digavich

I thought that this was an interesting article, without the hype or hysteria of the English press. I have my own thoughts as to what should happen, (cut their f#@#ing wages for a start!), but I'm just an Aussie looking on. Any thoughts? Especially from you English boardies. http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world...00629-zj9k.html

Good post Nid.Sad and true. To an Aussie, you are the old enemy, with the usual argy bargy involved, but, I wanted England to beat Germany and go further, in fact I would have cheered for you if you had gone through to the final. If you are not familiar with the clay you can't make a good pot. Simple. In our case Verbeek blew it with the German game. Wrong combination, wrong tactics and fear of the opposition. We had him for two and a half years, and he still didn't get it. As the ex Aussie player, and now commentator, Craig Foster said, "We didn't learn anything. He learned a lot" Look at what the Kiwis did with a local bloke and what basicaly amounted to a NZ club side. Tear it all down and start again!

I think we have just about got it done! Italia........Chronic cheating France......Chronic shrugging England....Chronic underachieving USA..........Probability of chronic bragging Yep, that's covered it I certainly don't hate the English like the Scots and Irish do, what's to hate? They shipped us out to a better place, a long way away from them. The poor old Paddie and Scots got taken over and stayed right where they were. Nice and close. And yes, it's true, they do hate you and say awful things about you. I wonder why?

Yes! And the use of capital letters and punctuation, where appropriate, is appreciated.

I'm very dissapointed that the Oz boys did'nt go through, it would have been good if the Germans could have put a few more into the Ghana for us Having said that,I'm very proud of their effort in the last two games. We SHOULD have beaten Ghana and did beat Serbia. The heavy defeat by Germany screwed it for us. The construct of the team and the coaches tactics were just wrong. We are a positive people and our sporting teams play that way. Negative,defensive tactics are not our way. I hope we get a coach for the next WC who understands this. I think we proved that we are not mugs in the second half of the Serbia game, Holmans goal was one of the best strikes I've seen in this tournament, so far. Why Verbeek did'nt use him earlier is a mystery. Anyway, the boys have put pride back in the shirt. And just in case that dickhead from the airline deals forum wants to have another crack about how we play, I'll meet him behind the FLB next time I'm over, and we can work it out. Just for the record; I'm 5'7", 60years old, 67kilos and have a bad leg. I simply Don't GIVE a fuck how big or old he is, he'll be all mouth and no trousers anyway. I'm not usually like this. But I do make exceptions.

GREAT!! More bile from 'The Master'. You have truely earned the sobriquet, Septic Tank. Well done To the rest of the Amis. Congratulations on your team going through, and good luck.

The SA manager made a comment about the Henri hand ball against Ireland (at the time it occured). I don't think he'll be seen around a first class team for some time, if ever again. A very bitter man.

The Vuvuzela,in fact, has two uses,both of which involve punishment. Use 1: The owner/operator of this dreadful instrument uses it to assualt the auditory senses of any person unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. NB; it is a little known fact that the Walls of Jericho were torn down by the citizens of the town whilst fleeing en mass from a wandering band of Vuvuzela players who had found their way in through the back gate Excavations around the town have revealed human remains with primitive bone Vuvuzelas inserted into the rectal cavity, many had had their skulls crushed by large stones. Apparently dropped from a great height. Looks like some of the locals fought back. Which brings me rather neatly to.................................................................................................. Use 2: Having dissarmed the player of his instrument, the victim inserts the thing in that 'Special Place', giving it a good sharp kick to get it properly seated Step 1 is now complete. At this point, avoid the temptation to use the Jericho technique. DO NOT USE THE LARGE STONES, as these days, most countries have quite severe penalties for this. Now! stand the incapacitated player on his head,and, into the funnel formed by the flutted end, pour the liquid of your choice. A particular favourite of mine is Budweisser, however, this is a particularly cruel and unusual punishment, you may prefer to use something more benign like sump oil. Step 2 complete. Congratulations, you have done the world a favour.

Sorry, but I just don't believe that all those players have developed an inability to find the net at exactly the same time. The ball IS a problem. FIFA are greedy bastards, the trough is BIG and Addidas have been, I would imagine, quite generous. Another matter in the same ballpark........(sorry I could'nt help it).............. that has drawn little comment is the fact that the German team had the ball for a month before the WC started to, ahem, test it out. To me that reeks of something a bit Cod like. They are a damn good team, they dont need a leg up.

Diving is IMHO the biggest blight on the game. I see no reason to allow it to continue when there is technology to assist the officials in reducing it,it's probably not possible to eliminate it as there will allways be some tosser willing to try it on. Harsh penalties should be levied on those people, as it is the lowest act; akin to horse stealing in the old days. I tend to agree with joekicker in as much as nobody wants to see the game held up interminably by replays, but Dungheap is right, by the time the alleged victim is back on his feet you could have bought a beer and drunk it! If you don't want real time replays, they could be cited on video evidence viewed post game. Sure it would not stop players being wrongly red carded during the game but the perp would stand a strong chance of a harsh fine AND suspension for bringing the game into dissrepute. Just because the ref did'nt see you, doesnt mean you got away with it. Of course, these rules (if implimented) would clear Italy of football players and possibly send the country bankrupt, but hey, it's a small price to pay, really..........................

I actually thought that their effort against Ghana was pretty good, being down to 10 men for a goodly length of time. I wont carry on about the officiating in that game,just note that we did'nt cop any favours. Looks like the Chilean team have been taking lessons off the Azure Dive Monkeys. May the Italian team perish in a flaming pyre of the red cards collected by their victims. If there is any justice, they wont get out of the group stage.

I felt kinda sorry for the Korean players! They are NOT the government, they live under an insane Dictator. There will be no Kimchi for a few days for those boys, probably not for a couple of weeks for the Goalie. The Dark Catholics played beautifully though. Their game with Brazil should be a ripper.

Why do you dislike the Mexicans so much?

The West Indies Cricket Team is made up of a group of islands, some of them do not particularly like one another, but it didn't stop them belting us in the 70's and 80's Happily for us a lot of their best athletes have turned to other sports these days, Basket ball, Athletics and the like. Anyone who thinks Cricket is boring would have changed their mind after facing an over from one of their big fast bowlers. Try avoiding a ball coming at you throat at about 150km. They were terrifying. OOPS! sorry .........football thread.

So how much do you know about synchronised swimming.