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.
[calameo code=0003901719d82038831a9 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,110 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- »
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/referendum/9313-us-based-carnegie-institute-director-publicly-backs-yes
Lionroars
With you totally
The day we play Sevco will be a day too soon
CFC are criticised for OLDFIRMITIS( rightly so) ….seems some fans can’t wait ….
Not for me
Did Fred cheat? He did win a penalty ,which by-the-way, seemed to be his only contribution to the Brazil cause . The defender did have a hand on his shoulder as they challenged for the ball . This might have been enough to knock Fred off balance but he made sure he fell in exagerated fashion. To my mind he out-smarted the defender .
Lets face it the biggest cheats in modern day football are the defenders. They have mastered the art of sneakily fouling their opponents by blocking ,holding shoving etc.
Its dog-eat-dog in that penalty box with forwards and defenders using every means available to come out on top.
Bamboo
Out smarted ..perhaps
What chance Croatia getting a pen yesterday in similar circs ?
Billy Bhoy 05
09:24 on
13 June, 2014
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/referendum/9313-us-based-carnegie-institute-director-publicly-backs-yes
————————————–
David Speedie has come a long way since his Chelsea playing days
There are 72 seats remaining in the ole Main Stand, 18 in the rear and 54 in the front. I know cos I’ve just counted them online. Who fancies doing the North Stand? ‘-)
LIONROARS67
Spot on,buddy!
I won’t watch it on the telly,and I’ll just scroll by any mention of it on here or elsewhere.
Dead teams don’t get played.
Main talking points from last night’s game. It wasn’t a penalty, Neymar booking was correct and disallowed Croatia goal was correct. Ref got 2 out of 3 big decisions correct.
Thought Oscar was superb. Freed from Mourinho’s negative shackles he showed pace and skill we don’t see when playing in the ‘greatest league in the world’.
A good game, hope the next 63 are as good.
….pfayr supports weeoscar
09:25 on 13 June, 2014
Lionroars
I could not agree with you (both) more ……. I will never enter the same stadium as those corrupt hooligans again……hopefully, though, it will not be a dilemma for some, since the spiv shareholders will desert the sinking ship as soon as they realise the desired profit margin….
(Believe it or not, one eejit came onto CQN and accused those of us who want them to remain liquidated of acting like nazis…..!!! gobsmacking stuff …… anyway, our resistance has paid off and it’s onward and upwards for the Famous (non-corrupt) Glasgow Celtic, the Club we all love……HH
Got Chile in the sweepstake so my sassenach mates will understand if I am chasing the money, nothing personal. Sad that Brazil need honest mistakes. Germany look strong. Enjoy the fitba
twists n turns
I wouldnt worry about any future tips losing, the last two would more than compensate.
I put it on the nose as well as I dont often do e/w bets. My mate took it at 7s in Paddy Power,
Ive advised him that they pay out on highest price, is that correct ?
Anyway buddy thanks again
HH
gary67
09:35 on 13 June, 2014
Fully agree, and I also thought Neymar was terrific…..seems to raise his game when playing for his Country (although, to be fair, he may just be taking a wee while to settle in at Barca)
/
expat_celt
09:30 on 13 June, 2014
Billy Bhoy 05
09:24 on
13 June, 2014
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/referendum/9313-us-based-carnegie-institute-director-publicly-backs-yes
————————————–
David Speedie has come a long way since his Chelsea playing days
:::;;;
Think he’s still a Chelsea man?
I see billy bhoy05 is still passing of cyber Nat propaganda as news. It’s getting desperate billy bhoy!
twists n turns
My bhoy said thanks because he got £20 from the winnings
NEGANON2
Oh,well. In the interests of balance…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2656791/JAN-MOIR-As-Scot-venom-tartan-trolls-makes-ashamed.html
Bobby. The daily mail and cybernats. Put them in a locked room together and throw away the key…..
I dont think Scotland got any luck in the last 2 world-cup games v Brazil.
These international giants seem to get the breaks. Also european teams in South America are always going to find it extra hard.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
09:40 on
13 June, 2014
gary67
09:35 on 13 June, 2014
Fully agree, and I also thought Neymar was terrific…..seems to raise his game when playing for his Country (although, to be fair, he may just be taking a wee while to settle in at Barca)
/
Neymar clearly has a look at the Croatian player coming to make an aerial challenge and sticks his elbow out.
Straight red card…..not a yellow.
Elbows himself would have been proud of that moment.
Neg anon2
Using the term Cybernats is the unionist equivalent of calling people with an internet connection internet bampots.
Thunder Road
09:53 on 13 June, 2014
More like a slap than an elbow to me. Yes he looked, he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t, his arm was out for leverage and protection against player battering into him. Looked worse than it was, dangerous but not malicious, yellow card probably right decision. All IMO of course.
Billy Bhoy 05,
with due respect can you please stop bringing this referendum crap onto the blog? You are not going to change anybody’s mind, on this blog, how they feel about an independent Scotland by your (almost) daily onslaught regarding the subject.
If you really feel that strongly about it then please do what George Galloway used to do – stand at the corner of Sauchiehall Street and North Street, outside the old Speaker’s Corner, and get on your soap box to publically debate the issue with people who might be interested.
I am in favour of the people Scotland deciding their own future but maybe like most of us they do not trust politicians of any political hue. This will be my only post regarding this issue so please don’t try to engage me in any debate – I’m not interested!
Fair enough for Bhoy who want to leave their seats empty for the Celtic v Sevco when/if it happens. Would never be me. I would give it to someone. Just my thoughts on it.
LB
Brazil have some good players and could win it with the benefit of home advantage, but there are better teams.
Do Celtic hope to be able to install safe standing for this season?
Will the Celtic directors leave their seats empty when the huns come calling again?
Or, will they be too busy rolling out the welcome mat?
See if we pump Sevco 10-0 will their fans claim it’s a new club?
LB
Twists- that’s what you call a tip sir HH
Last night’s ref must have been warned about “civil unrest” , a homer.
Snake Plissken
09:58 on 13 June, 2014
Neg anon2
Using the term Cybernats is the unionist equivalent of calling people with an internet connection internet bampots.
—————————————————————————–
We had this discussion before on the blog.The term “cybernat” has been used by the SNP and Yes campaigners themselves to describe those who use social media etc. to put their case forward. There’s nothing pejorative about it. However here (from the article) is some of the language used by pro-Yes trolls describing people who hold an opposite opinion to theirs :
David Bowie was dubbed an ‘out-of-touch has-been’ and invited to return to Mars without delay.
Andrew Marr was called a ‘self-important weasel’ for challenging First Minister Alex Salmond about a separate Scotland’s European Union membership.
Chris Hoy was called a ‘traitor’ and a ‘bigoted anti-Scot’ for mildly pointing out that most Scottish athletes train and rely on facilities elsewhere in UK.
So spare us the faux outrage. Anyone who disagrees with the Yes campaign gets demonised and branded anti-Scottish. It’s childish and petulant but also instructive – because these are the people who want to rule us under some kind of nominal “independence” as it’s being marketed. However, according to all the polls over the last 2 years their plan is going nowhere :
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/scottish-independence-referendum
could those cqners telling people to stop posting independence referendum posts please at least tell BOTH sides to stop posting
if you are only going to tell those whose pro or anti independence stance you disagree with to stop posting then it kind of makes your complaints an empty gesture
just saying like
Goin to the Pogues concert in thetford forest tomorrow night but spending tonight in Cambridge,does anyone know of any Celtic friendly bars there to watch tonights world cup games in?
Thanks in advance
BM
hoopy-do
10:19 on 13 June, 2014
‘could those cqners telling people to stop posting independence referendum posts please at least tell BOTH sides to stop posting
if you are only going to tell those whose pro or anti independence stance you disagree with to stop posting then it kind of makes your complaints an empty gesture
just saying like’
####
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the subject is almost invariably introduced by nats.
NatKnow,
“David Bowie was dubbed an ‘out-of-touch has-been’ and invited to return to Mars without delay.”
Wow! Strong stuff.
wee Harry Potter was called a ‘specky b##tard’.
A bit worrying that ole Alec’s band of fearless freedom fighters don’t seem to realise wee Harry is made up.
JohnnyClash
10:25 on 13 June, 2014
NatKnow,
“David Bowie was dubbed an ‘out-of-touch has-been’ and invited to return to Mars without delay.”
Wow! Strong stuff.
————————————————-
I know – nearly as bad as being called a “cybernat”! Mammy! Daddy!
twentyfirstofmaynineteenseventynine
Yes bud, that’s correct.
Despite my reservations about the ole World Cup I decided to watch Brazil v Croatia, partly because there was nothing else on the telly. I was pleasantly surprised, a good open game between two attacking teams.
But I switched over for Question Time after the penalty, a decision that ruined my enjoyment of the match.
To be honest, I am totally sick of the corruption in football. It really pisses me off, and is one of the reasons I have not been interested in the World Cup.
Ernie
Today it was Neganon who introduced the subject.