Football vs. Football

I saw Darlo for the first time in ages last weekend, playing at Mossley in the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup. The game itself was spoiled by the unnecessary 'double-punishment' rule (their goalkeeper was adjudged to have brought down our player in the penalty area, resulting in both a red card for the keeper and a penalty kick), but a 6-2 win is a 6-2 win. Also a reminder of the good old days, when I could watch Darlo for £7 - the £20+ I've paid to see them against the likes of Accrington Stanley and Bury in League Two is just ridiculous.

Now for this weekend, something completely different: San Francisco 49ers vs Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium...

What the Haye?

Now I'm always been a big fan of David Haye. But calling the Klitchko brothers out, and then choosing to duck them and instead fight Audley Harrison? Come on David, get a grip man - you're a World Champion for goodness sake. A unification bout with Wladimir Klitchko would be huge (and very winable - his chin is so suspect); a fight with 'Ordinary' Harrison is just a joke.

World Cup Ramblings (6)

So it's semi-finals time. I'd like to see a Holland v Spain final, simply because I think they're the best two teams never to have won the tournament. But (based upon what I've seen so far) Germany would be the most deserving winners.

World Cup Ramblings (5)

So my pre-tournament prediction that Engerland would definitely make the quarter-finals was wrong (even I didn't appreciate quite how bad they were). The inquest has already started, but I suggest that, instead of blaming the manager, the system, the linesman, etc., people just read this post from a couple of years ago:

http://floatlikeabutterflysting.blogspot.com/2008/06/42-years-of-hurt-and-counting.html

World Cup Ramblings (4)

Same old story - one minute the Engerland team are hopeless losers (and let's be honest they did look woeful against Algeria) the next they're going to beat Germany. In fact most of the callers to the Radio 5 phone in after the Slovenia game seemed to be of the opinion "now we're going to win it"!

To be honest, a victory against Germany wouldn't surprise me - but if they beat Germany, then Argentina, then Spain, then Brazil, even I will have to concur that they're deserved winners!

World Cup Ramblings (3)

Still sticking to my pre-tournament prediction that Engerland will definitely reach the quarterfinals, and probably the semis. The parallels with 1990 are scary: ridiculed after the opening 2 games, players force manager to change system, relatively easy route to the semis, come home as heroes..

World Cup Ramblings (2)

Some thoughts at the end of the first group stage matches:

Germany: I suspect they may have peaked too soon. Historically, teams which start really well don't go on to win the World Cup

Argentina: As I said before the tournament began, they are probably the best value odds to win the tournament (still around 7/1)

Engerland: It wouldn't surprise me if Robert Green ended up being the quarter/semi final penalty kick hero...

Ivory Coast & France: The dream scenario remains that Engerland get knocked out by Sven’s side, and that France win the whole thing. Unfortunately, I don't see either of those things happening. Ivory Coast probably won't get through the group of death, and France may also go home early

Spain: Usual calamitous start to a World Cup. However, one would expect this group of players to be a bit more resilient than in the past, and it will be interesting to see if they can turn it around. No team has ever won the competition after losing their opening game, so if they did manage to pull it off it would be a tremendous achievement.

Brazil: Arguably the best team in the tournament, but the best team doesn't always win. Sometimes mediocre teams win - which is why Engerland still have a chance…