International Footy

[lildave3]

Andre Santos gone off, this game is over from where i'm standing.

[Edmund]

3-2

[lildave3]

Nilmar 3-2. Good header.

[Edmund]

Amazing scenes

[shen]

Jesus! Brazil are relentless going forward. Absolutely brilliant!

[lildave3]

4-2, Nilmar hat trick.

[Edmund]

If we don't get England in the group stage of the WC there is likely to be an Aussie v England friendly over here before the WC.

I can't see that happening, not during the footy season anyway purely down to time difference. Maybe at the end of the season but with the tournament starting so promptly can't see them flying across the other side of the world to play friendlies.

[shen]

That has to be one of the softest red cards I've ever seen! First he gets a yellow for getting punched in the face (!) and then gets another for being frustrated at losing the ball (right after they've conceded two goals in two minutes).... Awful refereeing...

[shen]

I hadn't realised Brazil were down to ten either, makes it even more impressive how they just scored those goals so easily

[lcfc_jme]

Hosrte shit. I wazngt Areggenitna to qualifgy 'cos they'rew a to[p0class attackign side.. Need a changer nin gaffer obvcvv but theyrf've got the mineralsd to do well at the WC of they get trough

[shen]

Hosrte shit. I wazngt Areggenitna to qualifgy 'cos they'rew a to[p0class attackign side.. Need a changer nin gaffer obvcvv but theyrf've got the mineralsd to do well at the WC of they get trough

Minerals don't win you football games

[Jordan]

Minerals don't win you football games

OK, we've all posted on FT drunk before, lay off of him

Costa Rica has nearly self-destructed over the past week ... first they were hammered 3-0 at home to Mexico, then they just gave up a 2nd half stoppage-time goal at El Salvador to lose 1-0

Mexico won 1-0 on a PK... second half was a scrappy affair, but tbh the better team won. With the easiest home stretch, El Tri has South Africa in their sights.

USA finally get a little bit of breathing room even though their last two games--especially the next, at Honduras--will be difficult.

Two games left...

1. USA 16 pts +5 (@ Honduras, vs. C.R)

2. Mexico 15 +3 (vs. E.S., @ T&T)

3. Honduras 13 +6 (vs. USA, @ E.S.)

---------------------------

4. Costa Rica 12 -4 (vs. T&T, @ USA)

---------------------------

5. El Salvador 8 -2 (@ Mexico, vs. Honduras)

6. T&T 5 -8 (@ C.R., vs. Mexico) [eliminated]

Nobody's booked their flights to S.A. but things could change after the next night of matches.

[Radovan's Caravan]

So on the rather unlikely basis that England could meet Italy in the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup, you argue that he's the wrong choice? How would Bilic have been any better then, especially when they actually drew Croatia in the qualifying stages?

On a sidenote, this Brazil v Chile game is truly absorbing end-to-end stuff!

Unlikely - you said it!

Much as it pains me to say it but there would have been many advantages in the FA appointing Bilic. He has a reputation as an impact coach and would have come for a lot less than Capello.

As for conflicts of interest - nobody in that vast cesspit next door would be able to come up with the kind of readies required to remind Bilic of his origins.

Not that they would if they could as selling grandmothers is his country's national sport...

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I can't see that happening, not during the footy season anyway purely down to time difference. Maybe at the end of the season but with the tournament starting so promptly can't see them flying across the other side of the world to play friendlies.

Off season is what i meant towards the end of may before both teams head to South Africa, on the holy turf of the MCG.

[lcfc_jme]

Minerals don't win you football games

OK, we've all posted on FT drunk before, lay off of him

I liek you Jordan.

I know minerals don;t wint football matches I'd just much ratehr watch ther Arghies thana bunch of no-marks from somewhere obscuree hell-bent on shutting up shiop and defending for 90 minutes, relying on a long ball downfjeld or 1 set pieice in the oipposition half all game to score from.

[Radovan's Caravan]

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[Radovan's Caravan]

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[Guest]

First time in a while I've been massively impressed with an England performance

[ozleicester]

Given what radovans caravn has posted before, i'd LOVE to see what is edited/deleted

[Radovan's Caravan]

Given what radovans caravn has posted before, i'd LOVE to see what is edited/deleted

Instead of pressing the 'edit' button I pressed the 'reply' button.

I intented to edit out a full stop in my last post.

Too innocent an explanation I know

[Lillehamring]

well done to plucky little norway, still probably unlikely to qualify but runners up in their group and showing sounds of a potential return to footballing joy under the returned maestro 'drillo'

would be brilliant for me if the results allign perfectly and norway squeeze thru to the playoffs... if it's not already too late*

if nothing else, they've knocked the jocks out!

*just found this:

Det er fremdeles mulig å gå videre til VM. Blant annet i gruppe 1: Hvis Sverige taper mot Albania og Danmark, Ungarn taper mot Danmark og Portugal taper mot Ungarn (10. oktober) så kan Norge gå videre med bedre målforskjell....

Er det ikke håp i gruppe 8...Irland må tape begge kampene (Italia og Montenegro hjemme) og Bulgaria kan ikke vinne begge deres to siste kamper... Irland vil da bli nr 2 med 16 poeng og trekkes 6 poeng for seier mot Georgia/Cyprus som mest sannsynlig vil da bli sist.. Norge vil da ha bedre maalforskjell.

not sure if it's true, or if both scenarios need to occur but it says, norway will make the playoffs if:

sweden lose to albania and denmark

hungary lose to denmark

and portugal lose to hungary

irekand lose to italy and montenegro

bulgaria fail to win both their last games

interesting, and not imposible - just need the danes to do their buddies a few favours

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Good luck Val need just a few results to go your way

[Uncle Albert]

Lofty, were you even born when Maradona "did what he did to us?"

For a start I said 'people don't forget what Maradona and Diego Simeone did to us' not 'I don't forget what Maradona did to us'. I wasnt born when Hitler was around but I know he was a twat.

Argentina not qualifying would be brilliant.

Anyway back to the England game, Aaron Lennon, Gerrard, Lampard, Johnson, Cole and Rooney were all brilliant and showed their true international class last night. The full backs were excellent in supporting the play and look a real threat when going forward. Gerrard and Lampard shown why they are two of the best in the world in midfield, both took their headers really well and I like how them both are allowed to attack. Rooney worked his bollocks off again and deserved his goal. Lennon was brilliant, the first time we have seen a winger for England take players on since Walcott in Zagreb. Lennon should be a starter.

Barry and Heskey didnt impress me at all last night, Barry was wasteful with the ball and Heskey was on his arse for most of the night. Carrick should be given a run out in the 'Barry role'.

[Darkzzz_]

I loved how the guardian mocked the English players never diving which links you to a video of Gerrard and some nice quotes from his book. Will post when I'm on a computer.

Bilic has said we can win it, I am not going to read anything into this until we kick a ball at the world cup, it is looking like our best chance though, I have never thought that about an England team for as long as I watched football, you would have to be deluded to think we are going to walk it though!

[davieG]

My experience tells me to just enjoy the moment and moments as they come and not get too far ahead of ourselves. Since 1966 there's been so many disappointments after having got so far that I don't care to think about the possibility of winning.

Just on the injury front alone we could get ferked by next summer, it's not as if we have massive strength in depth.