The Football Chat

[Daniel]

Not a great show tonight. Dissapointing to say the least.

 

We have got to do better and win against Slovenia, not winning is not an option anymore.

[-Craig-]

I have to agree that England sucked tonight as timelord81r said they were a **** disgrace

 

Really it was a good job they were not playing against a side such as Brazil or Argentina as they would have just pounded them for sure the way England were playing

 

have to say I was dissapointed with the usa game too they scored within 6 minutes of starting and then they still could not win when really they should have been able to beat them!

[timelord81r]

luckily for us usa were cheated out of a victory.

 

we will win 2-0 on wed but unconvincingly, maybe fluke our way to the quarters but unless capelo grows some balls and changes things and the players pull there fingers out we wont get near the final, we are performing very bad. so bad I even miss sven, but at least its not as bad as the mclaren era lol

 

if you cant get 7 - 9 points form a group with usa, algeria and slovinia, then you dont deserve to win the world cup, its not like we are playing well but not getting results, we are showing no sign of anything, poor performances and results,

 

I do wonder though, that green mistake, maybe it did more harm than just loosing 2 points, maybe it really dented the players? i dont know. all i know if Joe cole must start and if capelo doesnt go with roony gerrard up front then dafoe must start wit roony! and if roony doesnt perform again, will capelo sub him? he should but I doubt it

[Queen_Sindel]

So, where is Franz Beckenbauer when you need him?

 

Not so lippy now is he?

 

I didn't see Beckenbauer on TV once after the game.

Still waiting for boyfriend to come back with the newspapers.

 

You had Juergen Klopp (not sure if you know him, another German coach and TV "Specialist" along with Klinsmann for a cable station) commenting with Guenther Jauch (moderator of our version of "who wants to be a millionaire?") about the England match last night.

 

It was freaking ridiculous. Jauch was ranting about England being "upset by an underdog", and that for several minutes. I kept thinking: "Hello? At least they managed a draw. We lost against freaking Serbia! Did you actually see that match?"

 

At least Klopp seemed to realize what was happening and tried to steer Jauch away from the subject. *shakes head*

 

I think that those teams doing well in the openers need to stop thinking that it is going to be a breeze.

 

That's one of the major mistakes German media, most fans and a lot of people involved with football make. And I just hate it. Happens each and every Euro or World Cup. I wish they'd eventually learn.

 

Of course now it's all the referee's fault. How hard is it to pick up that the guy likes his yellow cards and act accordingly? Klose could have got that red card way earlier than he actually did.

Edited June 19, 2010 by Queen_Sindel

[DIDS]

I am still in a daze from watching England play last night.

That was total rubbish a complete disgrace.

[Count Fooku]

Last night actually made me yearn for the days of Erikkson!

 

I think that was the worst performance I can remember seeing by an England team for a long long term, maybe some of those at Euro 88 were worse but that was not anywhere near good enough.

[DavidB]

I hope the 'bore the opposition into submission' approach doesn't last

[Lambourne]

I know almost nothing about football, but I do know what I saw last night was pure sh*t! The only time I have any interest in football is during the World Cup.

[XLcatloveress]

 

I think that those teams doing well in the openers need to stop thinking that it is going to be a breeze.

 

That's one of the major mistakes German media, most fans and a lot of people involved with football make. And I just hate it. Happens each and every Euro or World Cup. I wish they'd eventually learn.

 

Of course now it's all the referee's fault. How hard is it to pick up that the guy likes his yellow cards and act accordingly? Klose could have got that red card way earlier than he actually did.

 

Totally agreed on both counts! First off, just because the German team managed to win over Australia (in a game that, honestly, could have ended with 2 goals for Australia all the same and as such, wasn't nearly as clear a trounce as was the first game the Germans won in 2006!) doesn't mean they were playing good soccer, necessarily. To have them hailed as great team after just that match? Plain wrong.

 

And Klose .. when he got the yellow-red, all of us in front of the TV were like 'are you STUPID? Why go and commit any other foul play after you've had more than half an hour to friggin' SEE how easily the ref pulls his cards?' What kind of clue did he need to convince him to hold the frick back?! I mean, I agree it was ridiculous how easily yellow was shown in this game but COME ON! The guy was persistent! It wasn't like he was randomly doling out yellows here and there, no, he very clearly showed the line he was going to call, and stuck with it. A player like Klose should have been able to engage his brain and held his horses somewhat. Stupid, stupid, costly mistake.

 

Oh, and the penalty shot? *sighs and shakes head* Podolski? Really? After he had been taking potshots at the goal and MISSING for about 15 minutes straight before that? How did he think THAT was a good idea? *grumbles*

 

/end fan girl rant

[Daniel]

Anyways moving on from last night

 

Netherlands played well against Japan, they look like they are hitting form. I think Japan could still go through if they get something against Denmark.

 

Australia have just gone 1-0 up against Ghana. If Australia do win today all teams in Group D will have 3 points. That'll set up an interesting last two matches .

[DavidB]

I thought Netherlands were pretty underwhelming again to be honest. Only just deserved the win, as they were kept out completely for most of the match.

 

They're winning but certainly not convincingly. I'd say they need to take it up a gear, but so do the majority of the other teams in the cup.

 

Australia are having an interesting match now though ..

[svenntroll]

I thought the Netherlands played far from well.. but hey it's 3 points again. I hope it will go better once Robben can play. I don't think he will play the next match as the risk is too high. But they have to start a lot better to have any change.. And the orange streets everywhere are too nice to lose after four matches

[DavidB]

Surprisingly entertaining match in the end from Ghana/Australia. I must admit it was 3rd in my priority list of matches to watch today, but as I had nothing better to do I watched anyway

 

At least it wasn't boring, which you can't say for many matches so far in this Cup.

[Daniel]

It was a good match, Group D is pretty open now (I hope Ghana win next week )

[BACYLON]

Denmark v Cameron was very good, OK so the defending was a bit poor at times and loads of mistakes but it made for a great entertaining end to end game.

 

With Cameroon out, the Denmark v Japan game is effectively a cup match, winner takes all!

[Daniel]

Denmark v Cameron was very good, OK so the defending was a bit poor at times and loads of mistakes but it made for a great entertaining end to end game.

 

With Cameroon out, the Denmark v Japan game is effectively a cup match, winner takes all!

Very true. Shame about Cameroon going out, always liked watching them.

 

Think it dates back to 1990 and Roger Milla

[Will Jones]

So, France, Spain and Germany lose - BAD TIMES.

 

England draw with Algeria and the USA. - BAD TIMES.

 

Italy - YES, your current WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! - draw with New Zealand - hilarious times.

 

And France are in a complete mess as they refuse to train following the dismissal of Anelka from the squad.

[Daniel]

I'm still in shock over that Italy result. That 0-0 against Algeria doesn't seem so bad now

[Scruffy]

So, France, Spain and Germany lose - BAD TIMES.

 

England draw with Algeria and the USA. - BAD TIMES.

 

Italy - YES, your current WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! - draw with New Zealand - hilarious times.

 

And France are in a complete mess as they refuse to train following the dismissal of Anelka from the squad.

 

 

Yep the most exciting world cup ever , you never know what will happen

[BACYLON]

Thought the ref in the Brazil v Ivory Coast game was totally kaka!

 

Still I don't think the Brazilians can complain about play acting getting him sent off, they were doing it all night as well.

[Daniel]

It was a good game Brazil v Ivory Coast.

 

I do hope there is something Brazil can do about Kaka's red card, it was really bad the play acting and I think it goes against FIFA's fair play policy if the red card isn't disgarded .

[Queen_Sindel]

He did hit the guy. But it wasn't nearly as bad as the acting made it look like. I'd be surprised if anything can be done about that card.

[KEVRAIL]

Fifa could stamp out this nonsense with the use of technology but they have their heads in the sand!

 

It encourages deceit and the use of foul play to gain an advantage.

 

 

Elsewhere, why is John Terry leading team meetings?

 

He's not the captain (and with good reason)

 

having staged a sucessful coup at Chelsea to bring down Scolari he is now trying the same rubbish in the England camp.

 

This is the last thing we need unless we want to end up like the French!

Edited June 20, 2010 by IG69

[TommyT]

Fifa could stamp out this nonsense with the use of technology but they have their heads in the sand!

It encourages deceit and the use of foul play to gain an advantage.

The FIFA line is that all football has to be the same for everyone; since a team a couple of levels below the Blue Square Premier League (let alone somwhere in say the equivalent league in Cameroon) couldn't afford to have the requisite number of cameras to provide the necessary replays, then nobody can. There's a certain amount of keeping it "the same game for everybody" that is admirable, but I'm sure FIFA aren't entirely consistent with this line - I'm pretty sure not every game has 4th and 5th officials, for example. It does also leave the sport open to ridicule if you're going to operate on such a "lowest common denominator" principle. And not every game is the same, anyway; FIFA can waffle on about making all games equal, but games on the seventh level of the league pyramid do not have millions or tens of millions of pounds depending on them like leading club matches and international championship games (whilst England wouldn't win anything except a jolly nice trophy and some bragging rights if they won the World Cup, you can bet the FA and individual players would make very significant money from endorsements and selling "World Cup Winners 2010" clobber etc).

I think FIFA should take some guidance from rugby union, who have done a pretty good job of integrating the use of technology at higher levels of the game without the grass roots of the game collapsing in any ensuing turmoil. (They could also take a tip from rugby union where the ref clearly explains what offence he is blowing for - at least then we might know what was up with the USA's 3rd goal!)

Elsewhere, why is John Terry leading team meetings?

Who said he is? I think your question is "Why did the Football Association choose to put forward John Terry at a press conference?" He didn't turn up in front of the cameras unannounced and unapproved.

He's not the captain (and with good reason)

I'm not here to defend infidelity, or indeed anything else John Terry does off the pitch, but I thought he did a pretty decent job of defending Capello, especially considering Capello sacked him as captain (after what I still think was more media hysteria than anything else). And maybe it is just coincidence that we haven't been anything like as good since Terry was sacked.

having staged a sucessful coup at Chelsea to bring down Scolari he is now trying the same rubbish in the England camp.

And your proof for

(i) him staging a coup at Chelsea; and

(ii) him trying to stage a coup in the current England camp

would be what?

Incidentally, you'll note that Scolari wasn't exactly a runaway success at Bunyodkor, his post-Chelsea job, either, leaving after less than a year by "mutual consent" (i.e they agreed to sack him and he agreed to go). Perhaps you can tell us how John Terry was responsible for that too?

[Count Fooku]

We're into smoke and mirrors territory here with the England press conference, but a lot of the press seem to be reporting today that the rest of the players were quite unhappy that John Terry went into the level of detail that he did.

 

Based on the reports they were unhappy that he talked about what was going to be discussed in the team meeting as many of them felt this was better discussed behind closed doors.

 

This does have a ring of truth to it, after all if anybody should have been there speaking on behalf of the whole squad, then surely it should have been Steven Gerrard as captain. I know Gerrard doesn't have a reputation for being a natural at press confrences and with the media in general but I can't see him shying away from something like that if something really needed saying in public. After all its not like he's been any stranger to tough press confrences concerning internal strife at Liverpool over the last few years.

 

There are also some reports that Terry didn't say a word during the meeting itself, which would seem strange given how vocal he was at the press conference.

 

I just hope that if the press reports are true that the wheels haven't finally come off England's world cup bid just for the sake of a 'look at me' moment.