june 6th
20.35 – It’s all looking a bit glum for France. A 0-0 draw with Uruguay means they have to beat Denmark by 2 clear goals to progress.
And of course, the tabloids got the story they’ve all been waiting for….an Arsenal player sent off. As usual the reaction is over the top, as this exclusive of tomorrows back page of The Sun clearly shows.
08.55 – Ow, my head. Went to the pub yesterday to watch Ireland v Germany and kind of stayed there most of the day, evening and night. Now, I have a rotten headache, and my poo seems to have become boiling hot lava. Ah well. I thought Ireland thoroughly
deserved the draw yesterday. Stupid defending let the Germans score after 17 minutes, but from that point Ireland pretty much dominated the game. I have to say, it was the best I have ever seen an Ireland team pass the ball in any game I’ve watched them in over the last 20 years. They didn’t panic, played their game, made some half decent chances, and really only reverted to hitting long balls in the last few minutes.
In the 92nd minute, a long ball, Quinn’s knock down, and R.Keane made the headlines for the right reasons. Robbie Keane snuck between two defenders and smacked it past Oliver Kahn – who was Germany’s best player. Cue delerium, jumping, drinking, singing and all those other things you do.
Mick McCarthy says “We battered the Germans“. Don’t know about that to be honest, but if they had won, it would have been a travesty.
Ireland look odds on to qualify now – their next game against Saudi Arabia is must win. The only thing I will say on a slightly negative note, is that the left hand side of the Irish team is painfully weak, slow and basically crap. Harte and Kilbane are both poor players. It’s hard to see who could replace Harte at left back, but I’d play Duff ahead of Kilbane in left midfield and stick Quinny up front for the Saudi game.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Lauren has blasted Cameroon’s preparations for the World Cup. You have to wonder at these football associations. The players are playing all season long, but surely from the start of the year leading up to a big tournament, the officials should have nothing much else to do but make sure everything is perfect for the players. Too busy scratching each other’s backs and drinking brandy, and smoking fat Cuban cigars if you ask me.
All eyes tomorrow will be on England v Argentina. Of all the games so far, this is the one I’m looking forward to most. There’s so much history, what with wars, Simeone and Beckham, and of course, Maradona, who says England are “…already quaking in their boots”. Bring it on.
