Trying to look on the bright side...

...at least there'll be no World Cup feel good factor for Labour.

Comments

[Julian Morrison]

Oh please. Don't be so childishly spiteful!

[CCHQ Spy]

Lighten up, Julian! The England team never showed passion until Rooney was unjustifiably sent off.
Why couldn't Sven engender some passion? Looking on another bright side - at least he's gone.

[Fitch]

I THINK THERE IS A SERIOUS POINT HERE. I FEEL GUTTED TONIGHT. IT IS STUPID BUT I DO NOT FEEL SO PROUD TO BE BRITISH (ENGLISH). IT WILL PASS AND PROBABLY IS A PRODUCT OF TOO MUCH BEER. BUT IF WE HAD WON THE WORLD CUP WE WOULD FEEL PROUDER. PERHAPS NOT FOR LONG BUT BRITAIN WOULD SEEM A BIGGER NATION. THAT WOULD HELP LABOUR. OF COURSE I WISH WE HAD WON BUT THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR CONNECTED WITH BIG EVENTS IS A REAL THING.

[Richard Carey]

"AND PROBABLY IS A PRODUCT OF TOO MUCH BEER"

I think that is unquestionably the case. And as it passes, I am sure you'll once again be able to find your Caps Lock key!!

[Editor]

Sorry Julian!

[Jaz]

Good stuff, editor :)

[Geoff]

Oh yes, the kickball thingy. Out, are we? How did Tunisia do? I pulled them out in the pub sweepstake...

I can't believe what a spineless performance we've put up in the cricket. If it wasn't for Marcus Trescothick we would have been humiliated. Not looking good for the Ashes rematch, is it?

[Christina]

Is it best to rue Rooney being injured or to rue Rooney being recovered? I rue that Rooney ruined our chances and left us to ruminate about what might have been.

[Yet Another Anon]

at least there'll be no World Cup feel good factor for Labour.
All this World Cup Feel Good Factor rubbish seems to be based on statements by Harold Wilson in 1966 and the fact that they won the General Election that year with a strongly improved position - the fact was that Edward Heath was neither greatly trusted nor well liked and the fact is that turned out to be a very reasonable assessment.

[Derek]

Why were we so bad at taking penalties? A commentator said our best hope was to hold on for penalties - my heart sank! A total lack of power and commitment by our penalty takers - even though the other team missed the goal - twice! Compare our effort to the Germans - each shot drilled with power into the corner. I despair!!!

[Ted]

Sven & Blair must be brothers separated at birth. Both promised a bright future and both failed to deliver. Both mired in money and scandal but always "moving on", both claiming to have put together a great team but in organising that team (either in re-shuffles or formations) absolutely c**p.

We saw an English team sent out as a pale shadow of a classic Italian team built more around stopping the other side scoring and hoping to break through on set pieces. We have a government which apes European Social Democracy, whose agenda is set to try to stop the Tories and tries to con the voters with vapid "announcements".

The difference is that Tony doesn't have the talent available to him that Sven had. A better football manager could have used the same squad to much better effect - no-one could do better with Prescott, Brown, Blears, Reid et al.

Well I'd better go and take down the St George's Cross from the flagpole (been flying at half mast since last night).....

[Annabel Herriott]

Sven should have kept Rooney at home or on the bench until penaltys once he saw Renaldo is it? was on the other side. I gather it was known there was no love lost between them. Now young Rooney should be sent off for anger management therapy. He will NEVER be any good until he has learned to control himself. He will be a liability.

[Patsy Sergeant]

Rooney's opponent who 'got' him sent off, did actually say 'sorry', afterwards (caught on camera), did you see that then, because that is an admission of guilt!!!

Rooney's anger was probably sparked because he realised at that moment that he had been 'caught' by his opponent, but it was silly to get 'carried away'.

I think the 'beautiful game' should be called DIVEBALL now particlularly when played by Argentina, Italy, Portugal, and I am afraid Brazil, and Holland did a lot of it in one game. IT IS CHEATING and it spoils the game.

The game I enjoyed most and was shouting like a football oafess at, was the Argentina/Germany game. I knew what would happen, and it did, BUT blissfully there was an EFFICIENT referree for a change on duty, so he made the ... Argies play on, for once in their lives they got a bit of what they normally dish out!!! I mean unfairness. And how they hated it as they were behaving like the upset mafia practically when they lost, and one of their charming players went up to the referee, pointed and shook his finger at him very agressively - one can only imagine what threats he was making!!! I did ENJOY that game!!!

[malcolm]

Agree with you Patsy.This world cup has been most marked for its lamentable refereeing and cheating.Sadly the 4 teams left have all dreadful cheats and divers within them.I'm starting to believe it could be France after another stupendous dive from Henry.He really is a disgrace isn't he?Both as a player and as a man.
Another disgrace is Ronaldo.Whilst Rooney certainly deserved to go Ronaldos behaviour was lamentable ,particularly toward a Manchester United teammate.My hope is that if Ronaldo is stupid enough to return to English football he will be quickly taken out with a career ending injury.Not nice perhaps,but poetic justice.

[Andrew]

"My hope is that if Ronaldo is stupid enough to return to English football he will be quickly taken out with a career ending injury"

Charming.

Good referee in the England/Portugal game btw. For all the anti-Ronaldo comments, the real disgrace was Rooney's. Imagine stamping on an opponents' testicles - what could be worse as a professional footballer?

[Jon White]

Andrew, literally 'b*****ks'. Ronaldo deliberatley got a fellow pro sent off, and a team mate to boot. Did Rooney deserve to go? Inconsistent refereeing again - Luis (diver) Figo headbutted a Dutch player and wasn't even booked.

I certainly echo Malcolm's point. Should Ronaldo ever set foot on these shores again I hope that his life is made a misery by all opposition (and, if they have any sense of honour, Man. Utd.) fans, and players alike. EVERY Englishman at Old Trafford should refuse to be on the same team as him. Career wrecking injury - a nice thought. Where is Norman Hunter when you need him.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

At least Andrew Murray and David Coulthard did Britain proud at the weekend. I wonder what Alan Duncan thinks?

[Andrew]

"Ronaldo deliberatley got a fellow pro sent off, ..."

Urrm, nope. Rooney got himself sent off, by stamping on an opponent. Whatever Ronaldo said makes absolutely no difference - there isn't a ref anywhere that wouldn't give a red for that.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4007/bollocks4cc.jpg

It looks much, much worse in slow-mo replay from that angle. Rooney kicks backwards and his whole upper torso actually rotates because of the force of the impact. Yikes.

What's worse? Trying to get someone (rightfully) sent off, or stamping on someone's testicles? (and after the whistle has blown too).