World Cup 2006

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Why are there so many people (Not on here, but at other places) claiming that England don't deserve to win it? Based on what, four games that really the results mattered? The real tests are from here on, they've got to go through the best to win it. I just don't like people claiming this about any country that looks strong to win it, how the heck don't they suddenly deserve it?

About yesterday, over the moon that Argentina are out, the apparent 'best' team in the world as some were claiming. Not exactly a fan of Germany but I'd have taken anybody ahead of Argentina, thank fuck. Camorenesi again shows why he's a good player yet probably needs to be dropped, it's come to a stage where he constantly looks for free kicks even when he can do a simple pass and put a player through on goal. I'd let it slide if it was once or even twice, but he's suddenly been doing it ever since he got sent off against Liverpool, the guy spoils his entire game by doing that. Cannavaro is still looking like a total rock, as is Buffon. Toni NEEDED them goals to boost his confidence a little more too, great to see them go on. Just a confident win going into such a huge clash against Germany, really the perfect result in a way, plus Nesta looks set for a return against Germany which is brilliant news, the defence looks almost rock solid. Still questioning why Cassano isn't there, oh well.

Should be good today as well. Revenge is coming, cant see Portugal beating England. I think today is the performance everybody has been waiting for actually. The big games are where England perform and I certainly expect to see Rooney finally get on the score sheet. Just cant see them losing today.

[John Stones' Paint Trophy]

Still questioning why Cassano isn't there, oh well

Edited July 1, 2006 by Jordan Stiva

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Still questioning why Cassano isn't there, oh well

I take it you mean the striker and not some defender I haven't heard of. Last I read, Cassano was too unfit to be selected and had got fat or something along those lines.

I have to say that the St. George Cross on the Orangeness banner is very sexy indeed.

[Guest muddatrucker]

His attitude fucking stinks and taking him would completely shit on the 'All our players are based at home' gimmick that they're clinging onto.

[TheArsenal]

I was disappointed after the opening game, and I moaned on here. But I think a lot of people did that because they were worried about what we would be like when we played the bigger teams. But the truth of it is, you just have to wait and see. Last season Arsenal were shite away from home in the Premiership, but beat Real Madrid away from home 1-0. We couldn't string run of results together in the first half of the season, but only lost one game in the Champions League (the final) and only conceeded four goals in the competition (again, two being in the final).

At least England showed against Trinidad and Tobago that we can keep playing for the full 90 minutes, and where T&T tired and maybe had mentally settled for the draw, England went on and scored (albeit by Crouch being a cheating bastard) and then as the T&T's heads dropped, secured the win with a belter from Gerrard. Ok, so our defence was questionable against Sweden, conceeding two goals that we probably shouldn't have done if our defence had been more on form, but we still did enough to get the result we needed to finish top of the group.

During the domestic season, whether it's in the league, or the Champions League, we hear pundits saying that the true measure of a good team, of a championship-worthy team, is having the ablity to play badly and still get the results they need. How many people would trade positions with Spain, Holland, or Argentina, who have scored goal after goal, and played some pretty decent, if not great football at times, but are already out of the tournament?

Sometimes you have to grind out results. Yes, it's nice for England to hammer every team that they face, but we don't have the attacking flair of the Brazilians when they are on form. We are England. We play the English way. Sometimes we make it hard for ourselves and sometimes maybe we should score more goals, but if the results are coming in England's favour then where's the real problem? If we were playing in a league system, we'd have 3 wins and a draw from our first 4 games, including a match against our bogey team and that's damn good form in anyone's book.

So for those fans, whether here or not, who say England are playing badly, we've made it further than the Dutch, the Spanish, the Czechs, the Mexicans, the Swedes, and after today, if eveything goes to plan, you can add the Portuguese, Argentinians, and one of the Brazilians and French to that list. And that in enough is a hell of an achievement.

[chazmers]

If Portugal Win's WE RIOT!!!

lol jokes aside I think we should do alright, last night the probable line up was the 4-5-1 with neville back and hargreves in the holding role. with portugal without Deco then it almost limits there attacking threat. by this i mean if you looked at the other matches where portugal played most of there attacking motions went through Deco as he was the playmaker in the side. now im doubting whoever it is that takes his position will be able to fill the role that deco left and is so good at.

anywho i hope we do win. I'm off to Portugal for 2 weeks on Sunday Night, packed 3 england shirts if we win im gunna be a marked man oh well.

Come On England

[AJ]

Aaaaahahahahahahahahaha.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lboqGusbLP8 ftw.

[Dan]

Very good post TheArsenal.

I'm so nervous now

[TheArsenal]

Berlin's Olympic Stadium announcer has been replaced after encouraging Germany in their quarter-final with Argentina.

His exhortation to the home crowd: "Ladies and gentlemen, our team needs our support" was contrary to Fifa neutrality rules for announcers.

A spokesman for the organising committee said: "He will no longer have the microphone at the stadium.

"He's been announcer at the stadium for years, but he was very excited because it was a special match."

Fifa spokesman Markus Siegler confirmed that rules dictated that stadium announcers must not show any bias towards teams.

Siegler said: "We have said he must stop this. This part and parcel of the principle of fairness and this cannot be accepted.

"The local organising committee has replaced him with immediate effect."

[ClaRK! Kent]

If we're playing the 4-5-1 with Neville and holding Hargreaves, Sven needs his fucking head kicked in.

Michael Carrick was one of the best players on the pitch against Ecuador, and whilst Hargreaves is really coming into his own and showing the doubters that he can really play, Carrick is the better passer of the ball, the better runner, the better shot, and he can tackle as well. Hargreaves is better off the ball, yes, but Carrick fits more into the possession game that the 4-5-1 requires and that we should be playing.

Frankly, I'd rather see an unchanged line-up anyway. Gary Neville waltzing back into the side when new players have established themselves in this tournament just speaks volumes about Sven's team selection skills, frankly. Besides which, Neville hasn't played a good game of football in fucking ages, so he can sit on the bench with the rest of 'em as far as I'm concerned.

As for if we'll win the game - I can see us either winning comfortably or losing comfortably. I don't see the game being that close. Either we'll kick into gear and walk all over them, exploiting the loss of Deco and Costinha, or Big Phil will destroy us tactically. That's probably the more likely outcome, frankly, because Sven's tactics do leave a lot to be desired, especially with Rio pumping the long ball every time like a fucking retard.

[AJ]

Apparently Neville brings out the best in Beckham, which is the reasoning behind it according to a few sources.

Though, whenever I think of Neville and Beckham, I always think of Neville making his overlapping runs and Beckham completely ignoring him and playing it in field.

[Dan]

He's playing Hargreaves because he'll mark figo better than Carrick will.

Hargreaves is the better defensive player of the two.

Stop fucking moaning before the game has even begun.

TheArsenal's post sums it all up really.

[ClaRK! Kent]

I'm not moaning about the way we play, or whatever, just about the arbitrary dropping of one of the best players in that squad. It's ridiculous, and clearly not done on merit.

[9 to 5]

Yeah, lump me into the crowd who's nerves are starting to get tested already.

[ravenjuice]

Been watching some videos on youtube to get hyped up, and The start to Three Lions 98 still makes me feel like crying ten years later. England can do this, if we go out and play like we can, we'll be ok.

Out of interest, how many of you are staying in to watch it and how many are out and about or with mates? I like watching football with company, but I'm not fun to be around when we lose, so I'll be watching this on my own. Guess you could say I'm a sore loser.

[AJ]

I'm off out to the pub as soon as I've finished typing this. So I'll see you lot when England are in the semis... hopefully.

[9 to 5]

Been watching some videos on youtube to get hyped up, and The start to Three Lions 98 still makes me feel like crying ten years later.

(Y)

[TheArsenal]

Been watching some videos on youtube to get hyped up, and The start to Three Lions 98 still makes me feel like crying ten years later.

(Y)

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

If we're playing the 4-5-1 with Neville and holding Hargreaves, Sven needs his fucking head kicked in.

Michael Carrick was one of the best players on the pitch against Ecuador, and whilst Hargreaves is really coming into his own and showing the doubters that he can really play, Carrick is the better passer of the ball, the better runner, the better shot, and he can tackle as well. Hargreaves is better off the ball, yes, but Carrick fits more into the possession game that the 4-5-1 requires and that we should be playing.

Frankly, I'd rather see an unchanged line-up anyway. Gary Neville waltzing back into the side when new players have established themselves in this tournament just speaks volumes about Sven's team selection skills, frankly. Besides which, Neville hasn't played a good game of football in fucking ages, so he can sit on the bench with the rest of 'em as far as I'm concerned.

As for if we'll win the game - I can see us either winning comfortably or losing comfortably. I don't see the game being that close. Either we'll kick into gear and walk all over them, exploiting the loss of Deco and Costinha, or Big Phil will destroy us tactically. That's probably the more likely outcome, frankly, because Sven's tactics do leave a lot to be desired, especially with Rio pumping the long ball every time like a fucking retard.

[TheArsenal]

Did Ian Wright just say "crap"?

He should be the next England manager. It would be awesome. And one hell of a good laugh....