Tangent 21 - World Cup 2006

Posted by
Sydney

Posted on
23:39
Apr 29 2006

World Cup 2006

Well it's a few weeks away, but there's England tat appearing in all the shops - even the girlie clothes shops - and the world cup advertising will be starting in ernest soon so I figured it would be worth starting a discussion

As I've just commented in my journal using words that would only have a place in the After Hours Lounge, Wayne Rooney broke his 4th metatarsel today. Which basically means he'll be out for the duration of the World Cup. His minimum recovery time is going to be 6 weeks which takes us to our first match. Not counting training to match fitness we just haven't got a hope in hell of having him back. Michael Owen has only just started playing again today so doubts over his match fitness remain and the name Peter Crouch hardly strikes fear into the hearts of world class defenders.

I'm trying to steel myself for a dismal tournament, but I know I'll get carried away with it when the games start and my swearing vocabulary will increase tenfold over 90 minutes. Plus its a time of year when English people can claim back the Georges cross from the racists. I love it - and will probably spend a big chunk of next months pay packet on the aforementioned tat!

So...

What about you? What do you think of England's chances? Are you supporting another team? Who do you recommend for putting a fiver on at the bookies? Will you be hiding from all things football and thanking god for Big Brother as a distraction? Do you have any good World Cup stories from years gone by to tell?

10 Replies and 2047 Views in Total.

Teresa "So I can come inside of your kiss and just leave you on your knees"

Im gonna put money on my second team (Brazil) now. I shouted when Rooney went down today 'cos my first thought was World Cup

I was mildly disturbed by 3yr old girls pink panties with football logos on yesterday. Dunno why. It just didn't seem right

Posted: 23:49 Apr 29 2006

PictureOfFlowers "When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party." - Lt. Tuck Pendleton, Innerspace

The World Cup and the UEFA European Championship are the only times that I get excited about football (though even then I'm only interested in the England games). So yeah I'm looking forward to it.

I heard about Rooney getting injured and was pretty gutted, but I don't really know enough about the rest of the team to get completely disheartened yet. So that works out pretty well I think.

Every two years I always think I should get myself an England shirt, and I always get really tempted to the point of almost buying one, but then never actually do. Maybe this year...

Posted: 16:28 Apr 30 2006

mad "dont ask me to apologise if i get your back up, youre mistaking me for someone who gives a f*ck" - the dust junkys, nothin' personal

i actually went out and bought one of the new england away shirts...
which is a bit weird for me, seeing as ive never bought anything like that before.

Posted: 17:28 Apr 30 2006

lil_miss It's all a moo point, a cow's opinion.

To be honest I really don't care about it. I'm not a fan of football. What were the chances of the team getting very far anyway?

Anywho... go England, or whatever

Posted: 17:55 Apr 30 2006

DJ Billy You can't really dust for vomit.

by PictureOfFlowers
I heard about Rooney getting injured and was pretty gutted

Me too. He was my fantasy captain this week!

I've heard that Erikson is still going to take Rooney. I really hope he doesn't play him if he's only half fit. He did that four years ago with Beckham (after the same injury) and it really didn't work. Rooney will be a big loss, but I still think we have enough to do well without him

Posted: 21:10 Apr 30 2006

Byron "Live. Grow stronger. Fight another day."

by DJ Billy
Me too. He was my fantasy captain this week!

I've heard that Erikson is still going to take Rooney. I really hope he doesn't play him if he's only half fit. He did that four years ago with Beckham (after the same injury) and it really didn't work. Rooney will be a big loss, but I still think we have enough to do well without him

Saw Rooney do his foot in on Match of the Day last night: ouch! With extreme prejudice.

Like you say he's even busted the same bone as Mr Beckham, and according to The Observer his (best possible) recovery time ends on the exact same day as England's first match! This really is a repeat of four years ago.

I'm not sure if we can win it without him (and apparently there's also injury worries about Messers Owen and Campbell) but agree England have got to go in with the mindset that they can. Negative thinking is a bit of a national disease. (For press & public as well, can't help playing when many trees die to say how you haven't a hope.) Maybe it won't have that touch of magic without Rooney but it's still a damn good team. Ireland showed how fight on with pride after Roy "Stick it up yer bollicks!" Keane got the boot.

I'll no doubt follow the usual rituals of pubbage and heartbreak, though don't feel the need to buy a flag; living in white van man land, that's already well catered for!

Posted: 23:32 Apr 30 2006

DJ Billy You can't really dust for vomit.

We've got plenty of centrebacks to replace Campbell. I reckon that Terry and Carragher is our best partnership at the moment anyway. Lampard, Gerrard, Cole and Beckham gives us a pretty strong midfield and we can play Owen or Defoe up front with Wright-Phillips or even Aaron Lennon just off him. Things are still okay I think