World Cup Diary - Day 27 Sensation!

Did I really just see that?
Football was back and how!

The first semi-final of this year's World Cup and the score was Brazil 1 Germany 7. I suspect I can return to look at this score many times over the years and it will still look like a dream. 

Seven to Germany and it could have been many more, Mesut Ozil was clean through and beat the keeper with a couple of minutes to play, but saw the ball roll agonisingly wide when he really should have scored. Brazil struck their only goal from the moves resulting from the goal-kick and it was far, far more than they deserved.

Germany were clinical and played some excellent football but Brazil.. they were just awful. Seriously, I've been watching football a long time and I've never seen anything like it at the top level. BBC pundits were talking about previous records where Saudi Arabia conceded eight etc. but this was a World Cup semi-final and this was Brazil we're talking about. It was utterly astonishing. Some of the Brazilian players - Fred, David Luiz, Hulk - were worse than ordinary, their performances so wretched it was actually painful to watch at times.

Oddly, it was so unutterably astounding I can't think of anything else to say.

*Mouths like a fish but nothing comes out* 

World Cup Diary - Day 24 It's Argentina and Holland

Today's World Cup Menu
Belgium Waffle, Cuma Organic Argentinian Malbec, Costa Rica Fair Trade Coffee

60 Years On
Is there really a change taking place? For the first time in 60 years are England fans prepared to move on and support Germany against Argentina in next week's semi-finals? That's the situation following the South American's 1-0 win over Belgium who - when it cam down to it - just didn't have that bit extra required to go further. When Higuain put Argentina ahead after only eight minutes, it suggested that it might open up the game and make it an exciting encounter with plenty of chances but it didn't really turn out like that. 

Similarly, in the later game, it was all rather cagey between the Netherlands and Costa Rica and extra time couldn't separate the teams, with the Dutch manager Van Gaal causing a sensation by substituting his goalkeeper with the last kick of the match. Madness or genius? The result is all, of course so it turned out to be a master stroke as Newcastle's Tim Krul saved two penalties to send the Orange shirts through. 

So it's Argentina v the Netherlands and Brazil v Germany in the mid-week's semi-final's and this is actually quite hard to call, but it would be amusing to see an all-European final when most everyone is expecting the match that was predicted before a ball was kicked. Much will depend on if Brazil can get over the loss of Neymar - out for a month with a vertebrae injury sustained in the closing minutes of the Colombia game - and if Messi can inspire Argentina once more.

Me? Awww...all right then. Pass me the bratwurst and the lederhosen. Sorry Nan - wherever you are! 

World Cup Diary - Day 23 Quarter finals: France and Colombia go out

Today's World Cup Menu
Bavarian Smoked Ham, Bratwurst, Brahma Cerveja do Brasil, Mentzendorff Kummel, Colombian Percol Fair Trade Coffee

Quarter-final Day 1
I wonder what it would be like to get to a World Cup quarter-final, get all worked up, analyse, pontificate, debate, discuss tactics and team selection, bite your nails and then find the whole thing has been for nothing 'cos the other team hasn't bothered to turn up. That's how Germany must feel this evening after a nothing game in which France fell behind after Mats Hummels' headed in after 14 minutes; Les Bleus barely broke sweat after that.

Germany were obviously good at  pretty much killing the game without really threatening again and France...well, France seemed to think it was all too much for a hot day in Rio and barely did anything except, inevitably, in the last few minutes. Even then, Manuel Neuer in Germany's goal was hardly bothered and he had the air of a man who doesn't expect to pick the ball out of the net again this tournament. 

All very well if you're German but tedious for the neutral.

A different affair in Estadio Castela where Brazil overcame Colombia 2-1 and James Rodriguez joined the pantheon of those who have shed Gazza tears; the poor lad getting scant protection from the referee in a match littered with fouls that went unpunished. It's good for a ref to let a game flow but this got left to the stage where players realised they weren't going to see a card and just carried on with the alehouse stuff. Nevertheless, it was rip-roaring fayre, with the crowd roar creating a great atmosphere that easily transferred itself to the TV and the game became unbearably tense once Rodriguez pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 after 80 minutes. The hosts hung on but Colombia looked the equal of the men in yellow throughout.

The result was that, once again, you're left wondering if Brazil really are any good. I suspect the Germans will tell us.

World Cup Diary - Day 20 Game of the Tournament?

Today's World Cup Menu
Kentucky Fried Chicken with Jeremiah Weed Kentucky Cider 

Game of the Tournament?
I may return later to remove that question mark but I doubt the superb game between the USA and Belgium will be bettered in this World Cup. Incredible to think it was 0-0 at full time and the 2-1 score-line at the end of extra-time did rather flatter the Americans for whom Tim Howard was immense. Belgium now go on to meet Argentina who secured a late win with a solitary goal in a shocking game that was as bad as the Belgium / USA one was good.

Elsewhere, Luis Suarez has apologised for biting the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini, prompting fans everywhere to go "Ahhhh, what a nice bloke!". The President of Barcelona went further saying that the apology showed how 'Humble' Suarez was. Within an hour, Liverpool opened talks with Barca over the possibility of the Uruguayan joining the Spanish giants for a stupid fee.  You gotta love football politics, ain't ya?

World Cup Diary - Day 19 Order is Restored

Today's World Cup Menu
Cotes du Rhone, Chicken with Brie and Bacon in a White Wine sauce, Frankfurters with German mustard. 


Order is Restored...
....In all senses, I've started watching the World Cup again and Germany got past Algeria 2-1 while France beat Nigeria 2-0 in the Round of 16 to set-up a tasty quarter-final. Both matches were tough on the favourites who hardly stamped their superior tournament experience on the games and the African teams can point to plenty of chances of their own in two exciting games.

Algeria even took Germany to extra time but when Schurrle scored two minutes later and Ozil scored a minute before the whistle, there was a sense that the European side had always had an extra something in the locker. Fortunately, Algeria scored on the very last kick giving the score-line a look that better reflected the play. If Algeria continue in this vein they could very well be the first African team that is able to make that extra step next time.

So a quarter-final tie between two old foes; "Germany and France have history going back to '82" said wise old Glenn Hoddle. I think it may go back a tad before that actually...!

World Cup Diary - Day 18 Elton John

Not much Football Today
Feeling better but a family function and another concert meant I only got to watch the last 30 minutes, extra time and penalties of the Greece v Costa Rica game which the South American's won when Theofanis Gekas's kick was superbly saved by Kaylor Navas.

Costa Rica should have had a penalty when one - nil up, with what looked a fairly obvious handball that no-one seemed to spot but, despite that, I felt sorry for the Greeks who looked more likely to go through when they scored their injury time equaliser from Sokratis. Costa Rica had been on the ropes from just after the hour mark when Oscar Duarte was sent off for two bookable offences and looked all-in during extra time. The shoot-out was a fine example of under-pressure penalty taking from both sides though.

Earlier on, I'd been to see Elton John - who'd I'd never seen live before - as he was playing just 15 minutes walk from where I live and it would have been rude not to have gone. Fizzled out a bit before the end for me but while you contemplate that, here's another tune...

World Cup Diary - Day 17 Cockney Rebel

As Morrisey once said...
...I'm still Ill but that's not the reason I won't be seeing any football today, but rather I need to drag my fever'd overrun body to the Royal Albert Hall in England's wonderful capital to see Cockney Rebel. Well, they're there and it would be rude not to go.

So you enjoy the music and in the meantime, here is another tune

World Cup Diary - Day 15 The Group Stage Ends as FIFA Bite Back

Today's World Cup Menu
Lamb Tagine with Pulled Pork Parcels, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Belgian Triple Chocolate dessert, Californian Zinfandel, Roast Dog (just another example of my irrepressible humour there) and Vodka (Come on Capello, I've got a bottle to sink here!).

Another Blagg blog
ESPN FC Blog 26th June
In which our hero complains about that bloody National Anthem and points out England are quite good at a few things but not great at any.

The Group Stage Ends
Germany beat the USA 1-0 but both went through thanks to Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana which did nothing for either side. In the later games, 10-man Belgium beat South Korea 1-0 while Algeria drew with Russia to ensure the African side qualified for the Group of 16. This means I had only two shots of vodka but I can have some more Tagine.

Nine international games, £100,000 Swiss dollars and four months from all forms of football; the punishment for the Luis Suarez bite on Giorgio Chiellini. Yes, it's deserved of course but isn't this an interesting precedent here? 

The referee didn't see the incident so Suarez has been convicted on TV replay evidence. Nothing wrong with that, of course if the evidence is conclusive - but then isn't that what TV evidence actually is? FIFA paid a lot for goal-line technology but didn't we all know Frank Lampard's shot was a yard over the line four years ago? After all, we all saw it on TV and it was being shown to millions even before a baffled Lampard had managed to run up the referee in real time. 

In short, use TV evidence if you must but let's also use it for when a player is sent off for smacking an opponent in the face when TV clearly shows his elbow was nowhere near the man rolling on the floor in acute pain. Use it for poor tackles that the referee misses. Use it for offside.

In the Suarez incident, the issue is magnified by the fact that the resulting ban means Suarez's club side - currently Liverpool, but it may not be after this - lose their player too. There will undoubtedly be those who even argue that this is unfair. Should a club be punished for a misdemeanor carried out on a football pitch thousands of miles away?  Let's be clear here; leaving aside the incident - difficult I know but try - a massive line has been (or should have been anyway) drawn in the sand here by FIFA. 

Retrospective bans? No problem at all but let's make sure it is used fairly.

And another thing!

Uruguay and Suarez are to appeal. On what grounds can they possibly appeal? That the TV replay doesn't show the real truth? Failure to come to terms with this is making Uruguayan football a laughing stock. It's not down to the British press (If the press can coerce FIFA into doing something they don't want then the 2022 World Cup would be taking place in England!), nor the Italians and Brazilians but if the rest of the world thinks you are deranged then, just possibly, you are. 

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan speaking on ITV was superb as he pointed out we shouldn't be surprised by this attempt at claiming innocence, pointing out that 'football had no morals'.

"We give Uruguay stick about defending Suarez, but every manager defends his player"

"Over the years I have played there has been wife-batterers, drink-driving incidents, infidelity, Eric Cantona jumping into the crowd and kung-fu-ing someone in the chest. The clubs stand by them"

"The supporters themselves, when these guys come back they stand up and applaud them on the pitch. So don't anybody start talking about morals - we don't have any in football"

World Cup Diary - Day 14 Night in the Big Top

Today's World Cup Menu
Swiss Chocolate dessert, La Francette Cabernet Sauvignon

Night in the Big Top
Punk poet, wit, raconteur and general bloke in amazing drain pipe trousers, John Cooper Clarke was playing in a Big Top in my local park this evening. It would have been rude not to go. As good as he ever was (keep this quiet but I first saw Clarke supporting Elvis Costello back in 1977) but reading rather too quickly to always get the full effect of the poetry. Still here's Twat from 1982

Supporting JCC was Mike Garry who was also excellent and I urge you to seek out his stuff. Here's 'St Anthony' - a tribute to Anthony Wilson (If you don't know who he i sthen google it!).

Meanwhile, back in Brazil, France and Switzerland qualified - thus making sure my required quotient of wine and chocolate is kept up - while Argentina qualified beating Nigeria 3-2. Fortunately, for the African side Croatia finally found their form and run out east winners over Iran ensuring Nigeria go through. Good stuff!

World Cup Diary - Day 13 England Catch the Bus

Today's World Cup Menu
Moussaka, Dolmades, Negroamaro Salento Italian red

England limp home
A tedious 0-0 draw with surprise package Costa Rica ensured England at least left Brazil with a point, but there was little else to enthuse about in a dull game that was the type of thing we expected at least once from the Three Lions - so we shouldn't be disappointed. When BBC coverage spends the first 30 minutes of their match discussing the Italy v Uruguay game that was being played simultaneously in Natal before mentioning the home nation then you know something must be amiss.

Mind you the Uruguay victory that sent the Italians home, did have one major talking about. Am I the only one who finds Luis Suarez biting people very funny? When I was a boy a First Division player biting someone's ear off only brought a quick word as the ref run past. Man up yer jessie's!

World Cup Diary - Day 12 Costa Rica Match Preview

Today's World Cup Menu
Vina Maipo Chilean Merlot, Paella, San Miguel Cerveza

ESPN FC Link 

ESPN FC Costa Rica Preview

World Cup Diary - Day 11 Father's Day 2

Today's World Cup Menu
Duval Belgian Ale, McDonald's Quarter-pounder  - No Russian goals so no vodka 

Out with my daughter today, as I didn't see her last week for Father's Day, so I missed the Belgium v Russia game because I was driving for half of it and ..errr...kipping through the other half. It was a game I wanted to see but it was apparently very poor with Belgium snatching it late.

It's hard to assess the competition with England out; lack of even a promise of a last 16 place means viewing the rest of the tournament as a neutral and - good as some of the teams look - there is an inevitability that many of them won't be worrying the quarter-finals. This makes the entertainment quotient somehow diminished and I'm not sure why this is. I've watched World Cups where England haven't even been represented and enjoyed them immensely, so perhaps this is just a fleeting feeling. Or perhaps I'm just tired of the whole thing - I have to admit there are elements of 21st Century football I find really tiresome.

Last night's Germany v Ghana was a cracker though and I've really enjoyed tonight's Korea v Algeria game too, although I'm still concerned that the Africans are merely a France 'B' team because a lot of the player's came through the French nursery system, playing for France for the Under 19's before switching to Algeria. This is a nonsense, is happening everywhere and now affects quite a few national sides and it should be stopped immediately. Incidentally, I say that as a fan of English cricket which has had more than it's fair share of South Africans and Australians in; there should be no residential issue at all - At least not until the first batch of Poles, Germans and Rumanian's start playing for England. 

World Cup Diary - Day 10 Media reaction is wrong, wrong, wrong!

Blagg rant
Here's the ESPN link to the rant about the media.
Englands failure hardly a surprise

And here's the unedited version that also mentions the sainted David Beckham who seems - for reasons I can't explain (perhaps it's a Government plot?) - to be armour-plated.

Not with a bang, not with a whimper; it was worse than that. Germany and France hadn’t even played their second game as the English FA were checking flight times and booking tickets home. So the manner of the departure was hard to take perhaps, but was the eventual outcome?

Not a single England supporter I met, nor any comment I saw on the web suggested England would progress very far in this tournament; most thought the squad would do well to emerge from a tough group.  None of the professional predictions on radio, TV or web remotely indicated Steven Gerrard would be lifting the trophy either – so why is anyone surprised at how things have turned out? Considering expectations, it’s rather odd to see the outpouring of frustration and anger from the English media.

Perhaps it’s one of those things that can be said more easily beforehand than experienced after, but getting out of Group D always seemed a tall order for the Three Lions . The draw was not kind to an inexperienced side - how often do you get a four nation team containing three previous World Cup winners? – but the fact is though, even before the plane touched down in Brazil, it was known that England were suspect in defence, lacked tournament knowledge and - more importantly - couldn’t rely on any decent world-class players. Barring the addition of the usual suspects – think of him of what you will, but John Terry was sorely missed here and even Rio Ferdinand could probably have played had he wanted – it is difficult to see what Roy Hodgson could have done. It’s true that in the actual heat of the battle the general display and results have been extremely disappointing. But surprised? I think not.

What was particularly galling was the show of irritation and disappointment from those players who had failed before at previous World Cup’s but were quick to apportion blame on the current squad. Trending last night was an exasperated rant from Chris Waddle made on the radio, the former England winger bemoaning the state of English football with a ‘we never learn’ comment that seemed the type of thing plucked from the heart of every England fan. The condemnation though  -- described as ‘brilliant’ by many post-match – was actually a sad indictment of the English mentality.

If nobody expected anything of this current England side, that can’t be said of the Lineker and Gasgoine inspired 1990 squad. Desperately unlucky that side may have been, but the failure to put the ball into the net from 12 yards was the reason that team never progressed to a deserved final place. And who blazed another 12 yards over the bar in the penalty shoot-out in that game? Well none other than Mr Waddle himself. Stones and glasshouses seems the appropriate response here. 

Similarly, Rio Ferdinand is a fine defender by anybody’s standards but the player was also part of the ‘Golden Generation’ who never shone, while Alan Shearer and then manager Glenn Hoddle never got past the last 16 in 1998. Meanwhile, in-between the match coverage of the Italy and Uruguay games, UK TV viewers would have seen an advertisement featuring that great cultural icon David Beckham. The man may well be handsome and he certainly wears a suit well, also - as revealed in a recent UK travel documentary - the former England captain is known by some indigenous tribes in the central Amazonian rainforest too; but this most famous of players  appeared at three World Cup’s and barely – albeit with injury – never once shone as expected. What do we want from our heroes? Trophies held aloft or a fashion catalogue?   

The national team have been failing for decades and attempts to turn on current players, manager or tactics is utterly pointless. Those doing the shouting haven't been any more successful than those soon coming home. English football has long been in a mess;  the grass roots of the game are where the problems lie and even if this were to be addressed tomorrow, it would still be another two or three World Cups before England reaped the benefits.  

Rather than turning on yet another failing crop, those pundits might be better biting the hand that used to feed them. Only then might English football start to extricate itself from the mire it has wallowed in for so long.

Today's World Cup Menu
Bratwurst, Quilmes Argentinian Cerveza

World Cup Diary - Day 9 England sent home

Today's World Cup Menu
Costa Rican coffee, Gruyere and Bacon flan, Pizza, French Corbieres 

England sent packing
You know I even thought it wasn't all over last night. I thought Costa Rica's win over Uruguay was a fluke; that Italy would win their two matches and it would come down to if England could beat the South Americans and Uruguay could get something off of Italy... but this World Cup isn't like that. Either Italy or Uruguay will now go out and who could have seen that? 

There's nothing of any surprise here, I never saw a single blog nor spoke to anyone who thought England were going to progress in this tournament. Where I'm currently working, I've barely heard anyone talking about the football or if they watched the matches or not. The fact is most people have fallen out of love with English football and it would take an awful lot for that to change.

Nevertheless, the manner in which England have been sent home is desperately disappointing. I've been doing a World Cup diary blog for the last five World Cups but really my heart isn't in this any more. As I write this, Daniel Sturridge is on TV advertising Subway sandwiches while David Beckham is surely only five minutes away advertising Sky or something. Nothing changes. It's profoundly depressing.

I had plenty of World Cup heroes to do - many of them not English - and I've still got some food and drink to finish but really, like the English players, I may need to go away and hide for a few weeks. 

World Cup Diary - Day 8 England v Uruguay

Not much time today so here's a link to the Blagg 50/50 challenge with Felipe Miguel and then I'm off down the pub

Blagg 50/50 v Uruguay

Today's World Cup Menu
Colombian coffee, kebab, retsina and two pints of Goal!!! ale.

Late update
England moratorium tomorrow if I can manage it...

World Cup Diary - Day 7 The Champions go out

Turning out to be quite a tournament
There seems to be something special going on at this World Cup. We've just started the second round of matches and the general feeling is this is shaping up to be something of a golden tournament; very few dull draws, plenty of goals and attacking football and none of that 'grind out a result and see where it gets us' that normally strangulates the group stages.

Take the first match today between the Netherlands and Australia. After the Dutch thumping of Spain in the opening match this would seem to have been a mismatch; It was nothing of the sort. A wonder strike by Tim Cahill - try and catch Robbie Savage wetting himself over it on BBC 5Live - levelled the game up after an early opener by Holland and the Aussies could have been 3-1 up by half-time. 

In fact, the Socceroo's did get a lead albeit thanks to a dubious penalty award - another ball to hand that was apparently 'intentional' - but Van Persie pulled it back almost immediately and the Dutch found enough to get a winner eventually. Great stuff though and hard to believe the Australians have lost twice despite playing well in both matches.

Later on though, came the shock. There were obviously serious questions being asked about Spain after their first match, but most of us probably assumed they would have enough to struggle through the group. The champions looked entirely out of sorts though and Chile were worthy winners at 2-0 and Spain followed a recent trend where the defending winners go out in an abject way that doesn't really seem to correspond with their actual status. Not as good as they were? Perhaps. But the European equivalent of Togo? I think not!

In the later game, Alexandre Song managed to send millions off to bed with a big smile on their face after managing to pull off one of the more useless dismissals ever seen in a World Cup, elbowing his Croatian opponent squarely down his back for no apparent reason other than he just felt like it. It was so mindless, so bum-numbingly stupid, all anyone could do is laugh. Sadly, his team mates were unable to show how the game should be played succumbing meakly 4-0 to an impressive Croatian team in which Modric and Rakitic were outstanding. 

Today's World Cup Menu
Spanish Tapas with Parma Ham, Coopers Brewery Australian Pale Ale, Vintage Gouda Cheese, Croatian Sausage and Casillero del Diablo Chilean red

World Cup Diary - Day 6 Brazil are Back

World Cup Heroes # 6

Martin Peters

Martin Peters was, of course, one of the ’66 World Cup heroes and a man described by Sir Alf as ’10 years ahead of his time’ although recent polls suggest he is now 40 years behind the times. Nicknamed the ‘Ghost’ because of his ability to drift unnoticed and unmarked into a dangerous area, Peters was a genuine World-class player and one of the greatest products of West Ham’s ‘Academy’ of the 1960’s. However, the former Hammers, Spurs and Norwich midfielder has another claim to infamy.

For on the night of 30^th July 1966, Peters went to bed at 10 p.m. claiming the tournament had been very stressful, he had missed his wife  and he needed a good sleep. Whether our hero means ‘sleep’ in the biblical sense of the word and this says much for the allure of Martin’s wife, Kathy isn’t something we need to dwell on (At least, I don’t - but feel free if that is what floats your particular boat) but you have to admire any man who - having won the World Cup a few hours before – stifles a yawn, stretches his arms, looks at his pyjamas, plumps up his pillow and thinks “Yea, Sod this celebration malarkey, I can do that in another 4 years - I’m having some of that cocoa”

An apocryphal tale perhaps but as a counterpoint to Peters’ celebration; my Granddad went out celebrating that night and returned in mid-August just in time for the new season at Upton Park. Asked by my Nan – a  fearsome woman at the best of times - where he had been, he answered sheepishly ‘Well…It went to extra time’. 

Today's World Cup Menu
Algerian Tagine, Corona Mexican beer, Ardennes pate,  and as a nod to the Vodka I brought back from a trip to St Petersburg with Blagg Jnr. – one shot of Russian standard for every goal scored by the Russia side (Don’t worry as Fabio Capello is in charge of the Russian team I’m not expecting for it to slow me at work tomorrow).

Today's Matches
Belgium opened their campaign, depending on their substitutes to pull of a 2-1 win against Algeria after the African side led from the 24th minute. Goals from Marouane Fellaini (70) and Dries Mertens (80) ensured the 'dark horses' got off to a winning - if unconvincing start

Mind you, they were nowhere bear as unconvincing as Brazil who more than met their match against a plucky Mexican side who bravely battled the home nation every inch of the way in a 0-0 draw. Whisper this, but this Brazil side don't look very good at all.

Later, Russia and South Korea drew 1-1 in a match best remembered for the brave job done by the BBC commentator who did superbly in quickly picking out the Korean and Russian names. Only one shot of vodka on Kerzakov's equalising goal on 74 minutes but it was enough to send me to sleep and miss the closing minutes.

The late nights are catching up on me...

World Cup Diary - Day 5 Here come Germany

Germany off to a flier

The tournament's first dull game and it was the BBC who were cursing their luck. The 0-0 between Iran and Nigeria really had nothing to recommend it at all barring the fact the fact that Iran's Football Association is in complete disarray and has no money, and this draw is therefore something of  a result. 

Germany got off to a fantastic start in the earlier game, trouncing Portugal 4-0. Once again, you have to hand it to the Germans who don't really have anyone of the class of Cristiano Ronaldo, but who somehow make everything look easy regardless. Leading scorer in the 2010 World Cup, Thomas Muller started this tournament off with a hat-trick and a bit of play acting that so incensed Pepe that the Portuguese player bent down and told him so, pushing his forehead into the face of the Bayern Munich player. Muller - who later insisted he remembered nothing of the incident after the 'blow from Pepe's fist' - yea right! - suddenly found the strength to leap from his prone position and jostle his opponent before the players interrupted and the ref waved the red card to the dismiss Pepe. There is no defence of Pepe who deserved his marching orders, but you can see why players get annoyed when a trailing arm that barely brushed Muller's chin apparently has him clutching his nose. Germany never used to get involved in this type of rubbish and it was a shame to see. Retrospective yellow cards are the answer here and it's about time they were introduced.

The game was over by half-time with the Germans 3-0 up, which was a shame for the neutral as a spectator but great for the watching German Premier Angela Merkel who has seen more World Cup games live than I ever will. How odd her diplomatic missions always take her to the country hosting the World Cup.

Final word goes to Jurgen Klinsmann who seems to have developed an American accent; he saw his USA side squeeze past Ghana 2-1 with a late strike from John Brooks. "AWESOME" it sounded like he said.

Today's World Cup Menu
Piri-Piri Chicken, German Peppered Salami, California Zinfandel

World Cup Heroes # 5
Tofiq Bahramov
For decades known simply by Germans and English alike as 'The Russian linesman', Tofiq Bahramov was the representative from the Soviet Union who awarded England the controversial third goal in the 1966 World Cup final. 

After the fall of the Berlin wall and the subsequent demarcation of eastern Europe, Bahramov was found not to be 'Russian' at all but an Azeri in what is now known as - and strictly speaking always was - Azerbaijan.
  

There are no definitive angles to prove now - let alone then - that Geoff Hurst's shot did bounce over the line but consider this; Bahramov was born in 1925 and would have been 16 on 22nd June 1941 when Operation Barbarossa begun and the Nazi's crossed the border into the USSR. He was 41 on that June day in '66 and he was certain he saw another line crossed but this time it was a German one. Without a doubt he was right - because, even if he was wrong, he was right.

Rather quaintly, the Azerbaijan national stadium is known as the 'Tofiq Bahramov Stadium' and the 'Russian Linesman' is something of an Azeiri hero whose accredited quote that "[Football is made up of]  duels.. full of unforeseen turns and even real miracles. And who does not want to be a magician if even for just 90 minutes?" should make anyone warm to him even more.

Bahramov passed away on 26th March 1993, aged 67 and when England and Azerbaijan were drawn together  for the qualifying group of the 2006 World Cup, a special ceremony was held before the game in Baku to honour the only referee to have  a stadium named after him. His Son Bahram met representatives of the visiting fans after the game and touchingly expressed his pleasure that the famous 'Russian Linesman' of 1966 had finally gained his true nationality. "Now that Azerbaijan is independent it's very right for him to be remembered as a member of the Azeri nation. People like Tofiq Bahramov are only born once in a hundred years.

It's rare that we can say: "Two nations salute you, Sir!"

World Cup Diary - Day 4 Father's Day

Pirlo Masterclass Shows Gulf

England fans have a right to be encouraged by the performance, if not the result, of their opening Group D match against Italy, but the undeniable truth is many of the old problems are still apparent. More depressingly though, is the very likelihood that this may never change.

Roy Hodgson’s men had more shots overall, more on target, forced more saves from the Azzurri’s 2^nd choice keeper Salvator Sirigu, forced more corners, conceded fewer fouls and nearly equalled Italy’s possession percentage – always a hard thing to do against a side that retains the ball until they know exactly what they want to do with it – but they still lost mainly due to the greater skill of individual players.

For anyone who loves football, it’s hard not to purr with pleasure when Andrea Pirlo has a ball at his feet. It is astonishing how the 35-year-old playmaker seems to find so much room and is always able to play the most dangerous ball; but what isn’t always clear is just how little energy the Italian expends in creating the most damage. Slow-motion replays of Pirlo at work in TV’s post-match analysis, highlighted how the Juventus midfielder was able to find the maximum space and prompt the next attack. What wasn’t made clear though was how often Pirlo then trotted or slowly drifted into another space created by himself, to be available for the next decisive move. It looked as if he barely broke sweat all night – and considering the sweltering heat of the Amazonian rain forest, that takes some doing. It was great to seem Raheem Sterling running full pelt towards the opposing defence and watch the normally obdurate Italians struggle to deal with the frightening pace, but watch Pirlo and you can see it is not all about speed and agility. Considering all the pre-match talk was about what England were going to do to nullify Pirlo, it is extremely depressing to find that either there was no plan or – more likely – it was decided there was little could be done to stop him dictating play.

Where then is the English equivalent of Andrea Pirlo? A player perhaps not blessed with speed or strength but one just able to find room, create and be virtually unplayable. The truth is there is no-one now, none on the horizon and there hasn’t really been any of note over the last 40 odd years either. English football just doesn’t seem to produce them. Worse, it’s not just a Pirlo equivalent that’s missing. What the Italians had in spades was the ability to get a job done; keep calm and find a way to win. It’s something that builds in successful sides and runs through Italy as a unit – even noticeable when new players are drafted in to replace old. Germany have it too; France and Spain are learning how to do it. England? 1966 was a long time ago now and it shows. The men wearing the Three Lions – young, old, retired or not – simply seem to have a different mental approach.

As a fine example, in Wayne Rooney’s third World Cup, the Manchester United player somehow seems unable to do what he does regularly for his club side. He wasn’t as bad as some are suggesting against Italy – the cross to Daniel Sturridge for England’s goal may have been worth his place -- so this isn’t just another knock for the maligned player who looked uncomfortable in his wide left position against Italy. But for a ‘disappointing’ Rooney consider others. For all his high-profile statesmanship and chequered career, David Beckham came to three World Cups and never contributed as much as Pirlo in a couple of matches. When Beckham pops up in some far-outpost to see an indigenous tribe who have no concept of what a TV is, he is instantly recognised – I doubt Andrea Pirlo would be. But in football terms, who has achieved the most?  There are two differing concepts of football here and England’s sadly isn’t based around winning tournaments.

This isn’t the end of this World Cup for England -- the Costa Rica result may have given them an unexpected lifeline – but for those thinking of further glory, either this year or going forward, another crop of exciting youngsters still may not be enough because the change required is in the head not in the feet.

World Cup Heroes # 4

Pierluigi Collina

Never showed a red card; his eyes just flashed red and the player walked off.

Father's Day all-dayer

The 2 a.m. kick-off for the Japan v. Cote d'Ivoire game meant an interesting late night / early morning for all in the Hardcore Club. I managed it right through to the end of the ITV coverage - by which time if I'd had a gun Glenn Hoddle would have had to take cover - but I'll admit to drifting off during the second half (those reclining sofa chairs have much to commend them).

And that Cote d'Ivoire malarkey. What the feck is that about? I asked on Twitter as I couldn't be bothered to Google it and someone said "It's the French translation, Blagg" Well....derrrr! Thanks for that! It's been a French colony since 1893 or something though - have they only just spotted the men in striped T-shirts smoking Gauloises? (I'm sorry if that is national sterotyping but it's the French so I'm allowed).

Anyway, it's Father's Day and although my kids all live too far away to see me (plus their Father is too zonked out on food and booze to go see them himself) my Daughter-like-thing is taking me round to a local restaurant for an Argentinian Steak.

Today's World Cup Menu 

Japanese Kirin Ichiban beer, Swiss Le Gruyere Cheese, Argentinian Steak with Parra Alta Mendoza Malbec, Honduran Prawns, Pain au Chocolat

World Cup Diary - Day 3 England expects

World Cup Heroes # 3

Bobby Moore

We all know he's the greatest defender the country has ever produced and the only English captain to lift the World Cup, but what's seldom mentioned is how great he looked in white. 

England out-Pirlo'ed again

England 1 Italy 2: A tough defeat to take as England were well worth a draw against Italy and it was difficult after the game to realise that the Italians had scored in that second period and the men in white hadn't. 

Rooney wasted a glorious opportunity late on in a night when he didn't look comfortable again, but the little shredded wheat headed one did lay on a superb cross for Daniel Sturridge's well-taken goal that allowed England to go in level at half-time.

I thought that would be enough as Italy had exploited problems on the England left flank and I was sure Hodgson would sort that out at half-time but five minutes after the break - after an excellent start by England - Balotelli headed Italy in front following a serious of defensive errors and that was pretty much it; Italy do what they always seem to do and just found a way to win. In fact, Andreas Pirlo probably came closer than anyone with a dipping free-kick that hit the crossbar with Joe Hart well-beaten.

Outstanding player was again Pirlo who is so commanding in central midfield that you can only watch and wonder. Showing key moments on TV replay post-match all you noticed was how Pirlo played a ball to start an attack and then jogged into position to follow up or pick up the ball again should it come back. It really is a masterclass and - when all is picked apart by the pundits - the simple fact is England have no-one who can do the same thing and haven't had anyone like that for a long, long time.

It ain't over and if England play like this again they will cause most teams problems. The sad fact is though is that when they come up against a side like Italy they will probably be found wanting again.

Costa Rica's shock 3-1 win over Uruguay has certainly put the C among the P's and this group is going to get very interesting over the next couple of weeks.

Colombia's comprehensive 3-0 win over a lacklustre Greece earlier on in the day was memorable for the opening goal by West Ham's Pabol Armero, a stunning goal celebration and a backdrop of a sea of yellow.

Despite England's defeat it was another good day.

Today I shall mostly be drinking...

Earl Grey Tea, Adnams Broadside, Adnams Ghost Ship, Kourtaki Retsina, Negroamaro Salento red wine 

Today I shall mostly be eating...

Cream Tea, a Greek Dip Selection of Tzatzike, Houmous and a roasted red pepper and feta dip, Greek Olives and Pitta Bread, Lasagne.