England shouldn’t be favourites to beat Germany »
A patronising BBC commentator claimed that England playing Slovenia on Wednesday was like a Premier League team lining up against a team from the third division. It was a strange comment to make, considering that the Three Lions had previously failed to beat USA and Algeria in Group C and that the Slovenians had accounted for Russia over two legs [...]
Fabio Capello decides his five England players to take »
The stage is set and two arch-enemies in world football will meet for a place in the quarter finals of the World Cup. However, before Argentina and Mexico face off on Sunday evening, there’s the small matter of England against Germany in Bloemfontein and it’s clear that both teams have been practising penalty kicks ahead of the [...]
David James not feeling romantic ahead of Germany »
The England goalkeeper won’t be wining and dining anyone before Sunday’s game against Germany, with David James treating the encounter as ‘just another match’ which he fancies his team to win. While the 39-year-old understands the significance of the Three Lions playing a team where there’s so much history both on and off the pitch, [...]
Will Wayne Rooney score during the 2010 World Cup? »
England have scraped through to the last sixteen after winning their first match of the 2010 World Cup by a slender 1-0 scoreline over minnows Slovenia, although there is major concern over a player who looks a patch on the forward that was scoring for fun in a Manchester United last season. Wayne Rooney once again looked off the pace for [...]
England through to last sixteen of 2010 World Cup – »
A 1-0 victory was enough to ensure that England’s World Cup journey didn’t come to an end in Port Elizabeth and the Three Lions should have won by a more hefty scoreline. Jermain Defoe’s first half strike was all that the team had to show for their efforts, with many great goalscoring chances missed. It made for a nervous finish against a [...]
France end on a low note and finish bottom of World »
It’s Uruguay and Mexico who go through from Group A and perhaps justice was served with France taking just one point from their three matches to suffer the same humiliating exit that was experienced during the 2002 World Cup. Les Bleus were the favourites to win this group before the start of the tournament, although there were always rumours [...]
Joe Cole is not the answer, Steven Gerrard behind »
The journalists are calling for it. The pundits in the TV studio are calling for it. Even the bloke down the pub who knows nothing about football is calling for it. They all want Joe Cole to play on the left wing when England face Slovenia on Wednesday. When it comes to England and the World Cup, everyone’s an expert and Fabio Capello simply [...]
Spain still look vulnerable in the 2010 World Cup »
First of all, the Spanish were complacent and lacking drive against Switzerland. Then they play exactly the same style of football and everyone’s lauding them to high heaven. OK, so Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas helped make a difference against Honduras, although there are still reasons to suggest that Spain won’t win the World Cup. While [...]
England edge closer and closer to hosting World Cup »
After having failed to convince the Asian Football Confederation to support their bid, Australian FA decided to pull out of the race and instead offer their support to Europe. "It became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe," said Jerome Valcke; the FIFA secretary general, declaring the FFA had [...]
Egypt V Algeria preview »
On Saturday, Egypt managed a 2-0 win at home to force this play-off, and the Pharaohs are now a step away from booking the final African ticket to the WC finals. If you had followed the qualifiers, there was once a time when Egypt had only 1 point to Algeria’s 7. Egypt started slow with a home draw to Zambia and a defeat in Algeria. Their [...]
France V Ireland preview »
What can I say? The Irish hosted a “manager-less”side at home and still failed to deliver! I mean, how could the team than managed to score TWO past Buffon fail to find the net altogether facing Lloris, who had just welcomed 5 into his net in the thriller vs Marseille the weekend before? Now it’s France’ ticket to lose, and if [...]
Ukraine V Greece preview »
Just as predicted, the 1st leg went under 2.5 goals (0-0), and again this will be my bet on the second leg. The Greeks have an aging squad in general that cannot afford to play open and speedy football, and travelling with nothing to fall back on means they will try their most to keep it tight in hopes they can hit one on the break and sleep [...]