World Cup LD

[Барбоса]

Surely Switzerland would be classed as a long shot rather than a dark horse?

They might qualify well but at tournaments and in general they don't score any goals.

 

[Барбоса]

Except for when I say they don't score...

 

[Blade]

I'll tell you this for free too. If Ashley Cole was playing playing, England wouldn't have lost. The defence looks ramshackle.

I think it was John Terry that would've prevented the loss. Fact is, neither Jagielka nor Cahill are good enough to stop someone like Balotelli, especially in the air. I hate Terry, but he's still England's best central defender.

 

[Барбоса]

John Terry would not have stopped Balotelli scoring either. The cross was too good.

If this game has proven anything, it is that Clarke Carlisle does not know the rules of football.

 

[Blade]

Terry would've made it much harder for Balotelli.

Well, that match was meh but it ended on a high note. Great team goal at the end.

 

[Барбоса]

Dear me, what was the Ecuadorian doing on the penalty spot...?

In what is fast becoming my refrain, just fucking shoot!

 

[Барбоса]

If anything, Terry would have been further away from Balotelli being that he is older and slower than Cahill. It was just a good cross and once Marchisio had dragged Johnson in, there was nothing to be done.

Where Terry might have done something was in Jagielka's position but then JT is not above charging about trying to do everything and ending up doing nothing.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Are Holland contenders according to anyone?

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

The one thing I'll never understand about soccer: why don't they just stop the clock? It seems to just make things more complicated later on for extra time.

It's quite simple - the clock doesn't theoretically stop automatically for throw ins, goal kicks or even free kicks. The referee only uses discretionary additional time if any of the above do take more than a reasonable amount of time for whatever reason (time wasting being the most regular occurrence). Stopping the clock every single time the ball went dead would add on silly time.

 

[klunderbunker]

It's quite simple - the clock doesn't theoretically stop automatically for throw ins, goal kicks or even free kicks. The referee only uses discretionary additional time if any of the above do take more than a reasonable amount of time for whatever reason (time wasting being the most regular occurrence). Stopping the clock every single time the ball went dead would add on silly time.

That makes more sense that anything else I've heard. I still find it rather ridiculous that soccer fans are terrified of a match lasting an extra few minutes and having the correct amount of time rather than what the referee thinks is right, but it is what it is.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Are Holland contenders according to anyone?

They have a predominantly young/unexperienced squad and Robben Van Persie are both susceptible to innocuous injuries keeping them out longer than expected. Also, like France, they can implode at will.

With that said, I like seeing them do well but I think they would still be considered as outsiders and not one of the main favourites.

 

[Gelgarin]

KB just likes to watch everything with a stopwatch.

 

[Dirk]

Pogba's combination of hair and acting is quite entertaining.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Ooh, things are literally kicking off with France and Honduras. Hope that a French forward player gets sent off or Honduras score first so I can see Giroud get on the pitch as only 2 of my Fantasy team have actually played so far

KB just likes to watch everything with a stopwatch.

That would be an awful pet name for Becca.

 

[Dirk]

That would be an awful pet name for Becca.

Something, something, ticked-off, etc...

 

[Blade]

I'm late to this match. But I'm assuming I haven't missed much?

Ah. Benzema started. The most overrated forward in Europe.

 

[Dan Severn's Moustache]

Pogba is on my fantasy team, so I hope he doesn't get sent off.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

I'm late to this match. But I'm assuming I haven't missed much?

Wilson Palacios and Pogba had a kicking match and the commentators changed their mind several times about who should have been shown what card (both ended up getting yellow then Palacios fouled Pogba later to concede the penalty)

I expect one more red in the second half.

 

[Blade]

If it takes a penalty for France to break the deadlock, then something is wrong... It's likely Benzema. Bring on Giroud!

 

[Tastycles]

God Honduras are villains.


The ball is typically in play for about an hour in football. Playing the full 90 on the clock would kill them and add a minimum of 45 mins to the playing time.

Switzerland were enjoyable, that's the shock of the tournament. Big respect for Behrami carrying on going.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Jonathan Pearce's reaction to the goal-line technology was amazingly petulant and somewhat sulky. Bit of a surprise as he's usually quite a level-headed commentator.

 

[Blade]

I retract my comments about Benzema being the problem. He's still overrated though.

 

[Lee]

Jonathan Pearce's reaction to the goal-line technology was amazingly petulant and somewhat sulky. Bit of a surprise as he's usually quite a level-headed commentator.

He must have thought he was on Robot Wars.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

He must have thought he was on Robot Wars.

He should have called the ref a Shunt

 

[Барбоса]

The displaying of the ball hitting the post was a bit of a mess though. A good way to cause carnage in the stands.

And yes, Honduras are hatchetmen of there highest order. They displayed that against England in a friendly for fucks sake.