World Cup: England to win

It has been 44 years of hurt, but South Africa 2010 will see England finally win the World Cup. No, you did not misread that, England will be champions and remember where you read it first. If England fail to win it this time around, they will not likely to lift the trophy anytime soon – and they can be certain of that.

There is ever the problem with England when it comes to such tournaments – the constitutional high expectations that the country must win and should win anything and everything, which is then subsequently followed by the traditional quarterfinals exit, then followed by the even more traditional "
England will win it all next time"
routine.

Campaign leader and manager Fabio Capello has been given a job which on the surface any manager would die for – to steer a side packed with some of the best talent in the world, including Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Jamie Carragher, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole, just to name a few. This is a powerful but aging England generation and if it fails to deliver now, it is difficult to imagine the successors accomplishing any better any time soon.

Arguably, England’s best in recent memory was in 1990, when the titanic side managed by Sir Bobby Robson should have been crowned world champions but bowed out on penalties to their traditional foe Germany despite outclassing them on the pitch.

England systematically underperformed in every World Cup and European Championship since then, with the exception of 1996, when England outclassed Germany in the semi-final (again) only for Paul Gascoigne to miss-kick the ball from the goal-line and lose on penalties (again).

Is it because the Three Lions have become too predictable, hoofing forward and in disarray? Is it because of the sheer volume of strength-sapping Premiership and domestic cups matches that leave players with nothing in the tank by June? Is it because of bad luck, poor tactics or poor referring and the "
hand of God"
that have denied England time and again their "
God-given right"
to win the World Cup? Perhaps it is all of the above.

England’s weaknesses this time around are also legion: David James, who is arguably the worst England keeper in decades and is one of the less talented in the tournament. England’s curse is to have great keepers coming in pairs, wondering what to do with them, as was the case with Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence (later David Seaman and Chris Woods), or have sweet Fanny Adams in goal.

The defence was weakened by the departure of Rio Ferdinand through injury, although Steven Gerrard assuming the captaincy is a plus as he is better at marshalling a side than Rio or John Terry put together.

Another weakness is Wayne Rooney’s temper – the lad is a ballistic missile with an extremely short fuse. Alex Ferguson managed it, but would Fabio Capello cope with his temper?

Under Sven Goran Eriksson, England were predictably boring, while under Steve McLaren they were simply hopeless. There is a ray of hope, an air of clinical efficiency and ruthlessness about England under Capello, as the Three Lions qualifying campaign showed (nine wins in 10 matches).

So, England fans must not worry in these last days before the tournament, always a time (helped by the influence of many lagers) when the philosophic side of football fans prevails. It is that unmistakable "
stay positive"
, "
cheerfulness in the face of adversity"
and "
stiff upper lip – bulldog spirit"
attitude that sets the English well apart from the pack.

As recently noted in the Irish Times, consider the following scenario: when England perform impressively before a World Cup in a friendly match, this translates into expectations that England will win the World Cup. And when England perform poorly, this stipulates that, once again, England will win the World Cup. Conclusion: England will win the World Cup.

So there you have it ladies and gents. Football is coming home and so is that oddly shaped Jules Rimet trophy.

Lets face it, the Dutch won’t win it, and neither will the Germans – not this time. Portugal will not reach the final, unless they meet England on the way and beat them in penalties. And Spain, who are arguably the best side in the tournament by a mile – somehow do not appeal to me as world champions.

So against all odds, and contrary to all logic, I am backing England to stop Argentina and prevent Diego Maradona from running around Buenos Aires naked. England must, for the sake of humanity, stop Maradona at all cost.

Alternatively, my hopes will be on the side of whoever transpires as this tournament’s "
surprise package"
. North Korea versus New Zealand, anyone?

Here you are for all you fans of footy

On Friday, June 11 in South Africa will be open the 19th Football World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is held every four years since 1930 except in 1942 and 1946, because of World War II.
This year's forum will be the first, hosted by a country from the continent of Africa, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the President of South Africa - 91-year-old Nelson Mandela, will be only part of the official guests at the opening, which will take place at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg with a match between South Africa and Mexico starting at 17:00 Bulgarian time.

PROGRAMME

Group A

Day Time Rivals City
June 11 17:00 South Africa - Mexico, Johannesburg - JSC
June 11 21:30 Uruguay - France, Cape Town
June 16 21:30 South Africa - Uruguay, Pretoria
June 17 21:30 France - Mexico, Polokwane
June 22 17:00 Mexico - Uruguay Rastenburg

Group B

Day Time Rivals City
June 12 17:00 Argentina - Nigeria, Johannesburg - JEP
June 12 14:30 Korea - Greece, Bay Nelson Mandela
June 17 17:00 Greece - Nigeria, Mangaung / Bloemfonteyn
June 17 14:30 Argentina - Korea, Johannesburg - JSC
June 22 21:30 Nigeria - Korea, Durban
June 22 21:30 Greece - Argentina, Polokwane

Group C

Day Time Rivals City
June 12 21:30 England - U.S. Rustenburg
June 13 14:30 Algeria - Slovenia, Polokwane
June 18 17:00 Slovenia - USA, Johannesburg - JEP
June 18 21:30 England - Algeria, Cape Town
June 23 17:00 Slovenia - England, Nelson Mandela Bay
June 23 17:00 USA - Algeria, Pretoria

Group D

Day Time Rivals City
June 13 21:30 Germany - Australia, Durban
June 13 17:00 Serbia - Ghana, Pretoria
June 18 14:30 Germany - Serbia, Nelson Mandela Bay
June 19 17:00 Ghana - Australia Rustenburg
June 23 21:30 Ghana - Germany Johannesburg - JSC
June 23 21:30 Australia - Serbia Nelsprit

Group E

Day Time Rivals City
June 14 14:30 Netherlands - Denmark Johannesburg - JSC
June 14 17:00 Japan - Cameroon, Mangaung / Bloemfontein
June 19 17:00 Ghana - Australia Rustenburg
June 19 14:30 Netherlands - Japan, Durban
June 24 21:30 Denmark - Japan Rustenburg
June 24 21:30 Cameroon - Holland, Cape Town

Group F

Day Time Rivals City
June 14 21:30 Italy - Paraguay, Cape Town
June 15 14:30 New Zealand - Slovakia Rustenburg
June 20 14:30 Slovakia - Paraguay, Mangaung / Bloemfontein
June 20 17:00 Italy - New Zealand, Nelsprit
June 24 17:00 Slovakia - Italy, Johannesburg - JEP
June 24 17:00 Paraguay - New Zealand, Polokwane

Group G

Day Time City Rivals
June 15 17:00 Cote d'Ivoire - Portugal, Nelson Mandela Bay
June 15 21:30 Brazil - North Korea, Johannesburg - JEP
Jun. 20 21:30 Brazil - Cote d'Ivoire Johannesburg - JSC
June 21 14:30 Portugal - North Korea, Cape Town
June 25 17:00 Portugal - Brazil, Durban
June 25 17:00 North Korea – Cote d'Ivoire, Nelsprit

Group H

Day Time City Rivals
June 16 14:30 Honduras - Chile Nelsprit
June 16 17:00 Spain - Switzerland, Durban
June 21 17:00 Chile - Switzerland, Nelson Mandela Bay
June 21 21:30 Spain - Honduras, Johannesburg - JEP
June 25 21:30 Chile - Spain, Pretoria
June 25 21:30 Switzerland - Honduras, Mangaung / Bloemfontein


Schedule of games after the group stage of World Cup

1/8-finals

June 26
Winner Group A - Second Group B (Match No. 49)
June 26
Winner Group C - Second Group D (50)
June 28
Winner Group E - Second Group F (53)
June 28
Winner Group G - Second Group H (54)
June 27
Winner Group B - Second Group A (52)
June 27
Winner Group D - Group C (51)
June 29
Winner Group F - Second Group E (55)
June 29
Winner Group H - Second Group G (56)

1/4- finals

July 2
Winner Game 49 - Winner Game 50 (58)
July 2
Winner Game 53 - Winner Game 54 (57)

July 3
Winner Game 52 - Winner Game 51 (59)
July 3
Winner Game 55 - Winner Game 56 (60)

1/2-finals

July 6
Winner Game 58 - Winner Game 57 (61)
July 7
Winner Game 59 - Winner Game 60 (62)

Match for third place

July 10
Lost game 61 - Lost game 62

Final

July 11

how does the time zone work. if im watching telly in bulgaria what tine will the england match be, and if im streaming from the uk which is already 2 hours difference what time will the first english match be. never any good at maths.

starlite wrote:

how does the time zone work. if im watching telly in bulgaria what tine will the england match be, and if im streaming from the uk which is already 2 hours difference what time will the first english match be. never any good at maths.

I don't know the answer to this but someone like Chris will be able to help

First results

Hosts South Africa have drawn Mexico 1:1 in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup.

The hosts scored the first goal of the World Cup when Siphiwe Tshabalala opened 1:0 for the South Africans in the 55th minute making the 84 000 spectators at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg go crazy.
Mexico, however, made a comeback as defended Rafael Marquez scored in the 79the minute tying the game.

cheekychops wrote:

starlite wrote:

how does the time zone work. if im watching telly in bulgaria what tine will the england match be, and if im streaming from the uk which is already 2 hours difference what time will the first english match be. never any good at maths.

I don't know the answer to this but someone like Chris will be able to help

Looking at the times in the above list ... knock two hours off for UK screening times (I think!!!).

Good first match, let's see how France do tonight ... Allez les Bleus!

correct me if im wrong. because its summer, there is only one hour difference in the uk. if the match time is 20.30, then in the uk it will be 21.30 and if in bulgaria it would be 19.30. help me please im driving myself mad here. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

lol [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

OK. In list above, France match is due to start at 21.30.

This actually starts in half an hour (I think) ... which means:

21.30 Bulgarian Time
20.30 Central Europe (France, Spain)
19.30 UK Time

I agree ... confusing as hell.

However, if France match does start all over the World in half an hour, then we've got it sorted! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

OK. France match is just starting ... soooooo ...

For UK broadcast time, knock 2 hours off ... for BG time, well, that's the time shown in the list above.

ChrisQBG wrote:

lol [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

OK. In list above, France match is due to start at 21.30.

This actually starts in half an hour (I think) ... which means:

21.30 Bulgarian Time
20.30 Central Europe (France, Spain)
19.30 UK Time

I agree ... confusing as hell.

However, if France match does start all over the World in half an hour, then we've got it sorted! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Correct Chris match started at 7.30 missing my corrie now

Oddy

And for anyone who doesn't allready know, most of the games are available live on BNT 1 on Bulsat.

France, Uruguay End 2nd World Cup Game in Undramatic Draw

France and Uruguay failed to score any goals in the second match on the first day of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The two former World Cup champions produced an uninteresting match with few shots on goal.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the 0:0 draw was the 81st minute when Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro was kicked out after a wild challenge on Bacary Sagna for his second yellow card.

In the end, an early short-range miss by France's Sidney Govou and an excellent save from Uruguay's Fernando Muslera left Group A as wide open as possible.

The France match was fairly uninspiring ... I'll see if the England v USA match proves any more interesting tonight!

ChrisQBG wrote:

The France match was fairly uninspiring ... I'll see if the England v USA match proves any more interesting tonight!

Agreed I think a glass of lemonade was more exciting :Roll laugh:

Kryps what are you like

Oddy