LucaAltieri

If only they took the same cautious approach with their economy.

Greece going through. Excellent.

Probably about 14. So? http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr1ngd7yKj1r2g7mto1_500.png :lol: DEAD If only.

Standards are slipping.

I can. It's the third time he has bitten another grown man! Can see him getting a lengthy ban from international games. I'm assuming that's the ban for "violent conduct" or similar. In which case I don't think it'll be treated the same as laying someone out. It'll be a lighter punishment than we're all hoping for. He didn't do any real damage, he was just trying to cheat. FIFA has no real problem with dishonesty.

There are several million reasons not to give Qatar the World Cup, but the fact that a region's team may see some benefit from the climate is not one of them. I'd love to see a World Cup in Russia in winter tbh. Having half the teams in the competition being completely unable to run around will put a downer on it for me, personally.

Wouldn't say the bite decided this match. No, it was a good headed goal by a player who should have been suspended.

South and Central American teams doing disproportionately well in a World Cup hosted in South America. Just goes to show the difference climate makes and how fucking stupid it was to award Qatar a World Cup. I look forward to Iran and Algeria bossing it in 2022.

Nah, he's entitled to turn and shield that ball, including getting his foot around it. Barely made contact with the player. The only reason he went down was because he got his body in the way too. Really harsh red.

Never a red.

My under-11s girls team would have have at least got a shot away.

Parolo looks knackered just jogging out on to the pitch.

Do one.

Nah just trying to fuck with my fantasy team. Needn't have bothered. I forgot to take Mandzukic off the bench after last week.

In a completely unnecessary and undeserved defence of Ryder, it's not usually the journo who puts the title on these.

I prefer to think of it as carnival spirit.

Fixed.

Not fit enough/didn't "show enough" in the pre-tournament friendlies.

Fuck's sake. Costa Rica.

The devil is Italian.

Balotelli's positioning and running has been pretty good. Just a shame about the finishing.

Not offside there. Unlucky.

The only thing I know about Maryland is Stacy Kiebler. That's enough for me to know it's my second favorite state.

What have you seen to suggest they're not very good? Genuine question, I don't really take much interest in the qualifiers tbh. I think they were 1 win in 7 before the tournament and drew 1-1 with Luxembourg a week before the start with a full strength side, and 0-0 with Ireland the week before. They played a lot experimental formations in the build up though. They lack a bit pace but Italy are a pretty solid side at full strength I think. Confident they'll beat Uruguay and Costa Rica then? Italy have quality in every area of the pitch. They're capable of beating both of those sides. They won't though, seeing as they don't need to. Right. Not necessarily saying that they will beat them both. But if they don't it won't be because they're not good enough.