ponsaelius

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.

Better than zero pace, zero end product that you get from Milner on the wing. "Burrrtt, he workss haardd!!!" Milner in the middle at all times, not as a wide man.

Something tells me this team will lack width...

That's ridiculous tbh. How? Because he cares about his country as much as his club? Aye, what a cunt. Gotta say for me it wouldn't be as bad, but I'm still pretty nervous.

No, we'd go through as 2nd rather than top. It would finish: USA 5 England 5 Slovenia 4 Algeria 1 Right now USA is only ahead of England on goals scored. England could easily finish as group winners since GD with USA is even. Yeah man I know, but Taylor_J was unsure of the outcome if USA got a 'better' win than us - as in he thought we'd go out altogether.

There was only one Germany that time. Pretty sure they were still West Germany then. They were. Just checked it. They were indeed, didn't know that. Strange but true. Not that strange given that German reunification didn't formally take place until October 3rd 1990. I think the wall falling in '89 could be where his confusion lies.

No, we'd go through as 2nd rather than top. It would finish: USA 5 England 5 Slovenia 4 Algeria 1

This game is gonna be f***ing hell. Hope I'm not crossing off England from my sig tomorrow