tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980691899315901912.post7407521377063160206..comments2023-10-09T17:38:25.131+01:00Comments on Scrawls & Bawls: World Cup 2010 - A Round UpFinbarr Berminghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149024046600014822noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980691899315901912.post-64245022545219274202010-07-05T18:07:14.299+01:002010-07-05T18:07:14.299+01:00I'm not comparing the Dutch striking options -...I'm not comparing the Dutch striking options - I'm just saying that France managed to win WC98 despite their No.9 not scoring a single goal, so it doesn't really matter that Robin Van Persie is having an awful tournament, cos he could not score another goal and the Dutch could still win it! Especially if Robben finds his form.Ally Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780008599840992097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980691899315901912.post-52037003030451197742010-07-05T13:46:20.409+01:002010-07-05T13:46:20.409+01:00And they did do well to displace them! Agreed on t...And they did do well to displace them! Agreed on the improvement in the tournament: it's been marked. But the opening stages (for the most part) were dreadful. The Quarter Finals were excellent and history will for the most part, only remember the tournament from this point on. <br /><br />I wonder if it has something to do with the hype. This year's WC has more exposure than any other (that I can remember). The internet has only grown since four years ago and I wonder if that added pressure got to teams in the first round. Not losing was more important than winning. <br /><br />I also love seeing the underdog going through and agree that there have been a few memorable moments since round 1. I'd love to see the Dutch win, but can you really compare their striking options to France in 98? RVP vs Stephane Gu'ivarch, or however you spell it??<br /><br />I am really starting to dislike Spain - I think it's because I'm an Arsenal fan and I'm fed up of this "Barcelona DNA" tripe been spoken by every one of the Barca contingent about Cesc. <br /><br />And I'm almost ready to concede defeat in the Fantasy. One replacement left. Oh dear.Finbarr Berminghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149024046600014822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980691899315901912.post-22491568609583035302010-07-05T12:55:09.601+01:002010-07-05T12:55:09.601+01:00no but really, this competition is getting much be...no but really, this competition is getting much better, all of the quarter-finals (with the exception of the first half of Spain-Paraguay) were brilliant, and Germany are single-handedly raising the overall goal average. And there are loads of iconic, memorable moments so far, which is what you suggest made prior tournaments great, even though i.e. Italia 90 was the lowest scoring ever (up til now) - Lampard's ghost goal will always and forever be a hilarious moment, Suarez's save (and Gyan's penalty miss) will go down in legend, and I for one love it when complacent giants (Italy, France, England) go out ingloriously, while smaller nations progress.<br /><br />Holland are going to win it. Nobody's noticing them. Even when they beat Brazil everyone framed it as 'Brazil losing', not 'Holland winning'. Nobody can beat Holland, nobody can even draw. They're quietly disassembling everyone they face. Germany and Spain will both assume, if they get to the final, that the toughest game has been won. Holland will prove them wrong, and - like France in 1998 - all without a decent striker!<br /><br />And I'm gonna win the fantasy fitba too!Ally Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780008599840992097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980691899315901912.post-11073490861770221802010-07-05T12:49:16.473+01:002010-07-05T12:49:16.473+01:00"Well the Dutch have cruised through looking ..."Well the Dutch have cruised through looking more like Germans, and vice versa. The pair will do well to displace the South American duo of Brazil and Argentina, though."<br /><br />hehehe<br /><br />;)Ally Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780008599840992097noreply@blogger.com