FIFA World Cup 2010 - Group Stage

I can guarentee you one thing if Torres leaves Liverpool it won’t be for Real Madrid…he is athletico to the core

I’m not surprised that I called the Argentina formation correctly. I’m left footed just like Maradona. Argentina are great to watch here. I can see teams playing through them in the latter stages though if the four advanced players are selected and Veron and Mascherano are left to hold the midfield together on their own. Gutierrez is a potential weak link at right back.

Who are the other options for right back in the squad…and central midfield is you happen to know off hand

Javier Pastore for Veron and Otamendi for RB. Mario Bolatti of Fiorentina who scored v Uruguay would probably take Mascherano’s place if anything happened him.

Guttierez wouldn’t look out of place competing in limerick this weekend

Are either of Banega or Gago in the squad…

Otamendi and Roma’s Burdisso are right back options but both are more comfortable in the centre. As for midfield, they’ve a couple of lesser known back up options. Bolatti, who didn’t feature much for Fiorentina after joining in January and young Pastore who had an excellent season with Palermo but he’s an attacking central midfielder. Maxi Rodriguez is in the squad too.

No.

At United and Chelsea he was used primarily as an attacking midfielder. His best position was deep lying though but Keane was top dog at Old Trafford. The more pedestrian nature of the Seria A no doubt suited him better too. I seem to remember he had some good games for United in the Champions League.

Ya and Xabi Alonso is Basque and would never go to Real either but he did.

Whatever about Alonso and his Basque roots, Torres won’t go to Madrid, he didn’t particularly want to leave Athletico in the first place and has said it numerous times that he would have no interest in playing for Real and if he was ever to go back to play in madrid it would be for Athletico

Gutierrez :rolleyes:

Di Maria has been very quiet for Argentina. Like him as a player but he needs to be geiven the ball to take his man on , he’s not the greatest worker in the world and doesn’t naturally go looking for space.

game has died off a bit from the first 20 minutes…Enyeama in goal for Nigeria has made a few cracking saves

He’s keeper for mickee321’s side, Hapoel Tel Aviv. The save from Messi’s curler was excellent.

Lars must have been knocking the Lagerback before the match when drawing up his tactics.

Taiwo was taking a throw halfway through the half and Diego was standing beside him - it looked like a scene from Diff’rent Strokes - Diego looked like Gary Coleman with his back to the camera.

wot you talkin bout sid

Are we going to see Peter Collins at any stage during this World Cup I wonder? I thought he was surprisingly good during the last European Championship. Thought Ossie might make an appearance as well today but presumably we’ll see him for our later matches.

Why wasnt Martins starting? He has made a difference already.

Messi is going to score with a near post shot at some stage, everything he hits across the keeper is getting saved but he often drives them straight near post.

Cracking chances for both teams in the last 5 minutes, about time it livened up again.