Tournament of the underdogs

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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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  1. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    FF the only player in the England squad not playing in the national league

     

     

    HH

  2. 67heaven … i am neil lennon ….the angels are with wee oscar in heaven.. ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

     

    15:32 on 22 June, 2014

     

    googybhoy ♥ celtic

     

     

    15:23 on 22 June, 2014

     

     

    Nope, can’t find CQN on Facebook……navigate me, please ( will have to be an idiot’s guide hahahahahahaha

     

     

     

    Sorry been busy.

     

    In Facebook use the search button and type CQN in. Both the Facebook and the Magazine pages should come up.

  3. rocktreebhoy

     

    “Of course the photo shoot could be misleading,”

     

    Or your interpretation might not be accurate?

     

     

    JJ

  4. Larrybhoy

     

     

    I don’t see what Engerlund had to complain about anyway. . . .at least it crossed the line, unlike some crucial World Cup goals I could mention!

  5. Rock Tree Bhoy – I would say its Tony Watt that has everything to prove, given he’s already been put on loan. If he knuckles down and gives everything to the team, sure he’ll be considered for the squad going forward. If he doesn’t, he’ll be gone; simples.

  6. There is huge Russian flag behind Belgium goal and word Kamchatka (cyryllic) . A warning for Russia players and their next destination?

  7. Frank Haffey is probably the easiest remembered by me – prior to that:

     

     

    John Bonnar because I was at the Coronation Cup Final – though I was too young to remember much about it (other than my Grandfather taking me to the game).

     

     

    Dick Beattie thanks to the 7-1 League Cup Final – though those of us at the game are more likely to remember the scorers and the scoreline!

  8. Weefrathetim

     

    from last night you thought you had upset me,not at all mate,

     

    I had only said cheers as you has taken post number 1690

  9. Cowiebhoy

     

     

    Newly ordained Father Nicky is saying mass for us next Saturday & Sunday in Winchburgh as our ghuy is away.

     

    Father Nicky was given a glowing reference from our Father Deally today.

     

    Look forward to seeing him.

     

    HH

  10. Re CQN Magazine on Facebook – there is a link at the top of CQN. Easy to find.

     

     

    We’ve been experimenting with tomorrow’s news today as we prepare for the new CQN site so there are a few stories on there that will be in the papers in one form or another tomorrow with usually a bit if bias added. For instance this story can be spun to indicate

     

     

    a) Celtic have been priced out of the market for two former transfer targets (probably true)

     

     

    b) The door is open for Gary Hooper to come back if wanted or

     

     

    c) We could end up signing Ross McCormack

     

     

    Here’s the story…(ps thanks for the goalie memories, please keep them coming!)

     

     

     

    NORWICH CITY boss Neil Adams is prepared to sell Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass to Hull City for £6.5million.

     

     

    And the Carrow Road gaffer plans to spend the cash in attempting to lure Snodgrass’s international team-mate Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn Rovers.

     

     

    Snodgrass, who was linked with his boyhood idols Celtic during the January transfer window, only has a year to run on his current contract.

     

     

    Hull manager Steve Bruce has already had a £5million offer rejected for the 26-year-old former Livingston star.

     

     

    Adams has told him to up the ante if he hopes to take the attacker to the FA Cup runners-up.

     

     

    Rhodes is a priority target for the Canaries after their relegation from the top-flight during the last disastrous campaign.

     

     

    Former coach Chris Hughton splashed £5million in taking Gary Hooper from Celtic, but the frontman contributed a mere six goals in 32 appearances for the East Anglian outfit.

     

     

    Adams has already been linked with another Scottish international hitman, Leeds United’s Ross McCormack, but new Elland Road supremo Massimo Cellino is not encouraging any approaches for the ex-Rangers, Motherwell and Cardiff City frontman.

     

     

    The Norwich boss may have more joy in his pursuit of Rhodes, who cost former Ewood Park boss Steve Kean £8million when he signed from Huddersfield in August 2012.

     

     

    However, the cash-strapped Lancashire side may now accept a cut-price deal for the prolific 24-year-old marksman.

  11. Delaneys Dunky on

    Dallas

     

     

    Was with our mad friend Cokey earlier. He sends his best wishes to you. :)

  12. Unfortunately first goalkeeper I remember was Johnny Bonnar in replay against Clyde in Scottish Cup Final. First game (1st televised final) was 1-1 with Archie Robertson scoring with last corner of the game. We lost replay 1-0.

     

    Frank Haffey was another Govan boy brought up not far from were Joe McBride was brought up.

     

     

    HH

  13. WeefratheTim on

    gordybhoy64

     

     

    Thanx for that. I did think I had upset some posters, (scratching me heid to think why). That clears that one up. Nae wonder I won nothing in the lottery wi posting that number. Hehe. I honestly did not realise I had that infamous post. Cheers for that gordy. ;-)))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  14. Derbyshirebhoy 17.40

     

     

    ..As you say Frank Haffey saved a Bobby Charlton penalty in a 1-1 draw. No mean feat as Charlton had scored 50 penalties out of 50 in practice two days before.

  15. Margaret McGill on

    zbyszek

     

     

    17:47 on 22 June, 2014

     

    Is that a jibe that they’re Gulag bound if they fail?

  16. Margaret McGill on

    zbyszek

     

     

    17:47 on 22 June, 2014

     

    Or is the famous peninsula a holiday resort these days?

  17. minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar on

    EDB – say hi to the girls from me. The love Moira had for you all lives on in all of you. God Bless

  18. Ghuys n ghals

     

     

    Spent fri and sat doing a charity coast to Coast from Oban to St Andrews. It was amazing, stunning, uplifting.

     

     

    Thanks to those CQNers who were so kind in sponsoring me. As you’ll see from the link below you’ve helped us raise a great amount in support of lung health.

     

     

    HH SareBumCSC!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

     

     

    http://m.virginmoneygiving.com/mt/uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=coast2coastscotland&isTeam=true

  19. WeefratheTim on

    bsr

     

     

    Correct. That photo of Beattie in the DR running from his goaline at the final whistle with 5 fingers in one hand and 2 in the other, up in the air, will live with me forever. :-))))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  20. SFTB

     

     

    Of course you’re correct, as Celtic supporters, managers, players etc we’re all entitled to our opinions about all aspects of the club and that includes the support.

     

     

    I myself have been critical at times over things that I’ve seen Celtic supporters involved in. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong, and it’s important that if we’re to maintain the excellent reputation that we have then we continue to highlight anything that would jeopardise that.

     

     

    My concerns regarding AH are that she’s a journalist who has the opportunity to highlight so many of the great things about our support but rarely does.

     

     

    I’m not so concerned about her tweets re the Swedish physios more about her perpetuating the myth over the ‘Dundee Riot’.

     

     

    She later admitted she hadn’t been there.

  21. Rock Tree Bhoy on

    Jungle Jim

     

     

    It wasn’t an interpretation Jungle, it was a perception, we all have them.

  22. derbyshirebhoy on

    Jeromek67

     

     

    Wow. Didn’t know that. I do seem to remember that at the time he never seemed to miss.He was some player.

  23. Rock Tree Bhoy on

    Larrybhoy – I agree TW has everything to prove, no doubt about it, it will still be a huge challenge for the new management team to get the best out of him though, probably one of their biggest in terms of the playing staff available, well TW and LG also probably.

  24. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Weefra, where I stay and depending what way the wind is blowing, the smell from local farms when they do their spreading, can be quite pungent.

     

     

    With so many farms within a five mile radius of Strathaven, I hope they all don’t do their spreading on the same day or you may wish you never had a sense of smell.

     

     

    I hope we get a good draw tomorrow and get our focus on our fitness and preparation for the qualifiers.

  25. jamesgang

     

     

    18:07 on 22 June, 2014

     

     

    A great effort mate, well done!

     

     

    Now go and soak those tired limbs :-)

  26. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Lukaku to be the WC top scorer must be the worst bet I’ve ever put on ….and…there have been some stinkers !!!!

     

     

    This game would get fitba stopped

  27. bournesouprecipe

     

     

    18:21 on 22 June, 2014

     

     

    Camera pans in on guy sleeping during the Russia – Belgium game.

     

     

    ——–

     

     

    One of the keepers?

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