Rodriguez is a big miss for Colombia and a big plus for England, good player and is their creative force. You have to rest players and try to plan the easier route, it is common sense and all teams would do it given the chance, both England and Belgium last night were not concerned about winning as TBH one route is not a really lot easier than the other in this case unlike in 74 for Germany as stated above or the German fix in 82. Just wait until you get all the fix shenanigans in the North America WC with the 16 groups of 3 teams format.
I've lived in Germany for 24 years and every World Cup I have experienced the emptyness of England being out of the tournament already whilst the Germans progress. How sweet the role reversal this time, all the Germans with the long faces and I'm looking forward to the knockout stages. This is where the World Cup gets real and every player needs to stand up and be counted. I'm sure the England squad know this but Southgate should be hammering it in to them. Now is where we need to build that winning momentum, now is where we need to make every chance count, defend with discipline and keep a cool head. But most of all they need to keep enjoying their football, enjoying being part of the team and fostering the togetherness. Who knows what could happen? Carpe Diem England.
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead .........." I feel your hope Oddy! Do me a favour and pop into your local Galeria Kaufhof and find out the sale prices of the 'Die Mannschaft' home and away trikots and the warm up top; cheers!
I was quite excited about the thought of Germany being knocked out at the group stage. But now, on reflection, it seems rather strange going into the ko stage without them. Something missing. I think I would have been happier if Argentina had gone out
I'll take the top if it is an XL and washable! F*****n' Wehrmacht shoulda been more like the Waffen SS. Do you see the analogy when comparing the bums of 2018 with the heroes of 1954, 1974 and 1990. This may not garner support with some viewers however: "......is that just like a Wop, brings a knife to a gun fight. Git outta here ya Daego bast*rd!" ---- Jim Malone, Chicago, early 1930's.
It was a scandal, indeed. I was not abroad at the time, between contracts I guess, but with this sort of 'fix' it usually takes "two to tango", surely? You seem to put the entire blame on Germany, which is unfair to say the least. Going purely by a very rusty memory, i.e. no Googling, I think it was Austria who were the dancing partner in this unsavoury incident. It was done because Algeria were becoming a pest, and the draw ensured both these "Dancing Queens" went through, and Algeria (always a useful footballing side) went out. Correct me if I have it wrong. Do recall it was swept under the carpet here. All very unsavoury, so Germany and Austria should never moan about similar happenings. This will do Germany good, players, management, many fans, were just all too complacent, and they have paid for it. I detest Schadenfreude, although I'm sure I'm guilty of it myself at times. There is a saying down here that "the best sort of Freude (Joy) is Schadenfreude", seems to be true. So they're out, so let's get on with the bloody thing. Viva Bayern, and screw the North!
'Big Tam the milkman' only visits the land of his birth to pick up awards. Much prefer the boys from 'Trainspotting' and the inimitable Alastair Sim plus the fabulous Ian Richardson; Francis Urquhart in House Of Cards. Sh*t, going to get political; Sean Connery (for) has as little right to comment on Scottish Independence as Billy Connolly (against); a pair o' manky stop oots!
Never heard that before, Oddy, know the saying from my best pal down here, will question him! He's a strange mixture anyway, Born in what was formally known as Breslau in the old German Third Reich, (now rightfully back to Poland and called Wroclaw), educated many years in boarding school in Austria and stayed there for a while after leaving. Then moved to Munich and has spent most of his adult life here. So, from his strange accent, no one knows where the hell he comes from! Seriously, I am going to burn incense, consult with a friendly witch doctor I know from Nigeria, do some chanting and dancing around a fire, in the hope it will help England get through on Tuesday. The guys should do it, but nothing appears to be a certainty in this flipping World Cup?
I would suggest, after obtaining permission from your Frau, chalking a pentangle on your kitchen floor and sacrificing a virgin child! Any dusky street urchin (God forgive me) wandering around 'Munchen Hauptbahnhof' will suffice.
[QUOTE="OddDog, post: 11880052, member: 1009802"]I've lived in Germany for 24 years and every World Cup I have experienced the emptyness of England being out of the tournament already whilst the Germans progress. How sweet the role reversal this time, all the Germans with the long faces and I'm looking forward to the knockout stages……………….[/QUOTE] Yes I fully understand, even though I was more often than not abroad during World Cups and did not get the full empty feeling which you describe. It used to upset me no end that the natives of a country I was working in, would so often blindly support the team playing England, in Iran for example. Pretty chastening that. Ah well, water under the bridge, and every dog has his day, and all that!
Christ the English media need to get a grip. Still debating about whether Southgate should have made all those changes, still debating about whether the lower half of the draw is in fact easier, still debating about whether England should have / could have / might have beaten Belgium with a full-strength team and "maintained the winning momentum". It's done now for goodness sake, so look forward not back. At least England will ´play in 20°C Moscow and not 40°C Rostov
