World Cup 2010

World Cup 2010 - Day 31 - World Cup Final

2010-07-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday the 11th July 2010

Weight 13st 7lbs (see good fighting weight for the final)

Well the time has come, and the Dutch lock horns with the Spanish, to see who can be crowned the World Champions, as neither have won before, either one of them will become the 8th team to win this trophy.

Time will tell, and a match I'm looking forward too, and even without the beer, so much a part of my early World Cup Campaign, it still should be a good match, I just hope we get an early goal to make the teams play.

I write this a week after the final, and well it really didn't deserve a write up in the way the Dutch went to spoil it and then cried foul.

The Dutch prior to this match had won 14 competitive matches on the spin, 8 in qualifying and then 6 in World Cup. & to put it mildly were getting battered in the first 15 minutes of the final, so they changed tactics and well the rest is History.

Spain dominated the match, they played skillful and attacking football, the Dutch just tried to kick Spain off the park....

Spain finally won with a goal in the 116th minute from Iniesta a finally taken goal that got Spain their just deserves.

The Dutch after the match blamed the Referee, Howard Webb, who could have easily had the Dutch down to 9 by Half time, but being a good ref tried not ruin the match, he did send 1 Dutch player off (Heitinga) for about his 4th or 5th bad foul.

The match will be remembered for the awful way the Dutch played and how good the Spanish did.

As we sign off for the World Cup for another 4 years, looking back @ this World Cup it's been a mixed World Cup for FIFA, the positives are the crowd and people who attended the matches, the Stadiums, atmosphere and the fact Spain were worthy champions. On the flip side we had, negative football, empty seats, a dodgy ball, irritating stadium noises and some real poor teams in:

England
France
Italy
Greece & finally
England (yes they were that bad I had to mention it twice).

Here's to Brazil 2014, I hope they work with Adidas to sort out the football, and the ticket pricing to allow more people to watch the matches, time will tell.

World Cup 2010 - Day 30

2010-07-11T01:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday 10th July

I did weigh myself this morning and it's 13st 8lbs.
0 Cans of Beer in the House and have now gone 6 days without beer.

So the 3rd & 4th Place match, with Germany vrs Uruguay, now these are strange matches, and you never know what your going to get. Countries has asked for this match to be cancelled as some see as worthless, but you do need to know who finished 3rd, as it all stems back when the World Cup was played a little like a Olympic sport.

This was in the end a good game, with the German's winning it late on 3-2 after being pegged back to 2-2, Forlan could have evened it up @ the end but hit the bar with his free kick and the last kick of the game.

2 good teams who signed off with good World Cups, and Germany finishing 3rd & Uruguay 4th.

In hindnsight, if only this had been the final?

World Cup 2010 - Day 27

2010-07-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 7th July

Weight still unknown.

The 2nd of the Semi Finals, and a European giants class of Germany vrs Spain. The Germans looking to make it to a consecutive final, and their umpteenth successful World Cup Campaign. Spain with this being their first ever World Cup Semi Final, of course they are looking to make it their 1st ever World Cup Final, and it would build on their 2008 European success.

A mouthwatering tie, 0-0 all over it again maybe?

I wasn't too far away, Spain ground out a 1-0 result against a young and future proof German team. It was Spain's 3rd 1-0 result on the spin, but they should have won this match 3 or 4-0, but it was a 'flying through the air with the greatest of ease' Puyol header from a corner that won it for Spain.

Spain have looked shaky from the start, but have built on this, and you can see them adding to their 2008 success. Time will tell against the Dutch, but we will have a new name on the base of the Jules Rimet Trophy, and for the first time a team from Europe will win outside of Europe.

The German's who'll sign off against Uruguay to see if they can get 3rd as they did in 2006, look like they will be a force for 2014 & even 2018, they are young and look that good. If only England could learn from the 4 teams in the Semi-Finals?

World Cup 2010 - Day 26

2010-07-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 6th July

Weight unknown - It was a few days ago I'm catching up but around 13.8

The first of the Semi Finals, and what a cracker, Holland vrs Uruguay & it didn't disappoint.

& it didn't, the Dutch winning with some fantastic football 3-2, they went in 1-1 at half time with a cagey affair, but then in 2nd half Holland stepped on the gas and show some 'Total Football'. They say they have left that back in the 70's but I'm not too sure, they opened up a 3-1 lead with well worked and skillful taken goals by Sneijder & Robben, Pereira pulled back a late goal, but it was just a match too far for Uruguay, who have been a real good surprise team of the World Cup.

We saw the Dutch reel off winning their 14th competitive match on the spin, they look a good team, and deserve to be in the final.

World Cup 2010 - Day 23

2010-07-05T02:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday 3rd July

13st 8lbs
0 beer (How am I doing it?)

The Quarter Final's continue & today sees what hopefully are the World Cup showing it's class?

Match 59 - Argentina vrs Germany, could this be the match that provides the eventual winner, Argentina with it's vast amount of talent, or the the efficient young German team. & what a thumping this was, 4-0 to the Germans they started well with Muller getting the 1st within the first 4 minutes, after that it was all Germany. 3 more goals 2 from Klose and the 3rd by Friedrich completly surprise all the pundits, and left South American football in a sorry state after such a good strong showing the Quarters.

Match 60 - Spain vrs Paraguay, I just hope this isn't a dull 1-0 win to Spain with that David Villa scoring the only goal, he's starting a few trends here? A dull match and I was glad to be at a friends BBQ, Villa scored late on to knock the 3rd South American team of 4 out of the Quarters, Europe again are looking strong. Spain look good, their first ever Semi-Final could they make it all the way to the final in an all European battle for the final?

World Cup 2010 - Day 22

2010-07-01T23:31:00.000-07:00

Friday 2nd July

13st 8lbs (I've only eaten sandwiches)
0 beer (How am I doing it?

As we enter a new month, the Quarter Final start, and today sees what hopefully won't be drab 0-0 draws going to penalties?

Match 57 - Brazil vrs Holland, should be a game to show Football @ it's highest, 2 teams that show football @ a technical & skill level how to play the game, of course then it's got 0-0 written all over it. & so we actually had a decent match, with the Brazilian's going 1-0 up and easily beating the Dutch. Then and a big 'then' the Dutch put in a cross by that Sneijder bloke, the Brazilian Goalkeeper has a flap and next you know, the Dutch are back in it. 15 minutes later Sneijder makes it 2-1 and the entire Brazilian team are flapping, Melo gets sent off for stamping, and the Dutch in the end win it easy and one of the favourites bow out.

Match 58 - Uruguay vrs Ghana, my dark horse for the World Cup are Forlan's Uruguay, they should beat the young Ghana team, but this has been a strange World Cup, let's see who are our first Semi Finalists? Probably one of the best matches for suspense. Ghana went in 1-0 up at half time with the last kick of the game, Muntari just letting 1 fly from 35 yards out. The second half Folan scored a cracking freekick to level it up. It stayed that way until the 119th minute of the game when Suarez saved a sure goal ala Goalkeeping style, he got sent off for his troubles and Gyan missed the Penalty & so to a Penalty shoot out.

Uruguay won the Penalty shoot out easily 4-2 with the Ghana players not dealing with the pressure and a Semi-Final with the Dutch.

World Cup 2010 - Day 21

2010-06-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday 1st July

13st 7lbs (not bad)
Of course 0 beer

As we enter a new month, the Quarter Final start, and today sees what hopefully won't be drab 0-0 draws going to penalties?

Match 57 - Brazil vrs Holland

Match 58 - Uruguay vrs Ghana

Well daft me, I took my World Cup wallchart down after the joke that was England. So ran downstairs @ 2:55pm to put on the match to find Tennis on, then realised the match was Friday instead, Doh!

World Cup 2010 - Day 20

2010-06-30T23:48:00.002-07:00

Wednesday 30th June

For the 1st time in almost 3 weeks we don't have any football what so ever, and the gaps are going to start to get bigger as we move to the final 8 of the World Cup.

This is when the better teams start to fight it out for the greatest Football prize.

World Cup 2010 - Day 19

2010-06-30T23:48:00.001-07:00

Tuesday 29th June

13st 8lbs
0 can of Beer left

I'm typing this day's Blog well after the events, I always do this, when ever England are knocked out I instantly switch off and no longer follow the competition, which is a bugger for the Blog. & that reason was probably justified with today's football.

Match 55 - Paraguay vrs Japan, a dire 0-0 draw which Paraguay won 5-3 on penalties, luckily for me I tuned in for the last 2 minutes of Extra time, and then the penalties.

Match 56 - Spain vrs Portugal, another dire match especially if you were a Portugal fan, and like France, Italy & England, a much fancied Portugal team dropped out of the competition without a whimper. 1-0 to Spain through David Villa, who is starting to look like the player of the tournament, and you can see why Barcelona bought him before the World Cup.

Well no Beer, with tracking the weight on the Blog am aware of things that would help me to get down to the low 13st's.

World Cup 2010 - Day 18

2010-06-30T23:47:00.001-07:00

Monday 28th June

13st 8lbs
0 can of Beer left (see no change to my weight it can't be the beer)

Well the morning after the night before....

Match 52 - Holland vrs Slovakia, with this Holland won 2-1 apparently it wasn't a game for the purist, and 1 of the few matches I missed after the mess that was England, I do this, I don't follow the competition any more.

Match 53 - Brazil vrs Chile, for those who watched this match, a 3-0 win to Brazil, would see the deltas between the teams who are good and the teams who think they are good. Brazil scored some great goals this evening to canter into the Quarter Finals, with a match against the Dutch.

No beer so now can I comment on how much I've not drunk, after England's performance you'd think it would be the first thing most people would hit....

England World Cup Post Mortem

2010-06-30T23:41:00.001-07:00

Okay has slept on this, the emotion is out of me now, and so before we return to all that is Wigan Athletic & our season start.

A look at what was a frustratingly poor and embarrassing World Cup for England:

We started with a good qualification well above our expectations; especially Walcott's Hatrick in Croatia, winning 9 of 10 matches, Rooney looked good scoring 9 goals. The team looked good.

The draw was made in December last year, and it was a favourable draw, with England (8^th seed), USA (14th), Slovenia (25th) & Algeria (30th).

The Capello Index, a distraction we could have done without, it bore nothing to England's World Cup, only to show maybe Capello's poor decision making?

The Warm up games against Mexico & Japan, showed again decision making from Capello? Instead of playing the starting 11 & his World Cup formation he played the fringe players! They tanked it, and both games we struggled with Japan scoring all the goals, we won both games but unconvincing, against teams who would maybe get to the last 16!

First concerns were showing that the team that qualified so easy was it now the same team going into the World Cup?

The Squad selected in June, did show a surprise for me with Walcott not being picked. Walcott ‘had been injured and not played that much’, were the reasons but on the flip the same could be said for Heskey, James, dare I go on. The squad in the end almost picked itself, I did though @ the time believe we were light on strikers & would have liked Darren Bent to be there, 20+ goals.....a Plan B sub maybe?

The preparations different than 2006, with a more strict nature. The distracting WAGS had gone but so to was the relaxed atmosphere, they had every whim sorted, so this time the Millions had been spent, there were was no excuses, or could there be?

Rio Ferdinand was probably a knee waiting to go, Heskey bless him tried to explain what happened, but why oh why were they playing such intense football so close to the finals?

I’ll get to the point now, with some other observations as we moved into the World Cup:

Team Selection – 2 hours before, how can a player prepare & psyche himself up? For example, Robert Green for the USA match, though the psyche probably didn’t affect the mistake for the goal, not a way to boost morale for your goalkeeper or any other player.

Dropping of players, Robert Green was dropped due to a mistake in the USA match & Heskey for a poor Algeria match. So why wasn’t the same applied to the likes of Rooney? He was poor for all 4 games, but never once was his selection in doubt, ala Darren Bent....

Algeria & formations, we knew before this match Gerrard & Lampard is a puzzle, but why stick one of the best midfielders’ in the World on the left wing. Also when @ 0-0 & 63 minutes replace one dud winger for another? Capello & decision making again, where was plan B?

Slovenia a country of 2 million, and we scrape a 1-0 win, other than Defoe early in the 2^nd half we didn’t really push them for a second. The blocks @ the end from Terry & Upson saved some 1^st round exit blushes. Ironically a second England goal even with the USA’s late goal and we’d of avoided Germany, decision making again. Also felt this win papered over the cracks that were continuing with the team, especially after the interesting Sunday morning John Terry Press Conference, which almost let the cat out of the bag. Had something gone on?

Germany, yes, some will say the goal that never was could have changed the game, but in the 2^nd half and like most of the tournament, we had no answer, no plan B. The midfield & defence were torn to pieces for the 3^rd & 4^th goal. & again decision making with Capello, why when trying to get back in a game and needing goals, he puts Heskey on the field, who bless him for England hasn’t been able to hit a Barn door for years?

& so another dream of success has another 4 years to wait.

The inquest has since started, and Capello’s press conference on Monday afternoon, gave us 2 points to wonder about? Asked if he’ll quit, Capello said “No, but is waiting on the FA to confirm he still has a job in the next 2 weeks”. & second, when asked why it went so wrong, the reason was “The players are tired”.

So being an England fan & looking @ Capello’s answers, we have a Manager who’s not sure if he has a job, the FA who are not sure what to do and tired players who ironically have played less games this season than their German counterparts. I’m sorry but I’m starting to smell something that just isn’t quite right with brand England!

The shambles that is England on Monday the 28^th June 2010, kind of sums up what we’ve had to put up with for the World Cup, we are just not good enough! The media & the Premiership hype up these players placing them on pedestals they shouldn’t be on.

I just hope in the next instalment of Wayne’s 6 book deal, we don’t get a glimpse of an unfit player who continued to play. Ala Beckham in 2006 who then blamed Real Madrid fitness routines for his then poor performance. Will Wayne come out later in the year when the furry has died down & the Premiership is in full swing, highlighting his doubts & concerns?

& a question for the conspiracy theorists, did Fabio lose the Dressing Room with the John Terry Captain sacking? It’s just something happened from Qualification to the World Cup that meant all the players were poor not just a few.

To finish some interesting facts:

2010 – 4 games, 3 goals, Striker, Midfield & Defender

2006 – 5 games, 5 goals, Striker & Midfield x4

2002 – 5 games, 6 goals, Striker x3, Midfield & Defender x2

1998 – 4 games, 7 goals, Striker x4 & Midfield x3

As you can see the stats show you England @ the last 4 World Cup have relied more on the Midfield to get the goals than the Strikers, so why stick Gerrard on the left? It cut our options and we over relied on 2 strikers, both going into the World Cup poor on form & fitness, & again decision making.

World Cup 2010 - Day 17

2010-06-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday 27th June

13st 7lbs (less Beer & less weight...How come?)
0 can of Beer left (distribution error @ the Supermarket?)

Well the day has arrived, the knock out stages & England, what will they do, they play Germany for a right to play in the quarter finals against Mexico or Argentina, a frightening prospect, but 1 step @ a time.

Going into these 2 games, there is a great deal of History I know about for the England Game, with Germany being responsible for knocking England out in 1990 in the Semi Finals and then in Euro 96 @ the same stage. They have contested a World Cup final in 1966 going to England with 'did it cross the line'? & World Cup qualifying where England won 5-1 in Germany and Germany beat England 1-0 to see Keegan resign as Manager & the last game @ the old Wembley.

Game 51 - Germany vrs England, what can I say, the flags on the outside of my house were down after Germany's counter attacking 3rd goal. England like the whole of their World Cup were poor, yes they were hard done by through a poor referee & decision making! But for other than 20 minutes either side of Half time England didn't look like they knew what to do, how to do it or if they wanted to do it...Don't really want to write anymore, have done a Post Mortem Blog, that looks everything that was England's World Cup.

South America vrs North American (CONCAF) see's 2 decent teams who will test each other, should be interesting to see if Argentina as good as they have shown in the 1st 3 matches? The South American teams have been very strong so far with Uruguay already in the Quarter finals & I'm sure no one from the Continent has been sent home yet?

Game 52 - Argentina vrs Mexico, 3-1 to Argentina with another controversial moment, Argentina's 1st goal was @ least 2 yards offside for Tevez, & the players and crowd seeing this on the stadium TV screen after the Referee has ruled the goal as good. So you had a situation were a Ref had to consult with his assistant and knowing they had made a mistake still continue with the same decision, as they are not allow to use TV evidence & change their mind. Luckily for FIFA for a 2nd time today, the match ran out 3-1 to Argentina, with Maradonna's men showing there class against tougher opposition, they do look good and a Quarter Final against of course Germany, a repeat of the 1986 & 1990 finals.

Well I have no beer and with the day I have planned no chance of buying any, so it'll have to be the wife's Cider then.....

World Cup 2010 - Day 16

2010-06-26T00:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday 16th June

13st 10lbs (dam Hot Dogs, Pizza & Chips)
1 Can of Beer left.

So the Group stages are over & the final 16 are ready for the next battle. It's not been a good World Cup for European & African teams, with many of them leaving in the Group stages, and of the final 16, only 6 are European, 5 South American (all through), 2 North & Central America, 2 Asian & 1 African.

Uruguay vrs South Korea
USA vrs Ghana
Go to Game 58

Germany vrs ENGLAND
Argentina vrs Mexico
Go to Game Game 59

Holland vrs Slovakia
Brazil vrs Chile
Go to Game 57

Paraguay vrs Japan
Spain vrs Portugal
Go to Game 60

Semi-Finals
Game 58 vrs Game 57
Game 59 vrs Game 60

So today we have just 2 matches:

Match 49 - Uruguay vrs South Korea, going into this match the South Korean's have looked sharp & fast, but technically wise Uruguay have looked strong, but have relied on Forlan a great deal, should set up a good match, with the winner playing the victor of today's 2nd match! It could be either of the 2, with bookies looking @ Uruguay to go into the Quarters.

The match was a cracker, with it going to Uruguay 2-1 and booking the 1st Quarter Final place, and the first time in 20 years they have got this far. They look a good team and will play the winner of the later match for an unbelieveable place in the Semi-Finals, something Paraguay haven't done since 1970. Suarez got both goals, the 2nd a curling peach into far right of the goal which no goalkeeper could have saved, he now goes to 3 goals, and joint top scorer of the tournament.

Match 50 - USA vrs Ghana, this could so have easily have been England if Defoe had scored that 2nd goal just after half time, or if Landon hadn't scored his Hollywood goal....Again this is a tough one to call, if any of the final 16 teams have had to fight for their right to be here, it is the US of A. The bookies are just giving the edge to the USA, but with Ghana looking strong but in a weaker group who knows?

Well what a surprise, Uruguay will play Ghana after they beat the US of A 2-1 after extra time, their goal to win was a peach too, a punt up field and Gyan latch on to it, held off 2 defender to put over the head of Tim Howard. They held on in extra time, to be only the 3rd African team to reach the Quarter Finals (Cameroon 1990 & Senegal 2002), could they be the first to get to a Semi-Final, they looked good and being such a young team, you'd have to look to Brazil 20p14 as another opportunity.

I bet I drink just the one can today, and that would be 46 cans of Beer so far.....& it was to drink the last one the last beer, not sure if I'm going to get any more, probably leave it a day or so, have some of the wife's Cider, and see how ENgland get on on Sunday?

World Cup 2010 - Day 15

2010-06-24T23:24:00.001-07:00

Friday 25th June

13st 9lbs (steady steady)
3 cans of Beer left

The last round of Group matches, sees some interesting possibilities with Spain's Group (H) and could another European favourite leave the competition? Group G is all but done, Ivory Coast could with results get 2nd from Portugal, but would need to overcome a 9 goal difference.

Prior to this match group G is very easy, Brazil have 6, Portugal 4, Ivory Coast 1 & North Korea 0. The goal difference between Portugal & Ivory coast means a Brazil 4-0 win and a Ivory Coast 5-0 win should see they just about qualify. But could see some humdrum matches this afternoon, as team go through the paces avoiding yellow cards & injuries.

Match 1 - Portugal vrs Brazil, probably one of the mouth water ties of the Group stages, but with Brazil on 6 points and Portugal on 4 with a massive goal difference these 2 teams were already through bar a couple of high scoring matches. Alas we got nothing from this match a 0-0 dire game, with 1 team preoccupied with how many goals the Ivory coast had scored? Personally I'd ask them both to go home after serving up this drivel, but it has kind of summed up the World Cup in general.

Match 2 - North Korea vrs Ivory Coast, again a decent win for Drogba & Sven's team of 3-1 but not enough to get past Portugal's 7-0 drubbing of North Korea in an earlier match. Ivory Coast like many of the other African team only just failed to qualify for the last 16, but it's the failure with just one team making it 'Ghana' from the host continent that will have African football looking into after the final's final whistle.

Prior to this match for group H, we've seen some surprises in how good Chile and note all South American teams have been they have 6 points from 2 wins. Switzerland & Spain both have 3 points and Honduras still to register a point, but all 4 could still qualify if results go as they could.

Match 3 - Chile vrs Spain, the Spanish just about made it from a strong Chile the result was a little dodgy with how the teams played in the 2nd half, running out for a 2-1 Spanish win, which meant both went through. Spain have looked unconvincing, and Torres was back to his usual diving and getting a player sent off.

Match 4 - Switzerland vrs Honduras, all Switzerland needed to do was score a goal a simple 1-0 and they were through, they beat Spain how hard could it be against Honduras, but alas a dull 0-0 result happened, and they both went home, I'm glad I watched the other match & grabbed the highlights of this one.

Well lets just see what the beer is like, 3 cans left, but just in case a little Whiskey in the cupboard. I finally had just the 2 cans I needed to have @ least 1 for the following day......I need to get some more from the Supermarket......

World Cup 2010 - Day 14

2010-06-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday 24th June

Happy Birthday Mum!

13st 9lbs (A Positive trend, NO)
6 cans of Beer left

Prior to these matches for Group F, we find another group were all 4 teams can qualify, and we could even if results don't go their way, the World Champions on their way home.

Match 1 - Slovakia vrs Italy, could the unthinkable happen? & it could with the best match of the tournament so far, the Slovak's beating the World Champions 3-2 and knocking them out, it was close though, Italy came back from 2-0 & 3-1 to score goals to set up a tense final few minutes. But yet another of the top European teams are out, like Africa this has not been a good tournament for European teams. & with Italy the end of a dynasty of players who 4 years ago won the trophy for a 4th time and wrote History.

Match 2 - Paraguay vrs New Zealand, of course whilst this match was going on New Zealand must have known they could have qualified, for long periods the Italians were down, and New Zealand knew a goal and a win would put them through @ the expense of Slovakia, and ironically they would have topped the group. But alas they couldn't they ended the tournament undefeated with 3 draws, and Paraguay & Slovakia qualified.

Prior to these matches for Group E, we actually find a group were just 2 teams are playing for the final 16, as Cameroon, are just playing for pride & Holland have already booked their place. The final 2 play each other so it's winner takes all. This you could say was the dull group of a dull World Cup, so it goes about saying they would serve up 2 crackers........

Match 3 - Denmark vrs Japan, well at last a free kick goes in with this damn ball! & you wait ages & 2 come along together....Japan won this 3-1 to book their last 16 place, and again knock another poor European football team out. Is this World Cup seeing a shift in the Football establishment with stronger South American & Asian teams?

Match 4 - Cameroon vrs Holland, see's the first irrelevant match, well not really it matters in regards who tops the group...& so the Dutch in a decent match just about beat Cameroon 2-1, with the Africans @ least putting up a fight at the end for pride. The Dutch even though they have won 3 matches they have done so unconvincing, though I think most teams would have loved 3 wins out of 3, they way they have played would concern most fans for the last 16 when they will be properly tested.

Maybe 3 more can today, let's see? Yep that's right, why break a habit of a life time, 3 cans and just 3 more left, that's 42+1 (MIL) cans of beer for this World Cup.

World Cup 2010 - Day 13

2010-06-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 23rd June

13st 7 lbs (it's a new record)
9 cans of Beer left

Prior to this match England had well how can I put it, stank. Algeria have just about hung on, Slovenia the only team with a win & the USA have dug in to drag themselves back to 2 draws. The final round matches mean all 4 can qualify.

Match 1 - The big game, England vrs Slovenia, well Defoe 20 minutes or so, and he shined one into the goal, and the country erupts we've finally seen a goal (well ITV HD viewers have). A better match for the England team they played as a team but then again they could only get better after Algeria. With the win England qualifed it was as simple as that & a last 16 game, and Fabio keeps his job and the flags stay on the outside of the House.

Match 2 - USA vrs Algeria, like a Hollywood blockbuster, the USA won the match and got to the last 16 @ Slovenia's expense with a goal by Landon Donovan in the 92nd minute. Other than an early chance for Algeria which hit the bar, the USA battered Algeria for most of the match, but couldn't find the break through, until yep you've guessed it, the 2nd minute of extra time.....typical, they now face Ghana, oh I'm giving it away again.

Prior to this match, like Group C all 4 teams in Group D could qualify for the final 16, though some of the teams would need to score a hat full of goals. What we also knew was who ever won or came runner up in the group could play England in the last 16.

Match 3 - Germany vrs Ghana, so these teams knew results being favourable and they could both qualify, and amazingly with a good goal from Mesut Ozil they both did! So with earlier results in Group C Germany will play England on the Sunday afternoon, and the German's will know they were kind of lucky, because after such a good start they could easily have missed out as Ghana had a number of chance to draw if not win. Here comes SUNDAY

Match 4 - Australia vrs Serbia, a 2-1 win for Australia saw them finish with 1 of each, Win, draw & loss, but the 4 points were just not enough due to the 4 conceeded against Germany in the 1st match. Australia started well and got half the goals they needed in the 1st half to be 2-0 up, they needed 4 and a German win to qualify on goal difference against Ghana. Serbia ironically finished with just 3 points bottom of the table, and beat Germany, go figure....

Again and we drink just 3 cans of beer, even on a day like today were England qualify for the last 16, but hey I've still got 6 cans of beer left.....

World Cup 2010 - Day 12

2010-06-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 22nd June

13st 8lbs
12 cans of Beer left

1 day to go before England's crunch game.

The start of the final round of Group matches, and groups play at the same time to avoid the Austrian & West German farce of 1982.

Ready for these matches Mexico & Uruguay had 4 points each & France & South Africa a point each, all 4 could qualify. Going into the match the mess that had been France's World Cup had seen Anelka sent home, the team refuse to train & some players saying they wouldn't play against South Africa...

Match 1 - Mexico vrs Uruguay, knowing a draw between the 2 would mean they both finished on 5 points & qualified, all to play for was winning the group and avoiding a potential clash with a good looking Argentina. Uruguay won this with a simple 1-0 win, then means they won the group and later we found they play South Korea. Mexico who look a decent fast team will play Argentina, and that should be a decent match as Argentina haven't been tested @ the back really.

Match 2 - France vrs South Africa, the mess that was France and the pressure of being the first hosts to not qualify past the 1st round of games, meant you'd expect a 0-0 draw. Instead we got a 2-0 scoreline to South Africa @ half time, maybe just maybe South Africa could get the 4 clear goals to leapfrog past Mexico to finish second. But alas they tired in the 2nd half and France got a goal back, South Africa failed to qualify on goal difference, and another African team left the competition & we were down to 29. Less said about France the better.

Going into this match Argentina had 6 points, Greece & South Korea 3, with South Korea having a better goal difference and Nigeria 0, ironically if results went there way any of the 4 could still qualify.

Match 3 - Nigeria vrs South Korea, this ended in a 2-2 draw, which with other results meant South Korea qualified for the last 16. It was a shame for Nigeria as Yakuba missed a clear open goal that would have made it 3-2 and the way the table was they would have made it to the last 16 themselves. This means that Nigeria along with South Africa & Cameroon left the World Cup & we were down to 28, with no African team looking like they may qualify.

Match 4 - Argentina vrs Greece, final game of the day and we saw Argentina battle against a 8 man defence of Greece for 80 minutes. Before 2 late goals meant they knocked Greece out of the competition which a lot of pundits are happy about as defending & scoring from set pieces is all Greece can do & it's a little dull (ala 2004). We are now down to 27 teams left in the World Cup, with Argentina joint favourites with Brazil @ 4/1, and both teams are looking good, the draw means they can stay apart until the final.

Drank just 3 cans today, it's a pattern that emerging, down to 9, they go so quickly....

World Cup 2010 - Day 11

2010-06-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

Monday 21st June

13st 8lbs (not bad it can;t be the lack of beer)
0 cans of beer left - Got to get to the supermarket there is only Cider in the fridge

The last day of 3 matches a day with a 12:30pm kick off.

Match 1 - Portugal who like many European teams started poor, and also know Brazil have 6 points in their group thump North Korea 7-0, with 6 goals in the 2nd half, it means Brazil qualify for the last 16, twinkle toes also got on the score sheet.

Match 2 - Chiles & Switzerland in Group H played out to a 1-0 win for Chile, moving them to 6 points and a strong position for the group with Spain still to register a point, okay they have only played 1 match, but this group does have a strange look to it with Spain @ the bottom, them being European Champions.

Match 3 - Spain had to deliver today, a defeat by Switzerland meant they had to win, with Chile on 6 points a defeat to Honduras & Spain were out. Unlike England they delivered 1 decent 2-0 win which could have been 7 or 8 with Villa getting both goals.

Got myself a box of 15 cans of Carlsberg & drank 3, so similar to a GCSE exam question I have 12 cans left, there you go a GCSE son....

World Cup 2010 - Day 10

2010-06-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday 20th June

13st 9lbs (it ain't shifting, it's not going up too)
0 cans of beer left (I need to buy some)

Sunday saw England fans here John Terry start a coup de grase that lasted just a few hours, but it had it's desired effect it showed the divisions on the England camp. The media went crazy, the FA & Capello went into action and in the end it got the England team all together, result, let's hope we can have that for Wednesday.

Match 1 - Slovakia lost 2-0 to Paraguay in the only match I've not watched. & was a good result for the strongest team Italy, or so we thought....

Match 2 - & the Mighty Italy, the current World Cup holders, were held 1-1 by the great nation of New Zealand, so again like Germany opening up the group for any of the 4 teams to win. Italy were not happy, well @least now they know how the English & the Germans felt. As you can expect with New Zealand holding out for a draw this wasn't the most entertaining match.

Match 3 - Please lets have some decent football, Brazil play their 2nd match against the Ivory coast and some decent football sees them almost certainly qualify for the 2nd round, a 3-1 win against Drogba's Ivory Coast, sees them amass 6 points.

1 Can of beer in afternoon @ the Mother in Laws, it was from here 2009 Christmas supply, I did check the Sell by date....I need to get to the supermarket

World Cup 2010 - Day 9

2010-06-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday 19th June

13st 9lbs ish
3 cans of beer left - I need to stock up.

Okay it'll start to get a bit hazy here as I just was in a moronic stupor with the England result & the way they played.

Match 1 - Ghana 1-1 Australia, Kewell got sent off for pretending to be a goaly, and meant the groups was anyones with the German's losing the day before.

Match 2 - Holland bored there way to a 1-0 win over Japan, with a goal that I can describe and dipping, looping, bending this, that & other way. The poor goaly had no chance he got a hand too it, but only to palm it into the goal, this ball is shaky..

Match 3 - Cameroon lost to Denmark 2-1 & became the first team to be knocked out of the World Cup (31 left), again like other teams they just seem to let it happen, only playing in the final minutes to try for the 2nd goal....strange...

Well drank the final 3 cans with my sweet lemonade and so I'm all out, all gone, no more, all 30 cans have been drunk, using maths too I've drunk on average 3.33 cans a day for the last 9 days....nice

World Cup 2010 - Day 8

2010-06-18T02:03:00.000-07:00

Friday 18th June

13st 9lbs (too Much Lettuce @ Lunch)
6 cans of beer left - I need to stock up.....

Well day 8 sees England play their 2nd match, this time against Algeria, and you'd think with England's class they should get 3 points, but remember this is the World Cup & this is England.

Other matches today see the German's play Serbia, and will be interesting to see how play and will they continue their impressive form? The other match of the day will see Slovenia play the USA, which is good scheduling for England, because we then go into the evening match knowing what has happened and how the group stands.

I must apologies I had every intention of updating this on that evening, but after Englands performance it's took me days to get round to updating my blog, but with England's 3rd match this afternoon I've got behind the team, and hey here's the days updated.

The 8th day saw a big surprise with the German's losing 1-0 to Serbia, a lot was due to Klose being sent off, as Serbia scored the winning goal straight after German went down to 10 men, but even though it's been a dull World Cup, it is throwing up some interesting results.

Slovenia & USA for the second match of the day gave us our best game so far in a 2-2 thriller, which was good for England, in reality USA should have come from 2-0 down to win 3-2, but the ref ruled out a goal for an unknown reason.

& so to the final match, the young daughter was tucked up in bed, the Sky+ was set so we could watch all the match, so the 4 of us, me, the wife, Zak & Ziggy the Dog. So the match started and then ended and all I can say is it was utter garbage though out, Algeria played well and took a game plan to England that worked perfect hounding them off the ball and keeping the ball. Rooney had a little chat with the camera man @ the end of the match, which caught all the headlines. Somehow I can see a media fall out over this.

Just 3 cans to drown my sorrows.

World Cup 2010 - Day 7

2010-06-17T03:19:00.001-07:00

Thursday 17th June

13st 8lbs (it's the beer it is)
9 cans of beer left

I'm hoping with the decent match yesterday with teams playing their 2nd matches, mean some will now go out to win the game instead where we saw teams playing the 1st match trying not to lose.

Today we see a big favourite in Argentina and also France, can they improve? Also if results don't go their way Greece could be the first team confirmed home.

So 3 more matches and improving football & ooh La La.

Match 1 saw Argentina play South Korea, both on 3 points going into the match. This was a match other than a dodgy bit of defending just before half time, Argentina ruthlessly dealt with their opponents 4-1. They are now bang on favourite to win the Cup, well it is only 2 matches, and Huigain got a Hatrick to go top of the Golden Boot competition.

The 2nd Match had the first self destruct moment, Nigeria 1-0 up against all I can say is a CRAP Greece. Nigeria then had a player sent off for raising a boot in a Hang Bags moment. Greece then grabbed the Horns, and ran out 2-1 winners, getting their first goal & points in World Cup history. All 4 teams still have a chance of qualifying, so the group is still open.

The 3rd and final match saw France play Mexico, and you'd think things could only get better for France? You'd think, there's a great deal of talk of unrest in the camp and in-fighting with a Manager who has already said he's leaving. & with the match you could see it, they ended up losing 2-0, played terrible, and even though they still can qualify, but it is now out of their hands. France aside, Mexico who stuffed the French, played some excellent football and could easily have won it 4 or 5 nil. They were the much better side using their speed to just press the French.

One disappointment though, we didn't get to see Thierry Henry's glum face after the match, just to see how a cheat realises their is a god!

Only 3 cans again today.

World Cup 2010 - Day 6

2010-06-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 16th June

13st 10lbs (not shifting it's not the beer)
12 cans of beer left

Well another 3 matches, we have Spain, are we going to get scared? & teams now start to play their 2nd matches from the this Evening, so winners and losers in regards to the last 16 start.....

Match 1 & we had Honduras & Chile, and a decent 1st half with Chile pushing for a win, which has gone against most teams in this World Cup. A fine win for them and a good start to the day I hope the matches start to pick jup now, and is it me are the horns getting quieter?

The big favourites in the 2nd Match in Spain, and they served us up the 1st shock of the World Cup by going 1 better than England and losing to Switzerland, the Swiss goal was route 1 football goalkeeper clearance and the striker just bundles the ball home taking no prisoner. Cue Spanish weeping @ the final whistle, they should still qualify, but will they choke like they always do @ World Cups?

The final match of the day, and now the matches mean something, the second matches can see teams qualify & confirm tickets home, South Africa play Uruguay, and a decent game bossed by Forlan who got a couple of goals and a late goal made it 3-0, and could South Africa be the first host never to get past the 1st round of matches?

Only 3 cans drunk again, I'm slowing down, I'm sure the weight will have shifted.

World Cup 2010 - Day 5

2010-06-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 15th June

13st 10lbs (damn)
15 cans of beer left

Day 5, we had hoped this would be a better day what with Brazil playing, but alas the trend that is a dull & Noisy World Cup continued. 3 more matches which included the Group of Death, along with Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast & North Korea we had the lunchtime match of New Zealand & Slovakia.

The 1st match, the Kiwi's against the Slovaks, was very similar to all the matches before hand, though I believe the Mexican wave started around the 18 minute mark, a new record. The trend continues of dull and more dull.

Ivory Coast & Portugal for the 2nd match of the day & you'd expect some fantastic football? Except for Ronaldo crashing a shot against the post in the 10th minute, that was about it, this match was more a grudge match with kicks, pushes & diving here, there & everywhere, the dull continues.

So to Brazil in the final match of the day & surely they can lift the spirits, even the commentators on the BBC & ITV have notice how dull the start has been. But alas the North Koreans hold the Brazilians to 0-0 by half time, and other than 3 goals in the 2nd half, 1 for North Korea it was just a hard won game for Brazil with North Korea playing 5 yes 5 @ the back. Ahh well we have Spain tomorrow.

Only 3 cans of beer and a load of Lemonade drank, this Carling not as good as I remember, well it'll do wonders for the weight.

World Cup 2010 - Day 4

2010-06-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Monday 14th June

13st 10 lbs
18 Cans of Beer left

See the weight is going back on, must have been that big bag of Doritos....

Well day 4 and a week day, so I have to watch what I say, as I work from home and I just love the fact I have Sky+, it's like you own Match of the day highlights programme you control. So lunchtimes and breaks are used effectively for some of the matches.

Match 1 & it's the Dutch & Danes, the ladies in the crowd looked mighty fine, love dutch beer (cough cough). Again like the Germans the Dutch show the English how it's done, 2-0 very easy if without the flare, this common dull thread to the start of the World cup is catching, as are the empty seats, that's the best 3% I've ever seen...

2nd Match & the first shock the Japanese beat a highly fancied Cameroon 1-0, in the end if is easy, and again another dull match, Cameroon were very disappointing, like the French, hang on don't they have a french manager?

3rd & final match of the day, please of please can we have a 4-3 thriller, Italy & Paraguay, in the 1st half the holders Italy, look how can I say it are...CRAP....and a good point for me Paraguay's goal scorer one Alcaraz, has signed for Wigan. So it's a plus point on yet another dull match, Mexican wave started just after 20 minutes The 2nd half it's a different Italy & they pull one back through another common theme a goal keeping mistake, and end with a 1-1 draw, a bit like England, but the Italians always start slow.

3 cans of beer drunk, now with gaining weight this morning, I'm going to see if 1 less can of beer reduces the weight, also can't believe I've gone through a box of Carlsberg so soon. Carling next & the lemonade is going flat....

World Cup 2010 - Day 3

2010-06-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday 13th June

13st 8lbs (can you believe it)
22 cans of beer left

See all that beer and I'm still losing weight, so Sunday arrives and it's analysing this and that on the Sports News this morning, Robert Green's gloves have never got so much attention. AT LEAST WE DIDN'T LOSE.

So to the 3rd day and another 3 games, though some of the matches don't look like classics I do hope this World Cup picks up?

1st match is Algeria & Slovenia, who would have thought a Sunday lunch watching these 2? & well the dull theme continues with a 1-0 win to Slovenia, where is Slovenia, do you turn right when you get to Austria, joking aside, England should be too worried watching these 2 play....

Serbia & Ghana for the 3pm 2nd Match, now I'm torn here as the Canadian Grand Prix is on so hopefully I can watch the match & then switch over to BBC for the GP. Worse luck family delay and running 60 minutes behind, means the GP gets the nod and I stay away from any media outlets to watch the GP, and it is more exciting than the World Cup so far. Back to the footy, Sky+ & Ghana, and they knick a 1-0 win against Serbia, first win for an African nation on home soil, sorted.

Match 3, and you just knew it didn't you. The Germans they tonk the Aussies 4-0, look great, control this dodgy ball well, play well as a team, look solid at the back, you just knew it, even with all their injuries they still play well. As for Australia, I'd stick to cricket.

So after a weekend a quick review of things I've noticed with this World Cup:

ITV Muppets..
Noise from those Vuvuzela's
Too many Replays - how much action have we missed?
Way too many empty seats (FIFA said 97% tickets were sold)
Defensive matches
Beautiful Stadiums
The Ball is too round (love it)
Germany look good (damn)
Goal Keeping Mistakes

4 cans of beer today, wonder how much weight I've lost with that?

World Cup 2010 - Day 2

2010-06-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday 12th June

13st 9lbs
27 cans of Beer left

It's been a long 4 years as an England Fan, our last major tournament was back in 2006 when Ronaldo booted us out of the World Cup in Germany and we appointed the wally with the brolly who failed to get us to Euro 2008.

So this Saturday arrives, and yes got the Lemonade from the supermarket this morning, and the beer taste oh so sweeter, and 3 matches to look forward too.

The first match South Korea vrs Greece, and well the Greek stank, the crowd was sparse, FIFA have said 97% of tickets have been sold, I'm assuming the 3% not sold all came in this match, and watching you can understand why, a dour 2-0 win for South Korea, who played well and are good for their surprise 3 points.

2nd match, surely this World Cup will pick up, Argentina & Nigeria, and alas no, a 1-0 win for Argentina, it wasn't for them trying, they pepper the goal but could only make 1 stick, this ball is looking a bit dodgy though, and cough cough more empty seats, who does the stats at FIFA?

3rd & final match, the kids are tucked up in bed, Sky+ has been on pause for a good few minutes why the kids are sported, the beer & snacks are prepared, the wife is going to watch this one with me too. England's first match, against BP bashing USA.

We start well, but of course being English we miss the goal because of some muppet @ ITV pressed the wrong button and we get Adverts instead. & in reality that was it from England, we did little for the rest of the match Heskey should have made it 2-1 but shot straight @ the keep Brad. Of course USA's goal, less said the better about Mr Green's gloves...1-1

On a positive note 5 cans drunk, sorted & I've lost weight this morning off the back of 3 cans....see you can lose weight drinking Beer as part of a calorie controlled diet...

World Cup 2010 - Day 1

2010-06-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Friday 11th June

13st 10lbs
30 Cans of Beer left

This is my blog, I'm going to try & watch all 64 matches, with of course the power of Sky+, so let's see where this blog takes us?

Well the waiting is over, the Countdown widget can be deleted from my laptop, the World Cup starts with South Africa & Mexico, the greatest sporting event there is.

The first match, well what can I say a good goal from South Africa, a 1-1 draw for them is a good point with Mexico scoring late on, but what is that noise, where is the chanting and cheering we hear so often @ matches, all I can hear are Bees buzzing...

The second of 64 match frenzy is one I wish I'd never watched, and to make it worse I've realised as I get older the need for my beer to be sweet, means only 3 cans are drunk today, must get some lemonade from the shops Saturday.