Pheeeew!!! It's over and we have a few days rest before the next session: England passed the test in 'los octavos de final' to reach the quarter finals; yet again England reach the last eight (ocho). I really though when Michael Owen went out we would be lost but Rooney proved that he can play; he certainly has the passionate, warrior spirit epitomised in the Nike ad, covered by Gavin Corder and others.Once again the other Owen in der Nationalmannschaft played a vital role but should learn to fall down injured on the pitch next time!...nice effort trying to get him back on the pitch though! :-) I think there are too many doubts that really will not do against stronger (European, in the next round...Portugal; see edit below) opposition. Beckham after a great goal and several crucial defending tackles is sick, repeatedly, on the pitch...Sven sees this and does nothing for over 20 minutes! The feeling, or part of it, is summed up nicely by el gato enterrado whom tells us: "Sin embargo, ni siquiera la cerveza ha de nublar la vista a los 'hooligans', que deben sentirse más que escépticos ante el futuro. Fundamentalemente porque su entrenador ya ha dado sobradas muestras de no estar a la altura."...which translated means more or less:
"However, not even the beer can cloud the vision of the hooligans [thanks!!], who should feel more than sceptical about the future; fundamentally because the coach [Sven] has given ample proof that he is not good enough/ out of his depth/ can't cope at this level."
Thanks also to Six Years Late who, from his post on June 15th, led me to Owen Hargreave's blog (ahem) maybe not...but he sounds Canadian with good use of English expletives. I was getting increasingly nervous as the game went on...why don't these people realise that one goal just isn't enough to justify sitting back to soak up pressure; another bugbear with Sven, with Owen gone doesn't he think Walcott, who was 25% of our striker force and is now 33% of it, deserves to come on if only for a few minutes?...am I wrong about this ...if Sven doesn't play him, even to get a bit of match experience in minute 89, WHY did he take him in the squad in the first place!!! Don't get me wrong: I WANT him to come on...he could do a Pele on us. "In 1958, he played in his first FIFA World Cup™ at the tender age of 17. The world was amazed as this slight teenager emerged from nowhere to light up the tournament with his dazzling skills"...but at least let him play. Saying the games are too important is no excuse because now all games are 'to the death'...so before they were???..and you didn't play him because??? RANT over.
Ows edit, Sunday 25th June, 23:15 pm: England will meet Portugal who reached the quarter finals after beating Holland in a card-fest reminiscent of the Italy v USA game; tonight both teams finished the game with nine men in a game that equalled the World Cup record for bookings (16 ) and broke the record for red cards (new record = 4!!).
My apologies to those who have had enough football to last a few years...but now it get's to the hurdle that England usually falls at...
S.O.
17 comments:
I have no doubts that England will win. 1-0 is always good enough for me. I trust we can repeat that for the next three games.
Hi Finny, I admire your faith...mine was more hope...and we accept any charity! :-)
I really hope we can, we can certainly win the 1/4 against either Portugal or Holland IF...IF we start to be a bit sharper...then it would be Brazil or Spain in the semi by my reckoning...off out for 2nd half of Dutch/Port game...I neede a break after the England game...although here I am blogging!
All the best - S.O.
You read it here first: England WILL beat Portugal next Saturday.
I just feel that very strongly - the team will improve; there's a certain grudge over 2004; Portugal have two (hopefully three - bloody, dirty Figo) players out.
I will bet my house on a totally different England performance on Sat.
Nice goal from Beckham, to put him in the record books. I do wonder if he wanted to stay on, knowing his devotion, hence Sven leaving him there?
Portugal next - Hmmmmm! rotten cheating scoundrels, 2004 mutter mutter humbug.....
Pay back time.
That's what my OH kept saying every 5 mins Span " Why did they bring that 17 year old if they're not going to play him"
Can't see us getting any further than beating Portugal.
I'm glad we're all 'of a mind' re Portugal - doh! there goes the Portuguese readership!...hey, don't laugh, there's at least one!
...anyway, yesterday I thought Holland deserved to win and I also back the ref - all those reds and yellows were deserved...(especially Deco who shoukld have got staright red before)...in 2004 Rooney was our best player and after getting injured and his boot ripped off (and having the foul given AGAINST him) England went downhill...revenge is nigh!
Sorry curmy, we must have posted at the same time as I didn't see your comment just now.
Basically if he doesn't play it's a complete waste of a 'spot' in the squad - Sven is getting REALLY panned in the press here so I assume it's the same/ worse everywhere else. Compared the 'German revolution' with Klinsmann as being a super modern new high speed train compared to Sven's lagging steam train.
Span, Sven is getting a terrible press in England. In the papers and all the other media.
I think the man's had a charisma by-pass.
Bloody, cheating Italian bar stewards - grrrrrr.
grrrrrr indeed Sarnia! Injury time penalty!...
This post WAS NOT here this morning...
Span, my man.
I reckon Arsene Wenger has some pictures of Sven with another woman and told him he had to take Theo or else.
Bit cruel on Mr Viagra comparing Walcott's potential with him, Pele had already been a star at Santos for over a year and Maradona was in Argentina's pre 1978 squad, eight years before his big impact.
I'm sure Theo Walcott will be good, alternatively he could be another Wayne Harrison.
// I am inscensed!//
LOL Gavin! Not only do you want to brew your own booze you are also some sort of fragrant furious footie fellow!
I agree with you about the standard of refereeing - it's abysmal. I suppose it's their World Cup too and they're trying to please their masters at FIFA.
Blimey - what a snooze fest tonight's game was though. I was hoping Switzerland would go through and then tonk the Italians.
Have this horrible feeling that the Germans will beat Argentina (they always do well when they're crap plus home advantage etc).
Spance v Frain should be good!
Gavin..WTF...NONE of your posts were here until NOW...or at least this evening...????!!!!! Anyway, I think the ref had been smoking incense or something equally brain damaging...does anyone IN THE LAST MILLION YEARS think that penalty would have been given if it was at the other end? [children look away now]
FUCKINGWANKYSHITTURDYDICKCUNTFUCKS!
...said Alice
Paul..I meant his age more than anything...if he has 10% (IF he plays!)of the impact Pele had then were onto something!...those photos...Sven with a bloke (or an animal...or Arsene!)...he clearly doesn't care what women he's seen with!
Sarnia...Ghazil could spring a surprise on Brana...I may have to skip work!
Come on Ghazil!
I know that Ronaldinio is a great player etc etc but every time I see him it reminds me of the 2-1 defeat (sob) against Barca at Stamford Bridge last Feb (I was there) and I just HATE him.
That penalty (this afternoon) was a joke. Although I've always had quite a thing about Totti (sp?) I was really hoping he'd miss.
It's such a shame as the Aussies played very well and didn't deserve to go out like that.
YOUR post not mine Span!
A "fragrant furious footie fellow"? Sarnia you say the nicest things.
I know I do, Gavin - AND in alliteration too!
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