World Cup and European leagues

[ScotsFan]

Thanks for the update EC.  That goal was absolutely horrid!  As if I needed a reason to hate the french even more, now I've got one!  I hope the frenchies don't even make it out of the group stages after that BS!

[ECSUalum]

Thanks Scots,

I just hate the way the smaller countries get the shaft within Europe in FIFA.  All a big money game, get the big countries and players to the WC so sponsors rake in the money.

I was livid with the way the goal was allowed but have calmed down now.  Need video replay like they have for most other sports.  FIFA in the Dark Ages

I have to admit Anelka and LLoris were brilliant for the French after rewatching the game ( I  Pay per Viewed the game from Setanta).  Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne, Liam Lawrence, John O'Shea in particular and the rest of the team in general, played thier hearts out in this game, and many in tears after the game.

Looks like, after FAI appeal, FIFA has denied any replay, which was unlikely anyway.

The Boys will just need to put this past them and look to European Championships

[sac]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/8374893.stm

ran across this today........

[ECSUalum]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/8374893.stm

ran across this today........

.

Sac, 

This must be unpresedented in Premier League!?  Got to hand it to Wigan players if they follow through.

Jermaine Defoe went nuts in that game with a hat trick within 7 minutes

[ScotsFan]

Anybody tuning in for the World Cup Draw today at noon? 

Hopefully the US gets a favorable draw for a change... 

[DIIIdad]

Hopefully the US gets a favorable draw for a change... 

I wouldn't count on it.

[sac]

England
United States
Algeria
Slovenia

England v USA in game 1.

[Stinger]

Not a bad draw for the US.  Can you really name a "group of death"?  I don't see one out there. 

Can't wait for June!

[ScotsFan]

I still can't believe that draw for the US.  And that draw for England isn't too shabby either... 

As for the dreaded Group of Death, I would have to say that would go to Brazil's group.  Ivory Coast is a quality side and even though Portugal struggled in qualifying, they are still a top flight squad! 

And how lucky can France continue to get???  First, they were lucky over the whole Henry handball incident that helped them even qualify.  Then they get lucky in drawing South Africa's group?  Man do I hate the French!!!

[DIIIdad]

Finally a decent draw for the US.  And I agree that Group G will be the Group of Death.

[ECSUalum]

I still can't believe that draw for the US.  And that draw for England isn't too shabby either... 

As for the dreaded Group of Death, I would have to say that would go to Brazil's group.  Ivory Coast is a quality side and even though Portugal struggled in qualifying, they are still a top flight squad! 

And how lucky can France continue to get???  First, they were lucky over the whole Henry handball incident that helped them even qualify.  Then they get lucky in drawing South Africa's group?  Man do I hate the French!!!

ScotsFan,

Right on!!!!

Sooooo  annoying how the "Cheaters", once again pulled one out of thier you know whats.  I hope Uruguay kicks thier butts!!!

Agree on Group G being Group Of Death:

Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

[Hoosier Titan]

This board has been pretty quiet lately (which to a Liverpool fan is not a bad thing over the past few weeks).  As I'm on sabbatical in York in the land of the EPL, I thought I'd send an update.  Most of action of late is in the FA cup.  Right now we are watching Manchester City play Scunthorpe, a side that's just above relegation level in the Chamionship.  It's 1-0 Man City, but Scunthorpe have had more chances and may well equalize.  Talk is that this may be Robinho's last match at City; last week he was sent in as a substitute in the EPL match with Everton and then subbed out--hard think of bigger insult to a player. 

Yesterday there was a cracker of a match between Tottenham Hotspurs and League One Leeds United (remember when they were EPL contenders?).  Twice Spurs took a lead, and both times Leeds came back to score.  The last goal came on a penalty in the 95th minute earned and taken by Leeds' Jermaine Beckford.  Remember that name--you'll be hearing it again.

Scunthorpe just equalized in about the 30th minute!  1-1.

The City Archives where I'm doing research (I'm actually working, believe it or not!) are only open two days a week and one of them is Saturday, so between that and the cold weather, we haven't yet made it out to see our local side, York City Football Club.  They've won eight in a row and are second in the Blue Square Premier League.  And their striker, Richard Brodie, has scored more goals to date (27) than anyone at any level of football in England.  It will be interesting to go to a match.

Took a break and City scored in the last minute before halftime--rats!  Robinho is looking poor, and the Scunthorpe fans are enjoying giving him the raspberry.  I doubt this one will end 2-1.

That's all for now!

[ScotsFan]

Yesterday there was a cracker of a match between Tottenham Hotspurs and League One Leeds United (remember when they were EPL contenders?).  Twice Spurs took a lead, and both times Leeds came back to score.  The last goal came on a penalty in the 95th minute earned and taken by Leeds' Jermaine Beckford.  Remember that name--you'll be hearing it again.

Is he the goal scorer in Leed's FA Cup win at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago?

And it's nice to see Leeds advancing in the FA Cup.  It's hard to believe how far they've fallen.     Hopefully they can get it done at home over Spurs in the replay!

[Hoosier Titan]

Jermaine Beckford.  Remember that name--you'll be hearing it again.

Is he the goal scorer in Leed's FA Cup win at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago?

And it's nice to see Leeds advancing in the FA Cup.  It's hard to believe how far they've fallen.     Hopefully they can get it done at home over Spurs in the replay!

Yes, he is.  He'd put in a transfer request, but withdrew it today issuing this statement:

"I have decided I want to finish what I have been striving to do for the last two seasons - and that is to help promote Leeds United out of a division to which the club doesn't belong"

Nice to see, and that speaks to your comment about the fall of Leeds.  I like this current side much better than the version of seven or eight years ago.  They've made their mark, no matter what happens against Spurs.

And Scunthorpe (home of Kevin Keegan, by the way) finally fell to City 4-2.  They did themselves proud, though.

[ScotsFan]

This is what I love about the FA Cup.  You get results like Leeds making a run or an unknown like Scunthorpe giving the richest football club in the world all they can handle.  I also saw highlights of Fulham's match at  Accrington Stanley.  Their Stadium was so small that shots too far over goal would actually leave the grounds!     And Accrington gave Fulham all they could handle as well before finally succumbing to their Premier League foes.  What an upset that would have been.