World Cup 2010

[black francis]

Johan is a selfish dick.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Well, Johan is a selfish dick, but he is also a selfish happy dick tonight. His dream of a lifetime supply of fish food is nearer.

[Voodoo Billy]

Johan is a selfish dick.

Shouldn't that read, "Johan is a shellfish, dick"? Oh no he has no shell.

[Kounelaki]

"Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that stocks of Jogi Löw's lucky blue sweater have sold out in Munich. All three of the city's branches of the Strenesse fashion chain, stockists of official Nationalmannschaft clobber, have run out of the slinky cashmere number (just €299 to you), and there's now a waiting list, but new stocks aren't expected until August."

[Dave Smith]

£300 quid for that jumper???I had ten of those in the 80's.

[Kounelaki]

Michael Ballack leaves South Africa amid captaincy debate
His absence through injury looked set to cripple Germany before the World Cup, but now Michael Ballack has left the squad in South Africa, amid rumors that he's at odds with his replacement, Philip Lahm.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5765569,00.html

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

£300 quid for that jumper???I had ten of those in the 80's.

£10 or spread over 12 easy monthly payments from Grattan catalogue if I recall. Personally, I'd rather order some Simone Ballack's unlucky blue silk knickers that are being sold on the German version of e-bay at the moment. They are only five euros each. They are not unlucky because she shat in them, but because of Michael Ballack getting injured before the tournament. That's what he said when I sent him a buyer's question anyway. His one rating as a seller doesn't look good.

[Dave Smith]

Have they been worn?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Hopefully not by Michael himself. They are supposed to be his wife's. I'm a bit worried though - they co-ordinate with the Chelsea home kit. Seems a bit suspect that blue satin knickers suddenly appeared on sale just as he had signed a free transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.

[Voodoo Billy]

Do they smell of sweaty Ballacks?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

You already have a pair then to confirm that?

I notice that Jogi Löw's lucky blue v-neck is up for sale as well. Shit, time up. No bids.

[Kounelaki]

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Eh? The German team are pickled octopus?

[withahip]

Compared to the English failure and French implosion, they did ok - don't you think?

Better they lost to extinguish any flames of world domination again.

[Voodoo Billy]

After seeing the Germans' performance against what have been, in this competition, a below par Spain their previous results suggest that with hindsight there were some pretty poor sides in the tournament this time. They've steamrollered Australia, England and Argentina but were largely neutralised by the Spaniards. It's hardly been a tournament of the highest quality, but I've still got a fiver on Spain at 11/2 to win it (lets just hope Torres stays on the bench for this one!).