Just like to say how sorry I am to see the USA team go out of this year's competition.
Going into the last game with a chance of qualifying is a real boost to any team so I can imagine how the players must be feeling now that they have lost to cheats.
The referees, on the majority of occasions have been far to eager to award free kicks and penalties far practically nothing but that's how it goes and players/coaches all have to respect the decision of the referees.
Spectators don't
USA 1
CHEATS 2
FIFA WORLD CUP 2006
Penalty Kick
What p.f, man this is some of the worst refing I have seen. I agree that we should have been tied w/Ghana, would still send us home, but at least would help soccer ( football ) continue to grow here in the good ole u.s of a. 
Old School and Proud of It.
Well done to Ghana today - yes, a lucky penalty decision (following the trend of bad refereeing this tournament) but I do think it was a genuine fall rather than a dive...so I would not call them cheats, I am positive none of the other 31 countries would have complained to the ref that they shouldn't have a penalty!
Fair play to Australia also who did well in what turned into a joke of all refereeing by the English ref! Trust our top official to be the first prick to give someone 3 yellow cards in one world cup match...at least he wont be incharge of any England games so we might get some better decisions
Fair play to Australia also who did well in what turned into a joke of all refereeing by the English ref! Trust our top official to be the first prick to give someone 3 yellow cards in one world cup match...at least he wont be incharge of any England games so we might get some better decisions
~ Is that a grinder in your pocket? ~
Australians, let us all rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil for wealth and toil
Our home is girt by sea
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia Fair
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands
For those who come across the seaas
We've boundless plains to share
With courage let us combine to
Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair
I included our national anthem because last night was the first time during the competition where I have not been singing along with the players and supporters before the start of a game. I was singing it as I typed so all's well that ends well.
I wasn't able to watch the game last night as I was night shift and I have only just arrived home and watched the 5 minutes of highlights on the BBC website which obviously won't tell the full story of the game, but right now along with millions of other Australians I really couldn't care less.
Last night was a cup final for both teams and from what I can gather it was played like a good old cup tie as well although I did think that it would be a battle.
And so now we move on to Italy on Monday afternoon. The only hope we have there is that Guus Hiddink was manager of the South Korea team who beat the Italians in the last World Cup. Australia don't have home advantage but we'll take any sort of sign that victory might (just might) be possible.
The incident with Graham Poll will no doubt rule him out of any appearance in the final (or last 16, or quarters, or semis)
Still, nobody's perfect.
Well, I think tonight's Argentina v Mexico game has undoubtedly been the best game that I have seen so far in the tournament. Argentina were able to step it up a gear in extra time and the winning goal is arguably the goal of the tournament so far, although it is very similar to Joe Cole's strike against Sweden.
Speaking of Sweden, I really expected them to really make a go of it today against the Germans, but two goals down then a man down then a missed penalty. Well it just wasn't going to be their day.
Germany v Argentina in the Quarter Finals has the potential to be a classic.
Promises to be an interesting day tomorrow with England/Ecuador followed by Holland/Portugal.
I truly envy anyone who is in Amsterdam at this time.
Speaking of Sweden, I really expected them to really make a go of it today against the Germans, but two goals down then a man down then a missed penalty. Well it just wasn't going to be their day.
Germany v Argentina in the Quarter Finals has the potential to be a classic.
Promises to be an interesting day tomorrow with England/Ecuador followed by Holland/Portugal.
I truly envy anyone who is in Amsterdam at this time.
I have to say that I find watching football matches in Amsterdam really difficult. You don't quite get that pub atmosphere and you do get cross eyed! 
DOn't get me wrong, there's probably nowhere else I'd rather be to watch the match but I didn't see that much of the Trinidad match even though I was smack bang in front of the screen.
I like to watch the matches at home now..... I can concetrate more, I loved going to the boozer for Euro 2004 but my tatses have changed for this one...... and it saves on the beer shampoo if we score.
DOn't get me wrong, there's probably nowhere else I'd rather be to watch the match but I didn't see that much of the Trinidad match even though I was smack bang in front of the screen.
I like to watch the matches at home now..... I can concetrate more, I loved going to the boozer for Euro 2004 but my tatses have changed for this one...... and it saves on the beer shampoo if we score.
When the going gets weird, the weird get going!
Well folks, did you see that?
Forget England v Ecuador, I'm talking about the Portugal v Netherlands game. Was it really that bad, or was the referee desperate to help England out no matter who got through from their two prospective opponents in the quarter finals.
The game became decidedly ill tempered and I am amazed at the behaviour of both teams but the referees in this competition have went into over-drive and show no signs of slowing down.
Mind you, it must be really hard trying to do a job with your bosses constantly watching your every move/decision and the referees ALWAYS get stick. never sympathy.
So, it's England v Portugal in the Quarter Finals (as it was in Euro 2004) without Deco and Costinha (suspended) and Filipe Scolari has turned down the chance to become England manager since that night in Lisbon.
I wonder if England will stick to the same formation for that one. Rooney looked a little isolated today but I suppose this gives him a chance to fully regain fitness and he could still be the trump card.............
Forget England v Ecuador, I'm talking about the Portugal v Netherlands game. Was it really that bad, or was the referee desperate to help England out no matter who got through from their two prospective opponents in the quarter finals.
The game became decidedly ill tempered and I am amazed at the behaviour of both teams but the referees in this competition have went into over-drive and show no signs of slowing down.
Mind you, it must be really hard trying to do a job with your bosses constantly watching your every move/decision and the referees ALWAYS get stick. never sympathy.
So, it's England v Portugal in the Quarter Finals (as it was in Euro 2004) without Deco and Costinha (suspended) and Filipe Scolari has turned down the chance to become England manager since that night in Lisbon.
I wonder if England will stick to the same formation for that one. Rooney looked a little isolated today but I suppose this gives him a chance to fully regain fitness and he could still be the trump card.............
decos red will be revised i think he no way deserved that the netherlands player threw him on the floor!!
i was cheerin for holland the whole game though and they did play fuckin well in the second half, but it just got so dirty ad so many fights and the ref just seemed to see yellow all the time!!!
england are fucked in the next game ha ha
i was cheerin for holland the whole game though and they did play fuckin well in the second half, but it just got so dirty ad so many fights and the ref just seemed to see yellow all the time!!!
england are fucked in the next game ha ha
I think the referee actually booked Figo for that "head butt" which was pretty laughable. These guys wouldn't last a second in the AFL.
Mind you, I suppose FIFA being FIFA could always step in and stamp their authority.
If Figo gets banned then you really have to fancy England to get to the semi finals, as Portugal will already be missing Deco and Costinha and Cristiano Ronaldo didn't look too comfortable so he could be out injured.
I don't think England have any suspensions/major injury worries for the game against Portugal.
I'm actually quite enjoying this at the moment. It's great when you see the England players/fans/commentators/pundits growing in confidence about their team's performance......................
Mind you, I suppose FIFA being FIFA could always step in and stamp their authority.
If Figo gets banned then you really have to fancy England to get to the semi finals, as Portugal will already be missing Deco and Costinha and Cristiano Ronaldo didn't look too comfortable so he could be out injured.
I don't think England have any suspensions/major injury worries for the game against Portugal.
I'm actually quite enjoying this at the moment. It's great when you see the England players/fans/commentators/pundits growing in confidence about their team's performance......................
Figo has been cleared, which is laughable... the ref had his back to the incident......
Anyway, I think we are capable of progressing, however it'll be tough....
Lampard owes us a performance big time.
However, I'll take another scrappy 1-0 and then another and then another.
It'd be wierd watching Beckham lift that trophy, wonder if he'll throw up then?
Anyway, I think we are capable of progressing, however it'll be tough....
Lampard owes us a performance big time.
However, I'll take another scrappy 1-0 and then another and then another.
It'd be wierd watching Beckham lift that trophy, wonder if he'll throw up then?
When the going gets weird, the weird get going!