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Caftan back from the dead? |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 29, 2006 10:12 AM
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A mystery blogger has posted some interesting comments this week and I wanted to identify the writer. I didn't have any clues but then I remembered a football chat room in the early days of the internet called farm yard stories (don't ask me why it was called that). A guy on that site also used the same style and went by the name of Caftan. Other posts came from names such as the Cat and Suntan, which were always presumed to be the same guy. So Caftan is that you?
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Juve legend Pessotto falls from window |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:23 AM
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Juventus sporting director Gianluca Pessotto is seriously ill in hospital after falling from a window at club headquarters. Italy players Alessandro del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta have left the team's World Cup camp in Germany to visit Juventus colleague Pessotto. Del Piero and Zambrotta were joined on a private flight by ex-Juve player Ciro Ferrara, one of Italy's coaching staff.
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C'est Magnifique! |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:56 AM
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Well, well, well. Puyol is a liability after all. What was he doing? Alright Henry made a meal of the challenge but it was still a foul. He had no reason to foul the French wizard and in the end it cost Spain the World Cup. Great game though, I really enjoyed this one
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"Tony and Harry!" |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:40 AM
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Tony Adams has been confirmed as the new assistant coach of Pompey. The ex-England defender will take up his role on Saturday and replaces Kevin Bond who moved to Newcastle. The 39-year-old former Arsenal captain has managed Wycombe Wanderers and coached in Holland following his retirement in 2002.
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I think we'll play the....offside trap! |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:28 AM
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Madness! Absolute madness! What were Ghana doing? I guess that’s the way they play but to adopt a crazily high back line against a Brazil team with about 8 attackers playing, in the hope of catching them offside, it just wasn’t ever going to work. 3-0 was a very harsh result, Ghana were excellent in their attacking play...
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Burns V Hackman II |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:06 PM
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With just a few days to go before the World Cup quarter final the pressure is mounting on both Sven Goran Eriksson and Luiz Felipe Scolari to deliver. The Sun today said it was a battle between Mr. Burns and Gene Hackman. Brilliant! Ordinarily I'd want Hackman to win any day. That good cop/bad cop thing in the French Connection, genius. On this occasion though I'll be waving my foam hand firmly in the direction of good old Sven. Here’s the best of the pre-match quotes.
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Stop shouting your mouth off |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:37 AM
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Terry Butcher has been shouting his mouth off about England again and it’s sad to see to be honest. It’s about time the old pro’s got behind the team, this nonsense about dropping Beckham needs to stop once and for all. It’s about time he got behind the boys and stopped shouting his mouth off. Parts of Butchers BBC column are contained below.
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Owen and out |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:08 AM
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In the past, injuries to major players (Bryan Robson with his shoulder in 1990, for example) have actually helped the team because it meant the team had to focus more on its strengths.
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Lack of ambition costs Aussies |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 10:01 AM
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Wonderful Italian defensive play and a lack of ambition from Australia meant despite the dubious penalty award 1-0 was a fair result yesterday afternoon. The Azzuri march on towards an easily winnable quarter final encounter with one of the world’s most boring teams - Ukraine. While the Aussie’s limp home thinking about what might have been
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Figo to face England |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 26, 2006 12:41 PM
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Portugal captain Luis Figo could play against England on Saturday after escaping punishment for his head butt against Holland, while Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to resume training on Wednesday and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to appeal Deco's sending off.
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Shades of the past |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 26, 2006 10:40 AM
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Four years after being knocked out in the quarter-finals by Brazil on their way to winning the trophy, England win two and draw one of their group games to qualify in stuttering fashion for the knock-out stages.
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That'll do nicely |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 26, 2006 9:35 AM
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You can’t argue with that really. Another victory and a place in the quarters. Admittedly it wasn’t a vintage performance but once again it was an improvement and I don’t know about you but when my domestic team wins a match it’s good news whether they played well or not. A win, is a win, is a win
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Why the long face? |
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By Fusive on
Sunday, June 25, 2006 11:06 AM
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Marco Van Basten has publicly slated Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistleroy before the Dutch face Portugal in the second phase. Van Basten told a packed press conference: “The chances of Ruud playing are very small...
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Argentina silence Mexico |
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By Fusive on
Sunday, June 25, 2006 11:02 AM
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Argentina deservedly beat Mexico 2-1 last night in a World Cup classic. It was a pulsating encounter between the two South American sides and could have gone either way, although overall the boys from Buenos Aires just shaded it.
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Germany slay the Vikings |
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By Fusive on
Sunday, June 25, 2006 10:44 AM
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Germany destroyed Sweden yesterday afternoon with an impressive 2-0 win. It could so easily have been more as the Germans were in control from the off and but for some inspired goalkeeping from Rennes player Andreas Isaksson Germany would have compiled a cricket score
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Foster set for Turf Moor |
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By Fusive on
Friday, June 23, 2006 2:10 PM
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Crewe defender Stephen Foster has agreed to join Burnley, after rejecting a contract offer from the Railwaymen.
Foster is expected to sign a two-year contract at Turf Moor.
The 25-year-old, who was also being pursued by Barnsley,started 200 league games for the Gresty Road club after signing in 1998.
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Sven to drop Beckham? |
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By Fusive on
Friday, June 23, 2006 2:00 PM
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Sven Goran Erikkson has admitted that he would be willing to drop David Beckham if he felt he needed to. A lot has been said in the press and in pubs around Britain about Sven’s supposed unwillingness to drop his captain. But today the manager disagreed with that opinion. Eriksson said: "I have taken David Beckham off before. I will do it again if I think he's not doing the job.
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Ronaldo back from the dead |
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By Fusive on
Friday, June 23, 2006 10:21 AM
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It can’t be true. Did my eyes deceive me last night? Has Ronaldo come back from the dead? Yes unbelievably Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored two goals yesterday in his countries 4-1 win over Japan. The signs were there in the first half when he got two good shots away
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Socceroos march on |
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By Fusive on
Friday, June 23, 2006 10:18 AM
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We expected a friendly affair between Australia and Croatia last night with half of the Aussie boys having been born in and around Zagreb, while some of the Croats attended the Australian Academy of Sport. What we got was an amazing match, when once again the Socceroos showed that they will never ever lay down and die
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Ghana and Italy through |
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By Fusive on
Friday, June 23, 2006 9:51 AM
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Neutrals favourites Ghana are through to the second round after a hard fought victory against the USA. While yesterday afternoon we probably saw the last of the great Czech side that has done so much for attacking football over the last ten years
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Championship fixtures |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:23 AM
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The Championship fixtures are out, with little Colchester set for a tough tie away to Birmingham city on August 5th. What a turn around for both clubs, that’s football though, one minute your up the next minute your down. It’s hard to take but unless you support Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal, then you’ll have suffered real heartache and woeful performances in your lifetime. That’s the way it goes.
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I want my medal |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:15 AM
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Michael Owen today admitted he will come back to Germany to pick up a World Cup winners medal despite being unable to play. I was thinking about this one yesterday before he told the media of his plans and I thought to myself that if I was in his position I’d do the same thing. I can’t imagine the heartbreak of getting injured during the tournament but whatever your own problems your still an England fan
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Premier League fixtures |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:46 AM
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The season starts here. The World Cup isn’t even into the second round but we’re already talking about next season with the Premiership fixtures now out. I’ve put the first months games on the site for everyone to have a look. It makes for interesting reading with all the promoted clubs having a hard start. Particularly Sheffield United who face Liverpool at home then Tottenham away as their opening fixtures. It doesn’t get much more difficult than that.
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Hasselbaink set for Toon move |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:36 AM
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With the normal season just round the corner transfer gossip is starting to hot up already. It’s madness really, who cares about domestic football when the World Cup is on and England are still in the competition? Anyway I guess rumours sell papers, so hears the best of the bunch.
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Barry loves it! |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:01 AM
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What a pulsating game between Ivory Coast and S&M last night. Unfortunately I had to watch this one on the highlights programme because the ITV only showed Holland Argentina. I never expected anything from the clash of the heavy weights. The amount of times that the commentary team said “enjoy” before the game started was a clear sign that this would be an anti-climax
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All you need is love |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 5:34 PM
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Angola bowed out today after a 1-1 draw with Iran but at long last Love made his World Cup debut for the African side. For months I’ve been desperate to see the famous man who goes simply by the name of Love. What a name, what a legend
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Cole the star performer |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 10:00 AM
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The Sweden players last night admitted that they were astounded by Joe Cole’s performance last night. Andreas Isaksson told BBC Sport: "Cole was England's best player by a long way. He is very important to this England team...
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What's going on? |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 9:56 AM
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What can you say about another England display full of contradictions which leaves more question marks than answers. Out of all England’s performances so far this was the one that left you feeling most bewildered as to whether or not we can actually win the tournament. In the first half we were brilliant. Not in an Argentinean way but in true English style. We attacked with pace and intent, didn’t give Sweden a moment to settle...
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England fans delight Geman public |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 9:22 AM
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The biggest positive for England in the tournament so far has to be the performance of our fans. General consensus among the German people is that they have been amazing. I’m certain a lot of the usual nutters are there but for once they really do form a tiny minority with the rest of the fans just desperate for the team to do well, while enjoying the carnival atmosphere of a real football festival.
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Kewell escapes ban |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 4:43 PM
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Harry Kewell has been cleared to play in Australia's last Group F match against Croatia after escaping a ban for insulting referee Markus Merk.
The Liverpool winger was reported for swearing at the German official after the Socceroos' 2-0 defeat by Brazil.
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We don't want the Germans |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 4:32 PM
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Germany beat an under strength Ecuador this afternoon 3-0 and the result confirmed what we already knew, we really don’t want to face the Germans in the second round. Admittedly Germany didn’t exactly play total football and their strikers look less than clinical but they have one thing that you need in abundance to win the World Cup, passion
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Lippi admits Italy underestimated States |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:12 PM
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Italy coach Marcello Lippi has admitted he and his team had underestimated the United States following their 1-1 draw against the 2002 quarter-finalists in Kaiserslautern
"After our win against Ghana, we thought it was going to be easy against the US but it turned out to be a difficult day,"
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Sweden v England |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:00 PM
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It seems really strange that England haven’t beaten Sweden since 1968 when we were the current World Champions. I’ve already predicted we’ll change that tonight with a 4-1 victory. The most important game that we lost against the Swedes was at Euro 92’ when Sweden secured an inspired victory to knock England out during the group stages
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Southgate, Bright, Taylor and Pleat share the spoils in the pundit awards |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:45 AM
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Just like every other World Cup addict I’ve watched my fair share of matches over the past few weeks. I’ve really enjoyed the football, I think so far the standard has been extremely high and there haven’t been many boring games. That doesn’t mean I’ve necessarily enjoyed the coverage though. I think someone in the TV industry needs to shake up the format of football coverage as it’s clearly getting a bit stale
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Sven sets 'The Boy' free |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:29 AM
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Sven looks set to unleash ‘The Boy’ tonight against the Swedes and without wanting to add to the pressure on his young shoulders (cause I know he reads all the articles on this site) I really believe he could be the catalyst that helps us rip Sweden to pieces
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Togo bow out |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 19, 2006 2:53 PM
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Switzerland are in a commanding position in Group G after a 2-0 victory of Togo which sends the Africans crashing out of their first World Cup. Before the game all the talk was about whether or not Togo would turn up because of a pay dispute with their own football association
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Anh set for Turf Moor showdown |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 19, 2006 1:02 PM
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It has today emerged that Duisburg striker Anh Jung-Hwan could be a very real target for Burnley supremo Steve Cotterill. Cotterill is currently in Germany looking out for talent to boost the Clarets squad for next season
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Prso set to call it a day |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 19, 2006 9:13 AM
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Dado Prso admits this World Cup could be his final swansong with Croatia.
The Rangers striker was outstanding in their opener against Brazil, and he put in another good performance against Japan. But only the annual check-up on his knee when the tournament is over will determine whether he will retire from international football or carry on till the 2008 European Championships.
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Anh Jung-Hwan, you are my hero |
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By Fusive on
Monday, June 19, 2006 8:37 AM
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My second favourite football nation, South Korea, stunned France last night when they somehow managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. France dominated this one right up until the last ten minutes but their failure to kill the game off ultimately cost them, and they now face the very real possibility of going home before the second round
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