It seems at least one major company has decided to stir up a little World Cup media publicity – by annoying the Scots. Not content with politely ignoring Scotland’s failure to qualify for the tournament in South Africa, a feat accomplished by southern softies England with little trouble, Mars has launched a new logo on its famous chocolate bar which is causing quite a fuss north of the border.
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
22/02/2010
11/09/2009
England win World Cup tie on penalties shock
That’s right, some England players do know how to take a penalty... at the Homeless World Cup in Italy.
People who are homeless and socially excluded are enjoying a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever.
This annual international football tournament was first held in Graz in 2003. 18 national teams took part. Just six years later and 48 nations have come together for Milan 2009.
The event now supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations and works with over 25,000 homeless and socially excluded people throughout the year.
Teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are squaring up against the likes of Argentina, Germany, South Africa and Spain.
They play Street Soccer on courts 22m long by 16m wide. The maximum number of players on a team at any one time is four (three outfield and one goalkeeper). Halves last 14 minutes and winning teams receive three points. Drawn matches are decided by a sudden-death penalty shoot out.
In this year’s tournament England advanced through the Preliminary stage after winning four games and scoring 37 goals in Group D.
Yesterday the Secondary group stage saw England draw 3 – 3 with Rumania before winning a thrilling penalty shoot out. Earlier in the day the team had lost 4 – 2 against Portugal. Matches against Hungary and the Ukraine take place today.
After the Secondary stage, the teams are split into six groups of eight according to their results. England will be hoping to become one of the top eight ranking sides to play for the official Homeless World Cup trophy.
Let’s hope the players involved in a penalty shoot in South Africa can cope just as well.
For more on the Homeless World Cup visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org/
People who are homeless and socially excluded are enjoying a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever.
This annual international football tournament was first held in Graz in 2003. 18 national teams took part. Just six years later and 48 nations have come together for Milan 2009.
The event now supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations and works with over 25,000 homeless and socially excluded people throughout the year.
Teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are squaring up against the likes of Argentina, Germany, South Africa and Spain.
They play Street Soccer on courts 22m long by 16m wide. The maximum number of players on a team at any one time is four (three outfield and one goalkeeper). Halves last 14 minutes and winning teams receive three points. Drawn matches are decided by a sudden-death penalty shoot out.
In this year’s tournament England advanced through the Preliminary stage after winning four games and scoring 37 goals in Group D.
Yesterday the Secondary group stage saw England draw 3 – 3 with Rumania before winning a thrilling penalty shoot out. Earlier in the day the team had lost 4 – 2 against Portugal. Matches against Hungary and the Ukraine take place today.
After the Secondary stage, the teams are split into six groups of eight according to their results. England will be hoping to become one of the top eight ranking sides to play for the official Homeless World Cup trophy.
Let’s hope the players involved in a penalty shoot in South Africa can cope just as well.
For more on the Homeless World Cup visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org/
06/09/2009
Maradona admits “I might need more than the Hand of God now”
Argentina have lost 3 – 1 at home to Brazil. The result means their chances of automatic qualification for South Africa 2010 are now in considerable doubt.
By contrast, Brazil have officially qualified, and deservedly so. They will soon be followed by Spain, who battered Belgium 5 – 0 and will probably give Estonia a kicking on Wednesday night.
Elsewhere, there was cause for rejoicing on both sides of the border as Northern Ireland and the Republic secured wins. Both now have a great chance of at least making the play-offs.
In Group 1 Sweden have renewed hope of a place in the finals after a 2 – 1 victory in Hungary.
Switzerland beat Greece and now look in control of Group 2.
France are officially rubbish – unless they beat Serbia this week.
Scotland must avoid defeat against Holland on Wednesday. If they don’t, their best hope is for Norway and Macedonia to draw in Oslo.
As expected, Croatia overcame Belarus. Now they must beat England at Wembley to have any chance of automatic qualification.
Reports that Cameroon brought Roger Miller out of retirement are of course untrue. Whatever the cause, if they repeat yesterday’s 2 – 0 victory over Gabon against the same opposition on Wednesday evening, they’ll be dancing in the streets of Yaounde.
And if the Ivory Coast don't qualify from their group now, we can expect a ridiculous conspiracy theory from Didier Drogba within hours.
The North, Central America and Caribbean group is still up for grabs after wins for the USA, Honduras and Mexico.
That’s the qualification stuff over and done with for now. Now for the important stuff - inventing quotes from Maradona which hark back to this infamous Hand of God goal against England in 1986.
Quizzed by reporters after the loss against Brazil the legendary No. 10 may or may not have said “I might need more than the Hand of God now”.
He may or may not have gone on to say “I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing.”
And finally, there is of course some doubt about whether Maradona actually said “I’m genuinely sorry about that incident. It should never have happened and I probably deserved to be booked or even sent off. Of course the second one was a belter, so I’d prefer to talk about that if you don’t mind.”
Somehow I can’t see that happening...
By contrast, Brazil have officially qualified, and deservedly so. They will soon be followed by Spain, who battered Belgium 5 – 0 and will probably give Estonia a kicking on Wednesday night.
Elsewhere, there was cause for rejoicing on both sides of the border as Northern Ireland and the Republic secured wins. Both now have a great chance of at least making the play-offs.
In Group 1 Sweden have renewed hope of a place in the finals after a 2 – 1 victory in Hungary.
Switzerland beat Greece and now look in control of Group 2.
France are officially rubbish – unless they beat Serbia this week.
Scotland must avoid defeat against Holland on Wednesday. If they don’t, their best hope is for Norway and Macedonia to draw in Oslo.
As expected, Croatia overcame Belarus. Now they must beat England at Wembley to have any chance of automatic qualification.
Reports that Cameroon brought Roger Miller out of retirement are of course untrue. Whatever the cause, if they repeat yesterday’s 2 – 0 victory over Gabon against the same opposition on Wednesday evening, they’ll be dancing in the streets of Yaounde.
And if the Ivory Coast don't qualify from their group now, we can expect a ridiculous conspiracy theory from Didier Drogba within hours.
The North, Central America and Caribbean group is still up for grabs after wins for the USA, Honduras and Mexico.
That’s the qualification stuff over and done with for now. Now for the important stuff - inventing quotes from Maradona which hark back to this infamous Hand of God goal against England in 1986.
Quizzed by reporters after the loss against Brazil the legendary No. 10 may or may not have said “I might need more than the Hand of God now”.
He may or may not have gone on to say “I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing.”
And finally, there is of course some doubt about whether Maradona actually said “I’m genuinely sorry about that incident. It should never have happened and I probably deserved to be booked or even sent off. Of course the second one was a belter, so I’d prefer to talk about that if you don’t mind.”
Somehow I can’t see that happening...
01/09/2009
Macedonia, Norway, Iceland and Scotland - thank God they aren't horses
Looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers in September – Part 9
Europe: Group Nine
Take out the Dutch and you’re left with four mediocre teams who between them have scored 20 goals and conceded 34 in 25 games. Putting this in perspective, the already qualified Holland have scored 16 and conceded just two in their seven games.
I think I can say without fear of exaggeration or censure that this is probably the worst group in Europe. No-one would be surprised if this group failed to provide a contender for one of the runners up spots. Collectively and individually, Macedonia, Scotland, Norway and Iceland are so poor that if they were horses someone would have shot them by now.
Forthcoming fixtures (if you insist):
September 5th
Scotland - FYR Macedonia
Iceland - Norway
September 9th
Norway - FYR Macedonia
Scotland - Netherlands
Europe: Group Nine
Take out the Dutch and you’re left with four mediocre teams who between them have scored 20 goals and conceded 34 in 25 games. Putting this in perspective, the already qualified Holland have scored 16 and conceded just two in their seven games.
I think I can say without fear of exaggeration or censure that this is probably the worst group in Europe. No-one would be surprised if this group failed to provide a contender for one of the runners up spots. Collectively and individually, Macedonia, Scotland, Norway and Iceland are so poor that if they were horses someone would have shot them by now.
Forthcoming fixtures (if you insist):
September 5th
Scotland - FYR Macedonia
Iceland - Norway
September 9th
Norway - FYR Macedonia
Scotland - Netherlands
13/08/2009
Latest World Cup qualifying results
Spent some of last night ‘tweeting’ (2010bafbaf) goal news as it came in from around Europe. Discovered that if Croatia and Slovenia score around the same time, and one of the scorers has 17 letters in his name, you will run out of available space or 'characters' as Twitter fans call it. Lesson learned.
Europe
Group 3
Slovenia 5 San Marino 0
Group 4
Azerbaijan 0 Germany 2
Group 6
Belarus 1 Croatia 3
Group 7
Faroe Islands 0 France 1
Group 9
Norway 4 Scotland 0
North, Central America and Caribbean
Mexico 2 USA 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1 El Salvador 1
Honduras 4 Costa Rica 0
Costa Rica. What are you like?
Europe
Group 3
Slovenia 5 San Marino 0
Group 4
Azerbaijan 0 Germany 2
Group 6
Belarus 1 Croatia 3
Group 7
Faroe Islands 0 France 1
Group 9
Norway 4 Scotland 0
North, Central America and Caribbean
Mexico 2 USA 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1 El Salvador 1
Honduras 4 Costa Rica 0
Costa Rica. What are you like?
06/07/2009
Early qualifiers for next year Pt 1
Here’s the first part of the World Cup Bafana Bafana 2010 quick guide to those teams who have bookmarked the Ibis South Africa website and are already looking forward to the Jo’burg equivalent of the continental breakfast:
The Netherlands
Seven games and seven wins; 16 goals scored and only two conceded. Let’s not get too overawed by these stats. Their group included FYR Macedonia, Iceland and an Archie Gemmill-less Scotland, and he gave up scoring goals against the Dutch after that one back in 1978. The Oranjes are a good outside bet for next year but will have to do more than beat former Yugoslav republics and bankrupt rocks in the North Atlantic.
The Netherlands
Seven games and seven wins; 16 goals scored and only two conceded. Let’s not get too overawed by these stats. Their group included FYR Macedonia, Iceland and an Archie Gemmill-less Scotland, and he gave up scoring goals against the Dutch after that one back in 1978. The Oranjes are a good outside bet for next year but will have to do more than beat former Yugoslav republics and bankrupt rocks in the North Atlantic.
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