England get out of jail in the cricket world cup again!

Another stuttering Cricket World Cup performance from a completely over-cooked England team leading to another nail-biting and highly unlikely win snatched from the jaws of defeat.

Geoff Hurst scores whilst a meatball looks on

Can't believe I've never noticed this before. The referee in the 1966 World Cup Final clearly has a meatball for a head.



Perhaps that's actually what Kenneth Wolstenholme was saying "Some meatballs are on the pitch, they think it's all over..."

Shouting "Hup Oranje" in the middle of an office

One thing that's bugging me much more than the vuvuzelas, or the controversial Adidas Jabulani ball this world cup is the game times. I am in work and so only get to watch one in three of the daily games.

12:30, 15:00 and 19:30 makes for pretty lean pickings for us workers. Surely 15:00, 18:00 and 20:00 would be better.

BTW is Hup Oranje what the Dutch fans actually say? Thought they looked very solid in their first game. Denmark are no mugs so that is a decent indication. The Netherlands and Germany could be two teams to keep an eye on.

wow, England V Algeria weather forecast

Apparently there is snow forecast for the England Algeria game on Wednesday.

Can't ever remember snow at a world cup (I suppose this is by far the most southerly one ever). Wonder if they'll have an orange Jabulani ball to use.

Incidentally, very sneaky and clever of the Germans to get their hands on the world cup ball a full season ahead of everyone else. Bit naughty of Adidas that it has to be said.

Let unworthy blood water our furrows

It's here at last. World Cup 2010. Love world cups sooooo much. It's basically just a planet-wide festival of football. Will try to post as many reviews as possible.

Obviously being in work this afternoon I didn't catch the opening ceremony but thankfully our lovely, lovely wonderful bosses let us watch it via a projector shining onto on the office wall.

So here we go (here we go, here we go) :

South Africa :
Did okay, all enthusiasm, vim and vigour. Steven Pienaar looked very bright. In truth they should have won it at the death but ultimately they were second best for most of the game.

Mexico :
They looked pretty good actually...very well balanced in midfield. They lack a cutting edge but are a pretty good side. Pretty under-rated overall.

France :
Argh, what to say about Les Bleus. They are so talented but ultimately lacking in a plan. Raymond Domenech struck me as a scapegoat before the tournament but it's difficult to argue against the way he let that game drift. He seemed happy to let his team just dash itself on the rocks.

Uruguay :
Possibly the team who can be the most pleased with the opening day. Well organised, disciplined, energetic, brave and looked at least as likely to win it until they had their man sent off.

and finally.....

The referees, they've been brilliant so far....long may it continue

Dear Planet Earth...

Happy World Cup!

Love, England

South Korea Vs North Korea

The two Koreas are due to meet in the world cup qualifier, makes for an interesting fixture given the current political tensions.

Liked these bits in particular :

The two teams have played each other a number of times over the past year during the qualification stages for the next World Cup.

But North Korea's home matches have had to be played on neutral ground in Shanghai, because the North refused to allow the playing of the South's national anthem or the waving of its flags.

and

North Korea's travel restrictions on its own people make it impossible for fans to attend, even if they could afford it.

During past games, a group of South Korean volunteer supporters has been assembled to provide cheering for the visiting team from across the border.