2014 World Cup

[BonnieShels]

Am I the only one who usually mutes the telly and heads out into the sun during half time, and so doesn't really give a rat's arse about the punditry?

Always thought people gave out about a bit too much about what's a necessary evil to fill a void.

Still, interesting list Bonnie!


You must be. I still enjoy pundits for better or for worse. Plus I get energy hating Chiles.

[bennocelt]

Swiss French support Switzerland or France?
or are you referring to French French?

Basel border with Frenchies to the left of me and zee Germans to the right:D
Most people in the city are not Swiss. Lucky its the weekend, as Id imagine the French will have calmed down by Monday morning, ha

[geysir]

Lawro comes for a lot of stick, I don't mind the guy at all. Probably he's outstayed his welcome as a bbc tv pundit.
I enjoyed his articles on the Irish team.
In this springtime he predicted that Norwich would beat Sunderland in a crunch game, that Norwich would still go down and Sunderland would survive the drop. This logic enraged all fans to the point of frenzy, even the sunderland ones who couldn't comprehend losing this game but would still survive, but Lawro got it right and probably not one of those morons would come back and admit he got it right.

[BonnieShels]

Lawro comes for a lot of stick, I don't mind the guy at all. Probably he's outstayed his welcome as a bbc tv pundit.
I enjoyed his articles on the Irish team.
In this springtime he predicted that Norwich would beat Sunderland in a crunch game, that Norwich would still go down and Sunderland would survive the drop. This logic enraged all fans to the point of frenzy, even the sunderland ones who couldn't comprehend losing this game but would still survive, but Lawro got it right and probably not one of those morons would come back and admit he got it right.

Remove thy tongue from thine cheek.

[bennocelt]

A lot of conclusions to draw from this World Cup re presentation:



Wow Bonnie think I agree with 90% of that!

I hate Brady though, thick aul bstard. Right about Kenny Cunningham and Dieter Hammann. Why isnt Souness not back? He was the best pundit RTE ever had IMHO.

I dont hate Chiles as much as most do, I can stand him in small doses, he is passionate and wears his heart on his sleeve.
If Linkeker hadnt have played for England he'd never last as a presenter. I just think of him as that idiot in the crisp ads. Too smarmy for me. And Hansen wasnt good since the late 90's

ITV:Have liked Dixon, Hoddle and a surprise for me is Clarke in the night games.
BBC: Like Seedorf and Henry on the Beeb

And for the morning after, its the Guardian podcasts with Richardson and Glendenning
Havent listend to Talksport or Radio 5 yet as too busy, but Danny Baker was a highlight in the last world cup for his morning shows.

[geysir]

Remove thy tongue from thine cheek.
Bonnie, give my sympathies to your anger/hate management counsellor :)

One of most self-aggrandising characters I've ever heard is Slavan Bilic, you'd think you were listening to one of those parodies, if you didn't know it was actually for real.

[Stuttgart88]

Nothing compared to that penalty rebound miss in fairness! .
Kilbane. Suwon.

[BonnieShels]

Wow Bonnie think I agree with 90% of that!

I hate Brady though, thick aul bstard. Right about Kenny Cunningham and Dieter Hammann. Why isnt Souness not back? He was the best pundit RTE ever had IMHO.

I dont hate Chiles as much as most do, I can stand him in small doses, he is passionate and wears his heart on his sleeve.
If Linkeker hadnt have played for England he'd never last as a presenter. I just think of him as that idiot in the crisp ads. Too smarmy for me. And Hansen wasnt good since the late 90's

ITV:Have liked Dixon, Hoddle and a surprise for me is Clarke in the night games.
BBC: Like Seedorf and Henry on the Beeb

And for the morning after, its the Guardian podcasts with Richardson and Glendenning
Havent listend to Talksport or Radio 5 yet as too busy, but Danny Baker was a highlight in the last world cup for his morning shows.

90%? Must be a record you left-wing pinko.

[pineapple stu]

Argentina on the back foot against Iran for much of this second half. Wonderful save there from Romero; one of the best of the tournament.

What is going on at this World Cup?

[BonnieShels]

No idea. I want Argentina to win. But by god Iran have been brilliant. Deserve a point from this at least.

[BonnieShels]

What a way to win it. Fupp.

[Razors left peg]

For all those complaining about the pundits be glad you dont have to listen to Alexi Lalas. Hes the most over confident bullsh1t artist Ive ever had the misfortune to listen to in football.

Goal for Messi there was brilliant but such a kick in the stomach, Iran deserved a draw out of this

[pineapple stu]

Heartbreaking for Iran. Super from Messi. What an enthralling game. How Iran could play that first half and do what everyone was saying they shouldn't do - open up and attack - and yet put in a second half like that is amazing. Yet Messi has done it again; two in two after two iffy world cups.

I'm reckoning Argentina v Germany in the final. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a first-time finalist.

[BonnieShels]

Heartbreaking for Iran. Super from Messi. What an enthralling game. How Iran could play that first half and do what everyone was saying they shouldn't do - open up and attack - and yet put in a second half like that is amazing. Yet Messi has done it again; two in two after two iffy world cups.

I'm reckoning Argentina v Germany in the final. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a first-time finalist.

I'm getting more convinced that this will happen as it goes on.

[SkStu]

I'm reckoning Argentina v Germany in the final. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a first-time finalist.

That would be a classic.

By the way, I'm with you on the punditry except I fast forward.

I don't think Iran deserved anything but admiration for a plucky and brave display.

[BonnieShels]

That would be a classic.

By the way, I'm with you on the punditry except I fast forward.

I don't think Iran deserved anything but admiration for a plucky and brave display.


It was more than plucky. They were very very good. And unlocked only by one of the greatest players ever.

[pineapple stu]

I don't think Iran deserved anything but admiration for a plucky and brave display.
Well, a point would have been nice!


I'm getting more convinced that this will happen as it goes on.
But who? Belgium maybe? Colombia or Chile, with huge support there? Costa Rica!? :p

I reckoned at the start that 11 teams had a chance at the quarters - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, England, France, Belgium and Portugal. Three of those are out already. Another one at least will get knocked out in the round of 16 (Belgium v Portugal/Germany). But at the moment, the remaining big teams are pulling out the results and could well top all the groups (bar group C). That'd be disappointing in a way.

The big teams aren't doing great. Some of the middling teams are doing quite well. It's great to watch.

[SkStu]

I'm getting more convinced that this will happen as it goes on.

Who though? Outside of maybe Chile, I can't see any minnow possibly win 3 or 4 in a row. Belgium?

[SkStu]

Haha! I didn't see that post Stu, I swear!

[Charlie Darwin]

Panel all reckon Dejagah had no shout for a penalty because Zabaleta made the slightest contact imaginable with the ball before he took him out of it with both feet. Baffling considering this has never been a rule in football.

[BonnieShels]

Well, a point would have been nice!


But who? Belgium maybe? Colombia or Chile, with huge support there? Costa Rica!? :p

I reckoned at the start that 11 teams had a chance at the quarters - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, England, France, Belgium and Portugal. Three of those are out already. Another one at least will get knocked out in the round of 16 (Belgium v Portugal/Germany). But at the moment, the remaining big teams are pulling out the results and could well top all the groups (bar group C). That'd be disappointing in a way.

The big teams aren't doing great. Some of the middling teams are doing quite well. It's great to watch.


Who though? Outside of maybe Chile, I can't see any minnow possibly win 3 or 4 in a row. Belgium?

Chile are hardly a minnow.

Colombia are my outsider.

[BonnieShels]

Panel all reckon Dejagah had no shout for a penalty because Zabaleta made the slightest contact imaginable with the ball before he took him out of it with both feet. Baffling considering this has never been a rule in football.

Just shouted that at the TV. My constant row with football.

[pineapple stu]

And how the ref gave a goal kick after it, I don't know.

Zabaleta did make contact with the ball; Dejagah didn't before hitting the ground, therefore corner at least, surely?

[Stuttgart88]

Panel all reckon Dejagah had no shout for a penalty because Zabaleta made the slightest contact imaginable with the ball before he took him out of it with both feet. Baffling considering this has never been a rule in football.

Absolute slam dunk penalty for me. The slight contact had nothing to do with it. He cleaned the player out.

[Charlie Darwin]

Absolute slam dunk penalty for me. The slight contact had nothing to do with it. He cleaned the player out.
I hate this cliché, but in the middle of the pitch it's a foul, a tackle from behind and a yellow card.

[SkStu]

Chile are hardly a minnow.

They're not a big team.

I can't see any of the teams mentioned win three in a row to reach the final or four to win it.

[SkStu]

I hate this cliché, but in the middle of the pitch it's a foul, a tackle from behind and a yellow card.

Tackle from behind?

[Charlie Darwin]

Tackle from behind?
Well, maybe not a "tackle from behind" but if somebody nips in ahead of you and you tackle them from the back it's a foul even if you gets some of the ball.

[pineapple stu]

The latest betting from Paddy Power-

Brazil 10/3
Germany 7/2
Argentina 4/1
Holland 10/1
France 10/1
Belgium 20/1
Chile 22/1
Colombia 25/1
Italy 25/1
Portugal 40/1
Uruguay 40/1
Costa Rica 50/1
Mexico 80/1
Ivory Coast 100/1
Croatia 100/1
USA 150/1
Switzerland 150/1
Russia 150/1
Bosnia-Herzegovina 150/1
South Korea 300/1
Ecuador 400/1
Ghana 400/1
Japan 400/1
Nigeria 500/1
Greece 500/1
Algeria 1000/1
Iran 1000/1
Honduras 1000/1

[Charlie Darwin]

I was going to take a piece of Italy at 16/1. Might have a punt now at 25/1.

[geysir]

About the only time you'd be tempted to say, 'make a meal of it', 'roll around a bit' when an Iranian hit the deck.
If you are going to play Argentina in the world cup, no better place than Brazil to do it in. It was as if all the Brazilians said, 'today we are Iranians'.

Carlos Q was on track for the open top parade through Tehran and freedom of the city.

[Stuttgart88]

Unfortunate double entendre from the BBC commentator in Germany v Ghana just now.

"[German player] gets the cross in but there's nobody there, nobody white anyway".

[BonnieShels]

They're not a big team.

I can't see any of the teams mentioned win three in a row to reach the final or four to win it.

They aren't a big team per set, but they are a good team. If Greece can win the toughest international competition then Chile could win a weaker one. Especially given they're a much better side.

Fwiw... I don't think they'll do much after the group.

Colombia for a SF. :)

Uruguay to get out of their group.

[pineapple stu]

I don't think the World Cup is weaker than the Euros. Take the three worst teams out of the Euros (say, us) and put in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (not to mention Chile, Colombia, even Australia) and you've a stronger tournament, not a weaker one surely?

[pineapple stu]

Ghana 2-1 Germany.

And yet I still get surprised at this tournament.

Why is Schweinsteiger on the bench?

[DannyInvincible]

Oh, yes! Ghana are just a great team to watch. Brilliant stuff.

[pineapple stu]

Miroslav Klose. Legend.

[Charlie Darwin]

Klose is too good.

[DannyInvincible]

He's no Robbie!

[Charlie Darwin]

He never quite got the hang of that somersault, did he? Fair play to him for never giving up.

[DannyInvincible]

I bet he can't even do a cartwheel either.

[Charlie Darwin]

Don't even ask if he can do finger-guns because you know what the answer is.

[pineapple stu]

Open goal for Lahm, and he chooses a fancy backheel which fails to find a teammate?

[Charlie Darwin]

Open goal for Lahm, and he chooses a fancy backheel which fails to find a teammate?
Normally I'd say 'no left foot' but he's got to be one of the most two-footed players going. Not much point him playing in midfield if he doesn't have the confidence to shoot when he gets in the box.

[pineapple stu]

And with the keeper showing a huge gap at the near post too. It was an angle just made for a left-foot shot home.

Ghana's defending has been superb lately though. And I think it now doesn't even need to be said that this is a great game; you can just take it as read.

[DannyInvincible]

Bah, what a glorious chance. How did he manage to let himself get offside there? He had the two defenders in full view.

Christ, Löw strikes me as a real sore loser-type. I know they're not losing, but y'know what I mean...

[Stuttgart88]

What a staggeringly brilliant example of the truly beautiful game.

[geysir]

That was not a game to relax into after Iran Argentina.
The Germans were way too reckless once they drew level, all they needed was a draw but risked everything for a win, almost blew spectacularly against them.

[DannyInvincible]

Cynical foul by Medunjanin there and deserved the booking at the very least. Could it have been argued that he'd denied Nigeria an obvious goal-scoring opportunity? The attacker looked like he'd have been through on goal had it not been for the forceful tugging to the ground.

[pineapple stu]

How was Iran v Nigeria so awful, yet Iran played so well against Argentina and Nigeria have started at a great pace against Bosnia?

Football is weird sometimes