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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Livibhoy,
The contagion of “oldfirmitis” has to be killed off,Celtic PLC refuse to act in our clubs best interest on this one.
My seat will be empty if thems (supporters) return to spew their bile at Celtic Park,and on those occasions I fervently hope that empty seat will be replicated throughout the Stadium as a graphic protest against the years of cheating and, dare I say it,complicity from those “o*d*i*rm junkies who cant wait for their next fix.
HH
thebigotpoundistaxavoidableCSC
buick makane
From Celtic Bars
CAMBRIDGE – RATHMORE CLUB 70 CHERRY HINTON RD, CB1 7AA (Tel: 01223 245105) (Tony Mowbray Cambridge CSC)
CAMBRIDGE – MAN ON THE MOON 2 NORFOLK ST, CB1 2LF (Tel: 01223 474144) (Cambridge Shamrock CSC)
Never been to any of them but Cambridge is a nice wee city with lots of good pubs. Enjoy!
I cant see why we are looking at another midfielder as in my opinion the team is strong in that area mind you Pringle is a crisp player. I have heard a rumour which I hope is not true that Ronny will not be allowed to spend until we qualify for the CL group stage it would fit with the PL strategy. H.H.
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
10:02 on 13 June, 2014
Well said that man. HH
Lucky white heather.
Done Neymar 1st goal with 3 1.
1. Luck number 1. First goal is og. Does not count.
2. Luck number 2. Neymar should get red card, gets yellow.
3. Luck 3. Neymar scores with a sclaff that the keeper messes up.
4. Luck 4. Penalty. Soft or what
5. Luck 5. Injury time goal that once again sees the goalie go down like a Saturday coopin.
One of those days………
would pringle play for the jumper …..?
Harrison Ford has broken his ankle on a garage door on the Star Wars set. He was trying to save his hat but didn’t have his hands so low…….
NatKnow
10:16 on
13 June, 2014
Are we really going to go down a ‘he said/she said’ route? There’s abusive idiots on both sides of the fence and they should be roundly ignored. Giving them attention just makes them believe they are having an effect.
pogmathonyahun aka laird of the smiles
10:02 on 13 June, 2014
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.
You are a wee bit wrong as I do not post on a daily basis or even near to that on Independence.
And with the same respect I notice there was no comment on Negaton’s negative post which was prior to mine.
The Independence subject is not crap as it is the most important thing to happen in 300 years in Scotland.
Don’t like a post scroll by, just what I and others do
Snake – cybernats – aww the poor didums dont like the phrase do they? What a sensitive group they are.
They didnt seem that senstive with the abuse they gave JK Rowling – did you actually read what was written. It was absolutely disgusting and very reminiscint of FF.
Wee Eck is trying desperately to play the bullying down but the cat is out the bag and this is the final straw for many.
So do me a favour and stop your one sided hypocritical hand wringing please.
Bognorbhoy
Bobby has already cracked a Pringles joke…aboot crisps…..enuff.
Except to say, have you tried those new Korean crisps? They really are the dogs bollocks. Jacket…….
Livibhoy
I’m with you, and anyone who knows me knows the last thing I am is an old firm supporter.
Their brand, old and new is toxic and as a club we should be doing all in our power to break the link.
However, if we are ever to play this new entity then I will go.
As a Celtic supporter.
To all those CQNer’s who come onto
CELTIC Quick News and, want to talk
about – CELTIC…..why don’t you all go
and do one!
Offski.
John Collins into 6/1 for Hibs job. Punters in Edinburgh believe this could happen. Can’t see it myself.
Would like to see our coaching team installed shortly.
Hopefully in the next 7 days.
LB
Billy Boy
‘The Independence subject is not crap as it is the most important thing to happen in 300 years in Scotland.’
###
Only for nats.
Billy Bhoy 05, sigh.
I agree that independence is a vitally important debate to have and it should be discussed on here from time to time. But you do, on a daily basis, post propaganda from cybernat sites. You werent around before independence became an issue – so I think we all get what your agenda is.
And once again you are lying – I posted in response to the article you posted.
You are completely discredited. You have called for ethnic cleansing of those who disagree with your political world view and you have likened no votes with the BNP and OO.
You continually lie and spin just like your political masters in the SNP.
If you want to debate do so openly – dont try and ram your view down all of our throats. If you want a reasoned debate then be reasonable but I still think you are a hired SNP goon.
Re season ticket use;
Anyone like to estimate for me how many Saturday home games we are likely to play next season?
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
I’m not sure how a half empty stadium helps the team. If supporters don’t want to go that is fine it’s everyones own choice.
I don’t like to see seats empty for any game. I would always pass my ticket on. In all honesty I’m not sure if I would go or not. Certainly won’t be back at Ibrokes but Celtic Park is a bit different. I don’t usually hear their bile anyway. Our seats are too far away from them.
LB
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the subject is almost invariably introduced by nats.
—————-
I would say its probably mostly yes voters who post, but i suppose thats because thats the stance for change, i would imagine that those advocating change in any situation would be more vocal than those happy with the status quo
but i have read many posters on here who come on to slag off stuff that guys like salmond and sturgeon (surely she’s not a guy? – Ed) have said on the telly or in the paper without it being in response to any instigation from a ‘yes’ poster
so as i said, it makes it more acceptable if its a balanced request to stop all political posts, however i think thats unlikely to be heeded, theres always political posts on here, and with the referendum being such an important issue to scotland (the country we play in), and the fact that it could have important implications for the club, then i would be surprised if there werent many more between now and september and probably beyond
P67 should maybe have a different thread for them, and on the main thread block any posts that contain certain political words, and bar any poster that does snyde things to get round it
yes, censorship and banning orders, thats what cqn needs!!!
Lionsroars67, in a sporting sense they are irrelevant. In a sports governance sense they are important i.e. How it shouldn’t be done, LiviBhiys point was support Celtic regardless of the opposition, not leave your seat empty because of them, a fair point. But as you say, you are entitled to use your seat as you see for. For me, I will wait to see how the club approach it, a single mention of OF and I will struggle to go back, at all, and certainly won’t attend that game. If the club welcome a new club and a new challenge, fair play. Back to the coal face.
Livibhoy. Celtic will announce there new assistant manager next week. H.H.
Billy Bhoy 05 I want you to admit that you lied in this post
“Ernie
Today it was Neganon who introduced the subject”
You posted the cybernat link well before I got involved.
Its pathetic – it really is
Robinbhoy
Thanks for the info,will suss them out
Leave Billy Bhoy alone you cyber-bullies.
hoopy-do-correct.
Craig Bryson has a 650k buy out clause,score a few fae midfield….
If John Collins is offered the position of Celtic assistant
coach I’ll be delighted.
If John Collins is offered the Celtic assistant coaches job
and, knocks it back – then…there’s a rat in the kitchen.
Steinreignedsupreme
10:30
13 June, 2014
Likewise was enjoying the game untill the so called penalty .
Turned over after Brazil scored and watched a repeat of Game of Thrones.
At least that is meant to be fantasy. Can understand the reaction from the Croatian camp. They spend years preparing just for this game and it ends up being decided not on skill but on an extremely dodgy decision from a referee who was probably out of his depth.(Either that or corrupt!)
‘The Independence subject is not crap as it is the most important thing to happen in 300 years in Scotland.’
-au contraire, I had a request played on the wireless yesterday.
twists n turns
Good day all round mate, have to say your tips are a lot better then yer jokes haha
HH
I noticed on the evening news last night they asked SPL managers there views about which team they thought would win the World cup however Ronny wasnt asked ? H.H.
I heard an English ref was defending the man in the middle in Brazil yesterday evening. The Englishman seemingly believes the one in Sao Paolo had a good game and made 1 mistake. Personally, I thought he had a poor game and made 3 major mistakes. Besides awarding the penalty, he should have sent Neymar off for his forearm smash and he disallowed a perfectly good goal for Croatia. Dreadful stuff.Handpicked???
twists n turns
10:43 on 13 June, 2014
___________________
Probably four.
Then two of them will be smuggled for junkets
to places like Turkey etc.
But at least you’ll be able to go to a couple
freezing / pissing the rain wednesday night
srcambles v’s R. County, P. Thistle etc…:)
scrambles even.
Jungle spy
I can only make Saturdays due to travelling hence my asking…hope your not accurate with that number???
doc
With you on that mate , New Club and treated as such then I’ll be there BUT if our club / board welcome them as a continuation of the OF then count me out .
The most important events in the last 300 years of Scotland’s history…….
1) 1888
2)1967.
At last, some tactical analysis from a pundit, rather than their usual pointing out of the bleedin’ obvious. Danny Murphy highlighting Scholari’s moving of Neymar inside having started wide, and Oscar taking the wide role, following a poor start from Brazil.
Both ended up Brazil’s best players last night, in a better game than many seem to think. Then again, if you were expecting Brazil ’70 or ’82 levels, you would be disappointed!
And a bit of credit to Neymar, who was clearly fouled inside the box as he ran along the byeline preparing to cut the ball back, but didn’t go down. He passed to Oscar, who brought out a save from the ‘keeper.
Looking forward to seeing Chile tonight, who played really well at Wembley recently, and are many people’s idea of a live outsider.
Believe that Celtic are touting by phone for season ticket.
surely PL should be getting grilled as to why this has become necessary on his watch
Could it have anything to do with product quality downsizing?