retired_w0lfpack1

The first shock of the World Cup came when Colombia held Germany to a nil-nil draw. On three draws, mighty Germany were out!! And where were you, oh mighty manager, in their time of need?!

Mexico stole a 1-0 win over the hosts South Africa on Luis Ernesto Pérez's 90th-minute goal - a result that put Colombia out, with Mexico going through behind South Africa! Four points, enough to win the group, and Germany done for? Scandalous!

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Colombia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Germany | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

In Group E, Israel beat the Czech Republic, 1-0, on a 31st-minute goal by Toto Tamuz to send the Czechs crashing to an early exit.

Nigeria, already through after two matches, lollygagged through a nil-nil draw with Costa Rica, who looked all to eager to head for home. The result saw Nigeria tops, and looked to put Portugal on course for a match with Israel:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Israel | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Czech Republic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Costa Rica | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

retired_w0lfpack1

"Forgive me father, for I have sinned.

"I have used foul language, I have taken the Lord's name in vain, but worst, worst of all, I am guilty of the sin of Pride.

"I badly underestimated Iran, father. I started my "B" side, knowing that we were through, and I told the lads there was no pressure on them because they had already qualified for the next round.

"It backfired badly.

"Iran looked like worldbeaters, we looked like sh... excuse my language, father. I was cussing up a storm by 15 minutes, and knew by 25 minutes in to go defensive and try to salvage nil-nil through halftime, but Arash Borhami, some nobody striker for Marseille, made it 1-0, Iran, by halftime - I think that's when my foul language was at its worst.

"My pride showed up in the half-time teamtalk, as I questioned their passion, but it didn't seem to help, not even introducing Postiga for the unimpressive Djaló. Ronaldo and Tiago couldn't change the course of events, either, though we were peppering the Iranian goal with shots.

"I think the worst of it is, I was so angry at full-time, I told them it was an Embarassing Result for the squad, and the nation.. and now they're all depressed!

"As well they should be, my son - it was scandalous! You're altogether too lucky its just Israel in the next round - your lot should have won that easily. Pride is a major sin, my son, major. Let this be a lesson to you. Five hundred Rosaries, and you'd better come back with a win in the knockout stages."

In the other Group F match, Switzerland were through after a comfortable 3-1 win over Angola, with Davide Chiumiento's brace providing the fireworks, and Alex Geijo adding a well-taken goal. Luckily, with a +8 goal differential, we were still top of the table.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 6 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Iran | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Angola | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 3 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

retired_bbcarr

Chile vs. Spain
Group G – Matchday 3
June 25th, Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria)

Nae bother, lads. We’ll knock these Chilean lads on the head, Paraguay in the next round, into the quarters. Nae bother. Oh, bugger. Six minutes gone and Luis Jimenez had the Chilean’s in front. My decision to rest my frontline stars backfired. Then dumb-ass Joaquin got himself sent off for tickling Jimenez. Bugger.

Bojan Krkic, now up front on his own after Arizmendi was pulled back into midfield, gave us a glimmer of hope when he netted on 26 minutes, but Jimenez had Chile back in front by half time. The bloody South Americans then went ultra defensive, not even with Torres could we break them down in the second half. Now it’s Holland in the last sixteen. ****.

--

At the same time that day

Bulgaria 3 – 0 Jap Bastards. Doesn’t matter. Neither went through.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | Chile | | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Spain | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Bulgaria | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Japan | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_hern1001

Netherlands vs Paraguay, World Cup Group H, 25-06-2010, Johannesburg

A win was vital in our last match. Not just to ensure progression to the next round, but also to beef up the morale which had taken a bit of a hit after the England loss. Still without Van der Vaart, we’d still be up against it, but at least Paraguay weren’t as good as England. In theory anyway. They had of course beaten the English in the opening game in Group H.

Of course, the South Americans had long since parted with their 1998 World Cup hero Jose Luis Chilavert, but we still had the likes of Nelson Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz to deal with. Landzaat hadn’t done his job in the previous game and was replaced by Stijn Schaars as the only change to the XI.

The Dutch knew they had their faith in their own hands. A win would surely seal their progression into the next round. However everything did not go according to plan when John Heitinga conceded a penalty on 26 minutes. Manzur converted from the spot and suddenly things were looking grim for the Dutch. Parity was restored just a minute later though, when Robin van Persie found Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and the striker was all to happy to oblige in putting the ball into the net. It was still level at the break, despite chances to both Dutch strikers, but in the second half, normality was restored when Huntelaar calmly slotted home his second to put the Dutch 2-1 up. Not long after Wesley Sneijder blasted home from close range to put the result beyond doubt.

retired_manragh

England v South Korea

Venables dropped a bloody bombshell on me before the Korean game, “I'm retiring he said, now” I thought he was joking till he carried his bags to the car and left, I still thought it was a joke until he didn’t turn up for the game.

We had it all to do a no assistant to help me, but a 2-0 win would see us through to the next round and that’s what we pretty much needed, a draw would mean we needed the Paraguay team to beat Holland and a loss pretty much would see us out, the South Koreans hadn’t fired a shot yet and we were hoping that they didn’t start against us.

Defoe earned a start up front after his last game, partnering Rooney, while the rest of the team stayed the same, we went with the same formation wingers licking the forwards arses so to speak!

Shot after Shot either just missing or hitting the post summed up our day as we could only manage 3 shots on Target out of the 14 we had, Pretty disappointing really especially with that fat idiot Venables walking out before the game.

0-0 the Final score, Ryan Taylor man of the match.

Well you would honestly think i felt bad about not getting the English to the next stage, but it's just another thing that we Aussies have done to totally f**k the English lives up, we crap on you in the cricket, export that crap that we wont touch called Foster's to your pubs and now you've let an Australian take over the National team and purposely not even get them out of the group stage. All i can say is

hahahahahahahahahha, I quit!

Back home to me comfortable bed!

retired_manragh

oh yeah thats right I forgot to put the Results up for the World to see!

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | Holland | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 6 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Paraguay | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | England | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | South Korea | | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 1 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

England you suck!

retired_w0lfpack1

Despite the oh-so-embarrassing exit of England, the draw for the Round of 16 saw several tantalizing encounters:

France would be sorely tested against Brazil, but many felt it was no less than they deserved after a slow start.

Argentina could have had an easier draw after coming up opposite Mexico, but after their form - even without the injured Messi - the Argentine fans expected a cake-walk to the Quarter-Finals.

Portugal had just what they needed to restore their confidence, a supposedly easy tie against Israel.

And the match everyone was most looking forward to would pit two of the great European attacking sides, Spain against Holland; it was expected to be a real cracker!

FRANCE vs Brazil
Italy vs Ivory Coast
Mexico vs ARGENTINA
South Africa vs Croatia
Nigeria vs Switzerland
Israel vs PORTUGAL
Paraguay vs Chile
SPAIN vs HOLLAND

Out: ENGLAND, Germany, Czech Republic

(Human-controlled teams in bold)

retired_asteph4206

1st Knockout Round
France V Brazil

france couldnt overcome brazil in a match that was never in question with brazil leading from the start and were 3-0 up before france could reply the game ended 3-1 France manager said after the game brazil would be hard to beat for the rest of the teams left in the tournament and wished all the remaining teams good luck

retired_w0lfpack1

Brazil saw off France's challenge with a 3-1 win; Robinho and Sergio Mota scored in the first half, and it looked like it was all over when Fred struck a trademark twenty-yarder in the 55th minute. Mathieu Bodmer got one back for France's self-respect, on a twenty-yard free kick, but that was all she wrote for Les Bleus; Brazil went defensive and took care of business.

Italy continued their plan of just-scraping-by with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over the Ivory Coast. In regulation, Alessandro Rosina's goal just before halftime cancelled out Didier Drogba's earlier strike. Neither side could score in the second half, or thirty tense minutes of extra-time, seeing the match to the dreaded shootout.

Sixteen tense spot-kicks later, Italy were through to the Quarter-Finals, where they would await the winner of Mexico-Argentina...

retired_w0lfpack1

Hosts South Africa were through with a convincing 2-0 win over Croatia in front of 95,000 screaming South Africans at Johannesburg. 23-year-old AEK Athens midfielder Lebohang Mokoena scored in the 34th minute, and Basel veteran Brent Carelse scored his first international goal with fifteen minutes left to secure the win.