World Cup Qualifiers: Results

Whahahahkz...England lost to Northern Ireland 1-0. Not that it concerns me, of course. On my part, I didn't get to watch ANY of the qualifying matches on TV. The only live telecast that was shown was a friendly match between Germany & South Africa which was at 2.30am. Like hello?? Who would want to watch an international FRIENDLY in the middle of the night. Thanks, but no thanks. Everybody wants to watch the good games.

Oh, Eriksson. Your tactics & strategies are so gonna be questioned. You can't even control the discipline of your team. Sorry but, my opinion is that you don't look the managerial type of person. Especially at the international stage where everyone wants to be at the top. Dude, you just got whacked by a country that ranks 116th in the international charts. That's soooo embarrassing. I mean, sure, you watch the lads during training but I think what lacks here, is the amount of coach-player time spent. I don't think you train TOGETHER with them, do you?? Does standing around watching the players train count as training WITH them?? So, what's this 'togetherness' spirit that you captain David Beckham has been yammering about?? Well, maybe you do it, maybe you don't. I'm only saying my part as what I see in the pictures.

I think as a whole team, coach & players need to have that strong bond; not only does it need to exist between players themselves, but players AND coach alike.

A good example would be *ahem* the Dutch team. I've seen most of their training pics in preparations for an international match, be it a friendly or a competition, I can say that in almost all their sessions, Marco van Basten is with them all the way training together. That's why they get along so well with each other. Hell, even German coach Juergen Klinsmann trains with his team & THEY'RE not playing to qualify.

I'm not saying that the England players don't get along with their coach but just look at the recent news where Eriksson pulled Becks, Gerrard, Lampard & someone else (I forgot who the other guy was) to discuss the team's strategy. Why only 4 of them?? Why not with the whole team. True, they're the seniors but sometimes young players can contirbute to ideas as well. Why push them aside just because they're still a little green around the gills??

And Rooney, quit acting like an idiotic teenager. Being 'still young' doesn't give you an excuse to flare up & cause scenes. You're supposed to be professional. If you can behave at club level, why not internationally?? And hello?? You're gonna be a Dad soon. Like, set some good examples here. I bet if Fergie was there, he'd give you the hairdryer treatment.

Okay, back to the results.

Portugal drew to a 0-0 stalemate with Russia, while the Czech Republic managed to salvage their damaged pride from their previous loss to Romania by beating Armenia 4-1. Les Bleus shimmied past Northern Ireland with a 1-0 win, their goal coming from Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. According to sources, this was their first win against the Irishmen in 52 years. Amazing. I'm sure the French Fries whom were watching the match jumped for jubilant joy when Henry scored that goal from I think, 25 metres out during the second half. Especially THAT one who's casted far away on an island near South Africa in the Southern Hemisphere.

Spain was also held at a 1-1 draw with Serbia & Montenegro. Raul scored the first goal for the Spaniards but they failed to keep up their win & Real Madrid 'keeper Iker Casillas let slip a goal by Mateja Kezman. Yes, I played & I got a yellow card. And then some Serb guy fouled me & HE got the yellow card as well. Damn, I should be more careful with my tackles. Ehh, guess what?? I'm number 14 for Liverpool AND Spain!! Cool, right?? And yes, Luis you played too. As a sub for Sanchez Joaquin. I don't understand why we couldn't score lahh. We've got like, the top strikers in the world but we are slumping towards being mediocre. Ehh hello, I don't want to end up like England, okay. We're considered one of the giants in Europe & favorites to win the cup!! Oh yeah, English referee Graham Poll took over Italian Pierluigi Collina after the latter announced his decision to quit as a referee. The poor bugger. Everyone in the world of football is going to miss him.

And of course, who could forget my most absolutely favorite team in the whole wide world. 10-men Netherlands made up for their lack of men with a barrage of goals after vetaran Philip Cocu was sent off for elbowing. The first goal came from former Ajax man, Rafael van Der Vaart at 23 minutes followed by an own goal by the opposition. Just before the second half, Ruud van Nistelrooy (me, me!!) netted one but missed the penalty as he struck the right post during the second half. Yeah, what the hell, right?? I'm a penalty-taker, for cryin' out loud!! I must've been sleeping then. Anywayz, I made up for it by bagging my second goal 6 minutes later but got booked on the 90th minute, just a little before the match finally ended. So ironic. Scored goals but got yellow-carded.

Ohh, and Edwin van Der Sar has said that he'll quit his international career IF Holland wins the World Cup. Awwww, Sarry!! Don't go yet!! We still need youuuuu!! Who'll be the one taking your place as goalie then?? Well, true that you'll still be playing for the Red Devils but the Oranje squad wouldn't be the same without you.

Sweden beat Hungary 1-0, the late goal scored by Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovich. Juventus coach Fabio Capello has said in an article that the Swede was similar to Marco van Basten in his playing style & has encouraged the player to watch tapes of how van Basten was when he played for Milan during his golden years. Like, eww. Van Basten is Dutch, Ibrahimovich is Swedish. And van Basten is a legend. How can you compare van Basten to yucky Ibrahimovich?? Eww. And yeah, Graham Poll refereed this match too. Wow, Mr. Poll you must be dead on your feet, dude.

Italy did well in crushing any hopes for Belarus to qualify for the World Cup in beating the hosts 4-1. Denmark did the same to Georgia which saw them to a 6-1 victory. Yeah Luis, Jon Dahl Tomasson scored a goal there.

Right. So, I didn't see you today but that's okay. I'm not much of a hoper though I thought if I saw you, it'd probably brighten up my morning just a tad bit. Well, the morning is just the same with the same boring stuff over & over again. And Luis still isn't here yet; she's probably still asleep on her bed. Lazy bum. It's not as if she played a whole match like I did yesterday. She was a sub!! But never mind, let her rest. She deserves it after all the hard work she's been doing for the past weeks or so.

Ohhh, ya lahh!! I forgot, she's got a test today!! Communication Skills at 8.30am. Well, good luck for that though I know you're gonna ace it. Good luck to Jan & Chippy too, who's taking the same test today. Ahahahkz!! I will see the both of you & the rest of the GB Family tomorrow at 6.30pm for our chilling out session at Clarke Quay. We're going to the arcade, aren't we?? Should be cool. Can't wait to get onto Daytona for a race or two & conquer the Air Hockey table for that adrenaline rush. Yeah, and who can forget to take pictures?? Don't worry, my baby's flash will be popping at you so much, you'll be blinded by the end of the night. Guaranteed.

Actually, I'm kinda watching a live 'telecast' of the remaining international soccer matches on the official FIFA World Cup website. Heh. They're boring matches, I know but since they're ongoing right now, I figured what's the harm?? They're ending soon, anywayz; about 15 minutes left for all three matches going on. USA & Guatemala are still held to a nil-nil draw while Mexico are thrashing Panama at 5-0. The rate at how the Mexican goals are coming in is just fantabulous; I don't think Panama has a chance of ever recovering, what with so little time left on the countdown clock & Panama now being reduced to a further 9-man disadvantage. The third match is between Costa Rica & Trinidad & Tobago where the score is 2-0, Costa Rica being the most probable winner of the match. Obviously, duhh.

I am bored. I have nothing to do now. Luis is not around to keep me company. I think I shall die for awhile & get resurrected later.

Laterz...
Lenny JC