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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649 Comments- Pages:
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EDB
Best Wishes
WC,
My memory of Frank Haffey is that he seemed to me to swing on the bar every game. he was a real character, the type beloved at Parkhead. He brightened many a dull game.
When England beat Scotland 9-3 at Wembley in 1961, Frank was the goalie.
The joke after that was “What time is it? Haffey past nine! “
beatbhoy
Difficult to argue with that,……… saw him in the crowd last night when the camera
picked him out.
My dad used to say he was all Hollywood and nae substance.
Mon the Russia
Trailer up for Paul Larkin’s upcoming documentary:
http://www.theasteriskyears.com/
Hail Hail
“Robin van Persie’s goal alone has made the trip to Brazil worthwhile”
Sepp Blatter
Freebie CSC
JOHN O’NEILL
So which one are you?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepers_(TV_series)
Good afternoon all.
My memory of the 9-3 game was, because the ball was an orange one, Caldow couldnae kick it and big Frank couldnae touch it. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Fabio Capello looks like the ole guy in UP?
Johnny Bonnar………
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bonnar
I may have seen an earlier one but too yoing to remember, too old noo……
Weefra
The ole one’s are the ole one’s ;-)
Young even…..
bsr
And then some. Hehe
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Arsenal have never properly replaced Martin Keown (or Tony Adams ). Keown was known by his fellow professionals as ‘the rash’.
AllOverYou CSC
RIP Gerry Conlon
None of those responsible for the gross miscarriage of justice that saw the Guilford 4 imprisioned have ever been prosecuted. Justice – British imperial style.
“I’ve been in prison for 15 years for something I didn’t do, for something I knew nothing about.”
“I watched my father die in a British prison for something he didn’t do.”
the honest mistake loves being first
16:39 on 22 June, 2014
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.
——–
That’s great, as I said I’m glad you all had a great night.
Ps just a wee point. I never said she shouldn’t have been there I merely asked why she was and that’s been answered, thank you.
Oh and the difference is that other Celtic supporters don’t write articles criticising the support.
Anyway, glad it all went well.
Hail Hail
beatbhoy – surely FOUR goals in succession ? :-)
HT
Big Jock wrote an article criticising sections of the Celtic support. WGS spoke about the section of our support that drinks Kestrel, has a devil dug and phones the shock jock phone-ins, and many posters here have made critical comment on aspects of our supporting.
What, after all, is the jibe about worshipping the balance sheet or KevJ’s criticism of those that buy SBs but the criticism of fan behaviour. When I criticise our singing of “here we go, 10 in a row”, or for fans not going to matches because the edge has gone without Rangers, I am being critical of some behaviour by some fans.
Our fans have an enviable reputation but they are not and never have been above criticism. I do not understand why Angela should be sidelined for her criticism when we are allowed to critique others on here. Not that I agree that Angela was right about the wolf-whistling but she was not completely and unjustifiably wrong either. Just a wee bit OTT, I thought, or am I missing something else she said or did?
Larrybhoy
Very good point!
Ok, I doubt anyone has scored 3 better consecutive international goals with their left or right foot than DAM!
Jonathan Pearce commentating again – hope we don’t need goal line technology.
Russia, the only team in Brasil whose all footballers play in domestic league.
bsr
I hope we do. I love hearing that twat making an a@@e of himself. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Bourne, I hope you are right.
Mr Pierce has just mentioned us again.
Every game he has commentated on in this world cup he gives us a mention.
Weefra
Same here, remember the whole of his head has to cross the line before it’s a goal.
A full church for 6.30 mass tonight in the Sacred Heart Cowie, as Fr Nicky celebrates his first mass, need to get oot soon for a seat
thecelt45
Richie
BMCUWP
Thanks to all for the fleg that flies here – for the moment anyway.
After our small gang get a pic or two with it, it’ll be winging its way to the next lucky destination.
HH
Weefra, despite Jonathan Pierce’s mistake in the France Honduras game, him and Steve Wilson tend to concentrate on the teams playing not the Three Lions.
He is always very complimentary about us and as I recently posted, has mentioned Celtic in each of the games he has commentated on in this tournament.
I hope the smell from the spreading yesterday has abated.
The oldest goalie I met was John Bonnar… He had the Spur Bar in Polmadie. … I served my time at Aitkenhead Rd and frequented it well at the time. His sons ran it. I was at school with one of his sons. Think he also had The Londoner just next to Bridgeton Cross. Well I know he did. Was a good stop off for the 22 bus back to the Bar-L….. Time flys eh???
DD
In fairness he does mention Celtic regularly.
Champions League Round 2 Qualifying Draw tomorrow.
Here`s hoping we get an Irish or Welsh team. Would rather avoid Malmo or Stromsgodset at this stage.
A reporter for the Times newspaper has tweeted that Liverpool have accepted a bid from Barcelona for Luis Suarez. £56 million plus Alexis Sanchez.
dallas dallas
You are, of course, correct. He did mention Celtic. But I do like to hear any of them experts tripping themselves up. And thank you, the smell has abated but the field has not been completely slurried. More healthy smells to come. :-(((( hehehe
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
As I understand it based on browsing the Scottish Media, we wont be signing anyone (other than Craig Gordon – yippee) until such times as the CL qualifiers have been completed, then we will see whats ahead of us and recruit or not accordingly, thats definitely not going to get anyone excited so its up to Ronny and John to provide the excitement meantime.
Was not too impressed with the photoshoot introducing JC as the assistant manager, the body language was all wrong, they looked like 2 rookie football coaches who could hardly believe their luck at being in the big time. Would rather have seen a Roy Keane type snarl from the both of them. Of course the photo shoot could be misleading, the proof will be in the pudding very shortly. How they handle Tony Watt will be interesting, this will tell us a lot about their managerial abilities.
bsr
:-))))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
beatbhoy – agreed, 3 very special goals with his feet – watched both games and still didnt believe it wasn’t a header for the 1st goal against Engurland, until shown it in super slow mo much later (or what passed for that at the time !)
Frank almost on his own performed miracles to repel Rangers in a 3-2 victory on the Wednesday. On the Saturday at home to Partick he rightly basked in the acclaim coming from all around .
Unfortunately the Partick right back decided to punt a ball from close to the half way line which eventually trickled towards the waiting Frank who crouched to pick it up letting it slip through his grasp and into the net.
That was Frank.
Incidentally the year before 9-3 Frank starred in a 1-1 draw at Hampden saving a penalty from Bobby Charlton.
Bourne. he used to commentate on european games covered by channel 5 years ago.
One game he commentated on was Slovan Bratislava v an EPL club in Bratislava. He mentioned during the commentary that Slovan had only lost one previous home european game and that was against Celtic. He followed this up by saying well done the Celts.
His commentary will be annoying to some people but I give him a bit of leeway due to his appreciation of Celtic.
I wonder if Russian player Shatov ever has a take away from the Shatin in Uddingston.