World Cup

[mikef]

So, Argentina, France, Poland, Portugal & Uruguay are out (several others only just made it) and Japan, Senegal, South Korea, & USA are in.

 

What has happened to these once great teams.

 

Mike F

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[I.C.@G&NFC]

Add Paraguay and Denmark to that list.

 

Glad Ferdinand was awarded the first goal, even if it was 'keeper error'. Owen's off the mark, with the first goal in free play. And, Heskey plays a lot better in an attacking game, and scores a clinical goal.

 

Any team beginning with 'B', bring 'em on. We don't care, we'll beat'em all.

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[Guest]

Are you sure? I can't see how Ferdinand can possibly be credited with that goal, he headed it across goal and the fumbling keeper, bar of soap job, inadvertantly knocked it in.

[I.C.@G&NFC]

I agree, but according to the FIFA officials in Japan, it's Rio's goal.

[boaky]

I think the way Rio has played no one would take it away from him.

[John M.(GNFC)]

I'm not trying to put the man down but a lot of the credit for Heskeys goal has to go to David Beckham, his pass was so smooth and accurate, if you see the head on shot Emil didn't even have to change pace or step, he just kept on running and hit the ball as he went through.

[jc]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Bad Billy Dobbs:

<strong>Are you sure? I can't see how Ferdinand can possibly be credited with that goal, he headed it across goal and the fumbling keeper, bar of soap job, inadvertantly knocked it in.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I agree, but you never know - Ronaldo was bizarrely given the first goal against Costa Rica even though the leading touch clearly came off the defender. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

[Guest]

Ronaldo's 'goal' against Costa Rica was a bit more debatable, I'm not trying to take anything away from Rio but to award him a goal he didn't score just coz he played well is a bit farcical.

Shame to see Ireland go out in a game they should've won (Roy Keane eat your heart out), would've been nice to see another favourite go out as well.

[Guest]

Don't think we've anything to fear from Brazil after watching todays game, Belgium were the better team throughout even after a goal by a cheat who IMHO should have been sent home for his antics, COME ON ENGLAND!

[John M.(GNFC)]

Someone else who thinks along the same lines, I think cheats at whatever level in any sport from any country should suffer the maximum possible penalty on all possible occasions. As I posted previously, Mr Collini proved that if you get rid of the sportsmanship(?) it makes most of these teams impotent, and as any viewer will testify, it doesn't detract from the general excitement of the game.

We're all very quick to use replay evidence to expose bad refereeing decisions, why not use the same evidence to expose the cheats and keep showing incidents until the authorities are shamed into action. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />

[Guest]

Quite agree John, all the worse since FIFA promised a clampdown on cheats then they get the perfect opportunity to make an example of a high profile player and they bottle it, hardly suprising that cheating continues unabated in fact it seems worse than ever in this world cup.

[Fleet_Fella]

Would agree with the sentiments regarding Rivaldo's cheating, and his goal was deflected. I see no reason for the assembled England players and staff to have huge concerns about the Brazilians.

 

To me the biggest hurdle will be the early kick off again. I thought Belgium defended well, and given the fact that our defenders should be superior to their's we should be OK.

 

Also, the brazilian defending was very suspect. I fancy Owen to get a couple against them - pull away from the middle of the back three, and he will have bags of space.

 

Don't forget, Belgium had a perfectly good goal ruled out ten mins before half time - how would the game have panned out had that been allowed to stand. 2-0 flattered Brazil - one deflected goal and another on the break when Belgium had committed everyone forward in search of the equalizer!

 

I believe we can do it.

 

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Long, boring post is now finished!!!

[I.C.@G&NFC]

Thought Belgium had an outstanding game, considering they're renowned as one of the most boring teams in international football.

 

They took the game to the Brazilians and held them for nearly 70 minutes and should of gone ahead. 'Big Ron' got it wrong, no matter what angle you saw it from that was never a foul. Did the linesman flag first or the referee blow his whistle?

 

Brazil are good, but their not special. Our finishing is better than Belgiums. So, if we can do to them what we did to Denmark, I'd be curious to see if they can come back from behind. They've only trailed once in this competition and that was by a single goal to Turkey, and within 5 minutes they were level. If we could get two or even three goals clear at half time, they'd have a mountain to climb.

 

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[Guest]

Two or three up at half time might be a bit much to hope for, then again never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd be 3-0 up against Denmark at half time, and I agree about the 'goal' the Belgians scored, I couldn't see anything wrong with it.

I certainly think Brazil should be more worried about us than we are about them, I spoke to some Frenchmen who were worried about the possibility of facing England in the knock out stages though unfortunatly for them they didn't get that far!