World Cup!!!

[walesrob]

One set of divers out the way.... bring on the best... Allez les bleus encore

Don't understand it though - who are England playing next?

It was funny watching Scolari (sp?) flouncing around on the pitch after the match

[Eljohno]

One set of divers out the way.... bring on the best... Allez les bleus encore

Don't understand it though - who are England playing next?

I was glad to see Portugal lose but not coz they beat England but for the terrible diving also and Ronaldo has to be the worst i have ever seen at it... They should quit football and go to the Olyimpics and use their skill at the swimming pool

[KeithD]

Yo go FRANCE

All we need now is for them to knock out the other cheats...ITALY!!

[aromulus]

Thanks for the vote of confidence about Italy....

But this time we'll stuff the french.

As for the diving... i seem to remember a guy called Shearer , not that long ago...
claiming that his dive had been done for "England".... That occurred at Charleroi for euro 2000 versus Romania. He got caught... and booked.
So, please guys... stop casting that first stone, huh???
Any bugger, no matter the nationality, Will try to dive, if given the opportunity, no one can claim to be pure and innocent. It would be sheer hipocrisy

[ivor&mel]

Of course he got caught - diving is something else that the English are bad at!

Diving is cheating. Full-stop. Just one more layer of opportunism, cynicism and cheating that is ruining the game. Some nations seem to be better at it than others. Italy are past-masters at it, and if the French beat them on Sunday it will send out the right message.

[fontain]

Yes hopefully footballl will redeem itself by France beating them playing Football

Its the inconsistency by refs thats spoiled it though, one game book everyone, the next nothing.
More & more players trying to influence games by diving and cheating rather than skill & brilliance

Even the fella who scored Italys first goal the other night was the one who fell (dived) over the Aussie to get the penalty in the second round.

The only saving grace has been Zidane, his showing these wannabes how it should be done, i`ve almost forgiven him for that brace he got against us in the Euros in 04

And thanks to him keeping his cool we got to see Ronaldo

[ivor&mel]

It's been great to see glimpses of the old Zidane again... he makes everything look so easy and effortless when he's on song. And that penalty was brilliant to watch: no run up... he knew where he was going to put it... Ricardo knew where he was going to put it... result never in doubt...

[aromulus]

SOUR GRAPES.... HUH????

[ivor&mel]

Is that what they make Italian whine from...?

[aromulus]

Nope.... Aussie...

[Eljohno]

Thanks for the vote of confidence about Italy....

But this time we'll stuff the french.

As for the diving... i seem to remember a guy called Shearer , not that long ago...
claiming that his dive had been done for "England".... That occurred at Charleroi for euro 2000 versus Romania. He got caught... and booked.
So, please guys... stop casting that first stone, huh???
Any bugger, no matter the nationality, Will try to dive, if given the opportunity, no one can claim to be pure and innocent. It would be sheer hipocrisy

I was not saying that diving is ok for any team as it is ruining the game and wrong no matter who do is and i only highlighted Portugal coz of Ronaldo and other players doing so much of it against France..

I am a big fan of Henry so come on France....

[aromulus]

Of course diving ruins the game... but the same is to be said for ineffective referees. or overzealous ones...

Henry is ok, I admire him a lot, even if he plays for Arsenal... but he will dive like anybody else, if given the opportunity.

Italy for the cup...........

But good luck to the best team on the day.

[ervenescence]

Henry and Zidane, I love 'em

[aromulus]

well... well...

Fallen Hero: James Lawton on how we're all being cheated

If a player with Thierry Henry's solid reputation for fairness and integrity can cheat to save the match for his team and country, then is there any point left to sport at all? James Lawton laments the spectacle of shameless play-acting on the World Cup stage, while our medical and theatrical experts offer their judgements on the histrionics that are now just another part of the game

Published: 29 June 2006



The nation is shocked. Our favourite adopted footballer, Thierry Henry, is caught out in a grotesque piece of cheating. An unmanly, unutterably cheap act of gamesmanship. He clutches his head and the national stomach churns.
But why? Is it any more surprising than finding a scantily clad temptress in a bordello? Sadly, not - and if anyone in England feels a hint of betrayal that Henry, the luminous star of Arsenal, an imported national treasure, a man of sophistication and style in his off-field musings, has let them down, they should run their mind back to two earlier World Cups. He or she should remember Naples, 1990, and St Etienne, in 1998.

I guess that evens the the next game, then....

[fontain]

Not my adopted son, his French after all and a gooner

[ivor&mel]

Some interesting stats perhaps?

Original source is here

[fontain]

Oh well with Italian domestic football in a crisis perhaps when the world cup is over they can look forward to paving out a new career at the Olympics.

Although they will defo have some stern competition from the portuguese.

Better stick to the small board first

C U in the pool

[KeithD]

Portuguese are taking up ballet!

[russ01539]

Picture this: Ron 'Chopper' Harris playing against Ronaldo. lol

[Eljohno]

I am surprised that Ronaldo does dive because there is a serious chance of wrecking his hair and ruining his make up lol

[aromulus]

well, as expected Germany won...
Unfortunately I didnt have the time to watch it, I just hope I set the DVD recorder correctly... bloody gadgets

[ivor&mel]

A fair result, and 2 cracking goals from Schweinsteiger. So there's hope for tomorrow

[aromulus]

I will drop the kids off tomorrow extra early, come home, open a bottle of well chilled white wine, unplug the phone, turn the mobile off, set the DVD recorder and watch the game.....
Italy win or lose I am going to have another bottle... either to celebrate or to forget... Looking at the stats... Italy hasn't got a good record against France, it is actually an abismal one.... All the more reason to go for the win.
Forza Azzurri !!!!!!!!!!

[KeithD]

Nice to see Portugal get whacked, and Ronny ballet dancing again!!

The papers say he'll be moving from Manchester this week, as no one has stuck up for him.....wonder why ....anyway, just for him.....GET LOST

[aromulus]

what if he moves to Liverpool....????

[ivor&mel]

I'm sure there be a warm welcome for him in Liverpool

[KeithD]

I'm sure there be a warm welcome for him in Liverpool

Very mucho.....in fact we already have the petrol & matches ready for him

[Eljohno]

He will be right at home in Liverpool as i believe they have a nice swimming pool and ballet school!!!!!

[aromulus]

Go on admit it.... You want him at all costs............ Give him a chance...

[ervenescence]

ZIDAN HEAD BUTT

how did he think he could explain himself out of it? stupid frog!