chicago_shearer

Disappointing from Univision today, they must have given the chicas the day off. A few tasty Italian girls in the crowd, but it's really not the same. Hope Paraguay turn up for this one. This tournament needs some quality.

But not before the unstoppable force of New Zealand meet the immovable object of Slovakia in a match already being described as on this Tuesday.

Would you pay to watch this?

Very English performance from Denmark. Boring, totally incapable of maintaining possession, capped off with an extremely unlucky mistake.

You mean like Ryan Giggs? Well that's my point. It depends on the loyalties of the individual, not the piece of paper. Wasn't Michael Owen in the same boat? No. Owen is ethnically English. Owen actually proves my point in that he attended school in Wales but still played for England. So Google tells me he was born in an English hospital across the border to English parents, but spent his entire childhood in Wales. If he hadn't have been talented enough to get scouted by professional scouts at a relatively young age, it's entirely conceivable that he would have spent his life in Wales. But he would never have been eligible to play for Wales, because there is no way to acquire Welsh 'citizenship' in the same way that Podolski acquired German citizenship. It's really surprising that the home nations have maintained this special dispensation from FIFA for so long. There's no five year rule in the UK I think, for British people that is, because Wales, Scotland and Norn Ireland aren't "real" countries. Apparently there is. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1285321/Andrew-Driver-moon-FIFA-rule-change-allows-Hearts-star-play-Scotland.html

You mean like Ryan Giggs? Well that's my point. It depends on the loyalties of the individual, not the piece of paper. Wasn't Michael Owen in the same boat? No. Owen is ethnically English. Owen actually proves my point in that he attended school in Wales but still played for England. So Google tells me he was born in an English hospital across the border to English parents, but spent his entire childhood in Wales. If he hadn't have been talented enough to get scouted by professional scouts at a relatively young age, it's entirely conceivable that he would have spent his life in Wales. But he would never have been eligible to play for Wales, because there is no way to acquire Welsh 'citizenship' in the same way that Podolski acquired German citizenship. It's really surprising that the home nations have maintained this special dispensation from FIFA for so long.

You mean like Ryan Giggs? Well that's my point. It depends on the loyalties of the individual, not the piece of paper. Wasn't Michael Owen in the same boat?

Podolski and Klose aren't "really" Polish though. Klose moved to Germany when he was six (after also probably spending more than 50% of their time before this in France where his father was playing football.), Podolski moved when he was two. How can you expect someone moving that young to have any real feelings toward a country they've only lived in for a very small amount of their life? Also Podolski's paternal family belonged to the German minority in Upper Silesia before they moved. FIFA can't go around telling people if they have proper citizenship or not. An Algerian moving to France at the age of two, could conceivably grow up identifying himself as an Algerian rather than a Frenchman for a number of racial, religious and social reasons. A Welsh child growing up in England from the same age is probably not going to have that sort of attachment to his place of birth. But who the f*** knows. You'll never be able to draw the line and I'm not sure why you'd want to.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the rules as they are. Those Turkish or Polish German players could conceivably have a very strong patriotic attachment to Germany based on their acquired citizenship or citizenship by birthright. They could feel more 'German' than John Terry feels English, or they could be opportunistically attempting to play in a World Cup. I don't know, there's no good way to find out. And it doesn't matter. One Turkish kid could move to Germany at 5 years old, completely assimilate to German culture, adopt citizenship and worship David Hasselhoff. Another could spend his life in a Turkish community, support his father's team and stay 'Turkish'. If both end up professional footballers, then they are entitled to a choice. We hope they pick the country they feel emotionally attached to. Some will. Some don't. Some may not care. It depends on too many factors to both worrying about.

I just don't understand the point. I don't think I would mind if the noise in any way correlated with what was happening on the pitch. During goals, or moments of high action. Fine, no problem. But it is just a steady, constant drone. There must be a few thousand people at every match who are constantly blowing on their vuvuzela. Without breaks, without any joy, passion or attention paid to the game. You can't tell me they get any pleasure out of it. It must be hard work. Just 90 minutes of intently blowing on their trumpet, interspersed with deep, heavy gasps. Since it can't bring them much enjoyment, I can only conclude that it is a serious, well planned and concerted effort to annoy the hell out of me.

You can tell a shit referee a mile off. He just looked so satisfied that the camera was on him for that red card. Almost smiled.

And the referee finally drops one.

On paper, you are right. But realistically, I can't see us beating Germany when it matters. Absolutely vital that we thump Algeria and Slovenia by a wide margin and leave the Yanks to deal with it.

I think it's the opposite problem honestly. I think Germany have very little 'respect' for their opposition, absolutely no nerves in these tournaments and consequently play to their potential. They never seem fazed. England, on the other hand, shit themselves and it shows in the performance.

It's not just about the names though, it's how well they play together. If you were given the choice of Low or Capello instead of Hughton, everyone would choose Capello. It doesn't make any sense why they are so much better than England, but it is plainly evident that they are.

It seems stupid to say England are on par with Germany, but if you were given the choice of signing a player for Newcastle from each position from the England 23 or the German 23, you'd probably end up with mostly English players + Lahm, Schweinsteiger and possible Klose. You wouldn't honestly take that Turkish kid ahead of Gerrard or Lampard.

Ghana weren't that impressive.

I'm still waiting for a great game. England/USA was entertaining but not a classic, South Korea played well against a bad team and the South Africans scored a good goal. Other than that, it's been bland so far.

If Germany is the one currently in the Chile top, then she wins.

There are at least 3 names I've never heard of, but I'm sure they'll all turn out to be annoyingly organized, composed and impressive on their way to the final.

Today they are in their white 'away' shorts.

They cut to the woman they have in South Africa, who pulls a random South African bloke from the crowd in a Barca top, says something to him in Spanish which he quite obviously doesn't understand, and then she starts screaming BAFANA BAFANA BAFANA in his face for a full thirty seconds. There is currently a woman in what I'm guessing is some sort of native Paraguyan costume balancing milk bottles on her head. Beats a bunch of ex-players talking about tactics and 'keys to game' any day.

I turn to Univision, and they are interviewing German blonde in a sexy beer maid costume. Brilliant.

God I hate Alexi Lalas. Stupid ginger clown. Shut up about Tim Howard ffs. I'm switching. It's really a question of how you want to spend the time between matches. Latina chicas dancing > Alexi Lalas talking.

Penalty.