World Cup 2014

[oldbluefox]

'Bangers and Mash tonight, Luis?'
'No, I think I'll have an Italian!'

[Not so ancient mariner]

'Bangers and Mash tonight, Luis?'
'No, I think I'll have an Italian!'

He can't even claim it was a case of love at first bite: - it's (at least) his 3rd one!!

[Delboy]

No-one seems to be offering Suarez a shoulder to cry on.

[david63]

No-one seems to be offering Suarez a shoulder to cry on.

... or even to bite on

[Delboy]

[Ray Scully]

[ Image ]

[oldbluefox]

I'm impressed Delboy. Nice one!!!

[towny44]

Maybe FIFA shouild have banned Suarez from the entire tournament and expunged his goals, if so England would have qualified instead. Obviously Greg Dyke did not offer Blatter a big enough bribe.

[oldbluefox]

Great match Brazil vs Chile. I watched until shortly after the second half began before we went out but what an exciting match. England vs Brazil/Chile = carthorses vs thoroughbreds. I think we need to re-think the way our national team develops and plays if we are to compete. They were technically and tactically superior.
Every time England fail we hear the 'lessons have been learnt' routine. We have been saying that since the late 60's. Meanwhile the likes of Brazil, Spain (until this year), Holland, Germany & Co are always there or thereabouts.

Uruguay are out of it though. Oh dear!!!

[david63]

As you well know OBF it is one thing to learn the lessons but a totally different matter to put what you have learnt into practice.

[Manoverboard]

Brazil vs Chile was the first match that I have seen thus far ... a superb game which could have gone either way.

[gfwgfw]

How good are some of the "lesser" countries ?

[oldbluefox]

Perhaps England could 'learn a lesson or two' from Costa Rica in penalty taking. Some of their penalties were virtually unstoppable.

Meanwhile Robben got himself a controversial penalty to put Holland through. A silly tackle by the defender but I think Robben fooled the ref on this one.

[Jan Rosser]

Perhaps England could 'learn a lesson or two' from Costa Rica in penalty taking. Some of their penalties were virtually unstoppable.

Meanwhile Robben got himself a controversial penalty to put Holland through. A silly tackle by the defender but I think Robben fooled the ref on this one.

I was travelling through Schipol airport last night when the match was on - it was unbelievable the KLM staff were worse than the passengers - shouting and screaming The football supplement in the Times today called Robben the "Flying Dutchman"

[Dark Knight]

has it not finished yet?
talk about flogging a dead equine

[Ray Scully]

I was travelling through Schipol airport last night when the match was on - it was unbelievable the KLM staff were worse than the passengers - shouting and screaming The football supplement in the Times today called Robben the "Flying Dutchman"

Typo Jan !!! "Lying Dutchman"

[Onelife]

Robben has perfected the art of diving but then he's had plenty of practice when you consider how many times he gets knobled during most of the games he plays. I'm not condoning his theatrical performaces but he should have been awarded a penalty earlier in the match so it was a case of two wrongs did make it right in the end.....although l do admit to having a tenner on Holland which may have influenced my sence of fairness somewhat.


Come on Holland

[oldbluefox]

Robben is such a good player he doesn't need to dive and roll about as if he has just been poleaxed. Like many talented players their diving around takes away from what brilliant players they are. I feel sure referees would be more inclined to award a penalty if players did not try to con them so much. The likes of Suarez, Ronaldo and Robben do not need to cheat.

I'm impressed with Algeria this evening. They're giving Germany a really good run for their money. Germany are looking decidedly unsettled at the back.

[towny44]

Huddersfield Town used to have a forward called Albert Nightingale, way before my time, but legend has it that he could be fouled in the centre circle and not fall until he was inside the penalty area. So obviously diving has always been prevalent in our beautiful game.

[Onelife]

Hi OBF,

I wouldn't disagree with anything you have said it dose however raise an intresting question about how defenders will react when Robben is anywhere within their penalty box....it must leave them feeling a little apprhensive knowing he's such a talented player but also a talented actor...a very dangerous combination for an overzealous defender.

Brilliant game tonight, could have gone either way.....but as always Germany do what they do best and win again. One things for sure Algeria can walk away from this game with their heads held high

Regards

Keith

[oldbluefox]

People like Robben must be a b***dy nightmare for defenders because you only have to blow on them and down they go. You are right Onelife. Defenders will feel between a rock and a hard place because unless their tackles are clean there will always be the prospect of a penalty being awarded.

Do you remember Paul Dickov, now managing Doncaster? As a centre half I would have hated playing against him as he used to lean on the CH and then roll off them for the through ball. Stick a leg out and it was a penalty, leave it and he was away. What a nightmare!! When we bought David Speedie many fans wore 5.9 on their shirts, a reference to Speedie's alleged diving in the 1992 Play Of Final when playing for Blackburn. Towny is right. It is nothing new.

What a great game it was last night. As usual, Germany were able to get the right result despite not playing particularly well but they were playing against a very spirited Algeria who gave everything. It made for a fascinating encounter.

Must go and sit in the shade - I'm agreeing with everybody now!!!

[barney]

The worst I've personally seen was Ashley Young of Man Utd but when he was a Villa player

A cup tie at Priestfield and our poor old Mr Young had serious problems with the Gravity in the Medway Towns

I've never in my life seen a guy go down so easily and so often.
And yes, you guessed it, he 'won' a penalty which decided the game.

Ref DICKOV. boy do I remember him.
Play off final between Mighty Gillingham and poor little Man City for a place in the Championship.
Gills 2-0 up with one minute to go. 2-1 up at 96 minutes and who pops up to equalise?
Bl***dy Dickov.
Gills lose on penalties

The rest is history and little Man City are now Prem Champions

[oldbluefox]

I think we bought Dickov just to stop him scoring against us. Hated him when he played against us, loved him when playing for us.

Has anybody noticed how many of the World Cup players seem to be on Chelski's books? How many players do they have? It seems that almost all of the lesser teams have Chelsea players who have been loaned out for the past season or two to other clubs.

[Romig1]

So, Argentina leave it late, yet again, to squeak a win. They still almost conceded an equaliser late into stoppage time of extra time!

What has struck me in this World Cup is the number of times we have seen the crossbar hit (especially in the opening round). I also heard yesterday that this World Cup has already reached the TOTAL number of goals seen in the last turgid affair - and we're still only in the second round!

[Quizzical Bob]

So, Argentina leave it late, yet again, to squeak a win. They still almost conceded an equaliser late into stoppage time of extra time!

What has struck me in this World Cup is the number of times we have seen the crossbar hit (especially in the opening round). I also heard yesterday that this World Cup has already reached the TOTAL number of goals seen in the last turgid affair - and we're still only in the second round!

Better ball, innit.