DB7

Are you watching the Socceroos Dave? Teh goalie is having a bit of a 'mare this evening.

David Brent

Yes mate, I have been watching all the England and Aussie matches live.
The Socceroos game was on at 5.00am. I'm currently about a week behind in my sleep.:eek:
You're right, the keeper dropped a couple of clangers but in the end the better team progressed.
The whole country is celebrating and 'World Cup Fever' is rampant.
To tell you the truth I think the Aussies are currently performing much better than England (not difficult to do) and DO NOT rule out their chances of getting a result against Italy.:)

Cheers

Dave.

David Brent

By the way, English referee Graham Poll had a shocker in the Australia v. Croatia match and actually booked the same Croatian player THREE times before sending him off.
I love the backpage headline in todays SUN newspaper in the UK -
"POLL'S THREE CARD THICK".


Dave.

David Brent

Every four years we get to see some of the worlds best teams, featuring many of the worlds best players, play in the World Cup. Yet FIFA negates all this wonderful football by continually choosing substandard referees and linesmen to officiate the games. This has been happening for years.
I thought i'd seen some terrible refereeing decisions in this World Cup but the last minute penalty awarded by the referee to Italy against Australia last night was a disgrace to the game.
Everyone in the crowd and those watching worldwide knew it wasn't a penalty, a clear dive by the Italian player, yet the referee saw it differently.
The referee in question knew that when he awarded the penalty in those final seconds of play, he was literally handing the game to Italy.
Many other games in this World Cup have been affected, ruined even, by bad refereeing decisions and a non stop cavalcade of unwarranted yellow and red cards.
Four years of a teams sweat,toil,winning important matches - all snuffed out in a moment of refereeing madness.
What's the use of running the worlds most important sporting event when many of the referees and linesmen appointed are rubbish - an international joke?

Dave.

DB7

Happens every World Cup, FIFA demand stricter refereeing to allow the 'flair' players to shine. Don't think they'll be happy til it's a non-contact sport.
(that said, the Portugal/Holland game made great viewing)

The Socceroos were done as Grosso just fell over Neill but I also thought the sending off of Materazzi was harsh.

The news Kewell (henceforth known as Mr Bumble) has gout seems to have many Liverpool fans chuckling away.

David Brent

They say gout comes from an over excessive lifestyle...alcohol,food,women.:)Too much of the good life. Liverpool must be paying him too much.
Do you think he will still be with Liverpool next season DB ?

Dave.

Freddy

First of all my sympathy on going out to a laughable refereeing decision.
I honestly cannot see why we don't have video replays, it happens in both rugby codes and doesn't ruin the flow of the game.
The Ref doesn't seem to get much help from his other officials, technology mikes them up and makes communication easy and they DONT communicate. Where was the fourth official when Pohl was making a mistake?

Watching Liverpool for many years one of my favourites was Craig Johnstone, a great bloke with great spirit. One time at an FA Cup round two girls were sitting next to me and every time CJ ran past they drooled over his thighs and 'Harry met Sally' more than once at that game.:eek:

Freddy

DB7

Think so, despite the gaffer having bought a Chilean winger he seems to rate Harry. He's been incredibly unlucky with injuries and has limped off during 3 Cup Finals for us. (least he still gets a medal!)

Maybe he needs to take some serious time out and get fit; he tends to try playing when he's already got a slight niggle.

Fellwanderer

Same place as the one at Old Trafford when even Fergie saw Mendez's goal that wasn't :mad:

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Wolfgang

I think England has genuine chance of coming third this year too. I think they will beat Portugal before being knocked out by Brazil in semi final. It is most likely that they will be up against Italy for bronze and they should have no problem beating them.

Steve Crook

Oh dear, how sad

Steve

David Brent

What is it about England and penalties?
You would think that England fans would be battle hardened after 40 years of pain but it still hurts.
Bum decisions by referees do not help when they always seem to go against England each World Cup. I wonder how the friendship between Ronaldo and Rooney stands now?
Realistically though England have not played very well in this World Cup under Sven, who after more than 4 years preperation never seemed to have any concrete match plan to play with. His tactics were all over the place. Will Steve McClaren be any better.

Depressed Dave.

Steve Crook

Maybe they're all making up for England getting the benefit of the doubt in the '66 final

Steve

penfold

Perhaps it's paranoia, but I wondered from Friday how things were going to go when I heard the referee was Argentinian. It's an old gag but true; just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're really not all out to get you....
No, England did not play exceptionally well throughout the tournament; Blatter laughably criticised us for being negative...and yet Portugal, with all their supposedly superior talents, had to cheat blatantly to get us down to ten men and still played for penalties for an hour....
Still, unlike the situation in Colonel Blimp, I would rather lose with honour than win like that, and there will be a rematch in a couple of years....and how can the Brazilians be feeling after their abject World Cup??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Merton Park

England were poor throughout the Tournament, playing prehistoric football, like something out of the 1940's and 50's. All long ball, hit and hope, the World has moved on since then, unfortunately England hasn't.

It's very depressing watching the rubbish dished up by players earning millions a year and supposedly worth it! Only in their's and their Agent's minds. Listening to John Motson, Mark Lawrenson and the twats in the studio, Alan Hansen excepted, prattling on and on about nothing, apart from the obvious, just like me now! Sorry,enough!!

Even Ghana showed more skill, style and flair.