I'm not going to South Africa. So instead I'm gonna try and watch a bit if not all of every game at work, or at home or in a bar or wherever. On the telly. With a beer. And I'm gonna predict who I think is gonna win. And talk about football stuff. So there.

Friday 30 April 2010

World Cup Group C

Obviously, this Group is closest to home. Yet I don't know much about who we're up against, only that we should beat the lot of them. But England never make it easy on their fans, and the USA first up is going to be tricky. Wouldn't be surprised if it ended in a draw. The States have a good record when it comes to getting through the group stages, whilst Algeria and Slovenia are pretty much unknown quantities. Anyone else than Capello in charge and I'd be worried (save for Ferguson, Mourinho, Wenger and that Dutch bloke). I'm confident we'll win the group and am going for Slovenia to upset the odds and take second. Purely because things like this happen in the World Cup. 1 ENGLAND 2 SLOVENIA 3 Usa 4 Algeria.

Thursday 29 April 2010

World Cup Group B

No one's saying much about Argentina in the run-up to the tournament. They didn't qualify well, but they still have world-class players in their ranks. But I fancy Nigeria to pip them to the group title. Every African team will be up for this. The first tournament on their home continent, and I can see them winning the group. South Korea and Greece make up the rest of the group. They've both had their moments in tournaments this century, but I can't see either of them progressing here. 1 NIGERIA 2 ARGENTINA 3 South Korea 4 Greece

Tuesday 27 April 2010

World Cup Group A

Four fairly decent teams in this one for televisual viewing. The hosts will make it through. Don't remember much of Mexico at the World Cup except an awesome Negrete overhead kick in '86. Uruguay fouled anything that moved in '82. That leaves the French. Nowhere near as good as they were in '98 when they won it, though they probably had a better team in '02 when they didn't make it through the Group Stage. The runners-up last time should make it through with the hosts, though I'm not putting money on it. 1 SOUTH AFRICA 2 FRANCE 3 Mexico 4 Uruguay

Monday 26 April 2010

First LCD World Cup

Must admit I'm a bit behind the times on the telly front.

Got an HD-ready TV but haven't set it up for HD. In fact, this'll be the first World Cup I'll watch on a slimline telly at home.

Maybe I'll get around to watching it on a 3D in 2030, a fair few years after the rest of you...

Sunday 25 April 2010

Great Armchair World Cup Moments No.1

All throughout the 1986 World Cup, it was ITV (I think) who had Mick Channon in the studio. England had made a poor start to the tournament, and more than once, Channon, from the comfort of his studio seat, implored England in his legendary West Country tones to 'get it up the park to Lin-ayker.' Wise words indeed.

Saturday 24 April 2010

My England Squad

Injuries permitting, here's the 23 I'd take:
James, Robinson, Hart; A Cole, Baines, Johnson, Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Dawson; Carrick, Barry; Downing, J Cole, Lennon, Milner, Gerrard, Lampard, Walcott; Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey.

Friday 23 April 2010

Liking the fixtures

In previous World Cups, I'm sure it's been the case that the two favourites in a group have been scheduled to meet each other in the last group game. But FIFA have obviously realised that if these two teams have won their preceding two games, there's not much to play for other than a draw in the final group game - an anti-climax.

So this year, they seem to have pitched the group favourites against each other in the first group game. A good move I think. Dare these teams risk tame draws and hope they will win their remaining two games? I don't think so. Could be interesting...

Thursday 22 April 2010

TV Channel World Cup theme tunes.

I hope these are in the bag for the BBC and ITV. Neither channel has managed to capture the imagination quite like Nessun Dorma did for the BBC in Italia '90. Needs to be emotive. Uplifting. Nay, epic. And probably a bit African.

First World Cup Squad Announced

And it's the line-up for the BBC team that'll be doing the honours down in South Africa. http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/
It's big news if you're going to armchair the whole tournament, like I am. You're gonna hear from these lads every day, so a bit of wit and wisdom wouldn't go amiss. You'll get a bit of that from Lynchpin Lineker. Hansen, Shearer and Dixon are your stalwarts, Strachan the man to spice things up, and Seedorf and Adebayor are straight out of the leftfield.

It's worth noting that this will be the first World Cup I've ever known without Motty doing the commentary honours, but looks like he'll be a studio guest. That'll have to do!

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Early Confession.

The tournament hasn't even kicked off and I'm already lying to you. I don't have an armchair. If I'm watching at home, waiting for my girlfriend to give birth, I shall be sitting on an Argos corner sofa. If I'm in a pub, I'll be standing. And if at work, sitting on a swivel chair (admittedly that has arms).

They're All Big Games At This Level.

Even New Zealand v Slovakia (KO 12.30, June 15th). I'll be disappointed if I don't see at least some live action from every game. There's a few 12.30 kick-offs in the group stages, which are a worry, but with games streamed over the internet (hopefully) there's really no excuse for doing work when there's football on. How will you make sure you see every game?

Supporting David James.

I'm rooting for him to be in the squad. Mainly because if he doesn't make it, this will be the first World Cup in which I'm older than all the players (and probably some of the referees). Great!