World Cup 2010

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

ah, the old jimmy grimble theorem GP.

Billy's Boots

when you say TV girlfriend, do you mean o the telly, or, you know. I'm a bit out of touch with celeb stuff.

Christine Bleakley

[kook]

they hadn't reached any kind of celebrity status prior to the WC. ]

Which is only right. They are well known ( the ones that have been around for a bit) and you see photos of them at galas and concerts, and stuff in goss mags. What you don't get is a picture story and headlines every time one of them farts, which probably helps them to tame the egos and concentrate on playing footie. (lack of reporting, not the farts)

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Possibly but I think having young players can sometimes be beneficial that they may hold no fear and it provides an element of surprise for the opposition, who may expect them to buckle due to their inexperience. Look at Michael Owen in France 1998.

Of course, you probably have none of the media shit we get in the UK but that tends to happen here only after the player has been around for a while. Probably one of our greatest players, Paul Gascoigne, was largely destroyed by the gutter press. Quite sad really. Still, the players don't really help themselves by acting stupidly (John Terry springs to mind).

[kook]

having young players can sometimes be beneficial that they may hold no fear and it provides an element of surprise for the opposition, who may expect them to buckle due to their inexperience.

True!

[kook]

. Still, the players don't really help themselves by acting stupidly (John Terry springs to mind).

And, true.
Soz. don't know how to do the double quote in one post thing.
I like to have a gander at the crappy mags when i'm in the UK or Ireland, so not innocent by any means. Just think it's reached mad proportions in the last few yrs.

[Kounelaki]

¡Iker Casillas!

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I didn't watch the whole game, but the Spanish are going to have to be a lot more clinical if they want to beat Germany otherwise they may face the same fate as England and Argentina ~ lots of possession but with annoying and ruthless counter attacks. Take David Villa out of the game and the Spanish are f**ked.

It will be kind of odd seeing two teams battle it out in the semi-final who have already both lost games in this tournament. Has this happened before?

[Kounelaki]

Take David Villa out of the game and the Spanish are f**ked.

There's still Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas...

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

True, but they are not scoring loads of goals are they? Iniesta has just one, the five other have come from Villa. The Germans on the otherhand, eight in back to back games with just one goal conceded (two actually) against usually strong opponents. They haven't dominated possession either (which is what Spain is also likely to do).

[Kounelaki]

Shame Germany and Spain are in the same side of the draw and not meeting in the final.

[Voodoo Billy]

Shame Germany and Spain are in the same side of the draw and not meeting in the final.

I've got a bad feeling that Spain (my final bet still running) won't be meeting anyone in the final if they play like they did last night when they meet the Germans.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I agree, although sometimes teams performing well run out of steam. Look at the group stages, Germany beat Australia 4-0, lost their next game 1-0 and then won their final game 1-0. Since then it has been 4-1(2 really) England and 4-0 Argentina. Could they do that again for a third time on the trot?

[Kounelaki]

"The Brazil coach Dunga and the rest of his technical staff have been dismissed by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) after the 2-1 defeat by Holland in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday."

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Fully deserved that after being beaten by a single goal by the Netherlands who are ranked 224th in the FIFA rankings.

[Dave Smith]

Funny 'ole game.Big names biting the dust and sackings.But is this because we expect too higher quality?Im of the opinion that the Champions League is the best technical competition in the world and the World Cup is just an assortment of players of the same nationality thrown together for alot of nations.Where the Dutch and Germans excel is having their youth and club style exactly the same as the national team style therefore they just slot in easily.