Call me mad but I have a fancy for Peter Crouch as the top goalscorer.
The all-in-one consolidatory football thread Page 127
Interesting thing I just read:
For this World Cup, soccer fans from the U.S. have bought more tickets than the fans from any other nation outside of South Africa. The U.S. has paid the highest media rights fees of any nation and has pledged to pay it players nearly $1 million apiece if they find a way to win the whole thing.
Quote: DaButt @ June 10 2010, 11:14 PM BSTInteresting thing I just read:
Well, they're on a safe thing !
How's about upping it to a go at the First Lady if they win ?
Better still, I personally state, here and now, that I will give every member of the USA squad one trillion US$ if they win the World Cup.
Quote: bigfella @ June 10 2010, 10:59 PM BSTCall me mad but I have a fancy for Peter Crouch .
Somebody had to do it. Might as well be me.
I need to check the wallchart but don't we have a very good chance of facing Germany in the next round if we make it through the group stages.
Quote: Oldrocker @ June 10 2010, 11:51 PM BSTHow's about upping it to a go at the First Lady if they win ?
I'm sure the money would be paid by the league and/or sponsors and not the government, but I'd assume the players would pay a million bucks to not have a go at her.
I assume everyone on here will be following Bongo Bongoland's progress in the World Cup?
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned about how many tragic incidents have so far befallen the World Cup in South Africa. I don't want to be alarmist but I'm beginning to wonder if there is a curse. Here are a few incidents that have occured over the last couple of weeks...
Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani (13) died last night in a car crash when the car taking her home from a Soweto concert overturned. The car's driver has been arrested for drink-driving.
South African tenor Siphiwo Ntshebe (35) died on 26 May after suffering from acute bacterial meningitis. He was to sing 'Hope', the official anthem of the World Cup, at the opening ceremony.
While not technically World Cup related, three British students were killed yesterday in Nelspruit, 205 miles east of Johannesburg, when their safari bus crashed. At least 16 other Britons in the party of students were hurt, three critically.
Let's also not forget what happened in Angola at the African Cup of Nations back in January. Togo's assistant coach, press officer and driver were all killed in an ambush on the team bus with two players also shot and injured in the attack.
Add to this all the incredibly long list of injuries where players have had to drop out of the tournament completely you do wonder if there is more to this than meets the eye.
Even without a web search I can name seven players who have been badly injured in the run up to this event: Michael Ballack (Germany), Rio Ferdinand (England), Arjen Robben (Holland), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Nani (Portugal) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria).
There's a bit of Chelsea thing going on there - how weird is that? Maybe Theo Walcott is glad he's staying at home now.
Very much enjoying South Africa v Mexico.
Game of the tournament so far, for me.
Quote: Tuumble @ June 11 2010, 12:00 PM BSTI'm surprised that no-one has mentioned about how many tragic incidents have so far befallen the World Cup in South Africa. I don't want to be alarmist but I'm beginning to wonder if there is a curse. Here are a few incidents that have occured over the last couple of weeks...
Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani (13) died last night in a car crash when the car taking her home from a Soweto concert overturned. The car's driver has been arrested for drink-driving.
South African tenor Siphiwo Ntshebe (35) died on 26 May after suffering from acute bacterial meningitis. He was to sing 'Hope', the official anthem of the World Cup, at the opening ceremony.
While not technically World Cup related, three British students were killed yesterday in Nelspruit, 205 miles east of Johannesburg, when their safari bus crashed. At least 16 other Britons in the party of students were hurt, three critically.
Let's also not forget what happened in Angola at the African Cup of Nations back in January. Togo's assistant coach, press officer and driver were all killed in an ambush on the team bus with two players also shot and injured in the attack.
Add to this all the incredibly long list of injuries where players have had to drop out of the tournament completely you do wonder if there is more to this than meets the eye.
Even without a web search I can name seven players who have been badly injured in the run up to this event: Michael Ballack (Germany), Rio Ferdinand (England), Arjen Robben (Holland), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Nani (Portugal) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria).
There's a bit of Chelsea thing going on there - how weird is that? Maybe Theo Walcott is glad he's staying at home now.
There's always end of season injuries even among top players.
On the whole the country has an excellent record in hospitality and tourism and I don't see why the South Africans won't put on a great world cup.
They may have South American levels of urban crime but they're wouldn't be so much fuss about it all if San Paulo, Mexico city was hosting.
And as for the sad road accidents the SAs will be first to admit their road safety record is a national embarrassment.
We should really have a "World Cup 2010" thread. Somebody look into that.
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ June 10 2010, 8:11 PM BSTI got Argentina in the office Sweepstake.
Not bad.
I got Algeria. Not quite so good.
I've had bets on Drogba and Van Persie to be top scorer, Netherlands my value bet to win the whole thing. Though it'll be Brazil or Spain.
Quote: chipolata @ June 11 2010, 3:38 PM BSTWe should really have a "World Cup 2010" thread. Somebody look into that.
Good idea.
Then it could be incorporated into the all-in-one consolidatory football thread.
Quote: Tuumble @ June 11 2010, 12:00 PM BSTLet's also not forget what happened in Angola at the African Cup of Nations back in January. Togo's assistant coach, press officer and driver were all killed in an ambush on the team bus with two players also shot and injured in the attack.
Add to this all the incredibly long list of injuries where players have had to drop out of the tournament completely you do wonder if there is more to this than meets the eye.
Including something that happened in Angola is like including something which happens in Munich as part of the "Curse of the London Olympics"!
On the drive to my office I passed a sports bar that was packed to the gills with spectators and there wasn't an empty parking space to be found. I don't think the place is typically open at 9 in the morning and there were 2 radio station vans broadcasting from the event, so I thought I might have been wrong about this country's interest in the World Cup. An hour later I read that Mexico was playing and realized that the crowd was made up of our Mexican "visitors."
Quote: don rushmore @ June 11 2010, 3:33 PM BSTVery much enjoying South Africa v Mexico.
Game of the tournament so far, for me.
It's a contender.