THEY ARE:
The poor cousins of Spain. I went on holiday to the Algarve a number of years ago and it was an awful experience. It tainted the country for me forever.
AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
They have knocked England out their last two football tournaments (fairly in Euro 2004 and by foul in the 2006 World Cup). Indeed Portugal was hosts of the European Championships in 2004. These days they are a much fancied footballing nation.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
Not good I have to say. When Ronaldo cheated to get Wayne Rooney sent off at the last World Cup it was a truly deplorable act. My old will often take the time out to tell me of the greatness of Eusebio but I am having none of it.
IN 2010:
With Ronaldo on board they are still dangerous and still a threat. They are in the Group Of Death (Group G) so it is plausible/possible that they will not make it out of the group stage but this just promises an interesting and exciting set of games.
FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Eusebio and Ronaldo. One was a prince and one is a whore. There has also been Paolo Futre and Luis Figo amongst others. Jose Mourinho is famous and Portuguese too.
MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Nandos innit.
AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Lisbon has the largest aquarium in Europe. Nelly Furtado is half Portuguese and half Canadian.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM PORTUGAL THAT I KNOW:
One of the bartenders at work called Filipe is from Portugal and his voice is exactly the same as Mourinho. It is pretty cool, unlike his hairstyle.
QUOTE FROM A PORTUGUESE PERSON:
Not coming.
DO I LIKE THEM:
No I do not. Well, I didn’t until I drew them in a sweepstake.
FINAL COMMENT:
I would like to punch Ronaldo on the adam’s apple. Does he realize how much he looks like a young Cliff Richard?
Showing posts with label Group G. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Group G. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
IVORY COAST
THEY ARE:
Otherwise known as Cote d’Ivoire it is a former French colony which gained independence in 1960. Huzzah!
AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
This is their second World Cup finals as they become one of the emerging lights in the new breed of African football. They had a rude awakening when they made their World Cup debut at the 2006 tournament being drawn in the same group as Argentina and Holland losing 2-1 in both games. It was a respectable performance on the whole.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
I am no fan of Chelsea and as a result I am no fan of Didier Drogba although his skills cannot be denied. Other familiar faces include Eboue, Toure and Kalou who I am less vehement about.
IN 2010:
They are now a Sven-Goran Eriksson joint, whatever good that will do them (spoken like the bitter Englishman that I am). Earlier this year they were lackluster in the African Cup Of Nations going out to Algeria in the quarter finals after beating Ghana in the group stages, unfortunately the group that was to have Togo competing in also. The unfortunate injury to Didier Drogba in their recent friendly with Japan is likely to play havoc with their apparent campaign as they hope and pray that he will be fit enough to figure in their matches.
FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Didier Drogba is the most famous by a mile with a near legendary status in his home country. As noted above the nation can also boast players such as Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou and Emmanuel Eboue.
MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Their nickname is “The Elephants”.
AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Occupation by Europeans and Coups d’etat.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE IVORY COAST THAT I KNOW:
None.
QUOTE FROM AN IVORIAN:
Not likely.
DO I LIKE THEM:
I like African teams but I don’t really like Drogba. What to do.
FINAL COMMENT:
Portugal v Ivory Coast and Ronaldo v Drogba truly is a contest of disdain for me.
Otherwise known as Cote d’Ivoire it is a former French colony which gained independence in 1960. Huzzah!
AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
This is their second World Cup finals as they become one of the emerging lights in the new breed of African football. They had a rude awakening when they made their World Cup debut at the 2006 tournament being drawn in the same group as Argentina and Holland losing 2-1 in both games. It was a respectable performance on the whole.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
I am no fan of Chelsea and as a result I am no fan of Didier Drogba although his skills cannot be denied. Other familiar faces include Eboue, Toure and Kalou who I am less vehement about.
IN 2010:
They are now a Sven-Goran Eriksson joint, whatever good that will do them (spoken like the bitter Englishman that I am). Earlier this year they were lackluster in the African Cup Of Nations going out to Algeria in the quarter finals after beating Ghana in the group stages, unfortunately the group that was to have Togo competing in also. The unfortunate injury to Didier Drogba in their recent friendly with Japan is likely to play havoc with their apparent campaign as they hope and pray that he will be fit enough to figure in their matches.
FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Didier Drogba is the most famous by a mile with a near legendary status in his home country. As noted above the nation can also boast players such as Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou and Emmanuel Eboue.
MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Their nickname is “The Elephants”.
AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Occupation by Europeans and Coups d’etat.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE IVORY COAST THAT I KNOW:
None.
QUOTE FROM AN IVORIAN:
Not likely.
DO I LIKE THEM:
I like African teams but I don’t really like Drogba. What to do.
FINAL COMMENT:
Portugal v Ivory Coast and Ronaldo v Drogba truly is a contest of disdain for me.
Friday, 9 April 2010
BRAZIL
THEY ARE:
The carnival capital of South America. A nation of contrasting fortunes, of a wealth gap so depressing and of a landscape so gorgeous.
AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
They are considered the greatest footballing nation in history and will always be one of the favourite for any tournament. They have won the World Cup five times, most recently in 2002.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
The first time I ever heard of Brazil and football was the Josimar wonder goal against Northern Ireland (and Pat Jennings) at Mexico 86. It was however at the 1989 Copa America tournament (while on holiday in Ibiza) that I fully realized their greatness for the first time with a team featuring Bebeto and Romario.
IN 2010:
Situated in this tournament’s Group Of Death with Portugal and the Ivory Coast (Group G) Brazil will have to bring their A-game from the off. It’s a much more subtle team/squad now that previous tournaments but they will always be a side that need be approached with caution.
FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Pele (before he got erectile problems), Ronaldinho, Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo, Romario. Not Mirandinho. And never in their history a goalkeeper.
MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Beach football and carnivals.
AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Sepultura!
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM BRAZILIAN THAT I KNOW:
I work with a bunch of people that claim to be Brazilian but they are actually Albanian. What up with that?
QUOTE FROM A BRAZILIAN:
None.
DO I LIKE THEM:
Everyone likes Brazil. Nobody likes playing against Brazil.
FINAL COMMENT:
Its gonna be great!
The carnival capital of South America. A nation of contrasting fortunes, of a wealth gap so depressing and of a landscape so gorgeous.
AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
They are considered the greatest footballing nation in history and will always be one of the favourite for any tournament. They have won the World Cup five times, most recently in 2002.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
The first time I ever heard of Brazil and football was the Josimar wonder goal against Northern Ireland (and Pat Jennings) at Mexico 86. It was however at the 1989 Copa America tournament (while on holiday in Ibiza) that I fully realized their greatness for the first time with a team featuring Bebeto and Romario.
IN 2010:
Situated in this tournament’s Group Of Death with Portugal and the Ivory Coast (Group G) Brazil will have to bring their A-game from the off. It’s a much more subtle team/squad now that previous tournaments but they will always be a side that need be approached with caution.
FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Pele (before he got erectile problems), Ronaldinho, Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo, Romario. Not Mirandinho. And never in their history a goalkeeper.
MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Beach football and carnivals.
AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Sepultura!
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM BRAZILIAN THAT I KNOW:
I work with a bunch of people that claim to be Brazilian but they are actually Albanian. What up with that?
QUOTE FROM A BRAZILIAN:
None.
DO I LIKE THEM:
Everyone likes Brazil. Nobody likes playing against Brazil.
FINAL COMMENT:
Its gonna be great!
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