Re: 2010 World Cup actual match discussion here (all matches)
Wednesday - Australia to beat Serbia and Ghana to beat the Germans..... if the later is not possible then at least Germans beat Ghana by a hefty margin that gives the Socerroos some margin to progress (also Australia can help themselves with that by increasing their goal difference against Serbia). Fingers crossed.
The Italians screwed the Aussies for the second world cup in a row .
To be fair the handball was pretty close though so was Kewells earlier penalty - he had clearly spun around and beaten the defender and was in front of him when taken down in the penalty area.
That said we seem to play better in the green and gold than the blue also analyse the last world cup games/jerseys... so hope we play Serbia in G&G...
In my opinion, the problem of both the French and the English squad is just a lack of quality. You can't blame the managers for so many poor performances.
With regards to the French: it shows that Zidane was an exceptional player. Since he stopped, France is an average team.
I disagree - the French are a fickle lot at the best of times - One day Austerlitz the next Waterloo. They need a special kind of management.
The English - well they never really got over the Battle of Hastings, did they?
I disagree - the French are a fickle lot at the best of times - One day Austerlitz the next Waterloo. They need a special kind of management.
The English - well they never really got over the Battle of Hastings, did they?
The England players (mostly), individually, manage to hold places in top flight club teams. It's mainly a lack of cohesion and spirit and a conflict about which style to play.
Yes, maybe this world cup will reserve us loads of surprises! So far the Italians, French and English teams have been a disappoitment (in my opinion), that leaves "little teams" like Switzerland a bit of hope...
Yes, maybe this world cup will reserve us loads of surprises! So far the Italians, French and English teams have been a disappoitment (in my opinion), that leaves "little teams" like Switzerland a bit of hope...
Re: 2010 World Cup actual match discussion here (all matches)
If it came to a coin toss between NZ and Italy (if they drew their next matches respectively), that'd be so unfair. Wish they could do a penalty kick contest, haha.
France captain Patrice Evra, coach Raymond Domenech and fitness coach Robert Duverne argue on the training pitch today. France's chaotic World Cup descended towards a full-scale player revolt this afternoon after the players refused to train in a show of support for the exiled Nicolas Anelka, prompting the national team director Jean-Louis Valentin to quit in disgust.
The team arrived at training today but a few minutes after taking the field fitness coach Robert Duverne stormed away, throwing his accreditation badge to the ground, apparently after an argument with team captain Patrice Evra.
The players then left the training ground and boarded the team bus, in which they had a meeting with Domenech behind closed curtains.
The France squad then released a statement which read: "All players in the France squad without exception want to declare their opposition to the decision taken by the French Football Federation to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.
France captain Patrice Evra, coach Raymond Domenech and fitness coach Robert Duverne argue on the training pitch today. France's chaotic World Cup descended towards a full-scale player revolt this afternoon after the players refused to train in a show of support for the exiled Nicolas Anelka, prompting the national team director Jean-Louis Valentin to quit in disgust.
The team arrived at training today but a few minutes after taking the field fitness coach Robert Duverne stormed away, throwing his accreditation badge to the ground, apparently after an argument with team captain Patrice Evra.
The players then left the training ground and boarded the team bus, in which they had a meeting with Domenech behind closed curtains.
The France squad then released a statement which read: "All players in the France squad without exception want to declare their opposition to the decision taken by the French Football Federation to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.
Noooooo I do find it interesting! The first round is nearly over and apart a few teams I have no idea who's in for the next rounds! Exciting!
The table is somewhat interesting, but the games were so far absolutely terrible. I did not expect much from some of the "favourites", so I am not surprised by some of the results, especially France, but seriously: I loved to see the Swiss beat Spain, but it was terrible football. Same is true for both England matches, the ref destroyed the Germany - Serbia game, which would have otherwise been surely a thrill and Brazil is not playing at all the way we love them to... short reminder: