Too bad the U.S. doesn't like football, they would worship The Zlatan. My favorite one was about what he got his wife for her birthday: "Nothing, she already has Zlatan."
In fact, I could have put the 66 world cup final on the 'favourite Monocrome programmes' thread!!
But Rank did a colour film of it - a story of '66 highlights film that travelled the cinemas called, imaginatively, Goal! (nice stuff, with commentary written by the legendary writer "Sir" Brian Glanville). Plus they also recorded the entire final match in colour, which you can buy on DVD.
A little known but one of my favourite amazing 66 facts is that Pickles the jack russel terrier dog, who recovered the World Cup trophy in a hedge after it was stolen from display before the tournament, earned more money in rewards and dog food than Alf Ramsey's (the manager) annual salary (£4,000) and the players earned for winning the thing (22k split 22 ways, 1K for each squad player!).
As for being a "typical english" Jim, - I rather think I'm not. Very few if any English fans would confess they want England not make it to the world cup. (although I suspect TG and Kev would understand my sentiments). However I have to say that I am often "pushed" into making outrageous ignorant english statements for humourous effect because a) its expected and b) thats what makes you laugh, my friend!!
I appreciate and have great interest in tales of World Cups gone by. Thanks for taking the time to write that.
I often trawl the 'net looking for old matches and have just finished watching the cautious train wreck that was England's 2010 squad so you can imagine what a breath of fresh air it is to see the likes of Hurst (a Hammer!) and Sir Bobby getting 'er done in '66.
Saw the "highlights" of England's win vs. Moldova today. Gerrard's goal looked deceptively easy but I admire the bend he put into it.
Oh, I almost forgot to add the theme of the day, to be played over those "highlights", because the Three Lions dare win:
a) Easier qualifiers and one-sided Friendlies where we look good, coast and tank shite opposition by 3, 4, 5 goals - and get heralded as potential tournament winners.
b) Tougher Qualifiers against better-organised but fairly mundane opposition where we struggle to break them down, run out of ideas, revert to type, and get slaughtered by the media after a dreary 0-0, 1-1 or worse, losing to a freak goal by a part-time mechanic or a Greek or Scot playing in the Championship.
c) When we play someone in the top five or six teams in the world and get absolutely taken apart and made to look the rubbish, one-dimensional, unimaginative frightened planks that we are - eg: Germany 4-1, etc.
a) Easier qualifiers and one-sided Friendlies where we look good, coast and tank shite opposition by 3, 4, 5 goals - and get heralded as potential tournament winners.
b) Tougher Qualifiers against better-organised but fairly mundane opposition where we struggle to break them down, run out of ideas, revert to type, and get slaughtered by the media after a dreary 0-0, 1-1 or worse, losing to a freak goal by a part-time mechanic or a Greek or Scot playing in the Championship.
c) When we play someone in the top five or six teams in the world and get absolutely taken apart and made to look the rubbish, one-dimensional, unimaginative frightened planks that we are - eg: Germany 4-1, etc.
Last night was an A.
This happens in all places. At least with Spain, before the team won the Eurocups and the World Champion Cup, the media and supporters had the same behaviour that you describe. Probably, they will do it again when Spain starts to loss more and more games in the next years.
My opinion is that a lot of supporters doesn't really know too much about soccer, while the media only wants to sell newspapers.
The same apply to teams as per example Mourinho's Real Madrid.
make you right Juan. Trouble is - apart from 1990 and 96 - England have under-achieved and played fairly shit since 1970. I followed Spain for many years and bet on them at major tournaments but despite some phenomenal players like Hierro, it never really happened, so i know you had a slump for a lot of years too. it cost me dearly!!
I remember Spain being a much-ballyhooed side in the 2006 World Cup. They had many of the pieces in place that would comprise the stellar team of 2008-present. They swept through the group stage and were up against a mediocre French team that soundly defeated them 3-1 in the Round of 16 so they have had their share of bitter disappointments.
Yes, but all anyone else talks about is England. I've tried talking about Serie A, La Liga, and the Bundesliga but you people get all parochial and teary eyed over 1966.
I think there should be more talk about the Irish Premiership on this thread
All the news that matters and a spot of satire. Thoroughly impartial to boot.
I know there's a joke about Leeds not being any good since before the ball was round but I can't find it.
Hey TG, did you ever get that book (No Glossing Over It)? In looking at that Soccer Books Limited site, there are several Leeds United books. I love how much gets written about this game.
Hey TG, did you ever get that book (No Glossing Over It)? In looking at that Soccer Books Limited site, there are several Leeds United books. I love how much gets written about this game.
Trouble is, most football books are rubbish. I can count on one hand the number of good ones I've read. Footballer autobiographies are the worst. Cricket is a sport which lends itself better to the written word.
Trouble is, most football books are rubbish. I can count on one hand the number of good ones I've read. Footballer autobiographies are the worst.
Youre not wrong there, Thomas. As someone who has dabbled, I totally concur!!!
There have been a few readable ones. But I make you right, though, good ones are hard to find and rubbish ones are a dime a dozen. There have been some good boxing ones, especially those on Ali. But then, you gotta be some kind of total plank to write a bad book on Ali!!
All the news that matters and a spot of satire. Thoroughly impartial to boot.
I know there's a joke about Leeds not being any good since before the ball was round but I can't find it.
Hey TG, did you ever get that book (No Glossing Over It)? In looking at that Soccer Books Limited site, there are several Leeds United books. I love how much gets written about this game.
I'm afraid I didn't, although I'm surprised how many books on LUFC I've collected down the years. And there's much to write about - right from the demise of Leeds City after WW1 when they were unjustly expelled from the Football League for allegations of illegal payments to players. A chequered history... but rarely boring.
oh bollocks. just as i thought it waz safe to be confident about the current season, Andy Carrol looks like he wil be out anothr chunk of the season. This is the downside of breaking the bank and gambling on 1 player who IS your system. Without him, you are stuffed. We had this with Dean Ashton. £7m and he never played again.
if the injury proves to be major, its maiga, nolan and relegation with hull and palace.
