ponsaelius

Aye, fuck optimism. We're useless and should just accept it without even considering victory. Robotic Germans will win.

Hate to sound like a cunt, but I called that before the tournament ever started. The players he picked were past it, and he couldn't really inject much dynamism and creativity because he left the players who have this at home! Lippi just got it all wrong, and most in Italy could see it coming.

Cheers for the heads up Meg. I wont watch now

I'm worried if we play rigid 4-4-2 he'll get ridiculous time and space like he did vs Australia. A man marking job like Greece did on Messi might be good, although I don't know if for example Barry would have the discipline to do it.

What should have happened is ITV and BBC agreed to split the games either way (1 group game on BBC, 1 on ITV). Then they'd have both been able to be on their respective HD channel and we could all stop being snobs complaining.

It's absolutely terrible isn't it. Watching it on any decent sized TV and it's like a flipping dodgy internet stream.

Again Beeb put the meaningless game on their HD channel

fyp I don't believe for one second that Francesco Totti wouldn't have improved that insipid rubbish. Cassano has retired from international football for the time being. He was getting married this summer and refused to be available from what I heard. I never mentioned Cassano. Was meant at Sewelly, who edited your post. It's true Cassano said that, but it was only after Lippi made it very clear he wasn't getting a call up. Lippi has never liked Cassano and throughout all of last season there was a big media and fan campaign all across Italy to call him up. He was never given the chance because of his past indescrepencies, and hence when it became clear he wasn't gonna go he 'retired' and then planned a wedding date during the World Cup out of spite. He's already said he looks forward to playing once Prandelli is the new manager...

Balotelli of Inter Milan. And thats about it isn't it? How strange. None in the Slovakia side either. Or New Zealand. Or Australia. Or Slovenia. Or Spain. Or Greece. Or Denmark. Racist bastards. No, but they have them in their top divisions. When I tried to think of them in Seria-A, I couldn't apart from Balotelli. Italy is a central/southern europe country so will have a lot of immigration from African nations (at least you'd think). Where as New Zealand is isolated and their Samoan/Hakar natives tend to play Rugby, same as Australia. They all sell bags on the street, not play top-division football. Think its time I bought Calcio: A History of Italian Football, Italian Football has just totally mystified me. I watched it as a kid on Channel4, but never realised it was so inhouse and behind the times infrastructure wise - let alone tactics wise. I have this book and haven't started reading it yet. I recomend you read 'A Season with Verona' aswell. About an English bloke who follows Verona around for a season in away and home games. They're netoriously some of the most xenophobic fans and it gives a real insight into the mindset of Italian football.

fyp I don't believe for one second that Francesco Totti wouldn't have improved that insipid rubbish. This is true tbh. My main gripe, and I said it on here from the moment the squad was announced - was the fact that Lippi was sticking with his usual Juve bias and calling up players who haven't performed in years. Starting with the likes of Iaquinta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Gattuso etc was always going to end in disaster.

Balotelli of Inter Milan. And thats about it isn't it? How strange. Christian Manfredini was Italian born and went onto play for Ivory Coast once instead. Race is still a big deal in Italy. It's quite pathetic tbh how archaic they are and how much abuse alot of black footballers get. Balotelli will likely never get a chance for the national team under current attitudes. Guess the Mafia stereotype is still true at a club level. That's crazy. It's not just race tbh, Mutu and Ibra in particular have both taken gypsy slurs aswell in the past.

HHWWHAT!? I just assumed he was injured, as you would. That is up there with Cambiasso being ignored. Retired from international football. There was alot of murmering about him having a come-back though.

fyp

Balotelli of Inter Milan. And thats about it isn't it? How strange. Christian Manfredini was Italian born and went onto play for Ivory Coast once instead. Race is still a big deal in Italy. It's quite pathetic tbh how archaic they are and how much abuse alot of black footballers get. Balotelli will likely never get a chance for the national team under current attitudes. A famous case is of Marco Zoro who tried to walk off the pitch after taking abuse from Inter fans.

Sorry that I doubted the World Cup. Fantastic, that.

Ghana Uruguay USA South Korea One of them will make the Semis, man what a chance let up. I know you could say you have to beat the best, but now we're gonna have to beat 4 'top' teams rather than just 2

Man look at that damn run-in. Horrible whatever way you look at it tbh

Germany to finish second in their group would fulfill some serious lols. Never gonna happen though.

Milner, I'm sorry

What the fucking fuck? We've seemingly got £1 million to splash and we're spending it on that clown? Jesus H. Christ.

God damn it can't believe we're second. Fuck it, bring on Germany (probably)!!

I want a second before I stop being a nervous wreck.

Love you Jimmy. Sorry I ever doubted you.

E------Rooney--Defoe--------N L---------Gerrard---------------E O--Milner--Lampard--Barry--L C------Terry----Upson---------G ------------James----------------- Maybe something like that? Relying on the fullbacks for width? I just don't want to see Gerrard or Milner in wide positions...

Not playing on the RW he hasn't. Exactly. Milner simply can't play effectively out wide imo.