Raymond Domenech with all his friends.
TUESDAY 22nd JUNE
The real business starts now with no more second chances. First up are France and South Africa who are both virtually dead already, playing at the same time as Uruguay and Mexico who both need a draw to go through, the only problem with a draw for either side being that whoever came 2nd in the group would face Argentina in the last 16… and you don’t want that if you can avoid it.
The French... oh the French. First it was revealed that ‘four players who are past their best’ had orchestrated the whole strike threat and from the team selection, you could tell that Evra and Abidal were two of them. The only surprise to me was that Gallas wasn’t as well. When in the last chance saloon, France duly did sod all except let in a goal when the usually sound keeper Lloris flew, punched and missed for a big south African centre back to head in, having climbed all over a defender. Put it this way – I’ve seen them disallowed. Straight after that, Gourcuff showed he is the new Zidane after all by getting sent off. At the time, everyone was raving about it being a poor decision but what replays are you watching guys ? He jumps into the player with his elbow raised and catches him in the face. I’m ready to believe a ‘South African / FIFA’ conspiracy is in place but no way, he deserved to go. Just before half time and 2-0 to Bafana Bafana (what does that mean by the way ?) and Uruguay are beating Mexico 1-0 with a headed goal by Suarez. As it stands at half time, South Africa need a two goal swing to go through. Sadly, there was only one goal in the second half of both games and that went to the French through Florent Malouda and so Group A finished with Uruguay top, Mexico 2nd, South Africa and France, 3rd, 4th and out.
I really wanted those two to go out but I must admit to feeling a bit sorry for South Africa in the end. They certainly added something to the tournament and I liked the togetherness of their team and all the singing and dancing as they came onto the pitch etc. Compare and contrast to the French who are just arseholes. They added nothing to the tournament at all and good bloody riddance. If I was French I’d be pretty unhappy anyway but especially at the moment – talk about disrespecting your fans. To cap it all, Raymond Domenech refused to shake hands with the South African manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira who was Brazil’s manager when they won it in 1994. Nice bit of respect there you total muppet. Also, remember how the French qualified at Ireland’s expense...
(http://leagueoneminus10.blogspot.com/2009/11/hand-of-frog.html)
...and then think of what the Irish would have added to the tournament. OK the football may not have been the best but they’d have been better than bloody France and their support would have been magnificent.
Group B’s climax saw El Nutjob bring half his reserve team to play Greece. As two off those reserves were Champions League winning Diego Milito and $50million’s worth of Sergio Aguero, I don’t think we can accuse them of fielding a weakened team. Argentina of course, were already through but Greece could still make it with a better result than South Korea managed against Nigeria. The Greeks brand of football is a cure for insomnia with one striker, one goalkeeper, five defenders and four holding midfielders. Argentina were always going to score and finally did in about the 70th minute through DiMicheilis before 57 year old sub Martin Palermo scored in the last minute to earn himself a Maradona hug and arse groping. Nigeria went 1-0 to South Korea so they were going through but the Koreans fought back to go 2-1 up before Yakubu produced the miss of the century by rolling wide from 4 yards with no goalkeeper or defenders anywhere near. It’s a staggering miss but it didn’t stop him netting a penalty to make it 2-2. Needing one goal to go through and one to knock South Korea out, they created a golious chance which Obafemi Martins dinked over the keeper…. and wide. So, another African team gone, that’s Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria all gone….
Bye bye France, don’t let the door hit your ass, enjoy the reception and the fall out when you get home…
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