ponsaelius

I've got a £100 bet with one of my close mates that an Asian team wins the World Cup before an African team does You have the numbers & teams but you pal has the players. The African teams are just never ever organised enough to go far in these tournaments. I have more faith in Asian football reaching a similar level to Europe than I do Africa - they have the funding and the population to develop. To be honest, I think it's more likely that neither happen in our lifetimes.

I've got a £100 bet with one of my close mates that an Asian team wins the World Cup before an African team does

Aye, cross the out with my photo editing (MSPaint) skills.

Ah rights I was never sure which one, I assumed it was Swedish because of your Zlatan love but then I saw your location was Norwegian I wasn't sure/

No, both SK and Japan won their groups. South Korea blatantly cheating their way to the semis is the most memorable thing about that World Cup. Perugia sacking off Ahn Jung-Hwan

Ah, Swedish?

Are you Norwegian?

Pretty much both.

I guess they don't fancy giving Nacho another go

Chance to make it 3 at Real. Aye, I think Happel is the man Mourinho is truly chasing. he won the league title in 4 different countries, the domestic Cup in 4 different countries, the European cup in 2 different countries and managed to take Netherlands to the WC final. With the career time Mourinho has left, he can surpass that haul by a distance. He's hosted a European Championship and Champions League final n all.

Chance to make it 3 at Real. Aye, I think Happel is the man Mourinho is truly chasing. he won the league title in 4 different countries, the domestic Cup in 4 different countries, the European cup in 2 different countries and managed to take Netherlands to the WC final. With the career time Mourinho has left, he can surpass that haul by a distance.

Hitzfeld, Mourinho and Ernst Happel are the only managers to win a European Cup with 2 different clubs. It's a true test of a manager to manage to build a side capable of such success, then to do it all over again.

1966: 2.78 1970: 2.97 1974: 2.55 1978: 2.68 1982: 2.81 1986: 2.54 1990: 2.21 1994: 2.71 1998: 2.67 2002: 2.52 2006: 2.30 2010: 1.64

Spain were very poor. No getting away from this. Of course, credit to Switzerland - I expected at least one mistake but nothing came about. They were, but that defence was like the Inter defence at times. Except it was von Bergen and Grichting not Lucio and Samuel. They must have been seriously drilled before hand to be that solid throughout. Spain's tournament is seriously on the line now, while Honduras and Chile will play into their hands more they've got alot of work to do.

Take a team of average-to-good players and put a truly World Class manager in charge, and that's why this result happened. Hitzfeld has to take alot of credit.

Last time Switzerland conceded a goal at the World Cup: July 2nd, 1994 - against Spain.

Okay, so the man from Cape Verde scores for Switzerland to beat pure-blooded Spain. Parky, have anything to say?

Hopp Schwiiz!!

If anybody tries to tell me there's nowt wrong with the ball I'll flip. That thing is a disgrace, I'd like to see some shooting stats in terms of getting shots on target for this tournament compared to others. The defensive tactics have contributed to the negative games, but the fact this crap ball is ruining the fluidity of some teams is preventing the teams from keeping momentum and breaking the defences down - imo.

If you've ever wanted to see a midfielder who contributes absolutely fuck all - watch out for Benjamin Huggel today.

That Spain midfield is so f***ing good. Only Busquets who isn't truly world class. Derdiyok - why o why did we never f***ing buy him? Aye. Derdiyok is a really exciting player, he's had a cracking season for Leverkusen. The injury to Frei is a shame for the Swiss but it's a good oppurtunity for him to fill in - thankfully that donkey Streller got crocked to put him up the pecking order aswell. Impressed 2008 when we were linked very heavily and he has proved he can do it consistantly in a top league. Old man N'Kufo has been banging them in this season so Spain will have to be wary at setpieces etc. Streller is f***ing cack, pleased they've finally f***ed Zuberbuhler off n all, possibly the least agile goalkeeper i've ever had the pleasure of watching. Conversely Benaglio is one of the most underrated keepers in Europe. I know Youtube compilations don't prove anything but there's one particular one which makes the man look like a worldbeater. He isn't, but he's very good. (cursed him now like)

Mainstay of a very poor St Etienne side. Never fulfilled promise and has crablike midfield tendancies.

The two teams I wanted to see most before the tournament started, both delivered well. Aye same, I'm fascinated by how the Chile system works. They seem to be able to throw players forward in wild abandon yet look fluid enough for others to fill in defensively at the same time, it's a joy to behold to see such a dynamic system working. Of coure though, we'll see how it works against Spain and even Switzerland. North Korea is just sheer intrigue, and they're the ultimate quirky underdog. Come on you plucky axis of evil. Be interesting to see how their system holds up versus Spain although it might end up being a dead rubber IIRC which would be a shame. The Chilean players seem to have the drive/fitness that the Argentines didn't when Bielsa tried that system with them in 2002. I think it helps they have a lot of adaptable players too. Sanchez can play anyhwere upfront as can Mati Fernandez, Medel can play any defensive position. Yeah, their players are so versatile it helps. Although it might be partly down to Bielsa for turning them into more adaptable players? I'm not sure. I can't remember the Argentinean team, but imagine Javier Zanetti filling in one of the fullback/wingback/defenvie midfielder roles in that team.

That Spain midfield is so f***ing good. Only Busquets who isn't truly world class. Derdiyok - why o why did we never f***ing buy him? Aye. Derdiyok is a really exciting player, he's had a cracking season for Leverkusen. The injury to Frei is a shame for the Swiss but it's a good oppurtunity for him to fill in - thankfully that donkey Streller got crocked to put him up the pecking order aswell.