better bring on Calamity for the second half.

The commentators are supporting Green, but I wish I could earn as much as him, for making such a twatbag error. Disgraceful.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 03:36 PM

Lighten up... the guy misjudged the ball. Yes, I know he should have smothered it with clasp hands and brought it to body (as is done in Yankee football), but he just fucked up. Overly confident - nervous? There it is. But a twat? No.

Go England! Go USA!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 03:42 PM

Heskey revived my confidence in him. He just cocked up a wonderful chance to score with only the goalkeeper to beat. :-(

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:25 PM

U.S.A. and England: draw at one a piece. One of the commentators
predicted that score. It was a good game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:33 PM

The English goalkeeper cost England the match.

That was an aweful mistake and for somebody of his calibre was clearly not good enough.

USA never looked good enough to win the game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:36 PM

What I can't get over is the bollocks that the commentatators are coming out with defending Green. It was appalling.

I won't even say Well done USA. They are poor and England through it's goalkeeper lost us a win.

Overpaid pansies.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:51 PM

Arty... you sound like a troll, dissing both sides in one sentence for scant reason, or a spoiled child that has never played a team sport where MATES understand their mates are not perfect.

If you showed that attitude on a team, you wouldn't be on a team.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 04:54 PM

No Gnu

Just unhappy with the English goalkeeper.

USA are not that good, but thanks to our goalkeeper who earns a fortune, they get a draw.

Lets just say I am passionate about football.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 05:14 PM

Yeah......We got a shitty goalie too in Howard. Imagine letting England score early like that......***sigh***........yeah, the USA team sucks huge, like they're completely hopeless and the only reason they got even one goal is probably not the fault of Green but of a vast conspiracy starting with the Trilateral Commission, the Illuminati, and 14 Saudis who have been organizing this debacle from a paint booth in a BMW body shop outside of Perth-Amboy.

Get a grip Arty.....The USA played well as a team although the Brits have more star caliber players. The goal for England was scored early before the USA was even functioning....a true problem for them. The US needs to start each game at a higher level of readiness. As for your guys, they needed more teamwork. I don't wanna' pop your electric pickle but y'all are a long ways from being the greatest team of all time and the USA ain't too damn bad.

It will be interesting to see how each comes out of this match.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 05:22 PM

Quote
I don't wanna' pop your electric pickle but y'all are a long ways from being the greatest team of all time
Unquote

Yep catsspaw have to agree. That's what makes it so infuriating.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 06:29 PM

I am pleased with the result. Confessional-wise, I was sore afraid after that early, easy (not a put down) Brit goal. Fortunately for USA, Greene made a real rookie mistake. He did not get his body directly in front of the ball (he was slightly left of center to it), and he failed to smother it, as noted above. While USA played well, and had a a really good chance or two, if this were a boxing match, I would have awarded a decision on points to England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Zen
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 06:34 PM

I tuned in to watch not really expecting much and was not diappointed. Mediocre fare at this level.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 08:02 PM

England stole a point from the better side on the night. They were lucky that the USA did not have the strikers to put the game beyond reach by half time. I still expect both teams to go through, but Germany beckons - and that means England's fourth game will probably be their last. I do not see either side going far beyond the second round.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 08:07 PM

Okay, Arty... I can understand that. Sorry if I misinterpreted your motives. I will try to refrain from being tooo critical.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 08:44 PM

USA defended very well, although they lacked the firepower up front. I thought that both teams played pretty well, England's skills versus USA organisation and determination.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 03:46 AM

Another day dawns and after a good nights sleep, all seems better now. :-)

Anyway, all England and America need to do now is win both their remaining games and they are through. However, I can't see either of us getting any further.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:53 AM

Anyway, I am sure we all want to see it again :-)

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

On reflection, Gerrard didn't close the player down. He seemed to give up. Mind you Dempsey ran rings round him, but the shot was pretty tame.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:53 AM

I remember well the first game of the World Cup when we won it. Just the same, dreadful and we drew.Many said after that game we had no chance.If we can sort ourselves out after this very nervous start we could still do very well in this competition.
Good luck to the American Team a good positive start and watch out World in about twelve years time,
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 05:03 AM

I remember it also Alan, but we were playing in England, not South Africa.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 05:05 AM

As it happens Alan, that has gone through my head too. England have rarely looked good in the group stages. Last time round we were very lucky to win the first match - and against Trinidad and Tobago, England's first "goal" was actually a shocking foul by Peter Crouch, which should have got him sent off!
Both teams should be able to reach the second round, but it would be unwise to take anything for granted. With all respect to the USA, who played well last night, I will be very surprised if either of those sides survives the looming encounter with Germany on the 26th or 27th.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 05:13 AM

"The English goalkeeper cost England the match."

Not strictly true, Arfa.
His error helped, but our bungling forwards who couldn't score aaginst a team of dustbins didn't help either.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 06:12 AM

BWM :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:06 AM

"The USA played well as a team although the Brits have more star caliber players"

ENGLISH not brits.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:32 AM

We made the standard England mistakes - gave the ball away much too often, let the opposition get too close to our goal, didn't deal with situations (which was at least 50% of the true cause of the goal - WTF was our defence doing letting the bugger get a shot away anyway? Why isn't anyone blaming them for not closing him down, or Gerrard for not challenging strongly enough?).

Rooney didn't even turn up for the game, Lampard ineffectual. But let's not let truth get in the way of giving a rookie keeper, who otherwise had a good game, a bloody good kicking for his one error.

But we were still by far and away the better team, had the balance of possession, looked far superior to the USA. Shame our forwards don't know where the goal is.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:37 AM

Erm striker = forward???

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 08:41 AM

Green did partly redeem himself with a great save in the second half, pushing the shot onto the post. However, I wouldn't like to see him starting next week - just hope James is match fit. I also do not want to see Heskey in the starting line-up. He's a nice bloke with a lot of physical presence, but cannot score goals and if Rooney goes AWOL on the pitch again then we don't have a true striker. It was amusing before the match when a tv interviewer asked a selection of US fans outside the Rustenburg stadium, to name members of the US squad. One or two fans could name Howard and Dempsey but quite a few couldn't name any of the US squad at all. If this was a selection of fans who'd stayed in the USA to watch the match on tv then I could understand their lack of knowledge. But surely fans who travel all the way to South Africa and buy match tickets would know at least some of the US squad? Maybe they were on safari or something and had just dropped by.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 08:47 AM

I have to say it concerns me this habit England have of playing deep. Rooney was industrious and constantly harangued the USA's back four but there were times when he was more like a centre-forward than a striker. Straight after the goal they sat back a little and let the USA come forward rather than hammering home the advantage, especially as the US defence was all at sea when anyone ran at them.

As for Heskey - he hold the ball up well and Rooney loves playing with him but missing a sitter like that - bloody hell. He's scored nowt for Villa and he's doing the same for England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 08:56 AM

Just wasting my time watching Algeria v Slovenia and it is pretty bad. I would be very surprised if we don't beat them.

Alan Shearer was very harsh on Green.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 09:52 AM

"Alan Shearer was very harsh on Green."

Didn't see it, Arthur, but didn't our pundits (especially as they're ex-players) ought to be building the team up, not knocking them down. Every time one of them slags Green off it undermines him with our future opponents and, should he play again, Shearer et al will have given a psychological advantage to the opposition.

And I've no more confidence in Calamity James than I have in Green - short memories some people have.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 10:17 AM

It seems we have one glaring goalkeeping error every World Cup, maybe we should be glad this one's out of the way early!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 11:09 AM

Be fair Arnie, Heskey set up the only goal we scored with a brilliant pass to Gerrard. Apart from the miss that he created by being in the right place, I thought he had a good game.
At this point in time I have complete faith in our manager, He knows what he is doing,it will only be the players that let him down.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 12:35 PM

Well I wouldn't want Calamity in the team. Hasn't he already said that he is having problems with new type ball. Maybe it's his eyes - he's getting to the age when he might need bi-focals.

Shearer wasn't happy with any of the goalkeepers. 2 because they seem to have problems with the ball and the other becuase he is fresh to the International scene.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:39 PM

How will the Aussies fair on the day?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:43 PM

Hope they shove it up the Krauts.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:55 PM

Definately agree with you there BWM :-)

However, the Aussies are going to play out of their skin to beat em.

Took my daughter to Gainsborough Swimming Pool last Sunday and today. Pain in the arse blocking up the road from the main Gainsborough - Market Rasen road. They didn't look as though they were doing much.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:21 PM

"the Aussies are going to play out of their skin to beat em."

They got skinned... drawn and quartered.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:53 PM

I've seen a most un-German game by a German team. Somehow, Miroslaw Klose (born in Poland), Marco Marin (a Bosnian Serb), Mehsud Oezil (from Turkey), Cacau (from Brazil), Khedira (Tunisian father) and Podolski (born in Poland) have misunderstood the German idea of football as hard work and have treated it as a play instead. They even seemed to have fun. Very curious.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 06:07 PM

Well the German team looked pretty impressive. It is such a shame that German Footballers are like vases that have bases too small for their size !
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:04 PM

Alan... I thought they had field vision and real time strategy. They seemed to be baiting the Aussies into running around in a game of "keep-away" immediately after the first goal. Cunning, to say the least. And, IF that was the case, it paid off big time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 09:07 PM

Ireland (as you may remember) are out.

So I turned my Irish flag around and I'm supporting the Ivory Coast.


I also have a big soft spot for their eastern neighbours, who won by a goal today.

Time to set sail on the black star liner ...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 04:23 AM

I remember when we were teaching English Country Dancing in Leipzig
there were about 150 dancers learning fairly complicated dance moves .I have never seen dancing of such perfection from all the groups in such a short space of time. The same dance in England would have couples going in the wrong direction, turning left instead of right etc. This ability of the German people for organisation is what makes them favourites for any group sport activity. I just wish they would cut out the diving aspect of their football.It was good to see the referee jump on it straight away yesterday.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:51 AM

Ve haff vays off makink you dance..........

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:54 AM

Mit precision !!
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:26 AM

Yawohl, Herr Major!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:29 AM

And now to watch my better half's team.

Come on Holland who stand as good a chance of anybody to win the World Cup 2010. Now we will see some quality football.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 09:42 AM

Well Holland did enough to win. Denmark unlucky with the own goal, but Holland did not play that well, but then they didn't need to. Touches of class from Holland at times. However they are excellent at holding the ball instead of kick and rush.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 09:50 AM

Backwoodsman,

I know you don't mean any offense, but I would urge you to consider how Wolfgang feels when he reads comments like the ones you have posted above.

He is a modest guy and unlikely to say anything, but it doesn't mean he likes being stereotyped.

The ball is in your court.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 10:06 AM

I see Paul Gascoigne is in hospital after car crash in Newcastle

Ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne is in a "serious but not life-threatening" condition in hospital after a car crash in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The incident, involving a Vauxhall Astra, happened on Sunday at 2145 BST at Sandhill, on the city's Quayside, police said.

The car, in which Mr Gascoigne was a passenger, is thought to have left the road and hit a signpost.

A 36-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving.

Info taken from BBC News

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Den
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 02:46 PM

Fine performance by the Germans even with Klose missing the chance of the match. They will be difficult to beat if they can keep playing at this level. Have to agree with Wolfgang's assessment, a very unGerman way of playing, very attack minded with a lot of youthful enthusiasm. People said they would miss Michael Ballack. Michael who?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:36 AM

A real footballing treat due later today - both Brazil and Portugal make their debut in SA. I've just realised that I have a bit of a diary clash coming up. Friday night is folk club night. It's also England v Algeria night. Fortunately the club is held in a room over a bar, and the bar will be showing the footie. So whilst my wife is upstairs listening to folk, I'll be downstairs watching the footie - and conveniently next to the bar. After the match, I'll be able to catch the second half of the folk club. Perfect night really, providing England win of course.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:22 PM

Great defense by PRK. And they look fit enough to keep it up. But, can they deny BRA for the second half?... and take the play to BRA?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:43 PM

It seems like the BRAs have managed to score.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 04:26 PM

I liked the Koreans' discipline and they are one of the most sportsmanlike sides I have seen. The Brazilians had a bit too much for them in the end, but it was good to see the Koreans get on the score sheet and give their opponents a real game. All credit to them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 06:09 PM

Yes, nice to se PRK score. I wanted to see them win, but never to be. Both BRA goals were picture perfect and a joy to watch.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 03:16 AM

Great performance by the N. Koreans, and how refreshing to see the game played by them as it's meant to be - clean, no noticeable diving, no screaming and spitting in the officials' faces, eleven men playing as a cohesive unit. Shame their little legs started to fail as the second half wore on.

Excellent stuff. I hope they do well in the competition.

And once they got their act together, the Brazilians were pretty good too.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 04:40 AM

Leeds versus Lincoln in the Carling Cup

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 11:56 AM

The upset of the competition so far.

Spain 0 Switzerland 1

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 01:16 PM

Spain never took the Swiss seriously til it was over.....and maybe not even then! That team acted as if they were "owed" a win simply because they are Spain and they showed up. I love it when an underdog kicks ass in any sport and this was a great example!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 01:19 PM

RATS!!! I couldn't watch it! I would have dearly loved to see it!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: romanyman
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 01:36 PM

dont understand how the world can go mad over twenty two so called grown men kicking a ball about, and getting paid huge amounts for the pleasure of it,

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 02:02 PM

"... grown men kicking a ball about..."

Perhaps so the grown men will have an excuse to kick each other about before & after the match. (well...'some' countries)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 03:23 PM

Well... THAT shut the damn horns up for a tad.

As far as "going mad"... it's a sport. Too bad you were never allowed the thrill of succeeding at physical prowess or being part of a team the did.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 03:48 PM

Lox,

outside of football I might take offence, but football lives (not only but a bit) from national cliches. These comments are very mild compared to what e.g. a Dutchman might say or what we might say about Dutch football.
An example: What is one of the really good things about global warming? Answer: The football WC will always be played without Holland.
Not too nice as well, but we'd be on their side if it was (or will be) a real threat.

My personal favourite is Spain. They have a very good team. After today, I think whether I have to change that prediction. Not yet, I still think they can beat each other team.

I don't see Germany as winner. They have a truly good attack, but a weak defense and that will show against stronger teams (especially if they play quick passes, like e.g. Spain does). We have sent the youngest team since the 1930s and more than half of our players have less than 10 nominations.

In addition to that one could expect the German team to have a goalie of extraclass since at least 1970 as sure as one could expect England to nominate a weak goalie since after the great Gordon Banks. But this time we come with the goalie who would have been considered number 4 some months ago. But suicide and injury have made him the present number 1. He is too young and good for a greater blunder in one of two or three games.

However I expect that one German record will stand. Germany is the only team that has never been eliminated in the first round of a WC. Even the mostly beter than Germany Brazil has been eliminated in the first round once, in England in 1966.

My before the start prediction for Germany was that they'll fly home after the fourth game. I'm not yet ready to change this.

Some German commentaries say that Ballack's injury is the deeper reason why the team did play so well in the first game. If only we could convince the coach to leave out Klose as well...

BTW, a mathematical "proof", that Germany will win: Germany won in 1954, 1974, 1990. 1990 + 1974 - 1954 = 2010. There you are!
Well, last time, the formula was '54x'74-1990 = 2006. And of course, for the next time, if math does fail this time, the unbeatable formula is 1974 plus the digit sums of 1954 and 1990. 1974+19+21 = 2014. Convincing, isn't it? Given enough spare time, one could find a formula for each team's success.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 06:04 AM

After last night, it looks like South Africa could be the first host nation team to go out at the group stage. That 3-0 defeat even shut up the vuvuzelas for a time. I read today that rioting has already broken out and various organisations in SA are starting to ask why some S Africans are still living on the street or in slums when billions of rand has been spent on the tournament. It has also not gone unnoticed in SA that FIFA are making millions out of this World Cup - it would be nice if they donated a good chunk of it to SA charities. Many tickets remain unsold for various reasons and it will be interesting to see what the support is like once SA are dumped out of the tournament.

On the subject of N.Korea - I still recall the name Pak Do Ik from the 1966 World Cup - don't know why but this name has just stuck in my memory since then!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:13 AM

hi

With all of the first round of games played it now appears that the England performance against the USA was not too disappointing.

Teams like France,Italy and Spain struggled and did not perform to their ability either.

The only major side that appeared to play better than expected was Germany. And let's face it Australia are not yet a World side. Also they had to play for a long period with only ten men -without Cahill their best player.

The next games will be played differently - no playing to avoid losing - they all must play to win.

I don't know what team or tactics Capello will adopt but surely one must be one that allows Rooney to be brought into the game and not starved for long periods as happened last week.

Another problem was that England gave away possession too easily. In part this is due to the fact that Heskey is played up front with Rooney. Because of this England seemed be stuck in a mind set of knocking a long ball up to Heskey. While Heskey did not let England down, most of this play resulted in England losing possession. We have to play a passing game and bring Rooney's undoubted class into the equation. He should be in the middle trying to score, not taking throw ins on the halfway line !!

We have to win both games if only to shut Beckenbauer up.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Roberto
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:34 AM

Arnie: "I still recall the name Pak Do Ik from the 1966 World Cup - don't know why but this name has just stuck in my memory since then!!".

The same happens to me, but I do know why. He was not a professional football player. None in the N. Korea team were, at least in 1966. He was a dentist. He scored the goal in the game against Italy: N.Corea 1-Italy 0. Italy was eliminated. I'm italian, and I was 11 in 1966. Of course I remember Pak Do Ik.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 11:27 AM

Wolfgang - thanks for your post above. I'm sure you knew that I intended no offence, and that my comments were a leg-pull of the kind that go on between sportsmen and supporters in changing-rooms and clubs' bars the world over. If, when I was a local league football and squash-player and competitive rower, I'd taken 'offence' every time someone took the piss, I'd have spent my entire life 'offended' in one way or another. But you and I both know how these things go and we are both big enough, mature enough, and good-looking enough to take a bit of ribbing without blubbering like a big daft kid.   :-) :-)

Thanks for your good-hearted response, Wolfgang, and good luck to your team in the competition - may the best team win.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 12:32 PM

We have certainly seen worse starts from an England team. The 1982 World Cup, which made Gary Lineker famous, began disastrously with defeat against Portugal and a dismal 1-1 draw against Iran, I believe. Italy played three awful draws in 1982 and then won it! The Brazilians of 1982 looked like sweeping all before them, with Zico, Socrates and Oscar all in their pomp. They went the way of many favourites.
At the moment Germany, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil are all looking good. I agree with Wolfgang that the German defence may be vulnerable to technically superior sides, who pass the ball too quickly for them. However, I am glad Joachim Löw has stuck to his guns and played Podolski and Klose together. They were both second choices for their club sides this season and they scored five goals between them. However, I do not believe Germany has a better striking pair at the moment and they certainly looked up to the job on Sunday. I think Germany will easily beat England in the second round (if England make it) but that their quarter final opponents may know too much for them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:19 PM

A few years back I wrote a song called "Why are we Crap at Cricket?" - a couple of weeks after I finished it we won the Ashes, and I had to bury the song for two years.

I'm hoping this song can win England the World Cup by a kind of "reverse psychology":-


Rose Scented Glasses

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!

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:27 AM

Only when they're due to play England.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 01:44 PM

Oh, yeah... GO ENGLAND!!!

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Bainbo
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 04:47 PM

Oh dear. Taxi for Mr Capello!

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: 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: 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: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 10 - 05:33 PM

No sweat then!

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 06:23 AM

200 and counting down til they come home !

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: 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,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: 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,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 - 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: Arnie
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 10:18 AM

And even the Kiwis are getting in on the act - they're leading Italy, the WC holders, 1-0! Shame that Smeltz was about half a yard offside when he scored but wrong decisions seem to be a feature of WC matches, especially this year. On the subject of rubbish decisions, I see that the Malian ref who disallowed the US winning goal has been called in for a chat by Fifa. The betting is that he will play no further part in the competition other than running the line.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 12:50 PM

I did not see it, but a buddy of mine told me it was atrocious. If so, he shouldn't be allowed on the picth.

Hmmm... maybe FIFA would be unwise to throw him off the pitch? Too much controversy?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 12:53 PM

I am looking forward to see how Drogba does today. Not familiar with many others on either side.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 03:22 PM

Its nice to see a sanctioning body with some balls and good sense in one package. Many have one or the other but few have both.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 03:30 PM

Now, that there goal was purrrdy!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 04:07 PM

The most entertaining bit so far has been Robbie Savage's commentary on Italy v New Zealand on Five Live.

Absolutely hilarious at times!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 04:19 PM

Disgraceful from the Ivory coast player.

The Tv shows that Kaka didn't do anything.

Football needs to get rid of cheats like that.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 04:36 PM

It started at the last substitution. I said to myself... that look in his eyes says he is going on the pitch to injure someone. Seconds later, it started. And it did not stop. What a bunch of nasty crap!

And, when buddy tried to run into to Kaka "inadvrtently" what was Kaka supposed to do? Let him? And he barely touched the pussy wimp.

Minds me of Canuck hockey... yer goin down so go out and injure. Sickening.

That second goal was not a goal due to what should have been handball penalties, but to take that anger and turn it into injuries and insult really pisses me off.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 07:53 PM

Yip. The red card against Kaka was bull. They never bothered to
review it. At least Brazil won, I have them picked to win it all.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 08:34 PM

To misquote an English supporter's them ( Football's coming home)

England's comin' home
They can't get through.
England's coming home,
They're feelin' blue!



Cheers
Nigel (Welsh with a feeling of schadenfreude!!)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:51 AM

That red card against Kaka was a disgrace. The prod with his forearm against the opponent's chest was so harmless that it would have been allowed in professional wrestling. The guy then dived clutching his face. The horrible foul on Bulmer Elano probably finished the tournament for one of Brazil's best players. The tackling from the Ivory Coast was just ghastly. I thought Brazil looked pretty tasty last night. Thank God England will probably not be in the tournament long enough to come up against them!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bert
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 02:57 AM

Why not play the soccer World Cup with a soccer ball and have a JABULANI world cup for the new ball?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 04:01 AM

Yes, the red card against Kaka was a disgrace, but HELLO, didn't you notice that Brazil had spent the previous hour diving, simulating and trying to get Ivory Coast players booked?! Hoist by their own petard in my opinion! Not to mention the dirty cheats and their 2 x handball goal! And there was the referee laughing and joking with them about it...because we all love Brazil, don't we? Ugh.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 06:15 AM

Fun and games in the French camp then. Anelka was always a sulky sod and what he said to the coach Domenech could not really go unpunished. However, for the whole French team to then refuse to train shows how bad things are in that camp. At least England players had a reportedly civilised meeting with Capello last night and have aired a few 'issues'. I think they've told Capello to play 4-3-2-1 or something similar, tell players they've been selected more than 2hrs before the match and get Joe Cole on the pitch! Being Capello, it is unlikely that he will take any notice of the players's demands as this would spoil his carefully-cultivated image of aloofness.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 08:55 AM

One more thing about cheating Brazil - nice touch to see Brazil player (was it Lucio?) pulling Drogba's injured arm - classy!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 09:35 AM

Piece of piss for Portugal.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:02 PM

i think I once heard a documentary on Brian Clough where it was said to be part of his genius in that he sometimes din't let players know if they were in the team until the last moment.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 02:42 PM

I guess we see these things differently. I thought the "tackling" by the Ivory Coast was shocking. I saw some of the action replays on German TV and I reckon if I had been getting roughed up like that, I might have fallen over too. There is always going to be the odd borderline case of whether the ball has hit the chest or the shoulder and last night Fabiano got the run of the green. To me it looked like a moment of sublime skill, but I do like Brazilian football, I will admit. Could be I am watching through rose tinted spectacles. I shall try to watch a bit closer next time TopcatBanjo!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 03:05 PM

No doubt BRA was at the diving and feigning. It seems a part of Spanish football. And, yes, it has been taken up by many others, but they seem to "push it" to the extreme, especially the SA's.

I hope that ref that let two handballs go on the second BRA goal gets "called in" by FIFA like the last blatant screwup resulted in.

BTW, that fist ESP goal was absolutely stunning!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 03:06 PM

Oops... "first"? Freudian slip?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 08:02 PM

Seen in the rear window of a car in Kingston (on Thames):

Two signs which together read:

England - Powered by Fairy Dust

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 04:15 AM

I wonder if these days whether the world cup is a celebration of the best in world football, or a celebration of the worst....

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 05:46 AM

As I've been saying for years (here, e.g.), FIFA should change the rule such that managers can only compete for their OWN nation. And the appointment of, e.g., Capello - win, lose, or draw - IS a disgrace to two nations.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 06:07 AM

hello WAV, long time no hear, I Have missed you, cant say I agree.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 06:16 AM

...why can't we agree on this, GSS - if managers are not important to the COMPETITION, why are foreign managers employed/payed a fortune...we prefer proper/fair play don't we?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 07:22 AM

No worries for England now.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 07:23 AM

I think each national team needs to employ the best manager they can afford regardless of anything else, so a manager gets employed purely on merit, that means nationality is irrelevant unless the nationailty is a hindrance [inabilty to communicate with players through inabilty to speak the language].
so then an interpreter is employed, I dont know whether an interpreter overcomes the language problem or not, I dont know enough about it to make an informed opinion .

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 08:29 AM

"I shall try to watch a bit closer next time TopcatBanjo!"
Can't say fairer than that alanabit!   ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 08:29 AM

Well it's certainly gone that way GSS - the stat. that no nation has won a W.C. with a foreign manager is more likely to end this time - many have done as you say. Either way, I hope FIFA change the rule ready for the next Worl Cup.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 09:33 AM

Not only is that a really stupid idea, it would be also illegal under current EU legislation.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 09:41 AM

The E.U., Les, should be dissolved - as I've said here, apart from some local government, all any citizen of our world needs is their own nation and the United Nations.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 11:32 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator - PM
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 04:15 AM

"I wonder if these days whether the world cup is a celebration of the best in world football, or a celebration of the worst...."

Both I think !!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 03:24 PM

Nice to see that the French mutineers lost 2-1 to S Africa and are now homeward bound to face a government enquiry. They only qualified at Ireland's expense by Handball Henri's cheating. I see he came on as a sub in the second half which I think was his only contribution in this competition and he didn't get a chance to 'lend a hand' this time. It's a pity that S Africa haven't progressed to the next round - they performed really well and made the French look like the underdogs. The delicious irony of course is that the first SA goal was later shown to have gone in off the shoulder, so a handball! What comes around goes around as they say..

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: olddude
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 03:29 PM

the US was robbed,   what a crap call!!

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

The US were certainly robbed, but they will qualify this afternoon if they beat Algeria. I think they have every chance. 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...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 04:44 AM

Football aside, Ljubljana, in Slovenia, is definitely one of the most beautiful cities I visited on my walkabouts.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 23 Jun 10 - 06:28 AM

Meanwhile, staying ON topic.....

Yes, I agree completely with Arnie that the French are making a richly-deserved early exit, ha ha ha. Unfortunately we are likely to be following them in short order if our spoiled millionaires don't get their act in order this afternoon. Hey-ho.

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

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 04:43 PM

Half time in extra play.

USA have 15 minutes left to please Obama.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:03 PM

Oh dear Ghana won. Obama will not be pleased.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:10 PM

Wow! GHA be good!

They really shone today. They were excellent. Amazing talent and, again, a joy to watch.

Well done USA for getting this far.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: olddude
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:14 PM

AN OUTSTANDING MATCH. I AM SAD ABOUT THE US BUT THE BEST TEAM WON

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 05:23 PM

Damn! I can't get away from it. The Crusaders have put back the kick-off till 18:00 and threatened, sorry promised, to show the Saxons on screens in the stand bars.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 06:09 PM

It's always hard to know who to support when two of our former colonies play each other! I found myself urging on Ghana, because I thought they were playing the better football, but I admired the organisation of the Mercans, and Hull City had that Jozy Altidore for the last half of last season. No, he didn't do much for us either!

The best footballers in the World have been kicking a ball around since they could walk, and when the USA has a few more of that sort to choose from, they'll be a real force.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Allan C
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 06:57 PM

"I think it may be the first time Uruguay have made the quarter-finals - will check later."

Uruguay actually won the World Cup twice. Only Italy and Brazil have won it more than that. They won the inaugral tournament which they hosted. They did not enter the next two tournaments. They them entered again in the fourth tournament which was held in Brazil and again won the tournament beating the Brazilians in the final. They were semi-finalists in 1954 and 1970 and quarter finalists in 1966.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 04:40 AM

AllanC - thanks for enlightening me as I never did get around to checking. Too busy watching US v Ghana. Thank goodness we're only facing the Germans this aft as I think we also may well have been dummped out by Ghana. I recall meeting a Ghanaian footballer when I worked at Heathrow. He told me that he played for a team called the Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarves. I thought he was kidding, but it turns out that the team does exist and is/was rather good.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 04:47 AM

On the radio yesterday, I heard that the UK gutter press has once again started up all its usual xenophobic, "We won the war" type of crap. All this garbage is written and read by people who never got closer to suffering than to be denied another portion of chocolate while they were watching "The Great Escape". Why oh why do we produce these cretins? As the father of two German speaking children, I want to get hold of these shit mongers in the press and kick them down a very long flight of stairs. It makes us look cheap, petulant and immature. Very few of the servicemen who had anything to do with that part of history have such a glib and ignorant attitude. Most of them have a humble, "There but for the grace of God..." attitude.
Be that as it may, I will still be on the edge of my seat, praying for an unlikely upset in the knowledge that it will almost certainly be a long, miserable journey home through troops of celebrating German fans.
It looks unlikely that both sides will finish the game with eleven players as the referee sends off someone in 70% of the games at which he officiates. Let us hope that the occasionally quick tempered Rooney, Gerard etc will be on their very best behaviour for the entire match!
Germany's best player so far, Ozil, has just suffered a bereavement and the other fine attacking midfield player, Bastian Schweinsteiger, may not be fully recovered from injury. The Brazilian born striker Cacau is out. England really have no excuses. I will just be hoping that England keep cool heads and acquit themselves reasonably well. This will probably be the final match of England's "Golden Generation" - who actually have never come close to winning anything. We can expect resignations after the match and I believe it will be several years before England again have a side, which can hope to compete at this level. For the time being, let's make the best of this afternoon!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 07:55 AM

A Quick note to our American friends, ...

I would point out that team USA have not only played a great world cup in terms of quality, but they have also played with a lot of heart.

When you're being beaten by a team who are having a good day, it can make your team look a little lacklustre, and to criticize team USA for not working hard enough isn't exactly fair.

I'veenjoyed watching the American team play and I think they can hold their heads up high.

Ghana were on form and that, I'm afraid, is the way the cookie crumbles.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 08:50 AM

Lox... "and to criticize team USA for not working hard enough isn't exactly fair"

I still say, the the FIRST half, USA were slow to react and didn't provide forward support. It COULD have been a defensive strategy, but if it was, they should have changed it immediately after the first goal.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 10:52 AM

OMG! What a ripoff... England goal against Germany not seen by Uraguian official. It was in by a almost a yard according to camera shots.

WTF?!?!?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 10:58 AM

VT... enough to frost yer grandmother's preserves, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:04 AM

guest meadowtroll... whether Germany is playing better is not the point. if they are better they would not want to win because the official made poor calls in their favour. that would be no win at all.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:04 AM

What a fucking useless linesman - should be immediately replaced and goal given - but then who cares!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:44 AM

Gareth Southgate - one of the few Englishmen I heard brave enough to speak out agianst the appointment of a foreign manager, see my post above - should repalce the Italian Capello with immediate effect.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:03 PM

Once the 4th goal went in and Germany started bringing on squad players for a knockaround, I turned the tv off. What a defensive shambles and why on earth did Capello substitute Defoe for Heskey? Our worst ever WC defeat, and it just had to be to Germany didn't it!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:08 PM

They were shite.
I've still got my last pair of boots from when I stopped playing in the late '70s. I'd be happy to play in the next game, and I only want £50 grand a week - half the price of those tossers.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:10 PM

Good, now we can support Argentina as they deserve. I shall hang out our Argentine flag this evening!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:18 PM

How can Capello communicate with his players when his English is so poor - I like the way he brought on Heskey when we needed three goals.

Bring on Harry !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:21 PM

Apart from the very bad decision, Germany cut England's defence apart and truly deserved to win.

What can I say about England.

Well first is Rooney f****** rubbish. We had such hopes from him. He didn't deliver and gets 0 out of ten from me.

Why didn't Crouch come on with 30 minutes left? Maybe because goal per minute ratio, he is the best goal scorer for England.

Why the f*** did Heskey come on and a wide winger taken off, when we were already on the brink of losing. Yes I know he can score goals NOT.

We have always been a kick and rush team and that's the way we should play.

To think that you can put a highly intelligent manager in and all will be OK, is just what's wrong.

lets get back to the good old thicko blood and guts approach with Stuart Pearce. At least they can run their b****** off even if we lose.

Even my daughter who knows FA about football is so depressed at the result.

Hey ho rant over.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:26 PM

Had they fielded the England polo team - Mark & Luke Tomlinson plus 2 others we might have stood a chance.

Good luck Argentina.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:29 PM

Well at least I can go and enjoy myself on Wednesday night here http://members.multimania.co.uk/hopetavern/

My wife has made me swear allegance to Holland. Now that's a team and I will be supporting them now. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:06 PM

Well, FIRST he took off Milner just when Milner was coming on strong but he left Johnson, who made a LOT of errors, and a cople of others who I swore at profusely, on. grrrrrrrr

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:07 PM

Posted this one earlier on the thread but thought it might be worth a re-post in view of what we've just witnessed:-

England World Cup Song

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:20 PM

Germany to the final?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:21 PM

Barring injuries and penalties, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:35 PM

All our nightmares came true. If anything the result flattered England. I expected to lose, but not as abjectly as that. England were simply not competitive. The German goalkeeper knew very well that the ball had crossed his line. He just did what any English goalkeeper would have done - cheated and hoped for the best. It would have been highway robbery had England got back into the game at that stage, so justice was done.
The future looks bleak for England. This was a good German side, but one with plenty of flaws, which are likely to be exploited by the better sides in the competition. However, we can safely say that it will be many a long year before England fields an international team, which has even a fair chance of competing with the top sides. We have no young players on the production line who are as good as the current side.
Before we insult these young men, who I am sure tried to the best of their ability, I think we should bear a couple of facts in mind. Firstly very few of us armchair critics have any idea of the pain which a professional sportsman goes through on a daily basis. And secondly, how can you blame those exhausted young men, who simply wanted to go home and relax with their families? They looked unhappy for the whole tournament. For them it was very hard work and excruciating pain. Even amid our disappointment, we should show them some compassion.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:29 PM

How did Noia cheat?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:29 PM

Alanabit
You are making me cry.

They earn a fortune, whilst our family scrimps. The salary one player alone earns in a week would cover our income for the next 5 to 10 years.

Working hard yes. Why shouldn't they. They need to keep fit. Isn't that lovely. Running around a football pitch and kicking a ball. What a dream of a job.

Now lets compare that with families who are on the minimum pay and struggling to survive and working all hours under the sun, to bring a crumb to the table.

Don't make me laugh.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:42 PM

hi

I add my comments of disappointment to those above and to the no doubt many others that will come.

This was an abject performance by an England side that had been hyped as most others have been.

I didn't mind the defeat - after all the better team won, it was the way in which we played - like the team were complete strangers brought together at the last moment. There was no fight, no flair and no interest as far as I could see.

I am mystified. These players all star every ( or most ) weeks in the Premier league and represent in the most part the top teams. They qualified with ease and played some good football against some useful opposition.

Today was the end of a very poor England competion.

Today the defence was woeful and we were lucky to be only 2-1 down at the interval.

The second half was just a stroll for Germany and they looked as if they could have scored at will.

OK we had a "goal" not allowed. This brings up another question as to why FIFA keep refusing to use the technical facities that abound in almost all other top line sports. Wake up FIFA we want fairness and if it can be improved by technology then let's have it NOW !!! Everybody in the ground could see that the ball was well over the line. I accept that on occasions the officials may not be in a position to see the incident. But there are facilities to counteract that happening.

I hope that I am not minimising Germany's performance. They play as well as the needed to to win and that is what counts in a competion like this.

FIFA's weak reasoning appears to be that technology would slow down the game !!! What about all the feigned injuries and the time to take free kicks etc etc. ??

Well down to the pub now and we will win the match over a few pints...lol

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:47 PM

So, a bunch of spoiled rich boys who get paid squillions for kicking a ball about appear not to be very good at kicking a ball about.


I'm sure there's a parallel with bankers here ... ?


The only difference is we've all got to pay for the bankers' mistakes.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 03:12 PM

"I'm sure there's a parallel with bankers here ... ?"

Unfair Shimrod! Whether you like the game or not, talent is something privilege can't provide, and footie (as well as some other sports) remains one area in life that common grubby oiks can get a real break. It hurts no-one, and it doesn't matter what frigging school you went to. Otherwise, it doesn't excite me overmuch and nor do the people involved, but to compare them to Bankers!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 03:26 PM

I cannot believe the referees are THAT poor. That offside goal was hard to watch.

It's time for goal judges and "upstairs" judges... maybe GPS could solve their problems with offside calls?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 03:55 PM

"Before we insult these young men, who I am sure tried to the best of their ability, I think we should bear a couple of facts in mind. Firstly very few of us armchair critics have any idea of the pain which a professional sportsman goes through on a daily basis. And secondly, how can you blame those exhausted young men, who simply wanted to go home and relax with their families? They looked unhappy for the whole tournament. For them it was very hard work and excruciating pain. Even amid our disappointment, we should show them some compassion."

For fuck's sake, what planet are you on?

They are paid (note I don't say 'earn') three or four times as much in a week as I earn in a year. They are pampered and cossetted, they lack for nothing and they have the best of everything. They train a couple of hours a day and play three hours a week. It's an easy life. Excruciating Pain? The only excruciating pain round here is the pain they give us all in the arse.

If I performed as badly in my job as they have done in theirs, I'd be out on my neck, and that's precisely what they deserve. They let themselves and millions of fans down - thousands of whom had scrimped and saved from their comparatively minuscule earnings to travel to SA and cheer them on.

They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Spoilt, pampered lightweights the lot of them. Absolute shite.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 03:58 PM

Thank God our cricketers all have a pair of balls and a modicum of seld-respect. Shame the footballers haven't.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 04:38 PM

Ah... I hear ya, but "They train a couple of hours a day..."? Any athelete worth his weight in sand trains a lot more than that. And also sits in "class" and studies his own play and his opponents' play. And has sessions sports shrinks and...

Probably put in more hours per week than most.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 04:59 PM

Now Argentina against Mexico was a bit better wasn't it? And the way the Mexicans kept at it till the last minute, was exhilerating, and contrasted rather markedly with the last half hour of the debacle this afternoon.

And you might well be right about the prospects for the Argentina German match, alanabit, the better side doesn't always win - but I'm hoping Argentina, takes Germany apart, because they play the way football should be played. (And so did Mexico!)

I'm hoping it'll be Argentina versus Brazil for the final. With Argentina winning.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 05:53 PM

Well as an England Football supporter for fifty years I feel absolutely shattered. The Disallowed goal ,the offside goal both perhaps deflated the lads, but the passion in this team was non existent. We can blame the Manager again, but the team let him down.As has been said these guys will be knocking in fantastic goals at the start of the season as if nothing has happened. I just hope that we are ruthless and start again with youngsters that learn to play with each other as a team, but they have a long way to go to get the passion of support back for their supporters.
Watching some youngsters recently on TV juggling the ball with their feet going past players like Jimmy Greaves used to, where do these players go from fifteen onwards? All these ball skills seem to get lost to the hard men of football with no actual skill to go past defenders.
I suppose now I can just relax and enjoy the final games and forget today. or alternativly get my concertina out and do some playing instead.
Good luck to you Germany it was a good clean ,non diving game and here's to the next time.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 05:59 PM

In the jungle, South African jungle 3 lions sleep tonight,
Cause in the morning the early morning they have to catch a flight,
a win away a win away a win away a win away ♫♪

Not mine I stole it from another site.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 06:44 PM

A truly dismal performance, with only one England player doing his job, and that the goalie.

And to add insult to injury, in a post match interview Capello states that England played well, and were beaten by a "better Team".

Perhaps they should have a manager who knows what "well" means?

I reckon the average amateur Sunday village league team would have taken them today.

Disgusting, and no doubt by the time their plain lands in the UK, they'll have all the excuses sorted out.

Don T

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 06:48 PM

their plane lands

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 07:36 PM

Capello needs to go.

Gerrard on the left wing?

No one on the right wing ... why wasn't milner on?

And then taking defoe off and putting on Heskey?????


£7,000,000? - what a con!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 07:41 PM

It was a tough break. The disallowed goal showed the true colors of each team. England could not overcome the adversity, Germany took advantage. While England DID play well (in this game), they were bested by the better team.   I just hope the English fans won't wallow in the tough luck that the met - instead of spending the 40 years complaining about the call, think of all the opportunities they could have improved and what they can do.   

Frankly, it is a tough spot. England may have rapid fans and some great individuals, but they need to re-learn how to play as a team and perhaps they can beat someone who is better than they are. It isn't the BETTER team that always win, it is the team that plays BEST as a team and not a group of talented individuals.

Congratulations to Germany, Argentina, Ghana and Uruguay - you all deserve to move on to the next round.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 08:40 PM

England may join us in the USA as we sit and wonder 'what might have been'.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 02:44 AM

On the topic of spoiled sports celebs... my ex was a sports therapist for a double A baseball team in the early 1980's. I was the clubhouse boy, in that, I laundered and repaired their uniforms, cleaned the club house and polished their cleats (boots). Also bought all their goodies, gum, candies, chewing tobacco, preferred toiletries, per list they provided.

These were only double A players and I never met a sorrier bunch spoiled brats in my life. Grown men throwing tantrums, (literally screaming and slamming stuff) because I didn't buy the right flavour bubble gum, or I missed a spot when polishing their shoes or demanding that I use an entire can of Shout stain remover on their uniforms to get out the mud stains after they decided to play mudball in their Whites (away uniforms) during a rainstorm. Texas red clay is almost impossible to remove.

So it doesn't matter where sports celebs come from, socio-economically. If they are spoiled, they are spoiled and it is club and the fan base that does it to them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 03:14 AM

"Ah... I hear ya, but "They train a couple of hours a day..."? Any athelete worth his weight in sand trains a lot more than that. And also sits in "class" and studies his own play and his opponents' play. And has sessions sports shrinks and...

Probably put in more hours per week than most."

Gnu, you're obviously an American who knows nothing of the life these guys lead over here. Don't be misled by what, presumably, goes on in the USA. This is a small country and the details of their lives, working and otherwise, is well publicised. Finished work by lunchtime. Trust me - overworked they are not. Overpaid they most definitely are.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 03:19 AM

I had the (mis)fortue of seeing the last 10-15 minutes as I had to work yesterday.

What it boiled down to was a lack of effort on Englands part. Whenever England got possession, germany were straight in there taking it away again, and the England players seemed confused about what to do with the ball when they got it.

I rugby, (equal with cricket as my favourite sport) its about how fast the ball is played and keeping momentum.

In all yesterday was a well deserved defeat.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 03:25 AM

It was never over the line

Thanks Schiehallion :)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:38 AM

England team beat Australia yesterday!!! This is the first time ever that a nation has beaten Australia in a Test match, one day competition and t20 series. Let's hear it for those England cricketers - including our South African imports!!

Bit of thread drift there, but getting back to the main theme, why on earth did the FA renegotiate Capello's contract a few weeks before the World Cup? The clause allowing him to go by mutual consent was taken out, which now means it will cost at least £12 million to sack him. As Capello has today refused to resign, this is going to cost dearly. The money should come out of the salaries of the pillocks on the FA board who made the decision. Next manager? Got to be Redknapp if he would take the job.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:44 AM

Whoops -ignore that bit about the clause allowing Capello to leave by mutual consent - I've just realised that doesn't make sense. The clause actually said that either the FA or Capello could terminate his contract within 14 days of the WC ending. All academic now of course as Capello will be walking away with a wheelbarrow-load of cash.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:57 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day - PM
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 05:53 PM

Hi alan I agree with all you say. We just weren't good enough to beat a better team on the day.

OK they didn't get the breaks but that should not have created the confusion and disruption in the England defence.

As I said earlier England played like strangers who only met an hour previous to the match.

There was no fire in their bellies. Look at the lack of appeals to the referee and linesment when England scored that obvious goal.

I am not advocating some of the juvenile actions of some of the other teams but this lack of passion signified something deeper to me.

All was not well in the England camp.

There will be much wailing and nashing of teeth for weeks to come but we have to face up to the fact that we are not a first class nation at football any more.

We may have the best league in the World but that is because most of the best players are foreign. Maybe this is one of the causes of our deepseated problems ??

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 05:05 AM

Instead of employing foreigners, such as Fabio Capello, to compete for us, we English should simply go back to OUR OWN good values and ways...

Poem 150 of 230: TEARS

Watching a documentary
    Of the '66 World Cup,
And the way of England's Ramsey,
    I thought: "Let's give 'passion' up."

It voiced and showed his calm way -
    He playing things down a touch;
And, as his home team won the day,
    They showed care but not too much.

Analytical Englishmen -
    Cool over the tasks that lay;
We see some of it in Henman,
    But it's not the modern way.

Sadly, passion and youthful thought
    Have become the status quo,
And social-standards and sport
    Have sunk relatively low.

(C) David Franks 2003
From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com (e-scroll)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 06:50 AM

I am sorry but, I have taken off my England Tee shirt, hat, scarf, shorts, socks ,wrap around Union Jack .Removed the flags and red crosses from the car. Today a start painting over the red cross on my house and roof.
The flag is at half mast lowered last night to "The Last Post"
Finally I have stamped on the red cross white balloons.
Sob Sob Sob
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 09:04 AM

Cheer up, Al, we're re-stiffening our upper lips, and going back to our own old winning values and ways, even as you type.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 09:23 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 10:27 AM

As the first Euro 2012 is only 3 mths ago, I thought I'd refresh my memory. In the Group Stage we've drawn Wales!!! We've got no chance - is Gigsy still playing for them?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 10:29 AM

That should read - "As the first Euro 2012 qualifying match is only 3 mths away etc..." My excuse is that I'm still getting over yesterday's shambolic WC departure!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 01:13 PM

Holland do enough again to get through. They are a class act and only do what is necessary.

When do they meet Germany. That will be a cracker. No love lost there.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 01:28 PM

England I think had all the goods to win or place in this world cup. They just could not come together as a team as I expected they would. I suspect next time they will fix it. Normally I have to blame coaching when I see such.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 01:58 PM

FYFI meadowtroll... I divorced the SOB for being a drunken abusive husband and father who I had to bail out of social and financial trouble for over 20 years. I gave up after the 4th totalled car and 3 jail sentence. I took over half the debt ($60,000) and none of the assets (house, cars, savings) in order to get out of the marriage.

And another thing the comment about fry ups implies to me you are the sicko who keeps creating fake profiles of me on numerous networks using a very unflattering and stolen pic of me. Yes I know about Yahoo Buzz and Bebo and they have been reported.   

I was appx. a stone (15 lbs) overweight until my daughter passed away in 2005 and I developed rheumatoid arthritis 6 months after that. Age, illness, medications and lack of aerobic exercise due to inflamed joints has more to do with my weight gain than my diet does. My caloric intake rarely tops 1150 to 1200 per day.

Don't you feel smug and superior for attacking me? Eh?   Now don't go feeling sorry for me mate. You are the one who is too cowardly to log in under a proper ID and traceable email. I feel sorry for you.


To Joe Offer or other mod... Sorry I had to rise to this meadowmuskrat person. If I have stepped over the line please remove my post.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,ibo
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 02:21 PM

Worst world cup ever,england are crap,overpaid average footballers

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 02:28 PM

I hope Brazile gets Chile.

Yes, take that either way. I have no opinion on today's match.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:16 PM

I now have an opinion. I like BRA because they don't get all wimpy and play the ball backward if they don't have a perfect shot. They take the ball forward and create opportunities. It's called confidence. Both on offense and defense.

Then again, I watch from the viewpoint of a Canuck who doesn't know near as much as the rest of youse posters. But, I do know hockey and I know ya gotta put dat puck on dat net to get a goal eh?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:17 PM

Where was the passion? where was the commitment - the desire to win, to try their hearts out until the last?

On the other hand, England went 3-0 up against Australia in the one day cricket series, thus guaranteeing they will win the tournament and barely a mention in the the media. It's high time our media started celebrating success and consigning failures to the sidelines.

Oh - they did mention that Andy Murray won in straight sets at Wimbledon - but then he's Scots so maybe that doesn't count!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 04:50 PM

To Tootler: as I suggested, in verse, just above, Alf Ramsey encouraged calm and discipline NOT passion and tolerance. Further, it seems to keep a job on the BBC, these days, a presenter has to use the word "passionate" every other sentence...

Or take it from J.E. Bode, in the English hymn "O Jesus, I have Promised":

"O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion..."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 05:07 PM

But, frankly, the 6 million/year paid to an Italian to tell us how to play our favourite sport would probably have turned the temper of even Alf Ramsay - as I say, a disgrace to two nations who should know better.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 10:34 PM

1. There can be no defence for a system that allows results gained by recorded provable error to stand.

2. Is there any chance of civilisation now returning to pubs and villages throughout England?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 02:58 AM

Cricket has not been played as a national sport in UK for several years, but only as a Sky TV programme since the time that live coverage could only be seen by those who are prepared to line Rupert Murdoch's greasy pockets for the pleasure.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: bubblyrat
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 05:46 AM

Did anyone else see the story in yesterday's paper ,about the Germans STILL believing that the disputed England goal in 1966, given by an insistent Russian linesman, was a "fix" ---? Apparently,the linesman was asked,on his deathbed, why he had done it, and he croaked " Stalingrad " !! Shall we see his like again,I wonder !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: bubblyrat
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 05:58 AM

PS ---- I am not anti-German : I even lived there for a short time. However, I can't say that I am particularly "pro" English football, especially after watching the recent World Cup antics of all those diving,tumbling,screaming, fumbling,incessantly spitting, theatrical,inept,over-paid yet under-motivated ,tired,unfit CRETINS who made England a laughing stock for years to come. And why an Italian manager ?? ( No jokes about running backwards, please ! although they DID, didn't they ??)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 08:14 AM

...the German fans didn't reciprocate and boo before our national anthem.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 08:34 AM

Bubblyrat,

Oft times I disagree strongly with you.

On this subject, you have expressed my feelings to a tee.

_____________________________

Virginia,

You are a class act.

Those who have chosen a life in the gutter can't touch you. Just wipe the sole of your shoe on the nearest kerb and the little turds smell will soon be forgotten.

The true depth of your excellent likeable character has been too well established on here for anyone to be remotely impressed by such a facile attack as the one you have been subjected to.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 10:54 AM

In the sixties I read about something called the "Peter Principle" which said the people were promoted to the point of their own incompetence.

Perhaps this is true of Fabio Capello.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 03:22 PM

I am pleased the ref is not allowing the "drawing" of fouls and is letting the play flow with advantage. Especially when Renaldo tried three times to put the ball past an opponent and then run into him in an attempt to draw a foul. I wish this was standard practice with refs. As far as I am concerned, it's dirty play and poor sportsmanship... kinda wimpy too.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 04:26 PM

That back heel pass was priceless.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bainbo
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 04:45 PM

That last was me. Forgot I'd reset my browser, and so lost my cookie.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bainbo
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 05:04 PM

Mind, when I think about it, it would have made much better television for Lineker to have had Klinsmann pinned to the table, one hand round his throat, the other raised in a fist, screaming: "Say that again, you sausage-munching Hun", while Hnasen tries to trip him up and Seedorf yells: "Give him one for me, Gary."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 05:54 PM

I watched Spain V Portugal this evening a good game totally spoilt by the Spanish Full Back collapsing as if he had been hit with a right hook. The poor Portuguese player got sent off. On the replay it clearly shows that the two players were no where near each other when the incident occurred. I hope the Spanish player plays no part in the rest of the tournament.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 06:09 PM

Alan... my point exactly from above. The diving rule is not just not effective for most calls as the ref has to make judgement calls from poor angles most times.

At the risk of... you know... there was a chance for Renaldo late and he flubbed it. The camera followed him back, wincing and limping in severe pain... more bullshit from the wimp. Diving and faking seem to be a part of the game which will never go away until rules for video review and for coach challenges (VERY controversial) are put in place.

It has worked with a fair degree of effectivness in Yankee football. But, the Yanks are usually ahead of any curve.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 06:22 PM

Worst world cup ever.

Just because the English team were crap? The "worst world cup" would be one in which a team playing like that won. And fortunately that isn't going to happen.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 06:45 PM

Rather a lot of bad losers out there it appears.

"Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser" needs ampifying - "Show me a bad loser and I'll show you a loser two times over."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: romanyman
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 02:40 AM

dont matter how they play, they still get paid disgusting ammounts of money , win or loose, so why bother, the germans deserved to win, they played better football, oh and by the way i cant stand football, however seeing the overpaid overrated tossers having rings run round them, reminded me of how much i fail to see the atraction of football,
so pay them a set wage, give the a bonus only if they win and a bonus for any goal the player scores.
if they have to earn their money perhaps they would play better, oh and dont come the old, its the managers fault, i did not see the manager on the pitch,its all about money in the end

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:00 AM

The first World Cup joke has arrived on my mobile phone - England have arranged their next friendly against Iceland, followed by Tesco and then Asda.

Does anyone know who starts jokes? Everyone knows a joke but do you know anyone who invented a joke? There is a theory that we are being studied by aliens who introduce jokes occasionally to see how humankind reacts. Maybe Capello is an alien testing our sense of humour? This would explain why he selected an unfit Rooney and played him each match. Also why he perserved with Heskey, rarely played Crouch and left Walcott at home.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:32 AM

I had these sent to me concerning England on their way home.

Got 23 jokes to send you, but they haven't landed at Heathrow yet.

There's been a bad weather warning issued.
Apparently there's a shower of sh*t coming in from South Africa

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 08:23 AM

England team have sensationally turned down a £70 Million shirt deal with a Dog Food Company.
Having "Winalot" on their shirts
they thought would be taking the piss !!
Al

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 08:38 AM

...Balls - that was for the leather industry!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 09:33 AM

Two planes landed in England today. One was carrying 23 overpaid underachieving footballers with egos to match their wallets and the other had 7 men whose coffins were draped in the Union Jack... THESE are the real heroes we should be supporting, these men and women who give their lives so that we can live in a free world. And you lot talk about footballers and other sportsmen/women as heroes.
I agree with this statement

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 10:17 AM

Hi guys

As England flew home in disgrace and Spain move smoothly into the quarter finals it made me think of how things change.

I lived in Spain some years ago and still have a house there.
My sister and my wife's sister also live there.

Not so many years ago Spain had probably the best club team in the World in Real Mand who played in the best league in the World. They had many of the then recognised best players in the World.

But they could not win an argument never mind a competition. Year after year the National Spanish team returned home rather like England today. Disgraced, ashamed and confused.

Maybe tomorrow......????????

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:15 PM

...Poem 98 of 230: REREGULATE

One Premier world-eleven v.
    Another such company,
Or wage-caps and say half each-club's squad
    From the local-junior pod?
And, perhaps, heed the cricket-fan's call
    To convert to county-football..?

(C) David Franks 2003
From http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com (e-scroll)
Or http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:29 PM

goatfell...

Footballers are not heroes and I don't recall anyone saying they are. As for the soldiers, they are indeed heroes, each and every one. If it was up to me, they would be much better paid and much better taken care of than they are. As for footballers being overpaid, they make what the market will bear and can provide. Alas, I have no say in any such matters.

In any case, as a young man, I was a gifted athlete in superb physical and mental condition and I relished every second of competition in a number of sports. At 53, with a number of health issues from various sports (and other) injuries, I sometimes relish watching top notch athletes in high level competition. And, I enjoy discussing same with others who have insight regarding strategies, rules, ref'ing, play and so on.

I take umbridge at your insinuation that I have no compassion or appreciation for our brave men and women in uniform and that I look to any sports figure as a hero.

I understand your post, but I disagree with it completely.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Lox
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:24 PM

Regardless of which, a hero is in the eye of the beholder.

Ask a typical 8 year old boy who his heroes are and he'll probably tell you the name of a famous sports personality, most likely a footballer.

But this is a thread about football.

Comparing footballers with soldiers is trite and trivializes war.

If you're worried about soldiers dying, try directing your emotions at thse responsible instead of insinuating that people who like football or footballers should somehow be ashamed of themselves for being enthusiastic about it.

You can guarantee that every man who had access to a TV in Iraq or Afghanistan was looking to see if the game was on.

You can guarantee that most football enthusiasts in both countries know who wayne rooney is, as they do all over the world.

Football is the property and the solace of the common man and it resists political and economic interests and weathers crises and cultural shifts like no other man made activity or institution.

War is a game played by the rich in spite of the common man.

Football unites the poor of the world in a way that nothing else does. Every little backwater, from Timbouctou to East Timor, has people playing football, all by the same rules and all with the same passion, and they all know who their heroes are, and they all dream of winning the world cup.

Good!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Lox
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:27 PM

"You can guarantee that every man who had access to a TV in Iraq or Afghanistan was looking to see if the game was on."

And that includes British and American servicemen amongst all the others who watched the games with passionate enjoyment.

Not just ordinary Iraqis or Afghanis.


Good!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:33 PM

"England have arranged their next friendly against Iceland, followed by Tesco and then Asda"

Who are Tesco and Asda, and why is this funny?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Lox
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 02:47 PM

Iceland, Tesco and Asda are all supermarket chains in the UK.

Apart from the obvious dumb pun, there is also the suggestion that the England team are of such a poor standard that they would be well served if they were relegated to playing a team of each supermarkets staff.

Equally it suggests that the England team would be better employed stacking shelves.

Either way, they have certainly passed their sell by date.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:06 PM

To VT and Gnu and anyone else who might care- I did not submit the comments on 6/27. Someone else for whatever reason chose to use my name. I am a long time fan of the US team and certainly no supporter of Germany.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 08:27 AM

see the england manger has a new world cup team GERMANY

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 09:59 AM

Maybe this is the way to go:

"Nigeria 'suspends' football team"

"Nigeria's president has suspended the national football team from international competition for two years following their poor performance at the Fifa World Cup."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:42 PM

McGrath... didn't read it, but what a stupid and counterproductive thing to do.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 03:13 PM

No sillier than imagining that a ritual change of manager will solve anything.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 05:08 PM

...ritually, McGrath, an Englishman would always be chosen to manage England; then, in the pro-immigrationist Blair years, came the FA's first ever foreign chief executive (Adam Crozier), who soon appointed the first ever foreign manager, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Lox
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 12:29 PM

Blimey!

Brazil out!

Crazy!

Holland have a chance!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 01:09 PM

Wee hee. my Dutch wife is over the moon. I like Holland and very pleased they beat Brazil.

I would love to see them get to the Final and play Germany.

Even better, I would love to see them beat Germany, for their own sakes and for England.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 01:25 PM

Hey, Hey for the Orange.
Bye, bye to Brazil.
A world cup in Netherlands.
My heart will be full fill.

(My son lives in A'dam, so when USA went home N'lands became my team of choice)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 02:10 PM

Sorry for all the hollering and screaming.

Melo ain't mellow now. I'd say his life is in danger. Better apply for refugee status in SA. The own goal is understandable but the stomping is unbelievable. AND, I think such a vicious act should carry more than a red... maybe I am just seeing red?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 02:21 PM

hi gnu

The red card is not just the sending off, he will be banned from playing in at least one International game for his Country.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 05:09 PM

...Capello has kept his job/ridiculous amount of money - so the above-mentioned "disgrace to two nations" goes on. If he was English would he have been given a second chance?!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 05:20 PM

Uruguay should hang their heads in shame.

That was an utter outrage.

Ghana scored in the lsat second and the ball was only prevented from going into the goal by the hand of Uruguays centre forward.

Uruguay won on penalties.

This kind of thing makes me sick!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 05:37 PM

>>Ghana scored in the lsat second and the ball was only prevented from going into the goal by the hand of Uruguays centre forward.
<<

Ghana did not score. The ball didn't go over the line. The Uraguayan handled the ball like any other defender would have done to stop it going into the goal, with the clear knowledge that he would have got sent off.
By doing that they are through.

The player who was sent off, would have been in big trouble, if he hadn't done what he did, with his manager and players.

Most footballers cheat and some get away with it. That guy didn't but the Ghana player f***** up his penalty.

Having said all that, I do not condone things like that, but it is part of football since way back when I first started watching football some 55 years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 07:18 PM

MikeL2... "The red card is not just the sending off, he will be banned from playing in at least one International game for his Country."

Yeah, I know. I was thinking of something more... maybe even a year suspension... maybe jail time for assault. Just because it happened on the pitch does not mean that such behaviour is not without redress and only worth a slap on the wrist. Here in hockey land, we have decided thuggery on the ice is grounds in a court of law off the ice, as it well should be. Blatant intent to injure on the field of play should be dealt with as if off the field if the redress on the field is inadequate. I feel a red card is inadequate for the behaviour I witnessed.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:44 AM

hi gnu

I agree with you that sometimes the punishment does not fit the crime. There have been court cases of assault here in England too. Some have been succssful.

Like you I have played sport at a high level ( Rugby and cricket ) and in the heat of the moment we all do silly things occasionally. I would like to think that the vast majority of cases are just that stupid actions taken under pressure.

I know some are deliberate and are aimed to harm - these must be treated as crimes. I am not sure that this happens in Football as often as it should.

Regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 09:05 AM

Without that failed penalty from Ghana all my predictions for yesterday's games would havwe been wrong. Still, I can't see how Spain can fail to reach the semifinals.

I'm off now to watch Germany - Argentine with friends.
What speaks for Germany is
- that Argentine has won one ('86 final) out of five encounters with Germany during world cups.
What speaks for Argentine is
- that Argentine has won most of all games with Germany
- that Argentine has by far the best individual player among the 22 we'll see soon
- that Argentine has won the recent friendly match in Germany (and the 1:0 was only a poor indication of Argentine's superiority)
- that Germany comes this year with weak penalty shooters

Whatever happens, please let that be a game without a colossal referee blunder or at least that he makes his major blunder in midfield play where it doesn't matter.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 11:59 AM

Ibacked England to draw their first match, I backed germany to get to the final and germany to win the world cup, germany are looking good one more match and they are hopefully in the final

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 12:07 PM

Germany were masterful.

My hope is still that Holland play Germany in the final and that Holland win.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Lox
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 12:20 PM

Germany were indeed masterful.

Capello can breathe a sigh of relief that the pressure is off him a little.

I'm not convinced that a Holland Germany final would be that entertaining.

I fear it could be a grim physical affair with some injuries and some resentment.

I hope not ...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 12:48 PM

Wow.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 03:33 PM

After the match I sat 10 more minutes on the sofa shaking my head in amazed disbelief.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 03:57 PM

Wolfgang
Lets hope you are shaking your head in dismay if Holland beat you in the final :-)

It's about time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:24 PM

From the bits I've seen, the German attackers tend to calmly pass in front of goal to maximise their chances, where others are taking longer shots.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 06:48 PM

Well, it's that new ball... what crap!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 10:37 AM

hi

After the demise of England I believed that Spain would win the World Cup.
However after watching last night's game I think I may be on another loser. Spain were quite ordinary and could easily have lost.

Germany's performance against Argentina was outstanding and if they can keep reproducing that form they should win - but beware nothing is certain !!!

One thing we English can take is that maybe our performance against Germany was not so bad as we first thought. After all we did manage to score two goals against Germany when the much vaunted Argentinian attack was blunted and their defence was ripped even more wide open the England's.

We have to be grateful for small mercies...lol

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 11:26 AM

Yes, Mike, but "we" included an Italian paid a fortune to tell as how to play our favourite sport - unthinkable at the turn of the Millennium, and for all those decades before.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 11:31 AM

Someone will 'win', but single elimination in this round never proves who was the better team, especially with officiating mistakes and penalty shoot-outs.

I would love to see a longer format where every team in the round of 16 played each other 3 times. (Yes, I know it would take weeks, and it will never happen....but.)(Oh...I'll bet that right now, Maradona would like to see that, also)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 01:54 PM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse - PM
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 11:26 AM

""Yes, Mike, but "we" included an Italian paid a fortune to tell as how to play our favourite sport - unthinkable at the turn of the Millennium, and for all those decades before.""

Hi walkabout

I know but life changes. We are to all intents and purposes in Europe and we exchange jobs in both directions. Also it is not that new we also paid a Swede a fortune too !!!

We are not well blessed with potential England managers either....I can only think of two that might be entrusted with the job. Harry Rednapp or Sam Allerdice.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 02:00 PM

"Maradona would like to see that, also"

Hahahahaaaa!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 03:05 PM

If the knockout round of sixteen were replaced by one made up of four groups of four, that would mean an additional sixteen games, ie an extra week of the finals.

Not at all impossible, and it would reduce the likelihood of teams getting knocked out by perverse results, such as that which did for Ghana in the game with Uruguay.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: CET
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 03:35 PM

As an occasional soccer fan (once every four years), perhaps someone can enlighten me on why there are no penalty goals in soccer. A columnist in today's paper was opining that penalty goals (such as in other sports, like rugby and hockey) are not the way to go in soccer because the modern game is too fast and the referee has too much to keep track of. I have a hard time buying that. If the referee was close enough to award a red card and a penalty kick against Uruguay in the dying seconds of the match against Ghana, he was close enough to award a penalty goal. As it was, blatant cheating got Uruguay a reprieve. Admittedly, Ghana had their chance to make it good with a penalty shot, but it should never have come to that.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 04:53 PM

"there are no penalty goals in soccer"

?????

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 04:55 PM

To Mike: I don't follow our club football very closely these days (I like the way it was, too - i.e., mostly locals in MEANINGFUL competition), but whenever I hear Gareth Southgate interviewed he seems to me a good football manager..?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 06:40 PM

Michaelr

What CET is talking about is something comparable to a penalty try in rugby, where it is determined by the ref that in the absence of the foul, there would have been no other hindrance to points being scored, hence the try is given instead of a free kick or penalty.

A penalty goal therefore would be a goal which was awarded without a penalty kick being necessary. In this case the ref would see that if Soarez hadn't handled the ball it would definitely have gone into the goal, therefore a goal would be awarded.

I am in two minds about this approach. I can see the justification for it, but unlike the issue of goal line technology this would be a significant change to the rules and character of the game of football.

Tricky ...

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 11:57 AM

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse - PM
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 04:55 PM

""To Mike: I don't follow our club football very closely these days (I like the way it was, too - i.e., mostly locals in MEANINGFUL competition), but whenever I hear Gareth Southgate interviewed he seems to me a good football manager..?""

Hi wav

I think I would have agreed with you had he managed Middlesbrough more successfully. He was given every chance there with one of the most patient and understanding chairmen in the game. But in the end though he didn't want to get rid of Southgate the bad results and the fans staying away forced his hand.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 04:33 PM

Thanks for explaining that, lox. Makes sense.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 06:04 AM

Mike - I thought Southgate left Middlesbrough in not such a bad position, and things went down a lot thereafter..?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 09:59 AM

So now we know why Wayne Rooney performed so badly in all four England World Cup matches. Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Man Utd and Wayne's boss, today blamed the 'weight of expectation' for Rooney's failure to put in a half-decent performance. So whenever Wayne lost the ball, or passed it to an opposing player, which happened almost every touch, it wasn't his lack of footballing skill or focus, it was the 'weight of expectation' on his slender shoulders. Must remember that as an excuse at work. Yes boss, I made a major error that has cost the company a lot of money, but you see it was the weight of expectation that made me do it!Is Alex F taking the piss or what????

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 10:01 AM

hi wav

My understanding of Southgate'e demise at Middlesbrough was that he had been given the resources to enable him to make the team into a viable contender for European Champions League. Eg to finish in the top 4 in the Premier League.

At first they did quite well but best finish was 8th. Then they were relegated to the 2nd level and Southgate's career was being questioned by the fans.

He was sacked with Middlesbrough lying fourth but doubts existed that they would be promoted. He was surprisingly sacked but it was to make way for "a more experienced manager " Gordon Strachan.

The team did not do well at first under the new manager but this was expected as he was changing the whole squad around.

One other point against his qualification for managership of England is that Southgate does not possess the necessary coaching qualifications to coach in the Premier League never mind England.
He is apparently studying for these and no doubt this will enable to progress as his undoubted abilities suggest.

Regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 01:18 PM

Big day today. The CBC is airing the Germany-Spain game 3.5 hours after the other game airs live. So, I shall have to shut the doors and windows and keep the radio and TV off as soon as the whistle ends the first game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 02:28 PM

GO NED!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 02:38 PM

Força Uruguay ! ! !


biLL

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:01 PM

What a Stonker of a goal from van Bronkhorst.

Oranje Boven

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:01 PM

Oh my.... I was looking at the match page and did not realize the Germany-Spainn game is tomorrow. I am stinkin up the place with brain farts.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:03 PM

Wondered what you were going on about Gnu :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:18 PM

Oh dear, Forlan makes it 1 - 1 :-(

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:25 PM

Yes ,,, hat's off to Forlan.

smooth, very smooth

GO URUGUAY ! ! !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:33 PM

The passing of URU is so sharp... a treasure to watch.

I thought NED would keep up the press they mounted after their goal but it seemed to fizzle quickly.

I expect some fast and furious action as soon as the second half starts... no time for cat and mouse stuff now.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 03:39 PM

this is a class act game so far

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 04:31 PM

Well done Holland. Now to hopefully beat the Germans in the final

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 04:52 PM

Was that last card for a handball?

I was glad tu see URU get that second goal after the idiot foul and card taken. WHY would he do that???? Yer up 3-1 and there are minutes left... WHY???

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 04:54 PM

Enjoyed a couple of great strikes, and what a powerful header.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 05:00 PM

They was "robbed"?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 07:20 PM

Very interesting now.

I don't think Spain could beat Holland. I think Holland are too strong and control the Game well with a combinatiion of physicality and good possession of the ball.

I Think Germany could beat Holland as they have the physicality in midfield, but also the X factor in attack.

But I also think Spain could beat Germany - so we may never know how Germany v Holland would pan out.

Its a triangle of evenly matched teams in an elaborate game of Stone Paper Scissors that Holland may be destined to win.

I'll be cheering for Germany against Spain though - then we'll see an exciting and phydical final that the Afrikaaners will enjoy but the rest of us may find a bit rough.

The ref would face a challenge.

Maybe I want Spain to win after all ...

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

hi

Here is my 2nd attempt as my first effort disappeared down the Mudcat Triangle.

Holland deserved to win in a good game to watch. Two outstanding goals.

How Forlan has improved since leaving Manchester United !!!!
He didn't score many goals in his four years at Old Trafford when ( I think undeservedly ) he was tagged with the nickname of Forlorn.
I always liked him and although he didn't score many goals he always ran his socks off and was a great clubman. I always liked him.

Because of my Spanish connections I will be shouting for Spain. I don't think they have shown their true form yet. They will have to find it to beat Germany but I think they will do it.

So we will have an all Europe Final. Either way it will be a great game.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 06:17 AM

By the way, whoever wins the last two games, it will remain that no nation has won the World Cup with a foreign manager - as I say above, let's hope that FIFA change the rule before the next one, such that it never happens.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 01:54 PM

I heard that the Spanish coach said Spain would have to step it up because at their level of play lately, even a team like Canada could beat them. (My mother... so I didn't search it out.)

GO GERMANY!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 03:31 PM

Hmmmmm... quite a cat and mouse game so far. Perhaps a strategy by the Germans to try to tire Spain? Or a Spanish strategy to keep Germany contained? Possesion by Spain has fallen steadily from 65% aften 15 minutes.

I know "anything" can happen, but strategy attempts to influence that, right?

Anyway... it's still exciting.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 04:01 PM

Great goal by Spain

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 04:21 PM

Well done Spain.

I would have preferred Netherlands v Duitsland

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: bobad
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 04:23 PM

The octopus calls it again.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 04:24 PM

Me too, but Spain really took it the Germans and never let up. The Germans seemed tentative and defensive, rather than "letting fly" with their explosive offense.

Well done, Spain.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 06:59 PM

Here's Paul the Octopus picking Spain to beat Germany.

Thank you Paul. He couldn't have been going by form, because Spain hadn't played as well as that in any of the previous matches.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: michaelr
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 10:42 PM

There should have been a penalty awarded to Germany in the final minutes of the first half. Ozil was clearly fouled in the box. Germany was robbed!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 06:47 AM

I wonder what kind of bagpipe Paul the Octopus would pick?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 07:45 AM

Spain all the way this year I think

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 08:26 AM

I tend to favour Holland as champions, but am waiting to see what Paul the octopus selects. That's if the Germans haven't turned him into calamares after last night's defeat.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 09:06 AM

hi

I too called it for Spain but it wasn't through any knowledge of football.

I have lived in Spain and my sister and my wife's sister still live there so I am biassed.

My partiality remains and I believe that they will go on to win the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Strange how these two footballing nations have never ever met before in the World Cup !!

Andale Espana....

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 10:18 AM

Apparently Paul only does matches featuring Germany. And he's not infallible even there - in the 2008 European Cup he picked Germany to beat Spain in the final, and Spain won.

As for worries about calamares or sushi, Paul's keeper is reported as saying "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 12:14 PM

...that sucks.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 04:22 PM

I'm still hoping the Dutch win. They've got good enough players, especially up front.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 07:41 AM

So, Paul has gone for a Spain win - he's had a 100% track record this World Cup but somehow I still fancy Holland to upset the form book. Are my instincts more finely tuned than a cephalopod's? Have to wait until Sunday to find out! I think he also predicted that Germany will beat Uruguay tomorrow (Sat) but does anyone care who comes third? I suppose it will provide a last bit of entertainment for the German & Uruguay fans who haven't yet gone home. FIFA should make it free admission as well - today there are reports that many S Africans just could not afford the ticket prices so they watched on tv whilst many stadium seats were unoccupied.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 08:04 AM

If my memory serves me correctly, according to Evans-Pritchard, the Azande would have used a chicken.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 09:55 AM

Nice to see the English Team have made the final! Pity it's only the officials, but well done to Howard Webb and his team in officiating at matches where there has been very little sportsmanship shown (too much at stake, I suppose). Let's hope that Howard gets to book someone for simulation!

But's it's time for a big clearout at FIFA. They are total control freaks and breadheads. They have screwed South Africa unmercifully. They changed the ball for no other reason than money, and we have been treated to shots over the bar and overhit passes and crosses. They refused to use simple goal line technology (like an assistant ref on the goal line!) on the basis that no everybody could afford them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 11:46 AM

hi les

FIFA will have to change - there is no doubt about it. How will they do it??? Well your guess is as good as mine.

Last night I saw where someone has come up with a transmitter actually inside the ball !!

Yes and congrats to Howard Webb and his team...though we don't like him at Old Trafford....lol

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 01:04 PM

Holland

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 02:13 PM

GER!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 02:24 PM

Mike - so you don't like Howard Webb at Old Trafford? Could that be because he's a Yorkshireman born and bred? Mind you, he's from Rotherham so almost a Southerner! His dad only flew back from SA a few days ago, and now has had to fly back to see his son referee the final - that's some airmiles. Anyway, good luck to Howard and his team and I hope they don't give any silly decisions that make them public enemy no.1 in Holland or Spain.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 07:16 PM

Good game! Right to the wire. 0ne inch lower and it would have been better!

Well done Germany.... both really as it was a great game.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 06:09 AM

Neither Spain nor Holland have won the World Cup before, but neither of them have resorted to employing a foreign manager to "compete" for them - a good lesson for others.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 11:41 AM

Hi arnie

When I said "we" I really meant Fergie didn't like Howard. Because of some decision he took that worked against Man United.

I am sure that Fergie knows very well that Howard is a very good referee.

In my case it is certainly not because Howard is a Yorkshireman. Although I was born in Manchester my mother was from Barnsley, Elsecar to be exact.

I am looking forward to a good game tonight and I know that Howard and his team will try to encourage that.

Cheers

Mikel2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 01:16 PM

Gonna be a hard go after today's game. I can't watch baseball. And there's no Yankee football until September.

Not long now. I shall be glued to the screen.

What do you think of the Lineups.

GO NED!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 02:15 PM

In the last moments before the championship game begins allow me to say,
"!Que viva Hollanda!" Picture the first bang as upside down.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 02:20 PM

hi gnu

I am just tuning in for the game.....it's murder in here....local pub !!! The forecasts here are very close almost a 50/50 split.

I think that the line-ups are more or less as expected. Any team that can afford to leave out Torres and Fabrigas must be very strong.

Spain have a very strong complement of one team in their 11.....Barcelona.

Very close to call.

Ah here comes my pint.....!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 02:23 PM

Holland, and the octupus put in an irish stew

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 02:59 PM

...Or will the Spanish make baked-beans of the Dutch?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 03:42 PM

Not Enjoying Dutch aggression - hope the second half is better

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 04:26 PM

Great 2nd half.

My wife is a nervous wreck with her Dutch team.

We are amazed how dirty the Dutch were in the first half.

Anybodys game.

Odds for the first one to get sent off :-)

Extra time started.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 04:31 PM

lox.... me too... I am not pleased. If the strategy was to win by injury, no thank you. But, the ref was handing out yellow cards as required so "it" seems to have settled down.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:04 PM

Felicidades a Espana. :{

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:05 PM

Well played Spain. You deserved it.

Very enjoyable match.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:12 PM

VIVA ESPANA !!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:16 PM

Indeed. NED had chances, but, overall, I felt the dirty play by NED was karma in their loss. That may sound hokey, but whether it is or not makes no nevermind. The fact that Spain scored after a lost call by the ref made it all the more "karmatic".

Well done Spain.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:21 PM

Justos Campeones !!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 12:16 AM

I went to my nephew's birthday party and figured I'd have to miss it. But I was feeling like shit and it was getting worse so Karen and I went to the ER where it turned out to be a gall bladder attack......something else in the long string of ailments. But a great thing happened! I had a private room while waiting for tests with a 36" hi-def flat screen, The bed was pretty comfy, the air conditioning was just right and I enjoyed the entire match! The only thing missing was a beer.

GREAT GAME!!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 03:20 AM

Where is that f****** Octopus?

My missus is distraaght at her beloved Netherlands losing.

She wants me to get it and serve it's head up on a plate.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 04:30 AM

Hope you are OK now Spaw.

I have heard of some ways of trying to get the best seat in the house, but yours takes the biscuit.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 04:53 AM

Biscuit with butter!

Hope you feeling better Spaw.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 05:48 AM

"Biscuit with butter!"

Rather like 'chips', a biscuit is something which is different in the UK from its USA meaning, gnu. Just as we wouldn't eat US-'chips' with fish, we wouldn't put butter on a UK-biscuit! :-) :-)

We call your 'biscuit' a Scone.
You call our biscuit a 'cookie'.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arnie
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 06:19 AM

So much for the Dutch concept of Total Football - online it's being called Shaolin Football after that high-kicking display by de Jong on Alonso's chest. I've liked the Dutch approach throughout the tournament but they let themselves down badly last night. To Spain's credit they continued to try playing their fluid, passing game in the teeth of Dutch agression - and were deserved winners. Much criticism in some quarters of Howard Webb for not sending off one or even two Dutch players in the first half to halt the 'clogging' but I think he was trying to preserve the spirit of a cup final match and was hoping the Dutch would understand this and calm down a bit. Instead they treated it as a sign of weakness and an excuse to carry on scything down the Spaniards. The football may not have been pretty but well done to Spain for finally getting their hands on the Jules Rimet trophy. Have we more or less finished this thread now? Be interesting to look back at it in 2014.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 06:34 AM

lets hope in 2014, that either more linesman are employed, or that referees can refer to television replays, then the whole tournament would be fairer.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 07:14 AM

The best team won - best by a mile.

The Netherlands players should hang their heads in abject shame for sullying the hitherto-good name of Netherlands football. I imagine they lost quite a few foreign fans last night, me included.

And the Spanish players should be very proud of themselves for the shining example they set of how to resist provocation and answer it with great football skills.

IMHO, of course

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 08:03 AM

500 !! And Thank God uts over now !

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 08:25 AM

Philistine! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 08:46 AM

Don't blame the octopus! The footballers have much more control over the result. I wonder how much this cephalopodomancy will catch on in other areas.

It was a fair result, after a very difficult match to control. I for one thought that the officials did a great job under very trying circumstances. The De Jong kung-fu kick to the chest was probably an accident, although a very painful one to the recipient. The Dutch complaint that Elia had been blocked off shortly before the Spanish goal was unfounded. Players don't have to get out of opposing players way, and it was an obvious attempt to engineer a free kick or penalty.

So the Dutch slated the referee, the Spanish slated the referee, other referees though he did a good job. I thought he could have sent a Dutch player or two off in the first half, but that would have ruined the game as a spectacle.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 09:25 AM

Diego Forlan (Uruguay) named Best Player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup ... well deserved indeed!

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 09:41 AM

Indeed!

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: michaelr
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 09:19 PM

To call that final a great game is quite a stretch. I thought it was dirty on both sides, very little creativity, the single goal was almost two hours in coming, and overall the two sides pretty much canceled each other out. Not a game likely to win converts to the sport.

The third-place match of GER vs URU, now that was a very good game. Played cleanly and professionally and featuring five goals, it was everything the final was not.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 07:14 AM

Johan Cruyff commenting on this year's debased Netherland side's performance: "This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style, yes it served the Dutch to unsettle Spain. If with this they got satisfaction, fine, but they ended up losing. They were playing anti-football."

Great result, and a very well deserved defeat for a type of football that always deserves to be defeated.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 08:37 AM

Fair play to Spain: through all those years of failure they continued to select their own men - no fortune for a Fabio or a Sven.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 05:03 AM

P.S: on this day, in 1966, Alf Ramsey's English team won the said cup.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 05:18 AM

Whoop whoop whoop.

44 years ago. Oh yes, I remember it well.

Why can't I remember what I did 5 minutes ago?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 06:20 PM

Now what did I come in here for?

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 06:30 AM

Apparently, the F.A. have stated the next manager of England will be English - thereby finally admitting they've been wrong. This sorry process began with an over-the-border Scottish director, Adam Crozier, appointing a mercenary Swede.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 06:37 AM

Well if I understand it correctly, it might just be Martin O'Neill.

If so, he is a good Englishman, isn't he :-)

As long as it isn't Pearce, I couldn't care less.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 11:29 AM

If it's got to be an English manager, that would certainly rule out Martin O'Neill.

Subject: RE: BS: World Cup 2010
From: Gutcher
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 01:18 PM

I see that two of the team have taken out "gagging" orders in court
to prevent details of their private lives from being published.
Perhaps their attention, as with T, Woods, was not on the job.
Joe.