Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:19 pm  

Bring on the Germans, having said that will they have any Germans playing for them?

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:20 pm  

Glad both Germany and Ghana are going through, they both play some decent stuff and are good to watch, looking at the likely path for each now I wonder if Germany would have rather finished second?

I think both Germany and England will see each other as very beatable, Sunday could be interesting.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:26 pm  

If Desailly was that bothered about Ghana he'd of played for them

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:34 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

He was one-on-one with the keeper with time and space. There should have been no save, he should have buried it.

Weird. You acknowledge the presence of a keeper but then totally discount his ability to prevent Rooney scoring a goal. I bet you're the type of guy who criticises Pele for missing the net when Banks pulled off his miracle save.

Fact: Goalkeepers are there to PREVENT a goal. Perhaps if Rooney had tapped it straight into his gloves you might have a point. Instead he aimed straight for the corner and it took a finger-tip save (at full-stretch) to keep it out. Which - sadly for you - equals a good shot well saved rather than a plain miss.

That was a bad game for Rooney. If he was a 17 year old rookie you'd make allowances and build up his performance, but FFS the whole country has been sucking him off this season and he has done precious little in this WC to even deserve defending.

Fact: Rooney has been outstanding for almost all of the season weighing in with a barrow-load of goals. When he wasn't scoring he was acting as the hub of United's attacking game and he provided plenty of goals and opportunities for his team-mates. Given that - prior to this season - he has never truly been a prolific striker I'd say he deserves EVERY BIT of praise he's received and arguably more besides.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:38 pm  

Asim wrote:

Glad both Germany and Ghana are going through, they both play some decent stuff and are good to watch, looking at the likely path for each now I wonder if Germany would have rather finished second?

I think both Germany and England will see each other as very beatable, Sunday could be interesting.

I agree, good footballing sides. Think Ghana are actually just a clinical striker away from being a dangerous side to almost anyone.

Sunday will definitely be interesting, 2 very capable sides with definite flaws/weaknesses in both. All about which England team turns up I think. If it's the one from qualifying we should do them, any less and we'll be coming home.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:39 pm  

El Pac Carnegie wrote:

How could any game in the World Cup be considered meaningless?

No match is truly meaningless - but in relative terms a win against some Eastern European or Asian or African side with whom we have no "history" is meaningless next to a match and victory against Maradona's (I can barely say his name without cursing) Argentina or Germany.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:45 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Rooney looked far better when we were passing the ball to feet, rather than kicking it long from the centre half. He's not a player that excels at chasing long balls.

Gerrard is wasted on the left ...

Eh? Gerrard was arguably our MOM. It was either him or Milner.

Chris Waddle said early on that teams that passed to feet would do better at this tournament

Teams that have passed to feet have pretty much ALWAYS done well at World Cups (providing they have good players).

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:45 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

I agree, good footballing sides. Think Ghana are actually just a clinical striker away from being a dangerous side to almost anyone.

I think Essien would have made a big difference to them.

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:46 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Fact: Goalkeepers are there to PREVENT a goal. Perhaps if Rooney had tapped it straight into his gloves you might have a point. Instead he aimed straight for the corner and it took a finger-tip save (at full-stretch) to keep it out. Which - sadly for you - equals a good shot well saved rather than a plain miss.

Fact: Rooney has been outstanding for almost all of the season weighing in with a barrow-load of goals. When he wasn't scoring he was acting as the hub of United's attacking game and he provided plenty of goals and opportunities for his team-mates. Given that - prior to this season - he has never truly been a prolific striker I'd say he deserves EVERY BIT of praise he's received and arguably more besides.

Rafa?

Is that you scrap merchant?

Re: FIFA World Cup 2010 : Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:47 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

No match is truly meaningless - but in relative terms a win against some Eastern European or Asian or African side with whom we have no "history" is meaningless next to a match and victory against Maradona's (I can barely say his name without cursing) Argentina or Germany.

I'd have been very happy winning the World Cup without beating the Argies or the Germans. Wouldn't have made it any less meaningful to me.

BTW Shakira or Abby Clancy? It's a tough call!