GoN_

You have 10 stadiums that are 40,000 and larger, and have a handful more that have been earmaked for expansion over this size, or ones that could be expanded at a smallish cost, Spain could do it by themselves (Y)

This. It just sounds like they can't do it themselves despite being a big country with enough stadiums.

They could, of course they don't need our three stadiums, but after Euro 2004 we can help them image-wise.

You have 10 stadiums that are 40,000 and larger, and have a handful more that have been earmaked for expansion over this size, or ones that could be expanded at a smallish cost, Spain could do it by themselves (Y)

We're gonna give only our big three. They only want our help because of our success with Euro 2004. We never wanted to expand our stadiums (there was talk to expand Braga and Algarve but was quickly forgotten).

Spain wants to host with Portugal which is ridiculous considering its size and stadiums. But I think I read somewhere they are basically out of the contention already due to shitty management. Telling ya, it's between England/Russia/Holland&Belgium.

What!?

Yes, you are

Braga got really unlucky, but might stand a chance if they keep their level from last season.

And Spain is not alone!

Paulinho wins!!!

I really can't believe Spain will win the cup playing like that.

Oh, saw the image around and got worried

... about an octopus.

About Spain getting to the final.

Tyler Farrar is out and Gesink might abandon too, reports the portuguese press.

Oh, saw the image around and got worried.

OH NOESSS!!!

Villa was onside, and Costa looks round to see Capdevilla, swings and elbow at him, then jumps. I don't think it got all that much contact, if any, and Capdevilla definetely oversold it as if he'd been shot, but the intention was there. Spain were the better side by miles. Portugal decided they were gonna sit back, counter attack and if they got ahead they'd park the bus, but as soon as Villa scored they looked completely clueless. No idea what to do, and like Seedorf said, going into a game against Spain, you NEED a plan B in case you go down one-nil. It's stupid not to.

Going to be weird tomorrow with no footy but Brazil v Holland on Friday should be exciting. Both teams have been going through the motions, and when you think that neither have lost a match yet, it's exciting to think they've only played in second gear so far. From here I see Brazil beating Holland, Uruguay beating Ghana, Spain beating Paraguay, and it's a toss-up between Argentina/Germany, but I think the Argies might just steal it.

We can't attack to save our lifes, but we were not bad... Villa was offside and I doubt if the red card was rightful, but that's no excuse.

Preparing myself for the big game. Not confident at all.

A team is not just the best individuals. Why Hanson/Lawro/etc. can't just accept this is beyond me. The bit when they said England were the better team because they have better players had me going crazy even before a ball was kicked. It's no use saying Lampard scored 29 goals this season if he's going to be used in a system with just one midfielder besides him. He's always in a three-man midfield with Chelsea and it frees him to do what he does best. Just sticking the best players in a different team together and expecting them to do what they do on a weekly basis in teams built around them is stupid. If it means dropping Lampard or Gerrard then just do it. It's better to get 1 of them playing to their potential rather than both at 50%.

That happens hear to with Ronaldo. People expect Ronaldo to just start running and score two out of nowhere. When he doesn't people say it's his fault, that he doesn't play with as much desire as in the club he is, that he should go to the bench and stupid things like that.

Now on a more serious note, I can't believe England underperformed as much as they did. I truly thought they could win this year, before the cup started, but they were just so bad... You had one of the best coaches of the last 20 years, a good group of players, an easy group, and you were even worse than four years ago where you seemed to have no idea of what you were doing. Even if Capello stays, whoever's responsible for the national squad will have to think very well how to rebuild this team, because at this pace you may fail to qualify to the Euro 2012. Switzerland and Montenegro are not easy opponents.

Preparing for all the whine for the goal the ref didn't see. 10 more minutes and the 4 year cycle will restart.

except you know, thats not why we lost.

Just like Rooney was fairly sent off but people still whine about that?

Preparing for all the whine for the goal the ref didn't see. 10 more minutes and the 4 year cycle will restart.

The only totally neutral game in the World Cup for me that I can think of will be Spain vs Portugal because I hate them pretty much evenly.

Why do you hate us?

Well, we sure are the underdogs against Spain, but I hope we can pass through them... If we are focused we can go toe to toe with them.

I was just pointing out that he was branding 'USA' lucky, while they finished ahead of England and thus qualifed more comfortably albeit by goals scored. So if they're lucky England are definitely lucky.

I'd say the reason USA are allowed to host to World Cup again is because they're, along with England, arguably the best nation available to host it with regards to stadia and ifastructure etc. Id on't think there's a rule though. Plus it'll be nearly 30 years since USA 94 by time 2022 comes around!

I'd love to see it go to England in 2018 and then USA in 2022

Portugal and Spain could easily do it too.

USA, certainly the luckiest team of this World Cup thus far. First a gift against England, late goal today and now a dream tie against Ghana.

Either way, I'm super pumped for the next round. England performed a hell of a lot better today and hopefully it's the confidence boost that is needed. I think the game against Germany is actually better for us, it'll certainly have us more fired up. Personally, after today's performance, I see us beating them. Either way, this is going to be awesome.

Mistakes like that of Robert Green have happened again many times since. They are part of the game, and even more than usual, part of this World Cup. They weren't by any means lucky to get Ghana. The won the fucking group. They won the right to play the second from the other group which usually is a worse team than whoever finishes first. And they deserved to win the group they beat Algeria, in a game they were unlucky not to get a five goal lead, something the English team couldn't do. It's England's fault that the US get Ghana and they get Germany, not a matter of luck, the ref, the wind, whatever excuse you want to use.

Sorry if I sounded like a jackass but I'm sick of the English team supporters cry every fucking time they play at a World Cup or an Euro Cup.

Quite probable. All you need is for Chile to hold Spain to a draw and Brazil not to lose to Portugal.

That way we would get Chile, the winner of Paraguay vs Denmark/Japan in the 1/4, and Argentina/England/Germany in the semis? Well at least we had a chance to repeat our 4th place from four years ago.

God I hope not. It's almost as if placing second is better than first.

If we get first place and avoid Spain, we get Holland/Italy next and Uruguay/Mexico/USA/Ghana in the Semis...

Quite probable. All you need is for Chile to hold Spain to a draw and Brazil not to lose to Portugal.

That way we would get Chile, the winner of Paraguay vs Denmark/Japan in the 1/4, and Argentina/England/Germany in the semis? Well at least we had a chance to repeat our 4th place from four years ago.