WORLD CUP BLOG: Scoring double in the sweep stake

Welcome to our special World Cup Blog!
Throughout the tournament a variety of Advertiser and Express staff will be bringing you views and commentary on all aspects of the World Cup from a mix of footie fans and those that endure!

Blog 16: Thursday, July 8 -  Scoring double in the sweep stake
By John Balson, Reporter

If only I'd staked my life-savings on everyone of Paul - the psychic octopus' - predictions throughout this World Cup. I'd probably be a millionaire right now.

Once again, the eight-legged mollusc was spot on with his prediction for Germany. Spain won and are through to Sunday's final - the three-times world champions are out.

Still, it's not all tears for me. Having picked both Spain and Holland in the company sweepstake - I've done the double!

Nice little earner. Now the really big question ahead of Sunday's final is who gets to come to the Harvester with me? Only time will tell.

Despite their exit, Germany have undoubtedly been the team of the tournament and they return to the fatherland with their heads held high.

Throughout, their style has been attractive and attacking - their finishing, deadly.

But without the ball, this talented young team could do nothing, and unfortunately for them, once again, it was 'death by a thousand passes'.

Prediction for Sunday: Spanish fiesta!

Blog 15: Friday, July 2 -  Quarter Final previews
By Dan Darlington, Reporter

As we head into the quarter finals, England may be down and out but there is plenty of other football action to keep us enthralled. Here are some predictions...

Ghana V Uruguay: The weight of a nation and a continent is on the shoulders of the Black Stars of Ghana and I fancy them to make history by making the Semi-Finals.
They are the last remaining African team and from presidential palaces to mud hut villages Africa will be urging them to a famous victory.
Ghana are unpredictable and Uruguay won't relish the challenge of facing them or the wall of noise from the hooting vuvuzelas in the stadium.
In Asamoah Gyan they have one of the stars of the tournament who sealed a 2-1 win with a terrific left foot strike against the USA in the second round.
Uruguay have looked decent and have a formidable striking partnership in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez who have scored five goals between them so far.
But they struggled to overcome an average South Korea side in the second round and will have to match the hunger and intensity of Ghana to go through.
I'll tip Ghana to send the continent into raptures with a 2-1 win.

Netherlands  V Brazil: Brazil showed flashes of brilliance in their second round clash against Chile but we are still waiting for the real Brazil to stand up in South Africa. 
Holland also haven't played total football but have progressed to the quarters with four fairly forgettable wins, but their play has been solid and unspectacular.
Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder - the star men - have failed to show the form that saw them swatting aside teams for fun before the competition.
The return of Arjen Robben would frighten most defences but Brazil are so strong at the back they should be able to deal with the former Chelsea winger's pace.
Dunga is hardly the most popular Brazilian manager in recent times but he has put together a big strong team who are playing for each other.
In attack they have Luis Fabiano who has scored three goals and the mercurial Robinho who has rediscovered his love of the game after moving to Santos.
They won ugly against North Korea and Ivory Coast but eventually showed what they are capable of in a 3-0 defeat of Chile to get to the quarter finals.
Brazil's fans expect them to win every World Cup - and this is no exception - but I don't think they can compete with the likes of Argentina or Spain as the World Cup rumbles on.
Don't expect a goal fest but I tip Brazil to set up a semi-final showdown with Spain.

Argentina V Germany: The clash of the quarter finals and possible the game of the whole tournament.
This is the most anticipated and most exciting prospect so far with Diego Maradona's buccaneers clashing with a youthful German side bursting with enthusiasm and flair.
Both sides have an array of attacking talent but there are question marks over the defence of both sides and I think the game could be open and high scoring.
Germany came to South Africa as under-dogs with players the world had never heard of, but the world is sitting up and taking notice now.
They were a class above England in the 4-1 win and took advantage of their opponents poor defending with speed and fast precise passing.
It won't be so easy against the Argentine's but I expect the German midfield to throw the shackles on Lionel Messi and not allow him much of a sniff.
The Barcelona play maker has been in fine form and behind everything his side do and he has been ably supported by the likes of Carlos Tevez who scored a wonder goal against Mexico.
With Diego Maradona anything is possible and Germany's forward pair Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski will look to exploit a defence which had Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez  at right back.
If Germany can contain Argentina's attacking players and quality I expect them to go through.

Spain V Paraguay: This is probably the most one-sided match of the quarter finals and I expect Spain, the best passing side in the world, to be comfortable winners.
Paraguay are arguably the least talented of the South American teams in the final eight and this game probably marks the end of the World Cup for them. 
Spain may have started with defeat to the Swiss but are still the best footballing side in the competition and know how to close out a victory.
In David Villa they have the sharpest fox in the box who has already scored four goals and should go on to claim the golden boot.
In midfield they have Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal maestro, cannot even get in the team at the moment.
Even with Fernando Torres misfiring they are a formidable prospect for any side they come up against and I will back them to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
When they took a 1-0 lead against Portugal this week they gave a master class in holding on to the ball - something England could take a lesson from - and never looked like conceding.
The South Americans should be looking to book their summer holidays this week because there's no way they will upset the apple cart and get through this one.
I tip Spain to win comfortably and for Fernando Torres to score his first goals of this world cup.


Blog 14: Tuesday, June 29 -  A sweet Chile feast
By Luke Cross, Group News Editor

In keeping with the England football team’s mentality, I’m not going to waste any more energy chasing a lost cause.
Our sorry excuse for a World Cup campaign left me with only one thing to do – place all my hope in my work sweepstake team.
Okay, so when I drew Chile two weeks ago, I’ll admit, there was indifference at best.
But what an absolute inspiration the Chileans have been during this tournament.
And last night’s game against Brazil showed exactly why.
It was Chile who exuded the creativity, passion and fearlessness that we associate with South American football – while Brazil exhibited a strength, organisation and finesse that will surely see them go all the way.
That’s not to say the Brazilians lacked flair – there are just fewer step overs and back heels in this commanding Dunga side.
All in all the game was a true South American footballing spectacle – and one of those matches you didn’t want to end.
Even at 3-0 down, pride and passion oozed from each and every Chilean player –they never gave in, never stopped pushing forward and never sacrificed their game for a long ball or desperate 30-yard effort.
It was pride personified, symbolised by the exhausted Chilean players gasping for air and holding back the tears as England’s star of this World Cup, referee Howard Webb, blew the final whistle.
Adios Chile – you leave this tournament with your heads held high.
What lessons our players could learn from you.

Blog 13: Monday, June 28 - England's worst humiliation
By Terry 'the ref' Pattinson

For those of us who remember “66 and all that” it was the worst humiliation in England’s World Cup history, almost on par with the defeat by the USA in 1950.
Lampard’s disallowed goal proves that new technology should be introduced, but that does not take away a performance that would embarrass a Sunday league side.
I have been refereeing Sunday morning sides since 1965 (at least 1,500 games) and have never seen a team score straight from a goal kick like that.
It took once bounce and the German forward was too fast for the England central defenders.
Even the so-called 'soccer minnows’ have caught up with English football.

Blog 12: Saturday, June 26 - Faith as we face old enemies
By Steve Spencer, reporter

It was inevitable wasn't it? England were always going to come up against the old enemy in the knock-out stages of this World Cup.
As soon as the match-up was confirmed on Wednesday night, my mind flicked back to past memories of our encounters with the Germans. And most of them, it seems, involve England losing on penalties and crashing out of major tournaments.
That infamous semi-final at Italia '90 is by far the most painful. It was the first time England had reached the semis since winning the Jules Rimet Trophy back in 1966.
That was as far as Bobby Robson's side were to get though, as Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to convert from the spot and Germany won the shoot-out 4-3. They then went on to beat Argentina in the final.
The pain continued. Roll on Euro '96 on our home turf - Wembley.
Buoyed by our first ever penalty shoot-out win, against Spain in the quarter finals, England went into the semi-final in hight spirits.
But again penalties loomed. And again our old adversaries knocked us out as Gareth Southgate saw his spot saved.
Needless to say the Germans went on to win the tournament.
But hold on. There have been some positive results for the Three Lions from one of football's longest-running rivalries.
The most obvious is, without a doubt, 1966 when we won the World Cup 4-3 at Wembley against West Germany.
There's also that 1-0 win in Euro 2000 when a second-half Alan Shearer header handed England their first victory over Germany in a competitive fixture since '66.
Let's also not forget one of the most famous nights in English football history when Sven's men marched to a 5-1 win in Munich, and even Emile Heskey scored!
So there are reasons to be optimistic ahead of Sunday's clash. Come 3pm I believe England will beat the Germans and exact their revenge for past disappointments.
Let's hope they can do it inside 90 minutes though... I'm not sure I can handle penalties!

Blog 11: Thursday, June 24 - A sobering England? Not likely.
By Glenn Mitchell, deputy editor

Text messages have been checked, witnesses quizzed and phone calls reviewed.
It is the usual story after an England World Cup match - I've had to go a bit Maidenhead CSI in trying to piece together the events of yesterday.
Evidence gathering has started in earnest after the hard drive of my memory corrupted overnight, deleting the bulk of yesterday's scenes.
I know the afternoon started with a crisp, refreshing pint of lager at lunchtime but everything gets a bit hazy from there.
Amnesia is a common theme when it comes to cheering on England.
I can never remember large chunks of a match - and then forget to learn from my mistakes by the time the next big game kicks off.
The mind can do funny things when dealing with traumatic experiences, which is usually the case when Fabio's boys are playing.
But I have to be honest and say alcohol may also be a small factor in limiting my recall.
What I know for a fact is we are through to the knockout stage and Sunday means we go head-to-head with the old enemy.
Will I be drinking orange juice for the Germany game?
Forget that.

Blog 10: Wednesday, June 23 - Disappointment and waning patriotism
By Claire Smith, web reporter

Is anyone else feeling it?
I hate to reiterate what has already been said in this blog, but I am worried. I am usually the most devoted England fan, ever since I was eight and my dad made me cross everything in our house during the 1990 semi-finals and I cried along with Gazza.
Ready to proudly watch our country's men take to the pitch, feel the emotion during the national anthem, shout and cheer, and feel the heightened stress levels followed by the inevitable grief after a penalty shoot-out which sees our 'brave lions' on their way back home with roars silenced.
Brave lions seems a laughable way to address this team. I can't help shake this feeling of... well, disappointment. And I am not just talking about Friday's shambles against Algeria.
Before this tournament even began, I secretly wondered how I could really get behind the likes of men such as Ashley Cole and John Terry.
Maybe the four short years since the last World Cup has seen too many changes, and this is a sign of our times. Too much information in the press rather than declining morals of footballers? Too much expectancy in light of their wage packets as we struggle through a recession, rather than the salary creating spoilt brats?
I can't help feeling like these selfish men have become all about the take - happy to take the grandeur, happy to take the lifestyle, and definitely more than happy to take the money.
But they don't seem to care about giving back. They don't want their dalliances to be displayed in the press, they don't want to be dropped as captain for disgracing themselves and the squad, and they don't want their fans to boo them when they don't try.
How can we respect and admire these men? Are they even men, or - God forbid - simply what is now typical for a man to be in this generation?
Whatever the reason, I am hoping this afternoon they try and change my mind. And the minds of everyone else who might be feeling that slight shame at our nations 'lions'.

Blog 9: Monday, June 21 - Yearning for the class of 1990
By Kelly Rawlings, digital editor

So, I raced home on Friday afternoon and rearranged the lounge furniture. The coffee table became a foot rest and the couch got pulled around to face the TV square on. By 7.35pm hubby had got home from work, we had dinner on our laps, drink in hand and were ready for kick off.
For the next 93 minutes the most exciting thing in our lives was the freshly grated parmesan on top of our pasta dinner. The football certainly didn't set us alight.
Now, I am a very patriotic person and I love to watch people representing England or Great Britain. It also angers me how the media (I know I am part of it, but I am talking on a wider scale) hype up our nation's sportspeople, then slash then down when they deliver below expectation.
I am not someone who is expecting England to win the World Cup. But I also don't want to put them down before they have had a chance to show us their metal. 
They had that chance on Friday and I can't deny that I was disappointed. Bitterly disappointed.
I do not claim to be a footie guru and it will take me several more world cup games to spot an off-side before the ref does. But it does not take a genius to spot that England had lost their mojo on Friday night.
There were few chances, and plenty of scotched passes. Defending seemed slow and they simply did not look like a team. Heskey bumbled his way through, Rooney had little impact and it was not the same Gerrard that lines-up for Liverpool.
My earliest memory of being gripped by the World Cup was in 1990, and not just because I learnt all the words to John Barnes' rap from the World In Motion song!
They showed some highlights of 1990 on TV the other day and I reminisced. England seemed much more of a unit back then and when Lineker was near the net there was real hope of a goal.
I don't know whether the players wanted it more, whether the manager united them or whether the players were just better. 
In 2010 maybe Capello's formation is not working or his last minute team decisions leave the players in limbo. Perhaps these days there is too much focus on the players wives, their social lives and who tops who on the rich list and less focus on the football?
I offer up no solutions I'm afraid, but whatever the problem was for Capello and his men let's hope they find something to stoke the fire in their bellys before Wednesday.
Come on England! Come on England!

Blog 8: Friday, June 18 - Our boy Charlie arrives in South Africa
By Charles Watts - sports reporter LIVE FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

So, after almost a 24 hour door to door journey with zero amounts of sleep, I arrived in Cape Town last night to begin my World Cup trip.
The place is buzzing. World Cup fever has certainly gripped the Rainbow nation, although Wednesday night’s battering by Uruguay has dampened spirits a bit.
Like all Brits, me and my mate Goffy hit the bar as soon as we’d dumped our bags in a room last night and spent the evening chatting to people from all nations.
But it’s certainly the English who have won the numbers battle and today we’re all heading into town to prepare for tonight’s vital game against Algeria at the stunning Green Point Stadium.
By prepare I mean sampling the local brews while sitting in the bars at the Waterfront and having a bit of a sing song. A vital part of all England trips.
Six months I’ve waited for today, I can’t believe it’s finally arrived. All the money spent will be worth it the second I walk into that stadium tonight.
I went to Germany in 2006 but just watched from the fan parks. This will be mine and Goffy’s first ever World Cup game and you could say we’re just a bit excited.
So keep your eyes out for our huge England flag with the name New Windsor Renegades proudly emblazoned on the front.
That’s the name of our now confined to history, but once all conquering, six-a-side football team. Lets hope that England are as successful tonight as we once were.
C’mon the boys, do us proud. Oh, and please Fabio, get Joe Cole on that pitch.

Blog 7: Thursday, June 17 - America falling in love with 'soccer'
By Steve Spencer, reporter

Would you believe me if I said the USA was falling in love with the beautiful game? Probably not. But it's true.
For the first time ever, the World Cup is taking the American public by storm.
Our baseball worshiping cousins across the pond have actually taken notice of 'soccer' this time around and are throwing their support behind their national side.
My parents were in New York over the weekend as the World Cup kicked off and were amazed at how popular it has suddenly become over there.
Apparently the bars of Manhattan were packed to the rafters with fans, not only for the USA's opening match with England on Saturday, but for all the games so far in the tournament.
Maybe the fact that USA were paired with England in the group stages has helped boost the anticipation and popularity of the world's biggest sporting event among the Americans, who rarely take notice of sporting events outside their own borders.
Remarkably on Saturday football even took over the front pages of the major newspapers! The New York Post carried the headline 'It's War' alongside a picture of an English Redcoat soldier and the tag lines 'The Redcoats are coming today at 2.30pm' and 'Millions to watch US-Brit World Cup battle'.
President Barack Obama also threw his weight behind the team by Tweeting a message of support on the day of the match.
The support obviously paid off for Bob Bradley's boys who snatched a 1-1 draw against England - a result, my mum reported, New Yorkers were ecstatic with.
Despite the World Cup buzz in the States though, it does seem that they have a lot to learn about football. One New Yorker interviewed on BBC Radio One on Saturday thought David Beckham was playing for USA! They’ll learn I guess…

Blog 6: Wednesday, June 16 - 'Hoping this time it would be different'
By Steve Spencer, reporter

I was hoping that this time it would be different, hoping that we might escape it, but we haven't.
Every time a major tournament comes around, be it the World Cup or European Championships, the media build up England's chances to the point where anything less then stepping off a plane at Heathrow holding aloft the coveted gold trophy is a complete and utter failure.
You would’ve thought we may have learnt from our last tournament in 2006 when our 'Golden Generation' were put so high on a pedestal that we were champions-elect before a ball had even been kicked in Germany.
Needless to say England fell short in that infamous 'winking' Ronaldo match as Portugal sent Sven-Goran Eriksson's men home at the quarter-final stage.
Don't get me wrong, though, England do have a decent chance to win the World Cup and I'm a very patriotic supporter who loves seeing the whole country dust off their St George's flags and get behind Fabio Capello's boys.
But let's not build the pressure on Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry et al to the point where the weight of the nation - and history - suffocates them once more.
Let's not criticise them for every little mistake. England are not the perfect team, but then nor are Brazil, Germany or Argentina.
When Italy won in 2006 they were written off as 'too old' and 'past their best'. They proved everyone wrong didn't they?
So following Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with the USA let's not attack England from every angle, let's celebrate picking up a point in our toughest group match and move on to the Algeria clash on Friday.
After all, in 2006 Italy drew 1-1 with the USA and 22 days later were crowned champions of the world.
Here's hoping history repeats itself! 

Blog 5: Tuesday, June 15 - Enjoying 'zombie film' streets as England play
By Sophie Flowers, Cookhams reporter 

I've been avoiding the fever that has swept the country and on Saturday it looked like I was the only one left alive.
On my way to an early evening film the streets were eerily empty - the only movement was the England flags hanging from windows and red and white bunting fluttering outside shops and pubs.
In the cinema I was joined by 10 other footie widows who had also decided to block out the 'alternative' evening entertainment.
"Do you think they'll show the score on the screen?," one lady asked her friend as we settled down for a chick flick. 
Ninety minutes later I emerged to a more subdued environment, still blissfully unaware of the score.
Wandering past bars and pubs, even the ever-present smokers had decided to abstain for the second half and the only clue to civilization was the drone of horns from the TV screens inside.
In Sainsbury's I counted around five people sho