Croatia -v- England

[London_Calling]

I looked at the hyseria in the tabloids at lunchtime, at least this time its positive hysteria.

Having only seen the goals, I wondered why the left back gave Walcott his own postcode to work in. Presumably something to do with 10 men, chasing the game and the odd brand of nationalism based pride (never having lost at home) that can make people irrational?

On that very brief viewing Walcott's achievment was in controlling passes to feet and then shooting on target?

 

[maximilian ping]

i'm quoted in todays's Sun. i rang the news desk up at about 11pm (was v pissed) suggesting a headline for the game: TAKE CRO-AT! which they seemed to have ignored, but instead they quoted me about the game

 

[aylee]

I looked at the hyseria in the tabloids at lunchtime, at least this time its positive hysteria.

Having only seen the goals, I wondered why the left back gave Walcott his own postcode to work in. Presumably something to do with 10 men, chasing the game and the odd brand of nationalism based pride (never having lost at home) that can make people irrational?

Certainly he was given far too much space

On that very brief viewing Walcott's achievment was in controlling passes to feet and then shooting on target?

Hardly as easy as you make it sound, particularly to score from three shots out of three from reasonably acute angles.

 

[London_Calling]

You may have to define 'reasonably acute'.

I'm not going to get carried away when an international striker gets three shots on target having been given half the park to play in. It's good he beat the keeper each time, but the keeper would normally rely on a little help from his defence.

 

[Rollem]

i didnt watch the game

however, it was sky+ed for the husband to watch when he returned from football, so i might watch it tonight, just to see joe cole's injury

 

[tarannau]

Big fucking shandy was Cole. The gash to the head was pretty impressive, if not half as bad as it looked. It was the way he got up to protest to the ref, spotted some blood and swooned to the floor again, like a 18th century lady fainting after some receiving some bad news ,that made me chuckle.

 

[DaRealSpoon]

so it was a purely 'sky' affair was it? No beeb highlights to watch on iplayer??

typical, wanted to see walcotts hattrick

 

[tarannau]

It was on Setanta last night for free, albeit grudgingly.

Setanta really shot themselves in the foot with this one.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Big fucking shandy was Cole. The gash to the head was pretty impressive, if not half as bad as it looked. It was the way he got up to protest to the ref, spotted some blood and swooned to the floor again, like a 18th century lady fainting after some receiving some bad news ,that made me chuckle.

presumably he was concussed/fell unconscious and this was why he was withdrawn? Tell you what, let's have Robert Kovac take a 20 yard running jump and plant his elbow in your head and see how you're feeling.

 

[Flashman]

so it was a purely 'sky' affair was it? No beeb highlights to watch on iplayer??

typical, wanted to see walcotts hattrick

Not Sky no, Setanta. They didn't want to show any highlights but had to back down in the end, some were shown on Freeview I think.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

presumably he was concussed/fell unconscious and this was why he was withdrawn? Tell you what, let's have Robert Kovac take a 20 yard running jump and plant his elbow in your head and see how you're feeling.

That's not a bad idea, actually.

 

[tarannau]

presumably he was concussed/fell unconscious and this was why he was withdrawn? Tell you what, let's have Robert Kovac take a 20 yard running jump and plant his elbow in your head and see how you're feeling.

Bollocks. It was the way he was smiling, looking entirely unconfused and shaking hands left, right and centre, when he returned to the bench, that told you that he'd been far from seriously concussed.


I guess it's just about in the bounds of credibility to collapse like that after concussion, but I've seen plenty of concussed folks ... and none has looked quite as dainty as Cole and his conveniently wussy stagger.

I'm guessing he went off to be stitched up more than anything. Head cuts bleed very quickly and it wouldn't have been easy to cover.

Bet you a tenner he's in the squad for his next game. I don't reckon he's concussed at all.

 

[Rollem]

I don't reckon he's concussed at all.

how would you tell with joe cole?

 

[tarannau]

Good point. Ask Rehlani to have a look mind - I reckon he'll piddle himself at Cole's little curtsey fall too.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Bollocks. It was the way he was smiling, looking entirely unconfused and shaking hands left, right and centre, when he returned to the bench, that told you that he'd been far from seriously concussed.


I guess it's just about in the bounds of credibility to collapse like that after concussion, but I've seen plenty of concussed folks ... and none has looked quite as dainty as Cole and his conveniently wussy stagger.

I'm guessing he went off to be stitched up more than anything. Head cuts bleed very quickly and it wouldn't have been easy to cover.

Bet you a tenner he's in the squad for his next game. I don't reckon he's concussed at all.

stagger, looked like someone who genuinely couldn't stand up to me.

 

[tarannau]

Look, all I can say is that you're far more charitable than me.

Now, if Cole had been knocked out and didn't get up, that'd be more of a concern - knocked cold. But it's the way that he got up immediately, seemed to feel blood and then appeared to either (a) faint like an overhot lady in corset or (b) take a tactical stumble. I'm not sure which is worse really.

FWIW most people who are concussed tend to try and carry on in my experience. Albeit usually confused and ineffectively - it's generally their teammates and medics who drag them away. You kind of go on auto pilot - people often have to tell you what you were up to after the event

Deserved a red whatever though.

 

[corporate whore]

i'm quoted in todays's Sun.

"I thought it was absolutely brilliant and so was Theo" - Max Ping, 39DD, E17

 

[Rollem]

it's the way that he got up immediately, seemed to feel blood and then appeared to either (a) faint like an overhot lady in corset

bingo!

 

[blooper]

It was a brilliant comedy mince by Cole, to be fair.

 

[rorymac]

The funniest thing was him walking on the pitch after the game chewing gum in his blazer all cocky .. the campest maaaan in the premiership

 

[tarannau]

That gum was medicinal. It was the only thing keeping his head stuck together.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

how would you tell with joe cole?

 

[Wilf]

Either Beckham's media training has worked or he was genuinely a top man at the end (smiling and congratulating the little feller). Looked genuine to me, even though it pretty much finshes his career.

 

[maximilian ping]

"I thought it was absolutely brilliant and so was Theo" - Max Ping, 39DD, E17

altho i didnt actually say anything like that, but nevermind. made me laugh

 

[Dirty Martini]

FWIW most people who are concussed tend to try and carry on in my experience. Albeit usually confused and ineffectively - it's generally their teammates and medics who drag them away. You kind of go on auto pilot - people often have to tell you what you were up to after the event

I think it was Murdo Macleod who had to be subbed for Scotland after getting a ball in the face from a Brazilian freekick. It was only after he asked a team-mate 'Which way are we kicking?' that they thought it might be best if he went.

 

[Harold Hill]

Was out in Zagreb and I really can't describe just how over confident the Croatians were before the game. They really did think all they had to do to win was turn up.

The players get a lot of stick about not caring but you could see Beckham, Ferdinand and a few others were genuinely ecstatic and probably would have jumped in the England end if you'd let em. Almost felt sorry for Bilic having to run the gauntlet passed the England fans after his comments the other day. Head bowed the whole way as about 2500 England fans en masse asked him what the score was.

Another good thing was the lack of nazi throwbacks they had there compared to the last time. They seemed to have been replaced by more attractive women in tight check shirts. Was surprised therefore to hear that heskey had been on the end of some racist chanting but was probably too elated to notice at the time.

As for the 12th man (their fans) between the first and the 4th goals you never heard a peep out of them.