13.5 million supposedly watched it

Reports suggest that 13.5 million of us tuned in to what England crash out of the World cup with what was the heaviest defeat that England had ever suffered during a world cup.

To many of us it was predicted that things were not right in the England camp before the Germany game and things climaxed to a pathetic performance by some truly gifted footballers. The 4-1 defeat was sour to taste when you think that it was our arch rivals Germany that were the team to send our boys back on to the plane and home.

We started over two weeks ago with much hope anticipation, and with 5 minutes in to the first game, i am certain your hopes and enthusiasm for a possible long campaign were present. But from the moment Robert Green spilt the ball in to the back of his net, things looked ominous for the tournament and campaign.

Drawing to the USA was followed by a truly tragic and hopeless display against Algeria.

The players looked like boys that had been dragged by their mothers shopping against their request. The heart and passion that the fans show was not replicated on the pitch, evident in Wayne Rooney.

The player that many had pinned their hopes on did not perform in this tournament. After playing so well 4 years ago in the world cup in Germany, we have watched him mature in to a gifted player when playing for Manchester United. But this World Cup the striker had a very under-whelming campaign. He looked so unhappy playing in the tournament. Admittedly after picking up an ankle injury playing for Manchester United against Bayern Munich, he has not been able to recapture his form but the performances during South Africa were horribly below his best. But it leaves us asking why?

Why did Capello stick with 4-4-2? Why did he not try 4-5-1? Why did the players perform so poorly? Why could the players get themselves in to such a poor position that we ended up leaving the tournament so early?

Some of you may say that they got as far as they could go, but many would looks at the route they could have taken, they could have faced a Ghana team in the last 16, where they could have built upon that result, and faced Uruguay, where you would like to think that a poor England side could beat them, and it would have left us possibly in the Semi-Finals. We were given the group we wanted, we had the path to the Semi-finals where we would have met some of the big teams, but we failed, we faltered and we didnt achieve our potential

The golden boys did not make it, are the new youth going to? is there any youth coming through? why is it when we get the opportunity we seem to fall short? where is England going?

Were you watching???

We you today at 3pm sitting or standing watching the game. England today took on Slovienia knowing only a win against the European team would guarantee and safe passage into the next stage of the competition. Work places set up televisions for workers to watch the game, schools  showed the game, and if you were the lucky ones you were able to get home to watch the game in the comfort of your lucky chair.

England in their “lucky” red strip made 3 changes with Defoe, Milner and Upson coming in, and it was the first two changes that made the difference. Milner playing on the right whipped in a delivery in to the box where Defoe anticipated the cross and got in front of his defender before steering the ball in the back of the net.

It sent the port Elizabeth crowd in to raptures. The majority of the fan base was English adorned with the cross of George on many of their faces and shirts. the Stadium had the feel of and English home game with the mass of white in the crowd.

England after the goal finally managed to create chances unlike the first two games, and finally the country blessed with fine passers finally, were able to keep possession with confidence and competence.

Wayne Rooney had his best performance of the competition going close but for a fine save, but not to his supreme best but there was a drive and determination which had been missing in the Algeria  match. He was substituted in the second half after getting a knock, but we can only hope that it was a minor knock and that he will be back after his promising performance.

Capello after the game spoke of how the players played with out fear and it was the kind of performance he had seen them perform in the training session. His admission of how their performance was a huge mark up from their previous performances,  can bode well and the belief seems to be there.

With the knockout stages ahead, hopefully this victory can kick start the players and hopefully they can go far in this tournament.

Robbie you naughty boy

ITV World Cup pundit Robbie Earle has been sacked by the broadcaster after tickets for his family and friends were passed on to a third party.

ITV said a “substantial number” of tickets for the Denmark v Holland match on Monday had been passed on, breaching Fifa rules.

It has been claimed a block of tickets were used by a Dutch company for an “ambush marketing effort”.

In a statement Earle said: “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.”

He added: “I hope when people hear the full story they will see me in a different light. I have absolutely no connection with any marketing ambush agency and have not profited in any way from these tickets.”

ITV’s full statement said: “Following claims by FIFA that official 2010 World Cup tickets may have been used for ambush marketing, ITV has reviewed its entire ticket allocation for the tournament,” the TV network said in a statement.

“Immediate investigations indicated that a block of ITV tickets would appear to have been used for unauthorised purposes during the Holland v Denmark match.

“Further enquiries have revealed that a substantial number of tickets allocated to Robbie Earle for family and friends have been passed to a third party in breach of FIFA rules.

“As a result, Robbie Earle’s contract with ITV has been terminated with immediate effect.”

The announcement comes after officials ejected 36 women who were wearing orange mini-dresses during Holland’s game against Denmark.

The women were accused of “ambush marketing” for a brand of beer.

Members of the group, accused of promoting a brand that is not one of the tournament’s official sponsors, were found with tickets understood to have been part of Earle’s allocation.

The tickets’ terms and conditions stipulate they must not be passed on or sold to anyone else.

Earle, 45, an ambassador for England’s 2018 World Cup bid, played for Wimbledon and Port Vale as well as for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup.

World Cup is here

The World cup has finally arrived. The competion that millions of you have been waiting for has finally arived and started in South Africa. The host started the games off on Friday against Mexico in what was a fantastic curtain raiser. The hosts spectacularly went ahead early in the second half, and with the stadium Soccer city, holding 94000 people, everyone could be head, in a creschendo of noise at the stadium. However Mexico managed to find an equaliser late in the game which was meeted with hushed silence around the ground. But the games have begun.

A month of Games 32 different countries, This tournament brings a mass of excitement, fun and promise for all the teams that take part. All there with their own agenda, some been there many times before, but some being there for their first time. It will be a games to remember, the first in Africa, the first in South Africa, not to mention for the team that at the end of the competion will run out winners.

The current champions Italy have yet to start their campaign but for them, 4 years ago, they were the champions of the world winning in Germany. For them many great memories, but now it is time for them to defend the trophy. The a team who regualry do well in the competion will hope for a bit of luck and hope they will get to the final.

England a team with much promise and hope, have however started their competition. But it was not to the start they would have wanted. After going ahead early in the game, they were pegged back by a Clint Dempsey goal after a horrid mistake from Robert Green. England however were unable to regain the lead, after controlling much of the game, they will be disappointed to have not won. But there is still much hope and anticiaption for the masses will want the English to do well.

Spain one of the Tournament favourites will start this week with a relatively nice draw, they will want to hit the ground running and with a flurry of goals and attacking attractive football. After a successful European tournament victory under their belt, they will wanted to achieve success at the World cup, with a magnificent strike force in Villa and Torres, and and creative midfield consisting of Silva, Xavi, and Iniesta, they will be wanting to lift the trophy come 11th of July.

Many people’s favourites, Brazil also start later this week, and the fans will expect them to go all the way. After releasing hold of their title in 2006, they will be eager to regain their title back. With Kaka and Robinho present there is always a chance the Brazilians can become champions.

These are just a few of the teams to look out for in the up and coming days and weeks. Don’t forget to keep tabs on the other big teams like Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, all great teams with great players and all with a chance of victory

I hope you enjoy the Tournament,i know i shall.