The Round Ball Game - II

[Beef Oven!]

No footie till Saturday?

I’ve always liked Uruguay down the years, even the lean times. They play France tomorrow

[jayne lee wilson]

I’ve always liked Uruguay down the years, even the lean times. They play France tomorrow

Yes - and pace Argentina, perhaps the first real test France have had...what a shame if Cavani can't play though - his partnership with Suarez is a special treat to watch. If he does get on later in the match it could change the game....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The first World Cup match I eve watched was England vs Uruguay - in 1966. It was rather a dull draw. I didn't bother watching any more games in the tournament, until I heard that England had reached the final. I was on a family holiday in Waunfawr, North Wales, and the residents of the house opposite very kindly invited me into their home to watch the match.

(And, before you ask, they were supporting England.)

[Lat-Literal]

I can't say that I'm ever so ever so keen on Uruguay but it is historically significant to me as the first host country and the first winner in 1930 as well as winning again in 1950. In a sense, it might have been expected to be what Brazil became. I hadn't realised until today that a key reason why Uruguay was chosen to be the first host country was that the team had won in the football at both the 1924 and 1928 Olympics or that there was no football in the 1932 Olympics, presumably because there had been a World Cup in 1930, although it did return to the Olympics in 1936. On balance, I shall support Uruguay against France as I can't stand Griezmann but neither would be an easy match for England in any final with them.

[teamsaint]

The first World Cup match I eve watched was England vs Uruguay - in 1966. It was rather a dull draw. I didn't bother watching any more games in the tournament, until I heard that England had reached the final. I was on a family holiday in Waunfawr, North Wales, and the residents of the house opposite very kindly invited me into their home to watch the match.

(And, before you ask, they were supporting England.)

The first world cup I remember was 1970,and the only game I was able to watch live was the QF against West Germany....."..............which rather set a pattern for my football watching life.......till now, of course.......

But I remember that match like it was yesterday.........

[Lat-Literal]

The first world cup I remember was 1970,and the only game I was able to watch live was the QF against West Germany....."..............which rather set a pattern for my football watching life.......till now, of course.......

But I remember that match like it was yesterday.........

Yes - that competition. Guadalajara perhaps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spm8_lXHwR0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps3JBN1vAe0

I was collecting the coins - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/537195061794408586/. The driver of the hospital minibus knew I had just one to get and asked for my address. To my complete surprise, he sent it to me about a month later. Grasshoppers in the pitch, its heat rising as steam, not to mention astronauts talking in space. That was the enduring memory of the sound production combined with recall of the events on the moon. Mexico seemed no nearer to England. Its capital was known but not necessarily its location on the table globe. When I listen to it now, I can hear all that but also the sea. All this merged sound wise with the more sludge like ground of this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e0qYP_PTlY.

It would be fair to say that the hearing side was the most accentuated and that psychedelia had obviously chimed.

[Stanfordian]

For what it's worth these are my last 8 forecasts:

Uruguay to beat France - only if Edinson Cavani plays
Brazil to beat Belgium
England to beat Sweden
Croatia to beat Russia - but I wouldn't be surprised if Russia brought off an upset.

[teamsaint]

For what it's worth these are my last 8 forecasts:

Uruguay to beat France
Brazil to beat Belgium
England to beat Sweden
Croatia to beat Croatia - but I wouldn't be surprised if Russia brought off an upset.

I don't think Croatia should beat themselves up if they beat themselves though.....

[teamsaint]

Yes - that competition. Guadalajara perhaps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spm8_lXHwR0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps3JBN1vAe0

I was collecting the coins - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/537195061794408586/. The driver of the hospital minibus knew I had just one to get and asked for my address. To my complete surprise, he sent it to me about a month later. Grasshoppers in the pitch, its heat rising as steam, not to mention astronauts talking in space. That was the enduring memory of the sound production combined with recall of the events on the moon. Mexico seemed no nearer to England. Its capital was known but not necessarily its location on the table globe. When I listen to it now, I can hear all that but also the sea. All this merged sound wise with the more sludge like ground of this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e0qYP_PTlY.

It would be fair to say that the hearing side was the most accentuated and that psychedelia had obviously chimed.

Guadalajara looks space age compared to our stadia at the same time. Franny Lee looked razor sharp.

My friend's dad had an Esso garage, so I was sorted for coins.......

[johncorrigan]

Reading all the positive posts from our downstairs' neighbours here, I am left with the impression that a win for the Swedes on Saturday might be considered a turnip for the books!

[jayne lee wilson]

The first world cup I remember was 1970,and the only game I was able to watch live was the QF against West Germany....."..............which rather set a pattern for my football watching life.......till now, of course.......

But I remember that match like it was yesterday.........

Oh God yes, the first match I ever cried over.... early substitutions, anyone?
But the 1970 semi-final, Italy 4 West Germany 3, after extra time, finishing well after midnight UK time (I had a supper ready for Dad when he came in at half-time ), was the game that made me really love the World Cup... Gianni Rivera scored the winner, side-footed after a wonderful Italian move... Seeler, Muller, Riva, Rivera, Boninsegna....in the heat of the Azteca, socks around ankles...
There was no worthy successor until...yes, of course - Italy 3 Brazil 2, Spain 1982. Paolo Rossi just back from a two-year ban (he always protested his innocence) looked unfit and out of form in the group games... - and scored all three...

As for 1966... if you thought the "tactics" of Columbia or Panama were bad, try googling England v Argentina 1966, and a certain Antonio Rattin in particular...I think not a few Argentinians saw the Hand of God as just revenge...

I wonder what memories will be formed over the next few days....

[Beef Oven!]

Oh God yes, the first match I ever cried over.... early substitutions, anyone?
But the 1970 semi-final, Italy 4 West Germany 3, after extra time, finishing well after midnight UK time (I had a supper ready for Dad when he came in at half-time ), was the game that made me really love the World Cup... Gianni Rivera scored the winner, side-footed after a wonderful Italian move... Seeler, Muller, Riva, Rivera, Boninsegna....in the heat of the Azteca, socks around ankles...
There was no worthy successor until...yes, of course - Italy 3 Brazil 2, Spain 1982. Paolo Rossi just back from a two-year ban (he always protested his innocence) looked unfit and out of form in the group games... - and scored all three...

As for 1966... if you thought the "tactics" of Columbia or Panama were bad, try googling England v Argentina 1966, and a certain Antonio Rattin in particular...I think not a few Argentinians saw the Hand of God as just revenge...

I wonder what memories will be formed over the next few days....

Pretty much sums it up for me

That Argentina game was the first match I ever saw. The final was the second game. I couldn't understand why my dad was going crazy, he'd never liked football! I suppose having been in the battle of Anzio some years previously as a 19 year old had something to do with wanting to win the game!

The 1970 World Cup defined my international football allegiance to this day. Devastated by the West German come-back I left the house and wandered around Hackney Marshes in a daze. A few days later, that Italy v West Germany game made me realise that with an English dad and an Italian mum, I had a brilliant option! Two World Cup wins later, international football competitions and penalty shoot-outs create no trauma in me.

Uruguay to beat France
Brazil beat Belgium
Croatia beat Russia
England beat Sweden

Such a shame that Southgate ignored the golden rule of football competitions - play your best team every time and let the team evolve to its pinnacle.

The disjointed and often aimless nonsense we saw against Colombia could have been ironed out against Belgium earlier on.

Come on Harry! Come on England!!

[aeolium]

The first world cup I remember was 1970,and the only game I was able to watch live was the QF against West Germany....

Also the first world cup I had watched, and despite its unpromising start (a 0-0 draw with IIRC Clive Thomas blowing for full-time seconds before someone scored from a corner) still the best I have ever seen, including the best national team, Brazil, the best individual game, Italy v West Germany, and the best single piece of footballing skill/imagination, Pele's dummy round the goalkeeper. The 1982 tournament, despite that fine Brazil v Italy game, was marred by the infamous "Disgrace of Gijon" between West Germany and Austria, and the no less notorious brutal treatment of Maradona by Gentile & co.

[Stanfordian]

For what it's worth these are my quarter final forecasts:

Uruguay to beat France - Only if Edinson Cavani plays - A difficult one to predict as I'm still not sure how good France are.
Brazil to beat Belgium
England to beat Sweden
Croatia to beat Russia - but I wouldn't be surprised if Russia brought off an upset.

[Stanfordian]

This is true, Stan, but with a player like Neymar people are prepared to wait for five matches before he performs as he can do. I recognise Sterling isn't Neymar. But on goals, he was fifth, ahead of Lukaku, Firmino, Jesus, Hazard, Eriksen and Mane, the latter few by a wide margin, and on assists he was joint third, ahead of Alli, Eriksen, Pogba, Salah, Ozil, Firmino, Willian, Lukaku, Jesus, Hazard and Mane, again the latter few by a wide margin. In fact, no other player in the Premier League was in the top five for both goals scored and assists.

Your support for Sterling is admirable but his club form doesn't show any sign of translating to international appearances. Sterling has scored just two goals in 41 England games and none in his past 23. His last goal was on 9 October 2015 against Estonia. I'm amazed he gets anywhere near the side as a striker with that record and what more he's keeping Rashford out. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope he finds form and repays Southgate's loyalty, maybe he will against Sweden.