It's all over...
So, now we have to find something else to talk about !
The quarter finals was as good as it got.... why ? We can't take penalties that's why !
Some may say if Rooney hadn't been sent off we'd have got through, others may blame Christiano Ronaldo, and possibly, they may just have a case, for me though, we just didn't have it.
We never looked like World Cup winners, we didn't have the flow of the italian's or the belief of the French.
Is it Sven's fault? The media would have you believe that and I definitely think he has to shoulder some of the responsibility, so should the FA and let's not forget the players themselves, they were on the field !
This is arguably the best English side we'd had for a long time.... but let's not get too disheartened, there's always the future and Steve Mclaren.. oh dear, an FA 'yes' man that learnt his international trade under Sven !!
Shall we look to the 2012 Olympics for our sporting inspiration ? ...
I don't think so, there's another World cup and 2 European Chmpionships before then !!
Published Date:
06/07/2006
Modified Date:
06/07/2006
The Quarter Final
The mighty England have made it to the quarter finals !
Not very mighty though were they, in fact I found it difficult to watch at various points in the game.
So, what was it ? The formation ? The heat ?
I'm sure that the excuses will come to our attention in due course.
If we are going to win this tournament, we need to look like we want to.
I did defend our team in my last entry, claiming that we didn't want to peak too early and that it was the result that counted.
Still true, however, at this stage of the competition, we've got to offer a little more than scrappy results.
There were parts of the game that I enjoyed, the half time whistle, full time whistle, the remnants of David Beckham's lunch on the touchline (how did sven not see that?!) but most importantly, the arrival of Aaron Lennon, who I really do think has the potential to be England's saviour in this World Cup.
We can take heart from the Holland vs Portugal match which had the potential to be a classic World Cup fixture. It ended with 9 men on each side after a catalogue of terrible refereeing decisions and was extremely disappointing.
It was Portugal that emerged victorious to set up a quarter final on Saturday with England (they will play minus 2 influential players who will be suspended due to their red cards).
Can we do it ?
I still have to believe that we can and I will be hoping for a convincing victory on Saturday to get us that bit closer.
Scolari vs Sven.... Will it be 3rd time lucky ?
Come on England !!
Published Date:
26/06/2006
Modified Date:
26/06/2006
World Cup 06
So World Cup 2006 ?
Do you love it or hate it ?
Me? I love it, the best thing on telly since Euro 2004 !
I've heard lots of opinions about England's first match against Paraguay on Saturday, well actually that's not quite true, what I really mean is, i've heard lots of people talking, all saying the same thing, that we were ok in the first half and pretty rubbish in the second.
This is quite true, but we don't want to peak too early now do we? and it is the result that counts.
If we can beat Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday, we'll be through to the second round without having to make too much of an effort against Sweden. That's ok in my book.
Football, along with most sports (not motor racing or golf though and definitely not rugby) is one of my most favourite things in the world, and I like nothing more than a European Championship or a World Cup to keep me entertained throughout the summer.
What does get my goat though are the amount of wannabe football pundits that crawl out of the woodwork every time England play in a competitive international tournament. People who show almost no interest in football at any other time, suddenly 'have an opinion'.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for the country getting behind the team for the World Cup. Football, every 2 years, manages to acheive what the government rarely can, in uniting the country, for a little while at least.
I love the fact that the countries non-football supporters get out their St Georges flag and cheer on the team with veritable gusto, but what I'm not keen on is how many of these people become 'Alan Hansen' or 'Martin O Neil' as soon as the game finishes.
Enjoy the football and by all means enjoy the atmosphere but when its finished don't try and act like you've been a football fan for years because the chances are you may be caught out.
My favourite line came from someone I was chatting to in the pub on Saturday, who exclaimed that "Joe Cole had an amazing game and if he plays like that for rest of the world cup it would do us no harm at all...." - I agreed with her statement wholeheartedly and almost allowed myself to be a little impressed until I saw her turn to her boyfriend and say, "which one was Joe Cole again?" - What a worry !
Well, that's the World Cup, love it or hate it, everybody has an opinion !
Published Date:
12/06/2006
Modified Date:
12/06/2006