Originally Posted by punky (Post 35044162)

Meanwhile France continue imploding. There has been an on-field bust up on the training ground and the Team Director has been sent home. Given the way they qualified I think the world is entitled to a little shadenfreude on Ireland's behalf.

Originally Posted by Matty_ (Post 35044200)

I don`t think there are any easy games in a world cup. The teams from bigger footballing nations such as England, France, Italy and Spain, etc, don`t seem to play as teams as much as some of the lesser nations. I wonder if this is because most of the players from the smaller nations play their football overseas. So getting together with the national team is a good time to chat about the country and play football!!!

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35044239)

I wonder if it's a consequence of physical and mental draining after a long season. I would imagine that International football is no longer as important to the players as it used to be and after a hard season for their clubs getting together with a new team for a few weeks is just not a task they can do easily.

Originally Posted by punky (Post 35044136)

Well, well, well.... NZ 1-0 up against Italy. Shocking offside descision but its final I suppose.

Originally Posted by punky (Post 35044162)

Meanwhile France continue imploding. There has been an on-field bust up on the training ground and the Team Director has been sent home. Given the way they qualified I think the world is entitled to a little shadenfreude on Ireland's behalf.

Originally Posted by Sky News

France's chaotic World Cup campaign has taken another bizarre twist, with players refusing to train and the team's fitness coach storming out of the session.

<Snip>

Adding to woes, the managing director of the French Football Federation (FFF) has resigned in anger at the insubordination.

Jean-Louis Valentin told reporters: "I am disgusted, I am quitting my post.
"I am ashamed, I am leaving immediately for Paris."

Originally Posted by punky (Post 35044162)

Yeah, you're right. The referring did start off very good and then has tailed off dramatically. I think from the outset the referees have been told from up-high to be zero tolerance. I think referees should be strict but it is getting a little out of hand.

Originally Posted by punky (Post 35044372)

And its just got worse. Kaka got sent off for a second-bookable offence due to horrendus act of cheating and deception by Ivory Coast.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Originally Posted by danielf (Post 35044399)

To be fair, the Brazilians were doing quite a bit of that, so they got a taste of their own medicine imo. Oh, and two handballs in the second goal. Cracking game though :D

Originally Posted by yesman (Post 35044500)

Oxo are introducing a new white cube with a red cross through it in support of the England team, it will be called "The laughing stock". :)

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu (Post 35044430)

We hear the same old garbage from the England squad, l will tell you what will happen on the Sloveania game, the same team will play and Slovenia will beat us, and we will come home, sorry lads, but they have been pathetic, they are supposed to be the cream of English football, and yet they have not scored very many goals.