posted 01-06-2002 09:32 AM GMT            

i'm going to be watching every single match (apart from the double-headers at the end of the group stage, of course, which would require two tvs and two brains to take it all in). that france result was just excellent -- and i've just finished the ireland-cameroon match.

this next month is going to be bliss...

if england don't win, i'm hoping argentina do (mainly because i have an argentinian email friend -- sorry all you anti-simeone fans). it's just a shame holland aren't there.

posted 01-06-2002 03:14 PM GMT            

I moved to America a couple of years ago, and not only are tha games on at stupid times in the morning here coz of the time difference, I've just discovered that occasionally games that are supposed to be broadcast live (ALL games are SUPPOSED to be live) are not being shown live because a big TV network is showing them at 3:30 the following afternoon. This happened with the Ireland game, and IT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ENGLAND GAME AS WELL!!!!!!!!!! I'm FURIOUS about it. Goddamn stupid Yanks, don't know a decent sport when it kicks them up the arse (Sorry for generalising, I know there are Americans that like the beautiful game....).

posted 19-06-2002 02:53 PM GMT            

If Italy ever want to win the worldcup they should get themselves a revolutionary coach (Hiddink, maybe?) who gets the 'catenaccio'-system out of their heads, and a wonder-doctor who cures their 'falling disease'.

In that case, they might just make it with a little bit of luck.
Unless they stumble upon Holland, that is :)

posted 19-06-2002 06:40 PM GMT            

I agree with every word -- and now Perugia have gone and sacked the Korean goalscorer. It's unbelievable. Sure, Italy were unlucky with a couple of decisions, but as soon as they had scored their goal, they shut down and waited for the 1-0 win.

This continues to be a great World Cup....

posted 20-06-2002 09:22 AM GMT            

As for England -- I've got a feeling they'll win. If it was an evening kick off and Gerard was playing, I'd be sure of it...

posted 26-06-2002 08:15 AM GMT            

i really can't believe some of the Bordering on the Xenophobic stuff you've come out with on this thread .
it's quite shocking the amount of dislike you have for the italian game . but aren't they allowed to play the way they want .its up to them .
personally i think the defend and counter is an excellent way to play ,as the brazillian/african style can leave you very vunarable at the back.

and as for diving /cheating all players do it
koemans pulling down platty
becks and owen diving
itlay shirt pulling
brazil acting.

that's why you you need better referees.and maybe more of them . the game is a lot quicker than it was 30 years ago ,and many of the referres are not atheletes (but they should be ) and cannot keep up with the game

posted 26-06-2002 03:51 PM GMT            

yep, we saw two of the supposedly strongest european sides losing totally deserved from a very modest team like south korea.
Instead of complaining and pointing fingers at others, it would be nice if they took some time for self-reflection.
Both Spain & Italy paid the price for their negative football-mentality, they were not beaten by bad referees but by themselves.

I hope we're gonna have a brill' final.
(my prediction: Bra-Ger 3-2)

posted 29-06-2002 09:46 AM GMT            

this world cup the same chap is livid because although they weren't great they still stuck the ball in the net only to have valid goals disallowed , or they have very dubious offsides called against them

Had the italian and the spanish goals counted (and lots of others in this worldcup ,These are just the highest profile cases ) then the scorelines would have been very different
luckily i didn't put any money down this year

i think some of us need to be a little more objective , atrocious decisions have cost teams games , and even Blatter (fifa President ) has said so .Hopefully this will be the last world cup with pub-team standard referees ..

so answer that and stay fashionable.

posted 29-06-2002 02:06 PM GMT            

I agree completely that some refereeing decisions have been atrocious (show me a recent World Cup where they WEREN'T), but the point that I and Rob were making, is that a number of teams (including, but not JUST Italy) adopted the wrong strategy and have paid the price. I'm an England fan, and the way we played in the second half against Brazil was utter bollocks, we deserved to lose (and NO WAY should Brazil have received a red card). But the point is, while Italy had dubious goals dis-allowed, they did not push hard enough and put teams under enough pressure.

The reason why I wrote what I did is cos you were accusing Rob of being Xenophobic, which is a HELL of a thing to accuse someone of being. Let's just play nice Kids. And COME ON BRAZIL!