We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
This is what the World Cup's all about. A massive game and one big team will be going home in a couple of hours. The victor will go on to a semi-final with the other winner today between Italy and Ukraine. There is no one for a true England to support in this match-up, so I'll just be hoping for a cracking, open match with lots of goals.
posted by gatorbob @ 10:42 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
83 Comments:
Here are the sides today:
GERMANY
1. Jens Lehmann
3. Arne Friedrich
17. Per Mertesacker
21. Christoph Metzelder
16. Philip Lahm
7. Bastian Schweinsteiger
8. Torsten Frings
13. Michael Ballack
19. Bernd Schneider
11. Miroslav Klose
20. Lukas Podolski
ARGENTINA
1. Roberto Abbondanzieri
3. Juan Pablo Sorin
2. Roberto Ayala
4. Fabricio Coloccini
6. Gabriel Heinze
18. Rodriguez Maxi
22. Lucho Gonzalez
10. Juan Riquelme
8. Javier Mascherano
9. Hernan Crespo
11. Carlos Tevez
The Germans are going with the side that destroyed Sweden a week ago, while Pekerman has dropped Saviola and replaced his with the more dynamic forward Carlos Tevez. It's about time! Oh, and Argentina have Aimar, Messi, and Cambiasso as well as Saviola on the bench. Yikes!
Nice gesture with both sides lining up behind the FIFA "Say No to Racism" banner. Apparently the Spanish fans barracked the Black players from the French team on Tuesday - disgusting. Good to see the back of Aragones and co.
10 Minutes: very niggly in the opening stages. The ref is calling just about everything, but there have been several large altercations between the two sets of players. Podolski has already picked up a yellow and Heinze should have.
On the balance, Argentina look the more likely, but this is very tight.
Twenty minutes: First good chance for Germany. Bernd Schneider sends a lovely chip into the box and Ballack makes a late run but heads wide.
Argentina have had a number of set piece opportunities but they keep looking for Juan Sorin every time. He's been well monitored so far.
Hi, I am here.
I have been running around helping my father-in-law.
I am not going to contribute all the time because I don't want to be disabled.
I have only seen a little of the match.
How has it been.
Heya Dave. You haven't missed much in the opening half hour. Not much to savor for the neutrals. Frings has Riquelme shut down. It's all very niggly. The ref is doing a good job in calming the players down but there could still be a lot of cards in this match.
Only one of two half chances so far.
Half-time: 0-0; As the game has gone on there have been fewer and fewer chances. They came out kicking lumps out of each other in the first five minutes, which has neutralized Klose in particular.
Everything from Argentina has gone down the left side to Tevez, who's had three guys on him at all times. Would love to see it open up in the second half, but I don't expect it to. What did you think, Dave?
I can't really comment. I just had to be a dad again.
I am here for the rest of the match.
Let's hope we get some goals.
from the beeb
"We've only had four shots in total and only two of them were on target, but despite that we've really enjoyed watching Argentina's passing."
Alan Green, BBC Five Live Sport
PLAYER RATER You have been most impressed by Argentina playmaker Riquelme so far - he leads the way on our Player Rater with 8.71. Miroslav Klose is the top German, with 8.14.
HALF-TIME The pundits, the bookies and the neutrals found this one too close to call beforehand. And so it has proved in a half of few opportunities. Argentina are dominating possession - but are yet to seriously test Jens Lehmann.
Do you agree, Bob?
I agree with the overall points, but not the player ratings. Klose hasn't had a sniff. The only German that has looked particularly lively is Rahm, the right fullback, who's been overlapping well against Coloccini. Riquelme has been effectively shut down. All of his through balls are getting picked up by the center backs and Frings has been niggling away at him.
I reckon that this will turn on a mistake.
Second half starting: no changes yet.
Sorin picks up a yellow for diving in against Friedrich. It's his second; he'll miss the next match.
The resulting free kick comes to nothing.
The crossing has not been good in this tournament
GOAL!!!!!
Any way back for the Germans?
GOAL: 1-0 Argentina; a typically Premiership-style goal from a corner, with Luis Gonzalez bombing in to nod home. He did seem to be leaning on Klose a bit, but the referee wasn't bothered.
How will Germany respond to that? They haven't been behind in this WC to date.
I agree with you about the crossing Dave. Too many haven't beaten the first man. You saw a perfect corner there, bent out far enough for the keeper to not have a chance and to give the big men running on a chance to get on the end of it.
way to go O'Brien, get the wrong goalscorer!!
The player was clear as day and gave the wrong name. He said it was Luis Gonzalez
It was Roberto Ayala
I thought it was too, I have to admit. It turns out to have been Ayala. All these Argentinians look alike with the long dark hair. Don't they have any barbers in Buenos Aires?
Can I call Dave O'Brien the Second?
Rodriquez should have done better there.
Cello said Riqueleme made the wrong choice. I thought it was good pass.
Unbelievably bad cross there.
O'Brien got excited with it.
You can call O'B whatever you like mate. I don't know who's worse - him or 'Cello. I agree - it was a great ball from Riquelme and Maxi should've had a pop.
Sixty minutes: Jurgen has to make some changes. Podolski just wasted a good free kick opportunity and is on a yellow, so I'd yank him.
the worst thing about the score staying the same is that it means that the Gooner will better me in the predictions
Ballack should have done better.
Klosse decided to have a seat as the ball was coming to him
The argies are starting to work for an Oscar
Did 'Cello just say that defenders should head the ball straight up rather than clearing out for a corner?! I cannot believe this guy is a former international. What an embarrassment!
I think you're seeing the difference in depth between the sides. If the Argies had gone down - as they did against Mexico - they'd still have Messi, Saviola, and Julio Cruz to go to off the bench. Whereas, who does Jurgen go to now?
Germany have to have a burst in them
This is how little 'Cello knows about the game. He thinks the onus is on Pekerman to make a change. They're bloody one-up! It's the Germans that have to have a go at them, and I haven't seen them test the Argie keeper yet, have you?
You're right, is Oscar night for the Argies. Typical cynicism from them. This is why I hate them, even if I sometimes have some grudging respect for their talent.
Abondonzieri is coming off after a clash with Klose. Franco is coming on. This could be interesting.
Free kick for the Germans....
And the Pig Climber blasts it well over. What a waste!
Cambiasso is coming on now for Riquelme, and the crowd is whistling. What gives? That seems a reasonable substitution. I might have taken off Crespo, but Riquelme always looks knackered by the 70th minute.
Oh, Maxi should've gone across the keeper there. Crespo was ready to pounce.
Riquelme is off! Interesting
Shot off the side netting
The germans could get an oscar. USELESS
Goal
Klosse with another goal.
Great flick on and finish.
Game on
GOAL: 1-1; Klose again! A nice move, with a cross in from the left, a flick on header and a clinical finish from Klose. Nice, I wasn't quite ready to see this one end.
Now, this is interesting. Argentina have now used all of their subs, with a goalie change and Cambiasso and Cruz coming on. They've got Crespo off who would've definitely taken a penalty. Now, no Messi and no Saviola. Could go either way now.
all subs used and no Messi
Klose's now on ten goals in World Cup play. Not bad for a player that few rate.
germans must be favorites.
I can see the Argies just holding out for pens.
I think the Germans will go for it.
Shakey defensive by the germans
Remember that no German player has missed a penalty in a penalty shootout in thirty years!
i never knew that
Thank you Mr. O'Brien II
Now Maxi's picked up a yellow card for diving - silly boy!
good decision from the Ref but Jans needs to shut up and get back into the goal.
What happened there. Why is the Argie in there?
I learned that in '96. My brother whispered it to me as England was about to go into penalties against Germany in the semi-final in Euro 96. The last one missed was against Yugoslavia in Euro 76!
This one's going to extra time - prediction Dave? You think the Germans? I'm still plumping for the Argies.
Wow, why would Stevo possibly tell you that!!!!!
I think it will be the Germans.
My brother is a sadist!
extra time!!!
PLEASE!!!!!!!
The people who are waching this KNOW THE BLOODY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're absolutely right that the Germans seem to be going for it more than the Argies. They're mad to play for penalties against the Germans!
ARGHHHHHH! O'Brien just asked "why haven't we seen Lionel Messi yet?" They've used all of their subs! Honestly, it's like listening to a crazy old uncle commentating a match.
Your brother, Dave O., just asked why Messi isn't in yet!!
He hasn't a clue!!
The Argies going for penalties?
That's all they did in '90.
The beat the Italians and then went for it in the final as well.
I don't get that thinking
You plonker!!
Ballack is losing it.
is he should get booked for diving
what on earth did I just type
ooh, coverage starts at 2:51 for the second game.
National anthems possibly
The Germans do look the fresher side right now. We'll see what happens. I agree, Ballack should've been booked on that dive.
ESPN throwing us a bone!
Half the extra time done: I can't see the deadlock being broken at this point. Both sides look knackered, even though it's cooler in Germany today.
It's got to be penalties at this point. Who'll be the goat? My money's on the kid Podolski.
I think the Germans are going to get one
Lehman was very lucky there
Let's hope Ballack has to have a cast on his leg just for Chelski
Are you with 'Cello on Lehmann? I've thought he's been pretty good throughout. They only gave up three goals so far - two on breakaways from Wanchope in the first match and now the header from Ayala. Can you really blame Mad Jens for any of them?
Just about time for PKs (as 'Cello would say). He we go -
I ingore what Cello says.
I hate Lehman by the way
Will we see a miss for the Germans since "76. By the way, I think it was the Czcechs not the Yugo's. The Czech's won Euro "76 before it was in Tournament form
two great penalties to start
two great penalties to start
so much for your goat
Lehman is not guessing. That is the way to do it
THEY DIDN'T MISS AGAIN!!!!!
What did I tell you - the Germans are bloody robots when it comes to penalties - they never miss.
What the hell is going on now - it's a bloody melee. Did you see what happened?
Wow, Bierhoff, Heinze and others having some handbags!!
Some lessons:
*Never, never, never play for penalties against the Germans.
*Don't use center backs for penalties.
*Practice penalties - did it look as if the Germans hadn't practiced? Every one of them went straight in no problem.
*Are you watching Sven? If you don't have a plan for penalties by now, you should be shot!
I am listening to Five Live now. The black out has been lifted. I will let you know if they know anything
I'm just as happy to see the Argies go home - England vs. Germany was always my dream final. Of course it kills my hopes in the Predictions Game where I had Argentina as champions.
This helps me with Steve
Did you just see the germans go bowling. That was good.
They have a sense of humor!! Who'da thunk it
Hey Dave, you're right about this Sky Sports show in between the matches. It's brilliant. Andy Gray must be the best analyst in the biz.
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