Latest Content tagged with "World Cup"

England's Problems and How to Fix Them

by sheps 15:28, 22 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1277216928

England are in a real muddle. The tactics are in my opinion wrong, especially against 3 centre backs and defensive formations, and the players are down mentally.

The latter problem is easy. The pathetic overpaid twats are too used to having everything their way. They know from past World Cups that they will be crucified if, for instance, they miss in a penalty shoot out. They need to stop for a second to allow their testes to descend; and the press need to take a long look at themselves and ask - would they rather England progress further in the World Cup or would they like to massage their own careers a little?

The tactics, to be honest, aren't hard either. Let's just copy Brazil...

Brazil have been playing with two defensive-minded midfielders. This has two advantages - firstly the full backs can get forward (see Maicon); both of England's full backs are good down the pitch. Secondly they allow you to control the midfield and distribute the ball back and forward....

World Cup Odds: Halfway Through the Groups

by sheps 14:59, 18 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1276869542

Halfway Through the Group Stages

Below are the two graphs to date. This first is 18th June, just before the USA vs Slovenia game:

Here's the first graph from 20th May, before the warm up friendlies:

Explaining the Changes

The most drastic change comes in group A. Look at France's pathetic little bar now compared with their group dominating odds of the blue graph. This is of course due to their failure to even score a goal with players such as Anelka, Malouda, Ribery and Henry at their disposal. Pathetic.

Argentina's impressive attacking performances and only conceding through one howler have catapulted them to favourite status.

England have dipped a little with their failure to beat the USA; of more concern probably was their failure to dominate the game and even deserve a victory.

The Germans have taken a hit with their loss early this afternoon. Australia's heavy defeat has hit their odds hugely with a 2nd place highly likely to be decided

England's Starting Line Up Revealed: EXCLUSIVE!

by sheps 13:27, 18 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1276864021

http://www.the6yardbox.com/article/englands-inevitable-world-cup-tactics (13th May 2010)

Now we have Barry back from injury, and Green revealed to be shit in goal, we're back to square one (see above link).

Of course Carragher will be in rather than the injured Ferdinand.

The only doubt is Heskey or Defoe or Joe Cole in behind Rooney. I prefer the third option to force Rooney to play up top, if not let's not play Defoe. Rooney will just drop back into midfield, frustrated, and get booked.

I'm still sticking with a draw - and a score one at that, perhaps 2-2.

Uruguay are Revolting Cheats

by sheps 23:05, 16 June 2010 | 5, (1 vote) 1 1276725943

The title of the post pretty much says it all.

Uruguay turned up today and took every opportunity to dive, extort the referee, and generally to behave like petulant children.

Luis Suarez must really like the feel of grass against his body. The pathetic petulant little whinging woofter spent most of the time there, throwing himself around. Even when he won a penalty, (which WAS offside the BBC - when the original shot was deflected by the Uruguayan number 7) he was well on the way to the ground when contact was made.

I really hope they lose to Mexico and don't progress. They are the polar opposite of North Korea in this tournament.

They did incidentally play much better football than the boys the boys, but not in the correct spirit of the game. Poor show.

As an aside, does anyone else fancy a Brazil vs Spain second round game?

All 32 Sweepstake Picks

by sheps 19:11, 14 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1276539070

Revealing them in a slightly less dramatic way... search for your pick below! The new ones are in bold.

Spain / Cacau : Roger W
Brazil / Luis Suarez : Doug P
Argentina / Niklas Bendtner : Matt R
England / Jermain Defoe : Dan T
Netherlands / Humberto Suazo : Mark W
Germany / Thierry Henry : Ben J
Italy / Samuel Eto'o : Sam T
France / Arjen Robben : Fran F
Portugal / Sergio Aguero : Tom S
Ivory Coast / Klaas-Jan Huntelaar : David S
Serbia / Nilmar : Ken L
Chile / Frank Lampard : Ioan O
Mexico / Diego Forlan : Lenny
USA / Nicolas Anelka : Jan S
Paraguay / Didier Drogba : Addison B
Cameroon / Lukas Podolski : Ella W
Uruguay / Antonio Di Natale : Eddy M
South Africa / Peter Crouch : Jack S
Ghana / Alberto Gilardino : Mike B
Australia / Carlos Tevez : Paul S
Denmark / Miroslav Klose : Mike H
Nigeria / Kaka : Simon R
Greece / Diego Milito : Sally W
South Korea / Robinho : James H
Switzerland / Cristiano Ronaldo :...

First 22 Sweepstake Picks and What's Left

by sheps 22:00, 10 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1276203600

I hope you've enjoyed the draw throughout the day (I actually am writing this on Thursday evening - I'm probably a little tipsy on the Isle of Wight right now!). The full picks are below. If you want to get involved when the last 10 are drawn on Monday just comment below.

Spain / Cacau : FREE!
Brazil / Luis Suarez : Doug P
Argentina / Niklas Bendtner : FREE!
England / Jermain Defoe : Dan T
Netherlands / Humberto Suazo : Mark W
Germany / Thierry Henry : Ben J
Italy / Samuel Eto'o : Sam T
France / Arjen Robben : Fran F
Portugal / Sergio Aguero : Tom S
Ivory Coast / Klaas-Jan Huntelaar : David S
Serbia / Nilmar : FREE!
Chile / Frank Lampard : Ioan O
Mexico / Diego Forlan : FREE!
USA / Nicolas Anelka : Jan S
Paraguay / Didier Drogba : Addison B
Cameroon / Lukas Podolski : FREE!
Uruguay / Antonio Di Natale : Eddy M
South Africa / Peter Crouch : Jack S
Ghana / Alberto Gilardino : David B
Australia / Carlos Tevez : Paul S
Denmark / Miroslav...

Sweepstake Draw Tomorrow - Team/Player Combos (only 10 places left!)

by sheps 10:00, 9 June 2010 | ?, (0 votes) 1 1276074044

The draw for the sweepstake will be held all the way through tomorrow. They'll be a name drawn and then a team/player every 30 mins or so from 11am onwards. (That's not entirely accurate... it'll be drawn before, then the results will be published through the day... so won't physically be sitting at the computer drawing out another team/player every 30mins!)

Bookmark www.the6yardbox.com/tag/sweepstake and check back throughout the day for your team and player!

It looks like we'll be at about 22 entries or so for tomorrow. All 32 teams each with a player will go into the hat.

If your tiebreaker guess is not listed at the bottom of the first article now please comment below - if it's not put in by the start of the tournament it won't be fair to accept it after then!

For any remaining entries, others will be able to enter during the tournament but will automatically lose any tiebreakers. If any of them draw between themselves, the earlier entry will win.

Could also...

World Cup Sweepstake

by sheps 18:05, 28 May 2010 | 5, (1 vote) 1 1275066354

How to join: just add a comment to this article with your tiebreaker guess. Use the verify me through facebook button to save some time. You can if you wish first register for the website (in the left column) so you can have the same username everytime you comment.

It's World Cup time, you have £5 to spare and an appetite for banter, so get involved in our sweepstake!

Most of these are about as useful as Aaron Lennon's left foot - you probably draw New Zealand and have your £5 resting on Rory, Duncan and Shane producing the goods. Seeing as though they're likely to try to pick up the ball and Klinsmann dive over the dead ball line with it, before looking confused over its shape, your fiver is gone pretty much straight away.

With this sweepstake you get a team and a player for top goalscorer - if you have the worst team, you'll get the best player available and visa versa. So you'll have at least one chance of winning some cash back.

In case there's a joint...