Day 17 - World Cup 2010 South Africa (England V Germany - what else!)

So the big day has arrived - England V Germany - a game which really should and could have been avoided if the English had managed to pick up more 1 more than the paltry 5 points against some of the world footballing great nations like Algeria and Slovenia.
So on that basis, do we really stand much chance against the 3 time World Cup winners and frustratingly consistent Germans?

The Germans allegedly have one or two injury doubts, Schweinsteiger being the most high profile - or is that just kiddology. England on the other hand have a fully fit squad to choose from with Rooney having recovered from in an ankle injury, but in reality, the 11 to start pretty much choose themselves - and I don't necessarily mean that as a compliment.

With so much history both on and off the field, the media are loving the build up - let's hope the game lives up to the hype and that England can then subsequently look forward to the quarter finals, where they will most likely meet one of their other arch rivals in Argentina, Maradona and all.

Come on ENGLAND!!!

Day 11 - World Cup 2010 South Africa (4 more wins to go)

Just over a week into the Tournament and things are really beginning to take off with the 2 round games now well under way.

Just when we thought the talk has shifted from the sound of Vuvuzelas and Adidas Jabulani balls to matters back on the pitch with great performances from the likes of Switzerland, Mexico and New Zealand to leave the likes of Spain and Italy licking their wounds, the French Football Federation come up trumps and deliver their own soap opera. Professional athletes, well paid sportsmen effectively going out on strike - don't get me wrong I am all for solidarity if they feel they are sticking up for one of their own, but their [French] arrogance is just a level beyond comprehension

That said over in the England camp, another potential fuse wire has been lit, with players allegedly distancing themselves from Team Terry - No doubt depending on how things go on Wednesday will determine whether the fuse goes off or is put away for another day.

Will Capello make the changes to the formation and personnel which appear glaringly obvious to the most blonde peroxide of WAGS, or will Fabio remain stubborn to his Italian roots and continue to rule by a rod of iron...only time will tell - but put another way, England are just 4 wins away from becoming World Champions, or alternatively 1 match from becoming a laughing stock.

Day 6 - World Cup 2010 South Africa (At last the Tournament begins!)

A huge collective sigh of relief as after 5 days of largely forgettable football, the tournament finally bursts into life on Day 6 with Chile playing some very attractive football, Switzerland causing a major upset against the favourites, Spain and the hosts S Africa on the end of a heavy defeat, with Uruguay's Diego Forlan in excellent form.

PLUS if that wasn't enough, on the heels of Franz Beckenbauer’s criticism of England's style of play, you've got Platini and Pele having a go at Maradona, who responds in his own inimitable style!

Meanwhile everyone has an opinion about the Vuvuzelas and the new Jabulani ball, there's snow in S Africa and these are the coldest matches to have been played on the world cup finals ever! - there's plenty going on besides the matches themselves [which maybe just as well!]

Day 5 - World Cup 2010 South Africa (the vuvuzela is the TALK of the tournament)

With the Wold Cup now 5 days old, let's reflect at what has quite honestly been quite a dull start.
It was fantastic to see S Africa score the opening goal - and WHAT a goal it was too. However, it has really been downhill since then, with one match after another competing for the honour of being the tournament's most instantly forgetful.
Which is probably why the simple African trumpet, otherwise known as the Vuvuzela has come in for so much scrutiny and criticism - yes it is makes quite an awful droning sound, which when played incessantly for the duration of the game becomes very irritating indeed. However, I think the real reason it has become the focus for attention is because there is nothing to talk about when it comes to the football itself.
I really think FIFA need to consider if there is an alternative to the group stage, or somehow incentivise the reward for scoring goals - I seem to remember most of the preceding World Cups also being quite sterile tournaments until the final 'meaningful' game in the group stages and then things started to come to life.
Anyway tonight it's Brazil...let's sincerely hope they can bring some flamboyancy and the feel of beach football and Havaiana flip flops to help kick start things and then we’re into the second matches of the group stage and surely the entertainment and requirement to win will increase!

Day 2 - World Cup 2010 South Africa

Day 2

3 matches - arguably increasing in importance as the day progresses. Let's hope that they all serve up more quality than the France/Uruguay match yesterday - dull or dull! France really have fallen from the great heights of 1998/2000...10 years really is a long time in football.

Well done to the S Africans for maintaining the proud record for the World Cup hosts having never lost the opening match, albeit at times in the first half it looked like they were going to get a hammering

Was completely wrong yesterday with my predictions, but here goes for today...
Greece 2
Korea 2

Argentina 2
Nigeria 1

USA 0
England 2

World Cup 2010

So here we are Friday June 11, it seems to have been a long time coming - but the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is about to Kick off.

32 teams, 63 matches taking place over 30 days in 10 different stadiums. The action is about to begin

With the traditional first game always involving the host nation, who no doubt buoyed by the wave of energy, passion and enthusiasm emanating from the home crowd have NEVER lost an opening match - South Africa have much to live up to!

Whilst there are some very big names out injured missing including the likes of Ballack, Robben, Ferdinand , Nani, and Mikel but make no mistake, this is going to be a colourful feast of football which is sure to do the Rainbow Nation proud

Today's predictions:
S Africa 2
Mexico 4

France 1
Uruguay 3

For July 11 my favourites to win the cup are Brazil or Spain - bring it on!

Learning to fly but I ain't got wings

The first time you fall out of a plane strapped to a parachute has to be one of the strangest moments of your life. The brain cannot keep up with all the new information it is taking in. You're in freefall. You put your legs out and there is nothing there. The ground is moving fast up towards you. Your face and body is being squashed hard by the G force. Your lungs are pressed tight and it's difficult to breath. At the same time the addrenalin in your body is pumping so fast you think you're on cloud 9... well you would be but you just shot past it at an incredible speed.

I loved doing it and would recommend it to anyone. It's one of those magic moments in life that you only feel very fleetingly. If I had a chance to 'do over' life I might think about becoming a parachute instructor. Sure that buzz will dip a bit but the guy I jumped with had 1,000 jumps to his name and he's never been bored of it once. Every jump is exhilerating.

If you do one thing in your life - sky dive!

New to blogs

Hello,

I am new to blogs therefore still learning. I'm just testing this out right now.

Back soon.