Well, one really should not take the hiss out of a truly great footballer, but Neymar is surely his own worst enemy? He should adopt different tactics when he is fouled, e.g. get up straight away despite the pain and stare the referee in the eye and say something like "where's the VAR then", or whatever. People would soon change their attitude to him, which is harsh at the moment but, as I said, Neymar is causing this friction outside of Brazil himself IMHO? Anyway, this article from the BBC contains some 'Tweet'-like things with photos (scroll down) which are quite good. Like the 'ghost' one: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44690444 Note to NDS: Would love to play football again in the 'ragged-ass rover' section of the old London Business Houses League, but I really could not afford that fancy Rollator, anyway!
Arrived at work this morning still on a massive high from last night's gut wrenching but ultimately epic and exhilarating encounter to find pure indifference. My colleague and oppo (an all round top bloke) did admit to hearing we'd won on the news this morning. I couldn't believe he'd gone to bed not knowing the result!! I was still awake at 3 a.m. this morning unable to sleep and ruminating on how close Ospina got to Dier's penalty. Although I've given Sterling plenty of flack previously I actually thought he had a good game last night. Yes his first touch can be terrible but he was always available and didn't hide from the bruising and cynical Columbians when many slightly built nippy types would have. I thought Dele Ali was anonymous and should have come off far earlier as should Young who carried an injury for too long before making way for Rose. So onwards and upwards to another 50/50 game on Saturday afternoon. We wont fear the Swedes and they won't fear us. Finally my little lad of 7 got special dispensation to stay up through ET and penalties. When Dier scored he cried tears of joy. This is effectively his 1st WC, the embarrassment of Brazil passed him by. The little fooker hasn't even had to go through all the anguish of previous nightmares. Generation bleedin snowflake! Top little lad though (if I say so myself!).
I can’t even spell Dier I’ve got a massive hangover and I’m getting withdrawal symptoms. No footie for two days.
Now that everyone has sobered up from celebrating England finally managing to win a World Cup penalty shoot out, is it okay to point out that most of the penalties were a load of crap? Falcao with first kick straight down the middle, Pickford dived left. Kane goes bottom left but not right in the corner and got away with it. Cuadrado goes high left and beats Pickford going low left. Rashford goes at a nice height left but the ‘keeper does not get to it. Muriel goes centre right and Pickford dives the other way. Henderson did the classic put the kick at a nice height off the ground a yard in from the post so if the ‘keeper guesses right he saves it. Uribe goes high right and hits the bar. Trippier goes high left and scores as the ‘keeper was low left. Bacca goes left at a good height off the ground and Pickford guesses left and saves it. The ‘keeper got his fingers to the clincher because it was a yard in from the post but at least Dier hit it hard enough that it got through. Nearly a Southgate but not quite... These guys are paid a fortune to do this for a living and not one of them stuck their penalty hard against the left or right post, on the ground where no goalkeeper can reach. I bet the bookies cleaned up offering bets on England to lose on penalties – and the bets were all placed by England fans!
Fook me you’re a tough taskmaster QM. Unless you’ve got ice running through your veins a penalty shoot out must be as stressful as it gets. Yes they get paid fortunes but that means bugger all when you make that lonely walk from the centre circle. I always rated the West Ham fella from back in the day, Ray Stewart as a penalty taker. Attempt to burst the net.
An old school chum of mine, a Ukranian guy who supported Dundee United, thought that Ray Stewart had one of the hardest shots ever!
One of three Scots who got sent 'home' with their tails stuck firmly between their legs by Celtic in the 1970 European Cup. Pity it coincided with the rise of Dutch football or this could have been a second victory in the European Cup for Celtic. Just as well for half of Glasgow as a repeat win would have driven 'The Unmentionables' bammy! Think the 136,500 at Hampden Park still remains a British record for a club game. Place was a dump; shoulda been completely bulldozered.
I'd love to play again but after having some idiot put there brand new shiny studs down my shins when shin pads were not fashionable. Some utter disgrace stamping on my collar bone and breaking it, another tw*t stamping on my back.Thought I'd had enough injuries and then I got my tibia snapped right at the ankle which then made my mind up and I gave up. Swanny.... not that expensive but you could get a cheaper version with out the bells and whistles please log in to view this image Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Frank Neary, QPR, West Ham, Millwall, Leyton Orient, an absolute ball and net buster! Never seen anyone hit a ball harder than Frank. "He was noted for the power of his shooting, and once knocked out opposing goalkeeper Archie McFeat of Torquay United, who got in the way of a Neary drive." Source: Wikipedia Frank passed away in 2004 aged 83. He joined QPR right after the end of WW2. R.I.P. Frank, all QPR fans in those days loved you!
Good grief, NDS, what terrible injuries, about the worst I've ever heard of in amateur (presuming it was) football. Guess I was lucky to just play in a 'ragged-ass rover team', never saw a serious injury, just the usual bruises and whatnot. Thank you for the Rollator tip (like that 'Trionic' description ) a very ritzy looking piece of equipment! Will keep a note of it for when the time comes, meanwhile will continue to stagger around. Mustn't grumble, not doing too badly really. Had a few near ones in my life, like many people especially expats, think I used-up my nine bloody lives years ago!
For goodness sake, QM, that really is unreasonable! Anyway, I do not bet on football, ever, and I am sure I am not the only one on here. If I did I would never bet against England, no never, that would be traitorous and cynical IMO.
Briliant stuff that we won on penalties last night! Two observations though: 1) why was Rashford not brought on sooner to try to win the game? 2) why did we bring on dier to try to hold on to our 1-0 . Did Southgate forget what we did in first 2 games? I.e high tempo and going for convincing wins. The trying to see out a 1-0 almost back fired. Hoping Southgate sticks to this more positive approaxh and going for it like the first 2 games...I can see us getting to the semis..but worry about Croatia.
I remember the days NDS. Never wore shin pads myself. On the few occasions I put them in I threw them out within minutes. Those were the days when, if you got injured in a tackle, you were up immediately to get the bugger back. None of this looking for free kicks. Only the one breakage at football, a clean diagonal break (from top to bottom) of my fibia and tibia. Had a similar injury to you just above my ankle, but was just a few years ago when I somehow fell over going from one room to another; leapt up and collapsed. Even then I had to be persuaded to go to hospital as I could just about hobble. It was back problems that forced me to give up. Same injury 3 weeks running (didn't rest injuries in those days) and then it finally went playing squash. I think the worst football injury I suffered was a burst blood vessel in my calf. When I eventually went to hospital I was surrounded by doctors and, whilst they pumped me with blood thinner, I was asked if I had any chest pains, informing me that I had over a pint of blood in my very swollen leg. Guess I could have been a gonner if I had delayed it much longer. Hasn't stopped me playing though
Penalties ? Bow your heads in memory of the late Duggie 'Thunderboots' Reid (Pompey 1946-56, including the two championship years 1948-50). He once put a penalty clean through the net into the crowd behind the goal; and Frank Swift, of blessed memory, once said that Duggie was the only penalty-taker he was physically afraid of from 12 yards.
In summary the ones that were scored were not good penalties and the ones that were saved the keeper got lucky. You truly are a first class prat.
My Mrs is funny. “Should we go to Ikea on Saturday” I’m on the phone to divorce lawyer after I’ve typed this
