Sat 1st July World Cup

[jkmccrann]

[Dammo Qwirky]

Just to add a little bit more fuel to the fire for people that claim England are bad losers...

I'm a little bit surprised more hasnt been made of the fact there was an Argentine ref that sent an England player off. I wouldve thought considering the history of the two countries, that appointment was very questionable, especially when that ref was quoted before the game as saying England play boring football and Portugal play more attractive football.

Didnt make sense that Walcott didnt get a game considering all that was said about him by Ericsson before world cup.

Once it got to penalties there was only ever going to be one winner. English are bottlers in all sports, whilst other nations thrive on the pressure, the English go to pieces.

I think the bottom line really is the manager couldnt get the best out of those players, plus they were playing aimless tactics. You could see his passionless approach creeping into the players as the tournament went on.

Ronaldo will definitely not be at Man Utd next season. If he is, then hes a big fool. U surely wouldnt wind up someone like Rooney and not expect retribution at some stage in the future.

The gloss has been removed from the World Cup for me by cheating teams like Portugal, who have advanced thru gamesmanship as much as anything else. As a team they were similarly devoid of ideas to England. The sooner Blatter is replaced by someone who tackles this issue, the better. He is a blight on the game.

Its a great chance missed by England, as looking at the players coming thru, the strength isnt quite the same in the younger players. With all the foreign players in the Premiership now, its gonna be increasingly difficult to get the chance to shine.

[mattpjl]

[Dammo Qwirky]

Psychologically England are not strong in sport. Its cos we were brought up politely to believe that taking part fairly was all that mattered. We need to bring up kids believing winning is the most important part!

[mattpjl]

England's basic problem was LACK of firepower up front.

6 goals in 480 mins of football against such teams as Trinidad, paraguay and Ecuador says it all- thats a goal every 80 mins!!! Terrible.

[STUBBLE]

Unfortunately, I didn't take my own advice regarding the Hargreaves tip

I don't think it's fair to say the English bottle it in all sports because of the failures on the football field. Though neither have been great this year, the rugby team certainly didn't bottle it in the World Cup and the cricket team came out on the right side of close finishes in the Ashes last year.

It's just a huge shame that this seems to be England's fate so often.

I wouldn't have placed any great weight behind the referee being Argentinian. He was guilty of judging the severity of incidents based on players' reactions, but I think that is a fault of just about every referee around these days. The greatest blight on the modern game isn't diving or shirt pulling, it is exagerrating physical contact and feigning injury to get fellow professionals booked or sent off. For anyone who thinks this is the little Englander talking, I think every nation has players who are guilty of this including England (part of the joy of watching Zidane yesterday was the fact that I can't recall an occasion when he has lowered himself in that fashion). Until referees learn to watch the tackles instead of the players reactions, this problem will only get worse.

As far as Portugal's behaviour goes, I wonder if this is a Scolari trademark (remember Rivaldo against Turkey four years ago?). Rather like Mourinho at Porto and Chelsea to an extent, there appears to be a win at all costs mentality where the ends justifies the means. Basically, if you're getting to finals and winning trophies, who cares how you did it?

Whilst those tactics have worked against two relatively young sides in England and Holland, it's hard to see them being quite so successful against the battle hardened French Dads Army.

Rather than pondering further on the whys and wherefores of England's exit, I just hope the remainder of the competition is memorable for the right reasons.
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Confidence in tips ranges from the most confident which is 5 stars to least which is 1.

If you fire enough arrows, one or two are bound to hit the target

[onaed]

Matt and there is only one man to blame, just think if we won, Semi final of the world cup and no proven world class striker ?
What idiot goes into a comp with 2 half fit strikers doesnt take a cover that is proven ? Defoe / Bent must of sat at home and looked on with disgust.

Sven got ONE thing right all comp and that was playing Hargreaves in front of Carrick, ask anyone and they would say Hargreaves was rubbish and shouldt play but no one could of played that role better yesterday, he was awesome and hes shoved any doubt back down our throats, and for the next game he should be the first name on the sheet if you ask me.

Still hes gone now, sure MaClaren will not be as stupid, he'll just take half the Boro squad instead.

[chinesegambler]

It's a shame as we here all have not mentioned how well France have played! ....

I was just lickin my lips at how much more brazilian zidane was then the brazilain players on the pitch!!! ......and at 9/2 to win I was licking my lips even more!!!

Long pass, Short pass France were keeping it simple, and moving forward.


England, short pass, Long pass ......all going side ways and back.

[coopsy02]

CG, yep finally getting it together, they were rank rotten in the group stages tho and personally hope Ronaldo and Scolari and the Boy's from Portugal turn them over, imo

im sure it will be a fine final whoever,

Germany,Italy,France,Portugal
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Challenge Winners for Season

Scottish Premier: Beernutz
English Scorecast: Dj Peem
Premiership: Man o Bong

[chinesegambler]

anyone know where I can get a replica Zidane Top????

I've tried all the local sports shops and can't find anything on the net, other then ebay.......from Thailand.....

Any help????

It's Zidane's last world cup, and i think he means it this time!!!

[coopsy02]

B Bay is probs your best bet CG, try and get it before, if they are gonna win the WC as you say this will be his last shout, so they will probs go up a fair bit if he does win it, sorry i also forgot to say, he was a treat last night
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Challenge Winners for Season

Scottish Premier: Beernutz
English Scorecast: Dj Peem
Premiership: Man o Bong

[STUBBLE]

CG, try this - www.uksoccershop.com
_________________
Confidence in tips ranges from the most confident which is 5 stars to least which is 1.

If you fire enough arrows, one or two are bound to hit the target