Well they're fixing that by going to 24 teams.

I dunno.

Muller played against some pretty good international opposition.
Brazil a side containing Tostao, Pele, Carlos Alberto. Holland and their total football. England with Moore, Charlton (Jack).

And remember Muller retired early too (he was a pisshead).

Nah. Was in the squad for experience only. And he was Ronaldinho back then iirc.

Muller was a quality hatcher. His style wouldn't be tolerated by modern teams and defences.

As you all know, I am Ghanian by birth and parents, Soccer is the only sport where I sport Ghana over the US. Saying such, I find this attitude regarding the world cup very infuriating. This narrow minded selfishness is also prevalent in rugby and why it is tough for the minnows of rugby to ever get better. Go play by yourselves and when you get better you can play us. It is akin to the young grad who won't get hired because he doesn't have any experience but no one will hire him and give him experience.

Ghana got screwed out of the World Cup consistently because there was only room for two African teams, then it went to three, it was not until it went to four teams that Ghana got a chance and considering in our two appearances we made the Quarters and were a missed pen away from Semis, I believe expansion has been the best thing.Ghana could beat at least half the teams in this comp. It is the typical European haves vs every have-not that think the world cup should be shrunk. Remember it wasn't until it went to 3 African teams that Cameroon made the world take note. It is disgusting to me that the Europeans with over a 100 year start in nationhood with the economy, stability then complain about poor nations trying to compete. For a Nation like Ghana we don't get a chance to say we are better than any European country in anything, Football is all we get and we cherish it. But no lets not let these African teams into the party.

You are all selfish Cunts for thinking they should shrink the world cup, 16-18 out of 32 teams is not enough for you guys. If they shrink then it should be Europe they shrink and make it an even amount all around!!

We have been making the same sort of argument re the 3N for years in terms of quality of matches.

That's quaint.

disappointed that Setanta were given the television rights...

guess they dont want the rest of the world to see this tournament..

How they are going to work out the qualifying structure for it? In reality teams like Faroe Islands, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein shouldn't really feature in the qualifying rounds. Maybe they should create a comp for them and the winner goes through to the qualifiers. Give one team a chance to go through rather than throwing them all in to be humped. They aren't going to get better regardless and manshamings even by the mediocre teams is no good for anyone.

Oh whats this? An African with a chip on their shoulders? Surely not

Go figure right. A guy from a minnow, defending minnows!!

Ye ye the whole world is conspiring against Africa we got it already

never said the whole world, just those that want to shrink the WC.

Oh whats this? An African with a chip on their shoulders? Surely not[/quote]

Go figure right. A guy from a minnow, defending minnows!![/quote]

Ye ye the whole world is conspiring against Africa we got it already[/quote]

never said the whole world, just those that want to shrink the WC.[/quote]


Im not sure but did anyone mention reducing African representation?

When is FIFA or UEFA or whoever the hell runs this circus of a sport going to crack down on play-acting on the field?

I happened upon the Netherlands v Denmark match the other day and there was one free kick given to the Danish goalkeeper after he writhed around on the ground in absolute 'agony' after being apparently kicked in the head by that van Nistlerooy guy. The replay showed he wasn't even touched; it was only the ball which went into his shoulder. What a cunt that guy is. However, there was another cunt who I saw in the Germany v Portugal match, I think it was Muller. He went down crying to the high heavens as if he was kicked in the nuts.

This is what they should do. Have a citing commissioner whose job it is to watch the video of these games and cite anyone who is caught doing the hollywood. Anyone caught should then get a mandatory ban for two years, and a life ban for a second offence. If too many players from one team keep doing it over the course of a season, then that club/country should be excluded from that competition for two years.

I'll bet you those cunts would grow some nuts and harden up after that. Unfortunately, the guys with the biggest lack of nuts on this issue are those clowns who run this shambles of a sport.

Go figure right. A guy from a minnow, defending minnows!![/quote]

Ye ye the whole world is conspiring against Africa we got it already[/quote]

never said the whole world, just those that want to shrink the WC.[/quote]


Im not sure but did anyone mention reducing African representation?[/quote]

No one is saying African, Asian and Oceania minnows shouldn't be in the World Cup - just that you're shite.

So one idiot says African sides are crap . Anybody that knows anything about football know that Africa deserve their 4 representatives. Dont use one idiot as an excuse to go on a tangent. Keep it positive brother

Pom Frog draw. Perfect. Neither cuntish team deserve to win.

They are like walking fucking soap operas. A joke.

Fuck'em. Hope they both get shamed.

You're just upset that we all get to watch a few footy games at last, without having to endure South Africa's only fucking contribution to world football...

Greece v Czech Republic
17:00 BST

Poland v Russia
19:45 BST

Who said the world cup should be reduced?

Your going off on one because people said the standard of football is higher in the Euros, this is true DT.

And Ghana wouldn't beat half the teams here.

The feeling from within the England camp, who obviously arent going to say "we were shit", seems to be that England played well.
Maybe I'm being harsh but I thought it was one of the most subdued performances I've seen in years, and luckily France were only arsed with a draw anyway.

Maybe the heat was a factor, but England need to step it up massively to get wins against Sweden/or and Ukraine.

Add Northern Ireland, Wales, and Malta to that group.

Nasri was saying the French players were knackered after 20 mins. I think the second half was a non entity. Both teams were so tired as it was so hot that I think after 65/70 mins both teams took the point.

I thought it was just more tactical. England's usual nod to tactics is to vary between Hail Mary balls and headless-chicken runs to nothing. I think "subdued" could be read "regimented". They tried to keep their shape whatever happened.

Typical, sickening, English arrogance.

What about New Caledonia?

I'm not saying we're going to win the Euros, but we're pretty much definitely going to win.

I didn't realise any of those teams nearly reached the last two tournaments before this and have beaten England, Spain, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark and drawn with Italy, Portugal and Germany in the past decade.

You can have them!

The highlight of the game for me was having half a dozen pin sticker £5 bets that included Lescott to score first and The Ox to be first player booked.

Nicely set up for the rest of the tournament now

Should go by rankings. If you're out of the top 100, you should go play in the minor leagues. Luckily, NZ just squeezes in at 100.

Unfortunately, Nthn Ireland is at 103. For shame.

Commentators stating England are in quite an envious position now. Sweden and Ukraine are not the best defensively, and I wouldn't swap our defence for anyone. Sweden with the loss need to win to stay in the tourney, so are going to open up more against us, which "should" (in theory) allow us to pick them off and get the win we badly need, which should be enough on it's own to get us through. If not, if either 1 of Ukraine or France wins, 2 things occur. If Ukraine wins, we can play for a draw (I guarantee both sides will do) in the final group game and France will be out), or France win, and Ukraine open up, and the same thing will occur as in the Sweden game.

I don't care whether we're shit or we're good in both games. Euros we have a shocking in, but if we can get out of the group stages, and maybe get lucky and set up a tie with Croatia, I'll be happy.

Interestingly, If all goes to plan, the sides look roughly like this:

Germany vs Poland
France vs Croatia

Russia vs Denmark
England vs Spain/Italy

That Germany vs Poland Game is asking for trouble

I still have this nagging feeling that England won't make it out. Always be wary of the hosts, not necessarily because of the quality of the host team but because of outside influence.

South Korea and Japan. That is all.

So do I - worried about 3 draws, which is no good to anyone.

You would hope that England have more quality than Sweden or Ukraine, but both are useful teams, Sweden mmust win and Ukraine are the hosts.

I'll be dissapointed if England dont qualify but not particularly surprised.

A win against Sweden would be a massive confidence boost.

They needed to win last night. To qualify they need to slaughter Sweden and hope France v UKraine ends in a draw

DT, you're a good lad, and I've a fair bit of respect for African football's achievements, but, as an Irishman in particular, I must confess I do feel a need to query the main thrust of your point. Now Stanley Rous was a racist cunt, and he's the reason FIFA now belongs to corrupt mongs from loser countries (and the evil Swiss) but a major factor behind football is simply this - football is dominated totally and utterly by about a half dozen Western European countries, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, then maybe one of Belgium, Portugal, England, etc, and the two good South Americans, Argentina and Brazil. Everybody else, including England, Uruguay, etc, is punching above their weight when they compete with those teams.

So why is that? Well, the best football is played and developed in Western Europe, and spreads rapidly between the countries. Whether it was the Danubian stuff back in the early 20th century that reached it's peak with Hungary's Arynascept thingy, or the Ajax school of play, that developed total football coincidentally to Maslov and Lobvanonskyi's Eastern inventions, that is now the dominant philosophy behind the Barca and Spanish sides, Europe is a fertile ground for innovation. Throw in the fact that Europeans are rich and healthy (Dutch are the tallest average nation in the world, and higher average height is usually equivalent to more success) and their dominance is ensured.

Brazil and Argentina (and Uruguay) offer an exception. In Brazil's case, luck and numbers are the factor, you had poor urban populations at the right time (crucial to football) they weren't racist (as racist) and they adopted excellent technical football early on. Argentina and Uruguay's success is much more impressive, comparatively small nations who play the game technically and have always benefited from such.

Beyond those core nations, football tends not to be as strong, because it can't be. Irish football, mar shampla, is so linked to English football (as now is NI, Wales and sadly Scotland) that we too suffer because of the channel's blocking of innovation travelling North. England have long since concentrated on physicality and pace over technique and tactics, much to their disadvantage and ours.

Unless you're part of that fertile European zone, or Brazil or the Rioplatense sides, you just won't achieve anything in football, unless it's a one off exceptional side.

1st round is over, update on the prediction comp. Akkerman is our first leader.

Rank - Name - Points

1 - Akkerman 8.25
2 - pigaaaa 7.50
3 - Shaz 7.33
4 -terryfinch 7.08
5 - iarmhiman 6.75
6 - desert rat 6.50
7 - ANDawn 6.50
8 - Achahoish 4.50
9 - TheBouncer 4.50
10-Abul 4.50
11- Pioughd 4.00
12- redofromstart 3.83
13- Nolanator 3.75
14- zodiac 3.50
15- utrechtnl 2.50
15- Bismo 2.50
17- AnonJoe 2.00
17- GDBFC99 2.00
17- jrp 2.00
17- Smutley 2.00
21- Warriors 1.25