Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Why don't you give it a rest? You harp constantly on about how the media only cover England and how tiresome it is but let's be honest, it's no more boring that your constant jibes, we lost because Portugal in the end played better than we did.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

ooOOOOooo!!!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.david4/handbag.jpg

Perhaps if you didn't bite so easily then maybe I'd get bored ;) :disturbd:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

How about that penalty we should have been awarded iun normal time?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

At least England beat Germany 5-1, we can see that replayed time and time again.

Plus England did beat Paraguay, Trinidad & tobago and Ecudor, all top teams.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

How about a new football anthem for the british team?

God save our football team, give us a winning team,
God coach our team.
Send them to training school
t'learn how to play football
long to train how to play
God save out team!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Portugal's play seemed to characterise foreign football - lack of professionalism, sportsmanship and general decency. I had the strong impression that Portugal's game plan was remove our top players - by injury or other means - and hold out for penalties. The wink and ssssh that Ronaldo gave after encouraging the ref to red card Rooney - bit of a give-away. It's everything that's wrong with the game. Greed for money and titles at the expense of the game. I've no interest in football at all - just ugly. My mum watched the match, so my dad and I had little choice.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I've said it before, but in my opinion England will never again have a world class football team, while our premier league is dominated by foreign players.

Not enough elegible English players are getting suitable experience at the top level, so I believe our strength in depth is poor.

It was a gritty performance after Beckham's injury & Rooney's red mist, but then ultimately spoilt by terrible penalty taking - although I won't detract from an inspired display by Portugal's keeper.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Gaz, I agree. I said this to some friends ans was poo pood, but it stands to reason that unless the Premiereship clubs do start using more UK players, then our home teams (and I count Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well as England) will suffer a reduced supply of experienced players. This will only harm their chances in any competition.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

So what would you say to a Great britain team?
Do you think it would be viable?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well done France. Truly world class performance.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

thanks Stu :tu:

- & tw2001, welcome back from honeymoon & all I can say is we manage to put together the 'British Lions' for Rugby Union, why not a British football team??

(dons nomex just in case ;) )

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Thank **** Eriksson is going after this fiasco!!!!!!!!
He should Never have been allowed to manage the team before and during this tournament.
His idea`s and tactics and also pulling key players off at certain times were not ideal.
He has never had a passion for English football or had the motivation to push the players to do their best.
I still say that the standard of refereeing so far should be scrutinised and sorted out before the semi finals .
Do you think its about time we stopped paying our players so much and started making it a performance related pay thing instead?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I think a Great Britain team would be great - obviously it would be made up primarily of English players but at least 'God Save the Queen" would finally be an appropriate anthem :D

Mind you, can't see the Scots ever agreeing :eek:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Or the Welsh! :D :erm:

Lol@Russ.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I think you'll find a lot of support for that idea around here - how else are we going to get to a final? :disturbd:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

True...but would any Welsh player go though?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Oh yes ;)

Probably all of them. Seriously. If Giggs had been given the chance 5 years ago to join a GB team I'm sure he'd have taken it.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

So, what was Walcott selected for again?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

...and you called English fans delusional! :rofl: ;)

Giggs would be the only one...if he was a few years younger...

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Ah! Right! Now I understand what you meant - I thought you were asking would any of them be willing to join Team GB :D

Giggs would have taken care of England's left wing deficiencies in the days BC (Before Cole).

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

He's the bloke that carries the players' bags from the dressing room to the bus isn't he?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Least his girlfriend got a nice little holiday.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

They would have missed it anyway :erm:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Isn't he the one on work experience?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Why did Sven take:
1. Walcott
2. Rooney
One didn't get a run out at all, and the the other got sent off for his own stupidity.

Still, one good thing, at least Sven doesn't get to leave gloating over a win.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

We'll get our own back when the welsh get to a set of finals and then get knocked out .....

........... assuming any of us live that long ;)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I think Russ has a point. Every world cup I remember there seems to have been a excuse into why we lost. I will be surprised if the tabloids dont have a fall guy lined up

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

You know what, that is the silver lining, he was in for an honouree knighthood if we had won it, after the contempt he treated us with, he got what he deserved.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I do not think Sven was that bad a manager :S.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Its hardly an excuse is it, we are just no good at penalties, I think the only time we have actually lost a World Cup finals match since Mexico '86 was the Brazil game.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

For your second point, only a crystal ball would have prevented that one...

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well we should not let it get to penalities all the time. We havent played well in this world cup and thats why we lost. Not because a few penalties were saved

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

No I am pretty sure that it was because a few penalties were saved, the fact that even if both sides were still playing it would still be nil- nil counts for little, we have blown it, I doubt we will ever have a better chance of success, top quality young players, thousands of supporters literally making them home games, many of the footballing giants in decline, the favorites going out early and still we could not manage it, mainly because we cant seem to score from 12 yards, very sad really.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Why dont they just save 2hrs of play and take penalties :) IMO Penalties are very unfair.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I know - instead of penalties how about they settle it with a game of Twister like on Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey? :)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

So do I and it is not just because we are no good at them, the better team does not always win its a lottery.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well, the game needs to be decided. And if it's a lottery, why are the Germans so bloody good at it? Take yesterday's game. All German penalties were clinical.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

It's all to do with self belief rather than ability over 90 mins, if FIFA really wanted exciting games they would give the FOURTH referee a job, perhaps he could count the times each goalkeeper touched the ball and award the match to the team that touched it least, this would encourage attacking play and discourage backpassing, also you would not get a Italia 90 situation where Argentina played for penalties all the way to the final.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Do you think that someone needs to tell the NOTW that england were actually knocked out? :p:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Nothing like a bit of denial!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

omg what noobs lol

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Interesting choice of ref given that we were at war with them only a few decades ago :scratch: Think Argentina and what comes to mind? Cows. Specifically, corned beef and Margaret Thatcher. Hmmm.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Cos we would be crap at that too

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

goicochea > all :)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

rooney was a thug, for stamping on someones nuts.

who the hell does he think he is?

I hope he gets heavily fined.

ik

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Are you blind? You really think he stamped on him on purpose?

No point arguing with you i guess, the replays show it was an accident to me.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Not blind, Scottish ;)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Exactly :tu:

Mind you, the fun starts in earnest in 6 weeks time ;)

http://www.england2008.co.uk/euro_20...roup_b_qua.htm

and

http://www.england2008.co.uk/euro_20...ng_group_d.htm


Revenge is a dish best served cold. ;) :D

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

i can remember benoit cauet getting a much better shot on someone once during a milan derby, but i personally cannot see how anyone can say it was an accident.

well, okay, standing on his nuts was probably an accident, but stamping on him certainly wasn't.

it was funny really, i was just about to praise him for staying on his feet under numerous heavy challenges while some players went down when looked at

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

It looked to me that it happened accidentally when Rooney tried to extricate himself from the tangle of the other two players.

The problem is that Rooney has a temper and thinks he can get away with violence to other players as well as dissent to the referee. When he returned to the England camp after his scan, he is reputed to have said "The big man is back", but sadly some of his tantrum-like behaviour demonstrates that he is still a spoilt child. Pushing Ronaldo in front of the referee and expecting not to get a red card is the height of arrogance.

England played better without him. It's a pity that Lennon wasn't on from the start because if the team had played like that from the beginning of the match England might have won.

Our team has too many divas and stars and regretably not enough players. Maybe next time the World cup emerges we will actually have a team that wants to score goals without getting red cards but by using superior football skills and a lot more maturity and common sense.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQxDX...oney%20ronaldo

watch that. you can see him aim a stamp in carvalho's direction, as he is nowhere near the ball

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

It will make us a better team, by playing better opposition....
Also, the below comments are from an englishman (i think) but again, no one says anything about his comments about rooney. double standards?

I think rooney is a thug and a premadonna. (oh sorry I will get a backlash now, cause I said that and I am scottish :D)
ik

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well, in case you missed it, he posted half an hour after I did. My reply was to you, before he had even posted. Shame on me though, I should know better, I really should dust off the family crystal ball.

Better still, use my brand spanking new time machine. Unfortunately though, it's on loan to H G Wells at the moment. Apparently he's using it for research into a novel he's writing.

And the scots have never had any of those before. ;)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well it might make Rooney think about his temper?

Well with us out I don't want Portugal to win, nor the French, nor the diving Italian, So I must put my $$ on Germany joint the ranks of the few host nations to win the WC

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:28 ----------

And IMHO we stood no change with an argie ref in the first place

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Can't you look past petty grievances and just be happy that your fellow europeans are doing so well? You know, in the same way you lot thought it was petty that so many Scots and Welsh didn't want England to win?? ;)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

How do you feel about it then Russ, I cant see it going down well in the dressing room. Its all right people saying well they were playing for different teams BUT at the end of the day they should remember who pays their vastly over inflated saleries, at this stage it's impossible to tell where it will go now but it certainly wont do United's chances any good.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Personally I think it stinks of double standards. I wanted to see England win the World Cup but other celts who didn't share my view were told it was 'petty', 'jealousy' etc for not wanting England to win.

And now (some of) you lot don't want to see Portugal win, or Italy etc.

Using the same logic I'd have thought you guys would have been happy to see a fellow eauropean team succeed.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I wanted to see England do it to and I really did like the anyone but England thread, I thought it was the funniest thing done here in quite a while, however at heart I am a club man and given the choice of us winning the World Cup and winning the league I know what I would choose everytime, I am not even convinced of what would happen if offered the FA cup

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Oh really ! What and have it rammed down your throat in the press and tv, for another 40 years ? Are you sure about that statement Russ ?

Erm.....no........we thought it was "petty" for starting an "anyone but England" thread. :rolleyes:

Don't pigeon hole England supporters Russ, everyone has a very different opinion on who they would like, or not like to see lift the trophy.

Personally, I will watch the game, then decide who I think has played the better football, and thus deserve to be crowned world champions.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I think you're aiming that at the wrong person ;)

Have a read through that thread again and have a look at all the comments aimed at the celts who chose not to follow England. That and other threads ;)

So you missed the part where I said "some of you"?

Good for you - however going on the comments so far, you're in the minority.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Bear in mind here, people are hardly going to give an accurate opinion when they are being goaded before a ball has even been kicked. That's the funny thing about footy fans, given the chance, you can have a perfectly contructed conversation with them. But when they are antagonised (imo) they will be defensive from the off. This thread in particular, got off to a good start, but then the "other" thread took precedent with most people. What do you really expect to happen. :shrug:



Nope ! I got that bit, hence the reason I didn't say "Don't pigeon hole ALL England supporters" ;)

Anyway........back on topic..........

Germany v France final.......you heard it here. ;)

I think the Germans will overcome Italy (probably on penalties) apparently on tv, they said Germany have never beaten Italy in the world cup finals before. :shrug: So, it maybe a close game, with pens.

I think the French are coming good at the right time, after looking average against the Swiss in the group games. I think they will be too strong for the Portugese.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

at least England were the most conistant team in the tournament.. 5 matches and we played rubbish in all of them :D

no offence to hargreaves but he is hardley a world class midfielder whereas Gerrard and Lampard are but in the final game Hargreaves was our best player.. he actually put in some effort where as I saw gerrard pull out of a few 50 \ 50 balls that in a liverpool shirt he never would have done

we weren't good enough and only tested the keeper about once.. that's why we lost..

Sven didn't help as he played one of the best attacking players in the world in a role he can't play effectively reducing us to 10 men before we had even started

i've seen the Roonet stamp a few times and i'm still not sure if he did it on purpose or not.. some angles it looks like he meant it other times it doesn't

none of the teams left are any good and no one has had a great world cup.. a few teams have done ok in one match or two at most.. the world cup was there for the taking and we just weren't good enough

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

If the ref had done his job and given a free kick to England whilst there were only TWO portugese players trying to bring Rooney down, rather than letting the third one onto him as well, it might have all been a different story.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

do you really believe that

if we had got a free kick.. that far out it would have been hoofed into the box and the defenders would have cleared it

Rooney was hardley even playing in that game as we all know he needs the play to happen in front of him and come onto the ball.. he can't play as a lone striker.. Nistelrooy or Shearer are lone strikers and can hold the ball up Rooney can't

thank God Sven has gone but with SM in charge i can't see too much changing

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Yes, I do.
So? I'm not debating what would have happened with the free kick. Just pointing out that the ref should jhave blown his whistle way before he did, and none of this may have happened.

So what? I'm not debating team formation etc. I'm saying that Rooney was fouled before the stomping occured, but the ref ****ed up. :shrug:

25 million for winning us sod all. Nice work if you can get it :rolleyes:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

So now that Diddyland has went out - who do you think will win the World Cup?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Well as ive always wanted Portugal to win it (being portuguese) Im still rooting for them!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Germany.

Usually, I would want whoever knocked us out to win. As I did in the World cup 2002 (Brazil) and Euro 2004 (Portugal). IMO, the best team won both times. But this saturday, the best team did not win. They cheated their entire way through, it was like watching Platoon every time Portugal touched the ball, you would've thought there was a sniper in the crowd. :rolleyes: I can see plenty of Soccer AMSs 'Why' being taken up with those very poor displays of sportsmanship for some weeks. Bring in video ref - look at rugby, it works.

I'd like Italy to win, but I think Germany will.

And PS, If Rooney doesn't get the chance to give that little **** Ronaldo a good kicking, I will. He's on a suicide mission if he plans to come back to England at any point :mad: :upyours:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

It really does annoy me when english fans moan about other players falling over/diving all the time. Joe Cole, Michael Owen, Ashley Cole, Gerrard all have been guilty of falling over very easily. Yes the Portuguese did go to ground abit to often, but its not a case of this not happening with england players.

Ronaldo has been called a cheat by every single england fan ive bumped into today, but it wasnt him who stamped on a players groin or pushed at another player under the ref's nose. Oh and he also didnt slip on Gerrard's, Lampard's or Carrager's tops during the shoot out and took their penalties for them.

Yes they were clearly out to phsyche out Rooney, but thats football/competition for you. If you can't handle the pressure and provocation in a world cup quarater final then you shouldnt be playing in it at all.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Again Petit was standing alongside Ronaldo remonstrating with the ref, why is there no anger directed at him?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I'd quite like Germany to win it, I have had a soft spot for them ever since the Paul Breitner days, what a character.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

France will beat Portugal easily if past form is anything to go by (well at least France's games against Spain and Brazil).

Germany will beat Italy... although I think this one will go to penalties.

Final - Germany v France. Zidane will be going out in ultimate style, as a World Cup winner!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Each team knows who the best players are they are playing against, and if you take those players out of the team, you will have a better chance of winning. I think portugal did well to frustrate Rooney so much, but the same can not be said of the Englnd players.

I do not think that he should have been sent off, it seemed as if he was stumbling back and well - painful.

Cheating happens in every sport, its just something we have to live with and move on. I am sure the England players are as Guilty as was ronaldo.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

And if you can't deal with a player on a PLAYING level, you shouldn't be in the tournament either. I believe an awful lot of defenders are scared of Rooney, and know they can't outplay him, so they use other tactics (aside from playing proper football) to deal with him. Brilliant sportsmanship there. :rolleyes:

I have no issues with diving as such - it's the rolling around, holding your knees to your chest, crying out in agony as if you've been shot when there's **** all wrong and you're after more than a freekick for something that didn't even happen, and then when you either get your way, or realise the ref is not interested, you pop up and jog aroudn like you never went down.... And sorry, but how often did you see any of the England players do that???

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I assume you don't watch Joe Cole much?
If you watch Soccer AM's Platoon section then I'm sure you must have seen him there?


Anyway, I'm positive the Ronaldo will be at Utd next season, a man who obviously holds such power over the worlds officials will be a great asset!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I watched every minute of every game he played in the world cup. And, no, there was nothing worthy of platoon.


lol. bloody right.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Is he lying ?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Question for England fans.
Lets say you made it to the final and are about to play Germany. Do you really think, knowing what Mad Jens is like, that England wouldn't be saying lets get in his face at corners, lets wind him up and see if we can get a reaction out of him?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

have to agree with you there.. if i was the England manager or any team playing arsenal i would tell them to wind up Mad jens alot too

the thing with all the diving and cheating and rolling about stuff is that unless we get tens of thousands of fans not turning up for games then no one will do anything about it.. the World Cup makes about 1 billion pounds for FIFA so why do they care

i've seen viera do his usual diving all the time and just look at the size of him :Yikes:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

it's funny, a lot of people blame ronaldo for rooney getting sent off.

that's odd, i could've sworn it was rooney who stood on ricardo carvalho

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

We all know the influence Ronaldo has on the worlds refs. he says jump they say how high.



;)

---------- Post added at 15:13 ---------- Previous post was at 15:11 ----------

It's OK England, you are the best at something...

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Dunno about anyone else, but I hope France go on and win it now - I can't see Portugal beating them, and I think it would be a good send off for Zidane. Whether or not they'd beat Germany or Italy, I don't know, but I'd like to see them do it :)

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I'll be going for the french too. Zizu was a wonder to watch on Saturday. Can't believe he is retiring

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

It's good that he still has some of it left especially considering how he looked past it all season at Madrid.

I wonder if he might reconsider if he continues playing like that.

Henry's goal reminded of Morten Gamst Pederson's that got into the Goal of the Season competition

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

i'm thinking of getting germany's red kit with schweinsteiger on the back

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Apparently we are still paying Sven and will do up to the end of his contract in 2008, what a joke :mad:, with a bit of luck we will tell him he can't take jobs elsewhere if this is the case.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Think it sums up Sven that the person who he brought on to specifically take a pen didn't know the rules!

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

didn't know that one.. where did you read that ?

knowing our FA it seems like it is true

noticed a few people referring to Wayne, some of them England players, as Wazza.. Now i i was built like Rooney i know what i'd do if someone called me Wazza :D

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

Express

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

thanks for that.. if i don't get drowned in all the Diana stories i'll read it tonight

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

predictions for todays game?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

No idea they are all very evenly matched, I can see both games going to penalties and if that is the case it will probably end up a Germany- Portugal final

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:45 ----------

What do you think?

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

My money is on Germany. It would be better for the tournament as well imo. Germany-France sounds a better final than Italy-France.

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

well all my predictions tend to be wrong, but i think italy might win

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

I wish that ITV had a similar thing to the BBC's red button service on ntl, where you can turn off the commentators and listen to the match sound. Clive Tydlesley is doing my head in!!!

He is just talking pure cliched crap. I'd rather listen to David Pleat drone on than him.

Good timing that from the Italians...

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

i laughed at the goal, but only cos pleat said 90 minutes ago - "i wonder what odds you'll get on a fullback to score the first goal"

you see folks, this is how football should be played

right now i bet oliver kahn is thinking "i could've saved that"

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

:eek: Crikey, what a two minute spell for Italy, somehow I could see Del Piero scoring when he came on

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

To true, in many ways it was a shame that there had to be a loser, still that match deserved better than penalties, lets hope the next semi is as good :tu:

Re: World Cup 2006 Thread
 

How many different pronunciations of Camoranesi was there? Also why did we need to be told every 10 minutes that Perrotta was born in Aston-Under-Lyne?

Anyway, great game. Hopefully tomorrows will be just as good.