The World Cup Thread

[bb1]

I suppose we should have one, as it's due to start in Brazil in a few hours. Unfortunately, all is not sweetness, light and celebration...

http://news.sky.com/story/1280943/world-cup-stun-grenades-used-on-protesters

World Cup: Stun Grenades Used On Protesters
2:54pm UK, Thursday 12 June 2014



Police have fired stun grenades and tear gas to break up protests in Sao Paolo just hours before the World Cup's opening game.

Officers also used rubber bullets as anger at the money being spent to host the competition spilled over.

At least one demonstrator was arrested about six hours before Brazil plays Croatia in the opening game, according to Globo News.

A CNN producer, Barbara Arvanitidis, has been injured at the scene.

Dozens of protesters had gathered near a Sao Paulo subway station with a red banner reading "If we have no rights, there won't be a Cup".

Elsewhere in Brazil, thousands of fans flying into the country are facing a chaotic welcome after ground staff voted to stage a 24-hour strike.

Hours before the tournament gets under way, workers at Rio de Janeiro's Galeao airport, which is expected to be one of the busiest in Brazil over the next four weeks, have declared a partial walkout in a row over pay.

Baggage handlers and check-in staff will join colleagues at the city's Santos Dumont airport - an important hub for flights to Sao Paulo, where England play Uruguay next week - in downing tools.

More follows...

Nothing says 'Welcome' like airport strikes.

[Sabot]

So long as we aren't going to be talking about FootBall.

[bb1]

Protesters try to block the main route to the Corinthians Arena, which hosts tonight's opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

I don't know if the on-pitch action is going to match the off-pitch, Sabot.

[Sabot]

Don't they speak Portuguese in Brazil?

[bb1]

Yes, their version of it.

[Sabot]

Yes, their version of it.

So The Police should be able to cope then.

[Lamplighter]

Italy beat England 2-1.   Oh and the Dutch thrashed Spain 5-1. LL

[bb1]

Football not coming home, then? Has anyone said 1966 yet, LL?  

[Lamplighter]

Football not coming home, then? Has anyone said 1966 yet, LL?  

Dunno, bonny, I just saw that when I was searching for more pertinent news. Not caring as Austria and Scotland aren't taking part. LL

[bb1]

Yes, I know the feeling, I'm not a sports/football fan at the best of times. I actively avoid the World Cup when our southerly neighbours are playing, because of the incessant harking back to the one and only glory day of 1966.

I might watch it if they play Germany, because they always go out on penalties then.   

[Lamplighter]

Yes, I know the feeling, I'm not a sports/football fan at the best of times. I actively avoid the World Cup when our southerly neighbours are playing, because of the incessant harking back to the one and only glory day of 1966.

I might watch it if they play Germany, because they always go out on penalties then.   

 Did you know England were beaten by Hungary at Wembley in 1953?  

On 25 November 1953, an international football match was played between Hungary - then the world's number one ranked team, the Olympic champions and on a run of 24 unbeaten games, and England. Hungary won 6–3; England were shown to be technically and tactically inferior to the Hungarian side. The result led to a review of the antiquated training and tactics used by the England team, and the subsequent adoption of continental practices at an international and club level in the English game.  The English national team had suffered just one defeat on home soil against foreign opposition, which had been in 1949 against the Republic of Ireland. A 6-3 loss in 1953 to Hungary was England's first ever defeat to a non-UK team at Wembley.

3 years kater was the Uprising and most of the Hungarian players wdre carted off to Societ gulags, a few escaping to the west.  Hungary has never been able to ewpeat its glorious football past, the Soviets made sure of that.,   LL

[bb1]

Things don't seem to be going too well for Ingerlund against Uruguay, they're 0-1 down. No, I'm not watching it, I just looked at Sky. I felt I ought to try to show some interest.

[lily]

Must confess that I have zero interest...  

[bb1]

Oh dear, looks like that's England out. I gather they have to pray for one of those miracles that used to haunt Scotland involving someplace like Monaco beating Brazil 10-1.

[bb1]

Identified: The Scottish man among Uruguay fans was named as Mark McConville from Glasgow

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2663606/Scotland-fan-spotted-Uruguay-fans-celebrating-winner-against-England-named.html#ixzz35CFQI4DW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[bb1]

You'll gather that, whatever the score in their final match, England can't go through to the next round. So they're blaming Italy.

[bb1]

Oh honestly, it's only a game!  

[lily]

Exactly, Bonny.   

[bb1]

It's rather sweet; the US held Portugal to a draw last night, so if they win their next game, they go through to the next round.

So, US commentators are finally catching onto proper football, and frantically trying to mug up on who's who, rules, etc, now they've realised it's rather exciting....

[bb1]

England's spoiled multi-million pound brats have further disgraced themselves in their final match:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25285354

A 0-0 draw with Costa Rica.

From where I'm sitting, they should all be stripped of their England shirts and never play for England again. It seems they didn't even bother trying in this match as they couldn't go through to the next round.

Heaven knows Scotland has played some dire football over the years, but they've never just not bothered and stuck two fingers up to their fans like this shower.

[bb1]

Is the US getting the hang of proper football yet, Lily? All excited and waiting for kickoff?

[bb1]

Oh, well done, Lily, I see the US lost to Germany, but still gets through to the next round. I understand this perfectly, though I know it will be baffling to those who have never suffered, I mean enjoyed, the World Cup before.   

[bb1]

A most astounding turn of events:

Brazil 1-7 Germany

     

[rhodes]

That was a shocker of a match

[bb1]

It's unbelievable, Rhodes. Brazil can lose like anyone else, but a rout like that? At this level?

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