Skip to main content

Day 3 thoughts

Not much time here so we're going to have to go with a quick fire round today:
  • Continued my poor run of watching the 7:30am games. Best decision EVER. sounds like a stinker of a game, but a potentially horrible result.... last game frustration as the Slovenians park the bus awaits!
  • Algeria game on Friday promises to be a goalkeeping masterclass.... could be a basketball score...
  • Looks like Ghana for 2nd in Group B, were not spectacular but thought they played well enough sans Essien.
  • Serbia's Nikola Zigic - oh dear. Looks like the love child of Gareth Barry and Peter Crouch, and plays like the latter. Great defensive clearance when it seemed easier to score... Somebody get Alex McLeish a stiff drink
  • Well crap. We just saw the best team in the tournament and its the Germans....

Birchy, I wish I could report more on the reaction of the locals to the 1-1 draw, but I have been confined to the house. Mr Lalas was suitably pleased though, and I have seen many facebook posts about a dodgy goaltender... but that is all for now (probably for the best I am off work right now)

Shock of the Day: Looks like the guy who can't play kick about with his 5 yr old son as his knees are too fooked but can play in a World Cup finals, errr, actually can't. Does anyone else think that Fabio should never ever play poker with 'Arry Redknapp... EVER.

Prediction of the Day: This may be stretching it, but we weren't horrible yesterday, and I think when Barry slots in, we may fall upon our best XI & formation and I expect us to get better as the tournament goes on. I do have no clue who to play centre half though - the lack of pace is frightening

Dutch tomorrow - looking forward to that, the Germans have set the standard now....

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Money and mouth

Rising to stevey's challenge here are my quarter final tips. My money has also been placed where my mouth is, so I could be a bit poorer by Saturday night. Holland v Brazil: I predict and upset, Holland to go through thanks to Sneijder's magnificence. Uruguay v Ghana: I think Ghana look Strong. Athletic. Talented. Hungry. That's enough buzzwords to guarantee a win. Spain v Paraguay: nearest thing that there could ever be to a "by" to the next round. Spain. So easy that even Torres might score. Germany v Argentina: Shock horror, this will see all four South American teams crashing out. Germany, with Deutsche Bundesbahn style efficiency will make England fans feel that little bit better by defeating Argentina.

Arriving late at the far post...........

Well, out from behind a rock I come. Like Batman responding to the spotlight over Gotham, the sight of Alexi Lalas relaxing on ESPN's swanky new World Cup set spouting 'knowledge' of the beautiful game immediately triggered me into action. A personal excitement for me is the returning punditry on this side of the pond of one Roberto Martinez. 4 years ago, I listened to this polite young man with light enthusiasm....now I find myself hanging onto every word from Bobby Brown Shoes. A supremely classy guy, just hoping for the "and Neymar is close to signing, which is phenonemal (Bobby's most used word - quite impressive for a Spanish native) " Sooo, what have I missed so far (Brazil own goal aside).... - Roy Hodgson in old man sunglasses - An amazing lack of planning from team England organizing a friendly in Florida at 5pm in June and being surprised as a thunderstorm - Scapegoating of a key England player (Rooney) before a ball is kicked in anger - Overplay...

Stunning games and goals

Last night's games really lived up to their billing. Brazil and Chile was a great game - both teams going at it, the threat of goals ever-present and the threat of red cards also seemingly high. Chile looked the better team on balance, but the home advantage seemed to lift Brazil and they always carried a threat. The theme of course; one which is endemic across the tournament, is that neither defence looked very strong. In the end, the width of the post denied Chile in the shoot-out, as had the crossbar in the final minute of extra time. A really crappy way to go out of the tournament, but they can be proud of their efforts. Few will be disappointed to see Brazil still in the tournament, as things always go a bit flat once the hosts bow out. I'll also enjoy those anthems carrying on. If anything sums up England's utter failure in big competitions of late, it is the passionless mumblings we do in the anthems, which sets the tone for the game afterwards. The second game o...