*cries*

There always seems to be bad calls on the international level, but this year seems particularly bad. Yesterday's non-goal was inexcusable, especially given the coverage of poor officiating in the group rounds. Germany outplayed England, but that's not the point.

So, at this point is anyone posting with a team still in play? Spain or the Netherlands perhaps?

Germany finally got their revenge from the 1966 world cup Hurts goal.

Maboul59, on 28 June 2010 - 10:00 AM, said:

A lot of people are saying this. It doesn't make it right.

Seriously...1966? People were watching on small black and white TVs (assuming they had their own). In modern times we can watch in high def on 46 inch panel or even from our phones. Times have changed. There is no excuse for this in 2010.

The videos can't be used by the refs.

iguanapunk, on 28 June 2010 - 08:00 PM, said:

"dick chaney version of creativity" - john cleese for president.

Whats the difference between a teabag and england?
The teabag stays longer in the cup!

ThePumisher, on 30 June 2010 - 11:55 PM, said:

I'd like to lol at that joke but I'm french so I'd better not...

What's the difference between France and... Oh wait, too late, they're already out.

Robert Green trained for three hours, had 4000 shots fired at him and did not concede a single goal. Next time, him and Emile Heskey will train with the rest of the squad.

Very funny website - www.legofussball.eu.

All of England's games are there (the lego men probably could've defended better than us in the Germany game). Funniest one is probably this one: http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded

Surely its Brazil to win this WC?Maybe dont have the style of the glory years but football has changed and Brazil have improved in the area that usually let them down,defence.
When will English media realise that the Premiership is only the top league in Europe (actually is it,there's more skill on display in La Liga if you ask me)because of all the foreign imports.i.e. The Premiership does not = the English National side.Apart from the obvious Heskey,Green criticisms I had to laugh at the "will Gareth Barry be fit for the Algeria game,he's so vital" Gareth Barry?Give me a break.If he's vital to the England team then that says it all.The bottom line though is that England have won the WC once, on home soil, in 1966.Thats 44 years ago.There's a reason for that.
As for the French, well what can you say.I dont think I've ever seen a shower of spoiled brats as bad.Ironic considering the way they qualified that once they get there it looks to the world that they couldnt care less and indeed didnt even WANT to be there.Staggering.As for Italy, a bit like England, their national team suffers because of the amount of foreigners playing in Serie A.Take them out of the equation and you're not left with much.Yes they won it in 2006 but since then the decline has been astonishing.Look at some of the gates they get at Serie A matches.
The Germans are great.Always there,always competing,always with good football.The game with Argentina is too close to call.
The USA did great,punched above their weight really.And I know there was more interest in the SACCER this time Stateside but really that old quote comes to mind still, "Soccer is the game of the future in America.And always will be"

Sorry for the home truths guys.But at least YOUS all qualified!

Argentina vs Germany can only be a great match.

BUFFETT, on 01 July 2010 - 04:04 PM, said:

I agree and I actually think Fabio Capello should stay on as England manager. I think there are problems with the English game, like you say it's exciting because of mainly foreign players, we really need to improve the youth set up here so more English players are playing in the Premier League. There are some good policies in mainland Europe being talked about by the papers (when they're talking sensibly about England's World Cup campaign) which benefit national teams there, the FA needs to implement at least some of them. Unfortunately then there's the risk of upsetting the money-obsessed people who run the Premier League so it depends if the FA is prepared to do this. If not the FA will probably take the easy option, do as the media demands and sack Capello and appoint an English manager (which apparently will solve all our problems).

I think the World Cup is difficult to call now, I would say Argentina, Brazil or Germany will win it. Spain are also a very good team but only David Villa seems to be scoring for them!

I enjoyed the USA v Ghana game, Ghana looked the better side but you could never write the spirited Americans off. They also have a manager who is not afraid to change things during the game if things are not going well, often to superb effect although in hindsight not enough in that game. Great to see Ghana go through, will be interesting to see how they get on vs the Uruguayans.

BUFFETT, on 01 July 2010 - 04:04 PM, said:

Scottish people have been quick to take the piss out of England this week, but it must be hard for them when they haven't qualified for anything for 12 years.

(and no I don't think you're taking the piss BUFFETT, just passing comment )

mcmarsh, on 01 July 2010 - 06:46 PM, said:

No not taking the piss at all, just saying it as I see it.The Premiership is huge here in Ireland and much loved.As you say McMarsh quite often decision making is done at the FA purley for financial reasons and not for what might actually benefit and move on the English game.I think the only reason Capello should go would be if it was revealed that something went on in the camp that he was to blame for that caused Rooney to be unrecognizable on every level as a player,for Heskey never being able to score,for Green getting butter fingers,for Terry and Upson playing like schoolboys v Germany,for Barry being just a very average player, will I go on?
The only thing he didnt do which he could have done for me anyway was give Crouch more game time.He has a fantastic goalscoring record at international level,unlike say,Heskey,who he brought on inexplicably.

BUFFETT, on 01 July 2010 - 10:04 AM, said:

You know, I don't like calling it "soccer" but that's how it's identified here. Nothing us fans can do. I rarely use the word with international fans. My fiance and I call it futbol (with a spanish accent) around the house, but its more of an in-joke than anything else. Don't get me wrong, I also love American football, but that sport is poorly named.

One more thing about the "future" sport. We've now had a solid thirty years of kids playing little league and growing up with the game. I'm not expecting an overnight change, but I do think its popularity will remain on the rise. I'm sure it will hit its peak once our national team is able to seriously compete. It shouldn't be that way, but sadly that's just the mentality in these parts. Not all of us are apes...but...okay, yeah, a lot of us are.

mcmarsh, on 01 July 2010 - 12:40 PM, said:

Yeah, our boys never looked deflated, but they put themselves behind early one too many times. Meanwhile, Ghana played with heart every minute of the game and deserved the win. As far as the manager goes, I agree that Bradley made several smart, bold moves, but he did cost us an early sub with a poor starting choice against Ghana. It happens.

I'd love to root for an underdog, but my gut tells me Brazil is going to add another to their collection.

mcmarsh, on 01 July 2010 - 06:46 PM, said:

Yep, it's shite - we had a good run between 74 and 98. However, we've had for many years the same problem with our game that it's only now dawning on the English that they have. There's not the same amount of kids playing football - not just on football pitches, or parks, but street football - all you needed was a ball, and you could always get a game. That way you can get generations of youngsters that learn basic skills and control. (And you can also blame Thatcher for forcing councils to sell off so many parks and sports fields in the 80's. Always good to blame her!) And then when they get a bit older, we play them on full size pitches when they're not ready, so the only game we really know is kick and run. Not so in the likes of Holland and Germany, where in academies they play on sensible pitches and continue to teach them skills - and how to play as a team.

Anyway, enough of the serious shit, back to laughing at England, our national sport!