World Cup predictions

[Cuyahoga]

As much as i like richardson on Mns, i find it very hard to listen to him for 90 mins
I agree he talks too much.He comments on every thing that happens in the match and over-analyses everthing.But the problem is if you change over to the BBC Mick McCarthy is hard to listen to aswell.

[bennocelt]

I agree he talks too much.He comments on every thing that happens in the match and over-analyses everthing.But the problem is if you change over to the BBC Mick McCarthy is hard to listen to aswell.

What are u talking about. Mick is AWESOME. The ref is a "clown", the goalie a "tart" LOLOLOL. And he is right

[Ciaran W]

Anyone else think metselder looks a bit like Paul McShane ?

[Ciaran W]

Ahh podolski :(

[Stuttgart88]

That group is getting interesting now. Germany very poor in front of goal. Yellow card count was crazy.

[tetsujin1979]

Referee ruined the first half with a flurry of cards, and then failed to give cards for the same offences in the second half.
Serbia rarely got out of their own half, and were content to pack the last third of the pitch to limit the German attacking options
Gives Australia the encouragement to try and get a result against Ghana tomorrow, and sets up the last games in this group this coming wednesday nicely.

[shakermaker1982]

How the **** was that a yellow card for Klose? I read somewhere that the ref in charge had sent off 11 players in 17 games in La Liga last season.

[Sullivinho]

Terrible refereeing performance and Podolski's confidence is always suspect, but I was still very impressed by the Germans. Tremendous response when up against it. There's a lot to admire in that team.

[Ciaran W]

1-0 slovenia. . Great goal and i love the celebration Haha

[Stuttgart88]

2-0 HT. Predictable poorly researched fare from BBC pundits at half time. Very surprising blah blah blah. Hang on, Slovenia qualified ahead of Poland and Czechs (and NI). They beat Slovakia home and away. They beat Russia over 2 legs. They even passed England off the pitch at Wembley last year, losing 2-1 after a ludicrous penalty decision that England were embarrased to be given. You'd at least think the pundits would recall that much.

If they'd done any research they'd have noticed that Slovenia can play a bit.

Probably a good result for England though, if Slovenia have qualified ahead of the last game. I was hoping for a draw or narrow USA win.

[Stuttgart88]

Donavan. Quality player. Must be the Irish in him.

[tricky_colour]

Wow great goal from Donavon, he should not have scored from there though, but it was a great effort.
Can see Slovenia beating England.

[tetsujin1979]

A loss here would put the States as good as out. Should England defeat Algeria, a draw between England and Slovenia in the last game will see them both through

[Sullivinho]

Predictable poorly researched fare from BBC pundits at half time.

No Slovenians playing in the premier league y'see, not even a token youngster trying to make the grade at Wigan or the like. Fortunately, Algeria are gracious enough to provide two and the Americans bless 'em, honoured Fulham when choosing Robert Green's executioner.

[Sullivinho]

Donavan. Quality player. Must be the Irish in him.

Ditto for Dempsey. ;)

[tricky_colour]

A loss here would put the States as good as out. Should England defeat Algeria, a draw between England and Slovenia in the last game will see them both through

Fair point, the order of play does matter, however there may be something to play for regarding the next round, however the team to avoid, Germany lost to Serbia
so maybe there will be little to play for, or indeed lose the match!!

[tricky_colour]

I wonder if that ref is a muslim?

[bennocelt]

I wonder if that ref is a muslim?

Dont know about that but I would say the Spanish ref must have been from Guernica!

[OwlsFan]

I was still very impressed by the Germans. Tremendous response when up against it.

Don't mention the war! ;)

[Sullivinho]

Don't mention the war! ;)

I wouldn't dare. :D

[Stuttgart88]

I predict England will do to Algeria what Germany did to Saudi Arabia in 2002.

[Noelys Guitar]

Have to disagree Stuttgart. Algeria looked woeful against us and in their first match in SA. But I still feel they have enough reasonable players to give England a scare. I can't believe Carragher kept his place. Big weak link and I expect to see him exposed again in this game.

[tricky_colour]

Algeria are looking fairly decent so far, it may not be the stroll in the park England are expecting - lol.


Rooney up front with the donkey and Gerrard on the wing, England may find this a tough match.

[Sullivinho]

10 man Germany played better against the Serbs than this lot are doing against Algeria.

I think they'll eventually do enough though.

[Schumi]

Fantastic performance from England, lulling Algeria into a false sense of security like this is very smart. ;)

[tricky_colour]

0:0 half time.
Oh dear.

[tetsujin1979]

I still England to grind out the win, despite that first half. But it's set up for the States to qualify now with a win over Algeria in their final game, while Slovenia and England basically play off for the other spot in the second round.

[tricky_colour]

All the teams are looking pretty even.
It could end up with all the remaining games drawn.

[Ciaran W]

Please algeria, please :D

[Sullivinho]

Absolutely shocking. England looked collectively stoned.

[Noelys Guitar]

England. The gift that keeps on giving. Woeful stuff. They are very lucky they avoided some of the mid ranked teams that have a half decent forward line otherwise they would be out already. And Carragher and Terry are going to have real problems with the Slovnian front line.

[tricky_colour]

Hard to see them beating Slovenia on that performance, they would need a considerable improvement, and it's hard to
see where that is coming from,

[tetsujin1979]

England. The gift that keeps on giving. Woeful stuff. They are very lucky they avoided some of the mid ranked teams that have a half decent forward line otherwise they would be out already. And Carragher and Terry are going to have real problems with the Slovnian front line.
Carragher won't play after collecting his second booking against Algeria. Dawson will make his international debut, and England will play their third central defensive partnership in three games, in a must win game against what looks like the strongest team in that group, or at least the only team that has won.

[Stuttgart88]

My prediction was only out by 8 goals. On such fine margins...


Fair play Noely, I just couldn't see a team that lost 4-0 to Mali doing that, and so comfortably. Only one team tonight was comfortable with the ball. That game for them was probably what our 0-0 with Egypt felt like. Shameful...throws pencil :)

[Stuttgart88]

or at least the only team that has won.and certainly the team that likes having the ball best.

[bennocelt]

Jesus England were poor, no player apart from James impressed. I was impressed with the number 2 for Algeria, read everything in defence and was first to every ball - brilliant. Still think Algeria are muck so what are England!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will be very hard for them today as I cant see them scoring if they persist with that system. Must start Cole and Defoe.

And Rooney is a disgrace mouthing off to the fans. They have travelled half way round the world and have a right to boo them off in the end. Not as if the English fans were not singing their hearts out for most of the game. I would be really peed off with him if I was an English fan

[bennocelt]

I was impressed with the number 2 for Algeria, read everything in defence and was first to every ball - brilliant.

Christ - he plays for rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

[passinginterest]

England to fail to get out of group, look to be in terrible form and the group is not as easy as people seem to think.

Just like the point out my prediction, the lads in work have spent the last week laughing at me telling the England would only draw with Algeria, I can see the last game ending in a draw too and the USA beating Algeria to top the group.

[Sullivinho]

My prediction was only out by 8 goals. On such fine margins...

I'd say your disappointment is matched only by Sir David and the two princes who were in attendance. You don't waste the time of knights and royalty with such displays.


Christ - he plays for rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

Never. Christ is Celtic through and through. ;)

[tetsujin1979]

It's easy to crow about beating the same team that England struggled to make an impression against, but the simple truth is that there is very little comparison between the two Algerian sides that lined out three weeks apart.


VS Ireland VS England
Chaouchi (M'Bohli 66) M'Bolhi
Guedioura Bougherra
Belhadj (Boudebouz 66) Belhadj
Bellaid Yahia
Mansouri (Kadir 66) Kadir
Mesbah Yebda (Mesbah 88)
Lacen Lacen
Halliche Halliche
Ghezzal (Abdoun 77) Boudebouz(Abdoun 74)
Ziani Ziani (Guedioura 81)
Djebour (Saifi 58) Matmour
(note that I've ordered these players so they line up beside each other, other than the keeper I've no idea who played where against Ireland)

First of all, there were only 4 starters in common. It's entirely possible that the Ireland game was an audition the rest of the starters, and of those only Guedioura played any part as a late sub. The fact that a defensive midfielder/right full was brought on for an attacking midfielder with nine minutes to go tells you what his role was expected to be.

From the five subs at the RDS, only Saifi played no part against England (he was an unused sub). M'Bohli, Kadir and Boudebouz all played a little under a half hour in Dublin and started against the three lions. Two of the three introduced players VS England started against Ireland.

M'Bohli actually made his debut VS Ireland, and only conceded Robbie Keane's penalty. The game was all but over at that stage, and I honestly don't remember him doing much else except pick the ball out of the net. Tonight's game was his second international cap. Despite this he only had one shot to save

Algeria managed 6 shots VS England, and I'm pretty sure Westwood only had to make one save at the RDS, but this may have been due to an inferior team playing in Ballsbridge.

The Irish goals came from a set piece (Doyle earlier had a certain goal saved from a set play), a finish from Keane following some work from Duff on the left, and a penalty. Having conceded twice from poor tackling, I thought Algeria tightened up on their tackling against England, certainly I don't remember any free kicks for England around their box.

Duff gave their full back plenty to think about all night beside the Dodder, and Lawrence on the other wing complemented this attacking style, pulling the 3 man defence out of the middle. By comparison, the closest Capello has to a natural left winger in the 23 man squad is Joe Cole, and he didn't make it off the bench in Cape town. Gerrard was playing inside left, and I forgot he was on the pitch until he took a corner.

One of the hallmarks of Ireland in Trapattoni's reign is two sitting central midfielders. Against the Desert Foxes, Glen Whelan and Paul Green frequently broke up attacks in front of the centre half pairing, and spread the ball wide to play on the counter. England only played with one defensive midfielder, Gareth Barry, with Lampard playing ahead og him. Against this, the Algerians had 4 players, two defensive and two attacking, always with at least one option to pass to. This did limit their options in the final third of the pitch, but with only one shot on target all night, I don't think they were looking for the win.

In short, Algeria made full use of their warm up game against Ireland to learn how a team with English-based players would play against them, learned their mistakes well, and used this to full effect against England in South Africa.

(all game stats taken from here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/matches/round=249722/match=300061464/index.html )

[Stuttgart88]

It's easy to crow about beating the same team that England struggled to make an impression against,You're right, it is. We won 3-0 na na na na na.

I know the friendlies only carry a lesser weighting, but our recentn results will probably do our rankings a bit of good.

[thischarmingman]

http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-sun-world-cup-2010.jpg

[Noelys Guitar]

According to latest reports from the "currant bun" this bloke has turned up for England in the last few games.

http://www.stylelookalikes.co.uk/images/characterImages/waynerooney02.jpg

Dwayne Rooney

[bennocelt]

Games a bit boring today. Hope Japan are knocked out next week, BORING. Holland havent impressed either in two games.

And what can I say about Australia. Had high hopes for them at start of comp, since they have a good few players with experience in European leagues. But then I didnt bank on them having an idiot of a manager. Jesus play football on the ground, and preferbly forward!!!! A carbon copy of England!!!

And Ghana were there for the taking. Ghana play exactly as they always play - all heart, big guys running, bossing midfield, and shooting from impossible angles. So Australia were poorly organised,, cycnical, and always throwing themselves to the ground. And it was so GREAT to see that Pr**k kewell get sent off.
Anyway woud be nice if somehow Ghana got through but doubt it - pity

[Stuttgart88]

That's an interesting group all the same. Serbia will fancy their chances, and Germany will have a real test of their nerves / ability, especially as they're a young side.

[elroy]

This Denmark V Cameroon game is a cracker. Watched both teams first games and wasnt gonna bother with this one, but its nearly and half time and has had almost everything. 1-1, should be 3-3 at this stage.

[Cuyahoga]

Bill O'Herlihy does my head in he is a prat! Talks Rubbish,reading quotes from people who dont count to start a debate,
Brady is well able for him.Also said Japan just need a draw against Denmark to qualify because they have superior goal
difference.WHAT???? Time to retire Bill !

[bennocelt]

Bill O'Herlihy does my head in he is a prat! Talks Rubbish,reading quotes from people who dont count to start a debate,
Brady is well able for him.Also said Japan just need a draw against Denmark to qualify because they have superior goal
difference.WHAT???? Time to retire Bill !


Is that not true?

Good game, that young fella Kjaer is some player, basically hoovering up all the mistakes Poulsen and Agger do in defence (and they make a shed load of them!)

[Cuyahoga]

ok. my mistake Japan have 1 more goal than Denmark so a draw would get them through.Sorry Bill!

[shakermaker1982]

England were woeful. What is the point of Frank Lampard?

I thought they'd struggle but drawing with Algeria?! :) looking forward to the banter in the office tomorrow.