World Cup Thread

[silvia]

but did you see after he scored, all the 'senior' players came and gave him a big abrazo (as if to say "eres el rey, te amo, raul" ).

first it was michel salgado and then canizares

I would say it was something like: well done, us the oldies goldies are with you

Salgado and Cañizares are both in the same decadence as raul, the worst is that now he scored everybody goes like: see? he isn't that bad. For me it's fine, if Madrid keeps him it would be a "lastre"

 

[mikkak]

but did you see after he scored, all the 'senior' players came and gave him a big abrazo (as if to say "eres el rey, te amo, raul" ).

first it was michel salgado and then canizares

and so what
he did the goal and that is what it matters

 

[grego]

and so what
he did the goal and that is what it matters

sí but his presence is not good for the team. he is there on reputation and i hate that. players should be picked on their ability to perform.

por cierto - hola merengue!

 

[djchewie]

spain didnt impress me much. esp in the 1st half when tunisia were having a good go at them.

they will get found out against a better attacking side, with a more solid defence

 

[grego]

they will get found out against a better attacking side

we struggled enough against trinidad

 

[fatphilb]

its quite odd that Spain are playing very well - yet because of being historically underacheiving their fans expect them to fail miserably

yet England fans, having only won one tournament ever 40 years ago, expect their team to win it, even despite playing like a pub team so far in the tournament (yes yes, 6 points blah blah blah)

For the record, I know Scotland didn't qualify, so for anyone who's patter will only stretch this far, don't waste your time

 

[mikkak]

sí but his presence is not good for the team. he is there on reputation and i hate that. players should be picked on their ability to perform.

por cierto - hola merengue!

ofcourse I do love Raul, I can't be very impartial in this issue, this is what happens when you love a team and you know that, that player is with that team by heart. But all people that critize raul critize him no matters what he do, if he do a goal ( that normally is what is important in football) because is just a mirage of old times and if he doesn't do anything because he doesn't do anything, so, how impartial is that?
I am not discussing if he is doing well or not, if he have to retire or not, etc but yesterday he did that goal and thats it for me. That goal stimulate it the team so far.
and hola culé!!!!!

 

[grego]

ofcourse I do love Raul, I can't be very impartial in this issue, this is what happens when you love a team and you know that, that player is with that team by heart. But all people that critize raul critize him no matters what he do, if he do a goal ( that normally is what is important in football) because is just a mirage of old times and if he doesn't do anything because he doesn't do anything, so, how impartial is that?
I am not discussing if he is doing well or not, if he have to retire or not, etc but yesterday he did that goal and thats it for me. That goal stimulate it the team so far.
and hola culé!!!!!

touché juana, touché

 

[silvia]

sí but his presence is not good for the team. he is there on reputation and i hate that. players should be picked on their ability to perform.

por cierto - hola merengue!

Reputation? reputation in the white house cos in the rest of the country his reputation is a bit
The thing I hate the most of him is his bad mood when he is not in the initial team, he is such a bad looser

 

[jjinit]

Reputation? reputation in the white house cos in the rest of the country his reputation is a bit
The thing I hate the most of him is his bad mood when he is not in the initial team, he is such a bad looser

enjoyed the game last night

Spain reminded me of England in 1st half lot of possesion & chances but no goals and very vulnerable on the counter. 2nd half was better but that was helpled by the Tunisuians fading and also the quality spain were able to bring on in the form of fresh legs. Torres looks quality as does Ramos and Xavi.

 

[Mark Sun]

Was really proud of the Aussie's valiant efforts against Brazil, lots of great chances for us and I think the 2-0 scoreline was flattering to Brazil. Bring on Croatia, if we keep to the same form (now with Kewell banned for a game for abusing the ref!) I think we can at least tie it with them, which is all we need to get through..

 

[Mark Sun]

(now with Kewell banned for a game for abusing the ref!).

Scratch that, he's cleared to play

 

[djchewie]

we struggled enough against trinidad

we always struggle against the "crap" sides cos our side isnt blessed with a huge abundance of pace, and we try to play accurate balls into the front players, who are often denied space by sides who get men behind the ball.

for some reason, our "1st team" can raise our game against better opposition.

god im turning into mr midtable

 

[fatphilb]

we always struggle against the "crap" sides cos our side isnt blessed with a huge abundance of pace, and we try to play accurate balls into the front players, who are often denied space by sides who get men behind the ball.

for some reason, our "1st team" can raise our game against better opposition.

god im turning into mr midtable

1. you struggled against trinidad cause your national media makes the england players think they will walk through those games
2. there was a complete lack of urgency about england
3. your forwards are laughably bad, as for lampard
4. trinidad had absolutely NOTHING to lose against you, england had everything to lose

you probably will raise the game against better opposition, but its an insult to professional footballers like trinidad to treat them with so little respect, and england almost got their just deserts for it.

and i got 82 minutes of priceless banter in the pub

 

[djchewie]

1. you struggled against trinidad cause your national media makes the england players think they will walk through those games
2. there was a complete lack of urgency about england
3. your forwards are laughably bad, as for lampard
4. trinidad had absolutely NOTHING to lose against you, england had everything to lose

you probably will raise the game against better opposition, but its an insult to professional footballers like trinidad to treat them with so little respect, and england almost got their just deserts for it.

and i got 82 minutes of priceless banter in the pub

if i was england manager and had all players fit and available...

GK - Robinson
RB - G Neville
LB - A Cole
CH - Ferdinand
CH - Terry
CMF - Carrick
CMF - Gerrard
LMF - J Cole
RMF - Lennon
FD - Rooney
FD - Owen

4-4-1-1, plenty of pace on the wings, Carrick Holding - the boy can tackle, but more importantly, his distribution and use of the ball is way better than Hargreaves. Beckham would be dropped, he's the one reason why england play so damn slow, so what if he's a dead ball expert and a good crosser, he couldnt beat an egg.

When we have the ball the wide men would push wide to the touchline, opening up more space on the pitch for Gerrard to get forward and into the box, and will also help Owen get the space to run into too.

Rooney will always drop back into the midfield when defending to make up a 5 if needed.

 

[sandi]

Dom just texted to say Gerrard and Crouch are not playing ? Is this true? and is it a good move by sven?

EDIT - Just read BBC sport page and they are just being rested.

 

[Scoobie]

Dom just texted to say Gerrard and Crouch are not playing ? Is this true? and is it a good move by sven?

EDIT - Just read BBC sport page and they are just being rested.

They've both picked up a yellow card, and if they were booked again today they would miss the next match.

 

[sandi]

They've both picked up a yellow card, and if they were booked again today they would miss the next match.

Ah, I see. Cheers 8)

 

[Ferd]

spain didnt impress me much. esp in the 1st half when tunisia were having a good go at them.

Chewie do you think its possible to win 4-0 every group game in the world cup? Is that what it takes to impress you??
Also how did they have a go at us? They had a as much a go at us as T&T had at England. (I admit theyre right back had too much room though!)

Its a cliche but its true theres no easy games any more (Tunisia won the African Cup of Nations two years ago), and i for one im happy with the way Spain came back. I think we did struggle a bit in the first half (Senna was rubbish) so lots of praises to our manager who changed things when he had to, and to the players who never gave up or felt the need to resort to long balls.

As for the Raul issue, I dont think he should start for Spain BUT he can still be useful to us to come from bench, like he did yesterday. 8)
And finally on Torres, im having to change my views on him, I use to think he was overrated, but I'm being proven worng, and im loving it

 

[djchewie]

Chewie do you think its possible to win 4-0 every group game in the world cup? Is that what it takes to impress you??

I like watching games where both teams are positive in their approach... which is why i couldnt stand watching italian football Zzzzzz....

dont get me wrong, i thought spain were great in the 2nd half.

just thought tactically, they lacked a little something in the centre of the park in the first half, and it needed Fabregas to come on anc change the game, because i thought he did add that extra spark.

the 4-0 was against an ordinary looking Ukrainian Side. Tunisia did pose more probs to your defence in fits and starts.

i'll pass judgement when Spain (and England) have played either Argentina/Holland/Brazil/Italy/Germany/France - these teams are capable of causing some damage.

the winner will come from these 8 sides