PT Barnum may have been right 150 years ago, but The Greatest Show on Earth these days gets underway this afternoon, despite the shameful corruption displayed by Fifa. By comparison, the Olympics is a sideshow. My first experience of the World Cup was watching Scotland play Zaire in 1974. For 20-odd years the tournament had participation value for Scotland, even if the joy of being there was short lived.
These days the joy is all about being a neutral football fan and soaking up the drama and brilliance from the game.
Statistically it is difficult to look past Brazil, who will benefit enormously from home advantage. European teams have never won the tournament in the Americans, where Brazil and Argentina have won every competition since Uruguay triumphed in the last time the tournament was held in Brazil 64 years ago.
Leo Time
Lionel Messi was, until recent times, the undisputed best player on the planet, but his position in the all-time greatest list is in considerable dispute. Ask an older Barcelona fan, who has watched Cruyff, Maradona Ronaldo and Messi all do their stuff at the Camp Nou, and they are likely to tell you Leo is by far the better player. His stats as a striker bear this out, but ask an Argentinean, and he’ll scarcely get a mention in the same breath as Diego. There is not even a debate that Messi is the greatest Argentine.
After giving a spectacular display of goal-scoring prowess in 1982, then 25-year-old Diego Maradona singlehandedly led Argentina to their second World Cup in 1986 and back to the final four years later. By Comparison, 26-year-old Messi has looked comparatively pedestrian in his two previous tournaments. He’ll be 30 by the time of the next tournament, which will be held in the completely different environment of Russia. If Messi is to be considered an all-time great, he needs to take Argentina to the final. If his career ends without an outstanding World Cup, he’ll slip somewhere between Eusabio and Cruyff in the list.
I’d like Belgium to win. Belgian clubs and FA go about their business correctly and brought a remarkable bounty of talent to Brazil. It’s always been easy to back Brazil but I’m still not over the Neymar thing. The guy is an abomination in the Brazil No. 10 shirt, a vastly over-rated charlatan. Anyone but Neymar, please.
Bertie Auld live chat, tomorrow, 1pm, on CQN. Be there.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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Borgo67
Spot on.
Neymar is not an abomination. He is a very fine player. He has underperformed this year, granted.
He owed us nothing back in October, it was Scott Brown’s own stupid fault he got sent off.
Paul67
Maradonna ‘singlehandedly’ Thumbsup
Paul
For a combination of reasons (perhaps to do with the growing amounts of money involved in the game and with the love of money being the root of all evil), I must say I’m not looking forward to the World Cup as much as usual.
Watching the way this Blatter-standing-again-for-FIFA president nonsense has been unfolding and the totally contrary reactions of the different federations; as well as the world cup’s major sponsors’ reactions to the Qatar 2022 bribery allegations, I’m beginning to wonder if we’re edging towards a showdown between Uefa and FIFA and a split (or the serious threat on one) amongst the federations …
FF
* That awkward moment when you scroll back and someone has already posted your post*
CQN Couponeers –
email sent ;-)
werribeepat
13:22 on 12 June, 2014
‘I have been in Australia since 1967. I left Scotland for all the obvious Glasgow area Catholic school teacher reasons:’
####
You mean TD67?
I bet you’re glad you didn’t chose Canada.
JC2
Re that Schumacher challenge on Batiston, I don’t think the referee even awarded a free-kick, never mind a card!
Scottish standard refereeing!
That team also played in a great game against Brazil in the ’86 QF. Zico missed a pen that would have put Brazil through to play Germany, who beat France in the semi-final, again!!
Here is an update on Action Points arising from the first Supporters Forum in February.
The more recent CQN questions for the postponed Supporters Forum are with the SLO to look at and get responses.
.Good Afternoon All
As highlighted previously we agreed on a number of Action Points at our meeting on February 19 at Celtic Park. We have been actively working on each of these and I’m please to provide details of the current position in respect of each.
I have endeavoured to provide an appropriate level of detail on each point and am happy for this information to be circulated to your members and the wider support as appropriate. If you require any further information on any of the points listed or indeed any other issues please let me know.
Actions arising from the meeting, February 19:
Celtic to confirm its position publicly relative to the OBTC Act: Celtic issued a statement on March 4 to clarify its position relative to the Act
Celtic to discuss Policing at matches with Police Scotland and update supporters: A meeting has taken place with FoCUS, there was once again a commitment that the number of officers deployed would be reduced commensurate with behaviour, it has been agreed that dialogue between the Club and Police Scotland will continue.
Celtic to consult with fans on Coach Park for 2014/15 and update supporters: The Jock Stein 1, Upper Coach Park will be utilised for Coach Parking next season. It is planned that this will be occupied by coaches on production of a pass in the same way that it was in previous seasons. The Velodrome Coach Park will remain open for coaches whose preference it is to use this for ease of exiting and for overspill purposes should the Upper Coach Park fill up.
As part of the new arrangements, the Upper Coach Park will also include a segregated area which will run parallel to the Janefield St pavement and this will be utilised for blue badge holders on match days.
It is further planned that the land train will continue to run on match days to bring fans to and from the Velodrome and we are aiming at extending this service to include the collection and drop off of supporters utilising Dalmarnock Train Station if practical and permission is granted from the appropriate authority. .
Celtic to consider options with regard to increasing disabled spaces at Celtic Park: Meetings have taken place with CDSA and discussions on various options will continue.
Celtic to update supporters on UCL qualifying match venue and transport: As well as promoting the Supporters Club network through each of the Associations and the Club’s Social Media and Website we have reached an agreement with Scottish Citylink where fans travelling independently by bus from Glasgow can book return tickets via the Citylink website http://www.citylink.co.uk on the 900 service. By booking in advance of match day fans can save 20% on the standard fares by entering a promotional code {TBC}, meaning travel to and from the game will cost from £6.57 for an Adult which is a saving of £4.22 and from £4.68 for U16’s which is a saving of £2.82. Fans using this service will be required to produce their bus and match ticket in order to travel at the reduced price. Scottish National Concession Card Holders travel free on production of their card on the bus, but are advised to pre book their seats for just 50p per journey on the Citylink website. The 900 service runs every 15 minutes from Glasgow Buchanan St pre match and drops/picks up at Roseburn Bridge – just a short walk from the stadium. Post match buses run every 30 minutes until 23:12 from Roseburn Bridge. The 900 service can be picked up by fans travelling from other parts of Scotland at Edinburgh Bus Station.”
To date there is still no information from Scotrail, I suspect this will be delayed until they have the match dates which will allow them to arrange their schedules based on other events taking place at the same time.
Celtic to consider the possibility of Celtic Phone In and update on decision: This has been given consideration by the Multimedia Team who have advised that they do not see this as being something we could launch in the short term.
Celtic to review ticket allocation process and incorporate any changes in time for 2014/15: No changes planned for next season.
Celtic to continue with Safe Standing application and update supporters on progress: A meeting took place at Celtic Park on Wednesday, June 11 at which time the SAG rejected Celtic’s proposal. The decision by GCC, SAG was based on the fact that they were unconvinced of the case put forward by the Club in terms of the match day management plan.
This focussed on:
• Access control
• Overcrowding
• Supporter Migration
• Supporter Behaviour
It was also considered that more information was required relative to physical barriers and the SAG were unsure/unclear of the access and egress procedures and times within the proposed section for Police and Emergency Services.
In order that we may bring the issue back to the table we have been asked to conduct further research into each of these areas and present a more robust case which provides comfort to the SAG that the measures proposed will prove to be adequate. This is something that the Club will be working on with a view to continuing our plans to bring safe standing to Celtic Park.
Celtic to consider Student prices for 2014/15 Season: £199 Student Price has now been introduced for Students in Full Time Education.
Celtic to consider loyalty rewards for long standing Season Ticket holders from 2014/15: This began with our 8 oldest ST Holders being invited to the Dundee Utd match with full hospitality. It is planned that we will continue with similar gestures next season.
Celtic to make decision on Stadium Catering for 2014/15 and update supporters: Final Decision to be agreed.
Just got a call from a mate, who overheard someone mention, that here’s a bet available, 4 or more draws in the 1st round of games, a whopping 58/1.
Does anyone on here know who that might be?
I’ve tried everywhere online, but cant find anything.
HH
gerryguk7
Neymar has to move from Barca. Messi runs that team and he doesn;t appear to like playing with Neymar. Only one winner and Neymar would be better off elsewhere.
LB
@Bourne
Is that what we call Hauners.
H.H.
Great to be on holiday for the World Cup starting
In 1950 Brazil played Uruguay in the decisive match of the World Cup finals at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil was heavily favoured to win, and needed only a draw to win the round-robin tournament, but despite scoring first, Brazil lost 2–1 when Alcides Ghiggia scored the winning goal for Uruguay in the 79th minute after skillfully dribbling past Brazilian defender Bigode and then drilling the ball into the net while Barbosa was out of position expecting a cross into the middle of the pitch. The loss stunned Brazilians and plunged the country into mourning, over what became known as the Maracanazo, or “the Maracana blow.”
Barbosa was blamed for the defeat, for which he suffered for this for the rest of his life as the match became part of Brazilian folklore. In 2000, shortly before his death, he said in an interview: “The maximum punishment in Brazil is 30 years imprisonment, but I have been paying, for something I am not even responsible for, by now, for 50 years.”[3] In 1993, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, did not allow him to be commentator during the broadcast of one of Brazil’s international matches. He was also turned away from a Brazil training session on one occasion out of fear of his being a jinx for the team.
In 1963, Barbosa was presented with the old square wooden goalposts from the Maracanã as a present, which he took home and burned.
wiki
Argentina to beat Germany in the final.
And if they don’t win it we will get to see them go mad mental at full-time when they are knocked out.
Luis Suarez for leading ‘scorer?
HH!!
Doc
13:29 on 12 June, 2014
Bertie Auld, 1pm tomorrow, be there.
I will actually be there:-) in the same room!
Looking forward to it hugely.
Bet you someone will ask him what he’s voting for at the indy……………
squire danaher
13:24 on 12 June, 2014
Brazil 2/7 on WH iPhone app
Presume the 50k all laid
__________________________________________________________________________
Just checked, looks like it’s all gone!
Missed it myself, trying to look for non-existant bet!
HH
beatbhoy and ziggydoc1….
from the last thread.
Strange goings on in Scotland’s 1974 World Cup group.
Scotland beat Zaire (now the DR Congo) 2-0 and the next day Brazil and Yugoslavia drew 0-0.
Scotland and Brazil then drew 0-0 whilst Yugoslavia hammered Zaire 9-0.
The Zaire manager was ex Yugoslavia goalkeeper Vidinic and after the third goal (around the 20 minute mark) he actually substituted the first choice goalkeeper and the substitute immediately conceded number 4 and two more before half -time.
To make maters worse, just after the substitution, a Zaire player was sent off for kicking the referee.
In the final round of games Scotland and Yugoslavia drew 1-1 and Brazil beat Zaire (with the first choice goalkeeper back in goal) 3-0 which meant that Scotland lost out on goal difference by 1 goal.
Vidinic also seems to have been “helpful” in securing the FIFA presidency for Brazil’s Joao Havelange shortly thereafter.
Nothing much seems to have changed at FIFA!
All,
For those you are travelling to the Dynamo v Celtic game in July, here are some links for travel, pubs, etc, to get you around town.
Flying into Dresden
– There a bus service to take you from the Airport to tram stop ‘Infineon Nord’. Buy a single journey ticket (€2.20 – valid for 1 hour)
– From there, take the 7 tram in the direction of Pennrich (tram system in Dresden is fairly easy to follow and similar to most cities) (this link will give you the transport map for Dresden http://www.dvb.de/en/Homepage/)
– At Pirnaischer Platz, get off and you’re ~50m from the Dubliner Irish Pub and ~800m from the stadium
Flying into Berlin
– Bus from Shönefeld to Dresden is outside the terminal
– The following link, will get you to the website to buy a ticket (https://www.berlinlinienbus.de/index.php?lang=en)
– Taking the bus to the Dresden Hauptbanhof (main train station), you actually pass Pirnaischer Platz and the stadium before getting there, ~5mins later. Very easy to make your way back to the pub!!
Pubs In Dresden
This link shows the 3 main pubs we choose to watch tha games (http://www.shamrock-dresden.de/)
– Irish Fiddler is where we typically watch the games. Located in the Neustadt, too far to walk to the game
– The Shamrock is the oldest and usually the main one travelling supporters are located before a game. Police actually encourage fans to go there!! Walking will take 15-20mins for the game.
– The Dubliner is the closest to the stadium! 5-10mins away and you can see the floodlights from the pub
Fans
Dynamo fans have a core of fans who pride themselves as hooligans! Everyone I’ve talked to don’t expect any trouble, but just be careful! These ‘hooligans’ do go out their way to look for a fight, but in the whole, the game should be trouble free.
Well, I hope this helps some of you if you’re making your way over for the game and we hope you have a great time!
Dresden CSC
Celtic to consider loyalty rewards for long standing Season Ticket holders from 2014/15: This began with our 8 oldest ST Holders being invited to the Dundee Utd match with full hospitality. It is planned that we will continue with similar gestures next season.
Well done the club on that one!
LB
I remember wee Maradonna when Argentina came over as world champs to play Scotland, they won, even although we’d the unfair advantage of Frank McGarvey
in the Scotland firing line.
Gerryguk7
Neymar has struggled this season for the most part, but he was outstanding for Brazil in last year’s Confederations Cup.
He’ll certainly not be the only player throwing himself about at this World Cup.
I hope the referees use their cards to penalise simulation, but also to protect the skilful players from defenders who ‘leave a foot in’, or challenge late, looking away as they do so.
Just apply the rules, and give the tournament a chance.
Livibhoy.
Absolutely – I have some 14/1 Neymar for exactly the same reasons you mention.
I also can’t stand the way the BBC constantly think we’re all Brazil fans
Brazil 1970 is a very different thing to recent editions. The antics of Neymar are the final nails in the 1970 coffins.
gerryguk7
13:32 on 12 June, 2014
Neymar is not an abomination. He is a very fine player. He has underperformed this year, granted.
He owed us nothing back in October, it was Scott Brown’s own stupid fault he got sent off.
=============================================
Neymar rolled about squealing like a stuck pig. A massive over-reaction designed to do only one thing- induce a sending-off.
A little girl in a football strip looking for the dive constantly, with all the physical combative courage of Wayne Sleep.
Mollycoddled by a compliant media due to his massive sponsorship vehicle. He’s done NOTHING to warrant being talked about in the same breath as Messi, Ronaldo, etc.
He’s an embarrasment to the Brazil no.10 shirt. With any luck Croatia’s brutish centre backs will show him up and sort him out tonight.
Tend to get a bit defensive when it comes round to World Cup time , the casual racism or at least racial stereotyping coming from the TV winds me up. Nowhere near as bad as it used to but even at the last competition Mark law tendon
I see Platini is withdrawing his support for Bladder. The plot thickens
TimJim
13:57 on 12 June, 2014
I see Platini is withdrawing his support for Bladder. The plot thickens
Is that you taking the pi$$
Sorry bloomin iPhone and fat fingers don’t go togethr
Gordon
Having said all that, Scotland should have beaten Brazil, (did i just type that?) and should certainly have scored at least one more goal against Zaire, which would have put us through.
Big chance missed that year. Cruyff wouldn’t have got a look-in with Davie Hay about!!
Aaagh can’t even get the apology right
Fred for WC top scorer. He managed 5 in last year’s Confed Cup, one more than the boy wonder. A good old fashioned penalty box striker who is good in the air as well as on the deck.
20/1
http://youtu.be/ydxb4E1BT3w
Paul67/Anyone
In his latest blog
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/fever-pitch/ Phil says
” At the meeting agreement was finally reached on Murray Park.
I would be very surprised if it is available as a training ground for Ally McCoist’s men next season.”
Now my question is how can The Rangers adopt a scout, develop and sell policy if the do not have the means of quality development, assuming of course they will have scouts?
Does the possible sale of Murray Park mean their policy will be to buy in the best that have been developed, or purchased cheaply and developed by other Scottish clubs and what will Celtic do to make sure our model more than matches the player quality of anything The Rangers can field?
Do we simply outbid them for the same player if we think he would add more value being at Celtic than being at Ibrox?
Will we always be in a position to do that exclusive of CL money?
Or should I really be worrying if my pot of yogurt will go off before the sell by date?
Jobo & Steinreigned
I have a Germany v Argentina final in the cqn predictor so no chance of that happening :)
Time for a few pre kick-off beers.
Enjoy the game (if you’re watching it) later!
McBhoy
13:57 on
12 June, 2014
TimJim
13:57 on 12 June, 2014
I see Platini is withdrawing his support for Bladder. The plot thickens
Is that you taking the pi$$
You guessed it Blatter Bladder; The are both full of it.
Maybe because Pele was before my time, but for me Diego has always been the greatest. An absolute phenomenon, and mad-man to go with it. But a pure genius none the less.
As for the modern day debate, it grates with me when people ask Ronaldo or Messi… Ronaldo isn’t even on the same level as the fat brazilian Ronaldo, never mind on the same stratosphere as Messi. Granted Ronaldo has personally had a better season than Messi this year. But geez peace, Messi is 5 times the player of Portugese Ronaldo.
Ruggyman
No doubt Diego was a fine player but how long was he on drugs? Tainted for me and a cheat. Wouldn;t make my top 5 all time greats.
LB