13. South American's belt there anthems out like no one else
This has already become boring though. Spontaneous in the Confederations Cup last year, contrived this year. Sorry.
How can an anthem be contrived? Its the same anthem each time and its a World Cup on home soil, what do you expect them to do?
I didn't say the anthem is contrived. If you'd thought about it before posting as Mr Angry, it would be obvious that I was talking about the mass continuation of the anthems after the band has stopped playing. Something that didn't happen until last year when the Brazilians did it in the Confed cup in a display of unity. This year it's been deliberately repeated by the Brazilians and others. Clear enough now, I hope. :-)
22. A lot of foreign ex pros seem to think cheating is acceptable (Yes i'm looking at you Cannavarro and whoever it was with you that day - Henry or Seedorf I think)
22. A lot of foreign ex pros seem to think cheating is acceptable (Yes i'm looking at you Cannavarro and whoever it was with you that day - Henry or Seedorf I think)
Not just foreign. Murphy referred to a 'good foul' yesterday. I just don't think such a thing exists unless you think cheating is ok.
13. An African nation will never win a world cup ( or even come close) until they realise it's not about the money you think you deserve, it's about working as a team. Just watch Chile.
Wait and see if Sepp gets re-elected first mate...
The traditional stylish and technical teams have added hi-speed England-style tackling, crossing and the odd long hoof to their game while England have introduced walking with the ball and not marking people.
After years of balls that are "more round", "lighter", "swerve in the air" etc etc there was little or no pre-tournament hype over the Brazuca ball. Which means the players kick or head it and it goes where they want it to, unless you are Wayne Rooney taking a corner.
2. Low tech is better than high tech
The long delayed introduction of goal line technology is a welcome addition but the real innovation, for this level at least, is the very low tech white foam spray. So simple, so cheap. I just hope that there have been kids borrowing their dad's shaving foam to re-enact its use in their back gardens.
3. Roy Keane has not been missed.
A man less suited to punditry or the faux attempts at debate tried by ITV we can not imagine so his absence is a small blessing.
4. Where is the mascot?
Every World Cup has a mascot, usually some anthropomorphic character, and 2014 has one too. World Cup Willie, a lion wearing not the cross of St George but a union flag, was the first in 1966 but where is Fuleco? Admit it, you're not even sure what he looks like. Conspiracy theory is that FIFA wouldn't pay a local conservation group enough so poor old Fuleco, based on an endangered armadillo, has been binned.
5. Jonathan Pearce and Mark Lawrenson. Why?
If only these two were an endangered species. Lawro's grumpy old git act was tedious 15 years ago but still he goes on. And on. And on. Palace Pearce was totally unable to understand the goal line technology pictures in the France v Honduras game and continued to claim it was wrong when the rest of the planet has long since realised that it was two different incidents that were shown.
Pearce also has serious problems differentiating a goal (when the ball goes between the white stick things) and a miss (when the ball hits the outside of the side netting). Two nights running he made this error. All close misses that touch the netting are now known as "Jonathan Pearce goals" at Irving Towers.
5. The stadiums are ready.
Surprise, surprise just like every world cup and olympics the panic stories turn out to be wrong. OK, some of the paint was still wet but they got there at the very, very end.
6. The football is quite good.
No bus parking, attacks better than defence and plenty of goals, what more do you want.
Foam - a very sensible idea is wisely adopted. The ref sprays an arc where the ball must be placed. From this he paces out 10 yards and sprays a line behind which the players must stand. Simples!
Well actually no. With the most watched league around the world our refs do it different. After pacing out the ten yards he assembles the defenders in a line, so they shuffle forward half a yard or so as they form their wall. Then so as not to get white spray on their expensive coloured boots he sprays the line a foot in front of their toes allowing them to creep further forward. It is laughably inept.
After years of balls that are "more round", "lighter", "swerve in the air" etc etc there was little or no pre-tournament hype over the Brazuca ball. Which means the players kick or head it and it goes where they want it to, unless you are Wayne Rooney taking a corner.
2. Low tech is better than high tech
The long delayed introduction of goal line technology is a welcome addition but the real innovation, for this level at least, is the very low tech white foam spray. So simple, so cheap. I just hope that there have been kids borrowing their dad's shaving foam to re-enact its use in their back gardens.
3. Roy Keane has not been missed.
A man less suited to punditry or the faux attempts at debate tried by ITV we can not imagine so his absence is a small blessing.
4. Where is the mascot?
Every World Cup has a mascot, usually some anthropomorphic character, and 2014 has one too. World Cup Willie, a lion wearing not the cross of St George but a union flag, was the first in 1966 but where is Fuleco? Admit it, you're not even sure what he looks like. Conspiracy theory is that FIFA wouldn't pay a local conservation group enough so poor old Fuleco, based on an endangered armadillo, has been binned.
5. Jonathan Pearce and Mark Lawrenson. Why?
If only these two were an endangered species. Lawro's grumpy old git act was tedious 15 years ago but still he goes on. And on. And on. Palace Pearce was totally unable to understand the goal line technology pictures in the France v Honduras game and continued to claim it was wrong when the rest of the planet has long since realised that it was two different incidents that were shown.
Pearce also has serious problems differentiating a goal (when the ball goes between the white stick things) and a miss (when the ball hits the outside of the side netting). Two nights running he made this error. All close misses that touch the netting are now known as "Jonathan Pearce goals" at Irving Towers.
5. The stadiums are ready.
Surprise, surprise just like every world cup and olympics the panic stories turn out to be wrong. OK, some of the paint was still wet but they got there at the very, very end.
6. The football is quite good.
No bus parking, attacks better than defence and plenty of goals, what more do you want.
Foam - a very sensible idea is wisely adopted. The ref sprays an arc where the ball must be placed. From this he paces out 10 yards and sprays a line behind which the players must stand. Simples!
Well actually no. With the most watched league around the world our refs do it different. After pacing out the ten yards he assembles the defenders in a line, so they shuffle forward half a yard or so as they form their wall. Then so as not to get white spray on their expensive coloured boots he sprays the line a foot in front of their toes allowing them to creep further forward. It is laughably inept.
Still better than what it was. I look at walls now and think they are more like 11 yards than the 8 they ended up as before.
Comments
Brazil is very hot.
If you'd thought about it before posting as Mr Angry, it would be obvious that I was talking about the mass continuation of the anthems after the band has stopped playing. Something that didn't happen until last year when the Brazilians did it in the Confed cup in a display of unity. This year it's been deliberately repeated by the Brazilians and others.
Clear enough now, I hope.
:-)
smash their way throughsneak into the Maracana without ticketsFixed it for you both
along with tyldesley, townsend, and all things itv
The traditional stylish and technical teams have added hi-speed England-style tackling, crossing and the odd long hoof to their game while England have introduced walking with the ball and not marking people.
Well actually no. With the most watched league around the world our refs do it different. After pacing out the ten yards he assembles the defenders in a line, so they shuffle forward half a yard or so as they form their wall. Then so as not to get white spray on their expensive coloured boots he sprays the line a foot in front of their toes allowing them to creep further forward. It is laughably inept.