Spain were cut low by Chile, England by Uruguay, Italy by Costa Rica. Argentina were pushed to the last gasp by Iran, Germany had to come from behind to match Ghana. Add to this the merit badges earned by Croatia against Brazil, Bosnia against Argentina and the Aussies against the Dutch, and we have a remarkable list of performances by underdogs against countries who to some extent fancied their chances for the trophy.
The most striking feature of all these performances is the way the results were achieved. Apart from their own dead rubber in the Nou Camp last season, Celtic beat or narrowly lost to Barcelona in a series of games over the last decade by defending their 18 yard box as though their lives depended on it. Ventures forward were never supported by many players. We’ve not been alone, this is the way lower-resource clubs have taken on the super-rich in the Champions League.
World Cup 2014 has seen this change. Australia, Iran and Bosnia will head home proud of their performances, something which takes balls. When we’re inevitably drawn against Barca next time in the Champions League, should we press them high up the field? My feeling is, we would be slaughtered, but at one point in this tournament, we need to mature.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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Interesting observations, Paul.
One thing that you didn’t mention. Fitness/speed.
You have a chance of getting a result out of a defensive game if you have the fitness to play without the ball….using that energy to press in numbers, even if it is in your own half…..and the speed to take advantage of the few opportunities that come your way.
I have long believed that Celtic players could – and should – be fitter.
Kris Commons for example….what a wonderfully skillful and intelligent player. Yet, virtually every player in the MSL in the USA and Canada is fitter than our man.
Add to that the various comments made about our loanees.
I said this in my very first CQN post, and it is still true….there is a LOT of room for improvement that doesn’t require the use of a cheque book.
All that being said, this is a wonderful world cup.
WC
Sorry just a wee appendage :-)
Being the gentleman that he is I’m quite sure that BRTH wouldn’t have introduced Angela in any other way than complimentary :-)
I’d be surprised if he’d mention the other negative tweets, that you didn’t mention, towards and about Celtic supporters.
Anyways….glad you all had a great night.
Who was the first goalkeeper you saw playing for Celtic? Can anyone go further back than John Fallon?
Frank Haffey
Frank haffey
At last…. a brilliant game provided last night in Germany vs Ghana was made all the more enjoyable by the BBC provided a supporting commentator who talked in details about tactics. Danny Murphy was a complete breath of fresh air compared to the duds previously provided. For the 1st time in many a game I did not have turn the sound off to stop hearing the drivel being generated by Savage, Lawrenson, and co.
Also, ITV provided Martin O’Neill, Fabio Cannavaro, and Patrick Vieira as a team in the studio – all of them great to listen to, drowning out the drivel from Adrian Chiles. And…. they’re giving WGS a run out from time to time, which is also a stand out.
Happy days
A bit worried about the lack of
New signings is craig Gordon it
Are we gonna play with what we’ve got
Malorbhoy giving his age away:o)
John, the girls are here with me. Cracking open a few bottles in memory of Moira.
WC @ 1555
1960/61 .Frank Haffey
TC45
and you will have a few great memories I am sure,
God bless
The ole Papa excommunicates the Mafia…….shoorly no Tony?
EDB
Enjoy J, keep those memories alive!!
EDB
You and the ghirls have a good mate.hh
the celt45
first game i can remember was the 1961 cup final replay
eldiegobhoy
16:07 on 22 June, 2014
I passed on your thanks to leftclicktic.
Stay strong my friend…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
EDB
good day..of course.
Frank Haffey
Frank Haffey
HH
If any of you guys have any memories of watching Frank Haffey would love to read them.
p.s. in a bright yellow jersey and white shorts
I once saw John Bonnar play in a charity match. Does that count?
Sipsini
I’ve put in a ‘Join Request’ …..what happens now……!!!!?
Hope that in their build-up to the match, BBC show the goals from the ’86 4-3 classic between Belgium and the USSR, which was mentioned on here earlier today.
Weeron, good post.
Russia: a mighty, intriguing, dark and beautiful nation which is brimming with history and importance.
Belgium: ehm… Er.
Cmon Fabio, prove me wrong.
winning captains
Too young to remember anything specific, but even then he was something of a cult figure, who tended to be great one game, not so great. My older brother told me he scored with a bye kick.
Unfortunately it was into his own net in a game against Partick Thistle on a very windy winter’s night at Firhill? I don’t think the ‘goal’ stood.
It could be true but I’ve no way of knowing, to me he was just a big hero diving about like Fraser Forster, and he did break down the SFA barrier to play for Scotland so he was a very decent keeper who vied with John Fallon for the jersey.
I saw Johnny Thomson ..here..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9TAa0gfg8
Yeeess! Highlights!
winning captains,
I was at the 9-0 victory over Airdrie when Haffey took and missed a penalty for us.
Hamiltontim.
Angela Haggerty is a Celtic supporter. She might have been involved in an argument with other Celtic supporters in the past. Who hasn’t?
She was made to feel welcome last night at the Wimbledon CSC as other Celtic supporters have in the past and more will in the future. Hopefully she will come back as we enjoyed her company.
HH.
Bonus! Diego Armando!
winning captains
Two memories of frank
Taking a penalty against airdrie when we were 9-1 up and letting the goalkeeper make a
Hollywood save,decent thing to do.
Shipping 9 against England
HH
Diego Maradonna deserved widescreen TV.
Was it John Fallon who pulled off a miraculous save from a Eusebio header in a 3 nil win for the hoops against a very good Benfica side
Was Bt even thought of then:o).
Sheikyerbouti
Who would you replace with whom?
JJ
—
voguepunter
16:13 on 22 June, 2014
The ole Papa excommunicates the Mafia…….shoorly no Tony?
~~~~~~~
The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie
19:08 on 20 June, 2014
Small Country Run By Mafia…
Defeats Big Country Run By Mafia…
Entire Season’s Crop Of Marchin’ Powder….
Heading O’er ‘The Pond’….
Tae SofaTunis’ Gairden Hut…
Right..? Damned Right..!
~~~
Pope Frankie Mad At The Mafia..?
Livid…More Like..!
He Bet The Vatican Bank On Italy…
St.Paul’s Cathedral Will Henceforth Be Known As….
PaddyPower Dome….!
Ye Heard It Here…Foist!
winning captains 15:55 on 22 June, 2014
Who was the first goalkeeper you saw playing for Celtic? Can anyone go further back than John Fallon?
————————————
Dick Beattie atHampden in the sun – Celtic 7 Rangers 1
BSR
I doubt anyone ever scored 3 better consecutive international goals than Maradona’s second goal v England in the ’86 QF, followed by those 2 beauties in the semi-final against Belgium.
He didn’t score in the final, but put Burruchaga through to score the winner with a sublime pass.
I remember Frank Haffey very well. It’s hazy before that.