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Are the Minnows the real Champions of the World Cup?

Now don't get me wrong, England were shambolic on Friday and I was crying into my beer after their night’s dismal performance. However after seeing Italy draw and Germany, France and Spain losing to smaller, lesser known teams it occurred to me that the so called minnows are on the rise.

A possible explanation is that some of the coaches from the smaller teams are from europe and have at some point managed in the european bigger leagues. Additionally some of the players are now playing in the leagues across Europe. Indeed half of the Algerian team were born in France and play their club football in the French league.

Another factor is the role of the multi million pound Champions League and how it has affected world football. As the prestige and status that is associated with winning this competition seems to have taken some of the gloss off taking part in the World cup.

Players like Nicolas Anelka actively seek to move to top European clubs just so they can take part in the Champions League. Yet when it comes to performing for their country in the world cup they seem to fail miserably.

Take England for example the last time we did well in the world cup was in 1990 a time when the Champions League was called the European cup and 'The Premier League' had yet to be established. Foreign players were virtually non-existent and English clubs were banned from playing in Europe due to trouble with fans.

Therefore Italia ‘90 was an exciting opportunity for the English players to play on the world stage and prove themselves amongst the world’s elite. They certainly achieved this by reaching the semi-finals and finishing 3rd overall with Gary linker taking the golden boot. This was England’s best ever World cup performance since 1966

Fast forward 20 years and the Champions League is in full flow, world class international players like Messi, Ronaldo & Kaka are playing against each other every week. Thus the World Cup is no longer the only place where football superstars can meet and play against each other.

Here in England ‘The Barclays Premier League’ has been well established and top players from all over the world are making big money moves to play in the world’s most famous league. An impact of this is that England players are now mixing it with the big stars and have become international superstars in their own right despite not having any form of international success since 1966

For the minnows however, who’s players don’t have the opportunity to play in the Champions League, they now have their chance to play against the best. Just like England did 20 years ago on that warm summer’s night in Turin.



The 'minnows' of Switzerland celebrate their goal against Spain

Diego Maradona finds a new way to use the Vuvuzela

Dizzee Heights

Fed up of going bonkers, Dizzee Rascal has donned his England Shirt and raided the number 1 spot yet again with ‘Shout’ featuring lovable fat bloke James Corden

Now I’m not sure what to think of this one, as it seems like a twist on one of my favourite world cup songs ‘Love’s got the world in motion’ (we’re singing for England, Eng – ger –land).

However instead of using the lyrical skills of John Barnes, Dizzee Rascal steps up to do the rap. There’s no doubt that with Simon Cowell behind it this is sure to be a smash. But I can’t figure out who it’s aimed at? As it’s hardly something that can be sung on the terraces and I can’t see Trevor Nelson spinning it at his next RnB gig.

This track will surely continue with its success, but has it really been made to cheer on the boys? Or has Simon Cowell found yet another way to dominate the charts?

Attack of the killer bees

Here we have the item that has been making that terrible killer bee like drone every time you switch on the game.

No, it’s not a new form of Chinese torture (although some might disagree).This is in fact the Vuvuzela a customary horn that South Africans use during football games to ‘encourage’ their team.

The plus side of these things is that, we don’t have to listen to the horrific renditions of the ‘great escape’ from the ‘official’ England supporters band. The downer is that it somewhat takes away the banter, the chants and the general atmosphere of the fans which is a major part of the modern game.

Rumour has it that hope is on it’s way as World Cup organizer Danny Jordaan has apparently been quoted saying that He would ban the vevuzela

‘if there are grounds to do so’

Failing that, boots the chemist are currently doing a 2 for 1 sale on earplugs

World Cup Theme Music?

Not Strictly football, but This tune should be the BBC'S or ITV's world cup Theme music! An absoulute classic that gets played at all African parties\events.

Best goal celebration?

Roger Milla will be proud of this

We’re singing for England!

Ahhhh what to do? Do I rush down to Cheap Sports ‘r’ Us, (Direct sports.com),get an England Shirt and join the tub thumping melee? Or do I look at my ancestry and desperately hope I find a Brazilian great grandpa?

In all seriousness I think that England do have a good chance this year. A certain Mr Capello has been a breath of fresh air and given our well pampered players the kick up the ass they needed. No more players wrapped in the flag of St George posing in the back of the sun and no more WAGS getting more attention than the players.

Indeed a certain seriousness and much needed calmness seem to have struck the camp. This can be noted by the fact we don’t have an official world cup song this year.

Mr Capello is certainly a stark contrast from Steve ‘Wally with the brolly’ McClaren and has brought us a long way since that rainy night at Wembley. But a part of me still thinks that England are just a quarter final team

Our last two world cups ended that way and we still have the same players from before. Where our rivals have Messi, Torres, Ronaldo and Co we have a patched up squad and our class act is a certain, hot tempered, foul mouthed Wayne Rooney!

Final Verdict

England get knocked out on penalties!


If England have this team talk then they are going to win hands down.

Those Damn Pundits

Sometimes I wish Sky just got their way and won the rights to show international matches. Not because I’m Mr Murdoch’s number one fan or a sky fanatic, far from it.

It’s purely because I can’t stand the pundits from both the terrestrial channels!
Clive ‘one liner’ Tyldesley and Andy ‘mockney’ Townsend are enough to put anyone off football. Adrian Chilles' infamous rise from the ‘One Show’ to ITV sport anchorman may prove to be their saving grace. Bring back Des Lynam I Say

The BBC is a slight improvement as they have managed to get everyone’s favourite cheeky chappy Harry Redknapp as well as the godfather of football ‘Woy’ Hodgeson. Who between them should be able to give us a more tactical insight, instead of the old clichéd dross that we’ve become more accustomed to.

Now getting back to the Sky team. Could you imagine Jeff Stelling and the boys let loose in South Africa? It would be instant TV gold. Chris ‘Cabanga’ Kamara jumping up and down with the fans screaming 'Italy are defending like beavers'! While Back in the studio Jeff Stelling is doing his Hartlepool UTD victory dance to the tube of 'I feel good' by James Brown. Then after all the excitement is over Georgie ‘smokey voice’ Thompson steps up to do the post match interview in her lowest cut top. Ahhh We can only dream.

But hey ho, it’s the football that does the talking right? So I will do what most do and go down the pub! or put the TV on mute and switch on the radio. Give me 5live or talk sport commentary any day!



Georgie Thompson shows us why she would have the players queing up for a post match interview!