The Football Neutral: Match Twenty Nine – Bury vs Plymouth Argyle

August 24, 2014June 9, 2015 / megagoalz / 5 Comments

The only way to read this post in FULL along with 23 others from 2014/15 is to buy my season review eBook in the Kindle store. It’s less than £3 and over 300 pages of my daft adventures. Pick it up, enjoy it and you’ll be supporting my travels next season. Feel free to tell anyone you might know about it too! Thank you so much!

…I also remember Bury were sponsored once by Birthdays, the card shop that I believe was once owned by Bryan Robson. The pastel logo on the front of the shirt didn’t exactly fit in with their rugged northern image, and yet I’d kill for one of those shirts now. I do love a strange sponsor on a shirt. Takes me back to my days reading 90 Minutes every week. Here are some of my favourites:

CLYDEBANK – Sponsored by Wet Wet Wet – Being sponsored by a band is pretty cool (Newport County were briefly sponsored by Goldie Looking Chain, I’m sure) but when it’s one of the most insipid bands to ever darken the charts then it’s really not very rock and roll. My childhood felt haunted by Love Is All Around, and even being addicted to heroin couldn’t make Marti Pellow become a badass frontman.

CLUB MEXICO – Sponsored by Bimbo – Apparently a bakery, Bimbo sponsor a lot of Latin American teams. I cannot see it without giggling.

FC NURNBURG – Sponsored by Mister Lady – I own this shirt! A local clothing company, it doesn’t stop it being hilarious in the extreme. I like to think they had a radio advert with the jingle set to Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady”.

BRIGHTON – Sponsored by Nobo – Ha! Their shirt said nob! …

Remember, to read the rest of this post from last season you can pick up my eBook for less than £3. 24 matches, many thousands of miles travelled. Thanks!

The Football Neutral: Match Twenty Eight – Chesterfield vs Rochdale

August 19, 2014June 9, 2015 / megagoalz / 2 Comments

….I’ve been to Chesterfield to watch football before, a League Cup game at their old home Saltergate. I think Leicester won 2-0. All I remember is one really mouthy Spireite repeatedly walking over to the fence separating the fans and making a cut throat gesture whilst fans of both sides laughed at him (especially the Chesterfield fans who wore looks of “we have to put up with this prick all the time”). At the end of the game he did it one final time, before running off and falling down some stairs. When we were let off of our terrace we had to walk past him being loaded into an ambulance, where he was slightly less mouthy.

I remember Saltergate being a fun ground, if a bit run down even then. The Proact Stadium opened in 2010 and is a tad bigger. It certainly feels like a new stadium (as they always seem to), but the fans inside it try to make it a decent place to watch football. It seems very breezy as well, with the open corners and the peak district not a million miles away. It’s not as windswept as Barnsley used to be back in the day, but you can tell that you’re in Derbyshire if you were dropped there unknowing.

Like all new stadiums, you can’t just buy your ticket at the turnstile. You have to go to the ticket office, get it, and then scan it through a barcode reader at the turnstile (yes, those AGAIN). I queued up to get mine as a Norwegian man was getting his and asking about the best place to sit on his first visit to the ground. Maybe he was the Scandinavian version of me, I didn’t ask. He could well have been on stage in Oslo the night before and then driven over. He still would have spent less time in his car on the Friday than I did….

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The Football Neutral: Match Twenty Seven – Fleetwood Town vs Crewe Alexandra

August 11, 2014June 9, 2015 / megagoalz / 2 Comments

….So then, it seems that I’ll be watching football in different places every weekend again this season. But why, may you ask? Because last season was both tremendous fun (trips to watch Guiseley, Ebbsfleet, Wigan, Portsmouth, Ajax and more) AND it seemed that me staying away from my own club (asides from a couple of times at the end of the season) made us be rather brilliant and get promoted to the Premier League. More than one Leicester supporter has made me promise to continue watching other clubs this year – and every year – if it means we become the world-beaters that our owners want us to be. I will not argue with that at all (plus the people who asked me to do it are bigger than me).

Obviously I’ll once again have to try and stick to my own rules – which you can read here – and I’m throwing myself the additional curveball of trying to not go back to any stadia that I visited last season (even though my own rules just state within one season). I figure that there are enough grounds for me to go to. Saturday was a case in point; with me working in the North West (Preston Frog and Bucket, where I did jokes about Blackpool’s lack of players. They’re a football savvy crowd – I once did ten minutes on Nuno Gomes inexplicably ending up playing for Blackburn Rovers) I had tons of games to choose from. Accrington was quite tempting, having never been there before and being a child of the eighties. You know what I mean. Read the following two words:

Accrington Stanley.

If you either read them in a Scouse accent OR followed the words with “exactly” then you’re around the same age as me. Although that is a more long-winded and niche age test than me just reading out your birth certificate.

In the end I decided to go to Highbury. No, not that Highbury. That one has long since been knocked down and had overpriced flats built in its place. I mean the home of Fleetwood Town, and this season it is a stadium that is hosting League One level football for the very first time. You might be reading this now thinking “that’s not a big deal, it’s only League One”. If that is the case, allow me to slap you around the gills with an amazing statistic: Just ten seasons ago, Fleetwood were playing in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. I’m a nerd and I didn’t know how far down the pyramid that was until I looked it up. It’s the NINTH tier. They’ve gone from that level to the THIRD tier in ten seasons. That is a remarkable achievement. Seemed only right that I go and watch their first ever game at that level….

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The Football Neutral World Cup FINAL: Germany vs Argentina

July 13, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

Before we start… should you like the stuff that I write, do feel free to download my Football Neutral 2013/14 season review on Kindle. Well over 300 pages of daftness. Less than £2! If you don’t have a Kindle the app is available for smart phones and tablets for free. Thanks!

Pre Game:

Obviously, I’m watching the game on the BBC. Nobody in their right mind is watching it on ITV. Not a single soul. Even if they’re related to Adrian Chiles.

The BBC lot are all very smartly dressed. I point this out to the wife. She replies with “well they’re obviously not going to be wearing mankinis”. Touché.

A quick flick to the ITV coverage reveals a load of blokes sat on B and Q wooden furniture on a beach. Oh dear.

Lots of talk of this being the best World Cup ever. Not for me, my favourites are Japan / Korea 2002 and Italy 1990 – althought this one has been a cracker, certainly more in the group stages. The knockout stages have been a bit less memorable for sure.

Saying that, I was sat playing on my Xbox when Brazil played Germany, expecting a 0-0 draw. The wife made me put it on (and she HATES football) because Twitter has exploded and we wanted to watch the carnage. It was already 5-0. Utter madness; every goal that day looked like those scored by Hungary in the 1950s, lots of walking the ball in.

This is Alan Hansen’s last ever game for the BBC. Presumably as soon as Steven Gerrard retires he’ll walk into a job so the Liverpool bias can continue (Yes Alan, I’m not forgiving you for your dismantling of Matt Elliott in the 1990s).

The BBC showed a quick interview with Diego Maradona. The wife looked up and said “alright Pat Butcher?”.

There is an air of Richard Hammond about Phillipe Lahm.

They’re going with the 1990 World Cup final kit configuration by the looks of it. Argentina in dark blue.

Before we started, Carlos Puyol brought the trophy onto the pitch. Typical footballer, he had it in a Luis Vuitton case.

Based on the national anthems, there are a LOT more Argentinians in the stadium. Also, all South American anthems are properly jaunty.

Sami Khedira injured in the warm up, so a competitive début start for Christoph Kramer. Bloody hell. What a way to start. Sad for Khedira, he’s been great all tournament.

We noticed the light on the top of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The wife wonders if he’s pretending to be a police car. We’re not exactly religious in this house.

1: Who’s betting this is a fucking 0-0 now?

2: Commentary is already suggesting that Argentina are nowt without Messi. I’d have nearly every one of their side in the Leicester team for sure.

3: The wife: “If I was a referee I’d hold up a card with “Chimpanzee That!” on it”.

4: It seems that Ezequiel Lavezzi has no neck.

6: They keep insisting that Argentina fans have crossed the border in some kind of re-enactment of an episode of wacky races. “Camper vans! Cars! Buses! Even scooters!” Basic forms of transport then.

9: It’s that weird boxing feeling out stage. They do seem to be actually attacking though, which is a relief. Pressure can kill these games. Or, if you’re an office manager with a penchant for shit inspirational posters, MAKE DIAMONDZ!

11: Lavezzi keeps on rampaging down the right hand side and getting crosses in. The lack of neck means his centre of gravity is perfect.

13: Just dawned on me that nearly every football fan in the UK thinks that Martin Demichelis is rubbish. He’s just won the Premier League and is now playing in a World Cup final. All this despite having the handicap of having a ponytail for most of the season (he now looks weird without it)

17: Commentator just used the phrase “a pfennig for his thoughts”. BRAVO.

20: Higuain misses a sitter. Toni Kroos hits a header back to the keeper without looking, the Argentine striker is clean through and he fluffs it. Not even on target.

22: I wish I looked as good with a shaved head as Javier Mascherano does. I just look eight stone heavier.

23: We’ve just hit the 3,000th different pronunciation of Benedikt Howedes.

26: Sat trying to work out how expensive tickets for the final would be. I am betting a LOT.

28: The wife is laughing like a drain at the phrase “toe-end”. Child.

30: GOAL DISALLOWED – ARGENTINA: Great ball from Messi to Lavezzi on the right, lovely cross, Higuain touches it home and celebrates but he’s offside. Right decision.

31: Poor Christoph Kramer goes off, replaced by Andre Schurrle. Kramer got a bump on the head a few minutes earlier and has to be helped off the pitch. What a strange day for the youngster.

33: Howedes joins Shweinsteiger in the book. Not the big book of “Most German Sounding Names”, but the ref’s notebook for an awful tackle.

36: Schurrle hits a great effort from just inside the box, set up by Muller, but Romero manages to make a decent save – if a South American one – meaning he doesn’t catch it, just punches it away. Don’t even know why South American keepers wear gloves.

39: Messi beats Neuer and the Germany defence only for Boateng to clear the ball from inside the six yard box. A close-up of Messi makes me note that he has quite a fat chin for such a skinny chap.

44: Germany having a good couple of minutes. Great cross from Muller and Klose doesn’t manage to get on the end of it. 8 years ago he probably would, to be fair.

45: Howedes smacks a header off the post, and we’re still level. Everyone watching is moderately pleased that it might be goalless, but the game isn’t shite.

Half Time:

Ok, the BBC pundit team look like they’re going straight to a wedding after the game.

Higuain is being described as “slow and pedestrian”. They’re not wrong, he is rubbish. But he’s still better than Jo and Fred combined.

It’s really not a bad game. I’m typing that with an air of surprise.

I really miss Alan Shearer’s island of hair.

Goal of the tournament time. Let’s appraise them.

VAN PERSIE: Bit flukey.

CAHILL: He’s no Lilian Nalis.

MESSI: Seen him score better.

JONES: Just sad it wasn’t Cobi Jones.

RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, that’s the one.

LUIZ: Great goal, but the fact that he’s the worst defender in the world balances it out.

SCHURRLE: Wonderful goal as he made Luiz look like a prick as he scored it.

Whenever Gary Lineker does a link that says “there’s plenty more sport this summer” everyone just goes “NO” at their telly.

45: Lavezzi off, Aguero on. Feel a bit sorry for no-neck, he wasn’t playing badly. Aguero definitely a better player though.

46: Higuain offside again. He’s about as mobile as my house.

47: Messi not offside, gets through on goal, puts it wide. Everyone still having a go then. Good stuff.

52: They’ve spent two minutes of this half showing a picture of Christ the Redeemer as the sun sets behind it. Well done and all, but can we watch the football?

53: Still some empty seats facing the camera. Who goes to the World Cup final and is more concerned with getting a bovril at half time?

54: Muller has a free kick given against him for pulling the shirt of Rojo. Replay shows it is clearly the other way around. The referee is now giving decisions against Muller based on the fact he’s a gobby diver. He is the German David Speedie.

56: Higuain chases a loose ball, Neuer runs out and punches it, then knees Higuain in the head. Not really a foul, but not entirely sure how it ended up being a Germany free kick. German keeper knees attacker in the face in a World Cup game? Surely not!

59: Despite being my age, Klose is a lot quicker than Higuain.

63: Mascherano fluffs it in midfield and has to bring down Klose. Booking for the little Argentine.

64: Now Aguero gets booked for clattering Schweinsteiger. Commentators trying to insist there’s some needle in the game.

66: Mark Lawrenson desperate for it all to kick off. Talking about Romero being the hardest man in the Argentina side because he’s the tallest. Because Carlton Palmer was hard as fucking nails.

70: The press when talking about Messi are like the pushiest parent ever. HE CAN’T DO EVERYTHING!

73: My wife is currently trying to tweet about football just to anger me.

77: Higuain goes off. Which is for the best. On comes Rodrigo Palacio. Who I think was the opera singer in “The Naked Gun”.

80: The wife has just used the hashtag “balladmirer” based on her amusing take on commentary.

82: Some kind of “intruder” on the pitch. Makes me sad that we never get to see them.

85: Gago – who I thought was at least 35 (he’s only 28) – is on for Perez. DEFENCE! DEFENCE! DEFENCE!

87: Two great tackles – Boateng on Messi then Schweinsteiger on Biglia to keep Argentina out.

88: The end of Klose’s World Cup career, the highest scorer in tournament history is replaced by Mario Gotze. Muller now going to play down the middle.

90: Three minutes of injury time. We’re heading to extra time, right?

Full Time:

Extra time it is. Our Gary has just said something about teams in blue shirts. Argentina don’t have much apart from Messi, and they’ve made all their subs.

Gary just spoke to an Alan, and the wife heard the voice of Hansen and presumed it was Shearer. She then asked me how long he’d been pretending to be Scottish. Brilliant.

Seventh ever World Cup Final to go to extra time, apparently.

Joachim Low presumably went for a massive wee during the break. He’s back now.

91: Chaos in the Argentina box as Germany start as they mean to go on. Ball then straight upfield and Boateng makes another good tackle. He’s been excellent tonight.

93: Based on my wife’s terrible football tweets, my mate Kris Travis has called her “the female Adrian Chiles”. Wow. That’s COLD.

95: They’ve just – for the first time in this world cup – found some fans in the crowd that don’t react when they’re on the big screen.

96: Great ball from Rojo on the left to Palacio, Hummels misses his header but the sweeper keeper Neuer puts the man with the ridiculous rat-tail off.

100: Argentina now struggling to get the ball. You have the feeling that Palacio isn’t the man to score a winner if it gets lumped up to him.

105: Kroos gives the ball away in midfield with a pass that looks like it involved a 99p plastic Shoot football.

Half Time Extra Time:

Everyone now both wants penalties (because they’re fun) but doesn’t want penalties (because it’s a dodgy end to a fun tournament)

I can see an Argentina fan taking pictures with an iPad. The worst crime in the world.

106: The name “Garay” always makes me giggle like an idiot.

108: Nobody has had cramp yet. Making this the most hardcore extra time ever.

109: Schweinsteiger gets a cut under his eye after a blow from Aguero. Commentators trying to make out that it was intended. I don’t know it if was, but he’s now off the pitch getting patched up. Nasty cut.

112: GOAL – GERMANY – MARIO GOTZE: Schurrle carries the ball down the left, drawing defenders away. He whips a cross in, Gotze takes it on his chest and slides it in on the volley into the bottom corner. Quality goal from a great player – who can’t guarantee himself a place in this German team. Now maybe even Dortmund fans will forgive him! I think Germany just about deserve it. Now for a manic last few minutes.

116: Neuer now doing his sweeper bit again, to a massive roar from the crowd. Easily the best keeper on the planet right now.

117: Messi goes close with a header. No right winning it, as he’s three foot tall.

119: Germany playing with a good tempo and high up the pitch. Howedes almost in midfield. Ozil replaced by Mertesacker. Muller still looking for a goal.

120: Messi wins a free kick on the edge of the German box. This should be the last chance… but Scweinsteiger is down, delaying things. Messi decides to shoot, and that’s going to be it.

FULL TIME – GERMANY WIN THE WORLD CUP

The first World Cup for the reunified Germany, and I don’t think anyone (short of Argentina fans) will be complaining. A great tournament for them, and any team that massacres Brazil 7-1 in their own country should really be winning the trophy.

I’m sure people will talk about Messi being disappointing, but he’s still had a half decent tournament. He’s still one of the best in club football, just like Ronaldo.

Players like Schurrle – not exactly a first teamer at Chelsea – have looked brilliant in this tournament. Muller is now the best number 10 in the world. The investment in grass roots football in Germany over the last two decades has paid off. Arguably the best club football in Europe at the moment, and now the best national team in the world.

Credit Argentina, too. They tried their best, they didn’t sit back and they made the game as entertaining as it was.

There is nobody in the England side who works as hard and cares as much as Bastian Schweinsteiger does in a Germany shirt. He took a kicking all night and kept on going. What a leader on the pitch.

You know the phrase “football is the real winner” – it is here. German football has a great grass roots base, is cheap to go and watch and every club is owned – in part at least – by the fans. Why can’t it be like that here?

The German players formed a guard of honour for the Argentina team. How sporting is that?

Neuer wins the golden glove for the best keeper at the tournament – to the surprise of nobody. What a tournament. He hugs Angela Merkel, which was properly funny.

Best player of the tournament goes to Lionel Messi, which I don’t quite agree with. He was good, for sure – but James Rodriguez or Thomas Muller for me. Rodriguez does win the golden boot though.

Lionel Messi goes back up to get his runner up medal. Looks broken. He’ll be back though, 31 at the next World Cup.

Schweinsteiger leads the German team up the steps. He’s not the captain, but he is a proper leader for sure. Angela Merkel is all over every player as they come up. Can’t imagine David Cameron doing that, can you?

Thanks then, Brazil. That was a bloody great month.

Man of the Match: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Match Rating: 7/10

The Football Neutral World Cup: France vs Nigeria

June 30, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

Before we start… should you like the stuff that I write, do feel free to download my Football Neutral 2013/14 season review on Kindle. Well over 300 pages of daftness. Less than £2! Thanks!

Pre Game:

My daughter is supporting France during the World Cup because in her own words: “England are rubbish and the France shirt is nice”.

Last night I listened to a penalty shootout on the radio for the first time in ages. You feel nowhere near as tense when you can’t see players shitting themselves as they step up to take a penalty.

Nigeria are of course one of the teams who played in the worst game of this world cup so far, against Iran. I fell asleep during it, you may recall. I missed nothing.

1: Vincent Enyeama kept 21 clean sheets last season in France for Lille. I already knew this, but I imagine we’ll be told this fact several dozen times.

2: First commentary mention of the above fact.

4: “And here’s Cheryl Tweedy’s brother playing in midfield for France, young Blaizema”

6: Well, Nigeria are having a go. Which is nice. But remember: They have Peter Odemwingie up front, so twenty minutes before the end of the game he’ll be driving to the Costa Rica training camp in his Range Rover to see if he can play for them next week.

12: The entire French team has been selected based on an old version of Football Manager. Varane, Giroud, Valbuena… they were all great back in the day. Not that they’re not yet, but you get me.

16: Nigeria really having a go, although you know they’ll be weak at the back. Was stunned Joseph Yobo is still playing.

18: Disallowed goal for Nigeria, with Emmanuel Emenike tapping it but being called offside. Seems a lot of the neutrals in the ground are supporting Nigeria.

21: WHAT A SAVE from Enyeama. Pogba has a chance from point blank range but the keeper palms it away acrobatically. Commentary team state that Enyeama may well be the greatest African keeper of all time… what, no Bruce Grobelaar? This doesn’t sound like the usual BBC Liverpool bias…

24: I think the commentary team were expecting France to be ahead by now, but Nigeria are good value. Although Ahmed Musa just took a terrible corner, keeping the trend in this World Cup of nobody being able to take one properly.

28: Paul Pogba is a beast in the France midfield. A beast that Sir Alex Ferguson thought was a worse player than Anderson and therefore let leave. I’m not saying his judgement was wrong, more likely the obvious self-sabotage of Manchester United that he enabled when he left to ensure nobody ever looks as good as him.

32: A graphic on screen tells me that Andy Murray has a tennis match on BBC Two. Somewhere the middle classes are going mental that they’ve been relegated to the secondary channel.

36: Commentators talking about Yohan Cabaye potentially not being as good a player now because he’s not always first choice at PSG. Because being in the Newcastle midfield is the perfect place for a world-beater to prosper.

39: Point above proved by Newcastle right back Mathieu Debuchy missing a decent chance from a few yards out. Didn’t even test the keeper.

40: The tension of a knockout game starting to show a little bit; the relentless pace of the opening few minutes has given way to slightly more conservative play now.

41: I miss the old France away kit; white shirt with thin navy horizontal hoops. If you wore a beret with it you actually looked French. This one:

44: Mathieu Valbuena is tiny. He is essentially a borrower.

Half Time:

Much talk of how rubbish Karim Benzema is. Apparently only had 16 touches in the entire first half because he’s out on the left hand side rather than in the middle.

Danny Murphy on Olivier Giroud: “He’s not easy on the eye even at his best”. I beg to differ. As a straight man, even I know he’s pretty.

It seems the BBC believe that football fans are desperate to see Strictly Come Dancing so have put a football inspired promo together for it. NO. JUST NO.

We’re now being told that Gonzalo Jara’s penalty miss for Chile against Brazil was the most tweeted about moment of all time. Is it wrong that I find that vaguely depressing?

There’s been as many goals in this World Cup so far as there was in the whole of the last one. And the fact that I’m talking about that means every game I watch from now on is doomed to be scoreless.

48: And we’re back. Nothing has happened. Tempted to bet on this going to penalties already.

51: Players seem to be flailing around everywhere and dropping like flies. At present, Raphael Varane with a head injury. Hard to believe he’s still only 21; I’ve been signing him on video games for years now.

54: Matuidi booked for an AWFUL challenge. Proper 1970s studs-on-ankle.

58: Nowt much in the way of proper chances in this half. Atmosphere seems decent though. As I typed that, Valbuena slides Debuchy in down the right but it comes to nothing.

59: Ogenyi Onazi off – the talented Lazio midfielder is replaced by who was released by Kilmarnock and now plays in Belgium for Waasland-Beveren. The World Cup is mad. Incidentally tonight the only Leicester player at the tournament could be playing against Germany – the very talented Riyad Mahrez.

62: Antoine Griezmann on for France in place of the totally ineffectual Giroud. The centre forward has been playing like his first season at Arsenal rather than his second.

65: Just seen on Twitter the official apology from Luis Suarez where he admits that he did bite Georgio Chiellini. Well done mate. Only four cameras in the stadium, a crowd of 60,000 and about a billion people at home saw it.

68: Regarding the above point, obviously the ref missed it.

69: Benzema through, Enyeama sprints out and makes himself big but the ball squirms through. Victor Moses clears it off the line, the first bit of defending I’ve ever seen him do.

72: Karim Benzema really isn’t the player that he’s always talked up to be. Plus he looks a bit like a less muscled Dave Batista.

75: Griezmann definitely making the difference now, his cross thumped out by Enyeama. France corner but it leads to nowt because NOBODY CAN DELIVER A DECENT CORNER.

76: I type that, then from a Valbuena corner that Odemwingie should have cleared Benzema has a chance that is cleared off the line by Mikel, then Cabaye hits the bar from outside the box. Corner was still weak if I’m being a pedant in my own defence, which I certainly am planning on doing.

79: GOAL – FRANCE – PAUL POGBA: First remotely decent corner of the World Cup from anyone (Valbuena), Enyeama flaps at it and the ball falls to Pogba who heads it home. He’s no Eric Djemba-Djemba though, is he Sir Alex?

83: Enyeama at fault for the goal, but a great save from Griezmann who surely MUST start the next France game if they go through. Another lad who is too good looking though. The swine.

90: I’ve been too busy talking about how good Valbuena is on FIFA rather than watching the game. Nigeria don’t really have a plan B.

90+1: GOAL – FRANCE – JOSEPH YOBO OG: Speak of the devil, great work from the tiny winger who crosses low from the right. Looks like Griezmann scores with a deft flick, but it’s actually in off the Nigeria defender. Valbuena then immediately substituted.

90+4: There are more empty seats in the stadium deep into injury time than a game at the Emirates.

Full Time:

France certainly the better team, but they got a lot better as Griezmann came on to shake things up. They’ll now face Germany or Algeria. It seems that Didier Deschamps knows how to make a decent tactical change, and it’s paid off.

Presumably it’s only a matter of time before Valbuena or Griezmann are touted as moving to Arsenal?

Let’s all be honest: the knockout stages aren’t as much fun as the group stages, are they? And it’ll only get more and more tense the closer we get to the final. Calling it now: Brazil vs Germany in the final, 0-0 and then Germany on penalties. PUT MONEY ON IT!

The Football Neutral World Cup: Uruguay vs England

June 19, 2014June 19, 2014 / megagoalz / 1 Comment

Before we start… should you like the stuff that I write, do feel free to download my Football Neutral 2013/14 season review on Kindle. Well over 300 pages of daftness. Less than £2! Thanks!

Pre Match:

Oh god, we’re on ITV.

The wife is home and watching this with me. She’s both Welsh and utterly hates football, so expect some zingers from her corner.

There’s a stand behind the goal that looks really unsafe. Proper Maude Flander death territory.

It is a seriously jaunty anthem, the Uruguay one.

Whilst an England win would of course be the preferred option (see previous blogs for an explanation of who I support internationally and why I still like England), if they do lose and go out tonight it would mean that my gig in Coventry next Saturday night will go ahead.

Hands up if you’ve done this Simpsons joke today?

1: OH PLEASE SHUT UP ANDY TOWNSEND

2: Muslera in the Uruguay goal is properly wank. And whilst I am commenting on his football skills, the wife is referring to him as “a human refresher”.

3: Wife on Suarez: “he’s got teeth, hasn’t he?”

4: Suarez, as if hearing the abuse from my wife, tries to score from a corner like the cheeky little bitey racist that he is.

6: Wife just asked if the players can tell the difference between a whistle blown by the ref or one in the crowd. I said that they can’t. She is now patenting a special whistle that has a frequency that only footballers can hear. Of course, this could then be bought by the fans and we’re back to square one. I don’t think she’s as emotionally invested in this game as me right now.

7: England free kick. Uruguay make a wall. Wife asks me if it’s called a “ball wall” because they have to stop the ball AND they guard their nether regions. I reply in the negative.

9: MAN IN CHAINMAIL SPOTTED. Possible UKIP voter. They just look the sort, you now?

10: Rooney had a free kick and hit it within 20 yards of the goal. BIG IMPROVEMENT ON SATURDAY, WAYNE!

13: Debate about heading the ball led by the wife. Quote: “How can they head the ball when it’s coming out of the sky but roll around like little whiny girls when they get tackled?” Good point.

15: I miss England wearing navy shorts.

17: The Uruguay defender Pereira has a face that looks like it has been sucked into a hoover.

18: Rooney a lot better than the other night. Unfortunately Uruguay are also a lot better than the other night.

19: Still baffled at the unsegregated seating for the games. Can anyone else imagine this happening a few years ago? Tis madness. Seems to be a tad more segregation for England games, although there are still are pockets of England fans sat with Uruguay lads and Brazil neutrals. Very odd indeed. Although if everyone is behaving, fair play. That said: It’s not fucking rugby, is it?

23: Feels like a nil nil right now. I’m saying that so this ends up 4-3 and proves me wrong.

25: Wife just shouted “topknot wanker” at Martin Caceres.

28: Diego Godin may as well just have hit a lariat on Daniel Sturridge there. Commentators saying he’s lucky to be on the pitch, but it wasn’t an elbow nor intentional. The same guys were saying that Muller was scum for going down under a similar challenge the other night. DOUBLE STANDARDS, LADS!

31: England hit the bar – and they’re having a decent spell. Rooney SHOULD have scored if we’re being honest, but it was harder than it looked. I’ll give him some credit. ITV commentary team DESPERATE to have him score.

34: Still a lot of fight in England. They are not the most gifted side for sure, but it means a lot to the fans that they seem to be trying as hard as they can. As a neutral, it means a lot to me knowing that both of their matches have already been more entertaining than the whole world cup.

39: GOAL – URUGUAY – LUIS SUAREZ: Had to be him, didn’t it? Headline writers demanded it. Edinson Cavani – who had done NOTHING thus far – loops the ball in from the corner of the area and Phil Jagielka isn’t close enough to Suarez who heads home. Glen Johnson should have been picking Cavani up really. Sturridge heads straight up the other end with a chance, but now Uruguay are in charge.

41: Rooney takes a corner and it doesn’t beat the first man. So frustrating. Let Sterling or Baines or Gerrard take them for crying out loud.

43: What’s annoying is that this has been a BRILLIANT World Cup so far and a limited England have been doing OK in a tough group. If England go out tonight, does that overshadow how excellent the tournament as a whole has been? Not for me, but I suspect it will for a lot of people.

Half Time:

Really not sure how England are losing. Good header from Suarez and proof that a finisher of his calibre is hard to come by, but England have had enough of the play and decent enough chances to be winning, or at least level.

Fairly sure that Adrian Chiles breaks a journalism rule by referring to England as “us”. Especially as there are people watching in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland…

Andros Townsend seems a good lad. Surely his press pass says “A Townsend” on it? Just saying we could have him in the commentary box instead…

I’m eating a fruit pastille lolly. Annoying that lemon is the most prevalent flavour.

46: Wife Quote: “I’d be well good as a steward. I’d happily not watch the game”.

49: Suarez keeps trying to score from corners. Greedy bastard.

51: England not at it right now, still asleep. Cavani and Suarez scaring the shit out of Cahill and Jagielka. Wife sums it up with “I know Uruguay are doing better because I keep seeing the little green man”. That’s Joe Hart. The Uruguay keeper is the little orange man, apparently.

53: There is the little orange man, Muslera. Great save from Rooney, who is still searching for his first ever World Cup goal. Great work from Leighton Baines down the left leading to the chance.

55: Multitasking whilst Muslera is down faking an injury. Starting a campaign to get the awful new iPhone “Chicken Fat” advert banned from our TV. Why? The song is AWFUL and I hate Apple. Part crusade for better ads, part personal vendetta against a massive company that I despise.

59: England pressing but just don’t have a load of ideas. And who do you throw on? There’s nobody better on the bench really, although I’d like to see Ross Barkley get a runout.

61: Pereira takes Sterling’s knee to the temple and is knocked out. Horrible moment as he’s splayed on the pitch in real trouble, but toe medics bring him around and he then throws a massive tantrum as the doctor tries to insist that he is substituted. That’s some passion right there, good lad.

64: Barkley now on, yay! But for Sterling, boo.

67: England just don’t look like scoring. Suarez then hits a hit and hope at Joe Hart, known within World Cup circles as a “Ronaldinho against David Seaman”.

68: I’m sure the commentator just said the population of greater London was 3 and a half million.

70: Lallana on for Wellbeck, who has done nowt.

72: Wayne Rooney’s hair-hat is the reason that a balding man like me doesn’t bother with hair implants.

73: Sturridge does a little turn and rattles off a shot. Muslera holds it easily. Uruguay aren’t doing anything much, but England aren’t really pressing them at all.

75: GOAL – ENGLAND – WAYNE ROONEY: Wonderful work by Sturridge, even better work from Johnson and a tap in for Rooney. He finally scores at a World Cup and is delighted. Great seeing the England fans surge forward in their “end” – and it’s what England have deserved.

77: Sturridge close now. England could actually win this, you know.

79: Atmosphere has been properly booted up a notch now, I tells thee.

80: Not so much in this house, mind. The wife has buggered off elsewhere.

83: It would really be excellent if England got another now. They have, on balance, been the better team and Uruguay sat back until Rooney’s goal. They’re now charging forwards too and it’s like watching a game from the knockout stages.

84: GOAL – URUGUAY – LUIS SUAREZ: Steven Gerrard fluffs a header and merely directs it into the path of the sprinting Luis Suarez who puts the ball past Hart. And that’ll probably be that for England. Two decent chances for Uruguay, two goals. Steven Gerrard manages to top his slip against Chelsea in the league with a pretty decent assist.

88: People on Twitter rightfully pointing out that Gerrard has been awful during both games. They’re right. The system Liverpool play mean that he can play that “quarterback” role that people bang on about. He can’t for England. Everyone else is putting in the effort, he’s just past it. But he’ll “retire” from England duty before the next manager (because Hodgson will be sacked, unfortunately – it’s not his fault he doesn’t have the players to choose from) has time to not pick him, just to save his own face.

90: Five minutes of injury time. Suarez now off and crying on the bench. Mate, you’re winning! Wacky South Americans.

Full Time:

England are probably out, barring Italy winning both of their remaining games and England somehow twatting Costa Rica out of sight. They’re not good enough. It’s not the fault of Roy Hodgson; he’s trying his best but there just aren’t the players available for him. Gerrard is past it, Rooney (I know he scored, but still) isn’t as world class a player as the entire nation seemed convinced he is, at the back England are a bit static and slow and the rest of the team – small glimmers of hope for the next four years in Sterling and Barkley to one side – just aren’t very good.

Suarez, like him or not, is an amazing centre forward. He gets two chances and he scores two goals. He is the difference between Uruguay being an also-ran South American team and a pretty decent one. They won’t get to the semi finals like last time around, but they remain a tidy side when he’s fit.

I don’t think that England fans are shocked by the result, because nobody would have seriously expected England to win the World Cup. There needs to be a better focus on team spirit and work ethic going forwards. The 1986 and 1990 World Cup sides were full of unfashionable players who grafted as part of a team. The next England manager (because let’s be honest, Hodgson will be sacked shortly) needs to take more chances on unfashionable players from smaller teams; Lallana and Lambert from Southampton are a start, but there are more players hungry to pull that shirt on and push the “superstars” in the side harder for their place.

We await the Gerrard memes.

Man of the Match: Luis Suarez

Match Rating: 5/10

The Football Neutral World Cup: Iran vs Nigeria

June 16, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

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Pre Match:

Thank god we’re on the BBC. Rio Ferdinand, Neil Lennon and Phil Neville in the studio. Mr Neville seems to have taken all of the criticism he got for the England game with good humour, bless him. Can’t fault him for that. Also, as Danny Baker pointed out: the BBC are rather to blame by taking a new pundit over to Brazil and giving him the England match as his first job.

That said, Phil Neville just used the phrase “he can catch pigeons” to describe a Nigerian player. I don’t know what that means.

If we’re honest, this is the game that we’re looking forward to least out of all the opening matches, right?

I’d quite like to see Iran win. I remember Leicester signing an Iranian fullback a few years back. We expected a lot based on videos of him. In reality he was five foot three and awful.

I was hoping it would be raining so an Iranian player would slide when changing direction and that I could make a really niche Prince of Persia reference.

Still no drawn games so far. So now I’ve said that, this’ll be goalless.

The arm folding animations when the teams are announced really are stupid.

1: Based on the amount of time the camera spent on him prior to the match, Ashkan Dejagah is the best player in the world.

5: Well, at least the crowd are up for this. I’m trying really hard to not remember that I have Watch Dogs to play on the Xbox One.

6: A Mexican wave is going around the stadium. Nobody cares about this match, not even the fans who are there.

8: All Nigeria so far. Really hoping that Shola Ameobi comes on and scores a sackful.

13: No idea how I’m still awake.

20: All the talk on commentary is of how to pronounce the name of Reza Ghoochannejhad. I’d go with “Reza”.

25: That’s it, I’m having a nap.

Full Time:

Fucking hell. Oops.

I closed my eyes for a bit hoping any excitement would wake me up. It seems that there wasn’t any at all.

TOLD YOU THIS WOULD BE NIL NIL, DIDN’T I?

Watch Dogs time now.

Man of the Match: You if you managed to stay awake for it

Match Rating: 0/10

The Football Neutral World Cup: England vs Italy

June 14, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

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Pre Match:

ANGLO ITALIAN CUP TIME!

To explain: I am still technically neutral for this. For whilst I want England to win, my Dad is Welsh, I live in Wales and am married to a Welsh. So my international team since being a kid is Wales. But I like England and obviously want them to win the world cup until Wales somehow qualify for one.

On the other hand, I’m not working in a comedy club tonight because the World Cup is going to ruin all gigs as long as England are in the tournament. So paying my debts off will be easier if England are out. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? I haven’t got a clue.

Of course, this is going to be a nil nil draw after that brilliant game earlier. And Costa Rica will somehow be top. Isn’t football brilliantly mental?

The BBC seem to insist on making awful, quasi-arty intro videos for every game. These are not needed. We’re football fans. We get why we’re watching this. You don’t need to convince people who don’t like the game. They’re watching QI on Dave right now (I suspect).

Pre match interview with Roy Hodgson makes me like him all the more. He’s doing the best he can with what he’s got, and isn’t there in his job just because he’s a gobshite. He’s dull as fuck and I like it.

I’ve heard that Rio Ferdinand is a really clever man and erudite businessman. So why does he sound like the thickest man in the world?

Rooney is playing in the hole, apparently. Might put a bet on him getting sent off after him seeing Van Persie and fuming at that high five with Van Gaal last night.

Sirigu in goal for Italy instead of Buffon. His name when shouted sounds like part of Eddie Murphy’s James Brown impression. I’ll leave that here.

It’s at 1.20.

The BBC just blotted their copybook by playing the worst trail I have ever seen, featuring Mary Berry doing backflips. ARGH.

Me and my Dad both agree that Gianluca Vialli is a bloody good lad. Great memories of us going to Chelsea the day he was sacked and seeing Leicester somehow win down there. That was a nervous walk back to the tube.

During the warmup, Mario Balotelli appears to be wearing Pat Butcher’s earrings.

Steven Gerrard is not the man you want to give a rousing, inspiring interview, is he?

1: England fans are much more likely to take flags with them than anybody else, aren’t they?

3: My Twitter feed is already full of grown men talking about how dreamy Andrea Pirlo is.

4: I just celebrated a Raheem Sterling goal. Even the BBC thought it was in. Great strike from a properly exciting player. Took me a good few seconds to realise he wasn’t celebrating. If it had been Balotelli going so close we wouldn’t have known until the replay.

5: Now Henderson has a smash. Fuck me, this is already more exciting that I expected.

8: This is already better than expected. I mean, both teams seem to be actually attacking and everything.

11: I’m a fan of this new England approach – picking players who seem to want to run at their opponents rather than pass the ball sideways before lumping it up towards the forward. Also, it looks like it’s Veratti that England need to fear, not Pirlo.

15: Still a lot of empty seats. Looks like there are more England fans there, but sounds like more Italy fans.

18: Some prick has started a Mexican wave. Nobody is 4-0 up, lads.

19: Shot from Candreva from a way out, ball bounces off the chest of Joe Hart as headline writers sharpen their pencils to destroy him. Fuck me, I wouldn’t want to be a goalkeeper.

20: Talk of swapping Rooney and Wellbeck around as the former isn’t in the game. Why should they? The latter is and is doing ok. Rooney is having a sulk.

22: Great first touch on the left wing from Raheem Sterling who drives a cross in front of goal. Sturridge stretches and can’t get it. Sterling looking quality at the moment.

23: Balotelli has a shot from 30 yards. I wonder who he shares a room with? I bet he’s a nightmare, hiding fireworks in the bathroom.

24: Wellbeck with a great cross, blocked away by the Italian defence. Corner follows, Sirigu looks suspect. England are really having a go and it’s pretty bloody fun to watch at the moment.

27: Me and Dad just noticed the BBC stats graphic reads “shots” and “shots on goal”. It’s the same thing. You mean shots on TARGET, lads.

30: Twitter is literally full of abuse for the commentary of Phil Neville right now. How is he so much worse than his brother?

32: Wayne Rooney’s hair is like a car crash. Horrible and yet you can’t take your eyes off it.

33: Dalmian finding some decent room down the right hand side from full back, at present the only repeated threat from Italy because Rooney can’t do a marking job and help out Leighton Baines.

34: GOAL – ITALY – CLAUDIO MARCHISIO: Described as “a simple goal” on commentary, a corner from Italy is dummied by Pirlo on the outside of the box before Marchisio fires it in low from outside the box. Great strike and was starting to look on the cards in the last couple of minutes.

37: GOAL – ENGLAND – DANIEL STURRIDGE: Rooney not being able to defend led to the corner that Italy scored from; now he takes a pass from Sterling and hits a great cross into the path of Sturridge who sweeps home. Parity restored. Weirdly, physio Gary Lewin seems to have got injured during the celebrations.

40: Waiting to hear on the injury to Gary Lewin, but we need to hear from the England Physio for that… oh.

41: As a Leicester fan, I remember hearing Steve Walsh on commentary when we beat Crystal Palace in the playoff final, going INSANE. That’s commentary. Come on Phil Neville, you PLAYED for England. Cheer up a bit.

45: Balotelli tries a cheeky lob to beat Hart who is outside his goal, but Cahill clears. From the corner Candreva hits the post. Halftime whistle as Sterling keeps niggling away at Veratti.

Half Time:

Is a decent match so far, with honours about even. England are doing well, but Phil Neville is being so negative that you’d think that they were 4-0 down. Here’s a picture of Phil on the day his lottery numbers came up and he became a Father.

My Dad is napping through the interval because Phil’s voice has properly ruined him.

Sterling looks brilliant for England, but Wellbeck is also putting in a shift. Going forwards England look very good indeed, but at the back they’re not as hot. Rooney isn’t the complete player his salary would suggest because he just cannot defend. Alan Shearer pointed out that England struggle to defend set pieces; the Italy goal would suggest that although it apparently went through “two or three players legs” according to Phil Neville (it went through one).

At this point England shouldn’t take a point. May as well press on. Italy are not great by any stretch.

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45: Tons of empty seats right after half time. JUST LIKE WEMBLEY!

48: You know when someone makes a proper landscape around their train set out of papier mache and coloured sand? That’s how they made Rooney’s hair.

50: GOAL – ITALY – MARIO BALOTELLI: Right hand side problems for England again. Deep cross from Candreva, Balotelli with an excellent hanging header. He even celebrates, which is odd to see.

54: Rooney now on the right hand side (it’s for the best), he powers forwards and shoots from a mile out. Close but not quite good enough. Still goals in this though, I reckon.

56: Steven Gerrard could have had a penalty, but is too sporting to appeal. Apparently.

57: Veratti off, Thiago Motta on for Italy. Presumably to stop Raheem Sterling being a crazy little dribble wizard.

58: I think I’m not speaking out of turn when I say that Georgio Chiellini is not exactly a looker.

60: Wellbeck off, Ross Barkley on. NOW DO GOOD PAUL GASCOIGNE LIKE THINGS! As in scoring goals, skill, trickery. Not crying and snapping your leg fouling Des Walker.

62: Terrible miss by Wayne Rooney as he’s slipped through by Baines. His anger level rises to “orange”.

64: Sterling sportingly helped out with cramp by two Italian players – as of course, the England physio is injured.

68: Has to be said that the Italy kit really is a smashing blouse.

71: Ciro Immobile about to come on for Italy. Hey! That striker is a bit IMMOBILE! GET IT? EH? I’m so tired.

72: Immobile on for Balotelli; Jordan Henderson replaced by Jack Wilshire. The Italian assistant manager is wearing a pair of Dame Edna’s glasses.

75: Phil Neville just used the phrase “thigh burners”. Anybody else would have made me laugh. He then said Chiellini “likes to feel men against him”. Nothing.

76: Nice free kick from Baines. You know he was listening to Ocean Colour Scene before the game.

77: The worst corner I have ever seen from Wayne Rooney. Jesus. He makes Diego Forlan look like Steve Guppy from the corner flag (shut up, he was ace).

79: Sturridge limps off, Adam Lallana on. So Rooney up top, you’d imagine. Where he can do the least harm.

82: If it’s one thing Italy know how to do, it’s defend a one goal lead. They are the BEST at it. Even better than 1990s Arsenal.

86: Barkley scampers through the defence, Rooney takes the ball off of him and has a shot. Barkley looks perplexed. Rooney not helping himself at the moment, would he still be on the pitch if Sturridge hadn’t have picked up a knock?

88: Sterling’s turn to meander through the defence. He looks really good based on tonight, at least he’s having a go.

90: FIVE MINUTES of added time. But England need some serious inspiration.

90+3: Italy free kick about 35 yards from goal. Pirlo smashes it against the bar with Hart nowhere near it. Didn’t half bend, mind.

Full Time:

General consensus seems to be that England were not too bad at all, and I’d agree. They were a damn sight more exciting to watch than they’ve been in a long, long time. Italy are a VERY good side and will win the group, no doubt about that. Can’t see Uruguay beating Italy and England, so maybe it’s Costa Rica that England need to be most prepared for.

Raheem Sterling was excellent throughout, Ross Barkley looked good when he came on and Sturridge and Wellbeck worked well. What is worrying is the form of Wayne Rooney; asides from his excellent cross for the England goal he looked poor. Terrible set pieces, always trying for too complicated a pass and missing a complete sitter. He seems to be in the team more on reputation than merit, and that’s a shame. If Hodgson has the balls to drop him then maybe he would be fired up enough to work harder when he got back into the team.

All the talk on Italy was about Pirlo and Balotelli, but for me Veratti and Candreva were both excellent. They’re not at their absolute best (Sirigu is suspect for sure) but they could do well.

Man of the Match: Antonio Candreva

Match Rating: 6/10

The Football Neutral World Cup: Uruguay vs Costa Rica

June 14, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

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Pre Match:

Watching this match with my Dad. Just seen the Colombia goals, was nice to see a stadium at least look properly full.

Of course, Uruguay are famous for being a big part of one of the best jokes ever on The Simpsons. Homer is looking at a globe and says to Bart “look at the name of this country, boy: You are Gay.”

For the record, the best ever Simpsons gag is the “may I play Devil’s Advocate for a moment” joke. If you’re laughing at that now, then you know what I mean.

As soon as we put ITV on and Adrian Chiles was on the screen my Dad said “for fucks sake, I hate him”.

Much discussion of how tight the Uruguay shirts are. To quote my father: “they look fine on an athlete, bet the fans look terrible”. Horrible moment as I remember that Puma are making the Leicester kit for the foreseeable future.

The Uruguay national anthem is one of those that takes five minutes to start.

The font they use for the team lineups on ITV is the best thing about their coverage by a million miles.

1: Commentators just used the phrase “Group D for Difficult”. Christ.

2: Uruguay play a 4-4-2. Making them the only team in the world that still do that. False nine my arse.

3: Joel Campbell is a wonderfully non Costa Rican name.

8: Went for dinner with my daughter earlier. Watching the Uruguay team in those tight shirts is making me have sever body dysmorphia.

9: Joel Campbell reminds me of Paulo Wanchope. But slightly less gangly.

12: Ben Dunbar on Twitter has asked me and Dad to try and spot the shorts of Martin Caceres. We have, and they are massive. 1950s massive. He looks like he’s wearing culottes.

14: Disallowed goal for Godin, although the whistle went waaaaaaay before.

16: Cavani misses a properly decent chance, but Uruguay aren’t dominating. Would be hilarious if Costa Rica could get anything out of this. Their fans are easy to spot in two tiny pockets on the right hand side of the screen, all wearing red. For some reason they’re wearing their white away kit to play in though, which strikes me as a tad daft.

19: Sad to see that Bryan Ruiz has both had a haircut AND doesn’t just have “Bryan” on the back of his shirt. There must be a Brazilian player called Brian or Kevin or Dave by now. They’ve got a Fred and Bernard, after all.

21: Really wish it was Dragon Gate USA wrestling star Johnny Gargano playing in the Uruguay midfield.

22: Diego Godin looks like he works in a branch of Millets.

24: GOAL – URUGUAY – EDINSON CAVANI: Ref gives a penalty for what Andy Townsend thought was a handball, then a handball by Uruguay’s Diego Lugano, then eventually realises it was a great decision for what was a rugby tackle on the Uruguayan centre back. Cavani smashes in the penalty although the keeper goes the right way to his left.

26: Considering how slow he’s meant to be, Diego Lugano looks like he’s at least ten years younger than he really is.

27: Joel Campbell looks properly good. Keeps trying the spectacular. We’ve decided that Leicester must sign him ASAP.

30: Dad has just noticed the different coloured Puma boots thing that some players are doing. I await the “I remember when everyone had black boots” speech.

31: Gonzalez hits the side netting for Costa Rica. Want them to score for their loyal cluster of fans behind the goal.

34: Dad believes that Costa Rica aren’t wearing red because of the chances of them washing the kit in the hotel and the colours running. Really. This is how he thinks.

38: This isn’t exactly scintillating stuff, but I’m willing to bet that it ends up being more entertaining that the England game later on.

42: Just remembered that Fray Bentos is in Uruguay. That’s where your Nan gets her meat pies in tins from.

43: The Uruguay keeper is terrifyingly bad on crosses. Or as my Father referred to him: “A typical South American keeper”. Dude has a point.

44: Deflected shot from Forlan, great save from Navas in the Costa Rica goal. The replays show the brilliant look of determination on his face to keep the ball out. Forlan is then taking Uruguay corners. Why?

Half Time:

Costa Rica really aren’t too shabby. Uruguay slightly better, but the more exciting stuff seems to be coming from Joel Campbell up front for the Central Americans. You can’t see England steamrolling over either of these sides, but you know what England are like for crying out loud.

The England team has been announced, and Raheem Sterling is playing. At least it’s attacking, so you never know.

The voices of Gus Poyet and Fabio Cannavaro remind me of something else.

46: So much complaining about where England are having to play tonight. I think they’ll be ok, some pitches in this country are shite.

47: Dad has buggered off to make an omelette. He likes to think his are better than mine, but I am the motherfucking OMELETTE WIZARD.

48: Luis Suarez seems to be getting ready to come on. Everyone on the Costa Rica side should immediately wear Rick Steiner like ear protectors.

51: Costa Rica trying to get back into this, and certainly aren’t sitting back. They’re not a bad side at all. Although Andy Townsend keeps talking about them like they’re a third division club side. I mean, they’re at the World Cup… unlike Townsend’s side Ireland.

53: Those mismatched Puma boots as sported by three Uruguay players are really starting to make me unreasonably angry now.

54: GOAL – COSTA RICA – JOEL CAMPBELL: Campbell is class, but WHAT a cross in from Gamboa on the right wing for Costa Rica as the ball was about to go out. Ball part cleared, falls to Campbell and he smashes in from 15 or so yards. Celebration is excellent, taking the ball and stuffing it up his shirt as if pregnant and saluting the Costa Rican fans. GAME ON!

58: GOAL – COSTA RICA – OSCAR DUARTE: Bloody hell. Free kick from Christian Bolanos is wonderfully headed in at the far post by the diving Duarte. Copenhagen midfielder with the assist, Club Brugge defender with the goal. Costa Rica a LOT better than people expected and Uruguay look rattled.

60: Diego Forlan off, Nicolas Lodeiro on. Walter Gargano off, Alvaro Gonzalez on. Still no Suarez.

63: Father still making his omelette. He has been distracted by both goals.

64: Joel Campbell tries for the top corner from 35 yards and the commentary team think he’s scored. Bloody hell he looks like a player.

66: Now Bryan Ruiz wins a HEADER in front of goal and goes close. BRYAN RUIZ, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

69: Another great save by Keylor Navas. He looks half decent too.

73: Dad is back.

74: Jose Miguel Cubero on for Costa Rica, replacing the brilliantly named YELTSIN Tejeda. Yeltsin! Top marks for that lad’s parents.

76: Of course, Costa Rica balance out that name with having two lads called Roy Miller and Patrick Pemberton.

80: Costa Rica aren’t even holding on; Uruguay look devoid of any decent ideas right now. Still no Suarez either, with ten minutes left.

83: Cavani has done bugger all in this game apart from score a penalty and look like a lion.

84: GOAL – COSTA RICA – MARCO URENA: Just on as a sub for Bryan Ruiz, Urena takes a wonderful through ball from Joel Campbell and slides the ball past the onrushing keeper. His first touch of the ball and he looks ecstatic. Brilliant goal and a great second half. Well chuffed for the Costa Rica fans.

89: Uruguay look broken. They have not got a bloody clue what to do.

90: Five minutes injury time. At the minute, could well be Costa Rica that score again rather than Uruguay nicking one back.

94: Horrible challenge on Joel Campbell by Maxi Perrera. RED CARD. Stupid challenge as he lost his patience. Uruguay self destructing. Utterly clueless. Andy Townsend quote ahead of the sending off: “He’s getting the big card out”.

Full Time:

Another result we didn’t see coming, right? Wow. What an amazing second half from the Costa Rican players. Uruguay without a clue after they’d scored, whilst Costa Rica played with confidence and skill. They’ve won over many a neutral with that performance, and showed England fans that Uruguay aren’t to be feared. Costa Rica on the other hand…

Cavani does not look like a world class player, Forlan looks past it and with the exception of Diego Godin working on his own at the back, all Uruguay have is Suarez. And speaking as a Wales supporter, one amazing player does not win you a world cup. Or even qualify you for one.

Man of the Match: Joel Campbell

Match Rating: 9/10

The Football Neutral World Cup: Spain vs The Netherlands

June 13, 2014June 13, 2014 / megagoalz / Leave a comment

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Pre Match:

So we’re on BBC for this one. Already a load better, although you can really tell when Rio Ferdinand is reading rather than talking off the cuff. Everyone talking this game up, so it’ll probably be completely terrible.

I think I’m supporting the Netherlands because Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities and Ajax one of my favourite clubs based on how their fans treated me and the wife earlier in the year.

Seems to be a lot of empty seats again. At least it’s not raining like earlier on.

During the national anthems, Xavi must have deliberately positioned himself between two massive players knowing that it would make me spit my vimto out.

No fans seem to be that bothered about their national anthem if the big screen camera focuses on them.

The pre match graphics with the whole arm-folding mini-video is bloody ridiculous. Bruno Martins Indi did it the best. Big smile. Everyone else took it far too seriously.

Both teams in their away kits, which is daft. I always like the Dutch kit.

1: Don’t wish to alarm anyone, but apparently Ron Vlaar is a good enough defender to play at a World Cup.

2: Usual long ball tactics from Spain there. Then Busquets boots Sneijder up in the air in a 1960s “let him know you’re here” tactic.

4: Belgium now on the rise, Netherlands on the decline. How long till Luxembourg start making a splash?

6: Everyone watching is hoping that Xabi Alonso gets revenge on Nigel De Jong in a proper Mortal Kombat style.

8: Sneijder powers through, Casillas makes the first save he’s made in about two months. Spain defence look at each other as if to say “Oh! They’re allowed to run at us with pace and intent! Cheeky fucks.”

10: Iniesta now looks like my GCSE English teacher. He used to make us watch videos about Kate Bush and Morrissey on the last day of term. I think they may constitute abuse.

12: Diego Costa getting booed with every touch for essentially being a high level glory hunter.

13: I take it back about Vlaar. Proper sorted out Diego Costa then. Would be fun to see Costa’s reaction if he scored. Also, you know that there is a hack somewhere trying to come up with a story to fit the headline “Costa Coffee”.

15: Mark Lawrenson on Nigel De Jong: “He likes hitting people in the chest, doesn’t he?” He followed this with “I don’t think De Jong is a World Class footballer, but he’s got World Class tattoos. Dude needs to see mine.

20: Arjen Robben has been trying to untie his boots since the last comment.

23: Diego Costa looks more like the Hulk than Hulk.

25: Cross from the Dutch, crying out for a Van Basten. Instead a lame pass back inside.

26: GOAL – SPAIN – XABI ALONSO: Diego Costa in the box, felled by De Vrij who takes out his trailing foot. Cillessen in the Dutch goal tries to have words with Xabi Alonso who smashes it into the bottom right corner. Keeper guessed right. Goal line technology replay happened again. Really not needed.

31: Kind of hoped that Diego Costa playing up front would mean Spain just deciding to switch it up and play long ball. This has not happened. Brazilians booing him to death though. Is a brave man who abandons his home nation in favour of where he lives BEFORE a World Cup in said home nation.

37: So far Jonathan De Guzman has swapped bodies with Nigel De Jong and is booting people left, right and centre.

38: Imagine David Silva with a moustache, shorter hair and wearing a white vest. Dead ringer for Freddie Mercury.

43: What a pass from Iniesta to David Silva. Cheeky chip well saved by Jasper Cillessen, corner comes to nowt. You watch Spain and just think that there is no chance that any other team could pass the ball as well.

44: GOAL – THE NETHERLANDS – ROBIN VAN PERSIE: I watched Daley Blind for Ajax in January; he hits an unbelievable 35 yard pass from the right wing to the edge of the box where Van Persie dives to head the ball over Iker Casillas. Best goal of the tournament so far, albeit a little undeserved on the balance of play. Blind is a real talent, although seems to be being used out wide rather than in the defensive midfield role I watched him. Van Persie celebrates with Louis Van Gaal, brown-nosing so hard that somewhere Wayne Rooney can be heard swearing.

Half Time:

The best thing about this game is that it isn’t awful, because that’s what you’d expect to end up happening after all the hype. The save from Cillessen kept the Dutch in the game, and from there Van Persie levels it. 69% possession to Spain though, unless they make mistakes or you get a wonder-pass like the one from Blind then they’re hard to break down.

Pundit panel is Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry. Rio’s tone and comments make Shearer sound insightful, intelligent and bubbly. The word is “think”, Rio. It has a “th” sound in it. Not “fink”.

Now the latest from the England camp! It’s hot. England probably won’t win. That’s about it. Keeps Gabby Logan in a job.

Phil Neville is now insisting on being called Philip. He looks like Bez with a touch of henna in his hair.

Halftime snack was a Nobbly Bobbly. What an ice lolly that is, although the wife calls it a “lolly ice”. Utter madness.

46: And here comes the rain! Proper rain, too. Like what we get here in North Wales.

47: Daryl Janmaat looks exactly like Owen Hargreaves.

50: Not a day goes past when I don’t wish that a certain Spanish player was called Sergio Biscuits.

52: GOAL – THE NETHERLANDS – ARJEN ROBBEN: This is why I’m not a pundit. Spain give the ball away, pass their way upfield and a long ball to Robben is brought down outside the area. He runs a few yards forwards, turns Pique and Sergio Ramos and slots it home. Commentators say “what an upset we have on our hands”. Er… no. IT’S THE FINALISTS FROM FOUR YEARS AGO! It’s not Honduras or Algeria, is it? It’s the bloody Netherlands!

54: Diego Costa headbutts Bruno Martins Indi, who probably keeps the Spanish striker from getting sent off by not flailing himself around like a tool. As the ref warns Costa, Martins Indi gives him a death stare that would terrify most people.

56: Spain keep giving the ball away, almost like they’re a tad overconfident in their ability to pass wherever they want. Crucially they’ve not carved out an incisive chance as yet; The Netherlands have made three – the Sneijder miss, the Van Persie wondergoal and then the great team movement to lead to Robben’s goal.

58: End of an era chat from the commentators now. Spain are losing by one goal to one of the best teams in the world. Shall we calm down a bit and just enjoy the game?

60: Pedro and Fernando Torres about to come on. FEAR THE PLAYERS THAT NEVER GET IN THEIR CLUB’S FIRST ELEVEN!

61: Great run from Robben, pass helped on by Janmaat, Van Persie hits the bar. The Netherlands have come to win this, that’s for sure.

62: De Guzman off for the Georginio Wijnaldum. Dutch names are brilliant. For Spain, Xabi Alonso off for Pedro, Diego Costa (who has done nothing but headbutt Bruno Martins Indi in the second half) off for Fernando Torres.

64: GOAL – THE NETHERLANDS – STEFAN DE VRIJ: Free kick from the right wing foolishly given away by Gerard Pique under pressure from Daley Blind. Kick swung in from Robben, Casillas goes up with Van Persie and they both miss it, De Vrij nods in right on the post to make it 3-1, redeeming the penalty he gave away earlier.

66: Robin Van Persie booked for a wild swing on Pedro as it all starts kicking off.

68: GOAL DISALLOWED – DAVID SILVA – SPAIN. Silva offside as the ball headed at the Dutch goal, Cillessen makes a good save but Silva taps in, only for it to be disallowed. Turning into a proper good game now.

71: They keep showing pictures of three Spanish fans wearing hats that have tiny bulls on them. They look proper bloody miserable.

72: Crowd doing a Mexican wave. SIT DOWN, IT’S IN BRAZIL.

72: GOAL – THE NETHERLANDS – ROBIN VAN PERSIE: Casillas properly arses up a backpass, Van Persie pounces on it, stays on his feet despite being fould by the Spanish keeper and slots home. And based on the second half, this is completely deserved. The Netherlands look brilliant with their three “stars” in Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie with the wingbacks of Janmaat and Blind looking impressive too. The Dutch fans are now doing the conga.

76: Spain free kick, ref gets the spray out. Gets some on Bruno Martins Indi’s leopard print boots and he properly kicks off. Brilliant.

77: Joel Veltman comes on for goalscorer Stefan De Vrij. I swear he motions to Veltman that they’ll have a smoke later on. Oh, the Dutch.

79: Van Persie off now for Jermain Lens who is seriously bloody quick. As it looks at the minute, Spain have no pace whatsoever at the back.

80: GOAL – THE NETHERLANDS – ARJEN ROBBEN: Sneijder wins the ball, pumps it upfield towards Robben who is at least 10mph quicker than Sergio Ramos. Robben eventually beats the keeper to make it 5. I am now thinking of all the Dutch fans we befriended on our trip to watch Ajax. Hope they’re having a party there now!

82: If the Dutch fans were singing in English now, I imagine the song would be “You can shove your Tiki-Taka up your arse”.

87: Wijnaldum should have scored, then Robben is well saved by Casillas. The Dutch want six. I’ll be honest, I want six. I don’t dislike Spain, but this is properly mesmerising.

89: Even Nigel De Jong is breaking forwards now. If he scores against Spain then they may as well go home now.

90: 4 minutes of added time. Torres clean through and he somehow gets robbed by Daley Blind to rather arse it up. FIFTY MILLION QUID MATE.

Final Whistle:

Bloody hell.

Well, I don’t think anyone expected that, did they? Spain losing to the Netherlands isn’t a shock, the scoreline certainly is though. An ageing Spanish side looked slow and although The Netherlands don’t have a wealth of star players the three that they do have are still terrifyingly good on their day. Robben, Van Persie and Sniejder could well light up the whole tournament.

Their formation also works: Three defenders who can pass the ball, two tireless wingbacks, two strong midfielders, two attacking midfielders and a striker at the top. They let Spain play their game in the first half and then just exploded on them. I’m almost speechless.

And what now for Spain? They’ve got to bounce back but the group isn’t too hard; they’ll beat Chile and Australia and be safe, but they’re not going to win the group now. The confidence amongst the Dutch players must be massive.

Man of the Match: Daley Blind. Started pretty much every attack by winning the ball or providing a killer pass.

Match Rating: 9/10

Jim Smallman – The Football Neutral

Comedian watches football, writes about it.

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