Absolutely delighted the Dutch injected some swagger into the World Cup last night. Diego Costa continued the pattern this week of Brazilian born players profiting from a tumble inside the box, gifting Spain an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Dutch were irresistible.
Exactly how they managed to improve their performance against Spain, four years after losing the World Cup Final with the imperious Edson Braafheid, is a mystery of the modern game.
Netherlands scored all those goals and created even more chances with a meagre 36% possession. If they were German, we would be reverting to the national stereotype that they were the epitome of ‘efficiency’.
Speaking of the Germans, I’ve always had a lot of time for Franz Beckenbauer, but to find himself banned from football for coming up short in a matter with the words “Fifa” and “ethics” in it, must make him the most notorious German since, erm, well, in quite a long time. With his former Bayern Munich teammate Uli Honess due to be jailed this month for financial maleficence, it’s better to assume no one in the game is above sticking his snout in the trough.
The soul of football depends on the outcome of this Fifa investigation; no one should be above its reach. Beckenbauer’s provisional ban should be verified. Kick him out the game.
Fantastic stuff on the blog yesterday from Bertie Auld; what an honour to have these great guys among us. I’m heading to the Celtic Shop on Argyle St today where Bertie, Tommy Gemmell and John Hughes will be signing books between 13:00 and 16:00. If you’re in town I’ll see you there.
The Big Cup’s going to be there, so bring a camera.
[calameo code=0003901719d82038831a9 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
2,184 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- ...
- 58
- »
Bankie
Space
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
19:13 on 14 June, 2014
Scotland, as part of the UK, governed those countries just as much as England did.
We were a colonial power, not a colony.
Scotland are part of a political union with England.
None of those countries ever were.
Big decision tonight – Forrest Gump or England v Italy?
MWD says AYE
Voguepunter….
I wrote it mate….
You just read it….
It’s known as opinion…..
Ernie
Your oot. Well done. Bit of a climb eh?
And your point is?
My point is not one of those countries wishes to be ruled by England again.
Stupid is as stupid does!
MWD says AYE
ryecatcher
You have a talent….don’t know what it is yet .
Ernie
Was there a democratic vote of the people of Scotland to join the union way back when or were the aristocrats bought with coin & land?
History eh?
MWD says AYE
SOAL
Kant?
HH
WC&Paul67- missed the chance to meet the legends as wife dragged me round the shops looking for a replacement cooker today. :-(
Just to let you know that the effort that you guys put in to CQN is very much appreciated. So thanks guys.
On another note, I see that Campbell O & Stewart R are in Brazil for the WC.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought Scotland didn’t qualify- and we knew this long ago. What are those two freeloaders doing there (apart from freeloading) at whose expense?
Blowtorch etc….
Just in from a long day — especially the bit standing outside the Celtic Store in Argyle Street being chief barker to the passing public urging them in to meet the Lions.
Thankyou to all those supporters of the club from Ibrox who questioned my parenthood and suggested that I have a passion for excrement — it was a delight to talk to you.
To the otherwise delightful child who could not explain exactly why he hated everything to do with Celtic, I sincerely hope that when you grow up you will question that attitude — and yes I meant it when I said that I hate no one.
To all the woman who I coaxed up the stairs saying that you would get a kiss from a handsome old man — my apologies if Bertie, Tommy and Big John were not to your taste.
To the Celtic FC staff who provided me with a large cardboard tube to use as a loudspeaker — I say thankyou but would advise on an urgent course on the latest audio
technology.
To those who were initially embarrassed at my brass neck in standing in Argyle Street shouting through a large cardboard tube — sure everyone should be a little crazy every now and then!
To the girls from the Swedish Female Football Squad who asked me to pose for the photo and expressed an interest in a Haggis Massage — having checked my diary next Wednesday will be fine.
To those I will see at the Wimbledon Celtic Supporters Club next Saturday — thanks and I am looking forward to it.
Thanks to the staff at the store, WC, Paul 67, Bertie, Yogi and Tommy G – Alex Gordon, Gerda, Karen and everyone else who saved me from cutting the grass on a Saturday afternoon.
I am now away for several libations of choice.
Oh and another wee shove for the Tale of The King, The Baron, The Housepainter and Boris — a tale of extraordinary courage, sportsamanship, talent and personal integrity.
http://wp.me/p1G95H-1iL
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
19:22 on 14 June, 2014
Those countries were colonies. They were colonies of the British empire.
Scotland is not a colony.
Why do nats always always try to portray Scotland as a colony?
It’s insulting to Scots and demeaning to those who actually did suffer under colonialism.
ryecatcher
Huns’ Peralta is
a) Honduran not Mexican
b) injured and out of the WC before it started
c) crap anyway
d) All of the above
Voguepunter
a propo ruggie – do you remember one of the smallest pubs – couldn’t get more than 6 in at a time -tink it was called the forresters – or have i imagined it
MWD,
There was a democratic vote when Ireland rejected the Lisbon(special place) Treaty.The powers that be decided it wasn’t to be vetoed by the common person so it had to be democratically voted on again until the correct outcome was reached.Not much has changed since 1707.
ryecatcher
19:14 on 14 June, 2014
An ordinary but functional England should beat a poor Italian side tonight.
There will be value to be had on the Betting Exchanges.
Neither team will be good enough to figure in the last 8.
Uruguay and England to qualify from that section methinks.
England are a better side than most people in Scotland give them credit for, but still not better than moderately good…..There are at least 8 better teams in the competition.
Their manager is ultra cautious ……..nice guy but his tactics will result in what they deserve.
Italy will be home before the postcards….Hope England beat them tonight.
========================
Having lived abroad since the early 70s I have a slightly different take on this one.
Engerlund to beat the posty’s best efforts I’m afraid. At least that won’t expose them to
the deadly penalty shootout. Riddies avoided.
HH
Gerry
ryecatcher
Sorry pal, yer talking nonsense…..the games night
is a stick on draw,England’s progress will be determined
in the Italy v Uruguay game, if there is a winner in that one
England SHOULD qualify.
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
19:24 on 14 June, 2014
The motivation for Scotland joining the Union was to get access to an Empire, Scotland’s attempt having failed in Panama.
For a nat then to argue that Scotland is or was a colony is perverse.
May not be a colony but have seriously avoided being treated as such.
I hear Antonio Stokes is playing for It’ly the nich……..!
Yerwan’sAtit CSC
The magnificent Adrian Chiles is on…..I’m in
total awe of the Green Brigades go to guy
Lessons from History .
Afghanistan was never part of the British Empire ..Afghanistan was never a colony
The closest it got was a wee treaty whereby the British Army ( mostly Scots / Irish ) kept the Persians and the Russians at bay . The quid pro quo was that Great Britain got to advise the Ruler of Afghanistan re Afghanistans foreign policy
Ernie Lynch
Scotland is not a colony because at the moment it is not actually a country.
If we become independent, we’ll then have things like potentially being colonised by enemies to worry about.
MWD
I was asked a question the other week
If we were independent and had a vote this year to join a union with England Wales and the north of Ireland … How many would vote to join
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name
Forresters ???? was that not a tree trunk doon the billy brae?
Sorry mate never heard of it,
It’s insulting to the other countries mentioned only because they have not actually been completely conquered unlike Scotland, or Wales who have.
There’s no such thing as a poor Italian side, in fact they get better and stronger the poorer they’re perceived by some.
No England side can beat Italy, let alone Roy Hodgson’s misfits, they may scrape a point, as Italy grow with the tournament.
Whit hiv you got to post to get a fitba debate
going on here?
I have it as a 1-1 but they will be fortunate to achieve that IMO
bournesouprecipe
agreed, the Italians are the only football team who can consistently do well in these tournaments with only one striker, not sure Balotelli will be the man but a.n.other for the Italian team a la Schillachi (sp) could be.
I usually go with the two-in-form-strikers philosophy, it’s worked for Celtic as it has for Brazil, Germany and Argentina.
What is demeaning to Scots is your unwillingness to accept Scotland as a nation long before london set about those who questioned its form of ‘civilization’
Still love it when you get all rebelly unionisty :-)
Repeat to fade
HH
I think things are taking place which cannot be changed.Devolution was only the start.Even if Scotland rejects independence and opts for some kind of devo-max then independence will inevitably follow.The more powers granted to Scotland the more distant Westminster will become and eventually Scotland will become independent.My thoughts,doesn’t make it true.
bournesouprecipe @1940
“theres no such thing as a poor Italian side ” .
Tonights one might be a strange one . It might feature 4 No 10s .
On the beach earlier . A bar which is showing the game featured this notice ———-
No Bikinis / No Herb / No Cocaina !
A midnight kick off
Nye
There are a few posts about football on here and I think once the matches kick off tonight it may rise to 50% of posts being about football ;)
Six men dead: the World Cup massacre – Ireland News Headlines | Latest News Ireland | The Irish Times – Sat, Jun 14, 2014
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/six-men-dead-the-world-cup-massacre-1.1831478
Evening Celts whits the Craic?
Free drink all day thanks to my youngest son Jonathan, children eh!
Living in England is ok and of course at this time leading up to the game I’m cool about England winning against Italia,
What I don’t like is the numpty clown with his England flag o’wer his shoulders and a dead rfc tattoo on his leg.
On reflection
Celtics not playing do to hell with itCSC
According to the thermostat outside my window, it is still 31+ at 7.50pm. I know it’s still warm but that cannot be right, shurely???
Ernie
I ask you again. Before it gets dark and you feel like you are back in that hole again. Was there a democratic vote of all people of Scotland to join the union?
Here is link for google.
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl
MWD says AYE
MWD
It was democracy as Ernie likes to know it, he knows his place in society, just as he want you to know yours. :)