Agree Tooting it would be strange but i have seen many hooligans firms in my time but the organisation of this lot complete with gum shields/balaclavas and gloves suggests an organised group who were prepared.
You nutter Ellers, your the king of face-a-likes, so true now you pointed that out please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
French prosecutors have said a hardcore of 150 Russians behind the trouble in Marseilles. Which, in a perverse way, is promising.
Some have returned home to a hero's welcome saying they wanted to be 'top dogs' and beat the English. Don't condone this but if they think attacking families and small groups of English fans and charging a neutral end full of families is a result then they are more inbred than i thought. Gum shields? WTF! Seriously they are 20 years behind the times and once again the French police did too little too late. How they can even have the WC in Russia is a joke. These are not normal football hooligans and i hope they get arrested and charged with assault.
Just spoken to a mate who was there and got back yesterday. He confirms it seemed completely planned. The flare was a signal to gather in a group and there was another signal to charge. The English who were set upon were not the type to have a go back. The result was carnage apparently, women and children caught up and receiving blows, people taking their chances by crawling across banners, held by bungees and suspended above high drops. Every step brought the crunching of broken glass. Police completely in-affective. No info about how to get around etc. Sounds like mayhem mixed with extreme violence.
Woody my mate said the same. I spoke to him on Facebook and told him to keep safe. He is with other QPR fans and they are all okay. Attacking families is disgusting. They should revoke those 2000 banning orders and ship out our thugs to sort them out (just joking although i doubt it would have happened if they crossed a hardcore firm).
Back to the football, Spain leave it late against Czech Republic, after totally dominating the game......how will the Irish cope tonight against Zlatan & co? (fingers crossed as they're my team in the sweepstake!)
Come on Ireland - I'm watching the 1st half during my lunch break, but unfortunately will miss the 2nd half. That was an exceptional shot off the bar by Jeff Hendrick - too bad it didn't go in for a deserved lead. Glad you are enjoying the match without any trouble, the way football should be supported.
****, I've just looked up the start time of England v Wales game, having ducked out of a dinner with customers on Thursday evening, and realised that I'll miss the whole thing, I can't duck out of the meeting with them. Balls. They should play these games at 5.30, 7.30 and 9.30. They are used to late kick offs in Europe.
Bad one. I managed agreement that I can take a late, long lunch. Otherwise I would be in the same boat.
Belgium v Italy, looking forward to this. Belgium have to click at some stage, be good to do it against the solidity of Italy for a good game. Italy shy of names, but will be hard to beat. Can't see Pelle leading the scorers list though. Big contrast in anthem approach, the Italians belted theirs out. Italians playing 3-5-2, bet they know how to do it properly. High tempo start, yet another open game. So far this tournament hasn't quite been up to the standard of the group stages of the last World Cup for entertainment, but it's not been bad.
Three early thoughts... The Italians have the best National Anthem Even with his blond afro, Fellaini still doesn't have the stupidest haircut on the Belgian team If the Italians can keep this pace up, this will be a great game
Good goal and fully deserved, Shows what you can do with centre backs who can play football. Forza Italia!
Italy well organised and making the Belgians look distinctly average. Belgium have a lot of big reputations in their side but are not gelling, I can see the Italians grinding this one out...
Really enjoying this, Italians still going for it, Belgians finally warming up. Italians racking up the bookings and beginning to look a bit tired, still defending like demons though. They are shy of a really good striker, would have been out of sight with one. Outstanding from the 'worst Italian team for fifty years', Belgium, supposedly second best team in the world, definitely second best in this game.
