|
Last post on here - I'm concentrating on my blog at Talk Soccer frfom now on - to see what I'm rambling about, click the link below...
Talk Soccer blog Lots of complaints about the BBC coverage of the World cup at the moment - a BBC Sport internet site has appealed to readers to stop posting offensive comments about the various pundits!!
Everyone is complaining about how bad Lawrenson, Motson and Wrightie are, how boring Shearer is and the inane comments of Mick McCarthy. They are also complaining that they can't understand the scots, Hansen and Strachan. Wow! It seems that the foreign pundits such as Leonardo and Desailly are more understandable than the Brits!!! The only person who seems to be getting any praise is good 'ole Adrian Chiles - who is, after all a real fan, rather than an ex-pro, or veteran commentator... Seems that BBC Football is performing just the same as the England team - rubbish at the moment, but just about getting through! Howvever, if people think they are bad, they should listen to the rubbish from Gareth Southgate on ITV. He is to commentating, what he is to penalty-taking...just hope he performs better as a Middlesbrough manager! Don't forget your world cup wallchart - get one here! Friend of mine sent this today...fascinating!
Only problem is that when you draw attention to these patterns, they always go wrong! Let's see if it works this time, but even if it doesn't its fascinating all the same... What I am talking about? Here goes... Brazil won the world cup in 1994. Before that, he had won this title for the last time in 1970. If you add up: 1970 + 1994 = 3964 Argentina won the world cup for the last time in 1986. Before that only in 1978. And 1978 + 1986 = 3964 Germany won the world cup in 1990. Before that, Germany won in 1974. Look: 1990 + 1974 = 3964 This could lead us to guess the winner of the World Cup in 2002, since it should be the winner of the 1962 World Cup. (In fact 3964 - 2002 = 1962). And Brazil won the world cup in 1962! (And, in fact, Brazil won the 2002 WC) This numerology seems to work... And now, who would be the winner of the 2006 world cup? Let's see, 3964 - 2006 = 1958 And who won in 1958?.... Oh, Brazil did!!! Follow the Wolrd Cup - and see if the pattern coninues, with your World Cup Wallchart. Download your copy here The Germans won their second game today and almost guaranteed qualification to the second round. A hard-fought battle with the Poland team. The Poles probably thought they had done enough for a draw as the clock ticked over into injury time. But I just knew the Germans would score – they are famous for these last-minute goals!
Anyway, as the Germans celebrate and the English prepare for today’s game against the Soca Warriors, here is a great joke which perfectly captures the age-old football rivalry between the 2 nations. A German family head out one Saturday to do some shopping. While in the sports shop the son picks up an England football shirt and says to his sister, "I've decided to be an England supporter and I would like this for my birthday." His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him round the head and says, "Go talk to your mother." So off goes the little lad with the white and red football shirt in hand and finds his mother. "Mum?" "Yes son?" "I've decided I'm going to be an England supporter and I would like this shirt for my birthday". The mother is outraged at this, promptly whacks him around the head twice and says, "Go talk to your father." Off he goes with the football shirt in hand and finds his father. "Dad?" "Yes son?" "I've decided I'm going to be an England supporter and I would like this shirt for my birthday." The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son around the head 4 times and says: "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!" About half an hour later they're all back in the car and heading towards home. The father turns to his son and says; “Son, I hope you've learned something today?" The son says, "Yes dad I have." “Good son, what is it?" The son replies, “I've only been an England supporter for an hour and already I hate you German B@stards!" Wow! What a blazing start to the competition! From a 6 goal thriller opening match, the World Cup has delighted and entertained so far with every game. 8 games completed already – that 1/8 of the competition over and if the rest of the games are as good, the next few weeks will be a real feast of football.
The BBC football coverage has been great - although if Alan Shearer drones on much more he will put me to sleep! Wrightie is his usual bubbly self, Hansen is as entertaining as always and I love the incisive analysis of Martin O'Neil and Gordon Strachan. A big feature of the opening games is that the so-called “underdogs” are not going to be whipping boys. They are taking the game to the big teams and really giving them a fight – as evidenced by the incredible 0-0 draw achieved by the “Soca Warriors” Trinidad and Tobago against Sweden, despite playing half the game with 10 men. Most disappointing team so far – England! Despite all the hype and the fact that they actually won their game, they looked poor and their inability to keep the ball by playing short simple passes will make them come unstuck against the better teams later on. I’m off now to load up all the results in my World Cup Soccer interactive wall chart. Remember you can download you copy now using the link below. World Cup soccer interactive wall chart. Just a few hours to go until the big kick-off in Germany and the BBC are gearing up for covering the opening ceremony and the first game. The first game is Germany vs Costa Rica. This marks a big change in tradition – usually the first game involves the cup holders. FIFA are constantly trying to change the format – for example, this is the first tournament where the holders now have to qualify again. Up until now the holders have had an automatic entry into the finals.
Be interesting to see how Germany perform. German football is in the doldrums at the moment, but they always do well in tournaments (they have reached the final more than any other team) and home advantage is usually good for at least a ¼ final place… Anyway, the anticipation is building! Got my World Cup Interactive Wallchart safely installed on my pc and I’ve been playing around with it. It’s amazing! I’ve been using the “what If” feature to develop a strategy for Trinidad and Tobago to win the cup – well, we can always dream…J Anyway, I’m gonna be tracking the progress of the tournament using the Wallchart. Remember you can grab yourself a copy as well. Just use the link below. World Cup Interactive Wallchart Here we go! BBC Football BBC Football
7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the half-time score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying "one" game; hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to "spend time together". 8. The replays of the goals are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again. Many times. 9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that require my attendance because: a) I will not go, b) I will not go, and c) I will not go. 10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash. 11. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying "but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch??" the reply will be: "Refer to Rule #2 of this list". 12. And finally, please save your expressions such as "Thank God the World Cup is only every 4 years". I am immune to these words, because after this comes the Champions League, Italian League, Spanish League, Premier League, etc etc. Thank you for your cooperation. Regards, Men of the World See Part 1 below... BBC Football BBC Football
With the World Cup fast approaching and the excitement building, lots of people will be preparing to start tracking the games and the performance of their national – or favorite teams, via wallcharts. However, if you are planning to use an online wallchart, BEWARE! The experts over at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have warned users about a “Trojan horse” virus that poses as a free wallchart for the soccer World Cup tournament. To quote from the Sophos site: “The Troj/Haxdoor-IN Trojan horse has been spammed out to computer users via a link in a message offering a free wallchart for fans who wish to follow their favorite teams in the international football tournament. If PC users are tempted into running the malicious program they risk allowing hackers to gain access to their computer for criminal ends. “ So BEWARE if someone is offering you a free World Cup wallchart, by email. If you want a wallchart, download one from a respected source such as the Fibonacci World Cup Wallchart, which you can download HERE. Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to wives, girlfriends, fiancées, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all women of this world).
These rules are to be communicated prior to the World Cup in June/July this year... List of Rules: 1. From 9 June to 9 July 2006, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention. 2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye). 3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don't mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me. If you decide to stand nude in front of the TV, make sure you put clothes on right after because if you catch a cold, I won't have time to take you to the doctor or look after you during the World Cup month. 4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second floor....it won't happen. 5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day. 6. Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say "get over it, its only a game", or "don't worry, they'll win next time". If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called "words of encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce. Rules 7-12 coming up tomorrow... Download your World Cup ONline Wallchart BBC Football BBC Football
Did you know? ...that there will be 4 African nations taking part in a World Cup Final stage for the first time - Ghana, The Ivory Coast, Angola and Togo. The other first-timers will be Ukraine and Trinidad & Tobago. Get some more details on these teams with the excellent World Cup Online wallchart BBC Football Listing of all possible blogs from personal pages to politically related. Manually edited. BBC Football BBC Football and the World Cup
“The finest online wallchart.” FHM.com “A marvellous invention," FourFourTwo "This team drags ancient tradition into the 21st century..." Web User Despite the very positive reviews from these publications, I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting much from this Wallchart, except just an onscreen version of the usual newspaper or magazine wallchart. But I have to say, I LOVE IT! The Fibonacci Online World Cup Wall Chart was invented by a small software house in time for the 2002 World Cup. They had an amazing 25,000 downloads – pre-broadband! So what’s the 2006 version like? New, improved and brilliantly updated. The World Cup Wall Chart is basically an interactive, electronic version of traditional paper wallcharts that have been so popular for decades. But to call it a wallchart is really doing it a disservice – its soooo much more. It’s actually a brilliant piece of interactive software, with which you can: · Keep track of all the scores, or just click to download them. · Record all the goals scored and penalties taken. · Get the groups automatically updated · Get the winners automatically progressed to the next stage · Set up your own “What if” scenarios · Get ALL the info on the teams and venues, including web links. · Check out an overwhelming amount of stats, which you can customize to suit yourself · Even play a built-in game that is cleverly hidden in the chart! · Organise your office or club sweepstakes. The chart will keep track of who has paid and who hasn’t! And much, much more… I’ve got to say that this compares to the usual newspaper wallcharts, like a Ferrari F360 compares to a horse and cart. As we get closer to the start of the World Cup, all the newspapers will be releasing their gimmicky World Cup wallcharts, and usually, I would be one of the first to pin one up on my work desk, use it to organize the office sweepstake and then painstakingly fill it out after every game. But to be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to take them seriously again!! The Guardian newspaper – not exactly the most excitable publication - sums up this great little piece of software brilliantly when it said about the original version; "It's not quite as thrilling as shouting yourself hoarse on the terraces, or as moving as feeling the blazing oriental sun drying the inevitable tears of disappointment as they cascade down your face, but its the next best thing." Download your copy of the Fibonacci Online World Cup Wall Chart HERE. BBC Football and the World Cup BBC Football
Sat down to watch the ultimate BBC football match yesterday – the FA cup Final. The BBC football line-up for the game was a good one – Mr Cool, Gary Lineker in the chair, Alan Hansen (the pundit’s pundit), Alan Shearer and the mad-man Ian Wright! Meanwhile, the commentators were good ole John Motson and “Lawro” Mark Lawrenson. Well- what a game! A fantastic spectacle – one of the best FA cup finals I have seen for a loooong time and done full justice by the BBC football team. Motson and Lawro held it together during the game, Hansen was his usual insiteful self at half time and Wrightie provide the usual comic value mixed with some very perceptive comments. The only disappointment was Shearer – he tries hard, but he really is too much “Mr Boring” to add any real value to punditry, especially BBC football punditry. The game itself was a truly great final, played in a great spirit. What more can you have in a game, mistakes leading to a 2-0 advantage for the underdogs, the favorites fighting back to 2-2, the underdogs going ahead again to a freak goal and then - just as you think its all over – one of the most magnificent goals I’ve ever seen in an FA cup Final. Then there were the injuries and the tiredness, with players dropping like flies and hobbling around the pitch during the latter stages of the second half and extra time. Then there was the dramatic save during extra time. And to cap it all, the drama of penalties, Reina coming good after a fairly bad game and saving 3 of the West Ham spot-kicks. And all handle excellently by the BBC football team. Hansen made the point at the end that West Ham were the better team and would have won it had it not been for one man – Steven Gerrard. That’s a bit harsh on the rest of the Liverpool team – I thought Sissoko had a magnificent game, holding the midfield together when all the stars around him were making lots of mistakes. But there is a big grain of truth in the assessment – West Ham played the better football and made much less mistakes. But they couldn’t overcome the tremendous fighting spirit of Liverpool – and the magnificence of Gerrard. Well done to both teams and a big thank you to the BBC football team for handing the occasion so expertly. Roll on the World Cup! BBC Football This is a new blog – all about BBC football. Also check out my other blogs at:
http://fifa-world-cup-news.blogspot.com http://fifa-world-cup2006.blogspot.com http://talk-soccer.blogspot.com/ http://world-cup-news.blogspot.com http://my-world-cup-2006.blogspot.com http://world-cup-soccer-news.blogspot.com BBC football This is a new blog about BBC football - talking about the presentation of football on the BBC. SKy has loads of bright and shiny stuff, but lets face it - BBC football is QUALITY!
BBC football |