This is the only European side that has impressed so far in this tournament, and that's only marginally thanks to them demolishing another European side. And even then, they struggled big time today and needed a penalty to close it out

Yes! F*ck you Mexico!

This is the only European side that has impressed so far in this tournament, and that's only marginally thanks to them demolishing another European side. And even then, they struggled big time today and needed a penalty to close it out

I don't get why we're looking for super teams when there clearly aren't any.

France?

Why?

Pele:

"Fifa's decision is good and is correct because it sets an example"

"If he was not sanctioned in this way, such incidents could be repeated. No player can do what Luis Suarez did. I believe that the punishment is fair because the parameter can be used henceforth."

(source)

Pele:

"An African nation will win the world cup by 2000"

Guy is a legend on the pitch but thick as mincemeat off it.

Because there so far has not been one single side that just made people go "Wow!" Yes Holland in that first game, but they've taken very obvious steps back in each of their games bar the Chile one (which still wasn't all that impressive imo). They're my hope for the European sides in this tournament so far. Germany and France have been okay but France haven't really come up against anything difficult so far


As I said above, I think I'll reserve my judgement on them until they face Argentina, which is the most likely outcome considering the easy path they've had so far

I don't have an issue with your posts, I just disagree. I really don't get what you mean by saying that I'm taking you too literally? What am I supposed to do? I mean, when you take it to the extreme aren't I supposed to think that you believe something close to what you're saying will happen? Like...


What is this? It's not like you're saying something that can't happen. Like if you said "if x happens the world's gonna explode" I obviously wouldn't argue that the world is not going to explode. When you're being serious and you keep saying such things about Suarez what am I supposed to do? I can't listen to the tone of your voice or guess your expression either. So you've now said three extreme things about what's gonna happen to Suarez. Am I still not supposed to take you literally? I'm sorry, I can only respond to what you post.

So what does this mean if taken non-literally then? I can't guess to what degree you mean it's going to totally ruin him!

Won't lie, haven't a ruddy clue what this ramble is about so...I'll leave it there

Because there so far has not been one single side that just made people go "Wow!" Yes Holland in that first game, but they've taken very obvious steps back in each of their games bar the Chile one (which still wasn't all that impressive imo). They're my hope for the European sides in this tournament so far. Germany and France have been okay but France haven't really come up against anything difficult so far


As I said above, I think I'll reserve my judgement on them until they face Argentina, which is the most likely outcome considering the easy path they've had so far

Won't Germany face France first and then eventually (a big if) Argentina?

They'll have to go through Algeria now. An underdog win here would be wunderbar! Go Algeria!

Pele:

"An African nation will win the world cup by 2000"

Guy is a legend on the pitch but thick as mincemeat off it.

I reserve my judgement on both France AND Argentina till they face each other.

PS I said at the time the Holland result V Spain told us far more about Spain than it did about Holland, and their subsequent struggles V Australia and today v Mexico bear that out to an extent.

Won't Germany face France first and then eventually (a big if) Argentina?

Funny thing is that this match could have been a Greek vs Roman affair. Ancient battles in a new age!

Yep, I wonder how much the players and Prandelli are kicking themselves for the disgusting showings they produced in those 2 games. Because had they gone through to the KOs I'd have been confident that they'd have a great run in this world cup, they had all the tools to do it, but Prandelli and some of the players let themselves and the fans down big time

IMHO, getting predictions right or wrong is not all that relevant to this discussion (yes, his record there is not that great). What matters is his understanding of the game, which (with all due respect) exceeds all of ours. And, unlike other "legends" who have opined on this issue, AFAIAK Pele always conducted himself above reproach (no "hand of God", no tax evasion, no drugs, no on-field brawls, etc).

Yep, I wonder how much the players and Prandelli are kicking themselves for the disgusting showings they produced in those 2 games. Because had they gone through to the KOs I'd have been confident that they'd have a great run in this world cup, they had all the tools to do it, but Prandelli and some of the players let themselves and the fans down big time

Hopefully Greece can get the goal they need, they play the best football in the tournament.

ALL HAIL TO THE GREEKS!

Shock of the tournament, favourites out.

You're a big fat troll!

He could be the Saint of Brazil, doesn't make his opinion any more valid.

Was just thinking. With Algeria being 90% Muslim, I'm guessing a large amount of their players are. Will they be observing Ramadan for the remainder of the World Cup? I imagine it can't be healthy for a professional football playing in this kind of weather to not be able to drink.

Was just thinking. With Algeria being 90% Muslim, I'm guessing a large amount of their players are. Will they be observing Ramadan for the remainder of the World Cup? I imagine it can't be healthy for a professional football playing in this kind of weather to not be able to drink.

From what I am hearing, they will be. Be interesting to see whether this affects them in any way. I know of other sportsmen that play while fasting, while some select few skip it for the day.

The Algerian coach had an outburst today when the journalists kept asking questions like these

That because he disagrees with you?

In any case, with all due respect, I'll take his opinion on matters relating to soccer over yours.

Was just thinking. With Algeria being 90% Muslim, I'm guessing a large amount of their players are. Will they be observing Ramadan for the remainder of the World Cup? I imagine it can't be healthy for a professional football playing in this kind of weather to not be able to drink.

Ozil is having to forego one of the rhythms of his life, too, by not observing the strict Muslim religious laws of Ramadan, which began on Saturday. “It will be impossible for me to take part,” he said. The Dar al-Ifta, Egypt’s main Islamic body gives dispensations to workers involved in “hard labour” and Ozil says he falls into this category. Many of Algeria's players will be fasting and are using a sports medicine expert based in Doha – Hakim Chalibi - to minimise the effect on preparations for the second round tie.

Enyeama loves making saves for the camera's doesn't he? Wow. Aside of Benzema's one-on-one he over elaborates everything and at fault for both goals.

Fair enough, side with an idiot

Not quite, I am siding with most of the footballing world. Of those defending Suarez you have his teammates, the president of Uruguay, and Maradona (whose ethics on and off the field are rather questionable). And of course Chiellini, who is doing the right thing by trying to smooth over the matter.

Turns out that Suarez has now come clean on the incident, and apologized to "Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family". Frankly, had he done that from the start I would probably have a different attitude on this matter. Instead he first tried to dive, then claimed that nothing happened, then that he bit Chiellini by accident. That may be laughable, except for the fact that he and his teammates called the rest of the world a bunch of liars. To me, that made it all worse.